The Upland

Plover
Publication of the North Country Bird Club, Inc. Since 1948
November / December 2018 Volume 59 No. 6

2019 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 1st

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM ON THE LAST PAGE SOON AND FORWARD IT WITH YOUR DUES

NOVEMBER MEETING: CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

Wednesday, November 14
7:00 pm at NNY Community Foundation
Program: The Forsythe Refuge
We will make a video visit to New Jersey’s Forsythe NWR,
which extends for nearly 50 miles along the Atlantic coast and
protects over 47,000 acres of coastal wetlands and woodlands.
With its variety of habitats and eight-mile wildlife drive, it is one
of the premiere birding sites in the Northeast.
This year’s Christmas Bird Count for the Watertown Circle (NYWA),
conducted by North Country Bird Club in conjunction with Onondaga
Audubon, will be held on Saturday, December 15. 2018 marks the
Audubon Society’s 119th Christmas Bird Count. Again this year, Bill
Haller will serve as Compiler for the Watertown Circle. If you would
like to assist with this year’s Count, please contact Bill for more
information at haldex@twcny.rr.com or 315-639-6848. Be a part of
this year’s Christmas Bird Count!

SPRING MEETINGS PROJECT FEEDERWATCH

Please note the dates of our spring meetings on
your calendar. We meet at 7:00 pm at NNY
Community Foundation (131 Washington St,
Watertown). Spring meeting dates are:
Wednesday, March 13
Wednesday, April 10
Wednesday, May 8
Ron Pittaway is a renowned birder from the
Province of Ontario. Each fall he prepares a
detailed forecast of the abundance of Finches and
other Passerines in northeastern North America for
the upcoming winter. Following are excerpts from
this winter’s forecast. The full report can be
accessed at: http://www.jeaniron.ca/2018/wff18.htm
RON PITTAWAY’S
WINTER FINCH FORECAST 2018-2019
GENERAL FORECAST: This is an irruption (flight)
year for winter finches in the East. Cone and birch
seed crops are poor to low in most of Ontario and
the Northeast. Expect flights of winter finches into
Southern Ontario, New York, and New England,
with some finches going further south. Stock your
bird feeders, because many birds will have a
difficult time finding natural foods this winter.
(continue to page 3 for the forecasts for individual
species)
Cornell Lab’s Project FeederWatch extends from November to early April each
year. Through this program, birders around the world contribute valuable data to
important academic research.
FeederWatchers count the birds they see at their feeders and send their counts to
Project FeederWatch. The data help scientists track movements of winter bird
populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
Anyone interested in birds can participate. You can count birds as often as every
week, or as infrequently as you like - the schedule is completely flexible. All you
need is a bird feeder, bird bath, or plantings that attract birds.
The 2018-2019 FeederWatch season runs from Saturday, November 10 to Friday,
April 5. You may sign up and begin counting at any time during the season.
There is an $18 annual participation fee to cover materials, staff support, and data
analysis (Project FeederWatch is supported almost entirely by these fees).
For more info or to join: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/
WELCOME BACK THE CANADA JAY
The American Ornithological Union, which
determines species names for North American
birds, has officially changed the name of the
(formerly) Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) to
Canada Jay. The species was known by the
latter name until 1957, when the change to Gray
CANADA JAY Jay, considered a “double slight” by Canadian
Saranac Lake - February 22, 2017 birders, was adopted. Not only did the new
Photo by Richard Brouse name eliminate the indication that the bird’s
range extends through all of Canada (it also includes parts of the United States,
including the Adirondacks). In addition, it used the Americanized spelling “gray,”
rather than the British-Canadian “grey.” Sixty years of lobbying by Canadian
birders to reverse the change finally prevailed. Adjust your life lists accordingly.
 OFFICERS FIELD TRIP REPORT
President Montezuma Region - September 29: On Saturday, September 29, sixteen members and friends of NCBC
Corky Marlowe visited the Montezuma region at the northern end of Cayuga Lake. Temperatures were in the 60’s, with
315-782-4705 sunny skies, a beautiful early fall day.
We began our day at Montezuma NWR’s Visitor Center, then followed the NWR’s Wildlife Drive. We then
Vice-President proceeded to an excellent lunch at Wolffy’s, a favorite restaurant on the shore of Cayuga Lake. After lunch,
Bill Haller we visited the Knox-Marcellus Marsh, Marten’s Tract, the Morgan Road DEC Center, and VanDyne Spoor
Secretary Road. Marten’s Tract has an observation platform overlooking ponds, marshes, and fields. VanDyne Spoor
Christine Bourquin Road, after running through fields and woodlands, follows the edge of an extensive marshland.
Highlights included 24 Sandhill Cranes at Knox-Marcellus Marsh, a Peregrine Falcon at the Visitor Center,
Treasurer a Black-bellied Plover at VanDyne Spoor Rd, three Northern Harriers flying over the marshes at the Refuge,
Kathleen Killeen a Great Black-backed Gull seen from the deck at Wolffy’s, and Pied-billed Grebes at several locations.
DIRECTORS 40 species were observed during our trip: Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck,
Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail,
Richard Brouse To 5/2020 Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey
David Prosser To 5/2019 Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Common
Mike Shepard To 5/2019 Gallinule, American Coot, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Great
June Walker To 5/2020 Black-backed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree
Robert Walker To 5/2019 Swallow, Gray Catbird, European Starling, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.
Field Trip Coordinator FORECASTING MIGRATION IN REAL TIME: BIRDCAST
Richard Brouse
315-788-6778
(from the Cornell Lab August e-newsletter)

Census Coordinator
Bill Haller
Historian
Robert Walker
Newsletter Editor
Bill Haller
315-639-6848
On The Web:
NORTH COUNTRY
BIRD CLUB
ON FACEBOOK
For detailed info about birds,
visit the website of
the Cornell Ornithology Lab
and of Cornell’s renowned
Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary
http://www.birds.cornell.edu
TREASURER’S REPORT
from the October 10th Meeting
Checking account balance ....... $1314.66
Savings account balance ......... $1612.49
Kathleen Killeen, Treasurer
The Cornell Lab has just relaunched BirdCast - the cutting-edge,
real-time, bird migration forecast built on weather radar data and
the millions of eBird observations submitted to us by citizen
scientists. Tune in for a look at fall migration and to fine-tune your
own birding schedule. With this up-to-the-minute monitoring, we
also hope to provide tools managers can use to help reduce the
number of bird deaths caused by wind turbines and light pollution
during migration. Because the majority of birds fly through on a
RED-TAILED HAWK few nights each year, small, temporary adjustments could save
Cape Vincent - October 2018 huge numbers of birds.
Photo by Robin Booth To access the Lab’s migration forecast: http://birdcast.info.
EBIRD ESSENTIALS: A Free Introductory Course
If you’re not already using eBird to track bird sightings and
participate as a citizen scientist, the Cornell Lab’s brand
new eBird Essentials course will show you how.
eBird Essentials is a self-paced, free course designed to
help you use the program, search for birds in your area,
STANDOFF AT THE FEEDER and learn how eBird is contributing to scientific research
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and conservation efforts.
AND (VS?) BLUE JAY
Discover how eBird can enhance your birding at:
Carthage - September 2018
https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/courses/ebird-essentials/
Photo by Sheree Brosk
A beautiful set of bird-themed notecards is given to a member or members of the Club by
random selection each time the Plover is issued, to provide an incentive to keep memberships
current. Our congratulations to Mark and Tammie Nelson, selected as this issue’s recipients.

INFORMATION SOURCES FOR REGIONAL SIGHTINGS AND RARE BIRD ALERTS

A list of birding list serves and of sites issuing rare bird alerts for New York is available from the New York State Ornithological
Association (NYSOA) at https://nybirds.org/RecordsRBA.htm Note especially eBird Alerts, Oneidabirds, Cayugabirds-L, and
Northern_NY_Birds. Oneidabirds reports sightings from the Syracuse area and the Montezuma region, and some sightings from
our area. Cayugabirds-L reports sightings from the Montezuma region as well, and from the eastern Finger Lakes region.
Northern_NY_Birds reports sightings mainly from the eastern Adirondacks and the Champlain Valley. 2
 NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB SIGHTINGS
Please forward notable sightings for the next issue to the Editor by December 15,
using the contact info on the last page.
Extensive sightings have been
submitted by Club members this
fall. They are given here sorted by
observer or observers, then in order
of dates observed or submitted by
each. This seemed to the Editor to
be the most effective way to
present the information.
EVENING GROSBEAK
One item which should certainly be
Watertown - October 2018
highlighted: Evening Grosbeaks
Photo by Lauri & Dee Piiparinen
have been sighted this fall by two
observers. Both sightings were within the CBC Watertown Circle. This
species has been a real rarity in our area in recent years. It has not been
reported on the Christmas Bird Count in over 12 years and has appeared
only occasionally on the Spring Bird Census.
The most extensive and varied sightings came from Dick and Marion
Brouse, so this report begins with those. Dick visited the El Dorado
Preserve in southern Jefferson County on several days during September
and reported the following as his most significant sightings. On
September 3, he sighted 12 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers,
3 Semipalmated Plovers, and 5 Sanderlings. On September 6, he
recorded 9 Black-bellied Plovers, 3 Semipalmated Plovers, 5 Sanderlings,
3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Bonaparte’s Gull,
18 Caspian Terns, 1 Merlin, 1 American Redstart, and 1 Magnolia Warbler.
On September 7, Dick sighted 10 Wood Ducks, 5 Black-bellied Plovers,
1 Semipalmated Plover, 11 Sanderlings, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Merlin, 1 Eastern
Wood-Pewee, 1 Red-eyed Vireo, and 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch. On
September 12, he recorded 1 Ruffed Grouse, 6 Semipalmated Plovers,
3 Sanderlings, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 Eastern
Wood-Pewee, 1 Least Flycatcher, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Philadelphia Vireo,
2 Warbling Vireos, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 3 American Redstarts, and
2 Yellow-rumped Warblers. On September 17, Dick sighted
9 Semipalmated Plovers, 7 Sanderlings, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers,
2 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, and 1 Osprey.
Dick and Marion reported a great variety of avian visitors at their home
along Kelsey Creek on the north side of Watertown. On September 9,
they observed 1 Green Heron, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 1 Red-bellied
Woodpecker, 2 Common Ravens, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 Common
Yellowthroat, 1 American Redstart, 1 Magnolia Warbler, 1 Black-throated
Blue Warbler, 1 Black-throated Green Warbler, and 1 Scarlet Tanager. On
September 11, they sighted 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 1 Green
Heron, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Merlins,
1 Great-crested Flycatcher, 2 Red-eyed Vireos, 1 Nashville Warbler,
1 Common Yellowthroat, 8 American Redstarts, 1 Magnolia Warbler,
1 Yellow Warbler, and 5 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. On September 28,
Dick and Marion recorded 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Belted Kingfisher,
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, and 9 Northern
Flickers. On October 3, they were visited by 1 Green Heron, 1 Red-tailed
Hawk, 1 Belted Kingfisher, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 12 Northern
Flickers, 2 Merlins, 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 1 White-throated Sparrow,
2 Magnolia Warblers, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers. On October 5, they
sighted 1 Green Heron, 2 Bald Eagles flying over, 1 Belted Kingfisher,
1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Northern
Flickers, 1 Merlin, 1 Eastern Phoebe, 1 Winter Wren, 3 Golden-crowned
Kinglets, 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 4 Dark-eyed Juncos (the first they had
seen this fall), and 6 White-throated Sparrows. On November 4, Dick and
Marion reported 2 Fox Sparrows, a Purple Finch, several Pine Siskins, an
American Tree Sparrow, and a Cooper’s Hawk. Dick also noted that a
Cape May Warbler had come several times over the previous week to feed
on suet. On November 6, Dick and Marion reported 3 Fox Sparrows, a
number of Pine Siskins, and several Rusty Blackbirds.
Robin Booth submitted a number of sightings from the Town of Cape
Vincent. On August 24, she sighted a Ruffed Grouse along Sam Adams
Road and noted that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were still in the area.
On September 13, she heard a Whip-poor-will. On September 14, Robin
sighted a Red-tailed Hawk and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, then saw
several Great Blue Herons and Ospreys near Three Mile Bay. On
September 21, she reported a Great Horned Owl on Sam Adams Road.
Robin also noted that she had seen a Brown Thrasher, a Ruffed Grouse,
and 2 Northern Flickers during the previous week.
On September 30, Sheree Brosk reported sightings of Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks (male and female), Blue Jays, Tufted Titmice (a pair),
Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinches, White-breasted
Nuthatches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and 3 Gray Catbirds at her home
in Carthage. Traveling through Champion that day, she sighted a Bald
Eagle and 18 Wild Turkeys. On October 6, Sheree reported a female
Ruby-throated Hummingbird investigating a flower box at her home (she
had taken down her Hummingbird feeder two weeks earlier). On
October 13, she was visited by a Carolina Wren and several Purple Finches.
On September 24, Lynn Chavoustie, birding in northwestern Jefferson
County, sighted unusually large numbers of Blue Jays and a murmuration
of several hundred European Starlings. Along Old Swamp Road, she
sighted a Blue-headed Vireo and several molting Wood Ducks. Along
NY 12E near Cape Vincent, Lynn saw 2 American Kestrels and 2 Northern
Harriers. On October 17, she sighted a Great Blue Heron on Three Mile
Point. On October 22, Lynn recorded the following observation at the
Three Mile Bay boat launch: “I first saw 5 Robins on the shore and thought
they were shore birds until I looked at them through my binoculars. As I
went to take a picture of them, in flew these Semipalmated Sandpipers.
Then it got interesting as a Robin chased one of the Sandpipers off.”
On September 16, Lee Ellsworth sighted 25 Great Egrets and a similar
number of Great Blue Herons at the Stone Mills Pool at Perch River WMA.
On October 17, Lee reported that, during a visit to the Downybrook
Preserve near Brownville, he had sighted a Rusty Blackbird feeding with a
small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds on the edge of a pond. He noted
that, as the Red-wings flushed, the Rusty Blackbird continued to forage
along the pond. On that visit, Lee also recorded 40-50 Green-winged
Teal, 4-5 Blue-winged Teal, a number of Wood Ducks, 2 American Black
Ducks, and a dozen or so Mallards. He observed many American Robins
feeding on dogwood berries along the trails at the Preserve.
On September 15, Bill Haller heard both Whip-poor-wills and Eastern
Towhees in the Limerick Cedars. On October 12, he sighted 5 Great Blue
Herons at Stone Mills Pool and 3 more at Sherwin’s Bay on Pillar Point.
On October 31, Bill sighted a Great Black-backed Gull on Point Salubrious
and 2 Great Blue Herons at the Stone Mills Pool.
On October 22, Kathy Killeen sighted a small flock of Evening Grosbeaks
at her home in Sackets Harbor.
On October 23, Tom McKay sighted 4 immature Bald Eagles on the shore
of Horse Island, one eating a fish, the other three waiting their turn.
On September 3, Corky Marlowe and Bill Haller sighted 4 Pied-billed
Grebes, a Merlin, and a Belted Kingfisher at Perch River WMA, as well as
a pair of Belted Kingfishers along the north shore of Pillar Point. On
September 22, they saw a Northern Harrier at Perch River WMA,
3 American Kestrels along Herbretch Road, and a Great Black-backed
Gull, several Killdeer, 2 Caspian Terns, and 3 Great Blue Herons on Point
Salubrious. On September 25, Corky and Bill sighted 2 Great Egrets and
3 Great Blue Herons at Perch River WMA. (continued on the next page) 3
(Sightings continued from previous page) On October 5, they sighted
4 Great Egrets and 2 Great Blue Herons there. On October 13, Corky and
Bill saw 2 Great Blue Herons at Sherwin’s and a Great Black-backed Gull
along Pillar Point’s south shore. On October 20, they sighted a Black
Scoter at the Chaumont Boat Launch.
On September 24, Kathy Killeen and Corky Marlowe birded the Battlefield
Trail in Sackets Harbor, where they sighted ~30 juvenile Double-crested
Cormorants, Black-capped Chickadees, a White-breasted Nuthatch, and
several flocks of Canada Geese flying over in V-formation. Later that day,
at her home in Sackets, Kathy was visited by House Finches, Blue Jays, a
Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Doves, American Goldfinches, and
Black-capped Chickadees.
On September 17, Lauri and Dee Piiparinen sighted a juvenile male
Rose-breasted Grosbeak at their home in Watertown. On October 25,
they were visited there by an Evening Grosbeak (see photo).
On October 25, Ray Spahn reported that Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls,
Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches,
and Tufted Titmice had visited his feeders in Sackets. On October 30, he
sighted a juvenile Sanderling along the lakeshore south of Southwick
Beach State Park and followed it for a lengthy stretch along the beach.
On September 15, Kezia Sullivan sighted 2 Ospreys on the nesting
platform on NY 180 near Gunns Corners. She reported on September 21
that 3 Greater Yellowlegs had been “hanging around” along the shore at
her home in Sackets. On October 21, Kezia reported her first sightings in
Sackets this fall of three species. She saw a Bonaparte’s Gull on
October 18, a Brown Creeper on October 19, and 5 Brant on October 21.

WHAT BIRDS WILL VISIT CORNELL LAB COURSES

YOUR FEEDERS THIS WINTER?
Do you plan to feed birds in your backyard this
winter? Are you curious to know what birds you
might see? The Cornell Lab has developed the
Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds
interactive to give you an indication of what visitors
to expect.
Simply choose your region and the types of feeders
and food that you provide. You’ll see what species
are most likely to visit your feeders.
Access the program at:
https://feederwatch.org/learn/common-feeder-birds/
FUERTES PAINTING
From the State Museum in Albany
Published in Birds of America, 1917
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
SNOW BUNTING
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers several online courses to help birders
improve their skills. These can be accessed at the Lab’s website:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu
Follow the link there to the Bird Academy to view the available courses. There is
a fee for each course, to offset the cost of creating them.
Some courses can be taken at any time and at any pace. Others are set up as
more formal online courses; those who register are expected to “attend” each
online session at the scheduled time.
These courses provide a most effective way to develop and increase one’s
birding skills by working with some of the world’s leading ornithologists. They
have the added advantage of being available in the comfort of one’s home, and
many are made even more accessible by complete flexibility of schedule. The
winter season would seem the perfect time to take advantage of this excellent
opportunity provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Ron Pittaway’s Winter Finch Forecast - continued from page 1:
PURPLE FINCH: Purple Finches are now moving south out of Ontario. Most will
depart by December because seed crops are poor on northern conifers and
hardwoods. At feeders they prefer black oil sunflower seeds.
RED CROSSBILL: Red Crossbills will be scarce this winter. Watch for them in pines.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: Some White-winged Crossbills should wander south
this winter into southern Ontario and the northern states because of poor cone crops
in the eastern boreal forest.
COMMON REDPOLL: This will be a flight year for Redpolls. Birch, alder, and conifer
seed crops are generally poor to low in most of the Northeast, so Redpolls will come
into southern Ontario and the northern states. The first arriving Redpolls this fall likely
will be seen in weedy fields. When Redpolls discover nyjer seed feeders, feeding
frenzies will result. (This will be the winter to see HOARY REDPOLLS in flocks of
Common Redpolls.)
PINE SISKIN: Siskins are currently moving south because cone crops in the
Northeast are generally poor. Siskins relish nyjer seeds in silo feeders.
EVENING GROSBEAK: Expect a moderate flight south into southern Ontario and the
northern states because both conifer and deciduous seed crops are generally low in
the Northeast. At feeders the Evening Grosbeak prefers black-oil sunflower seeds.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH: This Nuthatch is irrupting south because conifer
seed crops are poor to low in most of the eastern boreal forest.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING: A good flight south into settled areas is expected because
native Mountain-ashes in the boreal forests of Ontario and Quebec have a below
average berry crop. Flocks will likely wander farther south and east than usual.
Watch for them feeding on European Mountain-ash berries, small ornamental
crabapples and Buckthorn berries. Swirling flocks of Bohemian Waxwings resemble
Starlings and make a continuous buzzy ringing twittering. 4
 From The Belted Kingfisher, newsletter of the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, March 2018:
PLASTICS: WORLDWIDE PROBLEM, LOCAL SOLUTIONS (Excerpts)
Andy Mason - Conservation Chairman, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society
Recent press coverage has documented the plight of albatrosses in micro-beads used in such products as body washes, cosmetics,
the central Pacific Ocean that are ingesting and then feeding their toothpaste and other personal products.
chicks an array of plastic items from disposable cigarette lighters to These plastics come from improper disposal of the huge quantities
bottle caps to pieces of plastic bags. Albatrosses, normally long-lived produced and discarded by humans. Plastics permeate every aspect
birds that only come to land in order to breed and nest, are mistaking of our lives, but there is no suitable method to handle the materials at
plastic for food . . . which they swallow and then regurgitate for chicks the end of their useful life. Plastic is not naturally degradable, despite
on return to nesting islands. Examination of the stomachs of dead claims by industry, and what now litters our planet will be there for
chicks find them filled with plastic—the young birds dying of lack of thousands of years.
nutrition and dehydration . . . What you can do: The plastic problem is overwhelming, but we can
The amount of plastic in our oceans is staggering. A whirlpool, or gyre, make a difference in our own lives. One of the worst sources of plastic
of floating plastic in the Pacific is estimated at twice the size of Texas. pollution is single-use plastic bags. Americans use 100 billion plastic
It is anticipated that by 2050 there will be more plastic by weight in the bags a year, with the average family taking home 1,500 yearly. Using
ocean than fish. It is no surprise that albatrosses and other seabirds canvas bags when shopping is an obvious improvement (but this is not
end up eating these materials. Nearly all seabirds, including all 22 a widespread practice). This is a small and painless first step to ending
species of albatross, are in population decline. this scourge on our planet . . . Individuals can also contact legislators
In addition to these larger plastic objects, it is known that plastic that and other government officials to urge them to join the growing
does degrade ends up as tiny, sometimes microscopic particles that movement to ban or restrict plastic bags. More information on
enter the food chain on both land and water. These are toxic in many reducing plastic use and waste can be found at
animals, including humans. Plastic microfibers are now found in our plasticpollutioncoalition.org.
drinking water. Another threat is the production and disposal of plastic

SUPERB STARLING
Africa - Summer 2018 Photo by Sue Timerman
One of the beautiful birds of the African continent
which Sue saw on her trip this summer - If someone RUSTY BLACKBIRD RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
was determined to import Starlings into North Downybrook Preserve - October 2018 Sackets Harbor - November 1, 2018
America, why couldn’t they have chosen this one? Photo by Lee Ellsworth Photo by Kathy Killeen
For info on Onondaga Audubon events: http://onondagaaudubon.com/
Information from the Department of Environmental Conservation and conservation news are
distributed by DEC using a targeted e-mail system. Select from 100+ topics. To subscribe:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYSDEC/subscriber/new

Regular at $10.00 Number _____ Total $______________

Sponsor at $15.00 Number _____ Total $______________

Patron at $20.00 Number _____ Total $______________

___ New ___ Renewal Total Dues $______________

Dues payable to: North Country Bird Club Send newsletter by:
P.O. Box 634 ___ e-mail ___USPS
Year: 20____ Watertown, NY 13601 (please check one) RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Cape Vincent - August 23, 2018
PLEASE REMEMBER TO FILL OUT BOTH SIDES OF THE FORM Photo by Jim LaPlante 55
 REMEMBER TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2019!
CROSS-FEEDING From the National Audubon Website:
Earlier this fall, we received the following intriguing inquiry from Sue TELLING A RAVEN FROM A CROW
Gwise, Horticulturalist at Cornell Cooperative Extension: You’re outside, enjoying a sunny day when a shadow at your
I had a call from someone that is observing Robins feeding Flycatcher feet causes you to look up. A large, black bird flies over and
lands in a nearby tree. You wonder: is that a crow or a raven?
babies that are in a nest next to the Robin nest. The Robins have their
These two species, Common Ravens and American Crows,
own babies and are feeding both nests. The Flycatcher parents are
overlap widely throughout North America, and they look quite
around and are feeding their own babies. The Flycatchers seem quite similar. But with a bit of practice, you can tell them apart.
disturbed when the Robins feed the Flycatcher babies. Heard of
You probably know that ravens are larger, the size of a
anything like this? Thanks! Sue Gwise Red-tailed Hawk. Ravens often travel in pairs, while crows are
Some quick research by the Editor revealed that cross-feeding is not an seen in larger groups. Also, watch the bird’s tail as it flies
entirely unusual behavior. The link below provides extensive overhead. The crow’s tail feathers are basically the same length,
information about the phenomenon: so, when the bird spreads its tail, it opens like a fan. Ravens,
https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/ however, have longer middle feathers in their tails, so their tail
gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/behaviour/cross_species_feeding appears wedge-shaped when open. A raven's strut is often
punctuated by a few two-footed hops.
By Voice: Listen closely to the birds’ calls. Crows give a cawing
sound, but ravens produce a lower croaking sound. While crows
caw and purr, ravens croak and scream bloody murder.
In flight: Ravens ride the thermals and soar, while crows do
more flapping. As noted above, a flying raven's tail resembles a
wedge, compared to the rounded fan-like shape of a crow's.
Up close: Ravens have bigger, curvier beaks than crows. While
both species have bristles at the base of the beak, the raven's
are noticeably longer. Its throat feathers are also quite shaggy.
WILD TURKEY WITH CHICKEN Town of Lyme - September 24, 2018 Common Ravens are much less common than American Crows
Photo by Lynn Chavoustie (“I hate it when the relatives show up!”) in the Eastern United States. Look for ravens foraging in pairs;
crows are highly sociable and will hang out in murders (flocks)
RECEIVE THE UPLAND PLOVER ONLINE and communal roosts.
The e-mailed Plover is the same as the printed version, but in COLOR! To be added to our E-mail Notification List for news of
(viewed with Adobe Reader - http://www.adobe.com/). select sightings and events in the area, please contact the
Contact the Editor at haldex@twcny.rr.com to sign up. Editor at haldex@twcny.rr.com.
Become a member of the New York State
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT PLOVER ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 15
Ornithological Association (NYSOA).
Membership includes a quarterly journal and a Please forward sightings, photos, or other items for
newsletter. Details at www.nybirds.org. the November/December issue to the Editor by December 15.
Contact info: Bill Haller, Editor - Mail: P. O. Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634
E-mail: haldex@twcny.rr.com - Phone: (315) 639-6848 (9 am to 9 pm)
Meetings / Programs: March, April,
May, September, October, November, NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP
(Second Wednesday of the month)
Field Trips: Spring - Summer - Fall Membership is for the calendar year. Dues are per individual.
Renewals are due by January 1st. To ensure that you receive Club
Spring Bird Census materials, be sure to give your correct mailing address below.
North Country Big Day
Audubon Christmas Bird Count Name(s): _____________________________________________
Newsletter: The Upland Plover E-mail: _______________________________________________
Website: North Country Bird Club
on FACEBOOK Address: _____________________________________________
The North Country Bird Club, Inc., is City: _______________________ State: _____ Zip: __________
a charter member of the New York State
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This page is included only with the
electronic version of the Plover, as a
thank-you to those who save the Club
money by receiving the newsletter by
e-mail. There simply is not space
enough in the regular edition to show all
of the excellent photos which have been
submitted this fall, so some additional
examples of the fine work of our
photographers are presented in this
supplement.
Immediately to the right, we begin with a
second photo by Sue Timerman showing BLUE JAY
the beauty of the birds she encountered SECRETARY BIRD Cape Vincent - October 13, 2018
on her trip to Africa this summer. Africa - Summer 2018 Photo by Sue Timerman Photo by Robin Booth

NORTHERN FLICKER
Sackets Harbor - October 1, 2018
Photo by Kathy Killeen
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS
Three Mile Bay - October 22, 2018 Photo by Lynn Chavoustie
An excellent example of the effectiveness of shorebird camouflage: there are at least seven
Sandpipers in view here, and possibly more, but a cursory glance might well leave the observer under
the impression that there are only two or three, or even none at all.

WOOD DUCKS DARK-EYED JUNCOS

Town of Lyme - September 24, 2018 Cape Vincent - October 13, 2018
Photo by Lynn Chavoustie Photo by Robin Booth

HOUSE FINCHES ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK FEMALE HOUSE FINCHES

Watertown - October 18, 2018 (Juvenile Male) AND EVENING GROSBEAK
Watertown - September 17, 2018 Watertown - October 26, 2018
Photos by Lauri & Dee Piiparinen