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President’sMessage
CarneAndrews
TheJoyofJune
ItseemsI'vefallenintoapatternofusingeacheditionofBirdsongstoreflectonrecentBirdClubeventsandmypersonalbirdwatching.ContemplatingJuneisnoexception!Withspringmigrationalmostcompleteandbreedingseasonunderway,thebeginningofthemonthspearheadsoneofthemost,ifnotthemostexciting,timesoftheyearforbirdwatchersinnorthernWisconsin.ThefirstweekofJuneprovedtobeabusyonefortheclub,startingwithJohnBatesinformativepresentationon"FosteringandSustainingWildBirdswithNativePlants".Thanks,John!Anotherveryhelpfulresourcetofindspecificplant/shrubstoattractspecificspeciesofbirdstoyouryardiswww.audubon.org/native-plants/zipcode.
BIRDSONGSNewsletteroftheNorthLakelandDiscoveryCenterBirdClubJune,2018;Volume14,Issue2SarahBesadny,Editorsbesadny@gmail.com
OfficersCarneAndrews,PresidentDebbyWilson,SecretaryDavidFoster,TreasurerSarahBesadny,MembershipDirectorDuanneSwift,ProgramDirector
Acoupledayslater,theclubparticipatedintheGreatWisconsinBirdathon,collectivelyidentifyingover90speciesandexceedingourhighestfundraisingeffortfortheWisconsinNaturalResourcesFoundationBirdProtectionFund.Thanks,SarahfororganizingthiseventandtoeveryonewhogenerouslydonatedtosupportWisconsin'sbirdsandourclub!Eachweek,Thursdaymorningoutingscontinuetobeahighlightforthosewhoattend.Exploringavarietyoffamiliarandnewhabitatsholdsourinterestwhilelocalavianresearchersandcitizenscienceprojectsprovideintriguinglearningopportunities.Thanks,Donna.forcoordinatingandkeepingusengagedaswelookforwardtothecomingweeks.Onapersonalnote,thecomingofJunelivensuptheneighborhoodandpropertywithbirdsongashighlyanticipatedspringarrivalsthelikesofsparrows,thrushes,flycatchers,sapsuckers,flickersjoinyear-roundresidentsseekingmatesandsecuringbreedingterritory.MyearliestJunejoysaretheeveningpeetingofAmericanWoodcock,theclearwhistlingcalloftheEasternWhip-poor-willevenat5AM,andthekek-kek-kekrattleofBeltedKingfisheralongthebanksoftheManitowishRiver.Thisyear,theyardburstintothebestJuneinmemoryfledgingBlack-cappedChickadeesfrom2nestingboxes,4ChippingSparrowsfromagardenshrub,9HoodedMerganserducklingsforthefirsttimefromaboxthat'sstoodemptyfor3years,afamilyofRose-breastedGrosbeaks,Yellow-belliedSapsuckerchicksbeggingalmostnon-stopfromsunrisetosunset,andafirsttimeobservationofafemaleMallardcruisinghighspeeddownstreamwith3ducklingsonherback!Junehasalsoevolvedintomybestmonthofpersonalbreedingbirdatlasingin4yearshavingobserved10breedingconfirmationsinthepastweek!WhatalearningexperienceandthrilltoobservethesediversewondersofnaturewhilecontributingtothecurrentbiggestcitizenscienceprojectinWisconsinandcollaboratingwithfellowBirdClubmembers.ThanksespeciallytoGuy,Sarah.Cynthia,andDenisewhohavewillingsharechecklistsandtheirexpertise.June2018!Whatanincrediblemonth!Doesitgetanybetterthanthis?Can'twaittoseewhat'sinstoreinJuly.August,andSeptember!Birdwhenyoucan!EN-JOY!!!
TheValueofPerspectiveGuyDavid
Aswewandertogetherinvariousbirdinghabitatsweinvariablyencounterabirdthateveryonegetstoseebutthenwedisagreeoverwhatwehaveseen.Thenweconsultthefieldguidesanddiscusshowtheobservedbirdlookedordidn’tlookliketheonepicturedinthebook.Intheendwetrytocometoanagreementandsomelevelofsatisfactionthatweknowwhatwearetalkingabout!Sometimes,it’sevenworse!ImayrecordthebirdineBirdandthenbecontactedbyaneBirdreviewerquestioningthereportbasedonawrittendescription!Well,sometimesitisjustamatterofperspective.TaketheCommonLoonasanexample.AllofusknowaCommonLoonwhenweseeone,right?IfIweretoquizagroupandaskaquestionsuchaswhatcoloradultCommonLoonsinbreedingplumagearetheresponseprobablywouldbeblackandwhite,andsomemaymentionthattheyhaveredeyes.IfIweretoaskthatgroupabouttheshapeoftheheadofaCommonLoontheresponsemaybe“longandsloping”.Alloftheseanswerswouldbetrue,dependingontheperspectivethattheviewerhadofthebirdthatwasobserved.IhadagreatopportunitytophotographapairofloonsthatdecidedtohangaroundmypontoonboatonCrawlingStoneLakerecently.AsIreviewedthephotositstruckmehowdifferenttheylookeddependingonthedistancethebirdswerefromme,angleofthelightthatilluminatedthesceneandthedirectionthatthebirdswerefacingwhenItookthephotographs.Iincludedafewphotoswiththisarticletomakemypoint.Insomephotosthebirdsclearlyshoweddarkeyes,definitelynotred.InthosecasesifIhadonlyaquickglanceatthebirdtogatherinformationfordescribingthem,Iwouldnothavereportedredeyes.
InsomephotosthebirdsclearlyhavethelongslopingprofilefromthetopoftheheadtothetipofthebillasCommonLoonsoftenareportrayed.However,inotherphotos,theCommonLoonsdisplayalumpedforeheadratherthanthelongslope.
Insomephotosthebird’sfeathercolorationdefinitelyisastarkblackandwhite.However,insomephotosthereisadistinctgreensheenorsometimestheblackactuallyappearstobeagrayishcolor.
So,ifyouonlyhadaquicklookatoneofthesebirdsanditwasararitythatneededtobeconfirmedtobeacceptedforaneBirdrecord,whatwouldyoureportinyourwrittendescriptiontoconvincetheeBirdreviewersofthespeciesofbirdthatyouaredescribing?Isubmitthatwhenourgroupobservesabird,orwhenwearedescribingabirdtooneanother,theresultoftenisinfluencedbyperspective.
AllphotosinthisarticlearefromGuyDavid
EagleonTroutLakeLizStone
OnApril30,DickTheileandElizabethStonewerewalkingalongthethawingshorelineofTroutLakeatRedArrowCamp,locatedattheintersectionofUsHWY51NandDayLakeRoads.Sadly,theyfoundadeadbaldeaglelyingfacedownintheicywateroftheshoreline.Thecauseofdeathoftheeaglewasnotobvious.LizinitiallyphonedtheWisconsinDNRWildlifeTipline,butwhennoonehadpickeduptheeagleafterabout24hours,shesentoutane-mailtotheDiscoveryCenterBirdClub.CarneAndrewsrecommendedcontactingMichelleWoodford,theDNRbiologistforPowellMarsh,whohastheappropriatepermitstopossessabaldeagle.Michelleretrievedtheunfortunateeagle,whichwasthensenttothenationaleaglerepositoryinColoradoforscientificstudyorusebyNativeAmericans.Hopefully,thecauseoftheeagle'sdeathhasbeendetermined.Thankyou,Michelle!
PhotobyLizStone/DickTheile
TheGreatWisconsinBirdathonCynthiaKrakowski
OnJune6thourClub’steam,theUpNorthHammerheads,venturedouttocompleteourthirdBirdathonwhereparticipantsattempttoidentifyasmanyspeciesofbirdsaspossibleinoneday.Themajorityoftheteamfirstmetat6amalonghighway47totrekintothetribalsectionofPowellMarsh.Butmanyhadalreadycheckedtheirbirdfeeders&neighborhoodspriortoarrivalsoasizeablenumberofspecieshadalreadybeentallied.Themorningbeganwithovercastskieswiththepotentialofthunderstorms.HikingbacktoourcarsatPowellMarshVistainmid-morning,thestormyweatherarrived.ThuswetookcoverattheDiscoveryCenterforawhilebutnotwithoutaddingafewmorebirdsincludingredcrossbills!BackontheroadweheadedeasttomorehotspotsonTroutLake,AllequashLake,GrossRoad,thefishhatcheryandDoveRoad.SomeofusendedouradventureinMinocquaat7:45pmwhentheestimatedtallywas91species.Othersweregoingtoseekoutsomeofthecrepuscularbirdsatapotentialsitebeforecallingitaday.Andwhatawonderfuldayitwascommuningwithnature,birdsandourfellowbirdwatchers!Thereweremanyhighlightsoftheday.Theonethatstandsoutmostformewasthepairofblack-billedcuckoosinwillowshrubberyalongoneofthePowellMarshVistadikes.
EditorsNote:Asthecaptainofthebirdathonteam(althoughImissedthedayduetoanillness),Iamthrilledtoreportthattheteamof15birdersendedupwith94speciesandraisedaremarkable$3070!TheNationalResourcesFoundationofWisconsincoordinatestheGreatWisconsinBirdathon.Moneyraisedsupportsvariousbirdprotectioninitiatives(seedetailsatwibirdathon.dojiggy.com).SincewebirdonbehalfofourBirdClub,halfofthefundsweraisecomesbacktoourClubandhelpsussupportvariousbird-relatednot-for-profitorganizationsaswellasourmonthlyprogramsthatareopentothepublicasameansforsharingourloveofbirdsandeducatingpeopleaboutbirdsandtheirhabitats.ThankyoutoeveryonewhosupportedtheUpNorthHammerheads–andyoursupportofthebirds!SpecieslistfortheUpNorthHammerheadsduringtheGreatWisconsinBirdathononJune6th:CanadaGooseTrumpeterSwanWoodDuckMallardBlue-wingedTealRedheadRing-neckedDuckHoodedMerganser
AlderFlycatcherLeastFlycatcherYellow-throatedVireoBlue-headedVireoRed-eyedVireoBlueJayAmericanCrowCommonRaven
RuffedGrouseWildTurkeyPied-billedGrebeMourningDoveBlack-billedCuckooCommonNighthawkEasternWhip-poor-willChimneySwiftRuby-throatedHummingbirdSoraSandhillCraneKilldeerSemipalmatedSandpiperWilson'sSnipeAmericanWoodcockGreaterYellowlegsRing-billedGullCommonLoonGreatBlueHeronTurkeyVultureOspreyBaldEagleNorthernHarrierBroad-wingedHawkBeltedKingfisherYellow-belliedSapsuckerDownyWoodpeckerHairyWoodpeckerNorthernFlickerPileatedWoodpeckerEasternWood-Pewee
TreeSwallowBankSwallowBlack-cappedChickadeeRed-breastedNuthatchWhite-breastedNuthatchHouseWrenWinterWrenSedgeWrenMarshWrenEasternBluebirdVeeryHermitThrushAmericanRobinGrayCatbirdBrownThrasherEuropeanStarlingCedarWaxwingPurpleFinchRedCrossbillPineSiskinAmericanGoldfinchOvenbirdGolden-wingedWarblerBlack-and-whiteWarblerNashvilleWarblerMourningWarblerCommonYellowthroatAmericanRedstartNorthernParulaBlackburnianWarblerYellowWarbler
Chestnut-sidedWarblerPalmWarblerPineWarblerYellow-rumpedWarblerBlack-throatedGreenWarblerChippingSparrowSavannahSparrowSongSparrowSwampSparrow
White-throatedSparrowRose-breastedGrosbeakIndigoBuntingRed-wingedBlackbirdBrewer'sBlackbirdCommonGrackleBaltimoreOriole
2018BirdingFestivalBirdingResultsGuyDavid
The2018versionoftheNorthwoodsBirdingFestivalhasconcludedanditwasawonderfulevent.OneofthetraditionalaspectsofthefestivalistogetpatronsoutinthefieldtolookforasmanybirdsastheycanfindandthentotallytheresultsontheBigBoardintheMainLodge.AttheconclusionofthefestivitiesthetentativecumulativetotalofthebirdsrecordedontheBigBoardisannounced.AsIhavebecomeaccustomedtodoing,Icollectedallofthedatasheets(15thisyear)andenteredallofthedataintoacumulativerecordofbirdsobservedduringeveryBirdingFestivalsincethefirstonein2005.Twoformsofdataarekept,oneviaeBirdentriesandanotherinanExcelspreadsheet.Ialwaysfindittobeinterestingtolookatthedatatrendsandnowwehave14yearsofBirdingFestivaldata.InthisarticleIwillhighlightitemsthatIfindtobeinterestinginhopesthatourreaderswillalsoenjoy.Participantsinthe2018BirdingFestivaltallied85species.Thisfiguretranslatesinto2018beingaboutaverageinproductivityforfestivalbirdingoutcomes.Thestatisticalaverageover14festivalscomputesto87.5speciesperfestivalwitharangeof74speciesin2005to100speciesin2007.Therewere9festivalsthattalliedmorespeciesthan2018and5thattallied85orfewer.Our2017festivaltallied93speciesandtheyearbeforethatthetallywas76.Hmmmm…andlastyearwehadsnowsqualls…andmorespecies!Gofigure!Regardlessofconditions,itappearsthatinthesecondorthirdweekinMayourexpectedoverallbirdingoutcomesarelikelytobesomewhatsimilarfromyeartoyear.Whenonelookscloseratthedataonecanfairlyconcludethatthetotalnumberofspeciestalliedduringagivenannualeventisn’tthemostmeaningfulthingtobelearned.Itisanentertainingfigureforagroupofpatronsandprovidesacertainlevelofgroupsatisfactionofsomethingthatwascollectivelyaccomplished.Forexample,while85speciesweretalliedin2018,weretheyessentiallythesamespeciesas2017?Arethesamespeciesrecordedyearafteryearfor14years?Didthevariousbirdinggroupsexperiencethesamespeciesaspreviousgroupsinotheryears?When100specieswastalliedin2007,didthatlistofspeciesrepresentallofthespecieseverrecordedover14years?Ourcumulativedatarevealsanswerstosuchquestions.Comparingour2018outcometo2017,thedatashowsthattherewere9speciestalliedin2018thatwerenottalliedin2017.ThosespeciesincludedWoodDuck,CommonMerganser,WildTurkey,Pied-billedGrebe,Killdeer,GreaterYellowlegs,Ring-billedGull,SnowyOwl,andBarnSwallow.
Comparingour2017outcometo2018,thedatashowsthattherewere15speciesrecordedin2017thatwerenotin2018.Thismeansthattherecertainlyisaconsiderableoverlapofspeciesfoundinbothyearsbuttherealsoisvariationfromoneyeartoanother.Infact,therewere74speciesthatwererecordedbothyears.So,arethose74speciesour“oldreliables”thatweknowwillappearforbirdingfestivaleveryyear?Theshortansweris“NO”!ReviewingtheoveralldataIfound35speciesthathavebeenrecordedeveryyearsofar!Alistofourtrue“oldreliables”follows.Alsoincludedinthetablearelistsofspeciesthatwererecorded13outof14yearsand12outof14years.Isupposethatthiscouldleadonetoconcludethatwecancountonabout55speciesbeingrecorded“quitereliably”.
35SpeciesRecordedfor14BirdingFestivals
11SpeciesRecordedfor13BirdingFestivals
9SpeciesRecordedfor12BirdingFestivals
CanadaGoose TrumpeterSwan WoodDuckMallard Osprey TurkeyVultureRing-neckedDuck Merlin NorthernHarrierHoodedMerganser SandhillCrane MourningDoveRuffedGrouse White-breastedNuthatch HairyWoodpeckerCommonLoon BrownCreeper Blue-headedVireoBaldEagle WinterWren Chestnut-siderWarblerBeltedKingfisher SedgeWren BlackburnianWarblerYellow-belliedSapsucker NorthernParula AmericanRedstartNorthernFlicker Yellow-rumpedWarbler PileatedWoodpecker PurpleFinch EasternPhoebe BlueJay AmericanCrow CommonRaven TreeSwallow Black-cappedChickadee Red-breastedNuthatch HermitThrush AmericanRobin NashvilleWarbler YellowWarbler Black-throatedGreenWarbler
PineWarbler Black-and-whiteWarbler Ovenbird CommonYellowthroat ChippingSparrow SongSparrow SwampSparrow White-throatedSparrow Rose-breastedGrosbeak Red-wingedBlackbird CommonGrackle AmericanGoldfinch With55speciesofbirdsbeing“quitereliable”fromyeartoyear,howdoesthatsquarewiththefactthatinthatsamespanoftimewenormallytallywellover80speciesalmosteveryyear?Well,tobeginwith,therearethe“rarities”and“incidentals”orbirdsthathaveonlyoccurredonce,twiceorthriceover14years.Considerthedatainthefollowingtable.
31SpeciesRecordedforonly1of14BirdingFestivals(Year)
19SpeciesRecordedfor2of14BirdingFestivals
10SpeciesRecordedfor3of14BirdingFestivals
Gadwall(2016) Red-breastedMerganser WarblingVireoAmericanWigeon(2014) Cooper'sHawk MarshWrenCommonGoldeneye(2009) Red-tailedHawk Swainson'sThrushSharp-tailedGrouse(2011) PeregrineFalcon WoodThrushHornedGrebe(2013) LeastSandpiper CedarWaxwingAmericanWhitePelican(2011)
Long-billedDowitcher CapeMayWarbler
CattleEgret(2005) SnowyOwl Black-throatedBlueWarblerGreenHeron(2010) Red-belliedWoodpecker Bay-breastedWarblerNorthernGoshawk(2011) Yellow-belliedFlycatcher BlackpollWarblerGoldenEagle(2014) BankSwallow EasternMeadowlarkVirginiaRail(2011) CliffSwallow EasternMeadowlarkSemipalmatedPlover(2017) BrownThrasher White-rumpedSandpiper(2009)
TennesseeWarbler
PectoralSandpiper(2014) Wilson'sWarbler Short-billedDowitcher(2016)
CanadaWarbler
Franklin'sGull(2009) NorthernCardinal ChimneySwift(2015) IndigoBunting Olive-sidedFlycatcher(2008)
Bobolink
WillowFlycatcher(2008) RustyBlackbird GreatCrestedFlycatcher(2011)
Yellow-throatedVireo(2007)
GrayJay(2011) NorthernMockingbird(2017)
AmericanPipit(2015) Orange-crownedWarbler(2009)
EasternTowhee(2017) AmericanTreeSparrow(2013)
LeConte'sSparrow(2007) FoxSparrow(2013) LaplandLongspur(2015) PineGrosbeak(2009)
In2007theBirdingFestivalspeciestallyincluded100species.Sowerealmostallofthespecieseverrecordedover14yearsrecordedin2007?Theshortansweris“NO”!Duringanygivenbirdingfestivalwetypicallycanrecord80to90species,moreorless.Whenallofthedataforallof14yearsofbirdingfestivalsareaccumulatedthough,itisrevealedthatatotalof170specieshavebeenrecorded.Wowser!ThustheBirdingFestivalsLifeListstandsat170species.Interestingly,therewerenonewspeciesaddedtotheBirdingFestivallifelistin2018.Justlikethebirdclub’slifelistofbirdspecies,anygivenyeartheremaybe180to200speciesrecordedoveralloftheoutingsbut,overtheclub’slifetime,wehaverecorded266speciessofar.Everyyearisuniquebutitalladdsupovertime.So,isthereanythingtodoaboutallofthis?Sure!Getoutthereandgobirdingasoftenasyoucaninasmanyplacesasyoucan.Idon’tknowifanybodyelseisactuallyinterestedinallofthisbirdingdataanalysis,butitispartofthefunforme.Thebestpartofbirding,includingduringbirdingfestivals,isthatweareguaranteedtoobserveawonderfulvarietyofbirdseachandeverytime.Duringanygiventimethough,wemightchanceuponsomethingexcitingorunusual.Suchasitwasformyselfand22otherparticipantsinthePowellMarshfieldtripwhenwetookasidetriptofindaSnowyOwlthatwasreportedinaCranberryMarsh.Wordwaspassedalongtousthatwewerewelcometocomeandthatmarshpersonnelwouldactuallyguideustothebird’slocation.AllwereallyneedtoknowisthatwasFUNandEXCITING!Notonlythat,butIalsogotanicephoto,acopyofwhichisincludedinthisnewsletter.Manyotherparticipantsgotnicephotosaswell.NevermindthattheSnowyOwlwasn’tnewtothebirdingfestivallifelist,onewasalsorecordedduringourfirstbirdingfestivalin2005.
SnowyOwlBruceBaconbandingaMourningDove PhotosbyGuyDavid
PhotoJournalPhotosbyMarkWestphal
DonnaRoche,ourThursdaymorningfieldtripcoordinator,scheduledAnnaBurkhardt,Anna’shusbandandVanessaHaese-LehmantomeetusatDoveRoadtowatchAnnaandherteamcaptureandbandaGolden-wingerWarbler.
Golden-WingedWarbler
AnnaBurkhardtwithamaleGolden-wingedWarbler
ThisoutingtoDoveRoadalsoresultedinaRed-eyedVireobeingcapturedinthemistnet.It’snotoftenyouactuallyseetheredeye!
Red-eyedVireo
MaleEasternBluebird
Markhasbeenenjoyingwatchingthebluebirdnestingboxoutinhisfieldthissummer.Grasshoppersareafavoritemenuitem.
Killdeer
Killdeernest(shallowdepressioninthegravel)witheggs
ApairofKilldeernestedonthedikeroadatPowellMarsh.Althoughthenestwasn’tsuccessful,itprovidedagreatlookatthenestandthebirds.
Onceararesightonlocallakes,thefuturelooksbrightfortrumpeterswansinnorthernWisconsin.
LifeListQuarterlyGuyDavid
AsofthiswritinginthesecondweekofJune,theDiscoveryCenterBirdClubnowhas8outingsand2eventscompletedsofarfortheseason.Itishardtobelievethatwealreadyhavearoundone-thirdofourbirdingactivitiesalreadycompletedfor2018.OurbasiceBirdstatisticsrevealthattheclubLifeListremainsat269speciessincetherehavebeennoadditionstothislistsinceourlastnewsletter.However,sinceourMarch2018BIRDSONGSwehavewitnessedtheannualspringmigrationofbirdsandnowwehave124speciesofbirdsforour2018annuallist.Toaccomplishthisourclubhashadverygoodsuccessatfindingandrecordingbirdspeciesduringourweeklyoutings,theNorthwoodsBirdingFestival,andourJune6participationintheStatewideBirdathonproject.Wearewellonourwaytoequalthe161speciesthattheclubrecordedduringour2017birdingyear.Hmmmmm…Iwonderwhenandwherewewillfindthe37otherspeciestoachievelastyear’ssuccess?Wecertainlywillbolsterournumbersassummerprogressesandthenwhenthefallmigrationgetsunderwayinacoupleofmonths.LastyeartheclubovernighttriptotheGreenBayareawasareallyproductiveeventintermsoffindingnewspecies.Withoutthattripourclubexperiencewouldhave9specieslesssincethatmanyspecieswerelocatedandrecordedduringthattripthatwehadnotencounteredanywhereelseduring2017.WeknowthattherearemorespeciesofbirdsouttheretobefoundandDonnaRochehasbeenhardatworkgettingustoreallygreatbirdingsiteseveryThursday.So,besuretojoininthefunasweallworktoimproveourbirdingidentificationskillsandourproficiencyatfindingasmanykindsofbirdsaswecan!
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