The Upland

Plover
Publication of the North Country Bird Club, Inc. Since 1948
July / August 2017 Volume 58 No. 4

SPRING BIRD CENSUS FIELD TRIPS - 2017 Season

Please return your Spring Bird Census form to
Annual Picnic (Brouse Preserve): Sunday, July 9
the Editor as soon as possible. Forms may be Come anytime between 1 & 5 pm - Dinner at 5 pm
mailed to Bill Haller, PO Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634, Marlowe Camp, Beartown: Sat, July 22 - 8:30 am
or sent electronically to haldex@twcny.rr.com. Perch River WMA: Sat, August 26 - 8:30 am
Montezuma South: Sat, Sept 16 - 8:30 am
FALL MEETINGS Montezuma North: Sat, Oct 21 - 8:30 am
Remember to note the dates of our fall meetings on your
Please note: We meet for all field trips, except the Limerick Cedars
calendar. We meet at 7:00 pm at Stone Presbyterian
evening trip and the Annual Picnic, at 8:30 am in the parking lot of
Church (140 Chestnut St, Watertown). Meeting dates are:
the Arsenal St Wal-Mart, across the entry drive from Red Lobster.
Wednesday, September 13
Wednesday, October 11
Wednesday, November 8 ANNUAL PICNIC: AT THE BROUSES (Watertown)
Sunday, July 9th - 1:00 PM (rain or shine)
FIELD TRIP: MARLOWE CAMP (Beartown Road) Dick and Marion Brouse have again generously offered to
Saturday, July 22nd host the Clubs annual picnic at their home on Hazelhurst
Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am Avenue in Watertown. The property includes extensive
We will travel to Club President Corky Marlowes lawns and gardens, woodlands, and a marsh along Kelsey
Creek, which flows through the grounds. As many Club
camp in the Town of Croghan for a second time this members are aware, a great variety of birds of all types find
season. On this trip we will look for butterflies and their way to the Brouses remarkable preserve.
dragonflies, as well as warblers and other songbirds. We will eat at 5:00 pm. You are invited to arrive at any
This is a moderate walk along a gravel road. The time between 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm for birding and
event will last into the afternoon and include lunch at socializing. Please bring a dish to pass and a chair.
the camp. Please bring a dish to pass. Salad, Tableware and beverages will be provided.
dessert, and tableware will be provided. Hazelhurst Avenue runs eastward from Bradley St (NY 12) on the north side
of Watertown, near the city line. The Brouses is the last house on the street.
FIELD TRIP: PERCH RIVER WMA
Saturday, August 26th
Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart - 8:30 am
During late August, the public is allowed access to GOLDEN-WINGED
restricted areas of the Perch River Wildlife Management WARBLER
Area. Perch River WMA, located eight miles north of
Watertown, includes over 7800 acres of wetland areas, Chaumont Barrens
woodlands, and fields, providing habitat for a wide variety May 28, 2017
of birds. We will spend a Saturday morning taking Photo by Lee Ellsworth
advantage of this opportunity to bird in areas of the Refuge
not normally accessible to us. Join us as we explore the
largest WMA in Jefferson County.
If you would like to be added to our E-mail Notification List for news of select
sightings and events, please let the Editor know at haldex@twcny.rr.com.
 OFFICERS This year we are again planning two fall trips to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and nearby
sites. Located at the northern end of Cayuga Lake, the Refuge includes over 8,000 acres of ponds,
President wetlands, and woodlands. It is a major stopover for a great variety of migrating birds, especially
Corky Marlowe 782-4705 waterfowl and shorebirds. Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, and Sandhill Cranes are
Vice-President among the many species often sighted there. Also located in the region are an Audubon center, DEC
sites, and the Seneca Meadows Preserve. We will be visiting at two different stages of the fall
Bill Haller 639-6848
migration, concentrating during the first trip on sites in the southern part of the area and on sites in the
Treasurer northern part during the second. Each trip will include a visit to the Refuge itself. Join us for both trips
Kathleen Killeen 646-6007 to see a maximum variety of species (and to double the fun always a part of the Clubs field trips).
Secretary FIELD TRIP: MONTEZUMA NWR - SOUTH
Christine Bourquin 649-5403 Saturday, September 16th
Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart - 8:30 am
DIRECTORS
Our first trip to Montezuma this fall will include, along with the Refuge, the Seneca Meadows Preserve.
Richard Brouse To 5/2020 The Preserve includes seven miles of trails (no, we wont be walking all of them) which extend through
David Prosser To 5/2019 600 acres of wetlands, fields, and wooded areas. This is an excellent location for shorebirds,
Mike Shepard To 5/2019 waterfowl, and songbirds. We will have lunch at Wolffys, a favorite spot on the shore of Cayuga Lake.
June Walker To 5/2020 Reservations are required before or at the September 13 Club meeting.
Robert Walker To 5/2019 FIELD TRIP: MONTEZUMA NWR - NORTH
Field Trip Coordinator Saturday, October 21st
Richard Brouse 788-6778 Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart - 8:30 am
On our second trip to Montezuma, we will visit the Montezuma Audubon Center and the Montezuma
Census Coordinator DEC headquarters, as well as the Refuge. All three locations offer a variety of waterbirds and
Bill Haller 639-6848 songbirds, with the Refuge an especially good place to see migrating waterfowl. We will stop for
Historian dinner in the Syracuse area on our way home. Reservations are required before or at the
October 11 Club meeting.
Robert Walker 649-2161

Newsletter Editor
Bill Haller 639-6848
On The Web:
NORTH COUNTRY
BIRD CLUB
ON FACEBOOK
For detailed info about birds,
visit the website of
the Cornell Ornithology Lab
and of Cornells renowned
Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary
at http://www.birds.cornell.edu
The Cornell Lab now offers
p r e d ic t i o ns o f b i rd
migration patterns. Track
spring migrations through our
area at http://birdcast.info
After all local field trips, participants are Bring insect repellent and water on all field trips.
invited to join for lunch at a nearby A field trip may be cancelled due to bad weather.
restaurant, if their schedule permits.
These gatherings are always most Call Dick Brouse at 788-6778 with any questions
about our field trips.
enjoyable (and entertaining).
BALTIMORE
TREASURERS REPORT
from the May 10th Meeting
ORIOLE
Cape Vincent Checking account balance.... $1599.76
May 2017
Photo by Savings account balance ...... $1781.65
Robin Booth Kathleen Killeen, Treasurer
Consider joining the New York State Ornithological
Association. Membership includes both a quarterly
journal and a newsletter. Details at www.nybirds.org.
A beautiful set of bird-themed notecards is given to a member or members of the
Club by random selection each time the Plover is issued, to provide extra incentive
for members to keep memberships in good standing. We would like to congratulate
Leland Russell of Evans Mills, selected as this issues recipient.

INFORMATION SOURCES FOR REGIONAL SIGHTINGS

A list of birding organizations and list serves for New York (and other states) is available at http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/
Northern New York Birds List Serve: Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds.
Click on the Join This Group button and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Yahoo account.)
Oneida Birds List Serve (sightings in Central New York): Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Oneidabirds.
Click on the Join This Group button and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Yahoo account.)
Cayuga Birds List Serve: Sightings of birds in the Finger Lakes Region with a focus on the Cayuga Lake Basin.
E-mail Cayugabirds-L-Request@cornell.edu. In the message body put JOIN Your name (first and last name in quotes). 2
From The Folklore of Birds by Laura C. Martin (Globe Pequot
Press, 1993): Sometimes birds will learn new methods of
acquiring food. The green-backed heron . . . has been
observed dropping small pieces of bread into the water to
attract minnows, which it then eats . . . Herons lack the oil
glands that are so prominent in other kinds of water birds.
Instead they produce what is called powder down, soft,
downlike feathers that grow on the breast. As the barbs for
these break down, they produce a powder-like substance that
serves as insulation and waterproofing . . . The name heron is
related . . . to the Greek word krizein, to cry out or shriek.
The oldest heron ever recorded lived for over 23 years.
The Birds of Redwood Hill - A Family Bird Walk
Sponsored by the Indian River Lakes Conservancy
Saturday, July 29 - 10 am Redwood Hill Preserve
Join the Conservancy for a family birdwatching walk to learn about
the birds at Redwood Hill Preserve. Birders Marcie Jacklin and
Tim Seburn will discuss their nesting bird survey of the Preserve
and help in identifying birds along the trail. Wear shoes
appropriate for a trail walk. Bring binoculars, water, and insect
repellent. Registration is appreciated at http://indianriverlakes.org.
Directions to Redwood Hill Preserve: follow NY Rt 37 to Redwood.
In Redwood, turn onto Stine Road (on the right if coming from
Watertown). The Preserve is 1/2 mile from the turn, on the right.

Henderson Historical Society Bird Walk at Southwicks Beach - May 13

SAVANNAH The Henderson Historical Society
SPARROW again invited Dick Brouse, our Clubs
Sackets Harbor Field Trip Coordinator, to lead a bird
May 28, 2017 walk at Southwicks Beach State Park.
Photo by The walk was subsequently scheduled
Kathy Killeen for Saturday, May 13, which proved to
be a rainy and cool spring day. 16
participants, including Dick and five
other Club members, joined that
FUERTES PAINTING morning to walk the woodland nature trail which loops from the park access road.
From the State Museum in Albany
Published in Birds of America, 1917 Highlights of the mornings sightings included Downy Woodpecker, Northern
Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Common Raven,
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Veery, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird,
Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and Rose-breasted
Grosbeak.
Dick was, as always, an excellent guide and leader. The people from Henderson
were most appreciative for the variety of beautiful birds which Dick helped them to
spot. We offer sincere thanks to the Societys Elaine Scott for organizing this
event, for her enthusiastic support
of our work, and for again inviting
the Club to be a part of Henderson
Heritage Days this year. Join us at
the Henderson Museum on
Saturday, August 12, for this very
entertaining event.
(Photos by Elaine Scott)
National Audubon recently launched Plants for Birds, an initiative encouraging
people to devote a part of their property to bird-friendly native plants. The
Plants for Birds website (audubon.org/plantsforbirds) identifies appropriate
native plants based on locality, provides information on the birds supported by
these native plants, and locates the closest native plant nurseries. You can
determine which native plants are best for your area simply by entering your ZIP
code into the database at audubon.org/nativeplants. As a part of this initiative,
Onondaga Audubon is developing a program to assist individuals who wish to
restore habitat for birds and other wildlife. To help narrow the focus, Onondaga
Audubon (onondagaaudubon.com/) will highlight and advertise 10 to 12
bird-friendly native plants each year. Look for more information on Onondaga
Audubons website and Facebook page.
Information about programs of the Department of Environmental Conservation, conservation news, and regulation updates are distributed by a
targeted e-mail system. Subscribers select from 100+ topics. To subscribe: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYSDEC/subscriber/new
For information on Onondaga Audubon field trips and programs visit http://onondagaaudubon.com/ 3
 FIELD TRIP REPORTS
Cornell Lab and Montezuma NWR - May 6: On Saturday, May 6, a rainy spring day with temperatures
in the 50s, 9 members of the Club travelled to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca. The Lab of
Ornithology, with its marvelous exhibits, extensive viewing area, and many trails, provides an experience
that is in many ways unique in the world. A break in the rain allowed us to walk a section of the trails
through the Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary which is a part of the Lab. After our visit to the Lab, we
continued northward along the west shore of Cayuga Lake to the Montezuma NWR. Along the way, we
stopped to view Taughannock Falls, highest in New York State and, with the intense flow provided by our
unusually moist spring, an awe-inspiring sight. Over the course of the day, 55 species were observed.
During the trip, we sighted Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,
Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue
Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Greater
Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove,
Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker,
Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Purple Martin, Tree EASTERN TOWHEE
Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chaumont Barrens Field Trip
House Wren, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, June 3, 2017
American Redstart, Ovenbird, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Photo by Kathy Killeen
Common Grackle, and American Goldfinch.
Red Lake - May 20: On Saturday, May 20, 13 members of NCBC joined in the Clubs annual trip to Red Lake, outside of Theresa. The day
was sunny, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Highlights included the sighting of a Black-billed Cuckoo and an excellent view of a Scarlet
Tanager. This trip has been a much-anticipated event on the Clubs field trip calendar for a very long time and, in recent years, has included a
visit to Cottage Hill Road, a key location for Golden-winged Warblers (and Indigo Buntings) in our area. The trip also included our usual lunch
stop at Coopers Corners, where we always have a fine meal, good conversation, and much hilarity.
48 species were observed during the trip. We sighted Wood Duck, Mallard, Wild Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald
Eagle, Common Tern, Mourning Dove, Blackbilled Cuckoo, Rubythroated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellowbellied Sapsucker, Downy
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird,
Yellowthroated Vireo, Blueheaded Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Northern Roughwinged Swallow,
Blackcapped Chickadee, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Goldenwinged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler, Cerulean
Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow,
Rosebreasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Redwinged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, and American Goldfinch.
Limerick Cedars - May 31: On the evening of Wednesday, May 31, 14 members of NCBC gathered along the Ransom Road in the Limerick
Cedars. Skies were partly cloudy, with temperatures in the 60s, a perfect spring night. One highlight of the evening was an excellent view of a
Prairie Warbler singing. This location is one of our areas best places to hear Whip-poor-wills in the spring and summer, and they did not
disappoint us. 14 species were observed during our visit: Canada Goose, American Woodcock, Mourning Dove, Whip-poor-will, Veery, Wood
Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, and Song
Sparrow. The Cedars once again proved to be a charming setting in which to watch the Sun set on a beautiful spring evening.
Chaumont Barrens - June 3: On Saturday, June 3, 12 members and friends of NCBC walked the trail through the Nature Conservancys
Preserve at the Chaumont Barrens. A clear sky and temperatures in the 60s helped to make this a most pleasant morning walk.
37 species were observed during our visit: Wild Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great
Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, House Wren, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden-winged
Warbler (or hybrid), Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common
Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.
We also found abundant Prairie Smoke and several clusters of Lady Slippers, confirming the reputation of the Barrens as a site where
uncommon wildflowers can be found. An excellent lunch at the Blue Heron in Chaumont concluded a most enjoyable day of birding.
First Beartown Trip - June 10: On Saturday, June 10, 14 members and friends of NCBC journeyed to Club President Corky Marlowes camp
on Beartown Road in the Town of Croghan. This was the first of two Club trips to this bird-rich woodland location on this seasons schedule.
Skies were clear, with temperatures in the 70s.
We observed 38 species during our outing: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Ruffed Grouse, Great Blue Heron, Broad-winged Hawk,
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested
Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter
Wren, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Cedar Waxwing, Golden-winged Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler,
Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet
Tanager, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, and American Goldfinch.
As usual, we enjoyed a delicious (and very filling) lunch following our birding, with a variety of excellent dishes prepared by members of the
Club. Our thanks go out to Corky for once again hosting a memorable event at her beautiful retreat in the Lewis County woodlands. 4
 NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB SIGHTINGS
Please forward notable sightings for the next issue by August 15,
using the contact info on the last page.
The return of warblers and other songbirds to Northern New York is, of course, the most
notable news from the time since our previous issue. Dick and Marion Brouse reported
a visit on May 1 by a Baltimore Oriole at their home in Watertown. Kezia and Steve
Sullivan also reported sighting a Baltimore Oriole, as well as a Yellow Warbler, on May 1
at their home in Sackets. Bill Haller heard Bobolinks along Dog Hill Road on May 4 and
was treated to excellent views of Eastern Meadowlarks while there. Doris Gibson
reported that her son had seen Barn Swallows in the Perch Lake area on May 4, while
she was visited by four Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at her home on Keyser Road on
May 8. On May 7, Corky Marlowe and Bill sighted a Bobolink perched on a bush along RING-BILLED GULL
the Cook Road. Kezia and Steve reported a Warbling Vireo in Sackets on May 8. On IN SPARKLING WATERS
May 11, they spotted their first Pine Siskin of the season there and also sighted a Sackets Harbor - April 8, 2017
Canada Warbler, the first they had ever seen at their Sackets home. Also on that day, Photo by Kathy Killeen
Bill was visited by a White-crowned Sparrow and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at his home in Dexter. Jon Holcombe placed a Purple
Martin house in the yard of his home on Wellesley Island this spring and reported that a Purple Martin had investigated the new house on
May 12. Jon also sighted his first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the season that day. Steve and Kezia sighted a female American
Redstart and four Baltimore Orioles in Sackets on May 13. As of that day, they had recorded 57 species so far this year at their home.
Doris visited Perch Lake on May 14 and sighted a Scarlet Tanager, as well as an immature Bald Eagle. Later that week, an Indigo
Bunting appeared at her feeders, and she sighted three Black Vultures along Fults Road. Rachel Lewis reported seeing two Eastern
Kingbirds in Thompson Park on May 15. On May 17, Kezia and Steve were visited by a
Cape May Warbler, the first to appear at their home in seven years. On May 17, they
visited Black Pond, finding an American Redstart, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, and a
Flycatcher of indeterminate species. This was quite a venture, requiring waders, plentiful
insect repellent, and other appropriate equipment, as much of the trail and boardwalk
there is under water. Lee Ellsworth reported sighting at least two Golden-winged
Warblers at Chaumont Barrens on May 28 (see photo p 1). Kathy Killeen reported
sighting a flock of Cedar Waxwings (which seem to be unusually scarce this year) along
the shore in Sackets on June 4. On June 12, Corky and Bill heard Savannah Sparrows
along Dog Hill Road, then found them perched on DEC signposts at two different parking
areas there on June 17.
Bald Eagles have been seen both at the nest along the Lower Pool at Perch River WMA
and at the nest along Moffatt Road. On May 4, Bill sighted two mature Bald Eagles
FIELD SPARROW perched above the Lower Pool nest. Corky and Bill found a mature Bald Eagle at the
Chaumont Barrens Field Trip - June 3, 2017 Moffatt Road nest on May 13. They sighted a mature Bald Eagle perched on a stump in
Photo by Kathy Killeen the Lower Pool on June 12.
After not having been reported there since 2014, a Great Horned Owl has again appeared in the Limerick Cedars. Corky and Bill found
the Owl there on June 12. Lynn Chavoustie also sighted the bird there, on June 19. Both sightings were at about 9 pm, just after sunset.
A pair of Ring-necked Pheasants were sighted at the Perch River Village berm several times this spring. Corky and Connie Mason first
saw the birds there on April 26. Bill then found the pair there on April 27. He saw the male
again on June 12, when it posed on a boulder along the edge of the parking area. On May 19,
Robin Booth sighted a Ring-Necked Pheasant near Cape Vincent.
Several Club members have reported sightings of various waterbirds during the spring season.
Kezia and Steve sighted a Spotted Sandpiper in Sackets on May 5, then saw it again on May 8.
Bill sighted a Great Egret along the Allen Road on May 9, then he and Corky found two Great
Egrets in the same location on May 12. On that same day, they found two American Bitterns in
the tall grasses along the Lower Pool. On May 13, Corky and Bill again found an American
Bittern at the Lower Pool. On the same day, they sighted several Black Terns at Ashland WMA
and, on Point Salubrious, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers and, remarkably, two Snow
Geese. Doris reported that her son had seen a Snow Goose in a large flock of Canada Geese
in the Perch Lake area in mid-May. On June 11, on a visit to her familys summer home at
Goose Bay, Doris sighted eight Trumpeter Swans, a pair of Mallards, and Black, Common, and
Caspian Terns. She also saw two adult Canada Geese leading four juveniles across the water. TREE SWALLOW NESTLING
On June 17, Lynn Chavoustie, birding at Ashland WMA, sighted an American Bittern and two Sackets Harbor - June 22, 2017
Black-crowned Night Herons. Photo by Kathy Killeen 5
 NORTH COUNTRY BIG DAY
Four teams participated in this years North Country Big Day, the second time our Club has held this event. The event challenged each
team to sight as many species as possible during a team-selected midnight-to-midnight 24-hour period in mid-May. A total of 145
species were reported. Of these, 44 were sighted by all four teams, 46 by only one of the teams. All four teams reported species not
sighted by any other team. Linnea Rowse and Alana Chriest sighted a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, which has not been reported even
during our Spring Bird Census for at least the previous ten years. Big Day participants included Adam Bleau, Dick Brouse, Marion
Brouse, Alana Chriest, Bill Haller, Kathy Killeen, Corky Marlowe, Connie Mason, Irene Mazzocchi, Cody Nichols, Linnea Rowse, Mike
Shepard, and Liz Truskowski. Those involved are reported to have very much enjoyed the experience. We hope that even more teams
will join in the challenge next year. The event is a most interesting, even inspiring, way to put ones birding skills to the test and to come
to appreciate the wide variety of bird species which can be found in the North Country.
The most species were reported this year by the team of Irene Mazzocchi, Adam Bleau, Cody Nichols, and Liz Truskowski. They sighted
108 species in 24 hours, a truly big Big Day. Their list included 19 species not reported by any other team. We congratulate these expert
birders on their excellent results.
Species List ( reported by only one team / reported by all four teams): **Canada Goose, Brant, Mute Swan, Trumpeter
Swan, Wood Duck, *Gadwall, *American Wigeon, *American Black Duck, **Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, *Northern Shoveler, *Ring-necked Duck,
*Greater Scaup, *Lesser Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, *Bufflehead, *Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, *Ruddy
Duck, Ring-necked Pheasant, **Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, *American Bittern, **Great Blue Heron, Green
Heron, *Black-crowned Night Heron, **Turkey Vulture, **Osprey, **Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, *Sharp-shinned Hawk, *Coopers Hawk,
*Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, *Merlin, *Peregrine Falcon, *Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule (Moorhen), **Killdeer,
Spotted Sandpiper, *Least Sandpiper, Wilsons Snipe, American Woodcock, **Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, **Caspian Tern, *Common Tern,
**Black Tern, **Rock Pigeon, **Mourning Dove, *Black-billed Cuckoo, *Yellow-billed Cuckoo, *Barred Owl, Whip-poor-will, Chimney Swift,
*Ruby-throated Hummingbird, *Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker,
**Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, *Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, *Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Least
Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, **Eastern Kingbird, *Yellow-throated Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, **Blue Jay,
**American Crow, Common Raven, *Horned Lark, Purple Martin, **Tree Swallow, *Northern Rough-winged Swallow, *Bank Swallow, *Cliff
Swallow, **Barn Swallow, **Black-capped Chickadee, *Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, **House Wren, **Marsh Wren,
Eastern Bluebird, Veery, *Hermit Thrush, **Wood Thrush, **American Robin, **Gray Catbird, **Brown Thrasher, **European Starling, Cedar
Waxwing, Blue-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, *Northern Parula, **Yellow Warbler, **Chestnut-sided Warbler,
*Magnolia Warbler, *Cape May Warbler, *Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, *Black-throated Green Warbler, *Blackburnian
Warbler, *Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, *Northern Waterthrush, **Common
Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, **Eastern Towhee, *American Tree Sparrow, **Chipping Sparrow, **Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow,
*Grasshopper Sparrow, *Henslows Sparrow, **Song Sparrow, **Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow,
*Dark-eyed Junco, **Northern Cardinal, **Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, **Bobolink, **Red-winged Blackbird, **Eastern Meadowlark,
**Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, **Baltimore Oriole, House Finch, **American Goldfinch, **House Sparrow

BIRDING HOTSPOT: WILLIAMS / OLD STATE ROADS - RODMAN

One of the most easily accessible birding roads through the Tug Hill Woodlands
begins as Williams Road, which turns north from NY 177 one mile east of Rodman,
then becomes Old State Road, which returns to NY 177 three-fourths of a mile west
of Barnes Corners. The roads total length is 5 miles, largely through mature
upland forest habitat. At the Rodman end, the road passes through a few open
fields and shrubby oldfields. The different habitats provide for observations of a
great variety of bird species.
This is a gravel road, well maintained (but not a paved thoroughfare!), with several
places where one can pull off the road to look and listen for birds. Trails allow
access to the woods on both sides at several points along the road, but these trails
are generally somewhat rugged and not meant for a casual stroll.
The one notable exception to this is the John Young Trail, newly developed by the EASTERN TOWHEE
DEC and just opened in early June. The trail is fully handicapped accessible, a Sackets Harbor - May 2017
Photo by Janet Montford
five-foot-wide path paved with fine gravel, and slightly less than half a mile long. It
leads to Inman Gulf, the largest of the gorges on this part of Tug Hill. Inman Gulf Janet is the niece of Doris Gibson, one of the
senior members of our Club. She and her
winds for five miles through the forest and is, for much of its length, 150 feet deep or husband Bob live on the Military Road, near
more. The view across the gorge from the end of the trail is truly spectacular, and Sackets. Bob is a very gifted artist whose
there is excellent woodland birding all along the way. The trailhead is 3 miles from paintings of our areas bird life are outstanding.
the Rodman end of the road and 1 miles from the Barnes Corners end. There are Examples of his beautiful work can be viewed at
parking areas on both sides of the road - the trailhead itself is on the north side. Dianes Coffee Shop in Dexter. 6
 AUDUBON BIRDATHON - MAY 11, 2017
Report by Linnea Rowse, Field Conservation / Project Specialist - Audubon New York
Birdathon Team Members - Ithaca Team: Linnea Rowse, Andy Hinickle, Jillian Liner, Mike Burger, Suzanne Treyger, and Jane Graves
Last year, Audubon New Yorks field conservationist in charge of the Golden-winged Warbler Restoration Project in our area (and NCBC member)
Linnea Rowse was one of a team of two which participated in Audubons annual Birdathon. The Birdathon is a competition to sight the most
species in a single day, but, more importantly, it is an event to raise funds for Audubons conservation and species restoration programs. The team
birded in the Watertown area and sighted 113 species. This year, Linnea joined a team of six, based in Ithaca, which birded in the area around
Cayuga Lake. This team also sighted 113 species (which speaks to the richness of birding in our own area). We thank Linnea both for her work
on behalf of the birds and for sharing details of her experience with us. A summary of Linneas report follows, along with the teams species list.
I started the morning of the Birdathon at 5:45 am in the driveway of Jillians Ithaca home, birding by ear for a few minutes before we left to meet
up with the rest of our group. We heard a beautiful dawn chorus of forest birds, including Wood Thrush and White-throated Sparrow. We then
went to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to meet Andy and Jane. From there, we proceeded to Summerhill State Forest to join Suzanne and
Mike, completing our team. Here we strolled down a gravel road through forest habitat, adding many new species, including four Warblers:
Black-throated Blue, Canada, Black-throated Green, and Nashville. The team then drove to Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia, where we
found our first Louisiana Waterthrush, as well as a beautiful Blackburnian Warbler. Our next stop was at McIlroy Bird Sanctuary, a Finger Lakes
Land Trust property, where we sighted a number of other species, including Belted Kingfisher, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,
Ovenbird, and Hermit Thrush. We then travelled to the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. At the Visitor Center there, we watched a
Peregrine Falcon chasing a large flock (about 200) of Least Sandpipers. Highlights along the Wildlife Drive included a Virginia Rail, two Sandhill
Cranes, and a Horned Grebe. At Mays Point Pool, we spotted four Bald Eagles and two Trumpeter Swans. Along Armitage Road, we heard
and saw a Cerulean Warbler. The team then returned to the Cornell Lab to conclude our day of birding. It was a wonderful day, with beautiful
spring weather. We counted a total of 113 bird species. The full list is below.
Ithaca Team - Species List: Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal,
Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Turkey Vulture,
Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Virginia Rail,
Common Gallinule, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Least
Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird,
Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern
Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper,
Carolina Wren, House Wren, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird,
Veery, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler,
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Cerulean Warbler,
American Redstart, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow,
Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern
Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bobolink, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Baltimore
Oriole, House Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Philadelphia - The Cradle of American Ornithology
(The following article is based on information from A Birders Guide to Philly by George Armistead,
published online in June 2017 in conjunction with the American Birding Expo.)
This years American Birding Expo will be held in Philadelphia, PA, known for good reason as the
Cradle of American Ornithology (and also as the Cradle of American Paleontology, but that is
another story). Early ornithologists from the Philadelphia area include John James Audubon,
Alexander Wilson (the father of American ornithology and namesake of Wilsons Phalarope,
Plover, Snipe, Warbler, and Storm-Petrel), John Cassin (Cassins Finch), John Kirk Townsend
(Townsends Solitaire), and Thomas Say (Says Phoebe). Wilson joined William Bartram in
establishing Bartrams Garden, the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America, which still
thrives along the west bank of the Schuylkill River, just outside of Philadelphia, open to the public
year-round. Bartram is honored in the taxonomic name Bartramia longicauda, the Upland
Sandpiper, which was known for many years (including the early years of this newsletter) as the
Upland Plover, and before that as Bartrams Sandpiper. Another well-known early ornithologist,
Charles Lucien Bonaparte (Bonapartes Gull) spent much of his time in America at the
Philadelphia home of Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon and both Charles Luciens uncle
and his father-in-law (yet another story - see The Upland Plover, Vol 56, No 3). A later notable BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Philadelphia ornithologist, James Bond (1900-1989), is of special interest for a reason not entirely Sackets Harbor - May 2017
related to birds. A novelist named Ian Fleming, a keen birdwatcher with a home in Jamaica, Photo by Janet Montford
happened as a result to own a copy of Bonds definitive work The Birds of the West Indies (1936). In a famous statement from a letter to
Bonds wife, Fleming said It struck me that this brief, unromantic, Anglo-Saxon, and yet very masculine name was just what I needed,
and so a second James Bond was born. This second James Bond is not known to have had an interest in ornithology. 7
The following was posted on Birdchat recently by Al Schirmacher of Muscotah, Kansas, then distributed by Rose DeNeve to the
OneidaBirds ListServ. The Editor felt it was very much worth sharing with our local birding community. Much of the advice most probably
applies far beyond birding for Warblers.
Warbler Code: Warblers are meant to be heard, not seen. Occasionally. Faintly. Most often by others.
When chasing a warbler, remember to check terrain. Hospital visits after falls can last throughout migration.
When a warbler is seen by one person, others will not see it.
When a warbler is seen by others, your chances of seeing it run between 0 and 5 percent. 5 percent might be optimistic.
Right there does not constitute a direction.
Most of us do not know our tree species. The Chestnut-sided is 20 feet up in the purple gallinaceous sumac is not helpful.
Warblers songs cross over. Yellow and Chestnut-sided are particularly apt to get you in trouble. American Redstarts revel
in their ability to sound like others.
Those who recognize warblers by chip notes are worth their weight in gold. Follow them discretely, that is, within 18 inches.
Others will not hear what you hear. When you point out a song, warblers interpret your pointing as shut up.
When all else fails, enjoy the cardinals. Or the orioles.

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