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ARBIRD-L for Friday, May 9, 2008
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Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: "George R. Hoelzeman" <uiogd(AT)ARKANSAS.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 12:07am
I'm wondering - was the chick already dead? Could this have been done to
prevent a predator finding the nest?
In other words, eat the egg/dead chick so its not laying around as a predator
magnet.
George (n. Conway Co. who didn't know Wood Ducks did this either)
On Thu, 8 May 2008 23:10:16 -0500, Barry Haas wrote:
>Dear ARBIRDers,
>For those who are squeamish I suggest you not read this post. You are
>forewarned.
>This afternoon about 1:15 I was home for a brief time and decided to
>look out back at our pond to see if there was any activity. The near
>edge of the pond is no more than 40' from the back of our house. We
>have nesting wood ducks, so any day we can expect to see Mom and her
>youngsters on the water for awhile at least before they typically head
>into the woods for parts unknown. Anyway, while looking toward the
>pond I saw an adult female wood duck fly down and land on the pond
>from the direction of the newest of our two nest boxes. I quickly saw
>she was holding an egg in her bill. She took it to the near bank,
>punched a hole in it and I thought she was partaking of liquid egg.
>She then swam with the egg to another bank and continued her feeding,
>with her swimming between the banks being a frenzied effort unlike her
>normal smooth movements. Then she swam to what we call the 'party
>barge', a floating wooden platform 2 by 4 feet, where she pulled the
>entire unhatched chick from the shell! With that in mouth she
>continued her frenzied swimming around the pond until she managed to
>consume the chick in its entirety. The remnants of the egg shell were
>left on the near bank, and were gone when I returned home some hours
>later. This entire event took no more than two minutes, and I had to
>keep telling myself I had really seen this happen, it was so
>unbelievable.
>At our Audubon chapter meeting tonight I told the story to everyone.
>One theory is that food sources might be tight and the adult woodie
>had to cannibalize her potential offspring to stay alive. We do put
>cracked corn and milo in shallow water along the edge of the pond, but
>it's possible an acorn shortage, a major part of the wood duck's diet,
>may be in short supply or missing. You'll remember the late freeze on
>Easter morning last spring that may be causing problems with this
>year's mast crop.
>Four weeks ago my wife found another wood duck egg, this one with a
>cracked shell, but with the unhatched chick still inside. I had fed
>the birds maybe 20 minutes before the egg was found, putting cracked
>corn and milo mere feet from where the cracked egg was discovered. We
>surmised tonight that a similar act was taking place then, but my wife
>may have interrupted the process before the egg's contents could be
>eaten.
>Some years ago I had watched as an adult female wood duck had caught
>and then eaten a fairly large frog. Bill Shepherd suggested then that
>I report this first person account, as such observations were uncommon
>and vertebrates are a rarely observed part of a wood duck's diet (hope
>I've remembered that right, Bill). Like today's event, that frog was
>large enough to cause the woodie trouble in finding a way to get it
>down whole. After considerable effort and multiple attempts, it
>finally softened up the frog's body enough by chomping all around the
>edges to swallow it whole.
>I've been saying for years that we need to mount cameras in our wood
>duck nest boxes to get a better sense of what is going on. Guess I'm
>going to have to follow through on that.
> From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
>Barry Haas
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: hawkcenter <hawkcenter(AT)EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 12:35am
That's the same thing I was thinking. I saw one of my back yard squirrels
eating one of her own young a few weeks ago. I thought she'd caught a bird
until I got the binocs out and saw what she was really chewing on.
Lynne Slater
HAWK Center (Helping Arkansas Wild "Kritters")
PO Box 1922, Russellville, Arkansas 72811-1922
www.hawkcenter.org myspace.com/hawk_center
-----Original Message-----
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
[mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of George R. Hoelzeman
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 12:07 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
I'm wondering - was the chick already dead? Could this have been done to
prevent a predator finding the nest?
In other words, eat the egg/dead chick so its not laying around as a
predator magnet.
George (n. Conway Co. who didn't know Wood Ducks did this either)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: "FENNELL, Ellen" <EFENNELL(AT)AUDUBON.ORG>
Date: 9 May 2008 5:12am
obviously the occasional cannabalism isn't threatening the survival of
squirrels. Eating unhatched chicks or eggs is somehow more reasonable to
consider in a very hungry duck. The way birds protect their young once they are
out of the nest; it is hard to imagine cannabalism taking place at that stage.
I think George may be on to something with his clean the nest theory, too.
Wasting protein would not be wise.
Thanks for a very interesting subject, Barry.
Ellen Fennell
Litltle Rock
________________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On
Behalf Of George R. Hoelzeman [uiogd(AT)ARKANSAS.NET]
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 12:07 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
I'm wondering - was the chick already dead? Could this have been done to
prevent a predator finding the nest?
In other words, eat the egg/dead chick so its not laying around as a predator
magnet.
George (n. Conway Co. who didn't know Wood Ducks did this either)
On Thu, 8 May 2008 23:10:16 -0500, Barry Haas wrote:
>Dear ARBIRDers,
>For those who are squeamish I suggest you not read this post. You are
>forewarned.
>This afternoon about 1:15 I was home for a brief time and decided to
>look out back at our pond to see if there was any activity. The near
>edge of the pond is no more than 40' from the back of our house. We
>have nesting wood ducks, so any day we can expect to see Mom and her
>youngsters on the water for awhile at least before they typically head
>into the woods for parts unknown. Anyway, while looking toward the
>pond I saw an adult female wood duck fly down and land on the pond
>from the direction of the newest of our two nest boxes. I quickly saw
>she was holding an egg in her bill. She took it to the near bank,
>punched a hole in it and I thought she was partaking of liquid egg.
>She then swam with the egg to another bank and continued her feeding,
>with her swimming between the banks being a frenzied effort unlike her
>normal smooth movements. Then she swam to what we call the 'party
>barge', a floating wooden platform 2 by 4 feet, where she pulled the
>entire unhatched chick from the shell! With that in mouth she
>continued her frenzied swimming around the pond until she managed to
>consume the chick in its entirety. The remnants of the egg shell were
>left on the near bank, and were gone when I returned home some hours
>later. This entire event took no more than two minutes, and I had to
>keep telling myself I had really seen this happen, it was so
>unbelievable.
>At our Audubon chapter meeting tonight I told the story to everyone.
>One theory is that food sources might be tight and the adult woodie
>had to cannibalize her potential offspring to stay alive. We do put
>cracked corn and milo in shallow water along the edge of the pond, but
>it's possible an acorn shortage, a major part of the wood duck's diet,
>may be in short supply or missing. You'll remember the late freeze on
>Easter morning last spring that may be causing problems with this
>year's mast crop.
>Four weeks ago my wife found another wood duck egg, this one with a
>cracked shell, but with the unhatched chick still inside. I had fed
>the birds maybe 20 minutes before the egg was found, putting cracked
>corn and milo mere feet from where the cracked egg was discovered. We
>surmised tonight that a similar act was taking place then, but my wife
>may have interrupted the process before the egg's contents could be
>eaten.
>Some years ago I had watched as an adult female wood duck had caught
>and then eaten a fairly large frog. Bill Shepherd suggested then that
>I report this first person account, as such observations were uncommon
>and vertebrates are a rarely observed part of a wood duck's diet (hope
>I've remembered that right, Bill). Like today's event, that frog was
>large enough to cause the woodie trouble in finding a way to get it
>down whole. After considerable effort and multiple attempts, it
>finally softened up the frog's body enough by chomping all around the
>edges to swallow it whole.
>I've been saying for years that we need to mount cameras in our wood
>duck nest boxes to get a better sense of what is going on. Guess I'm
>going to have to follow through on that.
> From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
>Barry Haas
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: john <jjthaden(AT)FLASH.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 5:50am
Barry,
How far apart are the boxes? Your food supply idea (or a protein or mineral
supply alternative) seems reasonable, but have you considered that the egg
may not have been hers? From the box of another hen? Or the result of
nest parasitism (another hen caught laying an egg in her own box)? I guess
you would have known if it were a cowbird egg (are wood ducks targets for
cowbirds? I doubt it.). Or could these eggs have contained defective or
dead fetuses, detectable perhaps by temperature difference?
-John Thaden
======= At 2008-05-08, 23:10:36 you wrote: =======
>Dear ARBIRDers,
>
>For those who are squeamish I suggest you not read this post. You are
>forewarned.
>
>This afternoon about 1:15 I was home for a brief time and decided to
>look out back at our pond to see if there was any activity. The near
>edge of the pond is no more than 40' from the back of our house. We
>have nesting wood ducks, so any day we can expect to see Mom and her
>youngsters on the water for awhile at least before they typically head
>into the woods for parts unknown. Anyway, while looking toward the
>pond I saw an adult female wood duck fly down and land on the pond
>from the direction of the newest of our two nest boxes. I quickly saw
>she was holding an egg in her bill. She took it to the near bank,
>punched a hole in it and I thought she was partaking of liquid egg.
>She then swam with the egg to another bank and continued her feeding,
>with her swimming between the banks being a frenzied effort unlike her
>normal smooth movements. Then she swam to what we call the 'party
>barge', a floating wooden platform 2 by 4 feet, where she pulled the
>entire unhatched chick from the shell! With that in mouth she
>continued her frenzied swimming around the pond until she managed to
>consume the chick in its entirety. The remnants of the egg shell were
>left on the near bank, and were gone when I returned home some hours
>later. This entire event took no more than two minutes, and I had to
>keep telling myself I had really seen this happen, it was so
>unbelievable.
>
>At our Audubon chapter meeting tonight I told the story to everyone.
>One theory is that food sources might be tight and the adult woodie
>had to cannibalize her potential offspring to stay alive. We do put
>cracked corn and milo in shallow water along the edge of the pond, but
>it's possible an acorn shortage, a major part of the wood duck's diet,
>may be in short supply or missing. You'll remember the late freeze on
>Easter morning last spring that may be causing problems with this
>year's mast crop.
>
>Four weeks ago my wife found another wood duck egg, this one with a
>cracked shell, but with the unhatched chick still inside. I had fed
>the birds maybe 20 minutes before the egg was found, putting cracked
>corn and milo mere feet from where the cracked egg was discovered. We
>surmised tonight that a similar act was taking place then, but my wife
>may have interrupted the process before the egg's contents could be
>eaten.
>
>Some years ago I had watched as an adult female wood duck had caught
>and then eaten a fairly large frog. Bill Shepherd suggested then that
>I report this first person account, as such observations were uncommon
>and vertebrates are a rarely observed part of a wood duck's diet (hope
>I've remembered that right, Bill). Like today's event, that frog was
>large enough to cause the woodie trouble in finding a way to get it
>down whole. After considerable effort and multiple attempts, it
>finally softened up the frog's body enough by chomping all around the
>edges to swallow it whole.
>
>I've been saying for years that we need to mount cameras in our wood
>duck nest boxes to get a better sense of what is going on. Guess I'm
>going to have to follow through on that.
>
> From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
>Barry Haas
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Best regards.
john
jjthaden(AT)flash.net
2008-05-09
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Birdiest month correction
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?David_Ray?= <cardcards(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 7:52am
Thanks to Dale Provost pointing out that the year does not have two Aprils
in it. The first April (top of list) is correct. The second "April" should
be the month of August. (Hey, they both start with an "A", give me a break!)
David Ray
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?David_Ray?= <cardcards(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 7:59am
If you can catch that cannilbalizing squirrel, I would be interested in
turning it loose in my backyard where it could feast for awhile.
David Ray
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mt. Sequoyah, Fayetteville
From: "Jason D. Luscier" <jluscie(AT)UARK.EDU>
Date: 9 May 2008 8:04am
I birded Sequoyah Woods City Park on Mt. Sequoyah in Fayetteville this morning.
Below are the species I detected.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
House Finch
Jason D. Luscier
http://comp.uark.edu/~jluscie/
Dept. of Biological Sciences - SCEN 632
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: "FENNELL, Ellen" <EFENNELL(AT)AUDUBON.ORG>
Date: 9 May 2008 8:18am
me too. it has genetic properties we may need to capture/clone.
________________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On
Behalf Of David Ray [cardcards(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET]
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:59 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
If you can catch that cannilbalizing squirrel, I would be interested in
turning it loose in my backyard where it could feast for awhile.
David Ray
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Thursday yard birds
From: Jacque Brown <bluebird2(AT)COX.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 8:32am
I am up to 4 male and 3 female RB Grosbeaks. I am trying to get a photo of one
of each on the feeder.
Yesterday I got fuzzy pictures of a Red Eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo and what I
think is a Philadelphia Vireo.
It was heavily overcast, and they were high in the trees. But when enlarged you
can vaguely see the eye color. I'm going to walmart to get prints to show Mike
Mlodinow tomorrow. all three are FOYard.
I also had Common Yellowthroat and Magnolia Warbler, FOYard.
Philadephia Vireo and Magnolia Warbler being lifers too.
With the low light I couldn't spot most of the birds I heard.
I must have 20 or more Goldfinch at any given time, the Hummers are having
Hummer wars, I have several Brown Thrashers, Swainson's Thrush, Cardinals, C
Wrens, C Chicadees, Crows,american from the weird call I described the other
day, Blue Jays, Titmice, Robins, Baltimore Orioles, Chipping Sparrows, A White
Throated Sparrow - Tan Striped, Indigo Bunting, Myrtle warbler, Red Bellied
Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Phoebe, Starlings, Grackles, BH Cowbirds and
Bluebirds and 2 Am. Redstart. Jacque.
--
Jacque Brown
Bella Vista,
Benton, Co AR,
bluebird2(AT)cox.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: New Life Bird in the Yard
From: "Jobe, Kelly" <JOBE(AT)ADEQ.STATE.AR.US>
Date: 9 May 2008 8:33am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I've had several new yard birds this week, as described in previous
posts. It's been a long time though, since I've gotten a new life bird
in my own back yard. Yesterday, it happened. A beautiful female
Cerulean Warbler spent a good deal of time feeding on worms in the oak
trees behind the house. It was joined by a couple of Tennessee and
Nashville Warblers. I also saw my FOS Common Nighthawk late yesterday
afternoon.
=20
Kelly Jobe
North Little Rock
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: "George R. Hoelzeman" <uiogd(AT)ARKANSAS.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 8:50am
Forget cannibalistic squirrels.
I have this brother . . .
George (n. Conway Co. with carnivorous siblings)
On Fri, 9 May 2008 09:20:25 -0400, FENNELL, Ellen wrote:
>me too. it has genetic properties we may need to capture/clone.
>________________________________________
>From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On
Behalf Of David Ray [cardcards(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET]
>Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 7:59 AM
>To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
>Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
>If you can catch that cannilbalizing squirrel, I would be interested in
>turning it loose in my backyard where it could feast for awhile.
>David Ray
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: Nick Anich <nicka29(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 9 May 2008 9:35am
From "Dyamics of nest parasitism in Wood Ducks" Semel
and Sherman, Auk: Vol. 103, No. 4, October-December,
1986.
Available here:
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v103n04/p0813-p0816.pdf
Occasionally, eggs disappeared from nests. In 18
of 20 cases (90%) a missing egg was known to
have
been damaged before its disappearance. Eggs were
sometimes cracked by the ducks themselves (n =
6),
especially on days of peak parasitism when many
females entered and exited a box in quick
succession. More frequently (n = 12), Red-bellied
Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) entered unattended
boxes, pecked a hole in an egg, and ate some
of the contents. We directly observed the fate of
damaged eggs five times. In every case a female
Wood Duck carried the damaged egg from a box to the
water in her bill, broke it open, and quickly ate
the contents.
Nick Anich
Jonesboro, AR
____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Chesney Prairie
From: Lyndal York <lrbluejay(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 9:49am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Arbirders:
Joe Woolbright called me Thursday with the really terrific news that the 24
acre Couch place has been sold to us, the People of Arkansas, and is added to
Chesney Prairie NA at Siloam Springs. As far as we know, these are the last of
the last unplowed Tallgrass Prairie acres in NW Ark. Native plant diversity on
the Couch is very high and it has been a productive place for birding, includes
cool stuff like prairie mole crickets, prairie mounds, crayfish, etc. The
acquisition was put over the top by a generous gift by one of our own, Martha
Milburn of Harrison, who rode to the rescue when the deal stalled early in the
spring. Sally Jo Gibson can tell this story better, but as I understand it, she,
Martha, and others in the Disorganized Birders Club were out birding when my
appeal about the Couch was posted to ARBIRD. Sally Jo got my appeal in the
field, via her blackberry or iphone, showed it to Martha, and Martha said
something to the effect, "I will do that!" and a call
was placed, on the spot, to Joe Woolbright. The rest is history, as they say,
and a fine moment in the history of conservation in Arkansas it is. There is an
upcoming field trip to Chesney, now including the Couch, Saturday May 24 (get
details from Joan Reynolds, joanreynolds(AT)gmail.com). -Joe
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: Hope Coulter <hopecoulter99(AT)COMCAST.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 10:10am
Gee. This is a whole new perspective on Mother's Day.
Hope Coulter
Little Rock
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
From: "FENNELL, Ellen" <EFENNELL(AT)AUDUBON.ORG>
Date: 9 May 2008 10:44am
No wonder we give them presents.
Ellen M. Fennell
Director of Development
Audubon Arkansas
201 East Markham Street, Suite 450
Little Rock, AR 72201
Tel: 501.244.2229
Fax: 501.244.2231
www.ar.audubon.org
DONATE ONLINE to protect the Little River Bottoms
https://loon.audubon.org/payment/donate/ARLRBDF.html
When one tugs at a single thing in nature; he finds it attached to the rest of
the world.
-- John Muir
-----Original Message-----
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU]
On Behalf Of Hope Coulter
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 11:09 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Troubling Nature Observation
Gee. This is a whole new perspective on Mother's Day.
Hope Coulter
Little Rock
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Chesney Prairie
From: "J. O. and Sally Jo Gibson" <sjogibson(AT)ALLTEL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 10:57am
This is a multipart message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with the "proper"
equipment! (I do like electronic toys though I'm not as proficient in using
them as I hope to be. Ha!) Martha doesn't have a computer or IPhone,
however she does have a physical address and land-line telephone. She has
been more than generous throughout her lifetime to many, many conservation
efforts all over the world including a substantial gift to Baker Prairie.
Martha has traveled extensively. In fact, she traveled around the world
when she was 28 years old..by train, plane, automobile, merchant ships,
possibly by camel, etc., etc. She also has a beautiful, trained, alto voice
and sang in the Un. Methodist Church choir that I directed for several
years. She's a most interesting person, but very private. She'd want to
"swat me one, or more" if she knew I was tooting her horn like this. Each
of us can help in conservation efforts, even if we can only give small sums.
Remember, if everyone contributed just $5.00 to one of the projects
supported by AAS (such as the Ecology Camp, land purchases, etc.), it would
quickly add up to a significant amount.
Must get ready to go with Martha to attend the Boone County Historical
Society's meeting at noon. A video of the Harrison Flood from the early
70's is being shown. Conservation efforts since that time have made a
difference in what Harrison looks like today.
Sally Jo Gibson
Harrison, AR
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
[mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of Lyndal York
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 9:50 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Chesney Prairie
Arbirders:
Joe Woolbright called me Thursday with the really terrific news that the 24
acre Couch place has been sold to us, the People of Arkansas, and is added
to Chesney Prairie NA at Siloam Springs. As far as we know, these are the
last of the last unplowed Tallgrass Prairie acres in NW Ark. Native plant
diversity on the Couch is very high and it has been a productive place for
birding, includes cool stuff like prairie mole crickets, prairie mounds,
crayfish, etc. The acquisition was put over the top by a generous gift by
one of our own, Martha Milburn of Harrison, who rode to the rescue when the
deal stalled early in the spring. Sally Jo Gibson can tell this story
better, but as I understand it, she, Martha, and others in the Disorganized
Birders Club were out birding when my appeal about the Couch was posted to
ARBIRD. Sally Jo got my appeal in the field, via her blackberry or iphone,
showed it to Martha, and Martha said something to the effect, "I will do
that!" and a call was placed, on the spot, to Joe Woolbright. The rest is
history, as they say, and a fine moment in the history of conservation in
Arkansas it is. There is an upcoming field trip to Chesney, now including
the Couch, Saturday May 24 (get details from Joan Reynolds,
<http://mail.google.com/mail/h/q3j3f4q905y2/?v=b&cs=wh&to=joanreynolds@gmail
.com> joanreynolds(AT)gmail.com). -Joe
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Chesney Prairie
From: "FENNELL, Ellen" <EFENNELL(AT)AUDUBON.ORG>
Date: 9 May 2008 11:02am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Martha is such a good egg! I recall she was instrumental in the Nature Con=
servancy/Heritage Commission's work to acquire Baker Prairie in the early '=
90s, as Sally Jo points out.
Ellen M. Fennell
Director of Development
Audubon Arkansas
201 East Markham Street, Suite 450
Little Rock, AR 72201
Tel: 501.244.2229
Fax: 501.244.2231
www.ar.audubon.org<http://www.ar.audubon.org>
DONATE ONLINE to protect the Little River Bottoms
https://loon.audubon.org/payment/donate/ARLRBDF.html
When one tugs at a single thing in nature; he finds it attached to the rest=
of the world.
-- John Muir
-----Original Message-----
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.=
EDU] On Behalf Of J. O. and Sally Jo Gibson
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 10:57 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Re: Chesney Prairie
I just happened to be in the right place at the right time with the "proper=
" equipment! (I do like electronic toys though I'm not as proficient in us=
ing them as I hope to be. Ha!) Martha doesn't have a computer or IPhone, h=
owever she does have a physical address and land-line telephone. She has b=
een more than generous throughout her lifetime to many, many conservation e=
fforts all over the world including a substantial gift to Baker Prairie. Ma=
rtha has traveled extensively. In fact, she traveled around the world when=
she was 28 years old....by train, plane, automobile, merchant ships, possi=
bly by camel, etc., etc. She also has a beautiful, trained, alto voice and=
sang in the Un. Methodist Church choir that I directed for several years. =
She's a most interesting person, but very private. She'd want to "swat me=
one, or more" if she knew I was tooting her horn like this. Each of us ca=
n help in conservation efforts, even if we can only give small sums. Remem=
ber, if everyone contributed just $5.00 to one of the projects supported by=
AAS (such as the Ecology Camp, land purchases, etc.), it would quickly add=
up to a significant amount.
Must get ready to go with Martha to attend the Boone County Historical So=
ciety's meeting at noon. A video of the Harrison Flood from the early 70's=
is being shown. Conservation efforts since that time have made a differen=
ce in what Harrison looks like today.
Sally Jo Gibson
Harrison, AR
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Lyndal York
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 9:50 AM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Chesney Prairie
Arbirders:
Joe Woolbright called me Thursday with the really terrific news that the 24=
acre Couch place has been sold to us, the People of Arkansas, and is added=
to Chesney Prairie NA at Siloam Springs. As far as we know, these are the =
last of the last unplowed Tallgrass Prairie acres in NW Ark. Native plant d=
iversity on the Couch is very high and it has been a productive place for b=
irding, includes cool stuff like prairie mole crickets, prairie mounds, cra=
yfish, etc. The acquisition was put over the top by a generous gift by one =
of our own, Martha Milburn of Harrison, who rode to the rescue when the dea=
l stalled early in the spring. Sally Jo Gibson can tell this story better, =
but as I understand it, she, Martha, and others in the Disorganized Birders=
Club were out birding when my appeal about the Couch was posted to ARBIRD.=
Sally Jo got my appeal in the field, via her blackberry or iphone, showed =
it to Martha, and Martha said something to the effect, "I will do that!" an=
d a call was placed, on the spot, to Joe Woolbright. The rest is history, a=
s they say, and a fine moment in the history of conservation in Arkansas it=
is. There is an upcoming field trip to Chesney, now including the Couch, S=
aturday May 24 (get details from Joan Reynolds, joanreynolds(AT)gmail.com<http=
://mail.google.com/mail/h/q3j3f4q905y2/?v=3Db&cs=3Dwh=
&to=3Djoanreynolds(AT)gmail.com>). -Joe
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Subject: Craighead
From: Richard Baxter <dickbaxter100(AT)GMAIL.COM>
Date: 9 May 2008 12:55pm
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This a.m. at Craighead Forest Park in Jonesboro:
Tennessee
Yellow
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
*Cape May*
Yellow-rumped
BT Green
Blackburnian- *20+*
Pine
Bay-breasted-*12+*
Blackpoll
Black-and-white
Redstart
Ovenbird
Kentucky
*Mourning*
Yellowthroat
Good birding!
Dick Baxter
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Subject: Two Rivers Park
From: Dottie Boyles <ctboyles(AT)aristotle.net>
Date: 9 May 2008 2:00pm
Mom (aka Doris) picked up Mr and Mrs Salzberg from New Jersey and took them to
Two Rivers Park yesterday afternoon, after a quick drive around the State
Capitol.
Just before they entered the swamp area at TRP they were greeted by 9
Mississippi Kites flying low in the fields. The Salzberg's were so thrilled at
the sight, it was hard to get them past that area. I can't remember the entire
list Mom recited last night, but she managed to get a lifebird...a Blackpoll
Warbler!
They really wanted to see a Scissortail Flycatcher but none was to be found
until they were leaving the park. Suddenly one flew up in front of the car,
then several more appeared, as well as, an Eastern Kingbird and an Eastern
Bluebird.
Mom tried hard to find a Pileated Woodpecker but it was a no show. Mrs.
Salzberg has only seen two in her life. Only the Downy and Red-bellied could be
seen.
After a drive to Maumelle Park, the Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center (which
closed 15 min before they arrived) and Pinnacle Mountain, they headed back to
the hotel with some good memories of Little Rock and Arkansas birds.
They will also be joining the ASCA field trip to Allsopp Park tomorrow.
Dottie Boyles
Little Rock
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Subject: morning Mourning
From: Michael Verser <ozarkwildbird(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 2:19pm
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I had a nice male singing Morning Warbler adjacent to my yard this AM. The
lister in me noted that I could still hear him singing as I stepped back on to
my property and thus added a new yard bird. Other singing warblers in this area
this morning were:
Tennessee- several
Black & white
Blackburnian
Chestnut-sided
Yellow-throated
Pine
Am. Redstart- several
The Northern Waterthrush present most of the week seems to have moved on.
I haven't seen a Yellow-rumped since Sunday 5/3.
Bo Verser
West of Heber Springs, where my brisk morning walks have been slowed
considerably by new birdsong.
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Subject: Re: Two Rivers Park
From: "Curry, Neil" <ncurry(AT)AGFC.STATE.AR.US>
Date: 9 May 2008 2:22pm
If the folks are still staying in a downtown hotel they can also have a
good chance to see more Scissortail Flycatchers on either side of the
Clinton Library. Had a good look at one yesterday along the lower side
walk on the east side of the library. Baltimore Orioles are also present
along the nature center walk toward the I-30 bridge. Neil Curry, Central
AR Nature Center LR.
-----Original Message-----
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
[mailto:ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of Dottie Boyles
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 2:01 PM
To: ARBIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.UARK.EDU
Subject: Two Rivers Park
Mom (aka Doris) picked up Mr and Mrs Salzberg from New Jersey and took
them to Two Rivers Park yesterday afternoon, after a quick drive around
the State Capitol.
Just before they entered the swamp area at TRP they were greeted by 9
Mississippi Kites flying low in the fields. The Salzberg's were so
thrilled at the sight, it was hard to get them past that area. I can't
remember the entire list Mom recited last night, but she managed to get
a lifebird...a Blackpoll Warbler!
They really wanted to see a Scissortail Flycatcher but none was to be
found until they were leaving the park. Suddenly one flew up in front
of the car, then several more appeared, as well as, an Eastern Kingbird
and an Eastern Bluebird.
Mom tried hard to find a Pileated Woodpecker but it was a no show. Mrs.
Salzberg has only seen two in her life. Only the Downy and Red-bellied
could be seen.
After a drive to Maumelle Park, the Pinnacle Mountain Visitor Center
(which closed 15 min before they arrived) and Pinnacle Mountain, they
headed back to the hotel with some good memories of Little Rock and
Arkansas birds.
They will also be joining the ASCA field trip to Allsopp Park tomorrow.
Dottie Boyles
Little Rock
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Subject: Paron Birds
From: Ben Meadors <aximdude(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 5:33pm
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I went for an afternoon migrant run, on friends' property near Paron. They have
a bunch of deciduous forest with a creek running through much of it. So I
thought today, after all of the rain would be a good day to make a run at some
warblers which I've neglected this season because of school. Anyway, pishing
today seemed much more effective than usual.
Here's my list for the afternoon:
Black and White Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
American Redstart(FOS - My first time to see a male too!)
Chestnut-sided Warbler(FOS)
Magnolia Warbler(FOS)
Pine Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo(In concentrations that would make your head spin)
White-eyed Vireo(Almost as bad)
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Indigo Bunting
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Swainson's Thrush
Summer Tanager
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Phoebe
Great-crested Flycatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Mallard(Which my friends own)
That's all that comes to mind, but I had a very enjoyable birding run today.
...Now I have to pay for it, by getting all of the ticks off.
-Ben Meadors,
North Little Rock, Ar.
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Subject: White Ibis at Rookery in Ouachita county
From: Kelly Chitwood <kchitwood(AT)CABLELYNX.COM>
Date: 9 May 2008 10:04pm
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Earlier this evening a White Ibis joined the nesting Blue Herons,
Cattle Egrets, Great Egrets and possibly more species within
the dense pine rows.
Kelly Chitwood
Camden, AR
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Subject: Followup to Yesterday's 'Troubling Nature Observation'
From: Barry Haas <bhaas(AT)SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 9 May 2008 11:21pm
George, John & Others,
So many questions. First, the wood duck chick extracted whole from
the egg by the adult female wood duck did not appear to be alive. I
watched closely for any signs of movement and saw none.
Re predators- both of our wood duck nest boxes are mounted on metal
poles with predator guards (round metal cylinders that are 30" long
and 8" in diameter). Since mounting the nest boxes this way and far
away from the nearest tree (sorry, squirrels) we have never seen any
indication of predation from black rat snakes or anything else. Other
than of course adult wood ducks that can fly!
Re how close are the 2 nest boxes to each other- too close at no more
than 50-75', which is not recommended. But over the years both have
been used, though not necessarily at the exact same time. There may
have been some overlap with both boxes in use at the same time during
laying and brooding of the eggs, but I can't say for sure.
And it was definitely a wood duck egg. Right color, right size. We
haven't had any cowbirds that I know of this year, and their eggs are
much smaller with speckles. Much more likely is dumping (eggs laid in
the same nest box by multiple females), which has been mentioned by
others, and is fairly common from what I've read. Sure wish the
woodies had license plates, so we would know if the same female is
entering a box and laying an egg each day. She goes into the box,
lays an egg and within 5 minutes or less comes out and flies down to
the pond to join her mate.
No way for us to know if the eaten egg contents contained a defective
chick. It looked close to or fully ready to hatch, but again
everything happened in a span of no more than 2 minutes so I know I
didn't see or remember everything there was to observe.
Speculation on my part- given the hen's very erratic behavior during
this act, I'm wondering if she was so troubled by having to do this to
survive that she was in a mental frenzy at the time. Or it could
easily have been an egg laid by a competing hen and thus subject to
destruction for competitive reasons. Or the egg may have been cracked
or otherwise slightly damaged (although I was not able to observe any
obvious defects), and therefore no good other than as a necessary
source of nutrition and too precious to be wasted.
There are so many possibilities. All the more reason for a remote
wireless camera in the nest box next year.
From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
Barry Haas
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