24-jan-2007 eagle survey results
Subject: Eagle Survey Results
From: "Daniel, Donna"
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 15:35:24 -0500
Below please see the news release with the statewide Mid-winter Eagle
Survey results. The information can also be accessed on-line at:
http://www.ohiodnr.com/news/default.htm
Thanks again to all on this list who submitted observations!
Donna Daniel, ODNR-Div. of Wildlife
District 1, Columbus
OHIO MID-WINTER BALD EAGLE SURVEY RECORDS 480 BIRDS
Number is second highest ever noted during annual count.
OAK HARBOR, OH - Observers counted 480 birds during the recent
Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Survey, the second highest number ever recorded
during the event.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of
Wildlife conducts the annual study. The total included 359 mature and
121 immature birds.
In 2006, 206 eaglets fledged from a record 150 nests in Ohio.
Last winter's all-time record survey counted 554 bald eagles,
which included 329 mature and 225 immature birds. Immature bald eagles
are those without completely white heads. They are generally less than 5
years old.
"Ohio's bald eagle population continues to expand throughout the
state," said Mark Shieldcastle, a biologist with the Division of
Wildlife. "Last fall's mild temperatures made eagle viewing excellent
this year. Open water has held Ohio birds, while an abundance of
habitat has made it difficult to locate them."
Bald eagles were observed in 53 of Ohio's 88 counties during
this year's survey, conducted January 2-15. Sandusky, Ottawa, Erie,
Trumbull and Wyandot counties, along the western Lake Erie shore,
continued to report the largest number of eagles. Sandusky County had
the greatest number of sightings with 69 birds.
Good concentrations of bald eagles were also sighted around the
mouth of the Sandusky River, and along the Kokosing, Scioto, Grand and
Muskingum rivers. The southern-most locations in the state to report
bald eagle sightings were in Brown, Clermont, Scioto and Hamilton
counties along the Ohio River.
State wildlife officials and volunteers conduct the mid-winter
survey each January as part of a national effort coordinated by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. The survey documents trends in wintering
populations of eagles in the lower 48 states, including both the bald
and golden eagles.
Although rarely seen in Ohio, three golden eagles (one adult and
two immature) were spotted this year. The number of sightings could
increase as the golden eagle population grows in the eastern Arctic, and
as a successful reintroduction effort in Georgia and Tennessee expands.
The annual eagle assessment includes both a standardized aerial
survey and ground observations.
Eagles were recorded in the following counties: Adams-1,
Ashland- 4, Ashtabula-13, Belmont-1, Brown- 2, Clermont- 2, Columbiana-
2, Coshocton-12, Crawford- 8, Cuyahoga-10, Defiance- 5, Delaware-12,
Erie- 32, Fairfield-1, Geauga- 6, Guernsey-1, Hamilton-1, Hancock- 4,
Hardin- 2, Harrison- 7, Hocking- 3, Holmes- 5, Huron- 2, Jefferson- 2,
Knox-15, Lake- 9, Licking-7, Lorain-9, Lucas-16, Mahoning- 7, Marion- 8,
Mercer- 4, Morgan- 2, Morrow- 3, Muskingum-10, Ottawa- 48, Paulding-1,
Pickaway- 2, Pike-1, Portage-15, Putnam- 2, Richland-10, Ross- 8,
Sandusky- 69, Scioto- 2, Seneca-11, Summit-5, Trumbull-30, Tuscarawas-3,
Washington- 4, Wayne- 4, Wood-14, Wyandot- 23.
The state's bald eagle management program is funded by
contributions to the state income tax check-off program for Wildlife
Diversity and Endangered Species and by the sale of Ohio conservation
license plates, including both the bald eagle and cardinal plates.
Contributions to the check-off fund can be made by checking the
appropriate line on the state income tax form. Conservation license
plates can be purchased through a deputy registrar or by calling the
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-888-PLATES3.
Kelleys Island birds 1/19 thru 1/23
Subject: Kelleys Island birds 1/19 thru 1/23
From: Tom Bartlett
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 09:19:37 -0500
Since I spent 5 days on Kelleys, I thought I would list all species observed
in addition to the census information which I all ready posted. Below is
the list of species observed, the highest count, and the date of that count.
In all, 58 species were observed, 1 race, and 1 hybred. If the high count
was on the census date, I am not listing that date. Also, on the census
posting I had species listed with an *. This means that the species was
observed on the island on that date but not on the census route.
It is very interesting to see how individual species numbers change each day
as weather changes. Waterfowl species and gull species appear to be moving.
1 Pied-billed Grebe 1/20 and 1/22
1 Turkey Vulture 1/19
35 Canada Goose 1/23
119 Gadwall
6 American Wigeon
115 American Black Duck
572 Mallard
3 Mallard X American Black Duck
35 Redhead 1/22
5 Greater Scaup 1/22-23
8 Lesser Scaup 1/21
2 Harlequin Duck
2 Scoter species
1350 Bufflehead 1/19
220 Common Goldeneye 1/22
30 Common Merganser 1/21
1900 Red-breasted Merganser 1/22
5 Ruddy Duck 1/21-22
4 Bald Eagle (2 adults, 1 four-year old, 1 first year)
2 Cooper's Hawk 1/21
1 Red-tailed Hawk 1/21
3 Bonaparte's Gull 1/23
110 Ring-billed Gull 1/19
150 Herring Gull 1/23
3 Great Black-backed Gull 1/22
2 Mourning Dove 1/22
1 Eastern Screech-Owl 1/21
2 Great Horned Owl 1/21
1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1/20 and 1/22
3 Red-bellied Woodpecker
14 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker 1/22
6 Northern Flicker
3 Blue Jay 1/23
38 American Crow 1/19
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1/23
20 Brown Creeper 1/21
2 Carolina Wren
1 Winter Wren
25 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1/21
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1/21
8 Eastern Bluebird
22 Hermit Thrush
250 American Robin 1/19
1 Northern Mockingbird
23 Yellow-rumped Warbler
51 American Tree Sparrow
6 Song Sparrow
2 Swamp Sparrow
101 White-throated Sparrow 1/20
75 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Oregon Junco plus numerous intergrades in the Dark-eyed Junco
flocks
3 Snow Bunting 1/23
75 Northern Cardinal 1/20
3 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Rusty Blackbird 1/23
22 House Finch 1/21
10 American Goldfinch 1/20
20 House Sparrow 1/23
Tom Bartlett
Kelleys Island Monthly Census - 1/20/07
Subject: Kelleys Island Monthly Census - 1/20/07
From: Tom Bartlett
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 19:41:54 -0500
Paula Bartlett, Sandy Tkach, and I ran the monthly census on Saturday,
January 20th. This is the tenth year for running a monthly census on
Kelleys. The January average is 38 species and 6063 individuals. Today we
had 44 species and 3948 individuals. 77 species have been observed during
the January census. Four new species were added on today's count. They
were American Wigeon, Harleqiun Duck. Pied-billed Grebe, and Northern
Mockingbird. Three species were recorded in record high numbers; Eastern
Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, and Red-winged Blackbird(ties previous record).
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Canada Goose 9
Gadwall 119
American Wigeon 6
American Black Duck 115
Mallard 572
Mallard X American Black Duck 3
Lesser Scaup 1
Scoter species 2
Bufflehead 783
Common Goldeneye 1190
Harlequin Duck 2
Common Merganser 9
Red-breasted Merganser 228
Bald Eagle 4
Cooper's Hawk *
Red-tailed Hawk *
Ring-billed Gull 29
Herring Gull 112
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Great Horned Owl *
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 12
Northern Flicker 5
Blue Jay 3
American Crow 38
Black-capped Chickadee 54
Red-breasted Nuthatch *
Brown Creeper 11
Carolina Wren 8
Winter Wren 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 16
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 8
Hermit Thrush 21
American Robin 232
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling 49
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22
American Tree Sparrow 49
Song Sparrow 6
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 86
Dark-eyed Junco 57
"Oregon" Junco 2
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Northern Cardinal 64
House Finch 1
American Goldfinch 7
House Sparrow 1
Total species 44
Total individuals 3948
Mayfield dies
Subject: The Passing of a Great Ohio Ornithologist
From: Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 11:51:15 -0500
Dear Readers,
The great ornithologist Harold Mayfield passed away on Saturday. Harold was
schooled in mathematics and a self taught ornithologist. He is best known for
many of his ornithological accomplishments with the Mayfield method for
determining nesting success of birds and most of all his well known monograph
on the Kirtland's Warbler which is considered the fore-runner for the
conservation of the bird. Harold achieved many other accolades for which he was
always modest. He is the only person to have been the president of the three
major ornithological organizations: American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper
Ornithological Society and Wilson Ornithological Society. He was a gentleman
who knew the value of research and conservation. He will be greatly missed.
Julie Shieldcastle
Black Swamp Bird Observatory
Vic's WBA sightings
I have been on the road a month now with rare glimpses of
cyberspace and few opportunities to post. The first week
of January was spent in Florida on family matters but shortly
after getting back I began my contractual obligation to
survey a number of blocks through Adams, Lawrence, Jackson,
Gallia, and new this year, Montgomery Cos.
I will be leaving shortly again to finished up some blocks along
the Indiana border so won't be in a position to respond to
anyone until this weekend.
Here are a few highlights of the past month.
Greater White-fronted Goose - 2 (photo) at Adams lake S.P. 24 Jan
Snow Goose - 1 (ph) adult white morph alone in a field just N of
Crown City W.A. along RT. 775 10 Jan
1 (ph) adult white morph at Adams Lake S.P. 24 Jan
Ross's Goose - 1 with 55 CAGO appx. 3 miles NW of Tranquility W.A.
(or 8 miles SW of Rocky Fork Lake) in Highland Co. 24 Jan
Cackling Goose - 1 (ph) with 3 CAGO at Englewood Reserve, Montgomery Co. 13
Jan
Wood Duck - 1 male at Adams Lake S.P. 12 Jan
Northern Pintail - 2 males at Englewood Reserve 13 Jan; still present 22 Jan
Green-winged Teal - 14 at Englewood Reserve 22 Jan
Common Loon - 1 at Rocky Fork S.P. 24 Jan
Pied-billed Grebe - 21 at Rocky Fork S.P. 24 Jan
Great Egret - 1 at Tycoon Lake S.P., Gallia Co. 26 Jan
Black Vulture - 26 near West Union, Adams Co. 24 Jan
Bald Eagle - 1 ad. at Scioto Bottoms, Scioto Co. 11 Jan
1 ad. at Rocky Fork Lake 24 Jan
1 ad along Rt. 23 immediately west of Great Seal S.P. 27 Jan
Rough-legged Hawk - 2 either side of the Highland/Adams Co. line 24 Jan
(part of a 11 raptor species day between West Union and Rocky Fork Lake).
Merlin - 1 near Tranquility W.A., Adams Co. 24 Jan
American Coot - 610 at Rocky Fork Lake S.P. 24 Jan
Killdeer - became widespread last week.
4 at Caesar Creek S.P. 23 Jan
11 in and around West Union 24 Jan (including 2 flying around the
lights of a Walmart parking lot at 4 am in a snow squall).
2 at Rocky Fork S.P. 24 Jan
5 along RT 141 near Arabia, Lawrence Co. 25 Jan
Eastern Phoebe - 1 sw of Buckeye Furnace, Jackson Co. (2 miles e. of
Ridgeland) 10 Jan
1 on Pine Creek, Green Twp., Scioto Co. 25 Jan (3 miles downstream from
a sighting last year at this time).
1 on Little Claylick Run 1.5 miles nw of Angel, Gallia Co. 26 Jan
1 (ph) along RT 790 (Perigen Creek) on border with Crown City W.A. 26 Jan
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 at Hanging Rock O.R.V. Park, Lawrence Co. 11 Jan
the same or another was there 25 Jan
American Pipit - flock 115 (ph., spec.) sw. of West Union along Rt. 136 a
quarter mile N of
the Kirker Bridge. Birds were getting grit along the road and inevitably one
was
struck (retrieved as a specimen).
Yellow-rumped - common throughout Ohio R. counties but 56 within the immediate
vicinity
of Buckeye Furnace, Jackson Co. 27 Jan was a good tally.
Chipping Sparrow - 1 at Englewood Reserve 13 Jan
Savannah Sparrow - 1 near West Sonora, Preble Co. 23 Jan
2 near Mills, Lawrence Co. 25 Jan
Snow Bunting - 1 just w. of Wegerlawn, Montgomery Co. 23 Jan
Lapland Longspur - 4 near Georgetown, Preble Co. 23 Jan
Rusty Blackbird - 38 at Buckeye Furnace 27 Jan
cheers
Vic Fazio
Shaker Hts, OH
Mayfield TNA post
Blade obit: http://www.rarebird.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1747
Photos of Mayfield
http://www.rarebird.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1749
feb 5
Subject: Monthly Ottawa N.W.R. Census
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 11:49:18 -0800
Unofficial results from the monthly Ottawa N.W.R. Census (many do not have
totals listed)
FEB. 04, 2007 - Hike the east and west sides, lunch at 12:00pm, drive the
backside from 1:00pm-4:30pm.
TEMP.: -2 to 3 (8am-noon), not much warmer for the rest of the count.
COND.: Frigid, bright & sunny early; frigid w/ clouds/sun mix later.
WIND: 15-25mph from the west.
OBS.: Ed Pierce, Jim Reyda, Douglas W. Vogus.
I. MAMMALS: 2 SPECIES.
1. Eastern Fox Squirrel - 2
2. White-tailed Deer - 7 (1 buck,4 doe,2?)
II. BIRDS: 46 SPECIES.
( AT = approximately - I don't have the exact totals yet)
1. Canada Goose - (over 2500 on front, less on back)
2. Snow Goose - 40 (20 white phase, 20 blue phase)
3. Mute Swan - 2
4. Tundra Swan - (632 on back, less on front)
5. Trumpeter Swan - 11
6. American Black Duck - AT 20
7. Mallard - (236 on back side, less on front)
8. American Wigeon - 4 (front side)
9. Redhead - AT 12
10. Common Goldeneye - AT 30
11. Ruddy Duck - 2
12. Hooded Merganser - 2
13. Common Merganser - AT 70
14. Cooper's Hawk - 1
15. Red-tailed Hawk - 5
16. Bald Eagle - 4 (2 adult, 2 immature)
17. Northern Harrier - 4 (1m,3f)
18. American Coot - AT 80
19. Great Black-backed Gull - 1
20. Herring Gull - AT 10
21. Ring-billed Gull - AT 20
22. Mourning Dove - AT 17
23. Great Horned Owl - 1
24. Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 (gray phase)
25. Northern Flicker - 1
26. Red-bellied Woodpecker - AT 4
27. Red-headed Woodpecker - 1 (adult in Butternut Woods)
28. Downy Woodpecker - AT 10
29. Hairy Woodpecker - 1
*** one Eastern Phoebe dead in the snow***
30. Horned Lark - 3
31. Blue Jay
32. Tufted Titmouse - 1
33. White-breasted Nuthatch - 1
34. Carolina Wren
35. American Robin - AT 4
36. European Starling
37. Dark-eyed Junco
38. American Tree Sparrow
39. Swamp Sparrow - 1
40. Song Sparrow
41. Eastern Meadowlark - 12 (all together on back side)
42. Red-winged Blackbird - 1 (m)
43. Northern Cardinal
44. House Finch - 1
45. American Goldfinch
46. House Sparrow
feb 6
Subject: Turkey Vultures and tree huggers
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2007 01:12:39 EST
Hello everyone,
On my way into the Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) nature center
yesterday afternoon I was shocked to find a very dejected looking Turkey
Vulture
(not that they ever look all that perky) perched atop a utility pole across
from
the center. After about half an hour, the bird flew, or perhaps lurched
would be a better description, toward State Route 2 and made what appeared to
be a particularly awkward landing in a tree just behind that old dilapidated
group of buildings at the corner of SR 2 and the Crane Creek/Magee entrance
road. When I left BSBO at about 4:30 PM the bird had disappeared.
On a perkier note...
This Thursday, February 8th, at 7:00 PM, BSBO will host it's monthly Bird
Study group.
This month's program will begin with a species profile of that cute little
tree hugger, the Brown Creeper, presented by Cheryl Whipple. Our feature
presentation will be given by Tom Bartlett. Tom will share some his Alaskan
adventures and the amazing wildlife he encountered on his journey. Don't miss
this
opportunity to learn more about Brown Creepers, Alaska's Wildlife, and to
give Tom a hard time. Call (419) 898-4070 to reserve a seat.
BSBO Bird Study Group is open to the public, fun and informative, and FREE!
For directions to BSBO and more information about BSBO's February program
line up, visit us online at:
http://www.bsbobird.org/ (http://www.bsbobird.org/)
Kim "dreaming of spring" Kaufman
Education Director
Black Swamp Bird Observatory
feb 11
Subject: Northwest Ohio 2/10-11
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 22:29:12 -0500
I spent the last couple days in Northwest Ohio and primarily birded from
Maumee Bay to Castalia. There are a lot of great birds around up there if
you spend the time looking. In all I had 24 species of waterfowl over the
two days. What surprised me were the lack of hawks. I saw more along Rte 2
from Huron to Lorain than I did up in that area.
Of particular interest were the geese. I ended up with 5 species of geese.
Best areas were ONWR north of the headquarters building and the east end of
Cedar Point NWR. The trick to finding the geese is being there when they
are heading from the refuges out to the fields. This weekend the birds were
heading out starting around 2:00. If you are out in the morning like I was
today, the geese were not in the fields. The ONWR flock could be observed
this morning by walking north from the parking lot and then using a scope to
check. Unfortunately the geese are sitting close so the smaller geese are
difficult to find. If you watch them fly out it is a lot easier. Here is a
brief overview of the flocks I checked out.
1) Rte 2 and Rte 4 in Sandusky- a couple hundred Canada geese and 2 snow
geese.
2) ONWR (headquarters)- Several hundred Canada geese, 2 CACKLING GEESE, 2
WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 15+ snow geese, and about 100 tundra swans. This flock
flew out to Lickert-Harder Road south of Rte 2 and Rte 590 south of Rte 2.
3) Metzger and the western side of ONWR- these birds were flying into the
stubble corn fields west of Metzger Marsh- a couple hundred Canada geese, 1
snow goose, and about 20 tundra swans.
4) The eastern end of Cedar Point NWR. These birds were landing in a field
near the intersection of Yondota and Corduroy Roads. Included in this flock
were several hundred Canada geese, 1 ROSS' GOOSE, 6 snow geese, and about
80 tundra swans. there were also over 1,000 ducks in this field. Most were
mallards, but there were also close to 200 black ducks, and a few pintail.
this is the largest black duck flock I have seen in a few years.
5) Stadium Road south of Bayshore Road. About 200 Canada geese.
Other birds of note:
LONG-TAILED DUCK- 1 female in Maumee Bay just northwest of the intersection
of Stadium and Bayshore (seen Saturday only)
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK- One Saturday on the west side of ONWR and one today near
Graytown)
SANDHILL CRANE- A flock of 8 flew by the intersection of Yondota and
Corduroy Roads heading south on Saturday.
THAYER'S GULL- 1 1st winter bird at the Ottawa County dump on Saturday
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL- 1 adult at the Ottawa County dump on Saturday.
there were several hundred birds there on Saturday, very few today. they
were sitting on the south side of the hill. the dump is south of Camp
Perry.
NORTHERN SHRIKE- Bird seen on Saturday off Bodi Road which is south of Rte 2
just west of Turtle Creek.
HERMIT THRUSH- 1st winter bird observed at Maumee Bay State Park just west
of the camp office.
feb 11 tna
http://www.rarebird.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1781
This evening around 5:30 PM a group of about 12 short eared owls were located South of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. They were feeding in the fields East of Lickert Harder Road. Their exact location was about 1.5 miles South of the Refuge and just North of the first set of railroad tracks.
