Tomorrow, Saturday, February 7 is the first day of the Rusty Blackbird
Hotspot Blitz. Go find'em!

TIP OF THE DAY:

Rusty Blackbirds eat mast! Look carefully for RUBL's eating crushed acorns
on roadways and paths, and softened acorns in shallow pools.

Based on excellent research by Dr. Claudia Mettke-Hofmann in Mississippi,
and work by others, Rusty Blackbirds often seek acorns and other mast crops.
In the South they love crushed pecans--on roads and paths!

In our area they might be found where mast falls on roadways, or where small
acorns, such as pin oak acorns, fall into shallow pools. RUBL's need a
little help getting inside the hard husk so they look for crushed or
water-saturated acorns.

Claudia says,"They like to forage in water, but they don't like to get their
belly wet." Look for shallow pools under mast.

Go here for Blitz details:
http://tinyurl.com/cevo7w

Scroll down at the url to find great images, data forms, etc.

Tom Bain
mobile office: 614.312.7513


-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John
Habig
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] Ohio Statewide RBA - February 5, 2009

- RBA
* Ohio
* Statewide
* February 5, 2009
* OHST0902.05

- Species Mentioned (Caps denote a review list species)

Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Wood Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Horned Grebe
American White Pelican
Rough-legged Hawk
Merlin
Virginia Rail
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE
Snowy Owl
Long-eared Owl
Northern Shrike
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
American Pipit
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Rusty Blackbird
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
HOARY REDPOLL
Pine Siskin

- Transcript

This is the Ohio Rare Bird Report for February 5, 2009.
Compiler: John Habig. Email: [log in to unmask]

Species in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS ARE REVIEW LIST SPECIES. Details of these
sightings are desired by the Ohio Bird Records Committee. Careful
observation, not ornithological expertise, is the only qualification for
submitting your data. For details and pointers see:
http://www.ohiobirds.org/records/documentation.php

This week's highlight continues to be the White-winged Crossbill invasion.
The crossbills are widespread in the State and in very good numbers.

Greater White-fronted Geese: Bob Foppe reported at least two were at the
Hess Rd borrow pit along Rte 32 on the 30th. Steve Bobonick reported four
were at Hess Rd on the 31st. Craig Caldwell reported seven were at Norwalk
Reservoir on the 31st. Josh Eastlake reported one was at Lake Isabella on
the 31st.

Snow Goose: Brad Sparks and Bill Whan found six at Melvin Quarry on the
31st. Steve Bobonick found 20 at Melvin Gravel Pit later on the 31st.
Kathi Hutton reported five flew over her home in SE Clermont County on the
1st.

Ross's Goose: Brad Sparks and Bill Whan found two at Melvin Quarry on the
31st. Steve Bobonick reported three were at Melvin later on the 31st.

Cackling Goose:  Rick Asamoto reported five were along the Great Miami River
on the 1st.

Wood Duck: Doug Vogus reported one female was on the Cuyahoga River at the
intersection of Bath and Riverview Rds in the Cuyahoga Valley NP on the
31st.

Surf Scoter: Rob Lowery reported one immature male was on the Scioto River
in Columbus along Riverside Dr just north of Lane Ave on the 1st.
Bob Royse reported the scoter had moved downriver somewhat to the stretch of
river between the bike path at the Rivers Edge office buildings and 5th Ave
on the 4th.

White-winged Scoter: Kevin Myers located one on the Great Miami River just
below the Dayton Power & Light parking lot located at 1900 Dryden Rd in
Moraine on the 31st. Rick Asamoto and Shane Egleston found two adult males
on the Great Miami River at West Carrolton just above the dam on the 1st.
Shane reported the two were still present in the same location on the 5th.

Horned Grebe: Doug Vogus reported one on the Cuyahoga River south of Ira Rd
near the locks in the Cuyahoga Valley NP on the 31st. Shane Egleston
reported one was on the Great Miami River at Carillon Park on the 31st.
Craig Caldwell reported one was at Norwalk Reservoir on the 31st.

American White Pelican: Jay Lehman reported one was still at Grand Lake-St.
Marys near Bella Restaurant on the 1st. It was near a hole in the ice that
is being kept open by a bubbler system. Steve Jones reported the pelican was
still present in the same location on the 3rd.

Rough-legged Hawk: James Lundberg reported two were Armleder on the 30th and
John Zahnen saw two there on the 2nd. Bill Stanley reported one along Rte 32
just west of Mt Orab on the 31st. Steve Bobonick spotted 8-plus at The Wilds
on the 31st. Tim Shue reported one was flying over the Kidron Mennonite
Church on the 1st. Matt Valencic reported one near Middlefield on the 1st.
Paul Wharton reported one was at Fernald Nature Preserve on the 1st. Keith
Robinson reported one was along the Front Wheel Dr entrance ramp to Rte 32
on the 3rd. Jonathon Frodge reported one was in Silverton on the 4th.

Merlin: Lou Gardella reported four were observed in sections 74, 76, 93 and
114 of Calvary Cemetery on the 30th. James Lundberg reported one continues
at Armleder Park as of the 30th. Matt Valencic reported one near Middlefield
on the 1st. Doug Vogus reported one was at Ottawa NWR on the 1st. Greg
Cudworth is reporting that one is wintering in Kent.

Virginia Rail: At least one remains at Spring Valley WA near the spring.


Thayer's Gull: John Pogacnik reported two were at E 72nd St on the 31st and
one on the 1st.

Iceland Gull: John Pogacnik had seven at E 72nd St on the 31st and three on
the 1st.

Lesser Black-backed Gull: John Pogacnik reported three were at E 72nd St on
the 31st only one on the 1st. Doug Vogus reported one adult was at Ottawa
NWR on the 1st.

Glaucous Gull: John Pogacnik reported at least eight were at E 72nd St on
the 31st. John found nine there on the 1st. Michael Packer reported one was
at Avon Lake on the 31st. Paula Lozano reported one was at Avon Lake power
plant on the 1st.

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE: Jay Lehman found one, along with an apparent Ringed
Turtle-Dove, in West Manchester on the 1st.

Snowy Owl: Doug Vogus reported one was at Ottawa NWR on the 1st.

Long-eared Owl: Andrew Miller located one at Evergreen Park in Kidron last
week. Jo Ann Kubicki reported on the 2nd that one was at a private residence
in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland near I-90.

Northern Shrike: One was still at the beach area of Deer Creek SP on the
31st. The shrike along the Magee Marsh causeway remained through at least
the 1st. Tom Kemp reported one was in the Maumee SF at the NE corner of Rds
V and 3 on the 2nd.

Red-breasted Nuthatch: Pam Unger reported one, and possibly two, were
visiting the feeders at Greenlawn Cemetery on the 31st. Two were at
Evergreen Park in Kidron last week. Aaron Boone reported two were at
Fairview Cemetery in Galion on the 2nd. Karen Gray reported one was at Bath
Nature Preserve between Cleveland/Massillon Rd parking lot and the bridge on
the 2nd. Inga Schmidt reported one was at Evergreen Cemetery located on
Franklin Rd just outside Chagrin Falls on the 3rd.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Bob Royse reported that one, possibly the same one he
reported in mid-December, was still present along the Scioto River between
the Rivers Edge office complex and 5th Ave on the 4th.

Hermit Thrush: Doug Vogus reported one was in the Cuyahoga Valley NP along
Riverview Rd east of Tree Farm Trail on the 31st. Bob Foppe found one at
East Fork SP on the 31st. One is being seen at Seiberling. The McCarty's
have one visiting their feeder in Lakewood.

Northern Mockingbird: Rob Lowry reported one was coming to the feeders at
Highbanks MP on the 1st.

Brown Thrasher: The Compiler found one at Spring Valley WA on the 31st.
The thrasher was in the canal between the bike path and the pond near the
Prothonotary Pond area. The bird was seen by many observers. Fred Thaxton
has one coming to his feeder in Hudson.

American Pipit: Rick Asamoto found five along the Great Miami River just
below the low level dam in West Carrolton on the 31st. Greg Bennett reported
one was at Walborn Reservoir on the 2nd. William Hull reported one was at
Armleder Park on the 2nd.

Chipping Sparrow: Rick Asamoto reported that one continued near Bass Island
on Newtown Rd on the 30th. Nail Cade reported one was along Willey Rd in
western Hamilton County on the 1st. Bob Royse reported that one was along
the Scioto River between the Rivers Edge office complex and 5th Ave on the
4th.

Lark Sparrow: Josh Muchow reported the sparrow was still visiting the feeder
and birders are welcome to visit. The location is 2832 Glenville Ave,
Bucyrus, Ohio 44820.

Savannah Sparrow: William Hull reported two were at Armleder Park on the
2nd.

Fox Sparrow: Joe Faulkner had one coming to his feeder in Somerset on the
31st. Chris Knoll reported on the 31st that one has been visiting the Black
Swamp Bird Observatory feeder everyday, usually in the afternoon. Donald
Morse reported one was at his feeder in New Richmond on the 1st. Jo Ann
Kubicki reported on the 2nd that one was visiting the feeders at the Canal
Way Visitor Center in the Cleveland MP Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation. One
was at Woodlawn Cemetery this week.

Lincoln's Sparrow: Dan Kendrick reported on the 5th that one has been
present at a feeder near Wheat Ridge in Adams County.

Lapland Longspur: Paula Lozano reported six were along Albrecht Rd near West
St in Lorain County on the 1st. Rob Thorn reported one flying north at Twin
Lakes on the 1st. Kirk Westendorf reported three were at Armleder Park on
the 1st.

Snow Bunting: Jared Merriman had some at Melvin Quarry on the 31st.
Karen Morgan reported 150 were on Hayes Rd in Geauga County on the 1st.
Steve Bobonick reported a small flock was at The Wilds on the 31st.
Paula Lozano reported approximately 75-100 were along Whitney Rd near West
St in Lorain County on the 1st. Rob Thorn saw one fly over the multi-purpose
trail at Glacier Ridge MP on the 1st. Doug Vogus reported ten were at Ottawa
NWR on the 1st. Urban buntings were in Toledo at the driveway to the
Anderson Elevator on Reynolds & Angola Rds on the 4th.

Rusty Blackbird: Joe Faulkner reported two were at his Somerset feeder on
the 31st. Jay Lehman found one near Chilo Locks on Rte 52 east of Cincinnati
on the 31st.

Red Crossbill: Rick Counts found one at Oak Hill Cemetery on the 2nd.
Gene Stauffer reported one immature was in section X of Greenlawn Cemetery
on the 3rd.

White-winged Crossbill: Chad Amos reported that 16 were in Washington County
on the 29th.  Robin Densmore and family found some behind the New Concord
Post Office which is near Muskingum College. Jason Estep found 40 - 50 in
Newark just east of 30th Ave in an alley between Woodlawn and Lawnview
Avenues on the 31st. Dan Kramer reported five were in his driveway in Zoar,
Tuscarawas County, on the 31st. Dan also found a flock of eight at Beach
City WA north of Dundee in Tuscarawas on the 31st.
Laura Dornan found three on Nickleplate Ave in Louisville in Stark County on
the 1st. Melvin Weaver reported 20 were at Evergreen Park in Kidron on the
1st. Rob Thorn reported two were at Twin Lakes on the 1st.
Matt Valencic found two near the boat house at LaDue Reservoir on the 1st.
In Fulton County on the 1st Matt found three along Road EF between Rds 2 and
3 and six along Rd 2 at Sherwood Lane. Matt Anderson found 280 along Rd 2
about 1/4-mile south of Road C in Fulton County on the 1st.
Greg Bennett reported five were at Lake Milton in the vicinity of 803
Grandview Ave on the 2nd. James Cole reported five flew over Kitty Todd
Nature Preserve on the 2nd. Tom Kemp reported 50 were in Maumee SF along
County Line Rd north of Rd U on the 2nd. Jim Fry reported on the 4th that
one was at one of his feeders in NW Hocking County. Suzanne Butcher reported
that 18 were in her yard in Liberty Township, Trumbull County on the 4th.
Dave and Judy Hochadel located five in a cemetery at the corner of Rte 88
and Hoffman-Norton Rd west of Bristolville in Trumbull County on the 4th.
Marilyn Rohr reported two were in her yard in Chardon on the 4th. Sean
Williams reported eight were on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University on
the 4th. Rick Counts reported that six were along 7th Ave in Upper Sandusky
on the 5th. Dan Bertsch reported some are at Wolf Creek Environmental Center
and Cathy Priebe reported them from French Creek Reservation in Lorain. They
were also reported at Seiberling, Rose Hill and Standing Rock. Greg Bennett
reported that at least one was at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Cuyahoga Falls
on the 30th.
Lori Brumbaugh reported that a minimum of 100 were in section 52 at Spring
Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati on the 30th. Lori and others found them there
in fewer numbers on the 31st. Ron Kolde reported 30 were in sections 16 and
17 on the 1st. William Hull reported 18 were present on the 5th. Pam Unger
found 50-75 at Greenlawn Cemetery on the 31st. Rob Lowery found 25-30 there
on the 1st. Kely Mertz reported 18 were at the cemetery on the 3rd. Bob
Royse reported on the 4th that the flocks at this cemetery had seemed to
dissipate into small flocks of ten or less.
Doug Overacker reported 17 were at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield on the
31st. Greg Links reported 25-plus were on Secor Rd just inside the state
line on the 31st. Michael Packer reported about ten were at Lake View
Cemetery on the 31st. Lou Loibl found three at Fellows Riverside Garden on
the 1st. Matt Anderson located 22 at Swan Creek Cemetery on the 1st. Rick
Counts reported eight were at Fairview Cemetery in Galion on the 2nd. Aaron
Boone located 11 at River Cliff Cemetery in Mount Gilead on the 2nd. Rick
Counts reported 21 were at Oak Hill Cemetery on the 2nd. Dan Sanders
reported that he located only one pair at Woodlawn Cemetery on the 2nd. Inga
Schmidt reported 12 were at Evergreen Cemetery on the 3rd. Larry Gara
reported that Jim Hickman found six at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington on
the 5th.

Common Redpoll: Neil Cade reported one was in sections 41 and 49 at Spring
Grove Cemetery on the 30th. Bill and Tammie Stanley found two at Spring
Grove on the 31st. Lisa Brohl reported one visited her feeder on South Bass
Island on the 30th. Matt Anderson reported he is still getting a handful at
his feeder in Whitehouse on the 1st. Two were at the Secor MP feeders on the
1st. Dan Sanders reported 20 were feeding in Sweet Gum trees at Woodlawn
Cemetery on the 2nd. Aaron Bartley reported one was at his Portage County
feeder on the 2nd.

HOARY REDPOLL: A possible Hoary Redpoll was at a feeder on private property
in Holland on the 4th and 5th.

Pine Siskin: Dan Kramer had 11 at his feeder at work on the 30th. Neil Cade
has several flocks throughout Spring Grove Cemetery on the 30th.
Doug Overacker reported five were at Ferncliff Cemetery on the 31st.
Doug Vogus found eight in the Cuyahoga Valley NP on the 31st. Lou Loibl
reported several on the feeder at Ford Nature Center on the 1st. Matt
Anderson had two on Rd W in Henry County on the 1st. Donald Morse had some
at his feeder in New Richmond on the 1st. Rob Thorn reported one was at
Frink Park next to O'Shaughnessy dam on the 1st. Matt Valencic found one
near the boat house at LaDue Reservoir on the 1st. Rick Counts reported one
was at Fairview Cemetery in Galion on the 2nd. Many continued at Woodlawn
Cemetery on the 2nd. Aaron Bartley reported three were at his Portage County
feeder on the 2nd. James Cole reported eight were at Kitty Todd Nature
Preserve on the 2nd. Craig Holt reports that one was at his feeder in Poland
Township on the 5th. Bob Morton had five at his feeder in Sandusky County on
the 5th. William Hull reported three were at Spring Grove Cemetery on the
5th.

The First Rusty Blackbird Blitz runs from February 7-15. The population of
Rusty Blackbirds has dropped precipitously since 1966. This is an excellent
opportunity to combine your time birding with science and conservation. The
protocols for participating and forms to use can be found at www.ebird.org.

- End Transcript

John Habig
Carlisle, OH

______________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________

Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society.
Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.

You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS
Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]