New Mexico Ornithological Society Field Notes Volume 41, Number 2, Spring 2002 NEW MEXICO ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY FIELD NOTES Volume 41, Number 2, Spring 2002 1 March – 31 May 2002 A quarterly publication of the New Mexico Ornithological Society EDITORIAL STAFF Sartor O. Williams III, Editor William H. Howe, Assistant Editor EDITORIAL OFFICE Southwest Natural History Institute 1819 Meadowview Drive NW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104-2511 ([email protected]) Reporting Observations: All individuals interested in birds in New Mexico are encouraged to submit their observations to NMOS Field Notes. Especially solicited are records of uncommon species, nesting birds, and early, late, or out-of-season/range birds. Records should be submitted in taxonomic order and should include species name, date, exact location, numbers of birds, age, sex, and color morph (if applicable), and name and contact information of observer. Details are necessary for unusual records; these may be submitted on a report form (available from the address above), but any written format is acceptable. Photographic documentation is strongly encouraged. NEW MEXICO ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY (Founded 1962) The New Mexico Ornithological Society was organized to gather and disseminate accurate information concerning the bird life of New Mexico; to promote interest in and appreciation of the value of birds, both aesthetic and economic, to further effective conservation of the state’s avifauna; to facilitate opportunity for acquaintance and fellowship among those interested in birds and nature; and to issue publications as a means of furthering these ends. Membership and Subscriptions: Membership in the New Mexico Ornithological Society is open to anyone with an interest in birds. Memberships are for a calendar year and annual dues are payable 1 January. Dues are: Regular Membership $10; Family $15; Student $5; Supporting $35; Life $300. Address for the New Mexico Ornithological Society: P. O. Box 3068, Albuquerque, NM 87190-3068. Cover: Thick-billed Kingbird (Tyrannus crassirostris). This large Neotropical flycatcher summers regularly in New Mexico only in Guadalupe Canyon, where its survival depends on protection, from fire and other threats, of mature sycamore-cottonwood riparian habitats. Art by Dale A. Zimmerman, commissioned by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for a series on state endangered species. Used by permission. SPRING SEASON 2002 The severe drought gripping New Mexico deepened in spring 2002, reaching conditions not seen in half a century; by season’s close, forests were burning, lakes and rivers were drying, and everywhere dry topsoil was blowing away with the wind. Against this backdrop, birds and birders concentrated at shrinking wetlands and surviving oases, resulting in discovery of many rarities, especially shorebirds and waterbirds as well as eastern strays, particularly warblers. Localities and Counties Hachita, Grant Aguirre Springs, Doña Ana Hagerman, Chaves Albuquerque, Bernalillo Hatchet Gap, Hidalgo Amistad, Union Hillsboro, Sierra Angel Fire, Colfax Holloman Lake, Otero Animas, Mts., Valley, Hidalgo House, Quay Arrey, Sierra Isleta, Lake, Marsh, Bernalillo/Valencia Belen, Valencia Jal, Lake, Lea Bernalillo, Sandoval Kingston, Sierra Bitter Lake NWR, Chaves La Joya, WMA, Socorro Black Range, Grant/Sierra Lake Avalon, Eddy Bluewater Cr., Gorge, Lake, Cibola Lake Roberts, Grant Boone’s Draw, Roosevelt Las Cruces, Doña Ana Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro Las Vegas, NWR, San Miguel Bosque Redondo, De Baca Last Chance Canyon, Eddy Brantley Lake, Eddy Lincoln, Lincoln Caballo Lake, Dam, Sierra Lingo, Roosevelt Carlsbad, Eddy Little Hatchet Mts. Grant/Hidalgo Carlsbad Caverns NP, Eddy Los Alamos, Los Alamos Carnuel, Bernalillo Los Lunas, Valencia Carrizozo, Lincoln Loving, Eddy Cimarron, Colfax Luis Lopez, Socorro Clanton Canyon, Cienega, Hidalgo Magdalena, Mts., Socorro Clayton, Union Manzano, Mts., Torrance Cliff, Cliff-Gila Valley, Grant Maxwell, NWR, Colfax Clovis, Curry Mayhill, Otero Columbus, Luna Mesilla, Dam, Valley, Doña Ana Conchas Lake, Dam, San Miguel Mills Canyon, Harding Cochiti, Lake, Dam, Sandoval Mosquero, Harding Corrales, Sandoval Mountainair, Torrance Deming, Luna north Roosevelt trap, Roosevelt Eagle Nest, Lake, Colfax Ned Houk Park, Curry Eldorado, Santa Fe Oasis SP, Roosevelt Elephant Butte Lake, Dam, Sierra Organ Mts., Doña Ana Escondida, Lake, Socorro Peloncillo Mts., Hidalgo Field, Curry Peralta, Valencia Fort Sumner, De Baca Percha SP, Sierra Guadalupe Canyon, Hidalgo Pinos Altos, Mts., Grant Guadalupe Mts., Eddy Pleasanton, Catron NMOSFN 41:2 (Spring 2002) 17 1 March – 31 May 2002 Pojoaque, Santa Fe Separ, Grant Portales, Roosevelt Sevilleta NWR, Socorro Post Office Canyon, Hidalgo Signal Peak, Grant Puerto de Luna, Guadalupe Silver City, Grant Quarai, Torrance Six-Mile Dam, Eddy Quemado, Lake, Catron Springer, Lake, Colfax Radium Springs, Doña Ana Socorro, Socorro Raton, Colfax Storrie Lake, San Miguel Rattlesnake Springs, Eddy Stubblefield Lake, Colfax Rio Grande Nature Center, Bernalillo Sugarite SP, Colfax Roswell, Chaves Sumner Lake, Dam, De Baca Ruby Ranch, San Miguel Sunland Park, Doña Ana Sabinal, Socorro Sunspot, Otero Sabinoso, San Miguel Taos, Ski Valley, Taos Sandia Crest, Bernalillo Tolar, Roosevelt Sandia Mts., Bernalillo/Sandoval Turn, Valencia Sandia Park, Bernalillo Ute Lake, Quay San Acacia, Socorro Water Canyon, Socorro San Antonio, Socorro Virden, Hidalgo San Andres NWR, Doña Ana Yeso, De Baca Santa Rosa, Guadalupe Zuni Mts, McKinley/Cibola Abbreviations AFB Air Force Base RGV Rio Grande Valley Bosque NWR Bosque del Apache NWR SP State Park BLNWR Bitter Lake NWR USFWS U.S. Fish & Wildlife BBS Breeding Bird Survey Service CBC Christmas Bird Count WMA Wildlife Management CCNP Carlsbad Caverns NP Area CG Camp Ground WSMR White Sands Missile Cr. Creek Range EBL Elephant Butte Lake ad(s). adult(s) L. Lake subad(s). subadult(s) LVNWR Las Vegas NWR imm(s). immature(s) Mt(s). Mountain(s) juv(s). juvenile(s) NM National Monument sp. species NMSU New Mexico State Univ. m.ob many observers NP National Park v.o. various observers NRT north Roosevelt trap + others; et al. NWR National Wildlife Refuge * written details provided R. River ** photo or tape provided RGNC Rio Grande Nature *** specimen obtained Center NMOSFN 41:2 (Spring 2002) 18 1 March – 31 May 2002 Initialed Observers MLA Mary Lou Arthur NM-C Narca Moore-Craig MB Mike Bradford BDN Bruce D. Neville CWB Craig W. Benkman JRO Jerry R. Oldenettel CMB Celestyn M. Brozek JEP John E. Parmeter DJC David J. Cleary JNP James N. Paton KMC Kathleen M. Cotton NP Nicholas Pederson AMC Alan M. Craig CMR Christopher M. Rustay JPD John P. DeLong LAS Lawry A. Sager DAE Douglas A. Emkalns RTS Robert T. Scholes GJE Gordon J. Ewing HRS Hart R. Schwarz SMF Stephen M. Fettig MTS Marcy T. Scott GRF Glen R. Finley JWS John W. Shipman D&BF Dana & Bob Fox PRS Patricia R. Snider TG Tony Gallucci DWS Dale W. Stahlecker MRG M. Rebecca Gracey SHS Scott H. Stoleson DLH David L. Hawksworth BV Brad Vaughn WHH William H. Howe NV Nick Vaughn TH Tyler Huning GLW Gordon L. Warrick HWI HawkWatch International MLW Mark L. Watson DJK David J. Krueper MEW Mara E. Weisenberger RK Robert Kruidenier SW Steve West ERL Eugene R. Lewis WFW William F. West CDL Carroll D. Littlefield SOW S. O. Williams III JWM Jacob W. Malcom JEZ James E. Zabriskie LKM Larry K. Malone BRZ Barry R. Zimmer PM Patricia Mehlhop DAZ Dale A. Zimmerman DWM David W. Mehlman MAZ Marian A. Zimmerman RAM Raymond A. Meyer GM Gale Monson NMOSFN 41:2 (Spring 2002) 19 1 March – 31 May 2002 SPECIES ACCOUNTS Common Loon—Surprisingly reluctant to leave, late singles lingered at Ute L. 4 May (JRO), Maxwell NWR 20 May (DJC), and Stubblefield L. 28 May (DJC). Horned Grebe—Late were breeding-plumaged singles at Holloman L. 29 Apr (CMR) and LVNWR 11 May (CMR). American White Pelican—Some 100 at Bluewater L. 26 Mar and later were feasting on goldfish (HRS). Noteworthy for the Cliff-Gila Valley were 11 north of Cliff 10 Apr (Carol & Mike Fugagli fide DAZ). Brown Pelican—Undetailed was a possible one at L. Avalon 27 May (Tom Bemis fide SW). Neotropic Cormorant—Two wandered north in the RGV to Sevilleta NWR 7 Apr (WHH). American Bittern—One at Bosque NWR 17 Apr (WFW*) and 2 at BLNWR 3 May (GLW) furnished the only reports for this now rare species. Great Egret—The species continued to appear in out-of-the-way places, including 2 at Peralta 3 Apr (KMC) and singles at Clanton Cienega 11 May (NM-C), Columbus 28 May (SOW), Mayhill 28 Apr (SW), and Jal 9 May (SW). A high 26 were at Bosque NWR 12 Apr (JEP). Little Blue Heron—Far north was an ad. at Springer L. 8 May (DJC**). Another ad. was at BLNWR 25-27 Apr (JEP, JRO, DJK, GLW) and 1-2 ads. were at Bosque NWR 2- 28 May (WHH, DAE, BDN, JRO, CMB). Reddish Egret—An imm. at Holloman L. 24 May (BRZ*)—New Mexico’s 18th overall—provided an Otero first and the first for the month of May. Black-crowned Night-Heron—Several active nests were in a marsh just east of I-25 at Las Vegas 11 May (CMR). Yellow-crowned Night-Heron—An ad. put in a brief appearance at Bosque NWR 26 May (Thomas Warren*). White Ibis—An ad. apparently split its time between Bosque NWR, where present 12-21 Apr (RK, JEP*, JRO**, CMB*) and again 28 May (CMB), and La Joya, where present 11 May (DLH, DAE*, BDN*). Glossy Ibis—The species was documented in New Mexico for the 4th consecutive spring season, with singles at Bosque NWR 13 Apr (JRO**), 17 Apr (WFW*), & 10 May (DAE*, BDN*), one mile south of Bernalillo 1 May (JRO**), and at LVNWR 25 Apr (D&BF) where there were 2 on 5 May (JRO**). Fulvous Whistling-Duck—An ad. visited a field south of San Antonio 22-23 Apr (RK, JRO**, PRS). NMOSFN 41:2 (Spring 2002) 20 1 March – 31 May 2002 Greater White-fronted Goose—Noteworthy were 2 at Deming 27 Mar (LKM*).