ChickChat-MarApr2015 - Litchfield Hills Audubon Society

Chickadee
Chickadee Chatter • March 2012
Chatter
March / April 2015
Litchfield Hills Audubon Society Newsletter
Volume 60 / Issue 2
The mission of the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds,
other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of the community, through conservation, education and research.
President’s Message
Upcoming Programs & Field Trips
By Harry Ainsworth
(See Calendar, pages 6-7, for details)
Think Spring and Other Things!
Programs
Easier said than done. It’s snowing
again, and the birds are busy at the feeders. We have been
careful this year in putting the feeders out first thing in
the morning and taking them in at dusk. We have been
trying to maximize the feeding hours during this cold
spell. The days are definitely getting longer.
At the moment, my focus is on feeding the birds and
planning on expanding the number of Eastern Bluebird
houses in my yard. Bluebirds are beautiful, to say the
least, and I really look forward to having them nest in our
yard once again.
We currently have five birdhouses, but two have been
used consistently by Tree Swallows for a couple of years;
wrens have used the house in the rain garden. The birdhouses in the front yard have been used exclusively by
bluebirds. I think we will add one more this year, and it
should probably be set up very soon. There is just something about watching them select a house, build a nest,
and hatch their young. I hope to be able to watch the babies fledge this year.
The other day, during one of our biggest snowfalls of the
season, we had seven bluebirds sitting on the edge of our
heated birdbath. I have it set up this winter with a solarpowered fountain. It works very well. You may recall
that in a previous article I mentioned the need to feed and
provide water for the birds during the winter. It was interesting to watch them wait out the storm while enjoying
the warmth of the warm water. I wish they would return.
(continued on page 3)
March 2 — Rebuilding Our American Kestrel Population. Speaker: Tom Sayers, co-founder, Northeast
Connecticut Kestrel Project
April 6 — Bluebirds. Speakers: Burl Brothers Lectures (Paul and Doug Carrier). This meeting is our annual spring potluck supper, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
May 4 — Bird Migration. Speaker: Fran Zygmont
Field Trips
April 4 — Woodcock/Full Moon Walk at Boyd
Woods. Leader: Debbie Martin
April 29 — Wednesday Morning Bird Walk to
Heron Rookery, Torrington. Leader: Ray Belding
May 3 — Bird Walk at White Memorial. Leader:
Olaf Soltau
May 6 — Wednesday Morning Bird Walk; location
TBD. Leader: Ray Belding
May 9 — Bird Walk at Boyd Woods. Leader: Debbie
Martin
May 10 — Bird Walk at White Memorial. Leader:
Angela Dimmitt
May 13 — Wednesday Morning Bird Walk; location
TBD. Leader: Ray Belding
May 17 — Bird Walk at Housatonic River Wildlife
Management Area, Kent. Guide: Alex Kearney
May 20 — Wednesday Morning Bird Walk; location
TBD. Leader: Ray Belding
May 27 — Wednesday Morning Bird Walk; location
TBD. Leader: Ray Belding
May 31 — Bird Walk at White Memorial. Leader:
Ann Orsillo
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Chickadee Chatter
This newsletter and other LHAS features can be
seen IN LIVING COLOR on the LHAS Web page:
www.lhasct.org.
LHAS website
QR code
Scan the QR code above with your smartphone to go to
www.lhasct.org.
Chickadee Chatter was printed by
959 Migeon Avenue
Torrington, CT 06790
860-482-9388
www.rainbowpressonline.com
Special thanks to
Doreen Orciari and Janet
Baker for helping to proofread this newsletter.
March/April 2015
LHAS Officers
President !
Harry Ainsworth!
Vice President !
Jeanne Woolley!
Treasurer !
Marie Kennedy !
Rec. Secretary ! Liz Frazier-Zygmont!
Corresp. Secretary Pam Hicks !
860-777-8012
860-485-9585
860-567-5487
860-379-4461
860-491-1417
Board of Directors
John Baker!
2015!
Nicki Hall!
2015!
Heather Perrault! 2015!
Susanne Ainsworth!2016!
Ray Belding !
2016!
David Zomick!
2016!
Terry Bianchi!
2017!
Jay Coles!
2017!
Rich Martin!
2017!
860-567-8427
860-379-8917
860-542-7111
860-484-4273
860-482-4046
860-584-2824
860-489-8821
860-354-3802
860-584-5706
Director at Large
Fran Zygmont!
!
860-379-4461
Committee Chairpeople
Boyd Sanctuary ! Debbie & Rich Martin ! 860-584-5706
Conservation !
Nicki Hall !
860-397-8917
Education !
Donna Rose Smith ! 203-706-0474
Facebook!
Liz Frazier-Zygmont! 860-379-4461
Field Trips !
David Zomick !
860-584-2824
Fundraising !
Harry Ainsworth*!
860-777-8012
Historian !
Angela Dimmitt* !
860-355-3429
Hospitality !
Carol Perrault !
860-589-8023
Junior Audubon ! Donna Rose Smith ! 203-706-0474
Kalmia Sanctuary ! Bob & Doreen Orciari !860-485-1347
Membership !
Doreen Orciari !
860-485-1347
Newsletter !
Diane Edwards !
860-485-9319
Program !
Heather Perrault !
860-542-7111
Publicity !
Shirley Gay !
860-482-0819
Scholarships !
Marcia McGowan !
860-274-2089
Website!
Rich Martin !
860-584-5706
Wigwam Brook
Sanctuary !
John Baker !
860-567-8427
Research
Christmas Count ! Ray Belding !
Summer Count ! Dave Tripp !
860-482-4046
860-693-6524
* Seeking Replacement
The Chickadee Chatter is published in January, March,
May, July, September, and November. For the May/June
2015 issue, all articles must be received by the editor by
April 1.
The next LHAS Board Meeting will be on
Tuesday, March 17
at 7:15 PM
in White Memorial’s A.B. Ceder Room
Please email items for publication in the newsletter to
Diane Edwards at edwardsd68@charter.net or mail
them to her at 68 Shingle Mill Road, Harwinton, CT
06791.
Send other business to the appropriate chairperson at
LHAS, P.O. Box 861, Litchfield, CT 06759-0861 or
lhasct@me.com.
March/April 2015!
Chickadee! Chatter
MEMBERSHIP
Welcome New Members
By Doreen Orciari, Membership Chairperson
Ellen Baldwin .............................................Torrington
Jessica Barber ..................................................Goshen
Henry & Nancy Beecher .............................Torrington
Jean Blachere* ................................................Winsted
Barbara Branagan-Mitchell .....................New Milford
Barbara Carr.....................................................Bantam
Gary Delpha* ...............................................Terryville
Denise Devincent-Spear* .............................Terryville
William Donovan ............................................Winsted
Doyle Finan ..................................................Litchfield
Janet Furrow* .............................................Torrington
Lee Gordon ...................................................Litchfield
Jean Grasmere .................................................Norfolk
Mary Griffiths* ......................................New Hartford
Paul Hamlin ................................................Torrington
Mark Hanok ............................................New Milford
Gary Hintz ....................................................Litchfield
Ralph & Peggy Hitchcock ..............Winchester Center
Michael Kazan..............................................Litchfield
Doreen Konik* ........................................New Milford
Denise Laperriere .........................................Terryville
Lynn Lockwood .......................................New Preston
Susan MacDonald* ......................................Plymouth
Tonya Mankowski ......................................Watertown
Alflya Menconi .......................................New Milford
J. Mulvey* ......................................................Winsted
Alexandra Peters ..................................New York, NY
Jessica Sarandrea ........................................Watertown
Jonathan Simon* .................................Pleasant Valley
Mary Thompson* .........................................Litchfield
Sandra Veselic .........................................Barkhamsted
Carol White .............................................Barkhamsted
President’s Message (continued from page 1)
The forecast for tomorrow is snow, so I will have a camera set up on a tripod and hope to get lucky enough to
have the bluebirds return. We shall see.
Our Annual Appeal has been moving along nicely. I
would like to thank all of you who have donated and remind those who have not that there is still time. I especially want to thank those who have made donations in
memory of LHAS members who have passed away. It’s
very gratifying to see that people remember our friends.
Spring will begin on March 20th, according to my calendar. Now is the time to start thinking about spending a
little time working with other members at our sanctuaries.
There will be considerable activity at our Boyd Woods,
Kalmia, and Wigwam sanctuaries once spring arrives and
things thaw. We do need your help, even if it is only for a
few hours. With a good turnout early in the season, we
can get a great start on our work. Please go to our website, www.lhasct.org, for the details of what is going on.
We will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Boyd
Woods this year. I know that Debbie and Rich Martin will
host something quite special to mark the event. This is
very significant. Once the plans are finalized, you will be
able to read about them in a future newsletter and, of
course, on our website.
Mark your calendars for June 1st, when we will have our
Annual Dinner at the Elks Club in Torrington. For those
who did not attend the event last year, it was excellent.
The building is amazing, as was the dinner we were
served. This is a must-attend, because it’s our chapter’s
60th anniversary!
I would like to close by thanking Donna Rose Smith for
stepping up and taking over as the chair of our Junior
Audubon program. Donna Rose has been an active member of LHAS for a number of years. Please see her article
on page 10.
LHAS membership is at 702.
* Welcome back
If your newsletter is addressed incorrectly or if you fail to
receive one, send a postcard to LHAS, P.O. Box 861,
Litchfield, CT 06759-0861 or send an email to Doreen
Orciari at doreen.orciari@gmail.com.
3
Know of an LHAS member who might be
cheered by receiving a get-well or sympathy
card? Let Corresponding Secretary Pam
Hicks know about it so she can put a card in
the mail. Contact Pam at 860-491-1417 or
smilesmyles@yahoo.com.
4!
Chickadee Chatter
In My Garden (and Beyond) — A Journal —
January 2015
By Angela Dimmitt
January this year: not
much fun, either too
cold or too snowy, especially that one disastrous day when 3 inches
of rain on top of the frozen snow created a
skate-worthy layer of
solid ice. Lake Dimmitt
was huge. Then, yet another “storm of the cenCarolina Wren
tury,” except that most
Photo: Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
of us in Litchfield
County were spared the
forecast 24–36 inches, which did indeed
fall along the coast. For once, one is glad
the forecasters got it wrong — again. I
brought in all the available firewood in
case we lost power but found the main
pile frozen solid despite its tarp.
March/April 2015
lina Wrens are
still here, the
male starting
to sing more
as the days
grow longer,
and they are
still doing
their little duet
at dusk before Mourning Doves
retiring into
Photo: Diane Friend Edwards
the straw hat.
Happiness for me!
But the month for me and many birders means a Big
January, trying to see or hear more than 90 species in an
informal COA (Connecticut Ornithological Association)
competition. Since some of us started New Year’s Day
with a Christmas Bird Count here in New Milford, I had
an initial advantage, but this year the weather and other
stuff have conspired to thwart me, including today when I had planned to hunt a
Snowy Owl down on the shore — but it is
snowing. Aarrgghh!
“Thanks to good
binoculars we could see
in the fading light, and
there sat a Short-eared
Owl!”
Of course, this weather resulted in lots of
birds at the feeders, except they were
mostly juncos and House Finches, with
fewer and fewer “locals” like titmice,
chickadees, and cardinals; had one or two
White-throated Sparrows, one Song Sparrow; a few goldfinches, several Downies, pairs of Hairies
and Red-bellies, and on-and-off-again Mourning Doves.
A Red-shouldered Hawk has been hanging around,
screaming loudly to
give fair warning he’s
looking for a meal. The
Pileated Woodpecker
has been active around
the house too, mostly
heard, not seen, and
one day a Yellowbellied Sapsucker visited. The Kingfisher
rattles along the stream
almost daily, and today
a pair of Black Ducks is
in the open spot at the
bend where they visit
Bald Eagle
most winters. My CaroPhoto: Angela Dimmitt
The birding has been great fun, albeit
cold, and there have been several thrills.
One evening down at Silver Sands State
Park in Milford, we waited till dusk for
rare owls. It was windy and freezing, but
at 5:15 one flew out of the shrubs and
landed on a fence across the road from us.
Thanks to good binoculars we could see
in the fading light, and there sat a Short-eared Owl! It
flew off down the track, and 10 minutes later landed back
on the fence. Except it was
a different owl — a Longeared Owl! Similar, but the
differences were apparent.
Such is the stuff birders’
dreams are made of!
Then last week Russ Naylor joined me in a trip to
the far east of Connecticut,
checking out the Quinebaug fish hatchery, where
we saw a pair of Bald Eagles sitting together atop a
pylon, then a little Winter
Wren peeking in and out of
(continued on page 9)
Short-eared Owl
Photo: Caleb Slemmons, University of
Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Bugwood.org
Chickadee! Chatter
March/April 2015!
near ground level.
I swept my binocs
around and WOW
— it popped into
view. I had a brief
but wonderful look
at that lovely bird.
David el Suertudo!
Pleasures and Treasures
By David Zomick, Field Trips Chairperson
Birds Abound in Beautiful Florida
Visiting Florida
in January, I was
very focused on
chasing target
species, with
some success. I
finally found my
long-soughtafter Florida
Fulvous Whistling Duck
nemesis bird
Photo: David Zomick
(never had seen
one on multiple
visits), the richly colored Fulvous Whistling Duck. At the
end of the day, on the last traversable berm, as dusk approached and the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area was about to lock
its gates (I was worried about that, let me
tell you!), a flock of ducks shot out of the
grassy wetlands and circled around, overhead and behind me — FULVOUS
WHISTLING DUCKS! Such joy! I lingered as long as I could, reveling in their
beauty, then hopped into the car and
quickly made like lightning, skedaddling
out of there as fast as I could, spitting
stones, gravel flying, and a dusty trail rising skyward behind me.
5
A Brown Booby
boat trip on BisPhoto: David Zomick
cayne Bay bore
fruit as well. A score, if not more, of this gannet-like bird
sat perched on the rusty old metal framework of the Pacific Lighthouse. They were joined by Double-crested
Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Royal and Caspian Terns,
and Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Laughing Gulls. It
was a lovely outing. The next day, hours of boating
around Everglades National Park in the Gulf of Florida
was such a joy — beautiful and scenic — but ultimately
unsuccessful, as we failed to locate the increasingly
scarce American Flamingo. (I had seen them elsewhere
on several occasions, but each time outside a countable ABA area.) And so it
goes .... Shiny Cowbird accounted for my
fourth life-bird sighting.
Osprey
A skulking rarity and a
life bird, the striking
Key West Quail Dove
was a delightful and
unexpected treat.
A skulking rarity and life bird, the striking Key West
Quail Dove was a delightful
and unexpected treat. I
was soooo lucky with that
Quail Dove. I learned of visitors who had spent 6–8 hours
for many consecutive days
scouring the trail without any
luck. I could not imagine such
patience and determination.
Well, my guide and I arrived
as Long Key State Park’s
gates were opening. Literally
within 5 minutes, I heard a
scratching sound amidst the
dense, leafy underbrush. My
Brown Pelican
Photo: Diane Friend Edwards
guide “lasered” a tree trunk
It had been three years since I last visited
down here. The variety, numbers and
splendor of the avifauna were impressive:
Masses of wading birds; the raucous calls
of herons (it was especially exciting for
me to see several Great White Heron
morphs), egrets, and Limpkins; huge rafts
of coots, along with gallinules (Common and Purple) plus
(continued on page 11)
Royal Terns
Photo: Diane Friend Edwards
Chickadee Chatter
6!
March/April 2015
Meetings, Bird Walks and Activities
LHAS Calendar — Winter/Spring 2015
NOTES: Unless otherwise indicated, General Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at the
Litchfield Community Center, Route 202, Litchfield, CT. When the first Monday of the month falls on a holiday,
the meeting is held on the second Monday. Refreshments are served at 7 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m and the program follows.
The April and October meetings are Potluck Dinners starting at 6:30 p.m. The June meeting is the Annual Meeting and Dinner held
at a local restaurant; it begins at 6 p.m. Our August meeting is the annual Picnic at Boyd Woods Sanctuary; it begins at 6 p.m. Board
of Directors Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every other month at 7:15 p.m. in the Ceder Room at the White Memorial
Conservation Center (WMCC), located about a half mile south of the Litchfield Community Center just off Route 202.
MEETINGS
March 2!..................Rebuilding Our American Kestrel Population!..........................................Monday, 7 PM
Tom Sayers, co-founder of the Northeast Connecticut Kestrel Project, will speak on rebuilding the local populations of
the American Kestrel. He will discuss the importance of finding the appropriate habitat and providing quality nest
boxes for this declining species.
April 6!....................Bluebirds and Potluck Dinner!..............................................................Monday, 6:30 PM
Join Burl Brothers Lectures (Paul and Doug Carrier) as they present on these welcome songbirds. Their presentation
will pique your interest in these charming backyard neighbors. Note: This meeting is our annual spring potluck supper meeting, so be sure to bring your own place setting (utensils and plate) and a dish to share. Also note the earlier
starting time!
May 4!.....................Bird Migration!.............................................................................................Monday, 7 PM
Fran Zygmont will give a presentation on bird migration. He will tell of the travels of migratory birds to and from their
wintering grounds. Fran will weave interesting and little-known facts into this wonderful presentation.
BIRDING EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPS
April 4!....................Woodcock/Full Moon Walk at Boyd Woods Sanctuary !...................Saturday, 6:45 PM
A full moon will rise as we watch our reliable Boyd Woods woodcocks perform their interesting aerial display. Might
we also be lucky enough to hear a Barred Owl hooting nearby, as we did on last year’s walk? Come join the fun. Meet
at the Boyd Woods parking lot on Route 254 in Litchfield. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight and binoculars. Rain will postpone this outing until Saturday, April 11. (Unfortunately, no full moon on this date, but the
woodcocks will still perform.) For more information, contact Debbie Martin at 860-819-7462 or
barnowl524@hotmail.com.
MEETING CHANGES
Bad weather? Our meeting and event cancellations or postponements are broadcast on WFSB TV Channel 3 in Hartford and on
radio station WZBG at 97.3 FM. To get added to our email notification list, send an email to berryledges@optonline.net.
March/April 2015!
Chickadee
! Chatter
7
WANT TO KNOW ABOUT NEWLY SCHEDULED FIELD TRIPS? PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
If you want to get emailed trip notices, special club announcements, etc., contact David Zomick at 860-584-2824 or
jubiladodz@comcast.net. You can also check our website, www.lhasct.org, for newly scheduled trips.
May 3!.....................Spring Bird Walk at White Memorial!....................................................Sunday, 7:30 AM
Search for birds with Olaf Soltau at White Memorial. Meet in the museum parking lot. For more information, contact
Olaf at 917-297-0443 or osoltau@aol.com.
May 9!.....................Spring Bird Walk at Boyd Woods Sanctuary!....................................Saturday, 7:30 AM
Look and listen for spring birds, led by Debbie Martin. Meet at the Boyd Woods parking lot on Route 254 in Litchfield.
For more information, contact Debbie Martin at 860-819-7462 or barnowl524@hotmail.com.
May 10!...................Spring Bird Walk at White Memorial!....................................................Sunday, 7:30 AM
Search for birds with Angela Dimmitt at White Memorial. Meet in the museum parking lot. For more information,
contact Angela at 860-355-3429 or angeladimmitt@aol.com.
May 17!...................New Spring Bird Walk at Housatonic River WMA in Kent !.................Sunday, 8:30 AM
Alex Kearney, LHAS member and photographer, will guide us on a bird walk at the Housatonic River Wildlife Management Area. Meet at the junction of North Kent Road and Rt. 7 (there are no road signs; use Mapquest for directions
and follow dirt road to the river). FYI: Access to North Kent Road is not perpendicular to Rt .7, but rather is a Y. Coming from Rt. 7 north, you will bear right at the Y; coming from Rt. 7 south, bear left. Terrain is moderate. Ticks may be
present, so wear light-toned clothing and bring bug spray. If you plan to attend, Alex asks that you contact him in advance at ackbluefish@yahoo.com.
May 24!...................Spring Bird Walk at White Memorial!....................................................Sunday, 7:30 AM
Leader not scheduled as of press time. Check the LHAS website, www.lhasct.org, or your email for updates.
May 31!...................Spring Bird Walk at White Memorial!....................................................Sunday, 7:30 AM
Join Ann Orsillo for this bird walk. For more information, contact Ann at spoonbill@optonline.net or 910-8801518.
Field Trip Guides Wanted (No birding expertise needed!)
Wednesdays with Ray
Please help me avoid going “back to the well” of our usual birding
trip leaders too often. Would you volunteer to guide us on a Sunday
morning field trip in May or September at White Memorial or one of
your favorite birding places? To be a guide, you do not need to be
an expert birder. It would be quite nice to bird as a group, using our
collective eyes and ears to ID and learn about our migrants and yearround resident species. To volunteer, contact me at 860-584-2824 or
jubiladodz@comcast.net.
Ray Belding once again will
lead his popular Wednesday
morning bird walks. The first
walk, on April 29, will be to
the heron rookery in Torrington. The other walk dates are
May 6, 13, 20, and 27. For
information on locations and
meeting times, email Ray at
turaco3000@gmail.com.
Thanks so much!
David Zomick, LHAS Field Trip Chair
8!
Chickadee Chatter
March/April 2015
LHAS December 14, 2014 CBC Results
By Ray Belding, Compiler
Every few years, our Christmas Count
date falls on the first date that any
club can do the count. Usually, our
count follows the Woodbury/Roxbury
count, so those of us who do both
counts tend to be a bit weary for our
Sunday. Not so this year, as the W/R
count was the following weekend, and
we were fresh and ready to find the
birdies.
Sixty-four participants found 85 species and one hybrid. Anytime we top
the 80 mark, I consider it a good day.
After last year’s disaster, when I postponed the count due to inclement
weather and it was carried out over
several days, a no-no, anything would
have been better.
We set records for 12 species this year
and tied two others.
The compilation was held, as usual, at
the White Memorial Carriage House.
Janet Baker and her crew did a bangup job, offering a lovely soup, compliments of Kate Goodhouse, followed by the usual pizza and my antics calling out the various species and
areas.
At right is a list of the species and
their totals.
‘Count Week’ Birds
The following species were seen during the two days prior to or after the
count day. They can’t be included for
the count day stats but can be included as “count week” birds: Savannah Sparrow, Northern Goshawk,
Northern Shoveler, American Woodcock, and Double-crested Cormorant.
Canada Goose ................................2,199
Mute Swan............................................6
Black Duck .........................................67
Mallard .............................................493
Ring-necked Duck ..............................44
Hooded Merganser............................135
Common Merganser ......................3,195
Bald Eagle ..........................................12
Sharp-shinned Hawk ............................7
Cooper’s Hawk ...................................11
Red-tailed Hawk .................................69
Red-shouldered Hawk ........................10
Ring-necked Pheasant ..........................2
Wild Turkey ......................................204
Bonaparte’s Gull (new to the count).....1
Ring-billed Gull................................270
Herring Gull .......................................18
Rock Pigeon......................................216
Mourning Dove ................................315
Eastern Screech Owl ............................8
Great-horned Owl .................................1
Barred Owl .........................................13
Northern Saw-whet Owl ......................7
Belted Kingfisher................................10
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker .....................9
Red-bellied Woodpecker ....................99
Downy Woodpecker .........................282
Hairy Woodpecker ..............................46
Northern Flicker .................................25
Pileated Woodpecker ..........................14
Blue Jay ............................................454
American Crow .............................1,148
Common Raven ..................................20
Horned Lark........................................70
Black-capped Chickadee ...............1,187
Tufted Titmouse................................389
Red-breasted Nuthatch .......................12
White-breasted Nuthatch ..................301
Brown Creeper....................................20
Carolina Wren ....................................21
Winter Wren..........................................6
Golden-crowned Kinglet ....................41
Eastern Bluebird ...............................210
Hermit Thrush ....................................12
American Robin................................318
Gray Catbird .........................................6
Northern Mockingbird..........................6
European Starling ..........................1,672
Cedar Waxwing ................................277
American Tree Sparrow....................225
Song Sparrow .....................................76
Swamp Sparrow....................................7
White-throated Sparrow ...................196
Dark-eyed Junco ...............................874
Northern Cardinal .............................177
Red-winged Blackbird........................40
Common Grackle................................48
Brown-headed Cowbird......................53
Purple Finch........................................18
House Finch......................................249
American Goldfinch .........................491
House Sparrow .................................439
Mallard hybrid ......................................4
Pine Siskin ..........................................82
Common Redpoll .................................9
Rusty Blackbird ....................................6
Long-earred Owl ..................................1
Great-blue Heron ..................................4
Ruddy Duck......................................961
American Coot .................................106
Bufflehead ..........................................57
Common Pintail..................................23
Red-breasted Merganser .......................4
Black Vulture ........................................3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet .........................2
Common Loon......................................2
Wood Duck ...........................................2
Fox Sparrow .........................................1
Snow Bunting .......................................3
Fish Crow .............................................7
Eastern Towhee.....................................2
Merlin ...................................................1
Common Goldeneye ...........................19
Horned Grebe........................................1
Bonaparte’s Gull ...................................1
White-crowned Sparrow.......................1
Chipping Sparrow...............................25
March/April 2015!
Chickadee! Chatter
Then and Now – LHAS CBC: A Comparison
By Ray Belding, Compiler
LHAS held its
first-ever Christmas Bird Census in
1955. Sixteen people participated in
eight parties. Our
count circle was
divided into only
eight sections with
eight captains then.
In 1955, one Laughing Gull was recorded
The circle, with a
— a sighting not likely to be accepted
today without meticulously written details. diameter of 14
miles, had its cenPhoto: Diane Friend Edwards
ter atop Wheeler
Hill. I moved the
center a number of years ago to the center of Milton so
that we wouldn’t overlap with the Woodbury count. Now,
our circle is divided into 14 sections with a like number of
captains.
In 1955 Sidney Hessel was the compiler. His people
counted a total of 37 species and 1,688 individual birds.
Of note was one Laughing Gull and one Broad-winged
Hawk, two birds that, most likely, would not be accepted
today without meticulously written details, as they are
birds that are highly unlikely to be found at this time of
year. Neither has been recorded since 1955.
Of note, too, is that no cardinals, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Mockingbirds or vultures were seen. These
species had not yet made an incursion from the south.
Tufted Titmouse had just recently moved into Connecticut. Only one was recorded in ’55. On the other hand, six
grouse were counted compared with 0 this year. They also
counted 264 Evening Grosbeaks. We haven’t counted this
species in seven years.
1,187 Black-capped Chickadees compared with the 143
counted back in the day. Birding by ear has improved
drastically in that the best birders can now identify the
little chips and call notes made by the various species
even when they’re flying over us. Finally, I think that
back in the early stages of our count, the participants
looked on it as more of a social event. Over the years, it’s
become a bit more competitive among the captains.
In My Garden (continued from page 4)
a bank. Next we went seeking a Sandhill Crane down near
Stonington, and just as we reached the cornfield where it
had been seen, it took off and circled the field several
times, giving us a spectacular view of this huge bird in
flight.
An American Bittern has been hanging out in Milford —
I wonder if it is one of “my” bitterns from the summer’s
nesting in Sherman? Yesterday on top of the ridge in New
Milford, I came across a flock of about 20 bluebirds sharing rose hips with a few Cedar Waxwings — that was
pretty exciting too.
January 30: Today I did see a Snowy Owl! Out on the
breakwater off Milford Point, the beauty! Also today: a
Snow Goose, a gazillion Brant geese, Ruddy Ducks, a
Canvasback, Horned Grebes, Horned Larks, and two Lapland Longspurs.
January 31: Last-minute scramble — two more birds and
I’ve reached 105 … Thrill a minute!
Canvasback
Photo: Diane Friend
Edwards
In 1955 the 16 participants in eight parties tallied a total
of 39.5 party hours: 29 on foot and 10.5 by car.
Now let’s compare this with the 2014 version of the CBC.
Sixty-four participants spent 98 hours by car and another
36 on foot. Total mileage by car was 835 and by foot, 35.
This year, 85 species were counted along with one hybrid.
So why the big disparity in bird numbers? Part of the reason is obvious: We have a lot more people participating.
Also, the degree of expertise has increased significantly.
Sixty-four participants are certainly more likely to count
9
Snow Goose
Photo: Jim Occi,
BugPics, Bugwood.org
10!
Chickadee Chatter
Junior Audubon Update
Hello Junior Audubon families and future participants:
My name is Donna Rose Smith. I am looking forward to
having fun discovering and studying nature with you. I
have scheduled a few fun events for the spring and am
eager to meet all of you soon. I welcome your suggestions for future Junior Audubon activities. I hope you will
join us. Please share this announcement with your
friends, neighbors, and grandchildren.
March/April 2015
Let me share a little background about myself. I love going out in nature to explore the fields, forests, and wetlands of the area. I am always thrilled to look for everything from mushrooms and ferns to bugs and birds. My
passion for nature led me to earn two degrees in biology
and a secondary-education teaching certification. I work
seasonally as an environmental education interpretive
guide at Kellogg Environmental Center in Derby, Connecticut. I also worked at the Audubon Center at Bent of
the River in Southbury for a number of years.
Warmly,
Donna Rose
Junior Audubon Calendar — Spring 2015
Junior Audubon provides an opportunity for grade-school children to learn about nature, the environment, and the
creatures that live there. It is sponsored by the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society and is FREE. To get on the Junior
Audubon email list or for more information, contact Donna Rose Smith at 203-706-0474 or
lhasjunior@gmail.com.
April 4 ......................Vernal Pools ..............................................Saturday, 1 PM
Vernal pools are wetland wonderlands full of amazing species of frogs, toads, salamanders, egg masses, hatchlings, beetles, bugs, fingernail clams, assorted birds, and possibly
even a snake or turtle. Put on your water boots and get ready to get a bit wet and dirty
while we discover the wonders of vernal pools with naturalist Donna Rose Smith. Please
let us know you are joining us so we can be sure to have enough handouts — BUT
don’t let that stop you from joining us at the last minute! Call 203-706-0474. Meet at
the Boyd Woods Sanctuary parking area on Route 254 in Litchfield.
April 25 ....................Woodcocks and Owls in the Night .....................Saturday, 7 PM
Come listen as the American Woodcock winds up for take-off, and see if you can track his course to the sky and
back down to the ground. Not an easy task at first! As darkness sets in, we will listen and see if we can spot any
owls that may be wandering about the woods. Naturalist Donna Rose Smith, Sophie Zyla, Andrea Klaben, and
possibly a few other assistants will be there to guide your steps through the night. Please let us know you are
joining us so we can be sure to have enough handouts — BUT don’t let that stop you from joining us at the
last minute! Call 203-706-0474. Meet at Bent of the River Audubon Center, 185 East Flat Hill Road, Southbury.
May 17 .....................Beginner Bird Watching .................................Sunday, 1 p.m.
Boyd Woods is a lovely place to find a wide assortment of birds fluttering and flying
about. Bring your binoculars if you have them, and you will be guaranteed to find some
birds and brush up on your identification skills. Naturalist Donna Rose Smith is excellent
at calls, songs, and silhouettes, and will help you explore and learn to be a birder even if
you are already an amateur! Please let us know you are joining us so we can be sure to
have enough handouts — BUT don’t let that stop you from joining us at the last minute! Call 203-706-0474. Meet at the LHAS Boyd Woods Sanctuary on Route 254 in Litchfield.
March/April 2015!
Chickadee! Chatter
11
Pleasures & Treasures (continued from page 5)
Purple Swamphen, ducks (Northern Shovelers, American
Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Black-bellied Whistling
Ducks, etc.), and Pied-billed Grebes. Kestrels perched
atop telephone poles quite regularly. A Peregrine Falcon
gave great looks as did several Crested Caracaras. Florida’s light-morph Red-shouldered Hawks were quite
common, as were Snail Kites at Storm Treatment Area 5
near Clewiston. That site has limited, specific days
when the public can drive through the huge expanse of
habitat there.
Also among Florida’s many feathered treasures were
White Pelicans breezing by, freely floating on air, their
wing span as great as a condor’s. Hundreds amassed at
the mudflats, crowding together in huge flocks at dusk.
Scores of brilliantly tinted Roseate Spoonbills roosted in
the mangroves (have you ever seen their tail-feather color
pattern? Stunningly brilliant!) The spectacular birding
seemed endless:
soaring Magnificent Frigate Birds;
plunge-diving
Brown Pelicans; a
Tropical Kingbird
visiting from out
West; Red-bellied
Woodpeckers
housed in palm
trees;
Loggerhead
Foster’s Tern
Shrikes
sitting on
Photo: David Zomick
Shades of Hogwarts (continued from page 12)
ing in rock-pounding surf. They’re court jesters of the waterfowl world, with their voices like squeaking mice (hence the
colloquial name of “sea mouse”).
Roseate Spoonbill
Photo: Diane Friend Edwards
wires; scores of Tree and Rough-winged Swallows pirouetting in the sky; Long-billed Dowitchers; Dunlin; Least,
Spotted, and Solitary Sandpipers; Black-bellied Plovers;
Ruddy Turnstones; Willet; Yellowlegs ... all contributed
while Palm Warblers and mockingbirds seemed omnipresent.
Florida deserves its reputation as a great birding state! In
case you’re interested, Florida Fish & Game/Wildlife
Services publishes a series of excellent “Great Florida
Birding Trail” booklets, dividing the state geographically
into sections with excellent information on its abundant
birding sites. You can find more information at
www.floridabirdingtrail.com.
Top right: Harbor Seal.
Bottom right: Purple
Sandpiper.
Photos: Patrick Comins
Finally, we wound our way to Sachuest Point for even better views of these squeaky
little fellows in sunset lighting — first-rate photo sessions for many of us. Sachuest
Point also welcomed us with other hardy denizens of winter’s windy realm —
Savannah Sparrows, American Kestrel, Purple Sandpipers, rafts of Greater Scaup
hosting a few Lesser Scaup drakes for a lesson in field comparison, flyby Gannets on
fishy forays, and White-tailed Deer exchanging reindeer jokes in wintry trysts. Best
of all, a seriously lounging Harbor Seal, looking like a lazy loaf, luxuriated in the
cool comfort of a haul-out on some surfside rocks.
Our day ended in a blaze of glory as a brilliant sunset of sky fire faded into the steely
blue of winter twilight — a fitting finale to a day of marvel, magic, and merriment.
Kudos to Patrick and a flock of bird-besotted bushwackers for a trip well-taken!
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Shades of Hogwarts, with a Seal of Approval
By Russ Naylor
On Sunday, December 7, a band of winter-hardy LHAS members followed
Audubon Connecticut’s director of bird conservation (and all-around sage of all
things avian), Patrick Comins, into the coastal bush of Rhode Island in search of
some pre-CBC winter wonders. Our first stop, at Qyonochontaug, produced hunting Northern Harriers, late Laughing Gulls, and lots of loons up close in binocular
view — a real case of loony bins!
At Wheeler Park, a lone and photogenic Snowy Owl thrilled an admiring audience, surrounded by a wintry flurry of Snow Buntings. This owl did not need to
be a wizard’s familiar, like Harry Potter’s owl, to work his magic upon our wondering eyes!
Wending our way in and out of the Point Judith area, we enjoyed a potpourri of
brumal bird life (Editor’s note: I admit it: I had to look up “brumal” — it means
“wintry.”): hunting harriers, Iceland Gull, Horned Grebes, Great Cormorant, a
rafting of Scoters and Common Eiders (both winter- and waterproof), and other
seaside treats. Best of all were close views of motley-hued Harlequin Ducks feedTop right: Snowy Owl. Bottom right: Common Loon
(winter plumage).
Photos: Patrick Comins
(continued on page 11)