In general it seems to me I do not have the large fall flocks of any birds
around this year. For example, I usually have to fight the birds for my
elderberries and late blueberries but this year the elderberries are still
hanging and becoming fully ripe. Bird damage in the blueberries is way down
and no other flocks in my corn or pepper fields. (One year birds wiped out
3000 ripe hot peppers in one night!) Kind of scary, really. Has anyone else
noticed this lack?
Mary Anderson
Ps...also, when cleaning out my birdhouses, for the second year in a row one
of them had dead babies in it. Tree swallows had been using it. What gives?
I don't know how to identify skeletal young birds and wonder if these babies
could perhaps have been a result of cowbirds or did the parents abandon the
young for the second year in a row. If so, why?
-----Original Message-----
From: Upper Valley Birders [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Doug Hardy
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 10:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [UVB] watch for nighthawks
Upper Valley birders may be interested in reading the following,
suggesting either a dearth of nighthawks coming through this year, or
delayed migration. Although the focus of their observations is slightly
east of us, any local sightings would be useful!
Doug Hardy, Norwich
From: Henry Norwood
Sent: Sep 4, 2008 5:57 PM
Subject: Nighthawk Survey Update
Hi Nighthawk Survey Observers--
Last night, Lillian and Don Stokes scored with 82 nighthawks at
their farm in southern NH, indicating that the
nighthawks are still on the move, so keep up the good work!
We are currently (9/04) at 3,931 nighthawks for the year which
is definitely a low water mark but we have yet to see a serious
peak for the year.The big question now is whether that peak is
just late or "not in the cards".
And remember, if you do go out but are "bagelled", please record
it! Ditto if you were shutout earlier in the survey but didn't
report it. If we are witnessing a serious long range decline in
counts, we want as much documentation as possible that the trend
was not due to a decline in our efforts!
Also, we would very much appreciate any thoughts that you may
have as to what factors may be contributing to this year's
count levels. In October we will be preparing and sending out an
analysis of this year's survey and, as always, we want and need
your input.
Thanks for your efforts.
Hank Norwood and Jeff Slovin
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