From bernies at uillinois.edu Wed Mar 1 10:35:06 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Wed Mar 1 10:35:10 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Steeple birds
Message-ID: <>
Saw two large dark birds on the steeple this AM...got excited until I
realized they were crows. I don't recall having seen any birds perched
there before, other than the Peregrine...
The two crows were part of a group of four crows that seemed like they
were on a mission. They were flying low over the rooftops of the
Chemical and Life Science Lab, Burrill Hall, Morrill Hall, the Natural
History Building, then across Green Street over several buildings on the
Engineering Campus, and then back to a big oak in front of Natural
History. Except for the brief perching on the steeple, they were never
much higher than rooftop level, and they landed on a couple of roofs. It
was like they were looking for something.
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
From bernies at uillinois.edu Wed Mar 1 21:42:22 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Wed Mar 1 21:42:25 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Peregrine sighting (not on the steeple)
Message-ID: <>
Birdnoters,
Tonight I left work and didn't see anything on the steeple. I kept
looking as I walked to my car, as I usually do. Still nothing...
I then drove east on Illinois and then north on Lincoln in Urbana. I was
sitting at the stoplight at Lincoln and Green about 5:30PM when I spied
what most likely was the Peregrine half-heartedly harassing several
Mourning Doves from east to west, crossing Lincoln Avenue north of
Green. It had the distinctive falcon profile as it chased the Doves, and
was much bigger than the Kestrels or Merlins I've observed. (And it
obviously wasn't a Coopers or Sharp-Shinned).
The Mourning Doves evaded the Peregrine and the falcon soared up and
perched on top of the taller western tower of the Hendrick House private
dorm at the northwest corner of Lincoln and Green. I drove around the
block to get a closer view, but the Peregrine had left the building
before I got back to the intersection.
Bernie Sloan
Senior Information Systems Consultant
Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois
616 E. Green Street, Suite 213
Champaign, IL 61820-5752
Phone: (217) 333-4895
Fax: (217) 265-0454
E-mail:
From limey at uiuc.edu Wed Mar 1 22:57:55 2006
From: limey at uiuc.edu (John Buckmaster)
Date: Wed Mar 1 22:58:13 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] lake vermillion, sightings
Message-ID: <>
Got on the water today, the first time this year. No binoculars,
unfortunately, as the water-proof ones are in the shop.
A mature bald eagle soaring in sight of the public launch ramp; about a
dozen red-headed woodpeckers checking out the drowned trees for
nesting holes; 2 great blue herons; a large flock of red-winged
blackbirds in the trees just south of the n.fork bridge; 2 buzzards
ridge soaring on the west side cliffs near the launch ramp; 2
red-bellied woodpeckers; a fair number of canadian geese pairs;
hundreds of ducks on the shallow waters in the north east which are
normally inaccessible even to shallow draft kayaks, but right now the
water level is high; huge amounts of fresh beaver bark stripping,
mostly on trees that have been down at least a season.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
John Buckmaster
Professional address:
Department of Aerospace Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
104 S Wright St., Urbana IL 61801
217.333.1803 (ph) 217.244.0720 (fax)
cell phone: 217.621.9786
Mailing address (personal and professional):
1717 W Kirby Ave, #212., Champaign IL 61821-5507
Urbana residential address:
2014 Boudreau Dr, Urbana IL 61801-5802
217.344.6103
Oregon residential address:
120 Marlboro Ln, Eugene OR 97405-3599
541.342.3172
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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From spendelo at uiuc.edu Thu Mar 2 00:05:36 2006
From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow)
Date: Thu Mar 2 00:05:38 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Peregrine + RB Gulls
Message-ID: <>
Hi everyone,
The Peregrine Falcon was on the steeple at the intersection of Green and
Mathews at 6:05 this morning.
Sonja saw three gulls (presumably Ring-billed) at 9 AM, flying over the
parking lot of the Schnucks on Mattis. This is only the second time either
of us has seen a gull in town.
Good birding!
Jacob Spendelow
Champaign
From birder1949 at yahoo.com Thu Mar 2 06:56:07 2006
From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges)
Date: Thu Mar 2 06:56:14 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Killdeer and dark-morph red-tail
Message-ID: <>
A late post from yesterday:
Around 9 a.m. Wednesday I observed a pair of Killdeer
flying north across the prairie at Meadowbrook.
At about 6:15 a.m. this morning (Thursday), I saw a
(the?) dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk fly southeast across
the statuary path and head toward the fields southeast
of Meadowbrook Park. This is about the fourth or
fifth time I've observed this bird flying a somewhat
similar pattern; I'm wondering if it roosts somewhere
in southeast Urbana and its regular hunting territory
is in the fields southeast of town.
Roger Digges
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From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Thu Mar 2 07:58:24 2006
From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert)
Date: Thu Mar 2 07:59:25 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] We've lost a Pigeon...
Message-ID: <>
An exploded pile of feathers (and other scattered remnants) are all that
remains of a pigeon at the back of my yard (pigeons are present in my
area as a small flock living around Smith Rd and E. Main). Previously,
such events have been caused by the presence of Coopers Hawks. I
haven't seen one in the last week or so, but I'll bet they've been
there!
(Unless someone's seen the Peregrine out my way:)
Bob :)
From j.courson at mchsi.com Thu Mar 2 09:33:42 2006
From: j.courson at mchsi.com ()
Date: Thu Mar 2 09:33:45 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Birds on the Move!
Message-ID: <>
Hello All:
Sightings of late:
Eastern Meadow Lark -- backyard
Bluebirds - Male singing in the backyard with small flock
Redwing Blackbirds at feeder in the backyard.
All as of yesterday.
Later,
Jeff
--
Jeffrey A. Courson
"There comes a special moment in
everyone's life, a moment for
which that person was born. That
special opportunity, when he
seizes it, will fulfill his
mission--a mission for which he is
uniquely qualified. In that
moment, he finds greatness. It is
his finest hour."
Winston Churchill
From bprice at pdnt.com Thu Mar 2 14:06:54 2006
From: bprice at pdnt.com (Brock Price)
Date: Thu Mar 2 14:07:52 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Vermillion Co. - Ducks
Message-ID: <002301c63e34$dabe8ba0$dc41fa3f@YOURCD7BB1D575>
Lake Vermilion:
- Red-breasted Mergansers ( 4 )
West Newell Road:
- Gadwalls
- American Widgeons
- Northern Shovelers
- Mallards
- Great Blue Herons
- Wood Ducks
Brock Price
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From jbchato at uiuc.edu Thu Mar 2 14:30:08 2006
From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato)
Date: Thu Mar 2 14:30:11 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Cranes, Saw Whet etc.
Message-ID: <>
Dear Birdnoters,
I hope that many of you had a chance to see and hear the group of about
100 Sandhill Cranes that made their way over Urbana about 1pm
yesterday. I was finishing lunch when i heard them and rushed out the
back door. They were obliging enough to circle back from their northbound
course so that I could see as well as hear them. That makes species
#165 for my yard list. I'm only 1 bock from Greg Lambeth with his 158, but
I've had 42 years to work on it. I'm sure he will surpass me soon, as he is
a more dedicated sky watcher.
Elaine and I went out to see the Saw Whet at Allerton this a.m. He is still
there and Chris Erb was there to kindly point him out to us. We also saw 5
Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Rusty Blackbirds.
The Pine Siskins have returned to my yard. I also have a unique bird
feeder. Apparently the squirrels have nibbled some of the small branches
on my sugar maple and they are leaking sweet sap. The tree has been
full of cardinals, goldfinches etc, as well as the squirrels- all sipping sap.
If it freezes, I have sap icicles.
John C. Chato
714 W. Vermont Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
217-344-6803
From charleneanchor at msn.com Fri Mar 3 12:16:23 2006
From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor)
Date: Fri Mar 3 12:09:46 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook A.M.
Message-ID: <>
There were lots of SONG SPARROWS south of Prairie Play this morning. Eight foraging together on the grass, two others along the creek, staying within about a foot of each other. The two were foraging on the edge of the water, then would approach each other bill to bill, then each would hop backwards, forage for a bit and repeat. No aggression - looked like a dance. Maybe a pair, or a soon-to-be pair? :-) A little further down a large IMMATURE COOPER'S HAWK was sitting along the creek. It was eye-level only about 60 ft away....an excellent view with binos! Observed it looking around for several minutes until it quietly lifted up and flew through the shrubs. Saw one of the BANDED CARDINALS, a female, on the east edge of the Nursery. Also nearby, a BLUE JAY was doing it's imitation of a Red-tailed Hawk. It called on the Meadowbrook side and then flew across the street and called on the Forestry side. Two BROWN CREEPERS were south off the Race Street parking lot. Stopped counting the singing RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at 10. Lots of GRACKLES around and the usual residents.
Due to the Savannah Restoration which will be taking place this summer on the south prairie, I took down the nestboxes. Will put them back up at the end of the season or next year. In the meantime, it will be exciting to watch the creation of a new habitat as it evolves and Meadowbrook continues to improve!
Charlene Anchor
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From bpalmore at egix.net Fri Mar 3 16:54:03 2006
From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore)
Date: Fri Mar 3 16:56:05 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey Sighting
Message-ID: <>
Spotted 4 on southeast corner of Vine and Sunnycrest, 4:45 p.m.
From bpalmore at egix.net Fri Mar 3 17:04:26 2006
From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore)
Date: Fri Mar 3 17:06:29 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] correction
Message-ID: <>
Turkey sighting should have been Northeast corner instead of
Southeast. Minor error.
From bernies at uillinois.edu Fri Mar 3 17:34:35 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Fri Mar 3 17:34:41 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkey sighting
Message-ID: <>
Saw the turkeys a little before 5PM today in a front yard on Sunnycrest
Court in Urbana. North side of the street, second house to the east of
Vine Street.
All four turkeys were there. The females were farther away from the
street and the males were closer. The males displayed several times,
fanning their tails and extending their wings lower and looking all the
world like the stereotypical Thanksgiving turkey image. They are
beautiful birds.
I was watching them from my car, and some other people were also
watching from a car. A couple of other people were standing across the
street watching them. I got to watch the turkeys for maybe five minutes.
They seemed very wary. They were keeping an eye on everyone. Eventually
it seemed like maybe we'd watched them a tad too long and made the
turkeys a little too nervous, and they walked around the side of the
house into the back yard.
One last note...one of the females seemed to have a slight hitch in her
step. Not exactly a limp, more like favoring a leg slightly.
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
From bernies at uillinois.edu Fri Mar 3 18:45:36 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Fri Mar 3 18:45:41 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook PM
Message-ID: <>
Late this afternoon...
Half dozen crows spaced evenly along McCullough Creek south of the
bridge by the Windsor parking lot. They were doing a lot of talking back
and forth, and seemed a little agitated, but I didn't see anything in
particular that they might be agitated about.
Pheasant activity seems to have picked up. Several males calling in
different areas of the park, as well as in Pomology to the east of the
park. Several males flying over the prairie. Two or three hen pheasants
in the brush to the north of the eastern portion of the Hickman
Wildflower Walk.
Heard some juncos and cardinals along McCullough Creek.
Saw quite a few robins.
Saw doves and starlings flying overhead.
Heard a red bellied woodpecker calling in the southeast corner of the
park.
Heard fairly loud drilling by a woodpecker in the southeast corner of
the park. Once I tracked it down I was surprised to see it was a small
female downy. The downy must have been drilling on a particularly
resonant hollow branch.
Bernie Sloan
E-mail:
From bernies at uillinois.edu Fri Mar 3 20:06:23 2006
From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie)
Date: Fri Mar 3 20:06:36 2006
Subject: [Birdnotes] Lake of the Woods Afternoon Visit
Message-ID: <>
I stopped by the Lake of the Woods to stretch my legs a bit on the way
back from a meeting at ISU in Bloomington. Got off of I-74 on Route 47
and headed north to the park. I noticed that part of the prairie area to
the west of Route 47 had been burned.
I drove through the park to check out the lake. No water birds there.
Note: not sure how many birds might usually be on the lake this time of
year...but most of the ponds/lakes along I-74 were similarly devoid of
birds.
Then I decided to walk the nature trail in Rayburn-Purnell Woods. It
looks like the Champaign County Forest Preserve District is doing a lot
of habitat restoration stuff at Lake of the Woods. There was a big sign
to this effect at the entrance to the nature trail at the woods (lots of
stuff about invasive species). I am familiar with controlled burns of
prairies, but I'm not sure I've ever seen controlled burns of woodland
understory. It's obvious that had happened at Rayburn-Purnell Woods. In
some areas all the undergrowth had been burnt down, but the nature
trails themselves still had dried leaves on them...good sign of a
controlled burn. In the areas of the woods that hadn't been burned there
was a lot more underbrush. Very interesting and worthwhile to study how
fire might control invasive species on the forest floor!!
Anyway, on to my birding in Rayburn-Purnell Woods. When I first entered
the woods I saw mostly Robins foraging, a well as smoldering deadwood
(from the controlled burn). As I walked the trail the Robins would keep
pace ahead of me. Couldn't tell what they were looking for, but they
seemed to be finding food.
I decided to stop walking and stay quietly in one spot to see what I
could see/hear. I heard/saw Northern Flickers, Juncos, Blue Jays, Red
Headed Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Downy/Hairy Woodpeckers,
etc. The Robins gradually came foraging back to near where I stood,