Volume 30, Issue 6 Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society-far ... · Vol. 30 No. 6 Owashtanong Islands...

Vol. 30 No. 6 March, 2019, Pg. 1 Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society-far flowing water

Grand Haven, Michigan

March, 2019 Volume 30, Issue 6

Red-headed Woodpecker 4 This Season’s Programs 2 Miscellaneous throughout

March 19

LOUTIT DISTRICT LIBRARY 407 Columbus Avenue

Grand Haven

Ottawa County Parks Update Presented by John Scholtz, Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Director

Visit OIAS: • Homepage: http://www.oias.org

• Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OwashtanongIslandsAudubonSociety

OIAS welcomes the new members.

John will provide an overview of the Ottawa County Parks, and a focus on new projects for the future. John has served as Parks and Recreation Director since shortly after the Parks and Recreation Commission was formed in 1987. He received his Masters Degree in Parks and Recreation Resources from Michigan State University and spent six years as the director of Saginaw County Parks prior to coming to Ottawa County.

5-M : Lisa Casler, birding apps for the phone

EveryoneiswelcometoOIAS’s

programs


This Season’s Programs April 16 – A trip to Belize: Mayan ruins, Mot-Mots, and more, Dr. Michael Lombardo, Professor of Biology, GVSU May 21 – 6:00 Potluck, 7:00 Business meeting, member’s digital photos

February’s Who Am I? What were your guesses:

American Woodcock?

Wilson’s Snipe?

Wilson’s Phalarope?

Red Phalarope?

Red-necked Phalarope? (Correct) Other?

Unexpected Yard Birds (not ours) I recently was told this story. Four banded pigeons were found on a porch railing at a cottage near Baldwin last fall. The person who found them was able to use the bird bands to track them down. They were four homing pigeons that made their way from Japan. The person found a local person to take the birds. Apparently, the Japanese sometimes use homing pigeons that are too young and they lose their way.

Judi Manning


Judi Manning Bird Banding In February Emily spotted a Mute Sawn with a green neck band at Pigeon Lake. She was able to get a few photos and the numbers on the band. Emily reported the neck band number and received the following email: “Thank you for reporting the green neck collared mute swan (Cygnus olor) that you encountered on February 2nd 2019 near Port Sheldon, MI. This mute swan was neck collared as part of my Ph.D. research with Michigan State University. The goal of this research is to understand the movement and survival of mute swans in Michigan and is being conducted in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services. Outcomes of this research will inform management strategies for mute swans in Michigan and across the United States. We began placing neck collars on select mute swans in several areas of Michigan during the summer of 2014 and will be continuing to mark and monitor mute swans across the state for the next few years. The swan that you reported (M136) was banded in summer of 2017 as a juvenile swan on Wabasis Lake in Kent County. This particular mute swan also has a solar-powered GPS transmitter affixed to the green neck collar which sends the physical location of the swan to us each day. We've attached transmitters to these swans so that we can observe their daily movements, feeding patterns, and see where they go in winter. The map below shows the locations of M136 over the last year or so until its transmitter stopped sending locations in November of 2018. I've placed a small red star on the map to indicate the approximate location of your report. We encourage you to continue reporting sightings of neck collared swans directly to me ([email protected]) or to the Federal Bird Banding Laboratory (www.reportband.gov). Further information about mute swan management in Michigan can be found online (www.michigan.gov/muteswans). Thank you again for your reporting your sighting. Randall, Ph.D. Candidate, Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University

This shows the importance of reporting bird band sightings that you find.

Photos by Emily

Observing Field Marks? We have had two Carolina Wrens since November. I would see usually one at a time. My “mode of identification” to verify which wren was here was looking at the underside of the tail. One has stripes down to the vent that I called “striped-tail”. The other has a small plain feather just above the vent so the stripes do not come down to the vent that I called “smooth-tail”. I took photos of the two wrens during the Great Backyard Bird Count. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the photos of the faces and they were so drastically different. I must admit I had never noticed that. Sure makes identification for verification that both birds are here when doing a bird count easier. I looked at other photos of Carolina Wrens I had taken over the years, and there were more subtle differences.

Judi Manning

Striped-tail Smooth-tail


Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus In Florida, Virginia and Illinois, Pleistocene-age fossils up to 2 million years old

of Red-headed Woodpeckers have been found. The adult medium-sized Red-headed Woodpecker is easy to identify. Powerful, spike-like bills, red head, black wings with white patches. Juveniles are dull grayish brown and molt gradually. During the two years it takes them to get adult plumage they have a patchwork of gray, brown and red plumage on the head. Found in open forests with clear understories, pine savannahs, standing timber in wetlands and marshes. In winter in the north they live in mature stands of forests. They are nomadic influenced by abundance of nuts and favored winter food and can be common in a location one year and not there the next year. Some may migrate south, but most stay here year-round if acorns, beechnuts, and other nut crops are abundant. Most skillful flycatcher of the North American woodpeckers, they spot insects from a perch and fly out and grab them. They also search for insects on the ground and in trees. Fruit, seeds, mice and occasionally birds are also eaten. They eat one-third insects and two-thirds plant material. Red-headeds are the only woodpecker that stores food and covers it with wood or bark. They also cache seeds and insects under bark, in cracks of wood, and under roof shingles. Sometimes they visit backyard suet feeders. Only the Red-headed, Downy, Red-bellied and Acorn Woodpeckers cache food. They move from forest interiors to forest edges during breeding season. Being cavity nesters, they use dead trees. Nesting site is selected by the male often in snags that have lost most of the bark. This smooth surface may deter snakes. They are the only woodpecker that often reuses the nest cavity year after year. Pairs may stay together for several years. Fierce defenders of their territory, they will remove eggs of other species from nests, destroy other birds’ eggs and puncture duck eggs in duck boxes. Nicknames: flag bird, flying checker-board, jellycoat, patriotic bird, white-shirt, half-a-shirt, shirt-tail bird, and tricolored woodpecker. They will pick fights with European Starlings and Pileated Woodpeckers. Predators include snakes, foxes, raccoons, flying squirrels, Cooper’s Hawks, Peregrine Falcons, and Eastern Screech Owl. Between 1966 and 2014 they declined 70% according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. They are listed on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List that lists species at risk of becoming threatened or endangered without conservation action. It is also listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Loss of habitat due to development of bottomland forest, cutting down dead trees, and changes in food supply has lead to the decline. References: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/id, American Bird Conservancy, Bird of the Week, 1/29/2018, https://abcbirds.org/bird/red-headed-woodpecker/, Axley, E. 2002. "Melanerpes erythrocephalus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 02, 2019 at http://www.biokids.umich.edu/accounts/Melanerpes_erythrocephalus/

Judi Manning

November 2018 February 2019

Range map provided by Birds of North AmericaExplore Maps

Red-bellied Woodpecker comparison Adult


Highlights of the 119th CBC in Michigan John L. Trapp Michigan Regional CBC Editor All-day counts were conducted at 76 circles (72 affiliated with the National Audubon Society and 4

unaffiliated “Michigan-only” circles) in Michigan during the 119th Christmas Bird Count, 14 December 2018-4 January 2019.

One-hundred and fifty-two nominal species (plus 1 domesticated form, 1 identifiable subspecies, 1 hybrid, and 16 taxa below the species level) were documented on count day, with 3 additional species seen during count week. Of the 152 species accounted for, 133 were Regular (seen in 7 or more of the previous 10 years), 3 were Borderline (seen in 5 or 6 of the previous 10 years), and 16 were Rare (seen in fewer than half of the previous 10 years.

Most Unexpected Species (4): Palm Warbler (one at Kalamazoo was just the 2nd reported on a Michigan CBC since 1970 and the 1st in 44 years!), White-eyed Vireo (one at Rockwood was the 2nd since 1970 and also the 2nd in the last 5 years), Common Gallinule (one at Anchor Bay was the 4th since 1970), Orange-crowned Warbler (one at Petoskey was the 4th since 1970).

Most Spectacular Sighting: The 146 Tree Swallows in a single flock at Rockwood, where the previous CBC high was 34.

Rare Species (16): Blue-winged Teal, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Northern Bobwhite, Common Gallinule, Streptopelia sp. (collared-dove sp.), Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Tree Swallow, Marsh Wren, Townsend’s Solitaire, Vesper Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow, Cape May Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Palm Warbler, New World oriole sp.

Borderline Species (3): Harlequin Duck, Virginia Rail, Common Yellowthroat. Count-Week Species (3): American Bittern, Varied Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow. Regular Species Missed (5): Wilson’s Snipe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray

Jay, Eastern Meadowlark. Highest Counts Since 1970 (4): Trumpeter Swan, Red-necked Grebe, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-

breasted Nuthatch. Highest Index (Birds/Count) Since 1970 (2): Red-necked Grebe, Red-bellied Woodpecker. Lowest Index (Birds/Count) Since 1970 (8): American Black Duck, American Coot, Horned Lark, Purple

Finch, Snow Bunting, American Tree Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle.

If Snowy Owls are around, they can be found anywhere. Lisa found this owl on the top of a tree on a rather small branch.

Photos by Lisa


Far Flowing Water is published eight times per year. If you would like to contribute a complete article for the next issue, please have your articles to me by April 1st

is a publication of the Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society, Grand Haven, MI. All articles are copyrighted; permission is granted to copy any article in its entirety with author and references attached. Please contact Editor for other arrangements.

FAR FLOWING WATER

During the 2018 count, bird watchers from more than 100 countries submitted more than 180,000 bird checklists reporting a record 6,456 species – more than half the known bird species in the world. 155 more species were obserbed in 2019 per map on right! http://gbbc.birdcount.org/

Peanut cached in bush below feeder outside of livingroom window by Black-capped Chickadee as I watched.


2018-2019 OIAS Membership Appl icat ion Date S Email:

Name Street City/State/Zip Phone How did you hear about OIAS?

Check Member Type: $18 Individual or Family $30 Contributing $100 Individual Life

My contribution to speaker fees $______________

Make checks payable to: Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society, Post Office Box 1654, Holland, Michigan, 49422

Grand Haven, Michigan

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The newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

3/2019

We watched this female Red-breasted Merganser swim up the creek at Stu Visser/Pine Creek Trail on March 7th. She swam to the edge of a large root hanging over the edge and proceeded to work her way briefly under the root. Here is what she looked like when she reappeared.


7:00 Ottawa County Parks Update

John Scholtz, Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Director

Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society Judi Manning, Editor P.O. Box 1654 Holland, MI 49422 PLEASE FORWARD ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Mission Statement Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society

a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation

Provide stewardship of local Grand River island wildlife sanctuaries owned by the Michigan Audubon Society; Achieve through education, public recognition of the value and need for protecting and preserving wildlife, plants, soil,

water and other natural resources as well as an understanding of their interdependence; Promote an interest in our native birds and as well as native flora and fauna, and their habitats because of their great

economic, cultural and recreational value; and Aid the Michigan Audubon Society in its study, conservation and research efforts.

Spring Fling April 26-28 | Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, Paradise, MI

Tawas Point Birding Festival May 16-18 | East Tawas, MI

For more information on programs offered by Michigan Audubon or on the above, go to their website.

Volume 30, Issue 6 Owashtanong Islands Audubon Society-far ... · Vol. 30 No. 6 Owashtanong Islands...

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