Obviously, the dates for the Rusty Blackbird Hotspot Blitz are 1/29/2011 through 2/13/2011 (not 2010!):) -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Bain Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 8:19 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Rusty Blackbird Hotspot Blitz 1/29/2010-2/13/2010 Calling all birders, The third annual Rusty Blackbird Hotspot Blitz is a GO. January 29 through February 13 will be the official count period. Save those dates! eBird will take your detailed hotspot blitz data. We'll provide more detail about the event soon. Begin searching for Rusty Blackbird hotspots right away: May as well start entering data into eBird right away, too--all your data. Be a citizen science contributor. Rusty's are declining rapidly. They are uncommon boreal forest breeders. They often forage the feathered-edge of woodland wetlands during migration and on wintering grounds. They are often found in mixed-blackbird flocks, too. Often, a small flock of rusty's will segregate from a much larger flock of mixed-blackbirds as the flock settles in around a wooded wetland or woodland-edged corn stubble. Look for them in a small group in a tree-top, all facing the same direction, bills lifted. These are jaunty fellows, hansom and robust. They are "champion leaf-flippers" says Russ Greenburg of the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group, and Blitz coordinator. They look for fat and protein in the form of wetlands invertebrates under leaves and debris. Imagine how many there must have been in our state before 95% of Ohio's wetlands were drained. What a shame, to see them decline and not fully understand why so we can try to help. Your help is needed for the Blitz to shine a light on a little bit of the unknown. Think about it: Isn't citizen science a civic duty for those of us who enjoy the resource? Tom Bain, OOS Ohio Blitz Coordinator BTW, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count season is right around the corner. Volunteer for a nearby circle, today. More on that later. -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Caprette Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 6:45 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Parma Heights Redtail Dinner Observed a red-tailed hawk dining on pigeon while perched on a powerline along Pearl Rd. between Snow and Ridge Rds. This is the second red-tail that I've seen eating a pigeon in two weeks. I always thought of them as opportunists but mainly mammal-eaters so these two observations were somewhat eye-opening for me. Cheers, Chris Caprette Geauga Co. ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________________ 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]