Southwestern Flyer - February 2006
The newsletter of the Fort Worth Audubon Society

PRESIDENT’S PEN By Lynn Barber

Having just participated in the first Big Day competition between Fort Worth Audubon and Audubon Dallas (Jan. 13-14), I just have to write about it in this column. It was a wonderful experience, the brainchild of D.D. Currie, our chapter’s program chair. Of course in the 24-hour count period, not all areas in the county could be covered completely, so decisions had to be made on where to concentrate the birding efforts to maximize the number of bird species that might be seen. In Tarrant County, D.D. and Dell Little did an amazing job of figuring out what bird species might be found and the areas in the county that needed to be birded to get those birds, and then assigning the areas to the teams of people who signed up to be on a team.

The rules of the Big Day competition allowed there to be ten teams from each county with 2-4 people per team. As D.D. reported on Texbirds the day after the count, Tarrant County had 22 birders and Dallas had 35 birders who participated in the count. In spite of the large difference in the number of birders, the final count of birds in the two counties was almost the same. Tarrant County birders found some very difficult-to-find birds, but unfortunately, the severe drought conditions meant that there were very few shorebirds in Tarrant County. In Dallas, however, the drought apparently created shorebird habitat where unusual shorebirds were concentrated, and therefore they could be found on the count.

I was really impressed during the countdown at the Big Day dinner on Saturday night at the number of birds seen in each county in such a short period of time. The birders who participated from each county did a very good job of tracking down birds that are very hard to find in north Texas and managed to remember to look for and find essentially all the normal winter birds as well. In fact, a total of 150 species was seen in the two counties!

Since the teams were requested to call into D.D. and Dell during the Big Day to report birds seen, so that “Tarrant County Big Day Central” could call the teams to direct them to go where the still-needed birds might be, the number of cell phone calls in Tarrant County during the Big Day probably skyrocketed. D.D. and Dell noted throughout the day how resourceful and flexible each of our Tarrant County teams was, driving long distances to find birds that were still needed as the day progressed.

While non-competitive birding is probably what most of us prefer to do day in and day out, a spurt of competitive birding can really sharpen your birding skills and be lots of fun! If you have never participated in a Big anything of birding (like a big day or a big year or a big hour…), you should consider trying it. Thinking through where to go in your assigned territory, and how much time to devote to the hunt for a particular bird is very different from most of our birding experiences. In such a time-limited hunt, each species counts just one point, no matter how rare or how common. You need them all. If you get into the mindset of doing a Big whatever, you begin to really learn about bird habits and habitat– what type of habitat to find them in, what time of the day to find them, and which habitats might produce the birds that you are seeking. You learn not to dally over birds that are proving difficult to locate, and you learn to use your time more wisely.

Thank you to D.D. and Dell and to everyone who was out there racing around and coaxing birds out of the bushes and looking everywhere. Oh by the way, the stunning turkey trophy did go to Dallas – this time. They found 3(!) more species than we did. But there will be a next time, and I hope you will consider being part of a team. We need experts as part of each team, but we can also use people who are good bird-spotters on each team, whether or not they are experts. It’s fun, and it’s a good cause—getting the trophy back from Dallas!

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ORNITHOLOGY REPORT
By Greg Keiran

Mid December 2005 to Mid January 2005
NOTEWORTHY RECORDS for Tarrant County:

See also Christmas Bird Count report

Bald Eagle (1) - 4 Jan: far side of Greer Island around 11:45 am. And yes it WAS a bald eagle -- a mature adult. (Sarah Fezio )

Mew Gull: - 7 Jan: As you may recall, my last bird of 2005 was a Mew Gull at Lk. Worth in Fort
Worth. Because I got terrible pictures of it (one is on the Oct-Dec. 2005 pictures page of my web site noted below), I've been going back to look for the gull nearly every day since then, and finally, today, I found it again when Gail Morris and Ann Hoover and I were out there looking for it, and I got a much
better view and much better pictures (see the two pictures on the 2006 pictures page). As before, the bird mostly spent its time today with its head under his wing, even when all the Ring-billed Gulls seemed to wake up and look around and become active. Both times I've located what seemed like a somewhat darker, somewhat smaller sleeping bird with more distinctive, large white areas on the wings and stared at it in the scope until it finally lifted its head from under its wing, revealing a lovely thin yellow un-ringed bill! I will be submitting a report from both sightings to the TBRC. (Lynn Barber, Ft. Worth, www.lynnbarber.com)

Rufous Hummingbird (2) – 5 Jan:: The Rufous Hummingbird female is still around, having been here so far exactly five months this time (since Aug. 5), but in the warmer weather she only is seen a couple of times a day at most. The second bird seems to have disappeared, at least for now. (Lynn Barber, Fort Worth).

Curve-billed Thrasher (1) 5 Jan: At Old State Fish Hatchery. (Jim Sipiora) Report submitted.

Most interesting from North Central Texas Area:
Red-throated Loon – 30 Dec: 1 spotted by Brian near Holiday/ South Shore Marinas, spent most of its time underwater. At least a dozen or two Common Loons were also visible in the vicinity. Derek Hill, Richardson

Pacific Loon: - 16 Dec: I found a Pacific Loon from the public boat ramp near Holiday Marina. It was in with a group of about 20 Common Loons. RICHARD KINNEY, EDGEWOOD

Oldsquaw (2): - 14 Dec: The highlight of the day were the two Ooldsquaw mentioned in a previous post. Eurasian Wigeon was not refound. Also, not sure on this, but Brian and I both thought that the Oldsquaw originally found on Saturday was intermediate in plumage between the two birds seen today, making these birds the 2nd and 3rd on the refuge in the last 4 days. When you add a Eurasian Wigeon and Common Merganser into the mix, Hagerman is a pretty good spot for ducks at the moment. (Thomas Riecke)

Bald Eagle - 30 Dec: Got some great looks at an adult Bald Eagle this morning at Joe Pool Lake in SW Dallas County. He was harrying a raft of Coots near the eastern shore of the lake, in the northern section of Cedar Hill State Park. A little slice of the Hill Country right here in Dallas. Happy New Year, (Tal Roberts, Dallas)

Caracara: - 16 Dec: This summer Caracaras were very hard to find for whatever reason around the
lake. But this fall and recently, the birds are fairly easy to find. There is one that is relatively easy to see around Holiday Marina and 2 others can be seen often near the Sabine River Authority Headquarters. There is one that often rests in a field south of Lake Tawakoni State Park. I saw one today just south of Duck Cove in the extreme southern edge of Hunt Co. The number of Caracaras are on the increase, but where were they this summer? RICHARD KINNEY, EDGEWOOD

Northern Goshawk: 22 Dec 2005 Tx: Young Co., Hwy 79 An immature N goshawk was seen sitting in a green wheat field. The sighting was much closer to the Throckmortan/Young Co. lines then to the distant town of Olney. There was a large house on top of a very prominent, bulky outcrop and surrounded with lots of trees just N of the road. Their fence on the N side of the road and in front of the house was fairly new and composed of cedar posts. The goshawk was about one to two miles to the east of this impressive home. A rough-legged hawk was seen to the west of the same house (east of Herring Rd) and was in Young Co. as well. Tx: Throckmorton Co., Hwy 79 269+ sandhill cranes Rd 222 800+ sandhill cranes 1 prairie falcon Tim and Jan Kaspar
retired biology teacher//wonderful wife who loves the birds as well! Tx: Wichita Co., Iowa Park

Lesser-black backed Gull: - 19 Dec: Today at White Rock Lake I found what is probably the returning adult Lesser Black-backed Gull. This bird has visited WRL for about 6 winters now. I saw the bird from East Lawther Drive for a few minutes then it flew around a point and I was unable to relocate it. In the past this bird has been seen on the lake only once a week or so, it visits seem to be very irregular. Yeserday 18 Dec 2005 my group on the Lake Ray Hubbard CBC was able to find the returning Lesser Black-backed Gull which is in 3rd winter plumage. It seems to be fairly reglar at John Paul Jones park in Garland. From I-30 exit Chaha and go north 200 meters to the "T" intersection with Zion. Right on Zion to the parking area. The bird can often be seen to the east sitting on tree snags or swimming in the water. good gulling, Brian Gibbons, Dallas

California Gull: - 18 Dec: I found a 2nd winter California Gull in a mixed flock of gulls and terns from Southshore Marina which is adjacent to Holiday Marina. RICHARD KINNEY, EDGEWOOD

-8 Jan: Got to bird Hagerman and Lake Texoma today with Ross Rasmussen. Bird of the day was a California Gull, also standard winter passerines, 11 Common Loons, several Bald Eagles, Hooded Merganser, no really rare ducks. Great looks at the Cal Gull, winter adult. email me for pics w/ HEGU and RBGU, good comparison shot for leg color, you can barely see red on bill cause of angle, crap for quality. sorry. Thomas Riecke

Snowy Plover (1): - 8 Jan: At Lake Tawakoni on the small island off the beach at the river authority headquarters, with a Black-bellied Plover, a Dunlin, and a couple of Western Sandpipers in with many Least Sandpipers off the Longspur field. (Ron Baltzegar, Greenville TX)

WACO RBA, 2 Jan: On Monday, January 1, at the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System ponds located along the Brazos River off FM434 1/2 mile east of Loop 340, two COMMON GROUND DOVES were observed feeding in the gravel and grass incline leading from the digester area of the plant to the settling ponds. When flushed they flew north across the Brazos River. It is believed they have been in the area for perhaps a week. This is one of only a few records of this species for the county. There was also a very early CINNAMON TEAL in the third pond. Neither species had the courtesy of being found the previous day during the Christmas Bird Count….but they will be count week birds. During the count on Saturday, December 31, three TUNDRA SWANS were found on a large stock pond on Mathis Road near Hallsburg in eastern McLennan County. There are two adults and a young swan feeding together. While the origin of the birds is unknown, everything in their behavior suggests wild birds. To see them for yourself, take State Hwy 6 east out of Waco to just before the junction of Hwy 6 and Hwy 164. Battle Lake Road will be on your left (north). Take Battle Lake Road two miles until you see Mathis Road on the left. Turn west (left) onto Mathis Road and the stock pond will be visible on the right side of the road. Also found and photographed during the count were 4 BURROWING OWLS. Two were found about 100 yards apart on Steiner Road which is located in the southeastern part of McLennan County. Two additional owls were found about a ¼ mile away on Frances Road (which intersects Steiner Road). To see these owls, go east from Loop 340/Hwy 6 on FM3400 about five miles. On the left side of the road are two white houses and Steiner Road is just past them. Turn left on Steiner and go about 0.9 miles past the Frances Road / Renner Road crossing. Only look at drainpipes crossing under the road that are 18 inches or less in diameter. As far as I can tell from the photos none of the owls are banded. The first Burrowing Owl was found on the 1998 Christmas Bird Count and they have been found along this road every year since, arriving in early November and usually staying until early March. This is the first time four owls have been found, as well as the first time any have been found on Frances Road.

American Woodcock: 30 Dec: Three of us watched our lifer American Woodcock foraging in the Fern Dell at the Dallas Arboretum yesterday evening, just around the 5:00 p.m. closing time. It was in the section at the bottom of the stream, shortly before the bridge. Three woodcock were flushed during the Dallas CBC, which is the first time they've been seen on the CBC since 1990, I'm told. This has been an exceptionally dry year. For the first time in my experience the ponds at the old fish hatchery were completely void of water a couple of weeks before the CBC, so that we discovered, much to our surprise, that the beavers had well-defined trails in them, free of vegetation. We could actually walk in them without getting our shoes muddy. If that's what it takes to drive woodcock into more easily viewable areas, there are unexpected upsides to droughts. We were thrilled to have such a leisurely look at this bird, since it was a lifer for two of us and the best viewing ever for my sister: at least one sighting we've heard about was nothing more than a blur out of the corner of one eye as a bird flushed, with the ID being made by the wing twitter. For answers to questions about this list, as well as current Texas Birding Links, visit the Texbirds Reference Page at http://www.texbirds.org

Great Kiskadee (1): - 26 Dec: Yesterday a Great Kiskadee was discovered on a private ranch in the extreme SE corner of Wichita County, approx. 5 miles SE of Wichita Falls.  This afternoon 2 other birders and myself confirmed the observation with both visual and vocal characteristics. Photos were also taken. Also, a very much out-of-winter-range Great -crested Flycatcher was observed and confirmed both days.  Photos also taken. & nbsp; John M. Cys, Wichita Falls, Texas

Rock Wren – 30 Dec: 1 on rocky dam, present for several weeks now. McCown's Longspur - 2 with 200-300 Laplands on beach. Good birding, Derek Hill, Richardson

Pine Warbler: 30 Dec: A good day here on the hill 76 Vaughan. A pine warbler last seen X-mas day. A hermit thursh its been about 10 days they're welcome back but the most interesting thing was a brown-creeper getting drinks at the bird bath a first for me. Birds do keep doing things i've never seen them do before a lot of entertainment for old people. good birding, (lee Lemons).

2 flocks of Rusty Blackbirds – 31 Dec: at Lake Tawakoni State Park. RICHARD KINNEY EDGEWOOD

Send accounts of your sighting to: Greg Keiran - 9 S. Kingston Ct. - Bedford, TX 76022 (H) 817/282-3312 - (W) 817/280-7598, gkeiran@AOL.com

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CONSERVATION REPORT by: Jim Sipiora

The National Wildlife Federation and the Arkansas Wildlife Federation are taking legal action to stop the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project which will take 150 billion gallons of water from Arkansas's White River. This will effectively drain the wetlands which in 2004 produced the first Ivory-billed Woodpecker sightings in decades. The two groups claim that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not do a thorough study on the impact of the project on the woodpecker's habitat. Meanwhile, the construction of a major pumping station just 20 miles from the first Ivory-bill sighting continues.

For the third straight year endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers have been taken from privately owned land in Georgia and relocated to Gulf County Florida's Wetappo Creek Conservation Area. The 1,520 acre preserve is now home to 28 of the woodpeckers. It is hoped that once established this population can be used to reintroduce the birds into other suitable Florida locations where the birds have been extirpated. The St. Joe Co., one of Florida's largest Real Estate companies is a major sponsor of the program.

There are an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 land mines in the Falkland Islands Kidney Cove. These remnants of the 1982 war between Argentina and England cannot be removed due to the shifting sands and peaty soils. As a result people and sheep are kept out of the area. The result is an undisturbed nesting ground for thousands of Gentoo, King, Rockhopper, and Magellanic Penguins. The birds are too light to detonate the mines. Makes you wish you had some land mines doesn't it?

 

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The Traveling Birder By Lynn Barber