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LABIRD-L for Monday, February 12, 2001
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Subject: Re: Bullock's Oriole
From: "Nancy L. Newfield" <colibri(AT)GS.VERIO.NET>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 7:02am
Mark,
At 09:58 PM 2/11/01 -0600, Mark Swan wrote:
>Today, Sunday, 11 Jan 2001 I squeaked up a
>1st winter male Bullock's Oriole at the edge
>of The Nature Conservancy's Cypress Island
>Nature Preserve at Lake Martin in St. Martin
>Parish around 3 PM.
How neat to find a Bullock's Oriole in the wild! This has certainly been a
banner year for Orioles in general and Bullock's in particular. I've seen
at least two dozen Orioles during the course of my winter hummer banding.
Yesterday, Beth and Sammy Maniscalco, Lisa Robichaux, Stephanie Rodrigue,
and I spent a couple of hours watching orioles at the home of Melanie and
Pat Stephens in St. Rose. We observer approximately five. There was a
single adult male Baltimore, and an immature male Bullock's. One of the
females appeared to be a Bullock's as well, judging by her plain light gray
belly, her yellowish face, and pale pinkish gray mandible. Another female
had rather ambiguous field marks, but she didn't stay around long enough for
us to study her in detail.
This is a very interesting bunch of Orioles and I think they merit some
further study from someone who has more expertise with Orioles than I do.
The Stephens welcome visitors. Early morning is best. Contact me privately
for the phone number.
Because I encounter so many Orioles during the course of winter hummer
banding, I would like to become more skilled at identifying these birds.
Can someone direct me to the ID Frontiers web site?
NLN=20
Nancy L. Newfield
Casa Colibr=ED=A9
Metairie, Louisiana USA =20
<colibri(AT)gs.verio.net>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Redwing blackbirds, etc....
From: "J. S. SLACK III" <sslack3(AT)IX.NETCOM.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 8:54am
Y'all, Sunday was a mild day and the martins were noisy coming and going,
and the feeders were busy with the usual birds, but 4 redwing blackbirds
visited two of the sunflower feeders. Query: I used my binoculars and
spotted two house finches, each with one deformed eye and one with a
deformed beak. One of the gold finches seemed ill and also had a blind
eye. Anyone else notice deformities like these? The blackbirds in the
Sunday Advocate photo were ID'ed under the photo, not in Macaluso's
article. Has anyone noticed the large numbers of robins moving west in
the evenings? FYI: I am a hunter and turkey season is just around the
corner. It is THE most dangerous time to roam in the woods, particularly
if you don't own the land. I hunt only on private land, but twice in 12
years I have encountered unwitting trespassers collecting wildflowers or
just wandering. Gobblers display red waddles, and a white and blue head
when strutting, so those patriotic colors are NOT suggested for wearing in
the woods during turkey season, March to May. I am very careful and I
expect everyone else to be cautious too. Best wishes, JSS3.
John Stewart Slack III
214 Woodstone Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Ph. 225.769.2587
Fax 225.757.0232
http://www.jss3.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Advocate
From: Russ Allor <RAllor(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 9:06am
I have had a problem finding the Advocate article on backyard feeding.
Can someone email the date to me? Rallor(AT)aol.com
Russ
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and The Sunday Advocate
From: Carol Foil <lcfoil(AT)ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 10:01am
These 'identifications' were in the captions of the photos in the newspaper
article that was printed.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Wood" <labirder(AT)SHREVE.NET>
To: <LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 8:33 AM
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and The Sunday Advocate
> Mike, LaBirders and all,
>
> I just read the article that Jay mentioned and see no reference of
> Yellow-headed or Rusty Blackbird in the article or in the photo captions
by
> Joe Macaluso . Apparently, Jay comments, "tentatively identified as
> "Yellow-headed Blackbird" and "Rusty Blackbird", were his own and not Joe
> Macaluso's. The article is online at:
>
> http://www.theadvocate.com/outdoors/story.asp?StoryID=937 .
>
>
> Bill Wood
> Keithville, LA
> ..
>
> At 10:16 AM 2/11/2001, you wrote:
> >Jay,
> >
> >The birds in the Advocate article are male and female Boat-tailed
> >Grackles. With so many birders in BR, Joe should have contacted at least
> >one of them for ID, and not merely speculated as to their ID.
> >
> > Mike
> >**********************************************
> >Mike Musumeche
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Piping Plover Survey at Fourchon
From: "R. D. Purrington" <rdp(AT)ROSEBUD.PHY.TULANE.EDU>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 11:31am
Michael--
We drove the entire 12 miles of beach from Belle Pass to Caminada Pass. The
only Piping Plovers we had were at the old cut near Elmer's Beach, and there
were 19 there. This was yesterday, Sunday, the 11th.
Only other vaguely interesting birds were 4 Peregrines and 2 Merlins. One of
the latter spent several minutes harrassing flocks of shorebirds. It would
chase them up into the sky and fly around in the midst the of flock, breaking
it into smaller parts, which it would then pursue with renewed vigor. Great
fun (for us, probably also for the Merlin).
dan purrington
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and The Sunday Advocate
From: Van Remsen <najames(AT)unix1.sncc.lsu.edu>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 12:35pm
On Sun, 11 Feb 2001, Paul Conover wrote:
> michael, labird,
> maybe not, but misidentifications aside, no publicity is bad
> publicity. it's good to see new audiences being aimed at.
paul/LABIRD: In general I would agree, except in this case, the list of
expected species was so BAD that it undermines confidence in the Great
Backyard Bird Count and the LADWF count. For example, it doesn't take
much bird expertise to question whether BACHMAN'S WARBLER should be among
the expected birds in the Capital City area in February. Some of the
other birds on the list (from memory) were Swainson's Warbler,
Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Eared
Grebe, Common Merganser, Yellow-breasted Chat, "Berwick's" Wren, Evening
"Grosbeck", and N. Rough-winged Swallow. For those who know something
about birds and might actually consider participating, this is not
encouraging publicity.
If you were writing a promo article on, say, deep-sea fishing, wouldn't
you want to have someone who actually knows the fish look over the
expected species?
#################################
Van Remsen,
LSU Museum of Natural Science,
najames(AT)unix1.sncc.lsu.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and The Sunday Advocate
From: Russ Allor <RAllor(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 1:09pm
In a message dated 2/12/01 10:02:12 AM Central Standard Time,
lcfoil(AT)ATTGLOBAL.NET writes:
<< These 'identifications' were in the captions of the photos in the newspaper
article that was printed. >>
Do you know what section of the Sunday Advocate is involved.? I may have
discarded the one of interest.
Russ Allor
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: NAMC May 12th
From: marty floyd <marty.floyd(AT)LA.USDA.GOV>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 1:36pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
The annual North American Migration Count (NAMC) is scheduled for May =
12, 2001. Performed the 2nd Saturday of each May this provides a =
snapshot of the migration as it progresses across Mexico, the U.S. and =
Canada. Tiny Moore coordinates Rapides Parish (call him at 443-7005). =
All other parishes (or individuals) please send in information to Marty =
Floyd. Even feeder watching is helpful for the 24-hour period. As in =
CBCs party-miles, and party-hours need also be recorded. Contact Marty =
Floyd if you have any questions.
Marty Floyd
NRCS
3737 Government Street
Alexandria, LA 71302
318-473-7690
marty.floyd(AT)la.usda.gov
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and The Sunday Advocate
From: Cathy Troy <Cathytroy(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 4:27pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Russ,
The back page of the Sunday Sport section.
Cathy Troy
Baton Rouge
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and the Sunday Advocate
From: MiriamLDavey <athena(AT)INTERSURF.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 4:56pm
Labird:
Just now dug that article out of the Sun paper after several days out of
town. Yet another photo caption inaccuracy---the dried stalk of a plant on
which the mystery birds were perched was i.d.'d as "indigo". I am nearly
positive it couldn't be anything correctly called "indigo".
Several cultivated plants have accepted common names containing the word
"indigo", but virtually all the wild plants locally referred to by that
name are actually some other legume. Unless this photo was taken on the
grounds of some heirloom garden featuring the actual agricultural indigo
grown by the early colonists, it's another boo-boo.
My guess is that plant was probably the extremely common wet soil-loving
Coffeeweed, _Sesbania_. We've discussed its avian merits on this listserv
before.
And I agree with someone (Van, Russ?) who said it would be frustrating to
the type of person inclined to begin birding to use as any type of guide
the list given in this article.
Since a LDWF program is mentioned, with personell quoted, it seems like
they would care whether articles interpreting and promoting their programs
were at least minimally accurate. As a Louisiana lifetime liscense holder
and one of their paid-up constituents, I care.
Oh, to have a Bill Fontenot at the Advocate... or at LDWF... come to think
of it, his services are probably available to those orgs for a fee!
MiriamLDavey
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and the Sunday Advocate
From: "Jay V. Huner" <jjhuner(AT)MINDSPRING.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 5:57pm
Good Evening,
It is frustrating to me to see the response of people to a genuine
effort by a "hooks and bullets" person to encourage bird watching.
Yes, there are "errors" in the Macaluso article. You can be highly
critical of the author OR you can praise the author for the effort and
assist the author with constructive criticism.
Joe Macaluso has gone out of his way to encourage birding with feature
articles over the past 2-3 years. How many of you critics have called
and congratulated Joe for his efforts and offered constructive
criticism to improve his efforts? How many of you have invited Joe (or
any other outdoor writer) to go birding with you or to participate in
CBCs? Based on the negativity presented yesterday and today about the
article, few have done so.
I am saddened by the mean-spirited response of some of you.
Best Regards, Jay Huner
-----Original Message-----
From: MiriamLDavey <athena(AT)INTERSURF.COM>
To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu <LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu>
Date: February 12, 2001 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and the Sunday Advocate
>Labird:
>
>Just now dug that article out of the Sun paper after several days out
of
>town. Yet another photo caption inaccuracy---the dried stalk of a
plant on
>which the mystery birds were perched was i.d.'d as "indigo". I am
nearly
>positive it couldn't be anything correctly called "indigo".
>
>Several cultivated plants have accepted common names containing the
word
>"indigo", but virtually all the wild plants locally referred to by
that
>name are actually some other legume. Unless this photo was taken on
the
>grounds of some heirloom garden featuring the actual agricultural
indigo
>grown by the early colonists, it's another boo-boo.
>
>My guess is that plant was probably the extremely common wet
soil-loving
>Coffeeweed, _Sesbania_. We've discussed its avian merits on this
listserv
>before.
>
>And I agree with someone (Van, Russ?) who said it would be
frustrating to
>the type of person inclined to begin birding to use as any type of
guide
>the list given in this article.
>
>Since a LDWF program is mentioned, with personell quoted, it seems
like
>they would care whether articles interpreting and promoting their
programs
>were at least minimally accurate. As a Louisiana lifetime liscense
holder
>and one of their paid-up constituents, I care.
>
>Oh, to have a Bill Fontenot at the Advocate... or at LDWF... come to
think
>of it, his services are probably available to those orgs for a fee!
>
>MiriamLDavey
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and the Sunday Advocate
From: Bill Wood <labirder(AT)SHREVE.NET>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 6:46pm
Jay, LaBirders and all,
I once worked for the "The Shreveport Times" newspaper and would add that
Joe Macaluso might of had nothing to do with the misidentifying
captions. I did page layout in the sports department and was responsible
for adding the pictures that went along with the story and making up
captions. The writers generally didn't know what pictures or captions were
associated with their story unless they stuck around after midnight or read
the paper the next day.
So, Joe Macaluso might not have misidentified the birds in this case. It
might have been an editor or someone that does page layout. It might even
be the photographer misidentified the birds as well. I agree with Jay in
that we need to work closer with our local papers. Just think, would "The
Times" Mary Jimenez be such a outstanding spokesperson for birding if
Charlie Lyon and others hadn't offered to take her on Cross Lake and Red
River boat trips?
At 05:34 PM 2/12/2001, Jay Huner wrote:
>It is frustrating to me to see the response of people to a genuine effort
>by a "hooks and bullets" person to encourage bird watching. Yes, there
>are "errors" in the Macaluso article. You can be highly critical of the
>author OR you can praise the author for the effort and
>assist the author with constructive criticism.
>
>Joe Macaluso has gone out of his way to encourage birding with feature
>articles over the past 2-3 years. How many of you critics have called and
>congratulated Joe for his efforts and offered constructive criticism to
>improve his efforts? How many of you have invited Joe (or any other
>outdoor writer) to go birding with you or to participate in CBCs? Based on
>the negativity presented yesterday and today about the article, few have
>done so.
As always, Good Birding,
Bill Wood
Keithville, LA
3 miles south of Shreveport
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Advocate article...
From: MiriamLDavey <athena(AT)INTERSURF.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 8:01pm
Jay,
You know that birders and potential birders are all about accuracy--it's
fun to us. This writer of this article on birding and bird-counting
projects seems completely unaware of that fundamental aspect of birding.
I am not saying Joe Macaluso should be sent to prison, or that he is an
evil deviant, or that he is the AntiChrist. All I am saying is that the
article should have been better researched. Much better articles on the
subject are routinely written by reporters with no knowledge of birds.
It is a good thing, I hope, that more people are encouraged by newspaper
publicity to take up birding as a hobby. Surely it inspires more habitat
conservation. I am just not sure dangling Bachman's Warbler and a whole
slew of uncommon and out-of-season birds in front of backyard birders helps
either birding or conservation very much.
MiriamLDavey
BatonRougeLA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Backyard Bird Count and the Sunday Advocate
From: Russ Allor <RAllor(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2001 10:29pm
In a message dated 2/12/01 5:58:32 PM Central Standard Time,
jjhuner(AT)MINDSPRING.COM writes:
<< How many of you critics have called
and congratulated Joe for his efforts and offered constructive
criticism to improve his efforts? >>
Jay: Have you ever tried to contact an Advocate writer directly? They are
incognito.
Russ
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