Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® Kentucky Warbler Library Special Collections 2-2005 Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 81, no. 1) Kentucky Library Research Collections Western Kentucky University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ky_warbler Part of the Ornithology Commons Recommended Citation Kentucky Library Research Collections, "Kentucky Warbler (Vol. 81, no. 1)" (2005). Kentucky Warbler. Paper 322. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ky_warbler/322 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kentucky Warbler by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Kentucky Warbler (Published by Kentucky Ornithological Society) VOL. 81 FEBRUARY 2005 NO. 1 IN THIS ISSUE THE FALL SEASON 2004, Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., and Lee McNeely 3 MID-WINTER BIRD COUNT, 2004-2005 17 FIELD NOTES 33 Eastern Phoebe Uses Elk Hair as Nesting Material 33 First KentuckyLong-tailedJaeger 33 SootyTern in SoutheasternKentucky 34 NEWS AND VIEWS 36 2 THE KENTUCKY WARBLER Vol.81 THE KENTUCKY ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY President Hap Chambers, Murray Vice-President Mark Bennett, Russellville Corresponding Secretary Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr. 8207 Old Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40222-3913 Treasurer Jim Williams 480 Seeley Drive, Lexington, KY 40502-2609 Recording Secretary Gerald Robe, Mt. Sterling Councilors; Doris Tichenor, Morgantown 2003 thru 2005 Phyllis Niemi, Princeton 2003 thru 2005 Mark Monroe, Louisville 2004 thru 2006 Win Ahrens, Louisville 2004 thru 2006 Elizabeth Ciuzio, Frankfort 2005 thru 2007 Mary Walter, Corydon, Indiana 2005 thru 2007 Retiring President Kathy Caminiti, Burlington StaffArtist Ray Harm THE KENTUCKY WARBLER Organ of the Kentucky Ornithological Society, published quarterly in February, May, August and November. The Kentucky Warbler is sent to all members not in arrears for dues. Membership dues are: Regular $15.00; Contributing $25.00; Student SIO.OO; Family $20.00; Corporate $100.00; and Life $300.00. All articles and communications should be addressed to the editor. Subscriptions and memberships should be sent to the Treasurer. Requests for back issues should be sent to the Corresponding Secretary. Editor B.R. Ferrell, Ogden College ofScience and Engineering Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101 Editorial Advisory Board Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., and Wayne Mason Secretary, Kentucky Bird Records Committee Lee McNeely P.O. Box 463, Buriington, KY 41005 THE COVER We thank David Roemer for the cover photograph of the juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger {Stercorariiis longicaudiis) taken on Kentucky Lake, Marshall County, 2 September 2004 (see Field Notes). 2005 THE KENTUCKY WARBLER 3 FALL SEASON 2004 Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr., and Lee McNeely The fall season of 2004 was characterized by several extremes. Late summer started off with a cooler- and wetter-than-normal August, but September was very dry, outsideof theeastern portion of the state, which received copious rainfall from the remnants of two tropical systems. Incontrast, some portions ofcentral and western Kentucky went through out September without measurable precipitation. October and November returned to more normal conditions, although killingfrosts were delayedwell into November in many areas and the periodwas devoid of strong, rainy weather systems. The season brought several notable rarities including two state-firsts (Long-tailed Jaeger and Northern Shrike), a second-state Reddish Egret (first photo-documented record), an apparent third-state White-faced Ibis (photo-documented), and a third-state Sooty Tern (first specimen). The overall lack of nasty weather in November may have contributed to a less-than-stellar appearance by migratory waterbirds. Relatively poor conditions for shorebird migrants resulted in diminished numbers during the season. By season's end, a somewhatless-activeseason for western hummingbirdsseemed to be shaping up. Passerine migration was noted by several observers to be lacking in numbers, butwasbetter than the spring migration, when weather conditions allowed for many to pass right through un noticed. A moderate winter finch movement commenced in October, but species other than Pine Siskins and Purple Finches were lacking. Publication of any unusual sightings in the seasonal reportdoes not imply that these reports have been accepted as records forthe official checklist of Kentucky birds. Observers are cautioned that records of out-of-season birds and all rarities must be accompanied with good details or documentation for acceptance. Documentation must be submitted to the Kentucky Bird Records Committee (KBRC). Decisions regarding theofficial Kentucky list are made by the KBRC andarereported periodically in TheKentucky Warbler. Abbreviations - Miscellaneous: county names appear in italics., when used to separate dates, the'T symbol is used in place of "and"; "ph." next to anobserver's initials indicates that the observation was documented with photograph(s); "vt." next to an observer's initials indicates that the observation was documented on videotape; next to an observer's initials indicates that written details were submitted with the report; ad. = adult; imm. = immature; juv.= juvenile; yg. = young; KDFWR = Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Place names: Ano = reclaimed surface mines near Ano, e. Pulaski\ Audubon State Park = J.J. Audubon State Park, Henderson', Ballard = Ballard WMA, Ballard', Barklev Dam = Barkley Dam, Lyon/Livingsion', Barren = Barren River Lake, Allen/Barren (unless otherwise noted); Beargrass Creek = Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve, Jefferson', Bemheim Forest = Bernheim Forest, Bullitl/Nelson', Blanton Forest = Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve, Harlan; Blood River =' Blood River embayment of Kentucky Lake, Calloway, Briar^vood = Briarwood, Jefferson; Camp #9 = Peabody Camp #9 coalfacility, Union', Camp #l 1= Peabody Camp #11 mine. Union', Cape Hills = Cape Hills Unit Sloughs WMA, Henderson', Caperton = Caperton Swamp Nature Preserve, Jefferson', Cave Hill Cemetery = Cave Hill Cemetery, Jefferson', Chanev Lake= Chaney Lake State Nature Preserve, Warren; DBNF = Daniel Boone National Forest; Eddy Creek= Eddy Creek embayment of Lake Barkley, Lyon; Evergreen Cemetery = Evergreen Cemetery, Campbell; Falls of the Ohio = Falls of the Ohio, Jefferson', Fishing Creek = Fishing Creek embayment of Lake Cumberland, Pulaski; Homestead = Homestead Unit Peabody WMA, Ohio; Island No. 1 = Mississippi River sandbars opposite Island No. 1, Carlisle; Jonathan Creek = Jonathan Creek embayment of Kentucky Lake, Marshall; Kuttawa = Lake Barkley at Kuttawa, Lyon; Kv Dam == Kentucky Dam, Livingston/ Marshall; Kv Dam Village= Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Marshall; Kv Lake THE KENTUCKY WARBLER Vol. 81 = Kentucky Lake, Marshall (unless otherwise noted); Kuttawa = Lake Barkley at Kuttawa, Lyon\ Lake Barklev = Lake Barkley, Livingston/Lyon/Trigg; Lake No. 9 = Lake No. 9, FuUon\ Lake Peewee = Lake Peewee, Hopkins\ Laketon = Mississippi River sandbars at and immediately upstream of Laketon boat ramp, Carlisle', LBL = Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Lyon/Trigg; Little Lick = Little Lick Recreation Area, DBNF, Pulaski- Little River = Little River embayment of Lake Barkley, Trigg\ Lone Run Park = Long Run Park, e. Jejferson\ Mark = Mark, e. Pulaski; McElrov = McElroy Lake, Warren\ Miles Park = Miles Park, e. Jefferson; Minor Clark = Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, Rowan; Mitchell Lake = Mitchell Lake, Ballard WMA, Ballard; Mt. Zion = Mt. Zion, Pulaski; Murray = Murray, Calloway; Paradise = Paradise Power Plant impoundments, Mtihlenberg; Sauerheber = Sauerheber Unit of Sloughs WMA, Henderson; Shaker Mill = Shaker Mill, Warren; Shawnee Park = Shawnee Park, Jefferson; Sinclair = Sinclair Unit Peabody WMA, Mublenberg; Smithland Dam = Smithland Dam on the Ohio River, Livingston; Surrey Hills Farm = Surrey Hills Farm, ne. Jefferson; Tom Sawver = E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park, Jefferson; Waitsboro = Waitsboro Recreation Area, Lake Cumberland, Pulaski; Westvaco = Mississippi River sandbars at Westvaco WMA, Carlisle (unless otherwise noted); WK.U Farm/Woods = Western Kentucky University Farm and Woods, s. yVarren; WMA = Wild life Management Area. Greater White-fronted Goose - there ne. Jefferson, 29 November (J&PB et were a few reports during the season; al.). earliest was for 12 over Pleasant Hill Tundra Swan - the first of the traditional Road, Trigg, 30 October (BL, PL); also wintering flock to return to Sauerheber reported were a juv. at Conley Bottom, were 4 there 19 November (CC) with 12 Lake Cumberland, Pulaski, 6 November there by 29 November (fide MMr). (RDn) and 2 at Homestead 15 November (DR). Gadwall - earliest report was for a male at Roadhouse Pond, Cold Spring, Camp Snow Goose - a white morph bird at Lex bell, 28 September (PR). ington 18 September (BM) may have been a bird reported elsewhere in the American Wigeon - peak count reported county in summer; also early or lingering for the season was 200-300 at Sauerheber from summer were 3 at Minor Clark 17 19 November (CC). October (LH, FB). The first major move Green-winged Teal - earliest report was ment of the fall was noted over Murray for I at Camp #11 on I September (BP); 20 November (ME). peak counts included 80-85 at Camp #I 1 Ross's Goose - presumably the same bird on 29 September (BP) and 60 near Bos that has wintered in s. Ohio the past few ton, Nelson, 28 October