Fifteen enthusiastic birders enjoyed unexpected sunshine as they scoured the Hudson in search of waterfowl and early migrants.  The river hosted low numbers of ducks – Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, and Black Ducks being the most numerous; a smattering of Bufflehead added interest.  A small marshy area yielded views of a single Northern Pintail, a lone American Wigeon, and Green-winged Teal, while a small pond offered more teal, Wood Ducks, a mostly cream-colored leucistic Mallard, and a Great Blue Heron.  At the roadsides we found Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, and a Song Sparrow singing on territory, in addition to the expected blackbirds, crows, and jays.  Not to be left out, a single Killdeer circled above our heads and called as we tallied checklists on our return to the meeting place, making our total for the trip 41 species.  -Mona Bearor & Joyce Miller                              

    Sara DeLeon, a PhD candidate at Cornell University, has been studying the effects that PCBs have on birdsong. Her studies have focused on Song Sparrows and Black-Capped Chickadees found near the Hudson River.  The concern is that because the females are attracted to the males with the best songs, PCB-exposed birds might lose out on mates, which could pose serious problems for bird populations.

    Because some of us helped keep feeders full at Hudson Point in Queensbury and in Hadley to attract the birds for her project, Sara graciously agreed to let us watch her work in the field.

    Six participants observed Sara catch birds in a mist net in Hadley Park. Nature doesn’t always co-operate; sparrows and chickadees were unavailable that day.  Sara was happy to net a Chestnut-sided Warbler to demonstrate her work. She weighed the bird, took blood samples from the brachial artery, collected feather samples, and explained banding techniques. We were given the opportunity to hold it, and to try out her recording equipment.

    Sara’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and demonstrations made this a fascinating and enjoyable outing.

Eight avid birders joined leaders Laurie LaFond Pat Walters on Saturday, May 2 for a great day of bird watching at Merck Forest in Rupert, Vermont.

Birding started right at the parking lot:  phoebes and vireos flitted through nearby tree branches, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers flew from trunk to trunk, hunting for insects, and the loud song of an Ovenbird rang from the woods.  A Sharp-shinned Hawk circled above us as we headed for the trail. 

A few hundred yards from the visitor center the woods open up to a panoramic view of 1800’s-style farm buildings nestled amidst lush green pastures and surrounded by mountains clad in varying shades of the yellow-greens of Spring.  This spectacular scenery served as a backdrop for the chorus of multi-hued songbirds that chirped, trilled, warbled and twittered as they flitted in and out of the foliage and fields.  Binoculars glued to our eyes, we identified a variety of sparrows and finches, as well as swallows, a Killdeer, a male Yellow Warbler, and a brilliant orange and black male Baltimore Oriole. 

The trail meandered through fields and meadows before it re-entered the woods, where we encountered a variety of woodpeckers, vireos, warblers and more.  We were fortunate to have several people good at birding by ear, for their skills helped us identify several species that were difficult to spot.  A Black-throated Green Warbler and a Black-throated Blue Warbler sang to us from the treetops, hidden by the rapidly growing foliage.  Our sound experts also identified a Winter Wren – a rare treat - but not even our best spotters could locate this elusive and uncommon little brown bird in the pile of downed trees and brush where it likes to forage.

A secretive Wood Thrush put our spotting abilities to the test, but most of us were eventually rewarded with a sight of its cleanly spotted white breast and rust-colored back and tail.  Other favorites included a beautiful male Eastern Towhee who warned us to “drink your tea” and a sweet-voiced male Blackburnian Warbler.  This bright orange, white and black warbler delighted the group with his antics among the treetops in his quest for insects.

Finally, as I listened to a twelve-year-old young man happily explain to us the difference between the call of the Northern Flicker and that of the Pileated Woodpecker (the Pileated is deeper), I was reminded that our shared enthusiasm and the willingness of other birders to share their knowledge is what makes birding field trips (whether I lead a trip or participate) one of my favorite pastimes.  Our fieldtrip to Merck Forest was a great day of birding and an enjoyable, memorable outing for all.  Many thanks to all who participated. 

The 3000 acre Merck Forest & Farmland Center encompasses three mountains, two ponds, a 200 acre demonstration farm and miles of hiking trails.  The working farm offers visitors a variety of organic products, from organic vegetables, meat and eggs to wool blankets and organic maple syrup.  Go to www.merckforest.org to learn more.

-Submitted by Laurie LaFond

Saturday, January 31, 2009         

The leader of a tracking workshop conducted at the Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Vince not only knew his stuff, he also knew how to get the rest of us really engaged in tracking, even to the point of kneeling down to sniff the yellow snow.  Was it fisher pee?  Well, maybe. There was a fisher trail.  But why would it pee right there where its trail crossed the hard-packed snowshoe path?  Could it be a dog?  Dogs also trot along this path.  What does dog pee smell like?  Many of our group of about a dozen probably knew the answer to that, but only one of us put her nose right down there (not me, for once!) and pronounced the verdict: “Dog!”  So you see, you can't always tell just by looking.  Vince urged us to use our noses, ears, fingers, brains, and imaginations.

For example, imagine the rabbit escaping the fox: she scoots this way, then that, zigzagging across the grass until she dives down into her hole.  That's why her front feet are placed one behind the other, to enable faster turning.   Does the squirrel zigzag across the grass as he high-tails away from your chasing dog and zips up the nearest tree?  Not on his furry life!  He plants those little front feet together and scoots in a beeline, as straight and fast as he can.  

We learned a lot of other things too, and had a lot of fun.  Many thanks to the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, a sand plains and pitch pine preserve I often visit in warmer weather, when wild lupine and milkweed support the endangered Karner Blue butterflies.   Thanks again to Vince Walsh, teacher and tracker extraordinaire.  I plan to visit him, too, at his Kawing Crow Awareness Center.  He knows just an awesome amount of stuff about nature, including where some ancient black tupelos grow. Eight-hundred-year-old black tupelos!  I want him to take me there. 

[Editor’s Note:  Jackie Donnelly wanders the woods and waterways of Saratoga County, recording her observations with her camera.  She shares her adventures through her online nature blog, and invites SAAS members to join her.  Please visit www.saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com ]

Saturday, October 4           Birding at the Helen Buckner Memorial Preserve in Westhaven, Vermont

A field trip to the Helen Buckner Memorial Preserve on October 4th produced life birds for most, and a good time for all!  Chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers called and flitted through the trees as we hiked a woodland trail amidst peak fall foliage of glowing scarlet, crimson and gold.  Emerging at one point into a broad meadow, we were rewarded with stunning views of Bald Mountain and sightings of a variety of birds, including dozens of Cedar Waxwings, a Nashville Warbler, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.   The trail re-entered the woods and gradually climbed 200’ to a broad, grassy area with good views of the Poultney River and surrounding lands.  Our trip to the preserve ended with an exciting view of an endangered Peregrine Falcon circling overhead!  After the hike we drove to the nearby pier on South Bay, where we hoped to see migrating waterfowl.  We were surprised and delighted by the arrival of an immature Bald Eagle!  All binoculars were glued to the raptor as it demonstrated its masterful fishing technique.  Suddenly, an adult Bald Eagle appeared on the scene!  The adult, with its classic white head and tail shining in the late afternoon sunlight, chased the youngster until it dropped the fish.  The adult dove, raking the waves with its talons in an unsuccessful attempt to snag the fish.  Both birds made a few passes over the spot where the fish had disappeared before flying off up the lake.  Seeing the Bald Eagles, and being able to observe their natural interaction, was the perfect ending to a great day of birding!

Juvenile Bald Eagle with fish by Gordie Ellmers Photo taken at South Bay on Jan 19, 2008

Jason & Laurie’s birding field trip to the Washington County Grasslands was a winner!  Sightings included favorites such as Bobolinks and Killdeer, as well as Savannah Sparrows, Swallows, Kingbirds and a single Meadowlark.  Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers and a very vocal Common Yellowthroat (another Warbler species) brightened our day.
 

A pair of Bluebirds - perhaps taking a break from nesting duties – preened together from their perch on a dead tree near the road.  A little later, we watched with rapt attention as half a dozen Mockingbirds displayed their aerobatic skills, chasing each other across the fields and at times passing right over our heads.  A red fox kit took advantage of the distraction they provided to sneak through the grass and cross the road in front of us!  An Eastern Phoebe and a Great Crested Flycatcher flitted in and out of brush along the road in their hunt for flying insects.
 

At our last stop - a field where several threatened Upland Sandpipers had recently been spotted - a bird turned the tables on us.  It seems quite humorous that while our group was intently searching the field with binoculars for even a glimpse of this rare bird, we eventually turned around to discover an Upland Sandpiper watching us from a lawn across the road!  The bird didn’t seem too skittish, and everyone got a good look at it through both their binoculars and our club spotting scope.  This sighting was a life bird for many and we were all excited to see it!  All participants agreed it was a great trip, and we look forward to the next one.

Bobolink © 2008 Gordie Ellmers

Killdeer © 2008 Gordie Ellmers

Upland Sandpiper by  Mona Bearor

Saturday, May 17                                                      Gull Bay Heron Rookery with Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith

A clear spring day and a cast of hundreds set the stage to make our May 17th field trip to the Gull Bay Nature Preserve a rousing success!

A Barred Owl held the audience spellbound with a stellar preening performance from a tree along the trail.  He followed that performance with an encore of blinking owlishly and mugging for the cameras from a grassy verge less than ten feet from the trail! Mary Ann Dorvee provided a great photo below!  Great Blue Herons on 30 active nests gave a solid performance at the rookery.  Most still appeared to be incubating their eggs, but some perched on adjoining tree limbs or made occasional landings, takeoffs, and fly-bys.   However, it was the surprise appearance of two tiny white downy heads in one nest that stole the scene! A Scarlet Tanager gave the stars a run for their money with a distinctive solo. 

Supporting cast was wonderful, with colorful favorites like the Cardinal, Baltimore Orioles, Black-throated Green Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Great Crested Flycatchers putting on a fine act.  Special guests included a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireos and cameo appearances by a Red-shouldered Hawk and Cooper’s Hawk.  Meadowlarks gave a sneak preview of the grasslands show from fields bordering the preserve, where Bobolinks bobbed in to say hello.  The gliding flight of a male Northern Harrier gave trip participants an added thrill.  A quick side trip to Trillium Trail yielded special appearances by a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and an American Redstart. 

The total number of species positively identified was 40, along with a probable Black & White Warbler and a Warbling Vireo.

Trip leaders Laurie LaFond and Jason Goldsmith would like to thank those who turned out for this spectacular show – we probably wouldn’t have been there to see it without you!

	Species list for the trip:
	Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Mallard Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Wild Turkey Mourning Dove Barred Owl Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Great Crested Flycatcher Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Gray Catbird Veery Wood Thrush American Robin Black-capped Chickadee	Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Blue Jay American Crow Blue-headed Vireo Yellow Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Scarlet Tanager Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole

Easter Sunday, March 23 - 8:00AM                     Waterfowl of the Hudson River with Joyce Miller and Mona Bearor

A crisp and sunny spring morning of waterfowl birding was enjoyed by 17 participants, equally representing Southern Adirondack Audubon and the Hudson Mohawk Bird Club.  By noon we had tallied 43 species including Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Pintail, in addition to the expected goldeneyes, mergansers, and other more common duck species. A highlight for all, and a life bird for many, was the pair of Canvasbacks which cooperated in the early morning light to give excellent looks.  Also of interest were the four Tundra Swans seen near the Riverview Cemetery in Fort Miller; these elegant birds dwarfed the nearby Canada Geese and all participants were able to get great views of this species which is not often seen in our area.  A Red-bellied Woodpecker showed its brilliant red head in the morning light and a Great Blue Heron perched in the top of a tall tree at riverside was interesting to those who have never seen this species aloft.  We noted that Dark-eyed Juncos and Snow Buntings are still in the area, while Song Sparrows have returned and are joyfully singing their mating songs.  Brown-headed Cowbirds were overheard making plans to find nest space for this year’s eggs while a single Killdeer made its presence known.  In the grasslands Red-tailed Hawks were plentiful; several Rough-legged Hawks gave good views and a single Northern Harrier interacted with the hawks.  Turkey Vultures soared in several spots.  The return trip offered an American Kestrel in Schuylerville and a Cooper’s Hawk in Queensbury bringing the trip total to 45 species.  A great morning enjoyed by a great group of birders! Species List                     Great Blue Heron Tundra Swan Snow Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck Green-winged Teal Mallard American Black Duck Northern Pintail Canvasback Ring-necked Duck Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Rock Dove Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Northern Mockingbird American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Blue Jay American Crow European Starling Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch House Sparrow		Field trip participants enjoy watching a pair of Canvasbacks on the Hudson Tundra Swans were the surprise of the day... and a life bird for many!

  Saturday, February 23 - 9:00AM                       Snowshoe Walk at the Denton Preserve with Don and Nancy Polunci

Although we didn’t see many bird species, our snowshoe field trip in the Denton Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, February 23 was enjoyable. Three people accompanied us on the 1.3-mile loop trail the day after a fresh snowfall. It was a great day to be outside! Our best bird sighting was a Ruffed Grouse. We saw lots of tracks, including deer, rabbit, squirrel, and mouse.  Unfortunately, we did not see bobcat tracks, despite a previous spotting there last fall.   Nan and Don Polunci

Saturday, January 26 – 8:30AM                        Wintering Birds of the IBA with Jason Goldsmith and Laurie LaFond

The SAAS Winter Raptor Field Trip was a great success, drawing seven enthusiastic beginning and veteran bird-watchers, in addition to the two co-leaders.  Excited participants are probably still talking about the highlight of the trip - a close encounter with a Red-tailed Hawk!  Moderate temperatures, lots of sunshine and little wind made for a pleasant morning outing as we traveled a shortened version of the official IBA survey route.  We saw about a dozen Rough-legged Hawks, half a dozen Red-tailed Hawks, a flock of about 20 Snow Buntings and one American Kestrel.  We were very fortunate to spot a Merlin (a medium-sized falcon).  It remained perched atop a telephone pole long enough for everyone to get a good look through binoculars and the spotting scope; it even stayed through all the photos. The Red-tailed Hawk encounter occurred about half an hour into the trip (good timing, Jason!).  We happened upon a couple of bird banders working for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  They had just trapped the 4-5 year old male Red-tailed seen in the photo.  They not only allowed us to observe and take photos while they recorded data such as the hawk’s sex and weight (roughly 2.2 pounds), but also explained things like how they determined its age.  This hawk had been banded previously, as had his mate, who weighed over three pounds (female raptors are about one third larger than males).    Everyone seemed to have a good time, and we are all looking forward to the next birding field trip.    by Laurie LaFond