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Welcome to Birdathon 2010!

birds

Audubon’s largest annual fundraising event and bird watching competition is Birdathon.  Each year thousands of people participate in this event to raise funds for education, environmental education and advocacy.  A Birdathon works by people counting birds and collecting pledges from sponsors based on the number of species seen.  This differs from the Christmas Bird Count where every individual bird is counted.  The data compiled is a great indicator of the species distribution in our chapter territory that encompasses Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga Counties.  All donations will be for the support of Southern Adirondack Audubon.  We have been compiling the species lists for many years and it is interesting to see the changes over time.  The results will be placed on our website.

To participate with Southern Adirondack Audubon, all you have to do is choose a date during the period of May 13 - 16 and start counting.  You can get together with friends and have a group birding day, or simply do a count from your home observing birds coming to your feeder or yard.  Pledges usually take the form of a set amount of money for each species seen, but if you have no sponsors your participation is still welcome. 


Pick a date, time, location, friends, sponsors, and have fun compiling your species lists.  If you observe rare or unusual species it is really helpful to identify their location (if you have a GPS that is even better).  Each group can enter their species into the eBird database but all lists should be sent in.


If you would like to sponsor a birder or join a group contact Linda White at 792-4446.  Please send your species lists, location information, and pledge money to Linda at:  29 Peggy Ann Road, Queensbury, NY 12804 or e-mail at lindaandblake@roadrunner.com 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING
 BIRDATHON 2009

14 Participants recorded 116 species!

Birders Melissa Brewer, Joan Robertson, Linda Hoyt, Jason Goldsmith, Laurie LaFond, and Mona Bearor
 raised a total of $767.35 through donations and pledges! 

This report is from the compiler, Linda White.

The week of May 21st was the time frame for this year’s Birdathon.  For this event each species is counted.  For the Christmas Bird Count each individual bird is counted and recorded.  There were 14 participants and they came up with some amazing lists.  This is what citizen science is all about. I would like to thank each of them for their contributions.   The following are the individual birders and some of their significant sightings.

Joan and Bob Stevens birded the Wilton Wildlife Preserve. They had 38 species with the Northern Parula being one of the most impressive. 

Beth LaPan birded the Hartford and Kingsbury areas and had 17 species.

The Fullers of South Glens Falls had 13 species.

Melissa Brewer and Jessie Curtis birded the Chestertown area and had 46 species, with Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Siskin, Barred Owl, and Common Loon as highlights.

Joan Robertson included birds seen near her home, and together with Pat Fitzgerald and Linda White birded the Saratoga Battlefield.  Their most unusual species were:  Northern Harrier, Warbling Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, and Worm-eating Warbler.

Laurie LaFond had 55 species including an American Bittern, Green Heron, Blue-headed Vireo and Warbling Vireo.

Linda Hoyt birded the Brant Lake area and other sections of the Adirondacks.  She had 57 species, including:  Purple Finch, Wood Duck, Broad-winged Hawk, Barred Owl, and Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Pine, and Black-and-White Warblers.

Jason Goldsmith had 77 species with the following significant species:  Peregrine Falcon, Upland Sandpiper, Whip-poor-will, Chimney Swift, Fish Crow, Brown Thrasher, and Mourning Warbler.

Mona Bearor had a total of 97 species.   Her list includes the following highlights:  Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Spotted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Chimney Swift, Great Horned Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Marsh Wren, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Fish Crow, Blackburnian Warbler, and Prairie Warbler.


The 2009 Birdathon Species List

The following 116 species were recorded on the 2009 Birdathon

Species denoted with an asterisk were observed this year for the first time on a Birdathon day.

Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret *
Green Heron

American Bittern
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier

Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Upland Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper *
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl
Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher




Least Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Great Crested Flycatcher
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Cedar Waxwing
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
European Starling
House Sparrow
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo

Purple Finch


House Finch

Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Blue-winged Warbler

Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler

Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler

Black-and-White Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler *
Ovenbird
Mourning Warbler *
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole

The Birdathon Species List
The following 172 species have been recorded to-date on the SAAS Birdathons.

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green Heron

Black-crowned Night-Heron

American Bittern

Snow Goose

Canada Goose

Wood Duck

Mallard

American Black Duck

Blue-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Peregrine Falcon

Wild Turkey

Ruffed Grouse

Virginia Rail

Semipalmated Plover

Killdeer

American Woodcock

Wilson's Snipe

Short-billed Dowitcher

Upland Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Dunlin

Ring-billed Gull

American Herring Gull

Black Tern

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Black-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Eastern Screech-Owl

Great Horned Owl

Barred Owl

Common Nighthawk

Whip-poor-will




Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Willow Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Kingbird

Great Crested Flycatcher

Horned Lark

Bank Swallow

Tree Swallow

Purple Martin

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow

American Pipit

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Cedar Waxwing

Carolina Wren

Winter Wren

House Wren

Marsh Wren

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

Eastern Bluebird

Veery

Swainson's Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Blue Jay

American Crow

Fish Crow

Common Raven

European Starling

House Sparrow

Yellow-throated Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo
Purple Finch



House Finch

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

American Goldfinch

Evening Grosbeak

Blue-winged Warbler

Golden-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

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart

Worm-eating Warbler

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Louisiana Waterthrush

Mourning Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Canada Warbler

Scarlet Tanager

Eastern Towhee

American Tree Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Lark Bunting

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln 's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Bobolink

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

Orchard Oriole

 

Birdathon 2009

Thursday, May 21, through Sunday, May 24

Birdathon is one of the more important, and most interesting, activities of Southern Adirondack Audubon. During this spring period we try to cover the entire chapter territory to seek out birds either nesting, or passing through on their way to breeding areas. It is an annual attempt to learn how each species is faring; which are commonly found, and which are declining.

Pick the day and times that are most convenient for you, and enjoy some time in the field in search of birds. The event is open to all, no matter what level of birding you do. So pack a lunch, grab your binoculars, partner with a birding buddy if you like, and help us with this annual attempt to gauge the variety of our bird population. We ask that you stay within the chapter boundaries - Warren , Washington , and Northern Saratoga counties.  You may bird on one of the days, or use all four to compile your list.  This is not a “contest;” rather, it is a way to compile a snapshot of the birds using our chapter area.

It would be helpful to the tabulator to know the locations you covered.  Please compile a list of all species seen and remember, in this survey we are counting species, not numbers of individual birds, as in the Christmas Count.  If you want to use Birdathon as a fund raiser for the chapter, ask friends and neighbors to pledge a set amount for each species you identify.  Please send your results as soon as possible, so we can publish the results to our website in a timely manner. 

Care to sponsor a birder? Contact Linda White who will take your pledge and select a birder for you. At the end of Birdathon that participant will contact you with their species list and a thank you for supporting the chapter.

Lists and pledge money should be sent to Linda White, Peggy Ann Rd., Queensbury, NY 12804.  She can be reached by phone for more information at 518-792-4446 or by email.

       

 

2008 Birdathon Results

Seven teams participated in Birdathon 2008 which was held May 8-12.  Returning participants were Linda Hoyt, Jason Goldsmith, Mona Bearor, and Joan Robertson.  Newcomers to Birdathon—welcome!—were Laurie LaFond of So. Glens Falls, Bonnie and Robin of Harmony Wildflower Farm in Comstock, Sandy Johnson from Saratoga, and Sharon Dunn of Cambridge.

The weather was cool and warblers were not evident in many of their usual haunts.  A total of 117 species were tallied during the four-day count.  Some of the more interesting sightings were: Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Screech-Owl,  Great Horned Owl, Purple Martin, Whip-poor-will, American Pipit and Lark Bunting.  In addition to compiling data for the chapter records, three teams had sponsors to raise funds for the chapter; Jason, Mona and Joan, and Laurie together added $668.60 to the treasury.


Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
American Bittern
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
American Black Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
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
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Great Crested Flycatcher
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
American Pipit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
Winter Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
House Sparrow
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole




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2007 Birdathon Results


In 2007 the Birdathon dates were Wednesday May 16 through Sunday May 20, 2007.

Five parties submitted checklists which collectively totaled 123 species of birds and raised $460.00 for the chapter.  Those participating were Linda Hoyt from Brant Lake, Joan and Bob Stevens of Wilton, Jason Goldsmith of Granville, Joan Robertson of Cleverdale, and Mona Bearor from South Glens Falls.

The species list:




Common Loon
Double-crested  Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
American Bittern
Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
American Black Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper

Dunlin
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Barred Owl
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Winter Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
European Starling
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler

American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow


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