President’sMessage

CarneAndrews

TheJoyofJune

ItseemsI'vefallenintoapatternofusingeacheditionofBirdsongstoreflectonrecentBirdClubeventsandmypersonalbirdwatching.ContemplatingJuneisnoexception!Withspringmigrationalmostcompleteandbreedingseasonunderway,thebeginningofthemonthspearheadsoneofthemost,ifnotthemostexciting,timesoftheyearforbirdwatchersinnorthernWisconsin.ThefirstweekofJuneprovedtobeabusyonefortheclub,startingwithJohnBatesinformativepresentationon"FosteringandSustainingWildBirdswithNativePlants".Thanks,John!Anotherveryhelpfulresourcetofindspecificplant/shrubstoattractspecificspeciesofbirdstoyouryardiswww.audubon.org/native-plants/zipcode.

BIRDSONGSNewsletteroftheNorthLakelandDiscoveryCenterBirdClubJune,2018;Volume14,Issue2SarahBesadny,Editorsbesadny@gmail.com

OfficersCarneAndrews,PresidentDebbyWilson,SecretaryDavidFoster,TreasurerSarahBesadny,MembershipDirectorDuanneSwift,ProgramDirector

Acoupledayslater,theclubparticipatedintheGreatWisconsinBirdathon,collectivelyidentifyingover90speciesandexceedingourhighestfundraisingeffortfortheWisconsinNaturalResourcesFoundationBirdProtectionFund.Thanks,SarahfororganizingthiseventandtoeveryonewhogenerouslydonatedtosupportWisconsin'sbirdsandourclub!Eachweek,Thursdaymorningoutingscontinuetobeahighlightforthosewhoattend.Exploringavarietyoffamiliarandnewhabitatsholdsourinterestwhilelocalavianresearchersandcitizenscienceprojectsprovideintriguinglearningopportunities.Thanks,Donna.forcoordinatingandkeepingusengagedaswelookforwardtothecomingweeks.Onapersonalnote,thecomingofJunelivensuptheneighborhoodandpropertywithbirdsongashighlyanticipatedspringarrivalsthelikesofsparrows,thrushes,flycatchers,sapsuckers,flickersjoinyear-roundresidentsseekingmatesandsecuringbreedingterritory.MyearliestJunejoysaretheeveningpeetingofAmericanWoodcock,theclearwhistlingcalloftheEasternWhip-poor-willevenat5AM,andthekek-kek-kekrattleofBeltedKingfisheralongthebanksoftheManitowishRiver.Thisyear,theyardburstintothebestJuneinmemoryfledgingBlack-cappedChickadeesfrom2nestingboxes,4ChippingSparrowsfromagardenshrub,9HoodedMerganserducklingsforthefirsttimefromaboxthat'sstoodemptyfor3years,afamilyofRose-breastedGrosbeaks,Yellow-belliedSapsuckerchicksbeggingalmostnon-stopfromsunrisetosunset,andafirsttimeobservationofafemaleMallardcruisinghighspeeddownstreamwith3ducklingsonherback!Junehasalsoevolvedintomybestmonthofpersonalbreedingbirdatlasingin4yearshavingobserved10breedingconfirmationsinthepastweek!WhatalearningexperienceandthrilltoobservethesediversewondersofnaturewhilecontributingtothecurrentbiggestcitizenscienceprojectinWisconsinandcollaboratingwithfellowBirdClubmembers.ThanksespeciallytoGuy,Sarah.Cynthia,andDenisewhohavewillingsharechecklistsandtheirexpertise.June2018!Whatanincrediblemonth!Doesitgetanybetterthanthis?Can'twaittoseewhat'sinstoreinJuly.August,andSeptember!Birdwhenyoucan!EN-JOY!!!

TheValueofPerspectiveGuyDavid

Aswewandertogetherinvariousbirdinghabitatsweinvariablyencounterabirdthateveryonegetstoseebutthenwedisagreeoverwhatwehaveseen.Thenweconsultthefieldguidesanddiscusshowtheobservedbirdlookedordidn’tlookliketheonepicturedinthebook.Intheendwetrytocometoanagreementandsomelevelofsatisfactionthatweknowwhatwearetalkingabout!Sometimes,it’sevenworse!ImayrecordthebirdineBirdandthenbecontactedbyaneBirdreviewerquestioningthereportbasedonawrittendescription!Well,sometimesitisjustamatterofperspective.TaketheCommonLoonasanexample.AllofusknowaCommonLoonwhenweseeone,right?IfIweretoquizagroupandaskaquestionsuchaswhatcoloradultCommonLoonsinbreedingplumagearetheresponseprobablywouldbeblackandwhite,andsomemaymentionthattheyhaveredeyes.IfIweretoaskthatgroupabouttheshapeoftheheadofaCommonLoontheresponsemaybe“longandsloping”.Alloftheseanswerswouldbetrue,dependingontheperspectivethattheviewerhadofthebirdthatwasobserved.IhadagreatopportunitytophotographapairofloonsthatdecidedtohangaroundmypontoonboatonCrawlingStoneLakerecently.AsIreviewedthephotositstruckmehowdifferenttheylookeddependingonthedistancethebirdswerefromme,angleofthelightthatilluminatedthesceneandthedirectionthatthebirdswerefacingwhenItookthephotographs.Iincludedafewphotoswiththisarticletomakemypoint.Insomephotosthebirdsclearlyshoweddarkeyes,definitelynotred.InthosecasesifIhadonlyaquickglanceatthebirdtogatherinformationfordescribingthem,Iwouldnothavereportedredeyes.

InsomephotosthebirdsclearlyhavethelongslopingprofilefromthetopoftheheadtothetipofthebillasCommonLoonsoftenareportrayed.However,inotherphotos,theCommonLoonsdisplayalumpedforeheadratherthanthelongslope.

Insomephotosthebird’sfeathercolorationdefinitelyisastarkblackandwhite.However,insomephotosthereisadistinctgreensheenorsometimestheblackactuallyappearstobeagrayishcolor.

So,ifyouonlyhadaquicklookatoneofthesebirdsanditwasararitythatneededtobeconfirmedtobeacceptedforaneBirdrecord,whatwouldyoureportinyourwrittendescriptiontoconvincetheeBirdreviewersofthespeciesofbirdthatyouaredescribing?Isubmitthatwhenourgroupobservesabird,orwhenwearedescribingabirdtooneanother,theresultoftenisinfluencedbyperspective.

AllphotosinthisarticlearefromGuyDavid

EagleonTroutLakeLizStone

OnApril30,DickTheileandElizabethStonewerewalkingalongthethawingshorelineofTroutLakeatRedArrowCamp,locatedattheintersectionofUsHWY51NandDayLakeRoads.Sadly,theyfoundadeadbaldeaglelyingfacedownintheicywateroftheshoreline.Thecauseofdeathoftheeaglewasnotobvious.LizinitiallyphonedtheWisconsinDNRWildlifeTipline,butwhennoonehadpickeduptheeagleafterabout24hours,shesentoutane-mailtotheDiscoveryCenterBirdClub.CarneAndrewsrecommendedcontactingMichelleWoodford,theDNRbiologistforPowellMarsh,whohastheappropriatepermitstopossessabaldeagle.Michelleretrievedtheunfortunateeagle,whichwasthensenttothenationaleaglerepositoryinColoradoforscientificstudyorusebyNativeAmericans.Hopefully,thecauseoftheeagle'sdeathhasbeendetermined.Thankyou,Michelle!

PhotobyLizStone/DickTheile

TheGreatWisconsinBirdathonCynthiaKrakowski

OnJune6thourClub’steam,theUpNorthHammerheads,venturedouttocompleteourthirdBirdathonwhereparticipantsattempttoidentifyasmanyspeciesofbirdsaspossibleinoneday.Themajorityoftheteamfirstmetat6amalonghighway47totrekintothetribalsectionofPowellMarsh.Butmanyhadalreadycheckedtheirbirdfeeders&neighborhoodspriortoarrivalsoasizeablenumberofspecieshadalreadybeentallied.Themorningbeganwithovercastskieswiththepotentialofthunderstorms.HikingbacktoourcarsatPowellMarshVistainmid-morning,thestormyweatherarrived.ThuswetookcoverattheDiscoveryCenterforawhilebutnotwithoutaddingafewmorebirdsincludingredcrossbills!BackontheroadweheadedeasttomorehotspotsonTroutLake,AllequashLake,GrossRoad,thefishhatcheryandDoveRoad.SomeofusendedouradventureinMinocquaat7:45pmwhentheestimatedtallywas91species.Othersweregoingtoseekoutsomeofthecrepuscularbirdsatapotentialsitebeforecallingitaday.Andwhatawonderfuldayitwascommuningwithnature,birdsandourfellowbirdwatchers!Thereweremanyhighlightsoftheday.Theonethatstandsoutmostformewasthepairofblack-billedcuckoosinwillowshrubberyalongoneofthePowellMarshVistadikes.

EditorsNote:Asthecaptainofthebirdathonteam(althoughImissedthedayduetoanillness),Iamthrilledtoreportthattheteamof15birdersendedupwith94speciesandraisedaremarkable$3070!TheNationalResourcesFoundationofWisconsincoordinatestheGreatWisconsinBirdathon.Moneyraisedsupportsvariousbirdprotectioninitiatives(seedetailsatwibirdathon.dojiggy.com).SincewebirdonbehalfofourBirdClub,halfofthefundsweraisecomesbacktoourClubandhelpsussupportvariousbird-relatednot-for-profitorganizationsaswellasourmonthlyprogramsthatareopentothepublicasameansforsharingourloveofbirdsandeducatingpeopleaboutbirdsandtheirhabitats.ThankyoutoeveryonewhosupportedtheUpNorthHammerheads–andyoursupportofthebirds!SpecieslistfortheUpNorthHammerheadsduringtheGreatWisconsinBirdathononJune6th:CanadaGooseTrumpeterSwanWoodDuckMallardBlue-wingedTealRedheadRing-neckedDuckHoodedMerganser

AlderFlycatcherLeastFlycatcherYellow-throatedVireoBlue-headedVireoRed-eyedVireoBlueJayAmericanCrowCommonRaven

RuffedGrouseWildTurkeyPied-billedGrebeMourningDoveBlack-billedCuckooCommonNighthawkEasternWhip-poor-willChimneySwiftRuby-throatedHummingbirdSoraSandhillCraneKilldeerSemipalmatedSandpiperWilson'sSnipeAmericanWoodcockGreaterYellowlegsRing-billedGullCommonLoonGreatBlueHeronTurkeyVultureOspreyBaldEagleNorthernHarrierBroad-wingedHawkBeltedKingfisherYellow-belliedSapsuckerDownyWoodpeckerHairyWoodpeckerNorthernFlickerPileatedWoodpeckerEasternWood-Pewee

TreeSwallowBankSwallowBlack-cappedChickadeeRed-breastedNuthatchWhite-breastedNuthatchHouseWrenWinterWrenSedgeWrenMarshWrenEasternBluebirdVeeryHermitThrushAmericanRobinGrayCatbirdBrownThrasherEuropeanStarlingCedarWaxwingPurpleFinchRedCrossbillPineSiskinAmericanGoldfinchOvenbirdGolden-wingedWarblerBlack-and-whiteWarblerNashvilleWarblerMourningWarblerCommonYellowthroatAmericanRedstartNorthernParulaBlackburnianWarblerYellowWarbler

Chestnut-sidedWarblerPalmWarblerPineWarblerYellow-rumpedWarblerBlack-throatedGreenWarblerChippingSparrowSavannahSparrowSongSparrowSwampSparrow

White-throatedSparrowRose-breastedGrosbeakIndigoBuntingRed-wingedBlackbirdBrewer'sBlackbirdCommonGrackleBaltimoreOriole

2018BirdingFestivalBirdingResultsGuyDavid

The2018versionoftheNorthwoodsBirdingFestivalhasconcludedanditwasawonderfulevent.OneofthetraditionalaspectsofthefestivalistogetpatronsoutinthefieldtolookforasmanybirdsastheycanfindandthentotallytheresultsontheBigBoardintheMainLodge.AttheconclusionofthefestivitiesthetentativecumulativetotalofthebirdsrecordedontheBigBoardisannounced.AsIhavebecomeaccustomedtodoing,Icollectedallofthedatasheets(15thisyear)andenteredallofthedataintoacumulativerecordofbirdsobservedduringeveryBirdingFestivalsincethefirstonein2005.Twoformsofdataarekept,oneviaeBirdentriesandanotherinanExcelspreadsheet.Ialwaysfindittobeinterestingtolookatthedatatrendsandnowwehave14yearsofBirdingFestivaldata.InthisarticleIwillhighlightitemsthatIfindtobeinterestinginhopesthatourreaderswillalsoenjoy.Participantsinthe2018BirdingFestivaltallied85species.Thisfiguretranslatesinto2018beingaboutaverageinproductivityforfestivalbirdingoutcomes.Thestatisticalaverageover14festivalscomputesto87.5speciesperfestivalwitharangeof74speciesin2005to100speciesin2007.Therewere9festivalsthattalliedmorespeciesthan2018and5thattallied85orfewer.Our2017festivaltallied93speciesandtheyearbeforethatthetallywas76.Hmmmm…andlastyearwehadsnowsqualls…andmorespecies!Gofigure!Regardlessofconditions,itappearsthatinthesecondorthirdweekinMayourexpectedoverallbirdingoutcomesarelikelytobesomewhatsimilarfromyeartoyear.Whenonelookscloseratthedataonecanfairlyconcludethatthetotalnumberofspeciestalliedduringagivenannualeventisn’tthemostmeaningfulthingtobelearned.Itisanentertainingfigureforagroupofpatronsandprovidesacertainlevelofgroupsatisfactionofsomethingthatwascollectivelyaccomplished.Forexample,while85speciesweretalliedin2018,weretheyessentiallythesamespeciesas2017?Arethesamespeciesrecordedyearafteryearfor14years?Didthevariousbirdinggroupsexperiencethesamespeciesaspreviousgroupsinotheryears?When100specieswastalliedin2007,didthatlistofspeciesrepresentallofthespecieseverrecordedover14years?Ourcumulativedatarevealsanswerstosuchquestions.Comparingour2018outcometo2017,thedatashowsthattherewere9speciestalliedin2018thatwerenottalliedin2017.ThosespeciesincludedWoodDuck,CommonMerganser,WildTurkey,Pied-billedGrebe,Killdeer,GreaterYellowlegs,Ring-billedGull,SnowyOwl,andBarnSwallow.

Comparingour2017outcometo2018,thedatashowsthattherewere15speciesrecordedin2017thatwerenotin2018.Thismeansthattherecertainlyisaconsiderableoverlapofspeciesfoundinbothyearsbuttherealsoisvariationfromoneyeartoanother.Infact,therewere74speciesthatwererecordedbothyears.So,arethose74speciesour“oldreliables”thatweknowwillappearforbirdingfestivaleveryyear?Theshortansweris“NO”!ReviewingtheoveralldataIfound35speciesthathavebeenrecordedeveryyearsofar!Alistofourtrue“oldreliables”follows.Alsoincludedinthetablearelistsofspeciesthatwererecorded13outof14yearsand12outof14years.Isupposethatthiscouldleadonetoconcludethatwecancountonabout55speciesbeingrecorded“quitereliably”.

35SpeciesRecordedfor14BirdingFestivals

11SpeciesRecordedfor13BirdingFestivals

9SpeciesRecordedfor12BirdingFestivals

CanadaGoose TrumpeterSwan WoodDuckMallard Osprey TurkeyVultureRing-neckedDuck Merlin NorthernHarrierHoodedMerganser SandhillCrane MourningDoveRuffedGrouse White-breastedNuthatch HairyWoodpeckerCommonLoon BrownCreeper Blue-headedVireoBaldEagle WinterWren Chestnut-siderWarblerBeltedKingfisher SedgeWren BlackburnianWarblerYellow-belliedSapsucker NorthernParula AmericanRedstartNorthernFlicker Yellow-rumpedWarbler PileatedWoodpecker PurpleFinch EasternPhoebe BlueJay AmericanCrow CommonRaven TreeSwallow Black-cappedChickadee Red-breastedNuthatch HermitThrush AmericanRobin NashvilleWarbler YellowWarbler Black-throatedGreenWarbler

PineWarbler Black-and-whiteWarbler Ovenbird CommonYellowthroat ChippingSparrow SongSparrow SwampSparrow White-throatedSparrow Rose-breastedGrosbeak Red-wingedBlackbird CommonGrackle AmericanGoldfinch With55speciesofbirdsbeing“quitereliable”fromyeartoyear,howdoesthatsquarewiththefactthatinthatsamespanoftimewenormallytallywellover80speciesalmosteveryyear?Well,tobeginwith,therearethe“rarities”and“incidentals”orbirdsthathaveonlyoccurredonce,twiceorthriceover14years.Considerthedatainthefollowingtable.

31SpeciesRecordedforonly1of14BirdingFestivals(Year)

19SpeciesRecordedfor2of14BirdingFestivals

10SpeciesRecordedfor3of14BirdingFestivals

Gadwall(2016) Red-breastedMerganser WarblingVireoAmericanWigeon(2014) Cooper'sHawk MarshWrenCommonGoldeneye(2009) Red-tailedHawk Swainson'sThrushSharp-tailedGrouse(2011) PeregrineFalcon WoodThrushHornedGrebe(2013) LeastSandpiper CedarWaxwingAmericanWhitePelican(2011)

Long-billedDowitcher CapeMayWarbler

CattleEgret(2005) SnowyOwl Black-throatedBlueWarblerGreenHeron(2010) Red-belliedWoodpecker Bay-breastedWarblerNorthernGoshawk(2011) Yellow-belliedFlycatcher BlackpollWarblerGoldenEagle(2014) BankSwallow EasternMeadowlarkVirginiaRail(2011) CliffSwallow EasternMeadowlarkSemipalmatedPlover(2017) BrownThrasher White-rumpedSandpiper(2009)

TennesseeWarbler

PectoralSandpiper(2014) Wilson'sWarbler Short-billedDowitcher(2016)

CanadaWarbler

Franklin'sGull(2009) NorthernCardinal ChimneySwift(2015) IndigoBunting Olive-sidedFlycatcher(2008)

Bobolink

WillowFlycatcher(2008) RustyBlackbird GreatCrestedFlycatcher(2011)

Yellow-throatedVireo(2007)

GrayJay(2011) NorthernMockingbird(2017)

AmericanPipit(2015) Orange-crownedWarbler(2009)

EasternTowhee(2017) AmericanTreeSparrow(2013)

LeConte'sSparrow(2007) FoxSparrow(2013) LaplandLongspur(2015) PineGrosbeak(2009)

In2007theBirdingFestivalspeciestallyincluded100species.Sowerealmostallofthespecieseverrecordedover14yearsrecordedin2007?Theshortansweris“NO”!Duringanygivenbirdingfestivalwetypicallycanrecord80to90species,moreorless.Whenallofthedataforallof14yearsofbirdingfestivalsareaccumulatedthough,itisrevealedthatatotalof170specieshavebeenrecorded.Wowser!ThustheBirdingFestivalsLifeListstandsat170species.Interestingly,therewerenonewspeciesaddedtotheBirdingFestivallifelistin2018.Justlikethebirdclub’slifelistofbirdspecies,anygivenyeartheremaybe180to200speciesrecordedoveralloftheoutingsbut,overtheclub’slifetime,wehaverecorded266speciessofar.Everyyearisuniquebutitalladdsupovertime.So,isthereanythingtodoaboutallofthis?Sure!Getoutthereandgobirdingasoftenasyoucaninasmanyplacesasyoucan.Idon’tknowifanybodyelseisactuallyinterestedinallofthisbirdingdataanalysis,butitispartofthefunforme.Thebestpartofbirding,includingduringbirdingfestivals,isthatweareguaranteedtoobserveawonderfulvarietyofbirdseachandeverytime.Duringanygiventimethough,wemightchanceuponsomethingexcitingorunusual.Suchasitwasformyselfand22otherparticipantsinthePowellMarshfieldtripwhenwetookasidetriptofindaSnowyOwlthatwasreportedinaCranberryMarsh.Wordwaspassedalongtousthatwewerewelcometocomeandthatmarshpersonnelwouldactuallyguideustothebird’slocation.AllwereallyneedtoknowisthatwasFUNandEXCITING!Notonlythat,butIalsogotanicephoto,acopyofwhichisincludedinthisnewsletter.Manyotherparticipantsgotnicephotosaswell.NevermindthattheSnowyOwlwasn’tnewtothebirdingfestivallifelist,onewasalsorecordedduringourfirstbirdingfestivalin2005.

SnowyOwlBruceBaconbandingaMourningDove PhotosbyGuyDavid

PhotoJournalPhotosbyMarkWestphal

DonnaRoche,ourThursdaymorningfieldtripcoordinator,scheduledAnnaBurkhardt,Anna’shusbandandVanessaHaese-LehmantomeetusatDoveRoadtowatchAnnaandherteamcaptureandbandaGolden-wingerWarbler.

Golden-WingedWarbler

AnnaBurkhardtwithamaleGolden-wingedWarbler

ThisoutingtoDoveRoadalsoresultedinaRed-eyedVireobeingcapturedinthemistnet.It’snotoftenyouactuallyseetheredeye!

Red-eyedVireo

MaleEasternBluebird

Markhasbeenenjoyingwatchingthebluebirdnestingboxoutinhisfieldthissummer.Grasshoppersareafavoritemenuitem.

Killdeer

Killdeernest(shallowdepressioninthegravel)witheggs

ApairofKilldeernestedonthedikeroadatPowellMarsh.Althoughthenestwasn’tsuccessful,itprovidedagreatlookatthenestandthebirds.

Onceararesightonlocallakes,thefuturelooksbrightfortrumpeterswansinnorthernWisconsin.

LifeListQuarterlyGuyDavid

AsofthiswritinginthesecondweekofJune,theDiscoveryCenterBirdClubnowhas8outingsand2eventscompletedsofarfortheseason.Itishardtobelievethatwealreadyhavearoundone-thirdofourbirdingactivitiesalreadycompletedfor2018.OurbasiceBirdstatisticsrevealthattheclubLifeListremainsat269speciessincetherehavebeennoadditionstothislistsinceourlastnewsletter.However,sinceourMarch2018BIRDSONGSwehavewitnessedtheannualspringmigrationofbirdsandnowwehave124speciesofbirdsforour2018annuallist.Toaccomplishthisourclubhashadverygoodsuccessatfindingandrecordingbirdspeciesduringourweeklyoutings,theNorthwoodsBirdingFestival,andourJune6participationintheStatewideBirdathonproject.Wearewellonourwaytoequalthe161speciesthattheclubrecordedduringour2017birdingyear.Hmmmmm…Iwonderwhenandwherewewillfindthe37otherspeciestoachievelastyear’ssuccess?Wecertainlywillbolsterournumbersassummerprogressesandthenwhenthefallmigrationgetsunderwayinacoupleofmonths.LastyeartheclubovernighttriptotheGreenBayareawasareallyproductiveeventintermsoffindingnewspecies.Withoutthattripourclubexperiencewouldhave9specieslesssincethatmanyspecieswerelocatedandrecordedduringthattripthatwehadnotencounteredanywhereelseduring2017.WeknowthattherearemorespeciesofbirdsouttheretobefoundandDonnaRochehasbeenhardatworkgettingustoreallygreatbirdingsiteseveryThursday.So,besuretojoininthefunasweallworktoimproveourbirdingidentificationskillsandourproficiencyatfindingasmanykindsofbirdsaswecan!