March 2018 Volume 85, No. 1

March 2018 Volume 85, No. 1

The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri’s Ornithological Society Since 1901

Officers

Mark Haas*+, President (2018)

614 Otto Drive; Jackson MO 63755;

(573) 204-0626

[email protected]

Bill Eddleman*+, Vice-President

(2018); 608 Teton Lane, Cape Girardeau,

MO 63701, (573) 579-7978

[email protected]

Scott Laurent*+, Secretary (2018)

610 W. 46th Street, #103; Kansas City,

MO 64112; (816) 916-5014

[email protected]

Pat Lueders*+, Treasurer (2018)

1147 Hawken Pl., St. Louis, MO

63119; (314) 222-1711

[email protected]

Honorary Directors

Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis**

Nathan Fay, Ozark**

Leo Galloway, St. Joseph**

Jim Jackson, Marthasville

Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia**

Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph**

Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth**

Rebecca Matthews, Springfield**

Sydney Wade, Jefferson City**

Dave Witten, Columbia**

John Wylie, Jefferson City**

Brad Jacobs, 2016 Recipient of the

Rudolf Bennitt Award

Jim Jackson, 2012 Recipient of the


Dr. David Easterla, 2006 Recipient

of the Rudolf Bennitt Award

Paul E. Bauer, 2004 Recipient of the


Regional Directors

Charles Burwick+ (2020)

Springfield (417) 860-9505

Lottie Bushmann+ (2018)

Columbia, (573) 445-3942

Jeff Cantrell+ (2020)

Neosho (471) 476-3311

Mike Doyen+ (2020)

Rolla (573) 364-0020

Sherry Leonardo+ (2018)

Grandview (816) 763-1393

Brent Galliart+ (2018)

St. Joseph (816) 232-6038

Greg Leonard+ (2019)

Columbia (573) 443-8263

Terry McNeely+ (2019)

Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215

Phil Wire+ (2019)

Bowling Green (314) 960-0370

Chairs

Bill Clark, Historian

3906 Grace Ellen Dr.

Columbia, MO 65202

(573) 474-4510

Kevin Wehner, Membership

510 Ridgeway Ave.

Columbia, MO 65203

(573) 815-0352

[email protected]

+ Board Position

* Executive Committee Member **Deceased

The Audubon Society of Missouri

Page i THE BLUEBIRD

The Bluebird

Page ii THE BLUEBIRD

The Bluebird Editor:

Allen Gathman*+, 3148 Hwy. C, Pocahontas, MO 63779, (573)

579-5464, [email protected]

Christmas Bird Count Compiler:

Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132,

(314) 993-0055, [email protected]

Communication Services:

Kevin Wehner+, Webmaster, http://mobirds.org,

Susan Hazelwood and David Scheu, Co-owners Listserve,

[email protected],edu

ASM Scholarship Committee:

Sue Gustafson, Chair, 429 Belleview Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119


MO Bird Records Committee:

Brad Jacobs+—Chair, 11300 Vemers Ford Road, Columbia, MO 65201,


Bill Rowe—Secretary, 7414 Kenrick Valley Drive, St Louis, MO 63119-

5726 (314) 962-0544, [email protected]

Seasonal Survey Editors:

Spring: Lisa Berger, 1947 South Kings Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807-

2733, (417) 860-9108, [email protected]

Summer: Paul McKenzie, 2311 Grandview Circle, Columbia, MO 65203-

7240, (573) 445-3019, [email protected]

Fall: Joe Eades, 517 Willow Lane, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, (314) 835-0353,

[email protected]

Winter: Mary Nemecek, 7807 N. Merimac Ct, Kansas City MO 64151;

(816) 210-5148; [email protected]

* Executive Committee Member

+ Board Position

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird

Manuscripts for The Bluebird—to the editor by:

Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue;

Aug. 1 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue

Deadlines for submissions to the Seasonal Survey Editors

Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)—to Mary Nemecek by Mar. 10

Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)—to Lisa Berger by June 10

Summer (June 1-July. 31)—to Paul McKenzie by Aug 10

Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)—to Joe Eades by Dec. 10

Table of Contents

Page iii THE BLUEBIRD

1 President’s Corner—Mark Haas

2 Membership notice

2 Welcome new members!

3 ASM Spring Meeting 2018

5 2015-2016 First Recorded Inca Dove Nests and Young in Missouri

—Brad Jacobs

11 Additional Notes on Raptor Observations Along I-55 and I-70

—Paul McKenzie

15 Book Review: Birding Without Borders by Noah Strycker

—Allen Gathman

17 Travis Schepker Masters Thesis Abstract

20 Thirtieth Annual Report of the Missouri Bird Records Committee

—Bill Rowe

33 Summer 2017 Seasonal Report—Mary Nemecek

41 A Birders’ Guide to Missouri Public Lands — Edge Wade

Front Cover— photo by Mark Haas; Osprey at Delaney Lake CA, 4/12/17

THE BLUEBIRD is published quarterly by The Audubon Society of Missouri. The submission of

articles, photographs, and artwork is welcomed and encouraged. The views and opinions ex-

pressed in this journal are those of each contributing writer and do not necessarily represent the

views and opinions of The Audubon Society of Missouri or its officers, Board of Directors, or edi-

tors. Send address corrections to ASM, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261.

March 2018 Volume 85, No. 1

Common Nighthawk, Pocahontas, MO, 5/10/2017. Photo by Allen Gathman

President’s Corner—Mark Haas

Page 1 THE BLUEBIRD

Dear Fellow Birders,

I hope everyone has been out for

some birding this winter, and es-

pecially to participate in Christ-

mas Bird Counts. I made it to sev-

eral CBCs, where it was great to

re-connect with birders I had not

seen in years and also to meet new

ones. And the vivid memory of

helping another birder with his

first up-close views of Winter

Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet—and the look of wonder on his

face. Such are the rewards of CBCs.

Edge Wade, our Conservation Partnership Coordinator, has been

busy working with State Parks to formalize our 2018 agreement,

which runs through November 30. We will focus on the same 14

parks as we did in 2017, with special emphasis on these five state

parks: Echo Bluff, Thousand Hills, Crowder, Current River, and

Washington. The success of our partnerships with State Parks (and

MDC) depends upon you to go birding in the focus parks and conser-

vation areas and submit your data to eBird. Watch the MOBIRDS-L

listserv for more information on the state parks and conservation

areas that will be our focus this year.

Our Spring Meeting is May 4-6 at Arrow Rock State Historic Site.

Our hosts are the staff of the MRBO-- Missouri River Bird Observa-

tory. We hope this meeting will see the launch of the Missouri

Young Birders’ Club. You are the key to success of this effort by re-

cruiting youth to attend and also financing their attendance if neces-

sary. MRBO has been hard at work for nearly a year, attracting a

fabulous key-note speaker, arranging social events, and offering

some incredible birding trip options. Find more information in this

issue of The Bluebird. You will be able to register for the meeting on

our mobirds.org website. I look forward to seeing you there. You and

our young birders do not want to miss this opportunity!

Mark Haas, President

THE BLUEBIRD

The by-laws specify that notices of delinquency shall be sent within sixty

(60) days after the start of the membership year (that is, on or before March

1). Everyone delinquent in membership renewal, i.e., hasn’t paid dues for

this membership year, will have received two delinquency notices by now.

You can help by reminding fellow ASM members to send in their dues.

Those who have not paid their dues will be removed from member-

ship the first week of April. To renew online, go to ASM’s website,

www.mobirds.org/ASM/Membership.aspx or use the membership renewal

form on the back cover of any recent Bluebird.

Your membership is important. Membership dues support ASM’s mission of

conservation and education, and the services to enhance your birding expe-

rience in Missouri.

If you have any questions or problems with the renewal process, please feel

free to contact Kevin Wehner, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO

65203-1261. Email: [email protected] Phone:(573) 815-0352

WE WELCOME OUR NEW ASM MEMBERS! Kevin Wehner

Remember, new members are our future. If a new member lives near you,

say, “Howdy and welcome to ASM.” In addition, recruit another new mem-

ber. Welcome to these 19 new ASM members in the 1st quarter of

2018!

Michele Aylward Columbia, MO

Diane Bricmont Ballwin, MO

Dawn Buechner St. Louis, MO

Steven & Rita Francis Farmington, MO

Kerry Franz-Quinn Columbia, MO

Julie Jedlicka Kansas City, MO

Adrienne Lowry & Wade Kennedy Sarasota, FL

Jane Lavender Columbia, MO

Bill Michalski St. Louis, MO

Karin & Kala Pelton Jackson, MO

Jon Rapp Columbia, MO

Laura Robinson Kansas City, MO

David Seidensticker St. Louis, MO

Kathleen Wann DeSoto, MO

Patrick & Barb Ward Maryville, MO

ASM POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR NON-RENEWED MEMBERSHIPS

THE BLUEBIRD

The Missouri River Bird Observatory will be hosting this meeting in

the beautiful, historic town of Arrow Rock. Birding in and around

Arrow Rock, particularly during spring migration, is excellent and,

to date, underrepresented in the itineraries of most Missouri bird-

ers. The central location of Arrow Rock also gives us the ability to

provide field trip options to a variety of habitat types, from prairies

to forests to wetlands.

The overarching theme of the 2018 Spring Meeting is bird conserva-

tion, with particular emphasis on engaging the next generation in

birding and conserving Missouri’s birds and the habitats they de-

pend on.

For full details, see the Audubon Society of Missouri website, mo-

birds.org.

Youth Attendance at the Spring Meeting

The meeting’s theme is reflected in the line-up of presentations. On

Friday night, young Missourians will provide presentations on their

birding experiences. Our keynote presentation on Saturday night

features Ken Keffer, educator and former director of the Ohio Young

Birders’ Club, who will discuss how to engage more young people in

outdoor pursuits. We will also offer a workshop on Saturday after-

noon for those interested in helping to launch the Missouri Young

Birders’ Club – a statewide program being developed by MRBO in

partnership with local Audubon Chapters.

We are encouraging individuals and local Audubon Chapters to se-

lect young people from their area and provide financial support for

their meeting attendance. To assist with costs, there is a lower reg-

istration fee for attendees under 18. Let’s get more young people

interested in birds!

MRBO and ASM will sponsor up to five youth attendees to attend

the Saturday morning Missouri River pelagic trip in exchange for

their attendance at the Saturday afternoon Missouri Young Birders’

Club workshop.

ASM Spring Meeting 2018

THE BLUEBIRD

Spring Meeting Schedule:

Friday May 4th Registration, Social & Youth Presentations

Registration: When you arrive in Arrow Rock, please proceed to the

MRBO office at 39250 Highway 41. The registration table will be

staffed from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening and 7:00 – 10:00

a.m. on Saturday morning.

Friday evening social and special presentations: Everyone is wel-

come at the historic J. Huston Tavern on Arrow Rock’s Main Street

for heavy hors d’oeuvres from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This social will be

followed by presentations from young birders at the Arrow Rock

State Historic Site (ARSHS) Visitors Center auditorium beginning

at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday May 5th Field Trips - see ASM website for details

(mobirds.org)

Saturday Evening Banquet, Keynote Presentation & Silent

Auction

Keynote Presentation: Conservation Lessons from a Vagabond

Naturalist

Award winning author and environmental educator Ken Keffer will

give a lighthearted presentation on his naturalist work from around

the globe. Ken will use examples from his experiences to discuss

ways to connect youth to the outdoors.

Sunday Morning Field Trips—see ASM website for details

(mobirds.org)

Silent Auction Donations

Please email Dana Ripper ([email protected]) with descriptions

of the items you plan to donate for the Silent Auction, including a

suggested starting bid, if known.

THE BLUEBIRD

At 11:00 AM on 23 October 2015, Sam Troyer called me from his

farm in Vernon County, Missouri to report a pair of Inca Doves had

nested in a tree in his yard. Sam answered my questions for about

15 minutes: How did he know it was an Inca Dove? What did it

sound like? What did the nest and nest location look like? Sam even

offered that he looked for the rufous wing patches, but the bird had-

n’t flown for him to verify. Others, however, told him they had seen

the rufous primary feathers. Sam invited me over to take some pho-

tos of the bird and the nest; I shut down my work computer, grabbed

my camera and headed out on the road immediately. After three and

a half hours and 165 miles, I arrived at Sam’s place.

It was 2:20 PM. I parked and saw bird feeders around the house and

five or so barns of various sizes and shapes with roads weaving

among them. I decided not to park next to the sleeping horse and

buggy tied up to a long wooden hitching rail. Sam already was in the

yard with two of his teenage grandchildren, both with binoculars on

shoulder harnesses looking like avid birders, which I came to find

out was the case.

As I stepped out of my car, one of Sam’s grandsons pointed to a dove

low on a branch of an elm tree about 150 feet away by one of the

most distant barns. This barn was long and low with some animal-

run harvesting implements set up inside the open doors. I got into

my binocular harness quickly, hoping my hunch that the bird was

really an Inca Dove would be right. I have been fooled before. Once I

rushed to see a pair of “Merlin” nesting in a cavity about 2 hours

away. They ended up being American Kestrels nesting in the top of

an active Purple Martin nesting apartment. Fortunately, this was

interesting in itself, and not an altogether wasted trip.

After a brief glimpse, the lone Inca dove in the elm tree was gone.

We all walked to a mulberry tree near the house to see the nest and

perhaps a perched pair of Inca doves on a nearby branch. They said

the pair often sat together nearby the nest. Sam said that when the

pair worked on the nest, the male stood on the female’s back and

passed twigs over the shoulder of the female, who placed them in the

loose fabric of the nest platform in the fork of the mulberry tree.

2015-2016 First Recorded Inca Dove Nests

and Young in Missouri

By Brad Jacobs

THE BLUEBIRD

Sam and his grandsons had watched the nest being built, observing

closely this double-decker nest-building behavior.

I told them I wanted to

sit nearby with my cam-

era, waiting to see if the

pair came back to the

nest so I could get some

photos. By then, two

more buggies arrived

with about 8 more teens,

all with harnessed binoc-

ulars. Simon, Sam’s son

and neighbor to the

north, had arrived by

pickup, coming to see the

bird. The eight teenagers

also were grandsons of

Sam and were excited to

get to stop by to see the

rare bird. Son Simon told me that one of the school teachers nearby

was a birder and had come over and identified the bird a few days

before when Sam had mentioned to him the repeated “whirl-pool”

sound made by the Inca Dove since August of the same year.

I began my nest watch from a chair about 30 feet from the nest. The

others headed out in groups of two and three in all directions on the

farm fields and pastures, looking for the pair of doves. After sitting

for about an hour, I started walking down through the barns to find

the birding teams. About the same time I heard a call, “here they

are, in the old silo ring under the persimmon tree.” When I arrived,

all the teens, granddad Sam, son Simon, and two other grandchil-

dren named Sam were all looking in the same direction toward a

stone ring that was the base of a former silo. A persimmon tree grew

inside the stone ring, with lots of fruit still on the branches and

many on the ground. The doves were working around and among the

weeds and persimmon drops, occasionally hopping up on the wall

and sitting along the silo base rim.

I set up the spotting scope for the teens to look through and began to

take photos of the doves with a Canon PowerShot SX60 HS camera.

This went on for a half hour, then the birds moved into other areas

nearby where some milking shorthorn cows were feeding on hay.

Weed seeds, various feed grains and water were all available be-

THE BLUEBIRD

cause of the myriad animals in the paddocks, fields, and barns. This

setting was clearly an ideal location for a dove to settle.

The nest was a small twiggy structure in the fork of a branch, so it

was concealed from view from several directions, but could be seen

from below once you knew where to look among the leaves and small

branches. They said the female had not been seen on the nest for a

whole day continuously.

They had been using a first edition of Birds of North America: A

Guide to Field Identification, by Robbins, Bruun, Zim, and Singer.

After the teens started telling me about what other birds they had

seen, I knew I should leave them a copy of the 2008 National Geo-

graphic Society Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America,

by Dunn and Alderfer.

As I prepared to leave, we

set up a regular phone

call from them to me to

check on the status of the

doves. There was one cell

phone in a building where

they worked that they

could call out with. I had

a hunch that the doves

would lay their normal

two eggs and attempt to

raise young even though

the weather was getting

colder.

Farther south in their

normal tropical range

and north into southern Arkansas, Inca Doves can make up to five

nesting attempts per year, usually only 2-3 of which are successful.

The incubation stage lasts about 14 days, so I asked that Sam call

me once the female began incubating, or staying on the nest all day

long. I explained that eggs may hatch after 14-16 days. I also men-

tioned that they should watch their outdoor cats, in case the young

birds decided to leave the nest prematurely.

On November 3 (11 days later), Simon called and said the female

was incubating two white eggs. On November 16, I received a sec-

ond call saying that the female had briefly left the nest, and they

THE BLUEBIRD

had climbed up nearby to see one nestling in the nest, but when they

reached over to touch it, the hatchling was cold. A second egg was

not visible. On November 18, I drove over again. I picked up Tom

Thompson, a Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Scien-

tist and birder, on my way. The leaves were off the trees now. We

searched for a second nest in the trees nearby, because the “whirl-

pool” calls were first noticed in August. No additional nests were

found, but the two birds were huddled close together about four feet

from their current nest, and their feathers were buffeted by the

strong, cold winds that probably had terminated the nesting process

earlier.

The doves were later documented at the site during the Four Riv-

ers-Horton Christmas Bird Count on December 14. We kept the lo-

cation private at the landowner’s request. Hopefully they would stay

through the winter and attempt to nest again the following spring,

which is exactly what happened.

This Vernon County Inca Dove nest is 425 miles north of the nearest

nesting record near Texarkana, Arkansas. There were two nesting

attempts recorded in southwestern Kansas and another in Oklaho-

ma, both over a decade ago. Inca Dove range has been slowly shift-

THE BLUEBIRD

ing northward from Texas for more than a century, but this nest is a

major leap northward. Checking other rural farmsteads may reveal

other Inca Doves in the future.

The two Inca Doves were present all during the winter of 2015-2016.

On 2 April 2016 a nest was discovered with the parent birds already

feeding two young. Ten days later, on 12 April 2016 they observed

two young perched on the side of the nest, with the parents feeding

them. Later on the same day the young were flying about the nest

tree. When the parents made a sound the young birds would go to

them to get food. After 3-4 weeks, the young were leaving the nest

tree to forage around Sam’s farm buildings and house. A pair of

doves was seen by his son Simon about a half mile north. They were

not sure if it was the same adult pair or the two young birds. After

that the young birds were only occasionally observed in the area.

On 14 July 2016 the Inca Doves sang a lot. By 17 July they were

making a nest. The male was carrying twigs on 18 July, and on 20,

21 and 22 July the female was on the nest for about two hours each

day. On 23 July the female began to incubate the eggs, staying on

the nest all day.

Sam mentioned that on 1 August 2016 a neighbor’s daughter said

she heard a few Inca Doves calling at their house about one-half

mile to the west of Sam’s home. Sam said it was hard to know

whether the same birds were flying around a lot of if there were sev-

eral individuals involved.

On 6-8 August at Sam’s home the female was incubating eggs on a

nest. On 9 August the adults were feeding the young perched on the

side of the nest. On 10-11 August there was much noise from the

flapping of wings on the nest as the young began strengthening

their flight muscles getting ready to leave the nest. The young were

standing and flapping on the nest as the parents tried to feed them.

On 14 August the parents did not go to the nest for the first time.

On 17 August the young left the nest.

On 26 August Sam heard an Inca Dove singing in the tree at the

same time he saw two Inca Doves walking on the drive way and saw

one bird sitting on the nest. At this point Sam had observed five

individual Inca Doves in the vicinity of his house and the nearby

neighbors. Sam said that at least one nest failed or another was

abandoned when the nest was destroyed.

THE BLUEBIRD

Later, in the fall of 2016, no Inca Doves were known to be present

anywhere in the neighborhood, and they were not observed on the

Christmas Bird Count in 2016.

Other documented occurrences of Inca Doves in Missouri:

(source:http://ebird.org/mo and http://www.showme-birds.com)

15 December 1987 - Mound City, Holt County, one at a feeder

5 March 1995 – Columbia, Boone County, one at a feeder

12 April 2006 – Columbia, Boone County, one at a feeder

4 April 1995 – Rocheport, Boone County, one at a feeder

24 December 2013 – Buffalo, Dallas County, two individuals in town

2 April 2014 – Buffalo, Dallas County, one at a grain storage facility

6 February 2014 – Springfield, Greene County, one

27 September 2017 – Sedalia, Pettis County, one briefly observed on

the KATY Trail

21 November 2017 – Buffalo, Dallas County, one observed at same

location as four years earlier

THE BLUEBIRD

On 1-2 Jan. 2018, I repeated the raptor survey that I initiated in

2011 (McKenzie 2011) and have conducted each subsequent year

(2012-2017) (McKenzie 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) during my

annual visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana over the Christmas holidays.

As in 2011-2017, I counted all raptors perched or in flight within an

approximate 1/8 mi. transect (~220 m) along opposite sides of the

interstate. I determined that this was likely the largest distance

where birds could be safely and accurately identified without the aid

of binoculars and would enable me to conduct the survey as a driver

or as a passenger. I recorded species numbers, and divided I-55 into

two sections: mile marker 0.0 at the Arkansas/Missouri line to mile

marker 80.0 at Benton and from mile marker 80.0 to mile marker

191.0 in Arnold just south of St. Louis. These two sections

correspond well to the Mississippi Lowlands or Bootheel and the

Ozark Border Natural Divisions of Missouri described by Thom and

Wilson (1980) and Robbins and Easterla (1992). The third section

surveyed was I-70 from mile marker 210.0 in Wentzville to mile

marker 130.0 in Columbia. I surveyed a total of 270 miles (80 miles

in section 1, 110 miles in section 2, and 80 miles in section 3.

Because I was interested what changes in numbers and species

diversity may occur on southbound vs. northbound travel, I counted

raptors along the Bootheel section on Dec. 23, 2016. I counted this

section between 12:05 and 1:09 p.m. on Dec. 23 with overcast skies,

moderate wind and temperature of ~40º F. I repeated counting this

section on my northbound trip 1 Jan. at approximately the same

time (1:01-2:16 p.m.) and under similar viewing conditions (wind

speed was about the same, but it was much colder with the temp.

around 20ºF and clear skies). I conducted my survey of the Ozarks

section on the return trip between 8:45 and 10:10 a.m. on 2 Jan. The

Ozarks Border section count was conducted between 11:10 a.m. and

12:40 p.m. on 2 Jan.

Due to the changes in weather and habitat along the interstate

between the southbound survey in the Bootheel on 23 Dec. and the

northbound trip on 1 Jan., I was interested in what influence this

might have on raptor abundance. On 23 Dec., I noted that many of

the fields and wood or grass strips along I-55 were flooded. On 1

Jan. the open water that had existed on 23 Dec. was completely

frozen due to ongoing frigid weather caused by a plunging “polar

Additional Notes on Raptor Observations

Along I-55 and I-70

By Paul M. McKenzie

THE BLUEBIRD

vortex” into the deep South.

Somewhat predictably, there was a significant and noticeable

decrease in both numbers of individuals and species observed in

2018 compared to previous years. The 62 raptors of only 3 species

observed in 2018 were the lowest of the 7-year observation period.

This was surely due to the frozen conditions of areas adjacent to the

interstates, especially I-55 where there was an obvious reduction in

habitat for small mammals. Interestingly, there was an increase in

total raptors observed on 1 Jan. in the Bootheel section (33)

compared to about 1/2 that number on 23 Dec. (i.e. 17; Table 2). One

explanation for the increase is that the ”polar vortex” that moved

through the center of the country pushed raptors farther south from

where they occurred on 23 Dec. The one highlight of the 23 Dec.

Bootheel survey was an observation of a circling Black Vulture near

Sikeston. Although the sample size is small and both weather and

habitat factors are involved, the increase in the number of raptors

observed 23 Dec. 2016 and 1 Jan. 2017 vs. 23 Dec. 2017 and 1 Jan.

2018 suggests that there is some southward movement of raptors in

Missouri as the winter season progresses. Additional surveys are

needed to support this hypothesis.

Red-Tailed Hawk,

Perry County Community Lake, 11/22/15.

Photo Allen Gathman

THE BLUEBIRD

Table 1. Comparison of species and raptor totals observed between years.

Species 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018

Bald Eagle 1 0 0 0 1 2 0

Turkey Vulture

0 0 5 0 1 0 0

Black Vulture

2 0 2 0 0 0 0

Red-tailed Hawk

126 59 103 41 65 93 62

Harlan’s Hawk

1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Krider’s Red-tail

0 1 1 0 0 0 0

Rough-legged

Hawk

0 3 0 0 0 0 0

Red-shouldered

Hawk

2 0 0 1 1 1 1

Unidentified

Buteo

1 5 0 3 0 1 0

Northern Harrier

1 1 0 1 1 0 0

American Kestrel

9 5 7 15 11 19 8

Sharp-shinned

Hawk

1 0 1 3 0 0 0

Unidentified

Raptor

0 0 0 0 0 2 0

Total individuals

143 75 120 64 80 118 62

Number of

species

7 4 5 5 6 4 3

THE BLUEBIRD

Table 2. Comparison of species and numbers of raptors observed in the

Bootheel section 23 Dec. 2016 and 1 Jan. 2017 vs. 23 Dec. 2017 and 1 Jan.

2018

RT= Red-tailed Hawk, AK= American Kestrel, UB= Unidentified

Buteo, BV= Black Vulture

Similar raptor surveys should be conducted in areas of the state that

traditionally provided a greater abundance of habitat for small

mammals (e.g., the prairie region in the SW corner of the state). As

noted in previous years (McKenzie 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017),

conducting raptor surveys in the same area throughout the winter

period may help assess potential changes in raptor abundance,

possible changes in age ratios when such identifications are possible,

and the ability to better assess irruptions of such species as Rough-

legged Hawk or even Snowy Owl as reported during the winter of

2017-2018 on Ebird.

Literature Cited

McKenzie, P.M. 2017. Repeat of Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I-

70, Jan. 1-2, 2017. The Bluebird 84(1):46-48.


70, Jan. 3-4, 2016. The Bluebird 83(1):35-38.


70, Jan. 1-2, 2015. The Bluebird 82(1):16-18

McKenzie, Paul M. 2014. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I-70, 28-

29 Dec. 2013. The Bluebird 81(2):104-107

McKenzie, Paul M. 2012. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I-70, 1-2

Jan. 2012. The Bluebird 79(2):42-44.

McKenzie, Paul M. 2011. Winter Raptor Survey Along Interstates I-55 and I-70, 1-2

Jan. 2011. The Bluebird 78(1):13-15.

Date RT AK UB BV Total number of

raptors

23 Dec.

2016

42 4 0 0 46

1 Jan.

2017

59 10 1 0 70

23 Dec.

2017

13 3 0 1 17

1 Jan.

2018

29 4 0 0 33

THE BLUEBIRD

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Boston/New York, 2017

In 2015, a young birder from Oregon named Noah Strycker set out

to break the record for a global Big Year. The record, set in 2008 by

British couple Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, was 4341 bird species

observed in a single year throughout the world. Strycker set himself

a goal of 5000 birds, and he planned to reach that goal in an unprec-

edented way. Others, like Davies and Miller, had made repeated

excursions from a home base during a year; Strycker resolved to

travel continuously throughout the year, only visiting his Oregon

home for a few days in passing. He would travel on a limited budg-

et, with only the luggage and equipment he could fit in a backpack,

Book Review: Birding Without Borders

by Noah Strycker

THE BLUEBIRD

so he wouldn’t even check a bag on an airline (though he was forced

to check his treasured backpack once). He relied heavily on the

kindness of local birders throughout the world, hosted by friends,

friends of friends, and ardent birders who’d heard of his trip during

the year.

Strycker not only met his goal, he surpassed it by over a thousand,

with a final total of 6042 species. His record would stand for only 11

months, as Dutch birder Arjan Dwarshuis would pass him in mid-

November of 2016. Nevertheless, his trip raised awareness of bird-

ing, as people – myself included -- throughout the world followed his

blog on the National Audubon Society website.

This book is many things. In part, it’s a collection of transcendent

birding experiences. For instance, there’s Maria, the Giant Antpitta

in Ecuador who has learned to come out of the forest for treats sup-

plied by former logger Ángel Paz. Or a Common Poorwill, so hypno-

tized by a flashlight at night that Strycker was able to take it in his

hand to confirm a difficult ID. Or a last-minute appearance by a

Harpy Eagle in Brazil bringing a half-eaten coati to its nest.

The book is also a travelogue, as he visits spots from the coast of

Antarctica to the hanging walkways through the rainforest canopy

of Kakum National Park in Ghana. And a tale of adventures and

hardships like typhoons, breakdowns, missed flights, illness, and a

perennial lack of laundry facilities. More than anything, it’s a tour

of personalities – avid birders on every continent who gave Noah

their time and friendship.

I would have liked more photos, though of course that would have

increased the cost of the book. At times, Strycker can be a bit too

breathlessly gushy about the birds, places, and people he sees – but

then, there’s some justification for breathlessness when describing a

year’s journey that covered over 100,000 miles, and included several

times the number of birds most of us have seen in our lives. It’s an

entertaining read, and it whetted my appetite again to get out and

bird, whether around the world or right here in Missouri.

-Allen Gathman

THE BLUEBIRD

Travis Schepker was the recipient of a $2000 ASM Graduate Re-

search Scholarship, which assisted him in completion of a Masters of

Science degree at the University of Missouri– Columbia in May

2017, under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Webb. His thesis abstract,

below, serves as his final report to the ASM on the supported re-

search.

Thesis Abstract

Wetlands in the Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin (RWB) have decreased

by 90% over the past two centuries and are subject to on-going deg-

radation of quality from urban and agricultural land-use practices.

Losses in wetland habitat quantity and quality are important be-

cause the RWB serves as a critical spring staging area to ~7 million

dabbling ducks, including approximately 50% of North America’s

mid-continent mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) population, and 30% of

North America’s total Northern pintail (A. acuta) population.

During spring, waterfowl depend on wetland habitat for aquatic in-

vertebrates and plant materials to accumulate the energy and pro-

tein needed to complete migration and initiate egg production. If

demands for quality food resources are not met, waterfowl may ar-

Evaluating the Relationship between Local Food Availability and

Wetland Landscape Structure in Determining Dabbling Duck Habi-

tat Use during Spring Migration By Travis J. Schepker

Mallard at Lone Elk Ranch, August 2012. Photo Dustin Siegel

THE BLUEBIRD

rive at breeding grounds in poorer body condition, and consequently

be less likely to achieve reproductive success. This cross-seasonal

effect is believed to be driven by excessive habitat loss at mid-

latitudes, introduction of invasive plant species, and depletion of

food resources by fall migrants. Given the importance of food re-

source acquisition at mid-latitude stopover sites and subsequent ef-

fects on recruitment, the goal of this study was to improve under-

standing of food resource availability in wetlands and the relation-

ship to habitat use by spring-migrating waterfowl.

I conducted weekly waterfowl surveys and quantified local habitat

characteristics including seed density (kg/ha), invertebrate density

(kg/ha), energy derived from food resources (kcal/ha), water depth,

wetland area, vegetative cover, and several water quality parame-

ters at 32 wetlands in spring 2014 and 35 wetlands in spring 2015.

Additionally, I quantified wetland habitat surrounding each study

site by assessing wetland area and number of wetlands (>1ha) with-

in 2.5km and 5km of a study site. Study sites were located on public

lands managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and

the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, private conservation easement

lands enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and on pri-

vate lands managed for agriculture (cropped and non-cropped).

A set of species distribution models were developed to explain spring

dabbling duck density and species richness in the RWB. I hypothe-

sized that a combination of local (food density, energy, water depth,

wetland area, and vegetative cover) and landscape variables would

explain the greatest amount of variability in dabbling duck density.

In 2014 (a dry year), energy, seed density, water depth, wetland ar-

ea, and wetland density in the surrounding landscape were positive-

ly associated with dabbling duck density; however, invertebrate den-

sity and vegetative cover had no influence on dabbling duck density.

In 2015 (wet year), seed density and energy were positively associat-

ed with dabbling duck density; however, water depth, wetland area,

vegetative cover, invertebrate density, and wetland area in the sur-

rounding landscape had no influence on dabbling duck density. Wet-

land area and water depth were the only useful explanatory varia-

bles for explaining species richness in 2014, whereas in 2015 dab-

bling duck species richness was best explained by wetland area and

vegetative cover.

I used non-parametric analyses to compare seed density, and true

metabolizable energy (TME) at three wetland types; public, WRP,

and cropped wetlands. Seed density did not vary among wetland

THE BLUEBIRD

types in 2014 or 2015. Median seed density estimates during both

years at public, WRP, and cropped wetlands were 593kg/ha ( ̅ =

621kg/ha), 561kg/ha ( ̅ = 566kg/ha), and 419kg/ha ( ̅ = 608kg/ha)

respectively. Seed density was consistent between years for public

and WRP wetlands, but varied between years for cropped units (p <

0.05). Variation in seed density between years at cropped wetlands

was likely influenced by the presence/absence of agricultural waste

grains. Cumulative TME varied among wetland type in 2014 and

2015, with greater TME at cropped wetlands (median = 2431kcal/kg)

than public xv (median = 1740kcal/kg) and WRP wetlands (median =

1781kcal/kg); however, TME did not differ between WRP and public

wetlands. TME was consistent among wetland types between 2014

and 2015.

Seed density estimates from this study were statistically greater

than estimates currently used for management planning in the

RWB; however, TME estimates were statistically less than esti-

mates currently assumed for WRP and public wetlands in the re-

gion. My estimates for mean aquatic invertebrate density were ap-

proximately 40-fold less than estimates for mean seed density. Ben-

thic communities accounted for 68% of the total invertebrate densi-

ty; however, invertebrate diversity was greater in nektonic commu-

nities.

Neonicotinoid synthetic insecticides are believed to have a deleteri-

ous effect on aquatic invertebrate communities in agricultural areas,

although their occurrence in RWB wetlands were previously un-

known. I detected trace levels of neonicotinoids in 92% of water sam-

ples collected in wetlands sampled in the RWB during the spring of

2015. I predicted a relatively high detection rate given the intensity

of row crop production in the region, though concentrations were

lower than expected. Concentrations at 26 wetlands sampled fell

below toxicity benchmarks proposed by the Canadian Environmen-

tal Quality Guidelines, and only 11% of wetlands sampled had con-

centrations exceeding the most conservative benchmark proposed by

the Environmental Protection Agency.

Neonicotinoid concentrations were minimal at wetlands with vegeta-

tive buffer strips >50m between a wetland and a cropped field, rela-

tive to wetlands with vegetative buffer strips <50m. Although neon-

icotinoid levels were below lethal concentrations for all aquatic in-

vertebrates identified in this study, I observed a negative associa-

tion between neonicotinoid concentrations and aquatic invertebrate

density (g/m2).

THE BLUEBIRD

This report summarizes records submitted to the Committee between 1 Jan-

uary and 31 December 2017. It is divided into two sections, Accepted and

Not Accepted, with birds listed in phylogenetic order under each of these

two categories. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow the American Ornithol-

ogists' Union's Check-list of North American Birds, Seventh Edition (1998),

and subsequent supplements. The latest AOS list of North and Middle

American birds is available on line at http://checklist.aou.org. See "Note on

organizations," below, for the change from AOU to AOS.

Accepted records in this report include the names of observers who submit-

ted documentation and/or photographs, or were present with those who doc-

umented; comments are added to indicate the record’s significance. For Not

Accepted records, observers’ names are omitted, and a brief explanation is

provided as to why the record was not accepted.

Online documentation and review of records is the norm, and submission is

now easier than ever. Documentation is posted by the observer to a secure

web site, where the secretary prepares it for review. To get started, go to

www.mobirds.org and click on Documentation Form in the “MBRC” pull-

down menu. Photographs in .jpg format and written notes in .pdf format,

with a size limit of 4 MB, can be uploaded to accompany documentations.

Observers are strongly urged to use the online system for both the report

and any accompanying photographs, but if this proves unworkable for some

reason, any part of the documentation can be mailed or emailed to the secre-

tary. All recent records have been electronically archived. The Committee

once again thanks Patrick Harrison for maintaining this system, and Ann

Johnson for creating and improving it. In addition, the Missouri eBird team

(Lisa Berger, Ryan Douglas, Mary Nemecek, and Josh Uffman) deserves

great thanks for the long hours they put in as reviewers for our state and

for their careful coordination with this Committee, both in requesting docu-

mentation from observers when needed and in initiating discussion on vari-

ous points of bird distribution and identification.

Of the 71 records reviewed during this period, 55 were accepted and 16 were

not accepted, for an acceptance rate of 77%. Members participating in these

decisions were Lisa Berger, Joe Eades, Brad Jacobs (Chair), Paul McKenzie,

Mark Robbins, Bill Rowe (Secretary), and Josh Uffman. Six records

(Neotropic Cormorant, 2017-1; Neotropic Cormorant, 2017-53; Ferruginous

Hawk, 2017-69; Golden-fronted Woodpecker, 2009-72; Cave Swallow, 2017-

58; and Golden-crowned Kinglet, 2017-31) received comments from outside

reviewers; see details in those accounts.

Thirtieth Annual Report of the

Missouri Bird Records Committee William C. Rowe, Secretary

http://checklist.aou.org

http://www.mobirds.org

THE BLUEBIRD

One new species, Black Rosy-Finch, was added to the state list based on an

old record, while two were deleted from it: Thayer's Gull, because it is now

considered a subspecies of Iceland Gull, and Golden-fronted Woodpecker,

because reexamination of the photographs in the single record cast doubt on

the identification (see account under "Not Accepted"). This leaves Missouri

with 423 fully accepted species as of December 2017; these include three

formerly occurring species that have been extirpated from the state and five

extinct species. There are an additional 11 Provisional species on the list,

for a total of 434 species. The Annotated Checklist of Missouri Birds, with

its latest updates to reflect changes in Missouri status as well as taxonomic

and nomenclatural changes by the AOS, can be viewed at www.mobirds.org

in either the "Birds" or the "MBRC" menus.

The Committee reviews records of species that are considered “casual” (5-15

records) or “accidental” (1-4 records) statewide. It also reviews records of

species that are casual or accidental for the season when reported (example:

Lesser Black-backed Gull in summer); records of species that are casual or

accidental in the part of Missouri where reported (example: Painted Bunt-

ing in eastern Missouri); and other records of unusual interest, including

first nesting records and extreme arrival and departure dates. The Review

List, also maintained at www.mobirds.org ("MBRC" menu) lists all species

that require review due to their year-round casual or accidental status in all

or part of the state, plus a few for which the Committee still wishes to re-

ceive documentation despite their status as only “rare” (e.g., California

Gull). The Review List does not cover out-of-season status; for information

on seasonal occurrence, consult the Annotated Checklist.

Note on photographic documentation: Photographs can be extremely help-

ful, and in some cases (as noted in a few entries below) their absence can be

a problem for acceptance of a record. On the other hand, they can sometimes

be misleading as to colors and patterns, and they may or may not show all

of a bird’s key characters. For this reason, it remains very important for the

observer to describe what he or she saw and heard as accurately as possible,

even for photographic records.

Note on organizations: In December 2016, the American Ornithologists' Un-

ion (AOU) completed a merger with the Cooper Ornithological Society to

form the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The AOU's North Ameri-

can Classification Committee, its Birds of North and Middle America

Checklist, its journal The Auk, and all of its other activities and resources

are now those of the AOS, along with the journal The Condor and other

functions of the Cooper Ornithological Society. The new society's web site is

at www.americanornithology.org.

The Committee extends thanks to the many birders throughout Missouri

who submitted their observations, and to the Audubon Society of Missouri

for its continued support and funding of the Committee’s efforts. Observers



THE BLUEBIRD

who would like a status report on their current submissions can email the

Secretary at [email protected]. The next report will appear in the

March 2019 issue of The Bluebird.

RMBS = Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles Co.

LBNWR = Loess Bluffs (formerly Squaw Creek) National Wildlife

Refuge, Holt Co.

MNWR = Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Bol-

linger/Stoddard/Wayne cos.

CBC = Christmas Bird Count

CA = Conservation Area

SP = State Park

NWR = National Wildlife Refuge

RECORDS ACCEPTED

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis), 2017-

43: Six birds, 10 August to 1 October 2017, private property near Otter

Slough CA, Stoddard Co. Documentation of two adults and four hatched

young, with photographs by landowner; submitted by Sarah Kendrick, Mis-

souri Department of Conservation. Accidental summer resident; second

nesting record for Missouri.

Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks. 2017-66 Photo Bill Rowe

THE BLUEBIRD

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK, 2017-66: Six, 14-27 December

2017, RMBS. Mike Thelen (documentation for the winter season). This

group, originally two adults and eight juveniles when first discovered at

Riverlands on 26 September, was seen frequently by many observers but

decreased to one adult and five juveniles by December. The last observation

was on 27 December, just before an extreme cold snap. This species was

previously considered of only provisional occurrence in winter, due to uncer-

tain provenance of a 1985 record; this is the first winter record of birds that

seemed clearly of wild provenance.

CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera), 2017-4: Adult male, 22 Decem-

ber 2016, Bainbridge Farm, Cape Girardeau Co. Luke and John Jordan

(photographs). Taken during legal waterfowl hunt; documentation submit-

ted by Bill Eddleman. Accidental in winter; third record for that season.

AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana), 2017-42: Female, 9 July 2017,

Grand Tower Island, Perry Co. Chrissy McClarren, Andy Reago

(documentation with photographs). Accidental in summer outside of north-

western Missouri, where casual.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (Mergus serrator), 2017-36: Male and

female, 6 June 2017, RMBS. Gail Gagnon, Tom Caraway (documentation

with photographs). Casual in summer.

HORNED GREBE (Podiceps auritus), 2017-40: One, alternate plumage, 11

June to 5 July 2017, Table Rock Lake, Taney Co. Cody Smith

(documentation with photographs). First summer record.

PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyria martinicus), 2017-25: Adult, 28 April

2017, Hazelwood, St. Louis Co. Greg Hood (documentation with photo-

graphs). Casual transient outside southeastern Missouri, where rare.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (Calidris fuscicollis), 2017-24: One, 20

April 2017, Swan Lake NWR, Linn Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation with

photographs). Earliest spring record.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius), 2017-62: One, 2 December

2017, Perry County Community Lake CA, Perry Co. Allen Gathman

(documentation with photographs). Latest fall record until the next record

(2017-63) was obtained. There are two winter records.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 2017-63: One, 3 December 2017, Longview Lake,

Jackson Co. Karen Davis. Latest fall record. See comments for 2017-62,

above.

THE BLUEBIRD

WILLET (Tringa semipalmata), 2017-13: One, 3-5 December 2016,

LBNWR. Darrin Welchert (documentation), Steve Hinds (photographs), Jus-

tin Berry. Latest fall date by six weeks.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (Larus fuscus), 2017-44: One, appar-

ently third-cycle, 26 July 2017, Columbia Bottom CA, St. Louis Co. Mike

Thelen (documentation with photographs). Accidental in summer; third rec-

ord for that season.

CASPIAN/ROYAL TERN (Hydroprogne caspia/Thalasseus maximus),

2017-7: One, 2 January 2017, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co. Ryan Evans

(documentation), Bethany Thornton. This bird, submitted as Caspian Tern,

was seen briefly and at considerable distance; it was described as a large

tern with a dark cap and orange bill. The details noted by the observers,

however, did not eliminate the possibility of a vagrant Royal Tern.

COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo), 2017-60: One, alternate plumage, 25

November 2017, Thomas Hill Reservoir, Macon Co. Brad Jacobs. Latest fall

record.

WOOD STORK (Mycteria americana), 2017-45: Immature, 29 July 2017,

Schell Osage CA, Vernon Co. Ricky Hostetler (documentation with photo-

graphs). Casual summer visitor; seventh recent record (past 25 years).

WOOD STORK, 2017-49: Immature, 4 September 2017, Hornersville

Swamp CA, Dunklin Co. Timothy Jones (documentation with photographs.

Casual summer visitor; eighth recent record (past 25 years).

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), 2017-18: Adult,

18 March to at least 7 May 2017, Schell-Osage CA, Vernon Co. Lisa Berger

(documentation), Brad Jacobs (documentation with photographs), Charley

Burwick, Debbie & Steve Martin. Earliest spring record.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, 2017-20: Adult, 28 March 2017, Four Rivers

CA, Vernon Co. Mary Nemecek (documentation with photographs). Second-

earliest spring record.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, 2017-47: 1-2 adults, 8 July to 24 August

2017, Grand Tower Island, Perry Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation of two

birds), Steve Martin (documentation of one bird), Allen Gathman

(documentation of one bird with photographs), Debbie Martin. Casual in

eastern and central Missouri.

AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus), 2017-3: One, 20 December

2016, Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, Pike Co. Jason Wilson

THE BLUEBIRD

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Casual in winter; seventh record for that

season.

WHITE IBIS (Eudocimus albus),

2017-29: Adult, 11 May 2017,

LBNWR. Mary Nemecek

(documentation with photo-

graphs). Casual transient in

northern Missouri.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

(Platalea ajaja), 2017-57: Two

juveniles, 10 October 2017, near

Hayti, Pemiscot Co. Mark Greene


graphs), Timothy Jones. Casual

transient and summer visitor;

fifteenth (and latest) record.

SWALLOW-TAILED KITE

(Elanoides forficatus), 2017-46: One, apparently juvenile, 10-26 August

2017, Duck Creek CA, Stoddard Co. First reported by Rodney Vaughn of the

Missouri Department of Conservation around 10 August; confirmed by Tim

Kavan of MDC on 17 August. Allen Gathman, Brad Jacobs (documentation

with photographs). Casual transient and summer visitor; fourteenth mod-

ern record.

MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis), 2017-23: Adult, 14 April

2017, Eddleman farm near Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau Co. Bill Eddle-

man. Earliest spring record.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis), 2017-51: Juvenile, 30 September

to 1 October 2017, Chilhowee, Johnson Co, and Norris, Henry Co. Brad Ja-

cobs (documentation), Tim Barksdale (photographs). Transient and winter

visitor, casual in western Missouri.

CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway), 2017-48: One, age uncer-

tain, 20 September 2017, along Mississippi River, Pemiscot Co. Mark

Greene (documentation with photographs), Michael Todd (documentation).

Accidental transient; second record.

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya), 2017-9: One, 15-17 January 2017, near

Bois d'Arc CA, Greene Co. David Blevins, Greg Swick, Charles Burwick

(documentation with photographs), Steve Martin (documentation), Barbara

Blevins, Jill Hays, Debbie Martin.

Swallow-Tailed Kite 2017-46

Photo: Allen Gathman

THE BLUEBIRD

At the time, listed as a casual transient and winter visitor; now listed as

only "rare" due to the num-

ber of records, but the spe-

cies remains on the Review

List and documentation is

still requested.

BLUE-HEADED VIREO

(Vireo solitarius), 2017-65:

One, 13 December 2017,

near Winona, Shannon Co.

Mark Robbins


graphs), John Bollin. Latest

fall record; there are also

four winter records

(beginning 15 December).

ROCK WREN (Salpinctes

obsoletus), 2017-52: One, 4-

29 October 2017, Mark

Twain Lake, Ralls Co. Ashley Casey & Cory Gregory (documentation with

photographs), Tony Elliott (documentation). Casual transient.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon), 2017-12: One, 13 February 2017, east

fork of Bull Creek, Christian Co. David Blevins. Casual in winter outside

southeastern Missouri.

SEDGE WREN (Cistothorus platensis), 2017-8: One, 2 January 2017, Brad-

ford Farm, Boone Co. Andrew Kinslow (documentation), Dawn Huber. Cas-

ual in winter outside southwestern Missouri.

SEDGE WREN, 2017-10: One, 23 January 2017, DeLaney Lake CA, Mis-

sissippi Co. Mark Haas. Casual in winter outside southwestern Missouri.

SEDGE WREN, 2017-11: One, 3 February 2017, Blue Spring Branch CA,

Perry Co. Mark Haas. Casual in winter outside southwestern Missouri.

SEDGE WREN, 2017-14: One, 15 February 2017, Duck Creek CA, Bol-

linger Co. Mark Haas (documentation), Mark Goodwin. Casual in winter

outside southwestern Missouri.

SEDGE WREN, 2017-15: One, 18 February 2017, Otter Slough CA,

Stoddard Co. Allen Gathman (documentation), Mark Haas. Casual in winter

Say’s Phoebe, 2017-9

Photo: David Blevins

THE BLUEBIRD

outside southwestern Missouri.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea), 2017-67: One, 23

December 2017, Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, Taney Co. Greg Swick

(documentation with photographs). Accidental in winter.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa), 2017-31: One, 29

May 2017, Reynolds Co. David Hollie (documentation with audio). Heard

and audio-recorded but not seen; comments supporting the identification

were obtained from Nathan Pieplow and Tayler Brooks. Latest spring rec-

ord.

GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, 2017-33: One, 29 May 2017, Bois D'Arc

CA, Greene Co. David Blevins. Tied with 2017-31 for latest spring record.

TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi), 2017-61: One, 30 No-

vember 2017, Culver residence, Peculiar, Cass Co. Ginny Culver

(documentation with photographs). Accidental outside northwestern Mis-

souri (where rare).

SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus), 2017-22: One, 10 April

2017, Terpstra residence, Kirkwood, St. Louis Co. Margy Terpstra

(documentation with photographs). Earliest spring record.

Common Redpoll, 2017-59

Photo Chrissy McClarren

and Andrew Reago

THE BLUEBIRD

BLACK ROSY-FINCH (Leucosticte atrata), 2007-28: Adult male, 26 De-

cember 1989, Banfield residence, Montgomery City, Montgomery Co. George

Banfield (documentation with video), assisted by Brad Jacobs and Paul

McKenzie. Definitive (and first) state record. For details, see Jacobs, "Black

Rosy-Finch: First State Record," in The Bluebird, Vol. 84, No. 4 (December

2017).

COMMON REDPOLL (Acanthis flammea), 2017-59: One, 28-29 October

2017, Tower Grove Park, City of St. Louis. Kyran Leeker, Chrissy McClar-

ren and Andrew Reago (documentation with photographs). Earliest fall rec-

ord.

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria), 2017-30: Male, 2 June 2014,

east of Miller, Lawrence Co. Lyndon Hostetler (photographs). Casual tran-

sient and winter visitor; seventh record.

LESSER GOLDFINCH, 2017-2: Immature male, 18-20 December 2016,

Maple Park, Grandview, Jackson Co. Eric Walters (documentation with

photographs). Casual transient and winter visitor; eighth record.

CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina), 2017-6: Adult and immature,

1 January 2017, Busch CA, St. Charles Co. Dylan Sheets (documentation),

Garrett Sheets. At the time, Chipping Sparrow was considered casual in

winter in both northern and central Missouri; it has since been moved to

only "rare" in the central part of the state. Thus it now requires documenta-

tion only in the northern one-third.

Lesser Goldfinch, 2017-2

Photo Eric Walters

THE BLUEBIRD

SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana), 2017-32: One, 29 May 2017,

Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Brad Jacobs (documentation with audio). Heard

and audio-recorded but not seen. Latest spring record.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (Zonotrichia albicollis), 2017-39: One, 9

June 2017, Weldon Spring CA. Bill Michalski (documentation with photo-

graphs). Casual in summer.

WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, 2017-37: One, 10 June 2017, Weldon

Spring CA. Mike Grant, Mike Thelen (documentation with photographs).

Casual in summer. It is possible, but not certain, that this was the same

bird as in 2017-39, which was seen the day before in approximately the

same location. Both were white-morph birds.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus), 2017-5: Two fe-

males, 23 December 2016, Elsberry, Lincoln Co. Bruce Schuette. CBC rec-

ord.

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis), 2017-54: One,

29 October 2017, near Leslie, Franklin Co. Jack Foreman. Second-latest fall

record.

NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla), 2017-64: One, 7-25

December 2017, Mees residence, Columbia, Boone Co. Bill Mees

(documentation with photographs), Jan Mees, Jeff Mees. Latest fall record

and second winter record.

BLACKPOLL WARBLER (Setophaga striata), 2017-50: One, 24 Septem-

ber 2017, Lake of the Ozarks SP, Miller Co. Kelly McKay (documentation),

Annie Hartley. Accidental in fall; fourth documented record.

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Setophaga caerulescens), 2017-

16: Female, 3 November 2015, Springfield, Greene Co. Dorothy Thurman.

Second-latest fall record.

WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana), 2017-27: Adult male, 4 May

2017, Saint Joseph, Buchanan Co. Tom Nagel. Casual spring transient;

eighth record for that season.

PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris), 2017-28: Adult male, 10 May 2017,

Forest Park, City of St. Louis. Miles Tomlinson (documentation with photo-

graphs). Casual transient outside southwestern Missouri.

THE BLUEBIRD

RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED

“Not accepted” does not necessarily mean that the identification was incor-

rect. In some cases the Committee may indeed believe that the bird was

misidentified; in other cases it may seem possible or even likely that the

identification was correct, but the information provided is simply insuffi-

cient to rule out other species. The Committee may be unable to accept any

record if the description is too sketchy or vague, or if it fails to mention

enough critical field marks that would distinguish that species from all oth-

ers. It is also true that the more extraordinary the report, the stronger the

evidence required, and there are some reports that can be accepted only

with diagnostic photographs or other physical evidence. Our belief is that a

report should go into the permanent scientific record only if it is free of rea-

sonable doubt. This is the standard approach of bird record committees

everywhere. On the other hand, all records that the Committee reviews,

whether accepted or not, are permanently archived so that future students

may examine them.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 2017-38: Female, 20 June 2017, Eagle

Bluffs CA, Boone Co. Photographs confirmed that this was a female Hooded

Merganser.

YELLOW RAIL (Coturnicops noveboracensis), 2017-35: One, 1-2 June

2017, private wetland, New Madrid Co. Seen after sunset, dropping from

the sky into a wetland; description offered too little detail to confirm a rec-

ord that would be the latest by over two weeks.

LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus), 2017-34: One, 30 May

2017, Keeteman Road, Lincoln Co. Description certainly indicated a curlew,

but seen only in flight with no good way of judging size and color accurately;

heard calling, but call as described could have been made by a Whimbrel

(see Pieplow, Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North Ameri-

ca, 2017). The observer acknowledged some uncertainty in the identifica-

tion.

JAEGER, sp. (Stercorarius, sp.), 2017-68: Two, 23 December 2017, Table

Rock Lake, Taney Co. The presence of two dark-morph jaegers together in

Missouri in late December would be unprecedented, and the description

provided little specific detail that would firmly rule out other possible types

of birds. CBC record.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, 2017-1: Immature, 25 November 2016,

RMBS. In the single photograph, this bird did appear small and possessed a

slight pale margin to the gular skin. However, based on doubts by some

Committee members, the record was sent to outside reviewers Van Remsen,

Tony Leukering, and Kevin Karlson, who had varying opinions about the

THE BLUEBIRD

identification. The Committee ended up believing that there was too much

uncertainty to support acceptance of the record.

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT, 2017-53: Subadult, 12 October 2017, Little

Prairie CA, Phelps Co. This bird had a pale border to the gular pouch, a

feature that occurs in some Double-crested Cormorants, and in other re-

spects was a normal Double-crested, as noted by outside reviewer Tony

Leukering. Its bill was too heavy and its tail too short for Neotropic, and the

gular pouch did not form an acute angle at the rear. The mixture of older

and newer scapular and covert feathers suggested a bird not yet fully adult.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 2017-69: Dark-morph bird, 30 December 2017,

Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Photographs of this bird in flight showed several

features that identified it as a juvenile dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk, most

likely Harlan's. This determination was further supported by two raptor

identification experts, Brian Sullivan and Tony Leukering, with whom the

Committee consulted.

GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes aurifrons), 2009-72:

Female, 12-24 April 2009, New Franklin, Howard Co. This record, originally

accepted by the MBRC, was re-examined in 2017 in order to consider the

possibility of a xanthic (yellow-toned) female Red-bellied Woodpecker. The

photographs were sent to Van Remsen, at Louisiana State University, who

was able to examine and compare specimens of Golden-fronted and Red-

bellied woodpeckers. Since the central-rectrix pattern, which would be the

main distinguishing character, could not be determined from the photo-

graphs (in fact, the bird seemed to be missing those feathers), the Commit-

tee agreed with Remsen that the identification was uncertain. Therefore the

species has been removed from the Missouri state bird list.

LEAST FLYCATCHER (Empidonax minimus), 2017-19: One, 27 March

2017, south St. Louis Co. The description was not sufficient to confirm the

identification or even to support it as an Empidonax. The date would be the

earliest for this species by three weeks, and confirmation would require a

photograph and/or audio recording.

WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis), 2017-21: One, 10 April 2017,

Downtown Airport, Kansas City, Clay Co. For this potential earliest record

of a Western Kingbird, there was no photograph, the documentation was

written more than two weeks after the observation, and the details provided

did not fully eliminate other kingbird species (e.g., tail pattern not de-

scribed).

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons), 2017-17: One, 25 Febru-

ary 2017, YMCA of the Ozarks, Washington Co. While the description sug-

gested Yellow-throated Vireo, there was no photograph, and the Committee

believed that the description was insufficiently detailed to rule out all other

species, including a male Pine Warbler. Besides being bright yellow-

breasted and white-bellied, the latter can appear misleadingly plain and

THE BLUEBIRD

unstreaked, and there was no mention of leg color, bill structure, or other

possible characters to separate these species. To underscore how rare this

occurrence would be, an eBird search for February records, over all years,

shows none at all north of south Texas and central Florida. Thus a photo-

graph would be necessary unless very detailed notes were provided.

CAVE SWALLOW (Petrochelidon fulva), 2017-58: One, 10 October 2017,

Maryville Sewage Lagoons, Nodaway Co. This bird, watched at some length

by an experienced observer, may have been a Cave Swallow, but it was de-

scribed in too little detail for acceptance. There was no mention of its age

(whether immature or adult) and no discussion of the problem of distin-

guishing it from an immature Cliff Swallow, which can have a pale throat,

or from hybrids in the Cave/Cliff/Barn Swallow group. Donna Dittman and

Steven Cardiff of Louisiana State University, to whom the record was sent

for review, noted these difficulties and considered the identification uncer-

tain.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD (Euphagus carolinus), 2017-26: One, 1 May 2017,

Carondelet Park, City of St. Louis. Potential latest record, but there was no

photograph, and the description was puzzling. The bird was described as

being the same size as the grackles it was with (Rusty would be smaller)

and showing much rusty-brown color (neither male nor female Rusty shows

that color in breeding plumage, from early spring on).

GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (Vermivora chrysoptera), 2017-41: Fe-

male, 18 June 2017, St. Louis Zoo, City of St. Louis. This bird was reported

from inside the 1904 flight cage. Besides identification concerns on the part

of some members, the Committee had doubts about the bird's ability to

leave the cage if it had entered at some prior date. Thus this did not seem to

be a completely certain record of a free, wild bird.

CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER (Setophaga pensylvanica), 2017-56: One,

heard only, 9 June 2017, Shannon Co. While this may have been a Chest-

nut-sided Warbler, the audio recording of a single song did not eliminate the

possibility of a Yellow Warbler, and the bird was not seen or photographed

for confirmation.

YELLOW-RUMPED ("AUDUBON'S") WARBLER (Setophaga coronata

auduboni), 2017-55: One, 12 November 2017, Mt. Mora Cemetery, Buchan-

an Co. No photograph.

THE BLUEBIRD

June 2018 began warm and dry, but by mid-month, trends had reversed,

bringing cooler temperatures and wet conditions. A major rain event oc-

curred in Northern and Western Missouri June 28-29. Some areas saw

more than 12" of rain over the two days. Flash flooding closed roads and

submerged cropland. Cows were reported floating across highway 16 in

Nodaway County, and the West Fork of the Grand River in Gentry County

was acres outside of its banks. The month ended with an average tempera-

ture of 73.4°F, which was 0.4°F above the long-term average. Rainfall end-

ed with a statewide average of 4.62 inches, or 0.03 inches below the long-

term average.

A 5-day heat wave occurred in mid-July ,when parts of St. Louis had 4 con-

secutive days with temperatures in the triple digits, including a high of 108°

on July 22nd. Average state rainfall in July was 3.38 inches, which was

0.44 inches below the long-term average. That figure is misleading, howev-

er, for many areas around the state. While Northeastern and South-central

parts of the state experienced drought-like conditions, there were two major

rain events in the state. On July 12-13 northwestern and north-central

parts of the state received 8-9 inches or more in areas. Kansas City saw

over 11 inches of rain during the month, including flash flooding on July 26-

27, when more than 7 inches of rain fell.

The season was relatively uneventful on the western side of the state. How-

ever, on the east side, GTI provided plenty of reasons for birders to visit,

including an Anhinga, a White Ibis, and a Neotropic Cormorant. A Laugh-

ing Gull stopped by RMBS in the middle of the period. A Wood Stork

turned up late in the season at Schell-Osage, and the early part of the sea-

son hosted 2-4 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks that had been present since

April at BK Leach.

Ebird data and seasonal reports submitted from observers around the state

remain a primary source for this report. Missouri bird watchers are encour-

aged to submit their observations through eBird, but also to send notes to

the seasonal editors, as eBird does not capture all observations. The author

is grateful to Bill Rowe and Joshua Uffman for reviewing this document.

Their comments and suggestions greatly enhanced the quality of the report.

Note: Records marked with an asterisk (*) require documentation, but no

documentation has yet been received by the Missouri Bird Records Commit-

tee (MBRC). Observers involved with such sightings are encouraged to sub-

SUMMER 2017 SEASONAL REPORT JUNE 1—JULY 31, 2018

Mary Nemecek

THE BLUEBIRD

mit documentation. The MBRC has received documentation of those records

marked with a dagger (†), and those marked (acc.) have been accepted.

WATERFOWL

A rare summer visitor, 2 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks continued, first

being present in April (BR), at BK Leach CA, Lincoln, 2-11 June (BR ph., m.

ob.) with 4 total reported on 11 June (Tom Parmeter, ph.). There was also a

report of 2 in Butler on 26 July (TJ, ph.). No later dates for June-July are

likely due to birders no longer visiting the area. Several species of water-

fowl, presumably unable to make migration due to injury, lingered into the

summer, including a single Snow Goose present at Forest Park, St. Louis,

throughout the period (m.obs.). LBNWR also had 2 on 1 June (Eric Pilotte)

and 1 on 6 June (Don Merz). Three were reported at Otter Slough CA,

Stoddard, on 29 July (MH). One Greater White- Fronted Goose was also

present at OSCA on 29 July (MH). There was an additional observation of 1

on 18 July at RMBS (PL). One molting Gadwall was seen at LVL from 25

June to 21 July (KD, ph, m.obs). Other appearances around the state were

5 on 1 June at OSCA (BJ); 8 at Thomas Hill Reservoir, Macon, on 12 July

(m.obs) and 1 at Binder Lake, Cole, 21-17 July (PM). Waterfowl sightings

from LBNWR were noticeably absent during the period. Blue-winged

Teal were observed in 14 counties during the summer (m. obs.) including a

seasonal high of 14 at EBCA 22 July (Dawn Huber). A single Northern

Shoveler was present at EBCA throughout the season with an increase in

number to a pair on 2 June (John Besser) and 3 on 14 June (Kathleen An-

derson). Other observations around the state were 1 at OSCA on 1 June

(BJ), 2 at a private location in New Madrid 2 June (Tim Kavan), 1 in Simp-

son Park, St. Louis on 17 and 23 June (Nicholas Renz, David Rudder). A

lone American Wigeon, accidental in summer, was reported at Grand

Tower Island, Perry, 8-11 July (acc., CMc, AR, BJ, m.obs). A pair of Green-

winged Teal lingered 1-3 June Lincoln (Geneva Pigott, m.obs). Ring-

necked Ducks were spotted in two locations; 2 at Perry County Lake, Per-

ry, 9 Jun (MH, Mark Hahn) and another there on 25 Jul (David Rudder);

second location was Lone Elk County Park, St. Louis, with a single on 3

June (David Rudder). Hooded Mergansers were seen in 7 counties where

they are considered rare in the summer: 1 at EBCA 6 Jun (BJ) and 18 Jun

(John Besser); 1 at SLNWR on 31 July (PM); at LBNWR there were 9 on 22

Jun (Lindsay Gedacht , Curtis Hart), 4 on 25 Jun (Harley Winfrey), 1 on 1

Jul (Lindsay Gedacht , Curtis Hart), 1 on 2 Jul (Annette and John Talbot); 1

at Legacy Park, Jackson, 27-30 Jun (Dan Cowell, Varick Cowell, m.obs.); in

Lincoln 1 on Keeteman Road 5 Jun (Ashley Casey) and 1 at BK Leach CA

on 10 Jun (Jerry Hemmersmeyer) and 24 Jun (Greg Leonard); in Pike they

were present throughout the period with a seasonal high of 12 on 4 Jun at

CCNWR (Jerry Hemmersmeyer). A lone Common Merganser (*) was

photographed 3 Jun - 28 Jul at the visitor center at Mark Twain Lake, Ralls

THE BLUEBIRD

(Ashley Casey). A male and female Red-breasted Merganser (acc., ph)

were spotted at RMBS on 6 Jun (†, Tom Caraway, Gail Gagnon). Two Rud-

dy Ducks were present 5 Jun at LBNWR (Herb Elliott) and 16 Jul at

EBCA (Ian Cost, ph.).

GROUSE THROUGH WADERS

Greater Prairie-Chicken were seen at Dunn Ranch, Harrison, with 2 on

24 Jun (Sherry Leonardo, Karen Stair) and in St. Clair at Wah'kon-tah

Prairie, with 4 on Jul 14 (Sherry Leonardo) and Hwy H with 3 on 25 Jul

(Sam Mayne). A lonely Horned Grebe (acc.) in breeding plumage, the first

summer record for Missouri, was observed at Table Rock Lake and SP,

Taney, on 11 Jun (Cody Smith, ph.). Two Common Loons were present at

Stockton Dam, Cedar, 13 Jun (Ricky Hostetler) and a single bird at Kellogg

Lake Park, Jasper, 29 Jul (Jill Hays). A single Wood Stork (acc.) was pre-

sent 29 Jul at Schell-Osage CA, Vernon (Ricky Hostetler†). Neotropic

Cormorant, rare in the west, was seen at Shell-Osage CA, Vernon, on 25

Jun (PK), 22 Jul (Jon King, Matt Longabaugh) and 29 Jul (Lisa Berger, DM,

SM). Casual in the east, two were present at GTI on 8 Jul (acc., BJ, SM,

DM) and a single bird con-

tinued to 29 Jul and be-

yond, to 24 Aug (acc., AG).

A solitary Anhinga was

seen at GTI 5 Jul (AG)-20

Jul (Keith McMullen).

The seasonal high count

for American White Pel-

ican was 420 at GTI on 7

Jul (MH). Least Bitterns

were reported in 8 coun-

ties including a seasonal

high of 16 seen at LBNWR

on 20 Jun (Darrin Welch-

ert, MN, ph) during a wetland survey. A whopping 900 Great Egrets were

reported at GTI on 25 Jul (AG). Snowy Egrets were observed throughout

the period along the major rivers and wetlands (m.obs.) with the count top-

ping out at 75 at GTI on 25 Jul (AG). Little Blue Herons were reported in

18 counties primarily in the east. Sightings elsewhere including: 1 Living-

ston on 28 Jun (John Zempel, Linda Zempel); 3 at LBNWR on 21 Jul (Mac

Williams); 1 at Forum Nature Area, Boone, (Alex Barker) and 1 at EBCA on

18 Jul (PM). The season high count was 50 at Coon Island, Butler, on 13 Jul

and GTI on 25 Jul (AG). Cattle Egrets were present across the state in-

cluding 3 on 4 Jun at Muskrat Lake, Buchanan (Tom Nagel). High count for

the season was 70 at Coon Island CA, Butler, on 26 Jul (TJ). The largest

American White Pelicans, GTI, 10/14/2017

Photo Allen Gathman

THE BLUEBIRD

number of Green Herons observed at one location was 12 at GTI on 8 Jul

(BJ, Tom Parmeter). An imm. White Ibis was seen at GTI 11 Jul (PM, SM,

DM) and on 20 Jul (Keith McMul-

len). Rare outside the Northwest,

one White-faced Ibis was on Firma

Road, St. Charles on 3 Jun (JR, Br)

and 3 on 25 Jun at HFRCA (PK).

OSPREY THROUGH CRANES

A pair of Ospreys were on a nest in

Randolph 9 Jun (Tony Elliott). Ad-

ditional nests on Osprey Tower,

Dade supported 9 birds on 7 Jul

(CBu, JH). Single birds were seen

throughout the season in Adair,

Jackson, Lincoln, Polk, St. Charles, Scott and Taney (eBird Basic Dataset,

m. obs.). Early returning migrants made for multiple bird observations late

in the season: 2 at Stockton Lake, Polk 23 Jul (BB, DB); 2 Stockton Lake,

Dade, on 20 Jul (DBl). Mississippi Kites continue their growing presence

in the state, with reports coming from counties along the Missouri and Mis-

sissippi River corridor and south (eBird Basic Dataset); the seasonal high

count of 28 came from a kettle soaring over Little Creve Coeur Marsh, St.

Louis, on 17 Jun (JM, ph.). Northern Harriers continue to be mostly ab-

sent during the summer months with only single, early migrants reported in

Moniteau on 17 Jul (PM) and 18 Jul at RMBS (PL). A single Sharp-

shinned Hawk was present in the south, where it is considered a rare

summer resident, 30 Jul at Painted Rock Road, Reynolds (JRu). North of

the Missouri river, where they are a rare summer resident, Broad-winged

Hawks were seen at Thousand Hills SP, Adair, 2 on 6 Jun and 1 on 13 Jun

and 15 Jul (PK); Deer Ridge CA, Lewis, 1 on 8 Jun (JRu); Crowder State

Park, Grundy, 1 on 10 Jun (June Newman, Edge Wade); and Kansas City

International Airport, Platte, 1 on 23 Jul (Evan McKay) and 25 Jul (Ryan

Salsman). Swainson's Hawk only made one appearance on 12 Jul at Kan-

sas City International Airport, Platte (Jon King). Common Gallinule were

reported from Howell, Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles, St. Louis (eBird Basic Da-

taset, m.obs.) with a seasonal high count of 6 on 4 Jun at CCNWR (AR,

CMc). The only observations of Sandhill Cranes were 1-2 birds reported

from 6 Jun (Don Merz) through the end of the period at LBNWR (eBird

Basic Dataset, m.obs).

SHOREBIRDS THROUGH GULLS

A lonely American Golden-Plover was spotted at EBCA on 19 Jul (Alex

Barker). The highest count of Semipalmated Plovers was 50 at RMBS,

20 Jul (JR, DBr). Black-necked Stilts were reported in numbers at wet-

Least Bittern, LBNWR, 6/20/2017

Photo Mary Nemecek

THE BLUEBIRD

lands in the Southeast, along the Mississippi R. and at LBNWR, including 4

adults and 4 young at CBCA on 26 July (Mike Thelen), 6 on 23 Jun (Jeffrey

Roth); the season high of 53 on 28 Jun came from GTI, Perry (Rhonda

Rothrock). American Avocets presented in July with 1 at EBCA 3 Jul

(BJ), 1 on 14 Jul (BJ, Kathleen Anderson), 27 on 20 Jul (BJ, Greg Leonard)

and 14 on 23 Jul (John Besser). Additional reports all came on 23 Jul with

15 at Muskrat Lake, Buchanan (Tom Nagel) and 28 at Stockton Lake, Polk

(BB, DBl). Ruddy Turnstones returned to the state at the end of July with

2 spotted at Mark Twain Lake, Monroe, 27 Jul (Ashley Casey) and 1 at

RMBS on 28 Jul (Mike Thelen, Cornelius Alwood). Buff-breasted Sandpi-

pers began arriving at the end of Jul with 3 on 25 Jul at Hedeman Lake,

Dade, (GSw, CBu, GOAS Birds, JH) where they continued through the end

of the month. An additional sighting came from SLNWR with 2 on 28 Jul

(BJ). Single Wilson's Snipe were spotted at EBCA on 3 Jun (Jon Hill), 23

Jun (Greg Leonard), and 29 Jun (Robert Folzenlog) and at Stockton Lake,

Polk, on 23 Jul (DBl, BB). Ring-billed Gulls were present at lakes and

rivers, especially RMBS, where a seasonal high count of 271 were present

26 Jul (Jeff Cantrell). An adult Laughing Gull came through RMBS 1 Jul

(David Rogles). A third summer record of Lesser Black-backed Gull oc-

curred 26 July at CBCA (acc., Mike Thelen, ph.).

TERNS THROUGH

SHRIKES

Least Terns stayed close to

the Mississippi R. with the

exception of a single bird at

EBCA 9 Jun (BJ), 25 Jun (BJ)

and 24 Jul (m.obs). Nesting

was observed on 4 Jun with at

least 3 birds sitting on nests on

the floating "barge" at Teal

Pond, RMBS (Patricia Ayres).

The season high count of 35

included both adults and juve-

niles at RMBS 7 Jul (AR, CMc)

and 18 Jul (PL). Caspian

Terns turned up in 11 counties with a season high number of 5 at RMBS 1

Jul (DM, SM, David Rogles). Forster's Terns were also spotted in 11 coun-

ties including four eastern reports from Buchanan with 2, 28 Jul, Horseshoe

Lake (BJ) and 8 on 29 Jul, Lake Contrary, (Scott Mullens) and 2 at LvL, 2

Jun (KD) and 3 on 7 Jul (KD). A season high count of 12 occurred at RMBS,

3 Jul (Pat Lueders) and 27 Jul, Mark Twain Lake, Monroe, (Ashley Casey).

Single Black-billed Cuckoos were reported at the following locations: 3

Jun at LvL (Eric Walters); 4 Jun at Dunn Ranch, Harrison (Mark McKellar,

Forster’s Tern, Longview Lake, 6/2017

Photo Karen Davis

THE BLUEBIRD

m.obs); 18 Jun EBCA (Scott Laurent); 29 Jun at Maple Leaf Lake CA, Lafa-

yette (Thomas Gaines); 18 Jul at Bradford Farm, Boone (Andrew Kinslow,

Dawn Huber) and EBCA (PM); 21 Jul at RMBS (Dan Enders). Greater

Roadrunner made its way into five counties; 1 on 3 Jun in Greene (Lisa

Berger); 1 on 14 Jun, Greene (CBu), 1 at Eminence, Shannon, (JRu), 1 in

Taney (Cody Smith); on 18 Jun, 1 at Chateau on the Lake, Taney, (Jenny

Gearheart, Matt Gearheart) and 2 on State Highway 265, Taney (Matt

Gearheart, Leslie Burgdorfer,

Dan Doughty). Barn Owls suc-

cessfully fledged at least 5 young

in Clinton (MN). Additionally, 4

were reported in New Madrid on

1 Jun (BJ), 2 fledglings were

seen in Cape Girardeau on 3 Jun

(AG), and 1 was reported in Cape

Girardeau on 2 Jul (AR, CMc).

Between 2013-2017, 67 fledgling

Peregrine Falcons have been

banded from the 3 nest boxes in

Kansas City (Joe DeBold), in-

cluding 3 banded on 23 May, 1 M

and 2 F at the American Century

Investments Building, Jackson

(MN). All additional observa-

tions came near or in the popula-

tion centers of Kansas City and

St. Louis, including a season high of 3 on 15 Jun, Barnes Clinical Sciences

Research Building, St. Louis (JM). The only sightings of Olive-sided Fly-

catcher were of single birds on 1 Jun at Knob Noster State Park, Johnson

(Roxanne Stockall) and Carondelet Park, St. Louis (AR, CMc). The first

week of June also saw late, single Yellow-bellied Flycatchers: 1 Jun Ca-

rondelet Park, St. Louis (AR, CMc); 4 Jun Forest Park, St. Louis (Daniel

Berg, Matthew Toomey); and 5 Jun at Buckner Educational Wetlands, Jack-

son (Mike Beck). That week also hosted all the Alder Flycatcher reports:

1 Jun, Prairie Garden Trust, Boone (PM); 2 Jun Meadowmere Park, Jackson

(Sherry Leonardo, Patricia Ayres) and Black Island CA, Pemiscot (Kyle

Bess); 3 Jun at Maintz Wildlife Preserve, Cape Girardeau (AG); 5 Jun at

Rock Bridge SP, Boone (PM); and 6 Jun at Deer Ridge CA, Lewis (JRu).

There was a notable sighting of a single Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in

Dunklin on 7 Jun (Tim Kavan) as they continue to expand east. Loggerhead

Shrikes were reported in singles and pairs in 19 counties: Benton, Cass,

Cedar, Dade, Dekalb, Greene, Harrison, Howell, Johnson, Lawrence, Madi-

son, Mississippi, Newton, Pettis, Phelps, St. Clair, Scott, Stoddard, Taney

(eBird Basic Dataset).

Fledgling Peregrine Falcon, 5/23/2017

Photo Mary Nemecek

THE BLUEBIRD

WRENS THROUGH SPARROWS

One to six Sedge Wrens spent late June and early July at RMBS, where

listed as a rare summer resident: 25 Jun-31 Jul (Nicholas Renz, m.obs.).

Marsh Wrens were present in 9 counties; 2 at SLNWR 29 Jul (PM); 3 at

RMBS 23 Jul (DBr, Bryan Prather); and a single in Boone on 25 Jun (Skye

Lewis), 1-2 birds from 6-29 Jul (Carol Weston, m.obs) at EBCA and 1 at

Bradford Farm on 29 -30 Jul (Dawn Huber, Andrew Kinslow, John Besser);

1 Valley Water Mill, Greene, 8 Jul (JH, Brooke Widmar); LBNWR had 1 on

21 Jul (Mac Williams) and 3 on 23 Jul (Chris Anderson); Ted Shanks CA,

Pike had 1 on 15 Jul (Cory Gregory, Ashley Casey), 1 on 19 Jul (Heather

Gordon) and 3 on 29 July (Ashley Casey); 1 at Kendzora CA, Platte, on 30

Jul (Thomas Jones); 3 at RMBS, 23 Jul (DBr, Bryan Prather); 1 at Van Me-

ter SP, Saline, 31 Jul (Edge Wade). Bewick's Wrens were present in 9

counties, with counts ranging from singles to four; Boone, Camden, Cole,

Greene, Lawrence, Newton, Phelps, Ralls, and Taney (eBird Basic Dataset).

Ovenbirds were located in 2 counties in the north where they are rare:

Adair hosted 1 on 2-3 Jun, 2 Jul at Sugar Creek Subdivision (PK), 4 on 10

Jun on Sticklerville BBC (Tony Elliott), 1 on 15 Jul at Thousand Hills SP

(PK) and 1 at Deer Ridge CA, Lewis, on 7 Jun (Jethro Runco). The only

Swainson's Warblers reported were a pair at Turner Mill Spring, Oregon,

9 Jul (BJ). Outside of their expected presence in the Ozarks, one Hooded

Warbler was found at Simpson Park, St. Louis, 22 Jul (DBr). The only

showing of Pine Warblers away from the Ozarks was a single bird, 5-8 Jun

at Rocky Fork Lakes CA Boone (Shelby Thomas). There were two records of

singing first-spring male American Redstart, at sites where they may not

have been known to breed: one at CCNWR, 3 June (BR) and one at CBCA, 8

June (BR). Grasshopper Sparrows are rare in the Mississippi lowlands,

but that did not keep 6 from being present at Sand Prairie CA, Scott, on 17

Jun (AG) and 1-3 at 5 different locations in Cape Girardeau (AG). Sin-

gle White-throated Sparrows (acc.), casual in summer, were photo-

graphed 9-10 Jun in Weldon Spring CA, St. Charles (Bill Michalski, Mike

Grant, Mike Thelen). Painted Buntings in the southwest corner of the

state had a presence in Christian, Dade, Greene, Ripley, Stone and Taney

with a high of 5 birds at the Conco Quarry, Greene, 3 Jun (Lisa Berger).

Observers:

Barbara Blevins (BB), David Blevins (DBl), Diane Bricmont (DBr), Charles

Burwick (CBu), Karen Davis (KD), Allen Gathman (AG), Mark Haas (MH),

Jennifer Hammet (JHa), Jill Hayes (JH), Brad Jacobs (BJ), Tim Jones (TJ),

Steve Kinder (SK), Andrew Kinslow (AK), Peter Kondrashov (PK), Pat

Lueders (PL), Charlene Malone (CM), Jim Malone (JM), Debbie Martin

(DM), Steve Martin (SM), Chrissy McClarren (CMc), Pete Monacell (PM),

THE BLUEBIRD

Marky Mutchler (MM), Mary Nemecek (MN), Andy Reago (AR), Bill Rowe

(BR), Jethro Runco (JRu), Joel Rurik (JR), Greg Samuel (GSa), Greg Swick

(GSw).

Key

* = Documentation needed for MBRC review but not yet received

† = Documentation received by MBRC

acc. = Record accepted by MBRC

Abbreviations

CA-Conservation Area

CBC-Christmas Bird Count Co-County

Imm. Immature

m.ob. Multiple observations

NWR- National Wildlife Refuge

MBRC-Missouri Bird Records Committee

ph. photographed

SP-State Park

Location Abbreviations (counties are in italics)

CBCA-Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County

CCNWR-Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, Pike County

CSP-Confluence State Park, St. Charles County

DCCA-Duck Creek Conservation Area, Bollinger/Stoddard County

EBCA-Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, Boone County

GTI- Grand Tower Island, Perry County

HFRCA-Horton-Four Rivers Conservation Area, Vernon County

LBNWR- Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Holt County; formerly

SCNWR-Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Holt County

LBL-Long Branch Lake, Macon

LvL- Longview Lake, Jackson

MLCA- Montrose Lake Conservation Area, Henry County

MNWR-Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard/Wayne County

OSCA-Otter Slough Conservation Area, Stoddard County

RMBS-Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles County

SLNWR-Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Chariton County

SL-Smithville Lake, Clay County

STJ- St. Joseph

References:

eBird.2017eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance

[web application]. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org.

Guinan, P. (July 2017). June-July 2017 Weather and Its Impacts on Mis-

souri. Missouri Climate Center. Retrieved from: http://climate.missouri.edu

http://www.ebird.org

THE BLUEBIRD

CROWDER STATE PARK

Edge Wade, 2018

1,912 acres Grundy Co. DeLorme 21, C-8/9

GPS: 40.103469,-93.673511

76 Highway 128 Trenton, MO 64683

DNR owned; for additional information call 660-359-6473

Directions: From Chillicothe at the intersection of US 65 and US 36

(about one half hour (28 miles). Go north on US 65 to Trenton; take the Bus.

65/MO 6 exit, turn left to go through Trenton on 10th Street/MO 6. MO 6

makes a left turn at Main St. Continue on MO 6 west of town, and make a

right (north) onto MO 146. MO 146 swings west. Shortly after the sweep-

ing curve west, turn right (north again) onto MO 128 to enter the park at

the south end.

To reach the west access to the Thompson River Trail (see below), continue

on MO146 west of the turn onto MO 128. At Edinburg turn right (north)

onto NW 52nd Ave. and follow it to NW Dove Lane. Make a right onto Dove

Ln., which goes into the park and ends at a parking lot.

ADA information: Trails are not paved and terrain is difficult in places.

Good birding can be had from the roads, campground, picnic areas and

parking lots.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: This is one of the most under-

appreciated birding areas in the state, with fewer than 40 visits recorded in

eBird since 1992. As an oasis of lake, hills with woods and grasslands sur-

rounded by agricultural land, it provides nesting habitat and/or a welcomed

migration stopover for many species.

The 117 species reported is not representative of its potential. Fall and win-

ter months other than one visit in October and late November and a couple

in early December are missing in the record. Those few winter trips includ-

ed Winter Wren, Red Crossbill, Harris’s Sparrow, Brown Creeper and Red-

breasted Nuthatch sightings.

A Birders’ Guide to Missouri Public Lands

Edge Wade

THE BLUEBIRD

Spring migration visits are scant, yet 18 species of warblers and five vireos

have been found. Waterfowl surely visit the lake during unreported

months. Bobwhites, pheasants and turkeys are present. Whip-poor-wills

have been reported in May and June.

Features of interest to birders: 18-acre Crowder Lake is the centerpiece

of the park and can be scanned from road at several points. The Thompson

River runs along the park’s north and east sides. The terrain includes rug-

ged ravines, steep-walled valleys, sandstone ledges, as well as bottomland.

The stands of mature trees include burr oak, silver maple, sycamore and

cottonwood and planted pines. In all but the pine areas (good for crossbills,

etc.) the understory is rich in plant diversity, which attracts, shelters and

feeds many species.

Any parking area in the park provides a starting point for views or short

walks into potentially bird-rich habitat niches. These short ventures can be

surprisingly rewarding.

Good views of the lake and the outflow area frequented by waterthrushes

and other warblers, wrens, and a variety of woodland birds are given at the

dam edge near the dam/trailhead parking lot. A short walk south along the

lakeshore from this lot may be rewarded with sparrows, catbirds and war-

blers in the lakeside scrub vegetation.

Trails from a birding perspective:

Thompson River Trail--8.6 mile trail rated rugged, with north and south

loops. The west end access to the north loop (3.75 mile loop) is off NW Dove

Ave. as described in directions above. The west end is not rugged, but rela-

tively flat and follows a ridge through a restored prairie, the best grassland

area of the park. Good birding for sparrows can be had by walking this por-

tion and backtracking to the parking lot on Dove Ave.

Redbud Trail--1.75-mile loop rated moderate through Ozark highlands-like

terrain and habitat. An access point is near the vault toilet in the special-

use area (please don’t access the trail from this point if it is occupied by a

youth camping group). A White Connector loop reduces the length to 1 mile

with a return to the special-use area. Another trail access to the full loop is

across the road from the tennis court parking area. Species to look for along

this trail are what one would expect in woodland settings.

River Forks Trail--2-mile loop with a moderate rating. The trailhead near

the east end of the dam (northeast corner of the lake) offers the easiest,

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nearly flat access to a stretch of the Thompson River. Check it out for Win-

ter Wren and other riparian-loving species in appropriate season. If a

shorter than 2 mile jaunt is desired, hike the portion heading north-north-

east from the parking lot and retrace your steps from any point before the

trail turns south.

Tall Oaks Trail--This 3-mile trail is rated rugged. It passes through nearly

all the available habitats in the park, and can be accessed from Shelter #3

(Burr Oak) and from the amphitheater parking lot. There is a .2 mile spur

across the dam that connects this trail with the parking lot at the northeast

corner of the lake and the trailhead for the River Forks Trail.

Toilets: The campground Showerhouse/restroom is open during camping

season. A modern, accessible one is at parking lot is at the northeast corner

of the lake (near the dam,). A vault toilet is along a path near the picnic

area not shown on the park map at Shelter #3 (Burr Oak) on the west side

of the lake, and another is in the special use area on the ridge top near the

park entrance and office.

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Camping: The campground is open March through November with basic

and electric sites. Reservations can be made for stays during the on-season.

For weekend reservations, there is a required two-night minimum stay.

Hazards/Limitations: None other than rugged terrain in some areas.

Nearby Birding Sites: Lake Paho CA, Wayne Helton Mem. W A, Chloe

THE BLUEBIRD

LAKE PAHO CONSERVATION AREA

Edge Wade, 2018

2350 acres Mercer Co. DeLorme 15, H-9

GPS: 40.4103323,-93.6798335

MDC owned; for additional information call 660-646-6122

Directions: From US 65 in Princeton, go west on US 136 about 5 miles,

then north on MO 145 to access the east side of the area, or continue on US

136 about a quarter-mile to a right turn to access the south end of the lake,

or continue a bit further to a right turn into the southwest side of the area.

From I-35 at Bethany, exit onto US 136 and go east about 30 miles to the

south end of the area. Make left turns to enter at the points described

above.

ADA Information: Birding is good from roads and parking areas. Views

of the lake are good from several points. There are no paved trails.

When to Visit/Species to Expect: As with several birding sites in far

north Missouri, this is a potentially great site with too few reported visits

(fewer than 15 since 2002) to assess it. There have been only two autumn

reports and none for winter, so the use by waterfowl is not shown well in

eBird. That said, 18 species of ducks have been seen in March and April.

A Common Loon in late October indicates that loons and grebes might be

seen in decent numbers with well-timed trips.

Warbler sightings are few—more a reflection of the lack of spring and early

autumn reports, rather than lack of presence in the rather limited suitable

habitat. An April trip was rewarded with a female Spotted Sandpiper dis-

playing on the fishing jetty. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was seen on a late

November visit.

Sparrows are well represented, as are swallows and a good mix of woodland

and grassland species should be anticipated.

Features of interest to birders: 273-acre Lake Paho is easily viewed

from a variety of points with well-placed parking areas. The roughly north-

south orientation with a good mix of shallow areas, coves, and deep water

toward the dam at the south end promises good waterfowl viewing in sea-

son.

THE BLUEBIRD

The wetland cells at the south end can be seen well from the road to the

fishing jetty. When flooded they are a favorite for dabblers and possibly

rails.

Allow plenty of time to check out the cove areas by foot or car in

campgrounds. Take any short trail available. Campgrounds B and C are

definitely worth exploring.

The area near the headquarters at the southwest corner along Fathom

Street can be especially birdy. The cove just northwest of the private in-

holding an be reached by using the nearby parking area on the west side of

the road or the “make do” parking lakeside as a quiet approach to birds rest-

ing in the cove off the main channel (watch for mud if there have been re-

cent rains).

The two small parking areas along Rt. B provide access to grassland species.

Elder Street (the road east of Rt. B at Rt. N) also has a lot with grassland

views, and leads to Elk Street (first right turn east of Rt. N). This northeast

corner of the area is not often visited and may be birdier than other similar

habitat areas.

Toilets: 5.; one at each campground area, one near the headquarters at the

southwest corner of the lake, one at the fishing jetty at the south end (as of

this writing the jetty privy has been leveled).

Camping: There are 40 individual sites in 3 campgrounds on the east and

north sides of the lake. No amenities beyond pit toilets.

Hazards/Limitations: This is a popular fishing lake. Avoid weekends, if

possible, especially in warm weather.

Nearby Birding Sites: Grand Trace CA*, Helton Wildlife Area, Crowder

SP.* See http://www.mobirds.org/Locations/SiteGuides.aspx for these and

additional guides.

http://www.mobirds.org/Locations/SiteGuides.aspx

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THE BLUEBIRD

TRI-CITY COMMUNITY LAKE

Edge Wade, 2018

101.7 acres (lake is 27-30 acres) Boone Co. DeLorme 31, G-6

GPS: 39.1925487,-92.2097676

Owned by MDC; call 573-815-7900 for information

Directions: From US 63 north of Columbia go east on Rt. CC to Sturgeon.

At the junction of Rt. CC and Rt. V in south Sturgeon, go right for .9 miles

and turn left to stay on Rt. CC. In approximately 5 miles turn right turn

onto Tri-City Rd. and follow it about one mile into the area (after a sharp

turn to the right).

From Centralia, go west on Rt. CC 3 miles, then south on Tri-City Rd.

This is a relatively small site with greater potential for good birding than

the number of eBird reports suggests. Its “off the beaten path” location and

proximity to better known sites contribute to its lack of regular birding ac-

tivity.

ADA Information: Much of this area can be enjoyed from or beside a vehi-

cle. The lake, the central and campground areas can be birded for a good

variety of species (but weekends may have a lot of human activity).

When to Visit/Species to Expect: As with many central Missouri sites,

the best birding is often in spring and autumn. There are a lot of ways a

birder can contribute to the information for Tri-City Lake. The winter poten-

tial has been under reported. The 27-acre lake surely supports more water-

fowl than represented in eBird reports. The two reports for May include 17

warbler and 4 vireo species. Summer visits have been few (none in June) so

many nesting species are without records.

Some exploration of the 60 acres of forest/woodland, and nearly 15 acres of

grassland are likely to be rewarded with a good variety of birds.

Features of interest to birders: The road loops through the area, form-

ing circles along the lakeside and in the savannah-like camping area.

Most of the lake is visible from the shore along the road and from the dam,

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which can be walked.

Two unmarked paths lead into the woods from the north end of the camping

area. One begins at the campsite closest to the lake. It runs about a tenth

of a mile, just within the tree line along the lakeshore until petering out

near the end of the northeast cove. The second path (unmarked) begins at

the campsite just to the east of the lakeside site. This path meanders

through the woods, over a few fallen trees that have been there for several

years, diminishing until it forks and becomes nothing more than a deer path

in two directions.

These trails provide close looks at lake and lakeside birds and access to

woodland nesters.

Toilets: 1 privy (the map shows the old location; it is now where the map

indicates a parking lot at the southwest point of the small loop).

Camping: Primitive, 6 sites.

Hazards/Limitations: None noted other than the usual Missouri ticks,

chiggers and mosquitos in warm weather, and popularity for local recrea-

tion. Weekends may be very busy.

Nearby Birding Sites: Lick Creek CA*, Northcutt (C.L.) Mem. CA, Finger

Lakes SP*, Rocky Fork Lakes CA*, Rudolf Bennitt CA*.

*Birders’ Guides available, http://www.mobirds.org/Locations/

SiteGuides.aspx for these and additional guides.



THE BLUEBIRD

Awards Committee: The ASM Executive Committee

Webmaster: Kevin Wehner

Executive Committee: Mark Haas, Bill Eddleman, Scott Laurent, Pat

Lueders, and Allen Gathman

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative: Susan Hazelwood

Conservation Partnership Coordinator: Edge Wade

Grassland Bird Coordinator: Mike Doyen

Missouri Bird Records Committee:

Brad Jacobs, Chair

Bill Rowe, Secretary

Brad Jacobs, Paul McKenzie, Mark Robbins, Lisa Berger, Josh Uffman,

Joe Eades, and Bill Rowe

—————————————————————————————————

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whether you want THE BLUEBIRD sent to your temporary address or held

and sent after you return home. You can also change your address anytime

on your own by logging into your profile at MOBIRDS.ORG. Thank you!

Kevin Wehner

ASM Membership Chair

2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122

Columbia, MO 65203-1261

(573) 815-0352

[email protected]

The Bluebird

mailto:[email protected]

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March 2018 Volume 85, No. 1

Documents

Transcript of March 2018 Volume 85, No. 1