Comments for Chequamegon Bird Club Blog http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog Bird-related observations and musings by members of the Chequamegon Bird Club of North-central Wisconsin Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:12:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Spring Migration 2009 Observations by Greg http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=61#comment-11 Greg Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:50:51 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=61#comment-11 On March 24th, we stopped at the Owen Sportsman's Lake and were pleasantly surprised to see a couple hundred tundra swans resting there. There were also mallards and Canada geese, but we didn't see any other waterfowl species. (but it was very windy so difficult to see much of anything) A little further up the road we saw our first turkey vulture of the season migrating north. Greg On March 24th, we stopped at the Owen Sportsman’s Lake and were pleasantly surprised to see a couple hundred tundra swans resting there. There were also mallards and Canada geese, but we didn’t see any other waterfowl species. (but it was very windy so difficult to see much of anything)

A little further up the road we saw our first turkey vulture of the season migrating north.

Greg

]]> Comment on feeder update by Greg http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=58#comment-10 Greg Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:06:50 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=58#comment-10 The last several days our feeders have been loaded with finches and also a mob of morning doves (about 25). I'm guessing we have a couple hundred pine siskens, redpolls and goldfinches with a few purple finches thrown in for color. We are going through feed faster than I think we ever have before. In past years we've had a dove or two occasionally here at our woodland feeder. But this year we've had as many as 30 at a time! The deer carcasses/"suet feeder" that we had hanging in the yard is pretty much just bones left. So the northern shrike that we had as a regular visitor feeding on it has moved on. Other than the usual chickadees, white and red-breasted nuthatches, and bluejays, that's about it for our feeder news. Greg The last several days our feeders have been loaded with finches and also a mob of morning doves (about 25). I’m guessing we have a couple hundred pine siskens, redpolls and goldfinches with a few purple finches thrown in for color.

We are going through feed faster than I think we ever have before. In past years we’ve had a dove or two occasionally here at our woodland feeder. But this year we’ve had as many as 30 at a time!

The deer carcasses/”suet feeder” that we had hanging in the yard is pretty much just bones left. So the northern shrike that we had as a regular visitor feeding on it has moved on.

Other than the usual chickadees, white and red-breasted nuthatches, and bluejays, that’s about it for our feeder news. Greg

]]> Comment on Hotspot Write-up for Pershing Wildlife Area by Greg http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-9 Greg Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:41:46 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-9 In terms of a layout that could be used for the web site and possibly for the print-out, I could see the following sections: Home Page - would contain an overview (probably similar to what Claire has written above) and a navigation scheme (to the main sections below) that would be used throughout the web site. Other main sections of the web site could include: History Page - description of the history of the Pershing W.A. area, it’s purchase by the DNR, etc. etc. Specific Flowage (Habitat) Breakdowns Page(s) - (Ex. Monson Flowage, Shoulder Creek Flowage, Sharptail Habitats, etc., etc.) - each probably could contain images and specific bird species likely to be found in each, images of the area, etc.. Each area described could be a separate page (on the web site) or just a separate section on the same page. Ongoing Species List Page - an ongoing tally of bird species observed on Pershing. Projects Page - description of any projects that are currently being carried out on the property - including our bluebird trail project if that’s undertaken. Other Main Section Pages?? Those are my thoughts re: the web site organization Greg In terms of a layout that could be used for the web site and possibly for the print-out, I could see the following sections:

Home Page - would contain an overview (probably similar to what Claire has written above) and a navigation scheme (to the main sections below) that would be used throughout the web site. Other main sections of the web site could include:

History Page - description of the history of the Pershing W.A. area, it’s purchase by the DNR, etc. etc.

Specific Flowage (Habitat) Breakdowns Page(s) - (Ex. Monson Flowage, Shoulder Creek Flowage, Sharptail Habitats, etc., etc.) - each probably could contain images and specific bird species likely to be found in each, images of the area, etc.. Each area described could be a separate page (on the web site) or just a separate section on the same page.

Ongoing Species List Page - an ongoing tally of bird species observed on Pershing.

Projects Page - description of any projects that are currently being carried out on the property - including our bluebird trail project if that’s undertaken.

Other Main Section Pages??

Those are my thoughts re: the web site organization
Greg

]]> Comment on Hotspot Write-up for Pershing Wildlife Area by Gayle http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-7 Gayle Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:52:55 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-7 I would agree with Greg - I had a really neat book of birding "loops" for the Denver area when I moved there years ago - it did break down each loop (like the Rocky Mt Arsenal, Mt Evans, etc) into actual routes and what birds to find where along the routes - it was still in a booklet form and very user-friendly and informative - I don't know to what extent we want this hotspot guide we're doing to go, but I would definitely agree with more specifics - good basic write-up Claire - and a good starting point - now we just have to collaborate for details :) I would agree with Greg - I had a really neat book of birding “loops” for the Denver area when I moved there years ago - it did break down each loop (like the Rocky Mt Arsenal, Mt Evans, etc) into actual routes and what birds to find where along the routes - it was still in a booklet form and very user-friendly and informative - I don’t know to what extent we want this hotspot guide we’re doing to go, but I would definitely agree with more specifics - good basic write-up Claire - and a good starting point - now we just have to collaborate for details :)

]]> Comment on Hotspot Write-up for Pershing Wildlife Area by Greg http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-6 Greg Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:30:43 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=56#comment-6 I think what you've written is a good overview of the area. Do you think it would be helpful to further break down the area by watersheds and/or habitat types and then give more specific species that are likely to be found in each area? That would probably require, first breaking the area up into what ever sections we decided upon and then taking some field trips to each of the sections and recording what we saw. And if we did that, we could also include habitat and watershed images of each section to break up the text. Just a thought. Greg I think what you’ve written is a good overview of the area.

Do you think it would be helpful to further break down the area by watersheds and/or habitat types and then give more specific species that are likely to be found in each area? That would probably require, first breaking the area up into what ever sections we decided upon and then taking some field trips to each of the sections and recording what we saw.

And if we did that, we could also include habitat and watershed images of each section to break up the text.

Just a thought.
Greg

]]> Comment on New Yard Bird by Greg http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=48#comment-5 Greg Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:20:59 +0000 http://chequamegonbirdclub.org/blog/?p=48#comment-5 Like you, we usually have some predatory birds visiting our feeders, but on a pretty irregular basis. Usually during the winter we'll end up seeing at least one Northern Shrike, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk or Goshawk. But so far this year, we've not seen any of the above (not to say that they haven't been here unaware to us). I know there are some (including CBC members) who are upset by these predatory visitors when they start taking some of their favorite birds (like cardinals) and while I'd hate to lose the single cardinal that sometimes visits our feeder, I'm still thrilled by the appearance of one of these raptors . . and these prey species birds seem to be holding their own just fine. Greg Like you, we usually have some predatory birds visiting our feeders, but on a pretty irregular basis. Usually during the winter we’ll end up seeing at least one Northern Shrike, Cooper’s Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk or Goshawk. But so far this year, we’ve not seen any of the above (not to say that they haven’t been here unaware to us).

I know there are some (including CBC members) who are upset by these predatory visitors when they start taking some of their favorite birds (like cardinals) and while I’d hate to lose the single cardinal that sometimes visits our feeder, I’m still thrilled by the appearance of one of these raptors . . and these prey species birds seem to be holding their own just fine.

Greg

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