June2009 Volume Ho

LUE RD The voice of ASM since 1934

June2009 Volume 76, Ho . 2

The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri's Ornithological Society Since 1901

THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

Officers

Jim Zellmer*+, President (2010) 2001 NE 4th St., Blue Springs, MO 64014, (816) 228-3955 [email protected]

Regional Directors

Lisa Berger+ (2011) Springfield (417) 881-8393

JoAnn Eldridge+ (2011) Kearny (816) 628-4840

Bruce Beck*+, Vice-President (2010) Larry Lade+ (2009) 230 CR 466; Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 St. Joseph (816) 232-6125 (573) 785-3871 [email protected]

Pat Lueders*+, Treasurer (2010) 4 79 Sherwood Drive St. Louis, MO 63119; (314) 779-1372 plleuders4 [email protected]

Terry McNeely+ (2010) Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215

June Newman+ (2009) Carrollton (660) 542-0873

Bill Reeves+ (2010) Laura Gilchrist*+, Secretary (2010) Farmington 7606 NW 73rd Ct Ruth Simmons+ (2011) Kansas City MO 64152-2385 (816) 746-8973 lagi. [email protected]

Honorary Directors

Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Nathan Fay, Ozark** Leo Galloway, St. Joseph Jim Jackson, Marthasville Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** Rebecca Matthews, Springfield Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** Dave Witten, Columbia** John Wylie, Jefferson City**

Kansas City

Mike Thelen+ (2009) University City, (314) 862-6642

Clare Wheeler+ (2010) Lake Ozark & Canton (573) 365-2951

Chairs

Josh Uffman, Rare Bird Alert Ferguson, MO (314).387 .8037 [email protected]

Bill Clark, Historian 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 474-4510

Dr. David Easterla, 2006 Recipient June Newman, Membership of the Rudolph Bennitt Award Carrollton, MO 64633 Paul E. Bauer, 2004 Recipient ofthe (660)542-0873 Rudolph Bennitt Award

+ Board Position * Executive Committee Member **Deceased

Page i THE BLUEBIRD

THE BLUEBIRD

The Bluebird Editor: Bill Eddleman*+, 1831 Ricardo Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573)

335-1507, eddlemanw@s be global. net

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

Conservation Editor: Sue Gustafson+, 429 Belleview Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119


Migratory Bird Count Compiler David Rogles, 60 Shadowridge Drive St. Peters, MO 63376


MO Bird Records Committee: Brad Jacobs+-Chair, 11300 Vemers Ford Road, Columbia, MO 65201,

(573) 874-3904, [email protected] Bill Rowe-Secretary, 9033 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63119,


Seasonal Survey Editors: Spring: Kristi Mayo, 1807 Clear Creek Dr., Kearney, MO 64060

(816) 289-7828, [email protected] Summer: Josh Uffman, 420 North Clay Avenue, Ferguson, MO 63135

[email protected] Fall: Bill Eddleman, 1831 Ricardo Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701,

(573) 335-1507 (h), [email protected] Winter: Joe Eades, 517 Willow Lane, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, (314) 835-

0353, [email protected] * Executive Committee Member

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird Manuscripts for The Bluebird-to the editor by:

Page ii

Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue; Jul. 15 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue

Deadlines for submissions to the Seasonal Survey Compilers Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)-to Joe Eades by Mar. 10

Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)-to Kristi Mayo by June 10 Summer (June 1-July. 31)-to Josh Uffman by Aug 10

Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)-to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10

THE BLUEBIRD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

June, 2009 Volume 76, No. 2

39 President's Corner-Jim Zellmer

40 From the Editor-Bill Eddleman

41 Announcing the 2009 ASM Graduate Research Scholarship Recipient-Sue Gustafson

42 Missouri Christmas Bird Counts, 2008-2009-Randy Korotev

62 Seasonal Report: Winter 2008-2009-Joe Eades

74 A Birder's Guide to Missouri Public Lands-Edge Wade

Front Cover- This immature Ferruginous Hawk provided a brief, but pho-togenic appearance near Prairie Home Conservation Area in Cooper Co. on 16 February. Photo by Jonathan Pons.

Eastern Bluebirds in John Hitzeman's back yard in Troy, Mis-souri. Photo by John Hitzeman.

THE BLUEBIRDis publishedquarterly by The AudubonSociety of Missouri.. The submissionof 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 ()f Directors, or edi-tors. Send address corrections to ASM, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261.

Page iii THE BLUEBIRD

How many of you remember the television series, the "A Team"? Where George Pep-pard played the part of John ''Hannibal" Smith. At the end of the series, Hannibal would light up a cigar, after all of the gun fights, bomb explosions, and total chaos, with a big grin he would say ..... " I love it when a plan comes together." So it was with the filling of Board positions earlier this year. The Audubon Society of Mis-souri (ASM) had two board slots and one executive committee position to be filled. I

am pleased to say that all positions have been filled and by out-standing people. Bill Reeves has joined the board as a director from Farmington, Missouri. Bill is a past president of ASM, a past mem-ber of the Missouri Bird Records Committee (MBRC), and is an out-standing birder as well. Ruth Simmons of Lee's Summit, Missouri, is a long time birder, who is completing her Masters Degree in biology with emphasis in ornithology. She is also a member of Burroughs Audubon Society of Kansas City. Pat Lueders of St. Louis, Missouri, comes to us to take over the position of treasurer. Joyce Bathke re-signed earlier this year to move to Virginia to be closer to her chil-dren. Pat was gracious enough to step in. Pat helped run a family owned business by keeping the books and doing the accounts pay-able. She is an active member of the St. Louis Audubon Society and is working with bird banding. Her experience will be a valuable as-set to ASM.

This year the spring meeting was held in Columbia, Missouri and it was a full weekend of choices. The Columbia Audubon Society (CAS) did a very good job of planning not only the activities and multiple trips, but also providing service to all those that attended. The guest speaker was Dr. James D. Rising, author of "Sparrows of the United States and Canada". His workshop and evening presentation was nothing short of outstanding. I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Rising for allowing us to cash in on his knowledge of those LBJ's (little brown jobs). Also, I want to give a special thanks to the plan-ning committee for doing an excellent job: Vanessa Melton, Susan Hazelwood, Edge Wade and Eric Seaman. Thank you for such a wonderful weekend!

Page 39 THE BLUEBIRD

This is the time that ASM will be meeting with the Missouri Depart-ment of Conservation (MDC), to work on the next phase of the Con-servation Area Checklists (CACHE) project. We will be entering phase V of our agreements with MDC and will be looking for ways to improve the way we provide the services that we do. Also, the term with the State Parks (SPARKS), Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be coming to a close and talks with DNR will begin as well. Please continue to enter your data into the CACHE/SPARKS database and build the information that we have come to rely on. We need everyone's support if we are going to be successful.

As summer approaches, keep in mind the hazards of summertime heat, insects, dehydration, and too much sun exposure without sun-screen. When you go out to bird, please take the necessary precau-tions to protect yourself and don't over do it. Mter all, the next event is the fall meeting and we want everyone to be sure to attend that meeting as it promises to be a good one.

Jim Zellmer President, The Audubon Society of Missouri

From the Editor Bill Eddleman

Change happens, but slowly! With this issue and this volume, the page numbering for The Bluebird will run sequentially. That is, page numbers will begin with the March issue, and run in sequence through the December issue. This will make things a bit easier for our professional readers, in that the peer-reviewed articles may be cited more easily when being referred to in other scientific papers.

You have also probably noticed that I've been using more photos in the last few issues. I'm happy to report that quite a number of you have responded to my request for Missouri bird photos, and I am quite happy to use them. With digital photography, there are liter-ally hundreds to choose from, and we have some great photogra-phers among our birder community in Missouri.

Finally, I always look forward to your comments and suggestions-both good and bad. Thus far, however, I've received few of either. Does this mean you like it, or just won't comment? Anyway, keep those cards, letters, and e-mails coming, and good birding!

r Page 40 THE BLUEBIRD

Announcing the 2009ASMGraduate Research Scholarship Recipient

SueGustafson

The Scholarship Committee of the Audubon Society of Mis-souri is pleased to announce that the 2009 ASM Graduate Re-search Scholarship has been awarded to Allison S. Cox at the University of Missouri-Columbia for her research entitled "Natal dispersal of Red-bellied Woodpeckers in a fragmented landscape." Allison's graduate advisor is Dr. Dylan Kesler.

The $3000 scholarship will be used to purchase supplies and materials used in Allison's research. The supplies and materi-als will become the property of the newly-formed Avian Con-servation Lab at the University of Missouri and will be invalu-able to future studies in avian conservation. The scholarship is made possible by the generosity of ASM members Paul and Fran Bauer who contributed an initial $1000 and then an-other $1000 to match the $1000 in member donations from those listed below. To see how you can participate in this im-portant ASM endeavor and to learn more about our scholar-ship program, please visit: http://www.mobirds.org/ASMRsrchSchlrship.asp

A special thanks to the following contributors to the ASM Graduate Research Scholarship: Mr. and Mrs. William Schoening Mr. and Mrs. James Zellmer JoAnn Eldridge Mr. and Mrs. John Solodar Mr. and Mrs. Harold Anderson Susan Hazelwood Connie Cooper Leif Anderson We hope you'll join this list of donors!

The ASM Scholarship Committee, Sue Gustafson, Susan Hazelwood, and Brad Jacobs


MISSOURICHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS-2008-2009Randy L. Korotev, CBC Editor

Missouri's 26 Christmas Bird Counts netted 147 species this sea-son, one less than the record set last year. Three counts were done in windy conditions, two others in rain or sleet. Squaw Creek and St. Joseph in the northwest had some snow on the ground.

New this year was that as compiler of the Orchard Farm CBC for twenty-something years, I discontinued the count and "moved" the circle 11.6 miles to the east-southeast so as to include the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. This move was done with the approval and encouragement of regular participants in the MOOF count. There are several advantages to the move. The new circle avoids overlap with two long-running Illinois counts, Elsah and Pere Marquette. The MOOF circle has always been hard to bird-there are no shoulders on any of the roads in St. Charles Co. Except for the Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area, there's not much public land in the St. Charles Co. portion of the circle. Most participants have covered their entire area in the morning and then finished their day at Riverlands, outside the circle. In contrast, about half of the new Confluence CBC is land with little birding potential in the urban and suburban portions of northern St. Louis City and County. The remaining portion, however, contains 12% water and much more public land than does the Orchard Farm circle. Some portions have great potential: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Jones Confluence State Park, Columbia Bottom and Dresser Island Con-servation Areas, and the Chain-of-Rocks area. Another difference is that 15% of the new circle lies in Illinois and is included in the count, whereas 27% of the Orchard Farm circle lies in Illinois and has never been included in the count.

Species that occurred in high numbers on Missouri counts this past season include 374 Trumpeter Swans on 8 counts (337 at the Conflu-ence), 1875 Common Mergansers on 12 counts (1260 at Montrose Lake), 326 Horned Grebes (322 at Swan Lake), 3 Golden Eagles on 3 counts, 15 Merlins on 8 counts, 464 Bonaparte's Gulls on 3 counts, 22,600 Ring-billed Gulls on 20 counts (19,200 at the Confluence, a state record), 46 Eastern Phoebes on 9 counts, 5 Northern Shrikes on 4 counts, 13 Sedge Wrens on 4 counts, 4 Common Yellowthroats

PaPage 42 THE BLUEBIRD

on 3 counts, 100 Eastern Towhees on 23 counts, 55 Le Conte's Spar-rows on 6 counts, 7000 Lapland Longspurs on 11 counts (4000 at Liberal), and 206 Pine Siskins on 12 counts (116 at Columbia). Un-usual species include 3 Great Egrets (Mingo), 2 Osprey (Clarence Cannon, Taney Co.), 1 Northern Goshawk (Squaw Creek), 1 Sora (Columbia), 1 Barn Owl (Big Oak Tree), 1 red-shafted Northern Flicker (St. Joe), 3 House Wrens (Mingo), 1 Gray Catbird (Poplar Bluff), 2 Pine Warblers (Mingo), 2 Indigo Buntings (Confluence, Mingo), 2 Dickcissels (Big Oak Tree, Clarence Cannon), and 1 Com-mon Redpoll (Squaw Creek). Bald Eagles were seen on all 26 counts. The new Confluence count added species not usually seen on Mis-souri CBCs: 2 Tundra Swans, 1 Laughing Gull, 1 Thayer's Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and 1 Glaucous Gull. A count-week Lesser Black-backed Gull was also seen at Trimble as well as a Snowy Owl. Species occurring in low numbers include Greater White-fronted Goose (only 199 birds, but on a record 10 counts), Ring-necked Duck (630), Northern Bobwhite (63), Red-breasted Nut-hatch (7), Snow Bunting (5), and Eurasian Tree Sparrow (101, largely due to absence of the Orchard Farm count). Species not seen this year include Blue-winged Teal, Least Sandpiper, Greater Road-runner, and Greater Prairie-Chicken.

Documentation of Brewer's Blackbirds continues to be a problem. The Missouri Bird Records Committee (MBRC) requires that all re-ports of Brewer's Blackbirds on CBCs be documented because of the species is. rare in winter in Missouri and it is difficult to distinguish from the somewhat more probable Rusty Blackbird. Brewer's Black-birds were reported on eight CBCs this year (182 birds) but docu-mented on only two (42 birds). I'm obliged to delete the report for species that require documentation but for which none is provided. The unfortunate ramification is that if the identification really was in error, then the birds observed were probably Rusty Blackbirds, a species that is showing one of the fastest declines in CBC data throughout the continent. (Eight counts reported a total of 1365 Rusties.) Compilers: Please follow through on all reports of Brewer's Blackbirds and get your observers to document them. Other reports I deleted for lack of documentation or because documentation was submitted but not approved by the MBRC include: 1 Greater Scaup, 2 Carolina Chickadee seen north of the Missouri River, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 Prothonotary Warbler, and 1 Chipping Sparrow. I also removed Mute Swans from two counts because the species is


not recognized as wild in Missouri by the MBRC. The undocumented Chipping Sparrow reported on the Clarence Cannon count was observed in Illinois.

Horton-Four Rivers and Mingo tied for the most species with 100; Co-lumbia was not far behinds with 94. In total, there were 440 persons in the field and another 64 feeder watchers.

co

JCJC

MSMS \

BS Ml

.PB BO

.J

Figure 1. Locations of Missouri Christmas Bird Counts (see Table 1 for key).

lPage 44 THE BLUEBIRD

Table 1. Missouri Christmas Bird Counts and Their Compilers.

Code Count Compiler

MOBO Big Oak Tree S.P. Bill Eddleman

MOBS Big Spring Kimberly Houf

MOCC Clarence Cannon N.W.R. Bruce Schuette

MOCO Columbia Jim Gast

MOCF Confluence Randy Korotev

MODC Dallas County David Blevins

MOGR Grand River Terry Mcneely

MOHF Horton-Four Rivers Mark Robbins

MOJC Jefferson City Julie Lundsted

MOJO Joplin Lawrence Herbert

MOKC Kansas City Mike Stoakes

MOKN Knob Noster Vernon Elsberry

MOLC Laclede County Lester Pannell

MOLl Liberal Lawrence Herbert

MOMA Maryville David Easterla

MOMI Mingo N.W.R. Bill Eddleman

MOML Montrose Lake Wildlife Area John Belshe

MOMS Maramec Spring Mike Doyen

MOPB Poplar Bluff Bruce Beck

MOSQ Squaw Creek N.W.R. Mark Robbins

MOSJ St. Joseph I val Lawhon

MOSL Swan Lake N.W.R. Steve Kinder

MOSP Springfield David Blevins

MOTC Taney County Charles Burwick

MOTR Trimble KristiMayo

MOWS Weldon Spring Tom Parmeter

Page 45 THEBLUEBIRD l

MOBO MOBS MOCC MOCO MOCF MODCGr. White-fronted Goose 30 21 13 Snow Goose 34200 200 463 105 21 Ross's Goose 3 4 Ross' X Snow Goose

Cackling Goose 2 62 14 3 Canada Goose 1061 6947 1790 84 Trumpeter Swan 337 1 Tundra Swan 2 swan sp.

Wood Duck 1 Gadwall 2100 26 1317 26 39 American Wigeon 500 1 2 1 American Black Duck 10 2 2 8 Mallard 38000 733 5138 1800 8 Northern Shoveler 160 3 5 148 1 Northern Pintail 1525 5 42 8 Green-winged Teal 65 20 1175 14 duck sp. 45 46

Canvasback 3 12 6 62 Redhead Ring-necked Duck 33 1 62 3 10 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 3 44 Bufflehead 4 Common Goldeneye 68 459 Hooded Merganser 1 16 Common Merganser 7 6 534 Red-breasted Merganser 1 Ruddy Duck 2 2 1 Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey 8 20 54 7 27 Northern Bobwhite 8 2 5 1 Common loon Pied-billed Grebe 2 1 Horned Grebe American White Pelican 36 Double-cr. Cormorant 7 Great Blue Heron 14 3 55 4 76 51 Great Egret Black Vulture Turkey Vulture 56 3


MOGR MOHF MOJC MOJO MOKC MOKN MOLC MOLI MOMS 50

69350 51 370 3145 392 21 2

2 22 9 4 40 603 1412 152 28110 6589 100 785 81

3

1 cw 3 117 33 39 2 5 18

6 10 2

14141 66 177 649 102 8 412 5 309 170 2 10 93 1 1

131 cw 225

6 13 5 13 1 6

2 10 5 10 4 7 1

17 31 140 2 12 23

10 20 101 3 3 100 2

25 7

23 47 4 79 2 35 148 cw 9 1 3 1

1 1 1

4 10 1

cw 19 5 1 6 2 3 4


MOMA MOM MOML MOPB MOSP MOSC Gr. White-fronted Goose 2 25 8 Snow Goose 127 1430 48373 4285 337 Ross's Goose 1 2 Ross' X Snow Goose 1

Cackling Goose 145 5 1 Canada Goose 11002 420 3918 245 971 1256 Trumpeter Swan 1 3 20 Tundra Swan swan sp.

Wood Duck 9 2 Gadwall 1585 21 12 286 4 American Wigeon 27 2 American Black Duck cw 1 2 Mallard 240 6050 34 291 316 6026 Northern Shoveler 288 37 20 Northern Pintail 14 58 4 Green-winged Teal 2 15 22 21 30 duck sp. 21

Canvasback 8 7 1 Redhead 1 Ring-necked Duck 4 366 1 8 93 1 Greater Scaup 2 lesser Scaup 15 6 46 8 Bufflehead 15 2 Common Goldeneye 25 9 30 33 Hooded Merganser 39 113 2 63 Common Merganser 10 1260 8 Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck 7 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 41 Wild Turkey 4 15 107 181 160 Northern Bobwhite 4 12 Common loon 3 Pied-billed Grebe 31 3 58 1 Horned Grebe 4 American White Pelican 23 2 Double-cr. Cormorant 1 25 7 Great Blue Heron 45 10 3 21 4 Great Egret 3 Black Vulture 24 14 Turkey Vulture 194 2 19


MOSJ MOSL MOTC MOTR MOWS counts birds 1 25 24 10 199

1017 17100 19165 1 19 200132 1 6 4 9 44

1 20 11 20 4 15 324

3305 10724 709 30760 2056 24 113120 1 8 8 374

1 2 2 2

5 16 81 37 100 19 5848

4 9 553 1 8 28

60 508 125 179 331 24 75399 cw 65 13 1218

1 11 1752 3 1 12 1499

34 10 381 3 6 13 145

3 8 5 z 1 2 21 630

3 4 7 12 331

14 cw 5 58 13 2 26 104 z 14 902

5 44 12 391 10 1 6 1 12 1875

1 7 5 13

cw 1 4 66 136 6 31 37 20 1108

6 2 5 4 14 63 11 2 14

1 8 1 12 109 322 2 326

4 65 6 51

1 9 76 3 9 23 424 1 3

422 3 460 396 17 7 687


MOBO MOBS MOCC MOCO MOCF MODCOsprey 1 Bald Eagle 20 5 70 6 157 5 Northern Harrier 20 1 10 26 12 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 7 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 4 1 Northern Goshawk accipiter sp. 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 3 3 2 14 3 5 Red-tailed Hawk 29 2 21 102 43 16 Harlan's Hawk 1

Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 buteo sp. 3

Golden Eagle American Kestrel 32 1 5 25 18 5 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon cwl Prairie Fakon falcon sp.

Virginia Rail 9 Sora 1 American Coot 19 71 Killdeer 8 1 2 1 Wilson's Snipe 25 5 Laughing Gull 1 Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull 53 277 12 19200 Herring Gull 1 219 Thayer's Gull 1 Less. Black-backed Gull 2 Glaucous Gull 1 gullsp. 1 120

Rock Pigeon 23 3 115 408 2200 11 Eurasian Collared-Dove 2 2 2 Mourning Dove 202 14 37 349 116 15 Barn Owl 1 Eastern Screech-Owl 13 5 Great Horned Owl 3 3 7 2 1 Snowy Owl Barred Owl 1 4 6 7 Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl 1 1 r Page 50 THE BLUEBIRD

MOGR MOHF MOJC MOJO MOKC MOKN MOLC MOLI MOMS

7 20 12 4 7 8 12 2 21 12 13 2 2 6 7 45 1

1 5 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 1

1 1 2 8 3 8 4 1 1 4

27 43 31 17 109 70 14 65 6

cw 1 2 2 1 3 1

17 14 7 6 6 20 16 23 2 1 1 4

1 1 1 2

2

40 1 26 41 2 3 1 1

16 1

42 2 25 166 4 155 1069 1

3

25 58 393 171 255 34 17 22 14 3 22 27 2 10 1

18 38 45 100 35 82 21 12 99

1 3 3 26 1 2 3 9 2 2

3 2 1 5 8 1 3 6 6 5


MOMA MOMI MOML MOPB MOSP MOSC Osprey Bald Eagle 16 91 7 1 10 150 Northern Harrier 9 12 6 10 7 15 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 2 1 2 6 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 1 1 6 3 Northern Goshawk 1 accipiter sp.

Red-shouldered Hawk 21 1 13 Red-tailed Hawk 26 31 27 9 105 80 Harlan's Hawk 1 5

Rough-legged Hawk 3 1 buteo sp.

Golden Eagle 1 American Kestrel 13 18 11 27 46 3 Merlin 2 1 4 Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon 1 falcon sp.

Virginia Rail Sora American Coot 46 1532 8 66 33 Killdeer 24 3 4 3 1 Wilson's Snipe 2 cw 1 3 Laughing Gull Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull 1 14 126 319 1 Herring Gull 1 1 Thayer's Gull Less. Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull gull sp.

Rock Pigeon 3 12 13 1 459 42 Eurasian Collared-Dove 7 2 8 2 13 Mourning Dove 45 295 124 21 475 92 Barn Owl Eastern Screech-Owl 1 2 2 4 Great Horned Owl 6 3 3 2 Snowy Owl Barred Owl 2 4 9 1 2 2 Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl 2 CW 7 Page 52 THE BLUEBIRD

MOSJ MOSL MOTC MOTR MOWS counts birds 1 2 2

43 72 16 44 10 26 816 6 31 1 6 3 25 265 5 5 5 2 1 23 62 3 7 18 41

1 1 5

7 16 cw1 10 19 127 66 81 26 65 25 26 1136 1 1 9

6 2 9 19 7

1 3 3 10 21 5 17 3 26 371 cw 1 8 15

1 1 1 5 6

2 1 9 1 1

174 18 14 2077 17 1 14 70

2 8 55 1 1

420 3 464 2 453 710 27 7 20 22622

1 2 7 228 1 1

cw1 1 2 1 1

3 124 145 12 102 22 66 26 4626

4 51 3 3 18 164 138 22 165 22 129 26 2711

1 1 18 1 1 12 54

3 2 8 4 6 21 98 cw1

4 11 6 2 3 22 87 1 2 7

6 22 Page 53 THE BLUEBIRD

MOBO MOBS MOCC MOCO MOCF MODC Belted Kingfisher 3 7 5 4 8 2 Red-headed Woodpecker 14 13 109 19 11 Red-bellied Woodpecker 68 24 87 246 23 19 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 5 5 8 29 2 8 Downy Woodpecker 22 6 27 174 34 3 Hairy Woodpecker 9 6 7 35 6 1 Northern Flicker 43 14 44 128 22 22 Pileated Woodpecker 10 53 6 24 11 3 Eastern Phoebe 5 2 1 1 Loggerhead Shrike 4 Northern Shrike Blue Jay 120 50 175 608 12 31 American Crow 7 57 48 381 67 76 Horned Lark 775 146 116 128 Carolina Chickadee 66 103 12 Black-capped Chickadee 81 370 7 chickadee sp. 18 33

Tufted Titmouse 41 18 108 262 10 20 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 13 12 41 96 8 8 Brown Creeper 10 1 8 15 Carolina Wren 59 31 49 124 19 31 House Wren Winter Wren 4 3 1 12 3 Sedge Wren 3 Marsh Wren 2 Golden-crowned Kinglet 12 21 31 30 7 9 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6 8 3 16 6 2 kinglet sp. 2

Eastern Bluebird 36 60 32 230 78 Hermit Thrush 4 2 1 6 1 American Robin 304 13 4843 1864 905 105 Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird 9 1 2 56 6 6 Brown Thrasher 5 3 1 1 European Starling 2822 72 4940 4308 1855 705 American Pipit Cedar Waxwing 770 108 3469 1 368 Yellow-rumped Warbler 79 19 6 39 49 30 Pine Warbler Common Yellowthroat 1


MOGR MOHF MOJC MOJO MOKC MOKN MOLC MOLl MOMS 4 4 3 2 1 1 11

4 22 8 12 11 2 51 53 52 27 77 59 18 25 47

10 7 11 15 3 10 20 29 28 23 85 31 8 7 26 4 6 5 4 12 5 2 2 8

56 65 3 13 68 55 17 20 28 1 6 7 2 1 8 1 24

1 2 1 4 2 1 4 2

113 59 208 49 130 64 141 36 157 66 128 153 77 190 137 35 236 64 1 266 169 233 216

51 3 15 48 29 55 7 163 103

48 12 7 22 40 40 51 96 58 11 20 63

4 1 10 13 22 29 31 15 9 2 24

23 1 8 9 1 11 3 34 19 19 56 14 2 13 59

7 1 6 1 17 4 8

2 44 18 7 1 51 2 13 4 7 2

19 93 67 63 41 111 54 33 67 7 1 2 1 1

93 72 1322 33 817 1125 996 12 510

4 16 10 15 20 35 8 17 1 1 1

472 536 806 688 2007 3416 1135 279 415 14

750 67 162 25 32 492 115 282 6 59 35 14 9 3 1 165

2


MOMA MOMI MOML MOPB MOSP MOSC Belted Kingfisher 1 4 1 3 21 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 2 5 4 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 16 66 34 12 92 78 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 14 2 1 14 4 Downy Woodpecker 21 48 24 2 92 74 Hairy Woodpecker 6 14 5 3 5 36 Northern Flicker 28 71 32 4 69 63 Pileated Woodpecker 29 3 1 9 4 Eastern Phoebe 25 6 Loggerhead Shrike 1 1 3 2 Northern Shrike 1 Blue Jay 51 126 96 51 176 58 American Crow 77 102 204 121 406 17 Horned Lark 112 8 83 110 20 129 Carolina Chickadee 69 22 234 Black-capped Chickadee 21 48 90 chickadee sp.

Tufted Titmouse 10 89 17 36 143 58 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 12 35 6 7 41 64 Brown Creeper 1 6 2 6 15 Carolina Wren 2 111 14 34 151 32 House Wren 3 Winter Wren 13 3 8 2 Sedge Wren 5 Marsh Wren 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet 21 ll 3 12 6 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 22 2 15 kinglet sp.

Eastern Bluebird 10 145 93 129 278 56 Hermit Thrush 13 1 4 American Robin 211 115 2968 20 2140 102 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 13 23 20 41 Brown Thrasher 7 1 4 1 European Starling 668 818 1239 1832 11183 351 American Pipit 1 Cedar Waxwing 8 157 199 79 503 4 Yellow-rumped Warbler 66 13 10 122 1 Pine Warbler 2 Common Yellowthroat 1


MOSJ MOSL MOTC MOTR MOWS counts birds 5 25 3 6 23 125

62 13 3 11 19 326 73 103 108 so 95 26 1603 11 4 45 9 6 23 225 70 49 74 68 71 26 1116 4 13 10 5 14 26 227

36 83 90 79 63 26 1216 7 8 49 8 23 275

13 9 56 3 2 12 28 1 1 4 5

151 307 149 103 156 26 3377 105 161 453 53 196 26 3617 822 340 18 18 3692

313 11 936 97 54 113 14 1238

160 278 31 53 155 49 119 26 1620

4 7 46 37 70 25 45 26 721 18 7 7 9 8 20 166 50 23 147 33 82 26 1211

1 3 5 1 16 87 1 4 13

3 11 15 3 61 8 32 22 406 8 12 3 5 18 136

2 36 60 303 75 87 25 2256

4 1 2 16 51 649 199 1119 413 1094 26 22044

1 1 5 1 36 36 12 24 393

1 1 12 27 2695 251 950 1005 444 26 45892

2 15 74 942 484 378 9 24 9478

7 9 130 135 23 1007 1 2 3 4


MOBO MOBS MOCC MOCO MOCF MODC Spotted Towhee Eastern Towhee 6 15 1 2 American Tree Sparrow 1 905 756 377 15 Chipping Sparrow 1 Field Sparrow 5 12 4 11 Savannah Sparrow 36 14 6 1 LeConte's Sparrow 3 2 Fox Sparrow 16 5 2 41 3 Song Sparrow 64 12 224 274 77 13 Lincoln'sSparrow 2 1 Swamp Sparrow 116 143 119 19 White-throated Sparrow 320 115 120 690 100 57 Harris's Sparrow 5 3 White-crowned Sparrow 36 5 64 148 170 44 sparrow sp. 23

Dark-eyed Junco 162 216 425 2424 181 248 Lapland Longspur 336 4 336 Snow Bunting Northern Cardinal 165 68 138 1088 129 59 Indigo Bunting 1 Dickcissel 1 1 Red-winged Blackbird 660 7642 1370 129 Eastern Meadowlark 30 6 10 17 15 4 Western Meadowlark 2 meadowlark sp. 519 66

Rusty Blackbird 753 Brewer's Blackbird Common Grackle 5009 11 20 Great-tailed Grackle 3 Brown-headed Cowbird 190 3032 blackbird sp. 59 138

Purple Finch 1 6 26 115 17 House Finch 40 150 8 Common Redpoll Pine Siskin cw2 116 American Goldfinch 123 113 207 967 88 35 House Sparrow 31 6 77 448 so 81 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 17 79 No. of Species 76 54 85 92 80 58 No. Observers 8 6 24 68 27 2 Date 18-Dec 3-Jan 27-Dec 20-Dec 1-Jan 1-Jan


MOGR MOHF MOJC MOJO MOKC MOKN MOLC MOLI MOMS 1

1 1 14 833 179 6 1 120 234 138 4

1 8 1 5 5 4 6 17

48 1 101 3

21 2 1 12 1 6 30 12 120 12 8 45 12 8 78 77

5 119 3 2 5 11

2 227 53 40 83 23 27 59 211 2 29 8 12 2 50

184 49 17 13 15 87 594 11 1 12

543 548 467 331 412 346 301 361 307 cw 225 4000

4 231 281 198 127 229 153 162 334 110

117 2389 8700 80 256 979 10725 67 43 3 10 11 127 40 20

4 5 4 280 33 18 36 267 4 476 40

3 81 3515 28 9 150010 2 171 12 72

127 5 4 2 16 4 146 1167 210

1 6 6 3 3 35 3 33 1 11 77 60 47 30 10 11 35

1 32 9 5 103 157 94 210 105 81 25 171 69 215 21 54 94 114 90 78 185 6

51 100 66 58 67 68 48 71 66 8 15 14 9 24 17 5 13 10

27-Dec 14-Dec 20-Dec 20-Dec 28-Dec 28-Dec 20-Dec 27-Dec 20-DecPage 59 THE BLUEBIRD

MOMA MOMI MOML MOPB MOSP MOSC Spotted Towhee 2 Eastern Towhee 21 1 6 5 4 American Tree Sparrow 260 57 194 5 757 Chipping Sparrow 4 Field Sparrow 70 51 29 26 Savannah Sparrow 1 19 3 le Conte's Sparrow 40 1 Fox Sparrow 25 2 11 12 14 Song Sparrow 5 414 188 54 158 32 lincoln's Sparrow 1 1 3 Swamp Sparrow 263 10 3 25 26 White-throated Sparrow 11 614 29 151 501 33 Harris's Sparrow 12 6 11 White-crowned Sparrow 124 360 23 62 7 sparrow sp. 1

Dark-eyed Junco 213 355 826 139 1529 529 Lapland Longspur 60 130 95 1443 Snow Bunting Northern Cardinal 78 250 254 61 628 156 Indigo Bunting 1 Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird 121 1364 872 3752 390 3324 Eastern Meadowlark 2 74 193 51 147 Western Meadowlark 9 meadowlark sp. 39 43

Rusty Blackbird 4 Brewer's Blackbird 40 Common Grackle 3 92 17 212 277 69 Great-tailed Grackle 7 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 11 12 300 26 16 blackbird sp. 100 5

Purple Finch 75 1 1 5 1 House Finch 15 13 14 28 286 15 Common Redpoll 1 Pine Siskin 10 7 2 2 American Goldfinch 42 290 147 72 541 39 House Sparrow 134 32 116 70 222 176 Eurasian Tree Sparrow No. of species 60 100 79 70 87 86 No. Observers 8 20 17 10 34 10 Date 14-Dec 20-Dec 27-Dec 27-Dec 20-Dec 17-Dec


MOSJ MOSL MOTC MOTR MOWS counts birds 2 3 5

2 1 3 4 13 17 100 337 579 2 364 282 23 6406

3 6 12 10 11 18 287

2 1 12 233 6 6 55

4 2 8 3 4 22 225 120 30 117 27 177 26 2358

1 1 8 15 3 2 1 57 18 927

49 95 563 28 444 26 4645 35 35 13 210 12 13 6 145 23 2189·

10 47 1223 374 1340 488 377 26 14665

213 150 11 6992 1 2 5

343 212 289 198 210 26 6157 2 2 2 2

508 760 26 124 3061 23 47416 9 78 46 1 22 937 6 5 26

39 30 12 1374 4 60 24 8 1365.

2 2 42 66 3 3 6 234 23 159853

2 5 88 3 55 26 2 17 3831

15 1840 12 1 27 17 17 23 412 75 7 59 1 11 23 1004

1 1 6 13 3 12 206

159 131 298 71 277 26 4615 557 602 126 139 29 26 3753

5 3 101 69 69 79 79 78 13 14 26 21 17

20-Dec 3-Jan 3-Jan 26-Dec 3-Jan Page 61 THE BLUEBIRD

WINTER 2008-2009 SEASONAL REPORT JOE EADES

The Missouri winter season kicked off in serious fashion with ex-tremely cold temperatures 1-22 December, resulting in an early freeze-up in the northern half of the state. The very cold weather broke in late December, resulting in a thaw of large lakes in north-ern Missouri and the upper Mississippi River. However, unusually cold weather returned by mid January and held much of the state in its icy grip through the end of the month. Southeastern Missouri experienced devastating ice storms at the end of January, causing widespread and severe damage to trees. Most of February, in con-trast, was warmer than normal across the state, with the warming trend starting promptly on the first day of the month in the north.

Winter bird highlights included Missouri's first winter record of Brown Pelican and an immature Ferruginous Hawk in central Missouri. Several irruptive species staged impressive invasions. The Northern Shrike flight matched the unprecedented invasion of 2007-2008, this time in synchrony with an invasion of Snowy Owls. At least four Snowy Owls were observed in northern Missouri over the winter season, making this the best invasion year in recent memory. Winter fmches were well-represented. Common Redpolls appeared in above normal numbers across the state's northern half, Pine Siskins were widely reported, while Purple Finches were uncom-mon, especially when compared to last year. Both crossbill species occurred, but the season's widespread regional movement of White-winged Cross bills seemed to stop short just north and east of Mis-souri. However, a single White-winged Crossbill did visit a St. Jo-seph resident's water feature from Christmas through 22 February. The only consistent report of Red Crossbill was of three birds visit-ing a St. Joseph feeder from 20 January through 28 February. Red-breasted Nuthatch was not widely reported and numbers were down dramatically from last winter. Unusually cold December weather meant no reports of Killdeer or Wilson's Snipe from the northern half of the state until returning migrants arrived in early February. A few species that generally winter south of Missouri made an un-usual number of appearances. There were five documented records


of Chipping Sparrow, three of Dickcissel and multiple Laughing Gulls along the Mississippi River. Record-high numbers of Sedge Wrens were tallied on a survey of the prairies of southwestern Mis-souri and several others were found in southeastern Missouri.

Note: Records marked with a single asterisk(*) require documentation, but no documentation has yet been received by the Missouri Bird Records Committee (MBRC). Observers involved with such sightings are encouraged to submit documentation. The MBRC has received documentation of those records marked with two aster-isks (**), and those marked (ace.) have been accepted.

GEESE THROUGH SWANS Greater White-fronted Geese were present in small numbers in

the St. Louis area until February. Four were seen at RMBS on 7 Dec and 17 were seen at CCNWR, Pike on 27 Dec (BR). Twenty-five seen in north-central Missouri at SLNWR on 3 Jan were rare for that date and location (SK, LL). By 1 Feb numbers had built to 30 at RMBS (BR). More than 600 had arrived at SLNWR by 10 Feb (SK, MC, DF) and 135 were seen at MTC on 15 Feb (BR). Snow Geese numbered 150,000 at SOCA on 29 Jan (BJ) and 40,000 were seen at OSCA on 1 Jan (CB). Cackling Goose was described as mostly ab-sent from early January to mid February in west-central Missouri (Clay, Clinton, Ray and DeKalb). Only eight were detected among 1500 Canada Geese at Pony Express Lake, DeKalb on 17 Jan but by 18 Feb Cackling Geese made up approximately 10% of mixed Can-ada/Cackling flocks (KM). Small numbers were seen at RMBS through the winter, with higher counts of 12 on 13 Dec (MT), 20 on 4 Jan (JU), 30 on 1 Feb (JU) and 9 on 7 Feb (BR). Two were also seen near Fort Bellefontaine County Park at Clock Tower Pond, St. Louis on 1 Jan (BR). Trumpeter Swan numbers continue to increase at RMBS. The high count received was 375 on 1 Jan (CM). Six, consist-ing of three obvious pairs on 25 Jan were a first in the Sunshine Lake area, Ray for Kristi Mayo. Six were also seen at the Thompson River Wetlands, Livingston on 1 Feb (SK). Another six,including one immature, were seen at Davis Lake (private) near Fayette, How-ard on 14 Jan (EW). Trumpeters peaked at EBCA with 15 on 7 Feb. Five Trumpeters were shot at this site on the last day of waterfowl season. Three separate instances were reported by hunters who wit-nessed the shootings. The case is being prosecuted. The accused have pled innocent (fide EW). Small numbers of Tundra Swans


now regularly winter with the large Trumpeter flock at RMBS. The high count for the season there was six on 13 Dec (MT). One was still present on 1 Feb (MT).

DUCKS THROUGH PRAIRIE CHICKEN

Five Wood Ducks were seen at SOCA on 29 Jan (BJ). A "Woody" that reached SL on 10 Feb (KM) may have been an early migrant. Two American Black Ducks were at CCNWR, Pike on 27 Dec (BR) and eight were seen at RMBS on 6 Jan (CM), the latter a seasonal high count for that location. One was seen at RMBS on 7 Feb and three were seen at MTC on 15 Feb (BR). Two were at SLNWR, where considered rare, on 7 Feb (SK) and a staff biologist counted 12 there on 15 Feb, a high count for the area and for the season state-wide (fideSK). Northern Shoveler was absent during mid-winter where usually present at RMBS, probably due to a hard freeze and lack of open water. Further south, five were observed at SOCA on 29 Jan (BJ). Two very early Blue-winged Teal reached north-central Missouri, SLNWR by 10 Feb (SK, MC, DF). Two American Wigeon were at SOCA on 29 Jan (BJ). Twelve Greater Scaup were at RMBS on 29 Dec (MT). The season's high count of Ring-necked Duck was of 200 at SOCA 29 Jan (BJ). Seventeen Canvasbacks were seen on a farm pond near SL on 10 Feb (KM). An estimated 500, 90% of which were adult males, were on the Mississippi River just below Canton Dam, Lewis on 20 Jan (MR). This represents the high count for the season. A single Redhead was at OSCA on 2 Jan (CB) and five returning birds were at Excelsior Springs Water Treatment Plant, Ray on 20 Feb (KM). A Long-tailed Duck was seen at Lake Wappapello, Wayne on 28 Dec (CB) and another was at Creve Coeur Lake, St. Louis 11-14 Jan (James Rickner, CM). A White-winged Scoter was at Mozingo Lake, Nodaway on 13 Dec (JE). Another was below Canton Dam, Lewis, on 20 Jan (MR) while yet another was at RMBS on 1 Feb (MT) and 14 Feb (CM, JM). Two Black Scoters accompanied the White-winged at Mozingo Lake on 13 Dec (JE). One or two were present at RMBS through the first half of December and one was still present on 21 Dec (ace., MT). Approxi-mately 2000 Common Goldeneye seen on the Mississippi River just below Canton Dam, Lewis on 20 Jan. (MR) represented the high count for the season. Six Hooded Mergansers were at SOCA on 29 Jan (BJ), 50 were at RMBS on 6 Dec (BR) and 115 were at Lake


Wappapello, Wayne on 18 Jan (CB). A Red-breasted Merganser was seen at RMBS 1 Jan (JM) and two were at SL 4 Jan (KM). One was reported again, perhaps a returning migrant, at RMBS on 1 Feb (MT). Greater Prairie-Chicken numbers have plummeted in Mis-souri in recent years. Three flushed at PSP on 28 Dec was the only report during this season (MR).

LOONS THROUGH FALCONS

Jim and Charlene Malone observed a Common Loon at RMBS on 14 Feb, a very early date for a migrant through central Missouri. No reports were received on known wintering populations in large res-ervoirs in southern Missouri. A Pied-billed Grebe was observed at RMBS on 1 Jan (JE, JU); perhaps the same bird was at the same location on 10 Jan (MT). The season's high count for Horned Grebe consisted of 25 near the dam at PDTL on 20 Jan (BJ). No reports were received from Table Rock Lake where large numbers regularly winter. Two rather early migrants were at RMBS on 21 Feb (JE). The only mid-winter report of American White Pelican was of three at RMBS on 1 Jan (JU). Twenty had returned to SLNWR on 10 Feb, an early return date for this location in north-central Mis-souri (SK, MC, DF). A BROWN PELICAN was perhaps the high-light of the season and a first ever for the state in winter. This im-mature bird was found and photographed from a private campus on the Niangua arm of Lake of the Ozarks, Camden on 16 Feb (**Andy Kline, Connie Turek). It was relocated near Big Island Resort on 28 Feb (JE) and seen by a few others in that area during the following

Missouri's first winter Brown Pelican, found at Lake of the Ozarks, Camden Co., on February 16, 2009 by Andy Cline and Connie Turek, and seen by many observers. Photo by Connie Turek.


week. Single Double-crested Cormorants were seen in different areas of Mississippi on 21 Feb (CB). Several Great Blue Herons stayed all winter at SLNWR, and eight on 3 Jan was an all-time high count for the SLNWR CBC (SK). A Great Egret was observed near OSCA on 1 Jan (CB). Three Black Vultures were seen over the Elk River, McDonald on 28 Feb (Joyce Haines, Frank Meyer). Turkey Vultures persisted in small numbers throughout the pe-riod at the Columbia roost, Boone (EW) and an early migrant had reached St. Joseph, Buchanan by 8 Feb (LL). The season's high count for Bald Eagles at SLNWRwas 132 on 7 Feb (SK), while "hundreds" wintered around the poultry houses near Stella, Newton (LH). An adult dark-morph Red-tailed "Harlan's" Hawk was seen at CBCA on 7 Feb (BR). Another "Harlan's" (morph unspecified) wintered at Bushwacker Lake CA, Vernon (LH). Seven Red-shouldered Hawks on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan was an unusu-ally high number for northern Missouri (SK) and another at the northern edge of St. Joseph, Buchanan on 2 Jan was unusual for the area (JH). An immature FERRUGINOUS HAWK near Prairie Home CA, Cooper on 16 Feb (**Jonathon Pons) was another high-light of the season. Good photographs were obtained but the bird did not linger in the area for others to see. Rough-legged Hawk was reported mostly from the northern half of the state. One light-phase bird was at BF 4 Jan (BJ), six were seen on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan (SK) and three were seen over one CRP field, Daviess on 20 Jan (SK). Several Golden Eagles were reported, including an immature and an adult near Ted Shanks CA, Pike on 31 Dec (JE). Another adult was seen north of FRCA near Rich Hill, Vernon on 29 Jan and (BJ, AF). An immature made the list on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan (Ted Rights, JN) and was seen again on 13 Jan (SK, MC, DF). An immature was also seen at SOCA on 11 Feb (AF, BJ). There were three reports of Merlin. One was seen near LC on 18 Dec (LL); an-other at CBCA on 25 Jan (MT) and another was at Browning Lake near Rosecrans Airport, Buchanan on 24 Feb (JH). The season's only Peregrine Falcon report was of an immature in St. Louis 24 Jan (JU). A Prairie Falcon coursed by low and fast at TPCA on 29 Jan (BJ, AF). Another fly-by was seen near Winston, Daviess on 22 Feb (KM). A third was seen around LC, where regular in winter, on 19 Dec, 20 Dec and 6 Jan (LL). The TPCA bird was seen again on 11 Feb (AF).


RAILS THROUGH GULLS

At least three Virginia Rails were heard early in the morning of 31 Dec at the regular wintering location at the McBaine Wetland cells, Boone (JE). More than 20 American Coots were present at SL on 2 Jan (KM), but only one was present there by 17 Jan (KM). The early freeze seemed to kick Killdeer south. Bill Rowe noted that they seemed to be absent all winter in the St. Louis area until he encountered 16 returning birds at MTC on 15 Feb. MT found the first St. Louis area returns with single birds at Dalbow Road, St. Charles and Prairie Slough CA, Lincoln on 7 Feb. Two early Lesser Yellowlegs had returned to southeastern Missouri at OSCA on 24 Feb (**BL). Similar to Killdeer, Wilson's Snipe was largely absent from the northern half of the state this winter. One early-returning migrant was found at MTC on 15 Feb (BR). Returning American Woodcock were flushed at General Watkins CA, Scott on 8 Feb (CB) and seen flying across the road near Deepwater, Henry at twi-light on 11 Feb (BJ, AF). Two Bonaparte's Gulls loitered at RMBS until13 Dec (MT) and one lingered until19 Dec (JU). Two other tardy "Bonies" were at Mozingo Lake, Nodaway on 13 Dec (JE). Fur-ther south, 20 were seen near the dam at PDTL on 29 Jan (BJ, AF). Twelve were seen on the Niangua arm of Lake of the Ozarks, Cam-den on 28 Feb (JE). An adult Laughing Gull loafed on the ice above Winfield Dam, Lincoln on 20 Dec (ace., JE) and one was seen on and off at RMBS on 1 Jan (DR), 4 Jan (ace., JU) and 24 Jan (BJ). This bird remained through the season and had begun molting into par-tial breeding plumage when observed on 14 Feb (CM, JM). A count of 453 Ring-billed Gulls on 3 Jan was almost ten times the previ-ous high count for the SLNWR CBC (SK). "Low thousands" were present at RMBS on 29 Dec (MT). Herring Gull numbers peaked at SL with 20 on 3 Jan (KM) and an immature Herring was a rare find for the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan (SK). "Low hundreds" was the highest number reported for the season at RMBS on 29 Dec (MT). A Thayer's Gull was at SL 10 Feb and 20 Feb (**KM). One or two first-cycle birds were present at RMBS 21 Dec through 24 Jan, with an adult also present on the latter date (MT). A fust-cycle Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull was at LBL, Macon on 18 Jan (ace., BJ) and was still present on 23 Jan (ace., EW). A first-cycle "Kumlien's" was at RMBS on 21 Jan (CM) and 24 Jan (MT). An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen on 2 Jan and 3 Jan at SL (**LW, KM). This species was found in low numbers during mid-winter at RMBS as


usual, with two adults 19 Dec (JU); the season's high count at this location was three on 17 Dec (CM, JM) and 29 Dec (MT). An adult Glaucous Gull was at RMBS on 19 Dec (JU) and a first-cycle bird was seen there on 1 Jan (CM). An "immature" was also seen at Long Branch L., Macon on 19 Jan and two "immatures" were present there on 20 Feb (ace., EW).

DOVES THROUGH SHRIKES

Eurasian Collared-Doves were present all winter at the St. Jo-seph Stockyards, Buchanan with a peak of about 30 on 10 Jan (LL). A White-winged Dove* was seen at the St. Joseph Stockyards, Buchanan on 10 Jan and a couple of times thereafter (LL). Steve Kinder found two different groups of six Long-eared Owls in north -central Missouri on 5 Jan in Livingston and on 12 Jan in Daviess. Two Short-eared Owls were at BF 4 Jan (BJ) and the species con-tinued to be seen by others throughout the season there. Snowy Owls staged the best invasion in recent memory with at least four different birds recorded. A beautiful pure-white adult male set up shop near Bethany, Harrison from early Dec through at least 4 Jan (SK). An immature female was at SL on 21 Dec. (Doug Willis, KM). A fearless adult female put on quite a show hunting near Brecken-ridge, Caldwell from mid-Feb through the end of the period (SK). This combined with another adult female near Chillicothe, Livingston from mid Feb through the end of the season gave some

Female Snowy Owl near Breckenridge, Caldwell County. This bird was present from mid-February, 2009. Photo by Brad Jacobs.


Missouri birders the surreal experience of seeing two Snowy Owls in one day (SK. JE)! A total of 28 Red-headed Woodpeckers from a single area of the CCNWR CBC, Pike on 27 Dec was a nice count (BR). The total for the Missouri section of this count was 76 (BS). Two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were at CLCA on 25 Jan (KM). Two Pileated Woodpeckers on 5 Dec at SCNWR (LL) were un-usual for the northwestern part of the state, but observations are on the increase there. Two Eastern Phoebes were seen near Pineville, McDonald on 20 Dec (LH) and another was found at Rock Bridge SP, Boone on 2 Jan(** AF). An early return was at Campbell Bridge, Crawford on 15 Feb (JU) and another early migrant was seen at Simpson County Park Lake, St. Louis on 19 Feb (David Marjamaa). Other migrants had returned to the southwest in Newton by 19 Feb and McDonald (with a count of 5) by 25 Feb (fide LH). A Logger-head Shrike was seen near Clinton, Henry on 29 Jan (BJ). A pair, one carrying nesting material, was seen in Butler on 12 Feb (CB). An impressive seven were seen near Stella, Newton on 18 Feb (LH). Loggerhead was much less reported than Northern Shrike this win-ter! Twelve reports of Northern Shrike followed a surge of this species into Missouri during the fall season. One made it as far south as Dade in southwestern Missouri on 1 Dec (LH), marking one of the southernmost records ever for the state*. An adult, probably the same bird as last year, was present at PSP*, Barton on 28 Dec (MR). One found at WSCA on 29 Dec (JE, ace., JM, ace., MT) re-mained through the end of the period. Other singles were seen at SCNWR on 1 Jan (LL), on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan (TM, MM) and at Drovers Prairie*, Pettis on 13 Jan (AF). An immature was seen at Deer Ridge CA *, Knox on 19 Jan (MR). Two were seen in Daviess, one on 20 Jan and a different bird on 27 Jan (SK). One at Whetstone Creek CA, Callaway on 29 Jan was seen in the same location where one spent the winter last year (ace., EW). Another (probable imma-ture) was seen southeast of Pickering, Nodaway on 15 Feb (MR).

NUTHATCHES THROUGH WARBLERS

Red-breasted Nuthatches were not widely reported. Four were found in a pine grove at the edge of Kirksville, Adair on 19 Jan and another four were found in a pine grove east of Mozingo Lake, No-daway on 15 Feb (MR). In the southeast, two were reported from General Watkins CA, Scott on 8 Feb (CB). A pair of Carolina


Wrens stirred around the brush piles picking up scraps at Larry Lade's feeders in St. Joseph, Buchanan throughout the winter. Sev-eral House Wrens were reported by the same observer in south-eastern Missouri, with a peak of three at OSCA Stoddard on 14 Dec (ace., CB). Two were seen 20 Dec on the Mingo CBC Stoddard (ace., CB). A Winter Wren was observed at Rock Bridge SP, Boone on 22 Jan (EW) and another was at CBCA on 25 Jan (MT). Incredible numbers of Sedge Wrens were revealed during an annual winter survey on 28 Dec at PSP (38) and Osage Prairie (4), Barton (MR). This represents an all-time winter high count. In southeastern Mis-souri, several individuals were observed in Stoddard and at Lake Wappapello, Wayne between 20 Dec and 2 Jan. At least eight were found at OSCA on 2 Jan (ace., CB) and five were found on the Mingo NWR CBC, Stoddard/Wayne on 20 Dec (ace., CB). A single Marsh Wren was seen at OSCA on 2 Jan (CB, BL). A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was at CBCA on 1 Jan (BR) and another was seen along Greens Bottom Road, St. Charles on 3 Jan (BR). There were three reports of Hermit Thrush from mid-Missouri: along the Katy Trail east of McBaine, Boone on 2 Feb, Blind Pony CA, Saline on 4 Feb and Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Saline on 4 Feb (EW). A Gray Catbird found by Clark Creighton on 9 Jan August A. Busch CA, St. Charles remained through at least 21 Feb (**JU). A Brown Thrasher was seen at WSCA on 1 Jan (JE) and another was at MTC on 15 Feb (Randy Korotev, BR). Three American Pipits were reported from OSCA on 1 Jan (CB). One hundred Cedar Waxwings were scattered in small flocks around PDTL on 29 Jan (BJ). A record 942 were seen on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan and 1000+ were seen at Poosey CA, Livingston on 12 Jan (SK). Why couldn't one of them be a Bohemian? An Orange-crowned Warbler was observed along the boardwalk at OSCA on 14 Jan (BE). Twenty Yellow-rumped Warblers were seen foraging in the trees near LC on 11 Dec (LL). An adult male Pine Warbler was seen in the pine plantation along the south side of PSP on 28 Dec where this species has been seen in winter before (MR). A pair was seen in the pines adjacent to Dexter City Lake, Stoddard on 18 Dec and a single female was seen at the same location on 22 Jan (CB). A Palm Warbler, casual in winter, was observed near OSCA on 14 Dec (ace., CB). A Common Yellow-throat was found in a wetland area at FRCA on 29 Jan (BJ, AF). Two were seen in different areas of OSCA on 2 Jan (CB) and one was seen again at FRCA 11 Feb (AF).


TOWHEES THROUGH WEAVER FINCHES

BR had a nice surprise on 3 Jan with two Spotted Towhees at WSCA, in widely separated locations. A female found near the West Alton Boat Ramp, StCharles by David and Mary Anne Marjamaa on 31 Jan was also seen on 1 Feb (JU). An Eastern Towhee found on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan was rare for the count (JN, fide SK). An unusual number of Chipping Sparrow reports were received this season. The species' "casual" wintering status may be changing. One was seen on the Liberal CBC, Barton (ace., David Ringer) on 27 Dec while another was seen at OSCA on 30 Dec (ace., CB). Nine were seen at Resurrection Cemetery, St. Louis on 5 Jan (ace., JE) and one was observed in Festus, Jefferson on 16 Jan (ace., Thomas Mills). Two were observed throughout the winter season and were photo-graphed in Jackson, Cape Girardeau (**MH). A single Field Spar-row was in the company of the nine Chipping Sparrows noted above, St. Louis on 5 Jan (JE). Other singles were seen at CBCA on 25 Jan (BJ), SL on 17 Jan (KM) and Prairie Home CA, Cooper on 21 Feb (JU). A Vesper Sparrow was seen near EBCA on 13 Jan (ace., Jennifer Reidy). The rarest sparrow of the season, accidental in win-ter, was a Lark Sparrow on 24 Feb near Stella, Newton (**LH, RS). Savannah Sparrows were scarce this winter, probably due to unusually cold early-winter weather. One was seen at CLCA on 25 Jan (KM) and Leo Galloway had one visit his St. Joseph, Andrew backyard on 28 Feb. A Fox Sparrow found on the SLNWR CBC on 3 Jan was rare for that location (TM). A Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco visited a feeder in Kearney, Clay on 28 Feb (KM). Lapland Longspur reports were as follows: 280 were in the Lake Contrary area, Buchanan on 2 Dec and some remained in this area through-out the season (LL). A corn stubble field in Boone held 150 on 4 Jan (BJ) and 250 were at Sunshine Lake, Ray on 25 Jan (KM). An im-pressive 4000 were seen in southwestern Missouri on the Barton CBC 27 Dec (LH), but the season's high count came from the south-east, with multiple flocks between Bloomfield and Dexter in Stoddard totaling 6000+ on 25 Jan (CB). A tally of 31 came from St. Charles on 31 Jan (JU). Connie Alwood was the first to discover a Snow Bunting along snow-covered roads near RMBS, StCharles Co. on 31 Jan. By the end of the day multiple observers had ob-served a minimum of 4 birds in the immediate area (JU, CM, JE). A


female-type Indigo Bunting was observed at CBCA during the CBC on 1 Jan (ace., BR). Another female-type was discovered 20 Dec on the Mingo CBC, Stoddard (**CB). The Keokuk, Iowa CBC also recorded this species in the Clark, Missouri section of the count* and the bird was photographed. Dickcissels were found on the CCNWR CBC, Lincoln on 27 Dec (ace., Kevin Eulinger) and on the Big Oak Tree SP CBC, Mississippi on 18 Dec (ace., BE). Mark Haas' Jackson, Cape Girardeau feeding station was hopping with interesting birds this winter. He saw a Dickcissel there on 10 Feb (**MH). Rusty Blackbirds are getting harder to find in winter. Ten were at Sun-shine Lake, Ray on 21 Dec (KM) and two were at CCNWR, Pike dur-ing the CBC on 27 Dec (BR). More than 30 were at Church and See-burger Roads, St. Charles on 17 Jan (MT) while four were at B.K. Leach CA, Lincoln on 8 Feb (CM, JM). Higher numbers from around mid Feb on probably represented migrants. A total of 155 were seen just north of FRCA, Bates on 11 Feb (BJ) and 300 were seen along Hayford Road, St. Charles on 14 Feb (CM, JM). Fourteen were seen at MTC on 15 Feb (BR) and three were in Kearney, Clay on 28 Feb (KM). Two Brewer's Blackbirds were seen on the Trimble CBC, Clay (ace., Robert Fisher). More than 150 were seen in Barton on 28 Dec with 100+ at Osage Prairie CA and 50+ at PSP (MR). In the southeast, 150 were seen on 30 Dec at OSCA and 23 were observed at the same location on 1 Jan (CB). A Great-tailed Grackle was reported south of LC on 17 Dec (JH). No reports of this species were received from the livestock yards at Church and Seeburger Roads, St. Charles where they have wintered for several years. An adult male Baltimore Oriole, casual in winter, was photographed in Rushville, Platte on 7 Dec (ace., Frances Cramer). Purple Finches were much scarcer than last winter (MR). Two were seen in Chester-field, St. Louis on 13 Jan (JE) and three were at RMBS on 1 Feb (JU). Three Red Crossbills, one male and two females, frequented Larry Lade's feeders in St. Joseph, Buchanan from 20 Jan until28 Feb. Differences in size and bill structure suggest the possibility that two "types" may have been present. A single male was at a feeder in Jackson on 25 Feb (MH). A female or immature male White-winged Crossbill frequented a water feature at a residence near Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Buchanan from Christ-mas through 22 Feb (LL, MR, JE). Common Redpolls were re-ported in above-average numbers. One, a flyover calling on 19 Jan was southwest of LaPlata, Macon (MR). To the delight of many, a


male and female frequented Josh Uffman's St. Louis feeder from 25-28 Jan, with a peak of three being seen there on 25 Jan (CM, JM). One or two visited Ruth Simmons' Jackson feeders from Jan 14 until Feb 28, with a peak of three on February 9. Pine Siskins were widespread. They were seen throughout the winter at a residential feeder in St. Joseph, Buchanan with a high count of 20 individuals (LL) and peaked at 17 at another St. Joseph, Buchanan feeder on 14 Dec (JH). Seven were seen at a feeder in Neosho, Newton on 20 Dec (Rod and Ellen Sallee) and one was seen at a feeder near BF on 4 Jan (BJ). JU had them visit his St. Louis feeders from the beginning through the end of the season, with a high of 16 on 25 Jan. Finally, a Eurasian Tree Sparrow was well out of range in Cape Girardeau on 10 Feb (**MH).

Observers

Chris Barrigar (CB), Myrna Carlton (MC), Joe Eades (JE), Bill Eddleman (BE), Doris Fitchet (DF), Andy Forbes (AF), Mark Haas (MH), Larry Herbert (LH), Jack Hilsabeck (JH), Brad Jacobs (BJ), Steve Kinder (SK), Larry Lade (LL), Bob Lewis (BL), Charlene Malone (CM), Jim Malone (JM), Kristi Mayo (KM), Terry McNeely (TM), June Newman (JN), Mark Robbins (MR), Dave Rogles (DR), Bill Rowe (BR), Mike Thelen (MT), Josh Uffman (JU), Edge Wade (EW), Linda Williams (LW), Doug Willis (DW).

Abbreviations

CA-Conservation Area CBC-Christmas Bird Count L-Lake NWR-National Wildlife Refuge SP-State Park

Locations abbreviations (counties are in italics)

BF-Bradford Farm, Boone Co. CBCA-ColumbiaBottom CA, St. Louis Co. CCNWR-Clarence Cannon NWR, Lincoln Co. & Pike Co. CLCA-Cooley Lake CA, Clay Co. EBCA-Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. FRCA-Four Rivers CA, Vernon Co. & Bates Co. LC-Lake Contrary, Buchanan Co. MTC-Marais Temps Clair CA, St. Charles Co.


OSCA-Otter Slough CA, Stoddard Co. PDTL-Pomme de Terre Lake, Hickory Co. PSP-Prairie SP, Barton Co. RMBS-Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles Co. SCNWR-Squaw Creek NWR, Holt Co. SL-Smithville Lake, Clay Co. SLNWR-Swan Lake NWR, Chariton Co. SOCA-Schell-Osage CA, Vernon Co. TPCA-Taberville Prairie CA, St. Clair Co. WSCA-Weldon Spring CA, St. Charles Co.

A BIRDERS' GUIDETOMISSOURIPUBLIC LANDS Edge Wade

SHARPS STATION ACCESS 10 acres Platte Co. DeLorme 26, D-5 See also: Platte Falls CA (adjacent)

Directions: Directions: From I-29 at Platte City, take Exit #19 (Rt. HH). Rt. HH east connects with Interurban Rd. on the east side of Platte Falls CA. Take Interurban Rd. north to the access on the east side of the road.

Alternate route: From I-19 Exit #20 (Hwy. 317/Elm Grove Rd.). Take Elm Grove Rd. as it swings north, then go right (east) on Sharp's Station Rd., to Interurban Rd. The access is south of the junction.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime. Riparian corridor species may be found.

Features of interest to birders: Gravel parking area provides view ofthe Platte River and easy access to riparian woods.

Toilets: None

Camping: None

Hazards/Limitations: Flooding. Access area may be under water or very muddy.

Nearby Birding Sites: Platte Falls CA, Park (Guy B.) CA, Weston Bend SP, Smithville Lake

##################

PLATTE FALLS CONSERVATION AREA

2,356 acres Platte Co. DeLorme 26, D/E-4/5 See also: Sharps Station Access (adjacent)

Directions: From I-29 at Platte City, take Exit #19 (Rt. HH).


1. The first (mmediate) left north from the I-29 exit is Knighton Rd. This leads north to 2 parking areas and a boat ramp.

2. Rt. HH east leads to 3 parking areas along the south side and connects with Interurban Rd. on the east side of the area. Interurban Rd. (going northwest) leads to Sharps Station Access and to Sharp's Station Rd. (west), which provides access to the north and interior parking areas.

3. A more direct route to the interior parking areas at the two clinic ponds is from I-19 Exit #20 (Hwy. 317/Elm Grove Rd.). Take Elm Grove Rd. as it swings north, then go right (east) on Sharp's Station Rd., then south on Set-tle Station Rd. (Continuing east on Sharp's Station Rd. will bring you to Interurban Rd. and additional parking areas mentioned above).

When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime. In spring migration, flycatchers (including Yellow-bellied, Alder and Willow) are present; summering species include Blue Grosbeak (check the archery range area); wintering sparrows are plentiful, both kinglet species may be found. One Great-tailed Grackle has been reported.

Features of interest to birders: The archery range and the shotgun range parking area provide good birding when shooters are not present. The Knighton Rd. entrance leads to 2 boat ramps, giving access to points on the Platte River. A good mix of habitats is accessible, despite the lack of main-tained, designated trails. The riparian areas are especially worth exploring. There are nearly 900 acres of bottomland and upland timber and slightly more than 1,400 acres in pasture, hay, row crops, and old fields.

Toilets: 4 outhouses

Hazards/Limitations: Archery range on the south side; shotgun range on the south side (marsh area littered with orange clay pigeon shards). Flooding occurs.

Nearby Birding Sites: Sharps Station Access, Weston Bend SP, Smithville Lake, Park (Guy B.) CA

#########################

MARSHALL JUNCTION CONSERVATION AREA

774 acres Saline and Pettis Co. DeLorme 36, B-2

Directions: From I-70 exit #78 (Marshall Junction), go south on US 65 for 2 miles, then west (right) on Rt. CC for 3 miles, then north (right) on county road RB into the area.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: Good birding may be had here anytime because of the variety of habitats and easy accessibility, but spring migra-tion is a particularly good time to explore this area. Residents and migrants seen here include a wide suite of warblers, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and birds of creek bottom and upland habitats.

Features of interest to birders: A gravel road traverses the area, with low water crossings of a couple of creeks. This provides roadside birding oppor-


tunities in varied habitat. The west end of the area is open, upland habitat. The road along the eastern edge of the area leads to the Blackwater River. There are 5 parking areas. Slightly more than 500 acres are woodland; about 160 acres in old fields; 100 acres in cropland. There is one small (quarter acre) pond along the main road.

Toilets: None

Camping: Special use permit, only.

Hazards/Limitations: No designated, maintained trails. Unmanned shooting range near the east end (good birding there when no shooters present). The Blackwater River rises "fast and furious;" much of the lower areas may be flooded in the spring.

Nearby Birding Sites: Blue Lick CA, Bothwell Lodge SHS and Trail

####################

TORONTO SPRINGS CONSERVATION AREA

569 acres (MDC map lists 586 acres) Camden Co. DeLorme 45, F -8/9

Directions: From Camdenton, Go south on Hwy. 5, east on Hwy. 7 (a total of about 10 miles) to Montreal, then east on Rt. E for 3 miles, then 1.5 east (right) on Rt. A. From US 54 north of Linn Creek, take Rt. A east. To access the parking area on the east side for ridgetop trail, continue east on Rt. A beyond the area and turn north onto Rt. C.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime, but spring and fall are best. Area has good riparian access (expect Acadian Flycatchers and Prothonotary Warblers) and easily reached upland for typical Ozark oak-hickory forest and grassland species. Bachman's Sparrow has been reported.

Features of interest to birders: Three parking areas. A small lot off Rt. A near the southwest corner of the area gives access to a half-mile path lead-ing down to Wet Glaize Creek. The springs are across the creek and to the left from this path. There is no path/trail directly to the springs. A large lot off Rt. A has creek frontage with access to a mowed trail leading both up and down creek from the lot. A heavily vegetated pond area is adjacent to this lot. It appears to be nearly a freshwater marsh in 2008. Picnic table at this lot. The lot off Rt. C provides access to a 1.2 mile ridgetop trail (two-track) running west through the heart of the area. This trail leads toward the springs, but does not go down the hill to reach them. Area has more than 400 acres offorest and woodland, about 150 acres of non-prairie grass-land, and 10 acres of savanna, and 5 very small ponds.

Toilets: None

Camping: Primitive

Hazards/Limitations: None noted

Nearby Birding Sites: Lake of the Ozarks SP

Page 76 THE BLUEBIRD l

THE BLUEBIRD

Awards Committee: The ASM Executive Committee

Conservation Area Checklist Project (CACHE) State Parks & Historic Sites Project (SPARKS)

Patrick Harrison, Web Development; Database Administrator Mike Thelen, Editor

Executive Committee: Jim Zellmer, Pat Lueders, Laura Gilchrist, and Bill Eddleman

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative: Susan Hazelwood

Missouri Bird Records Committee: Brad Jacobs, Chair Bill Rowe, Secretary Brad Jacobs, Paul McKenzie, Mark Robbins, Kristi Mayo, Walt

Wehtje, Joe Eades, and Bill Rowe

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