Dear Bill: We met some time ago, I think in Adams County, and I appreciate your reports on Ohio birds, since I try to keep track of them myself in this corner of southwest Ohio where I live. We had red-headed woodpeckers in our woods fifty years ago but they are all vanished, even from Hueston Woods State Park. I have to go to Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana to see them now, and last week i was there and i saw two beauties. I used to see them regularly at Monteagle TN, where I lead birdwalks in the summer, but for the past year they have been sadly lacking there, too. So I'm concerned that this beautiful woodpecker is on its way to extinction, just like the Ivory-billed. We have plenty of spectacular Pileated Woodpeckers around. Why is that species flourishing when smaller woodpeckers are threatened? Bird behavior is a mystery to me but I hope we don't lose any because of human carelessness. Anyway, thanks for the information about a favorite species which has been disappearing steadily. Bill Pratt at Miami of Ohio 1. Need help identifying possible OBBAII bird-possible answer 2. Red Headed Woodpeckers (3) 3. Charlie's Pond area, Pickaway Co., Sat., May 30th 4. Conneaut White-rumped Sandpipers 5. N.AlumLake,5-30 6. Yellow-Breasted Chat and Wilson's Warbler (Southern Delaware County) 7. FW: FW: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers 8. Green Heron in Lakewood 9. Punderson State Park ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 06:48:03 -0400 From: Margaret Bowman <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Need help identifying possible OBBAII bird-possible answer This may not even be a bird. Chipmunk was suggested, but the habitat is = too wet, and the vocalization usually emanates from the stream. = Besides, although I have heard many chipmunks, I've never heard the same = descending seven-note "keh" from a chipmunk. So, I got to thinking = about the various bird-like vocalizations of another rodent, the = squirrel (mew like a catbird, "chock" like a yellow-billed cuckoo, = etc.), and what animal would thrive in this habitat, and I came up with = mink. Does anyone know what vocalization, if any, a mink makes? Margaret Bowman Licking Co., OH ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 07:53:06 -0400 From: Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Red Headed Woodpeckers A century ago, red-headeds were the commonest woodpecker in Ohio. Perhaps they'd flourished with the clearing of the virgin forests, as I imagine them as a bird of open country. They often nested in towns, and people complained about the racket they made, and condemned their damage to orchards. Many called them and the downy woodpecker "sapsuckers." Before birds were protected by law--and probably thereafter--they were widely persecuted. Audubon wrote of a hundred being shot on a single cherry tree in one day. You know what they say about familiarity and contempt. Their numbers are much diminished today. When mast crops are good, some winter in Ohio by surviving on stashed acorns, etc. In warm weather, they are fond of insects, catching them in mid-air, gorging on ants on the ground, etc. Like other woodpeckers they are indifferent fliers, and because they often pursue bugs across open areas, they were more often killed by automobiles than nearly any rural bird. Red-headeds use cavities, especially in dead trees, for nesting and food storage. Their winter numbers fluctuate with the mast crop; I guess their summer numbers don't as much. These are often the first trees cut in woodlots, parks, golf courses, etc., so birders have gotten used to looking for them in dead trees that are a little harder to cut down, such as in swampy sites. They used to make use of utility poles, too, but chemical treatments today discourage them, and of course wooden fence posts, along with woodpeckers, bluebirds, etc., are disappearing. So times are tough for these birds, but if you look in the right places they are around. Because they like mature trees, especially oak/hickory/beech, seek those out. Because they like open spaces as well, look along the edges of large woodlands, or in woodlots in rural situations, especially those with a fairly open understory. A farmhouse set in a nice grove of big nut trees, with the ground cleared beneath them, often will host them. If you're in old prairie territory, check out isolated mottes of big old oaks. Old orchards can be good, too. They like good lookouts, and it pays to check out high snags, tops of dead trees, telephone poles. A flooded stand of tall skeletal hardwoods is always worth checking. A study was made of golf courses in Ohio as sites for these birds recently, with what results I can't say. Probably others will have more suggestions. Anyway, I'm not seeing more of these handsome birds lately, but they are still to be seen, and well worth it. Bill Whan Columbus Greg Spahr wrote: > In the last week, I have seen two different Red Headed Woodpeckers (one > in Seneca County near Fostoria, and the other in Greene County in > downtown Wilberforce). Usually, I can go for years without seeing one, > and I happened to just stumble upon these two. So I thought I would > ask the group how your perceptions of this species are this year. Are > you seeing more of them, or did I just get lucky and see a couple even > though they are still declining in Ohio? > > Good birding, > > Greg Spahr > Fairborn, Ohio > ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 09:22:00 EDT From: [log in to unmask] Subject: Charlie's Pond area, Pickaway Co., Sat., May 30th Hello! Yesterday evening, I stopped by the Charlie's Pond area in southern Pickaway County. Driving slowly along Radcliffe Road, Westfall Road, Jef= ferson Road, and the gravel road to the Scippo Water Treatment facility, I heard= and/or saw the following birds (no Rails): Dickcissel-3 or 4 along Westfall Road Grasshopper Sparrow-3 Henslow's Sparrow-heard 2 Blue Grosbeak-pair together along gravel road to Scippo facility. Female= had nesting material in her beak. Brown Thrasher-1 singing on tip of branch next to singing Willow Flycatch= er Willow Flycatcher-2 Indigo Bunting-3 Northern Harrier-2 cruising fields by Pickaway Co. airport entrance Eastern Meadowlark-several Common Yellowthroat-2 Barn Swallow-several Horned Lark-several Ring-Necked Pheasant (non-ABA)-numerous And on a non-birding note, I observed a Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel along Radcliffe Road just west of the infamous Black Rail location of 200= 8. This area is accessed from U.S. Rte. 23 about 3.5 miles south of Circleville. In the DeLorme, this area is indicated on Page 68 D2. Rob Lowry Powell, Ohio **************We found the real =E2=80=98Hotel California=E2=80=99 and the= =E2=80=98Seinfeld=E2=80=99 diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. (http://www.whereitsat.com/#/music/all-spots/355/47.796964/-66.374711/2/Yo= uve-Found-Where-Its-At?ncid=3Deml cntnew00000007) ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 10:08:54 -0400 From: Bill Stanley <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Red Headed Woodpeckers Red-headed Woodpeckers are somewhat common in Brown County. Most of the area is rural. I found a nest in Ohio BBS block 75D7NE. The nest is actually in an isolated subdivision that was being built and put on hold during this economic situation in our country. The tree that contains = the nest has many dead limbs in the top and the nest cavity is in one of = these limbs. The nest is in a lone tree next to the road on a large vacant = lot. The big problem for this pair and all Red-headed woodpeckers is the = European Starlings who like to take over the nesting cavities. Every time I = check this nest there are at least three starlings sitting outside and the = male woodpecker uses energy trying to chase them away. The woodpeckers have = been successful at driving the starlings away for three weeks now. In Clermont county I have found nesting evidence for the last two years = in some dead trees on the East Fork of the Little Miami river where it = feeds Harsha Lake in East Fork State Park. I saw birds and young last year = and I've seen a lot of activity this year. I view the trees from a good distance so I haven't actually seen the nest cavities. So to answer your question, I think that in Clermont and Brown Counties = they are hanging on. I really don't thing they are doing any better here. = What I find is they tend to move nesting locations from year to year. My = thought is they have to move to stay ahead of the starlings. Bill Stanley Willimsburg OH. -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of = Greg Spahr Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:40 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers In the last week, I have seen two different Red Headed Woodpeckers (one in Seneca County near Fostoria, and the other in Greene County in downtown Wilberforce). Usually, I can go for years without seeing one, and I happened to just stumble upon these two. So I thought I would ask the group how your perceptions of this species are this year. Are you seeing more of them, or did I just get lucky and see a couple even though they are still declining in Ohio? Good birding, Greg Spahr Fairborn, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com=20 Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.46/2144 - Release Date: = 05/30/09 17:53:00 ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 14:41:00 -0400 From: Greg Spahr <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Red Headed Woodpeckers I would like to thank all who are responding to my question about red headed woodpeckers. I was answering the responses via email, but I got kind of overwhelmed. I have received many responses that there are more RHWP this year, and a few that they are stable or declining, so perhaps I just got lucky and saw a few this year. Anyway, thanks for the responses. Greg Spahr Fairborn, OH ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 13:21:38 -0700 From: Mark Vass <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Conneaut White-rumped Sandpipers I stopped at Conneaut yesterday afternoon and on the spit there were 3 Whit= e-rumped Sandpipers,12 Semi-palmated Sandpipers and 7 Dunlin together feedi= ng =A0 I was able to observe the birds from my car from close range until human di= sturbance became to much for them and they left =A0 Bank Swallows=A0and Purple Martins were flying all around the spit =A0 =A0 Mark Vass Ambridge,Pa.=A0=0A=0A=0A ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:24:18 -0400 From: rob thorn <[log in to unmask]> Subject: N.AlumLake,5-30 I was able to visit some of the areas around Howard Rd Bridge & Boat launch today (as part of a canoe training group), and found that a good number of the resident birds had returned. This area has a good fringe of forest, so many forest and edge breeders unusual for the area can be found here. Notables today included: Red-shouldered hawk - 1 calling in the forest north of the road Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 1 singing in the woods around the inlet N of the bridge Flycatchers - many Great Crested, Phoebe, and Wood Pewees, as well as several Acadian were in the forest, while a defensive pair of E.Kingbirds was around the boat launch. All of these are likely nesters here. Vireos - 2 White-eyed were calling around the inlet north of the bridge, while a Yellow-throated was singing southwest of the bridge. Red-eyeds were common. Swallows - Tree, Barn, & Rough-winged were present and all local nesters. Several Cliff Swallows were probably from the colony that has developed on the St 37 bridge over the reservoir. Thrushes & Mimids - no migrants, but Wood Thrushes were singing at several spots. Catbirds were abundant, singing from many locations. Wood Warblers - singing residents included Yellow (several), Parula (boat launch), Blue-winged (edge north of bridge), Cerulean (forest SW of bridge), Prothonotary (W of bridge), La.Waterthrush (both north & south of the bridge), Redstart (forest N of bridge), Common Yellowthroat (scrub near boat launch), and Hooded (S of launch). A singing Nashville was likely a late migrant. ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:36:57 -0400 From: =?windows-1252?Q?Al_La_Sala?= <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Yellow-Breasted Chat and Wilson's Warbler (Southern Delaware County) This afternoon I went to Traphagan Nature Preserve where the highlight wa= s=20 a Yellow-Breasted Chat. Then I went home and found a Wilson's Warbler In= =20 the same tree where I saw a Common Yellowthroat yesterday. Other species observed: Canada Goose Mallard Red-Tailed Hawk Turkey Vulture Barred Owl Chimney Swift Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Red-Bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker (heard only) Acadian Flycatcher (heard only) Willow Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher (heard only) Eastern Wood Pewee (heard only) Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Northern Rough-Winged Swallow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow American Goldfinch House Finch Al La Sala Columbus, OH ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:41:31 -0400 From: Darlene Sillick <[log in to unmask]> Subject: FW: FW: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers I thought this friends observations were interesting. Luanna lives just outside Plain City and her property is in my OHOS Christmas Bird Count circle. I count on her observations for my day-of-sightings for the Red-headed Woodpeckers. I was lucky in either 1990 -or 1991 to find a nesting tree in Dublin at the Red Trabue Preserve, before there were houses in the complex. I watched a family feed and fledge two young and it was interesting watching the family feed and fly across fields towards Plain City. There were other birds than the parents flying back and forth. It seemed more like a small colony in the area. Darlene Sillick Powell, Ohio Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 6:17 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: FW: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers Yes, I have a nesting tree in my back yard. You see, we do not cut down our dead trees in order to maintain a habitat for the woodpeckers. We have them all. I know when the tree is going to fall when they vacate it. I discovered this several years ago with a dead tree along our driveway that the red-headeds nested in for several years. Then one year they did not nest there and the tree fell over. In all the years we have lived here, only one winter was without the red headed. It was noted that there were not many acorns that fall. Luanna Luanna In a message dated 5/31/2009 10:18:29 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Hi Luanna, I thought you might find this interesting about the Red-headed Woodpeckers. Do you still see them in Plain City? Have you ever found a nesting tree? Hope all is well! Thanks, Darlene -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Whan Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 7:53 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Red Headed Woodpeckers A century ago, red-headeds were the commonest woodpecker in Ohio. Perhaps they'd flourished with the clearing of the virgin forests, as I imagine them as a bird of open country. They often nested in towns, and people complained about the racket they made, and condemned their damage to orchards. Many called them and the downy woodpecker "sapsuckers." Before birds were protected by law--and probably thereafter--they were widely persecuted. Audubon wrote of a hundred being shot on a single cherry tree in one day. You know what they say about familiarity and contempt. Their numbers are much diminished today. When mast crops are good, some winter in Ohio by surviving on stashed acorns, etc. In warm weather, they are fond of insects, catching them in mid-air, gorging on ants on the ground, etc. Like other woodpeckers they are indifferent fliers, and because they often pursue bugs across open areas, they were more often killed by automobiles than nearly any rural bird. Red-headeds use cavities, especially in dead trees, for nesting and food storage. Their winter numbers fluctuate with the mast crop; I guess their summer numbers don't as much. These are often the first trees cut in woodlots, parks, golf courses, etc., so birders have gotten used to looking for them in dead trees that are a little harder to cut down, such as in swampy sites. They used to make use of utility poles, too, but chemical treatments today discourage them, and of course wooden fence posts, along with woodpeckers, bluebirds, etc., are disappearing. So times are tough for these birds, but if you look in the right places they are around. Because they like mature trees, especially oak/hickory/beech, seek those out. Because they like open spaces as well, look along the edges of large woodlands, or in woodlots in rural situations, especially those with a fairly open understory. A farmhouse set in a nice grove of big nut trees, with the ground cleared beneath them, often will host them. If you're in old prairie territory, check out isolated mottes of big old oaks. Old orchards can be good, too. They like good lookouts, and it pays to check out high snags, tops of dead trees, telephone poles. A flooded stand of tall skeletal hardwoods is always worth checking. A study was made of golf courses in Ohio as sites for these birds recently, with what results I can't say. Probably others will have more suggestions. Anyway, I'm not seeing more of these handsome birds lately, but they are still to be seen, and well worth it. Bill Whan Columbus Greg Spahr wrote: > In the last week, I have seen two different Red Headed Woodpeckers (one > in Seneca County near Fostoria, and the other in Greene County in > downtown Wilberforce). Usually, I can go for years without seeing one, > and I happened to just stumble upon these two. So I thought I would > ask the group how your perceptions of this species are this year. Are > you seeing more of them, or did I just get lucky and see a couple even > though they are still declining in Ohio? > > Good birding, > > Greg Spahr > Fairborn, Ohio > ______________________________________________________________________ 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] _____ An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823251x1201398665/aol?redir=htt p://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=May ExcfooterNO62> Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 19:53:08 -0400 From: Michael Stetz <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Green Heron in Lakewood Hi all, Keep an eye out for a very content Green Heron. I just came home, and my = neighbor told me she saw a Green Heron fly out of my backyard. I just = checked our pond, and I'm missing 3 of the larger Comet Goldfish I had. = Nice yard bird, but at an expense. Michael Stetz Lakewood, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ 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=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 21:45:01 -0400 From: Snively <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Punderson State Park Sunday 5/31/09 Geauga County Great Blue Heron Ring-billed Gull Turkey Vulture Chimney Swift Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Cliff Swallow Downy WP Red-bellied WP Blue Jay Crow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Robin Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Magnolia Warbler Cardinal Redwing Blackbird House Sparrow Elaine Snively Massillon OH ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ------------------------------ End of OHIO-BIRDS Digest - 30 May 2009 to 31 May 2009 (#2009-152) ***************************************************************** ______________________________________________________________________ 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]