Birdwatch
The Iowa City Bird Club Newsletter
Volume 30 Number 1 April 2010
Schedule
Field trips depart from the Dodge Street Hy-Vee in Iowa City unless otherwise noted. Meet in the southwest corner of the parking lot. Please contact the leader in advance if you plan to meet the group at the trip destination. Many of our trips are accessible to people with disabilities; for more information please contact the trip leader. Meetings are held at the Grant Wood AEA Southern Facility, 200 Holiday Road in Coralville, generally at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month.
April 10, Saturday, 8 a.m. Hawkeye Wildlife Area for waterfowl, pelicans,
and other migrants. Wear boots for walking in wet areas, and bring a scope
if you have one. BEGINNING BIRDER TRIP. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
April 13, Tuesday, 7 p.m. Beginning Birder Course: Backyard and Feeder Birds
by Jim Scheib. Call Brad Freidhof at 645-1011 to register. Free to members.
See page 9 for more information.
April 15, Thursday, 7 p.m. Meeting. Where Birds Came From by Christopher
A. Brochu, Associate Professor of Geoscience at the University of Iowa.
April 17, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Night Sounds at Cone Marsh. Hear the frogs,
owls, American Bittern and other denizens of the night. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017
and Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
April 18, Sunday, 8 a.m. Macbride Nature-Recreation Area. Visit the Raptor
Center, observe birds up close from the bird blind, and hike the nearby trails.
BEGINNING BIRDER TRIP. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
April 20, Tuesday, 7 p.m. Beginning Birder Course: Warbler Identification
and Shorebird Review by Karen Disbrow. Call Brad Freidhof at 645-1011 to register.
Free to members.
April 22, Thursday, 7 p.m. Fledgling Birding Class by Rick Hollis. Specifically
for kids aged 712, accompanied by an adult. Call Brad Freidhof at 645-1011
to register.
April 24, Saturday, 8 a.m. Fledgling Field Trip for kids aged 712, to
be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the Conservation Education Center in Kent
Park. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
April 25, Sunday, 8 a.m. Hickory Hill Park. This park is a great place to
view warblers and other migrating songbirds. BEGINNING BIRDER TRIP. Karen
Disbrow, 339-1017.
May 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 24-28 MondaysFridays, 6:30 a.m. Hickory Hill
Park Warbler Walks. Meet at the north parking lot at the end of Conklin Lane,
off Dodge Street. Daily sightings will be posted on our web site. Leaders:
Chris Edwards, Ken Lowder, Mark Madsen and Jason Paulios.
Continued on next page g
May 8, Saturday. Spring Migration Count. We will work in teams to count as
many birds as possible in Johnson County. To participate, call Chris Caster
at 339-8343.
May 15, Saturday, 7:45 a.m. Beam Woods near Stone City. Enjoy the warblers
and wildflowers at this preserve on a joint field trip with Cedar Rapids Audubon.
Bring a sack lunch or snack. Chris Edwards, 430-4732.
May 16, Sunday, 8 a.m. Johnson County Heritage Trust Properties. Mark Madsen,
351-6927.
May 20, Thursday, 7 p.m. Meeting. "Borneo vs. Papua New Guinea: the Great
Divide" by John and Linda Donelson.
May 22, Saturday, 6:30 a.m. Louisa County, in conjunction with the IOUs
Breeding Bird Atlas Blockbusting Weekend. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
May 23, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. Des Moines County, in conjunction with the IOUs
Breeding Bird Atlas Blockbusting Weekend. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
May 31, Monday, 6:30 a.m. Rock Creek Timber and River Valley Wetland in Cedar
County. BBA. Chris Edwards, 430-4732.
June 5, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. Coralville Reservoir (Rick Holliss backyard
and environs). Meet at Ricks house at 3524 Cumberland Ridge Rd. NE.
BBA. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
June 9, Wednesday, 8 a.m. South Sycamore Bottoms. This is the first of our
Wednesday Bird Walks with leader Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
June 12, Saturday, 6:30 a.m. Hanging Rock Woods and Hawkeye Wildlife Area.
BBA. Mark Brown, 358-8765.
June 13, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. Indiangrass Hills in Iowa County for grassland
birds such as Henslows Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Sedge Wren, and
Bobolink. Mark Brown, 358-8765.
June 20, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. Cedar County natural areas. BBA. Bruce Gardner,
331-3547.
June 23, Wednesday, 8 a.m. Kent Park. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
June 27, Sunday, 6:30 a.m. Southern Johnson County river bottomlands. BBA.
Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
July 14, Wednesday, 8 a.m. Turkey Creek Preserve. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
July 18, Sunday, 1-3 p.m. Backyard Habitat Walk. View local bird-friendly
yards. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
July 24, Saturday, 9 a.m. Butterfly Count sponsored by the North American
Butterfly Association.
We will visit
Kent Park, Lake Macbride, and other areas. To participate, contact Chris Edwards
at 430-4732.
July 28, Wednesday, 8 a.m. Waterworks Prairie Park. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
August 11, Wednesday, 8 a.m. Belgum Grove and Sand Lake Park. Rick Hollis,
665-3141.
Continued on next page g
August 19, Thursday, 6 p.m. Annual Picnic at Hickory Hill Park North Shelter.
Bring a dish to share, something to grill (grills will be ready), your own
table service, and a drink. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017
August 22, Sunday, 7:30 a.m. Hawkeye Wildlife Area or other local areas for
shorebirds and other early fall migrants. Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
August 25, Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. Frytown Preserve. Rick Hollis, 665-3141.
Other
Dates of Note
April 18, Sunday, 9:00 a.m. Garlic Mustard Pull at Bruce Gardners Woods
NE of Iowa City, sponsored by the Johnson County Heritage Trust. For directions
contact Bruce at 331-3547.
April 24, Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Grant Wood Neighborhood Family, Fun & Fitness
Day. The ICBC will lead bird walks along the Sycamore Bottoms neighborhood
trail.
April 30-May 2, Friday-Sunday. Iowa Ornithologists Union Spring Meeting
in Bettendorf. Visit www.iowabirds.org for more information. Local contact:
Karen Disbrow, 339-1017.
May 8, Saturday. Birds Eye View Grand Opening at their new location, 410 First
Ave. in Coralvilles Riverfront Square. Watch for expanded hours.
May 16, Sunday, 2:00 p.m. Norton Wayside Dedication in Hickory Hill Park.
Dedication for the new information kiosk near the Bloomington St. entrance.
Several ICBC members provided input for the bird display.
June 18-19, Friday-Saturday. Citizen Science: An Introduction to Insects,
a workshop at Grinnell College. For more information visit http://www.grinnell.edu/academic/biology/cera/insects-workshop.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
From Our President
Karen Disbrow
At last spring is here! Winter seemed to hang on a long time this year. I
am very anxious to get out there and do some serious birding. We have many
of our usual trips scheduled for this spring and summer, as well as visits
to some new areas.
Jim Walters will have a web cam on a Purple Martin nest at the Finkbine Golf
Course again this summer. Viewing cams on the web have really been interesting
this spring. There is one on a Bald Eagle nest near Decorah and one on a Barn
Owl nest in California that I have been observing. How very neat to be able
to see the actual nesting behavior of these birds and how they interact with
baby birds.
There is information in this newsletter about the upcoming opportunity to
vote for a funding process that would protect funds from being used outside
of conservation. We have put this in the newsletter to inform the bird club
members. I will have information sheets at the meetings for people to take
and study. I, personally, support this effort and urge everyone to become
familiar with the issue. Many organizations are opting to publicly support
this amendment. That is something the ICBC may want to consider in upcoming
meetings.
As usual at this time of year we are being invited to make presentations and
lead birding walks for other organizations. Anyone interested in participating
in this way, please contact me.
Good birding everyone!
Fledgling
Birding Class
April 22 and 24
Bird watching is a fun, neat way to get out of doors. This course will introduce
young people 7-12 years old with an accompanying adult to the joy of birding.
We will talk about field guides, binoculars, bird watching tips and birds
during one evening session and then practice what we learn on a bird watching
field trip in Kent Park. The evening session is Thursday, April 22 from 7:008:30
p.m. The field trip is Saturday, April 24 from 8:00 a.m. noon.
Both evening session and field trip will meet at the Conservation Education
Center in Kent Park. There is no charge for this course but class size is
limited. Please Call Brad Freidhof at 645-1011 to pre-register.
Spring Migration Count Saturday, May 8
Our annual Spring Migration Count is Saturday, May 8. This count is run just
like our Christmas Bird Count, except that it is county-wide. Observers have
a 24-hour period to count every bird they can. Both numbers of species and
numbers of individual birds are recorded. The results of our previous counts
can be found at our web site.
There wont be an organizational meeting for the count this year, but
we will meet on count day for lunch at the Coralville Hy-Vee Deli at noon.
If you wish to participate please contact the count compiler, Chris Caster,
in advance of count day at cjcaster@earthlink.net or 339-8343. Participants
can download a spring count checklist from the club website. These will also
be available at the April club meeting. Wednesday Bird Walks with Rick Hollis
These will be low-key, local walks focusing on Iowa City parks and Johnson
County Conservation Board and Johnson County Heritage Trust properties. If
this is successful, this will be a year-round event. All trips will start
at 8:00 a.m. and will depart from the North Dodge Hy-Vee, near the recycling
bins. At present this is a one-man operation. I will try to get someone to
cover for me when I am unable. I will post changes/cancellations at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rjhollis/wednesdaybirdwalks/.
June 9 South
Sycamore Bottoms
June 23 Kent Park
July 14 Turkey Creek Preserve
July 28 Waterworks Prairie Park
August 11 Belgum Grove and Sand Lake Park
August 25 Frytown Preserve
Butterfly Count
Saturday, July 24
Our eleventh annual Iowa City Butterfly Count will be held Saturday,
July 24. (In case of rain it will be held July 25.) Last year while visiting
Kent Park, Hawkeye Wildlife Area and Lake Macbride, we saw 25 species and
379 butterflies, including the threatened Byssus Skipper. Ours is one of about
400 counts sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA). Rules
are similar to Christmas Bird Counts: counters record all butterflies observed
within a 15-mile diameter circle, on a single day during a period from several
weeks before to several weeks after July 4th. Our count is held in the same
count circle used for the Christmas Bird Count. Its a great way to spend
a summer day. If you would like to participate, please contact Chris Edwards
at 430-4732 or credwards@aol.com.
Breeding
Bird Atlas Blockbusting Weekends
The Iowa Ornithologists Union and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
will be hosting three Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) Blockbusting Weekends around
the state this spring and summer. The BBA is a five year project where volunteers
search for evidence of birds nesting throughout the state to enhance our understanding
of these species, their breeding range and their habitat selection. Everyone
is invited to participate, regardless of previous birding experience.
Each weekend will begin with a presentation about the BBA on Friday evening.
Volunteers will learn how to participate, how to determine breeding bird status,
and how to turn in observations. During Saturday and Sunday, volunteers will
be out in blocks (predetermined areas to inventory) searching for nesting
birds. Atlas volunteers are encouraged to visit any blocks within a reasonable
driving distance, and there will be a sign-up sheet to divide up the targeted
blocks. Volunteers are responsible for making arrangements for their own accommodations
and meals. If you plan on participating, please RSVP to the BBA Coordinator
the Monday prior to the weekend of each event.
The Iowa City Bird Club will participate as a group in the first blockbusting
weekend in Des Moines, Louisa, and Muscatine counties.
Friday, May 21, 7 p.m. BBA Presentation and Training at Unitarian-Universalist
Meeting House, 625 N. 6th Street, Burlington.
Saturday May 22 & Sunday May 23 Birding in Des Moines, Louisa &
Muscatine counties.
Friday, June 18, 7 p.m. BBA Presentation and Training at Bickelhaupt
Arboretum, 340 South 14th St., Clinton.
Saturday, June 19 & Sunday, June 20 Birding in Clinton, Dubuque
and Jackson counties.
Friday, July 9, 7 p.m. BBA Presentation and Training at North Overlook
Amphitheater, off County Hwy T-15 north of the dam, Lake Red Rock.
Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11 Birding in Marion and Warren
counties.
For more specific information, please visit http://bba.iowabirds.org or contact
Billy Reiter-Marolf, the BBA volunteer coordinator at bbacoordinator@iowabirds.org
or 515-432-2823 ext. 117.
Birders
Guide Available
Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development recently published a Birders
Guide to the Iowa and Cedar River Valleys. The 62-page full color book features
information on dozens of places to go birding in Tama, Benton, Iowa, Johnson,
Linn, and Poweshiek counties.
The guide is available for $9.95 from the Iowa Valley RC&D offices at
920 48th Avenue, Amana, IA 52203, by calling 319-622-3264, or on-line with
a credit card at www.ivrcd.org.
Renewal
Reminder
If you havent already done so, please send in your membership dues for
2010. Our annual membership dues remain $15 per household or $10 for students.
Your mailing label shows the most recent year you have paid for. Please complete
the membership renewal form on the inside back cover and send it with your
check payable to Eastern Iowa Birdwatch to Bruce Gardner, 3055
Wapsi Ave. NE, Iowa City, IA 52240. If you have any questions about your membership
status, please contact Bruce at 643-2575 or woodsidefarms@juno.com. Thank
you!
2009
Iowa City Christmas Bird Count
Chris Edwards and Bob Dick
The 59th annual Iowa City Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, December
20. The total of 57 species was below the counts ten-year average of
64 species. The absence of waterfowl in our area largely accounted for the
low species total. The day was overcast, and about an inch of snow fell during
the middle part of the day, hampering visibility for birding and making roads
slippery. Temperatures were steady in the mid-20s, with light southerly winds
of 4-10 mph throughout the day. The Coralville Reservoir and other standing
water was mostly frozen, and the Iowa River and smaller streams were mostly
open.
No rare species were found on this years count. Unusual birds included
a Northern Shrike at Hawkeye Wildlife Area, a Winter Wren at Hickory Hill
Park, and a Rusty Blackbird north of Lake Macbride. Species found most years
but not this year included Northern Harrier, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and
Pine Siskin.
Waterfowl to Gulls
For the second straight year, no waterfowl were found except Canada Geese
and Mallards, and their numbers were the lowest in more than a decade. Wild
Turkey numbers were slightly above average, but only three Ring-necked Pheasants
were found, the lowest total in almost twenty-five years. This contrasts sharply
with the all-time high of 141 pheasants seen just four years ago. No Northern
Bobwhites were found for the third straight year. The four Great Blue Herons
were an all-time high for that species. Bald Eagles and Red-tailed Hawks were
found in below-average numbers, while other raptors were at near-normal levels
except for Northern Harrier which was missed entirely. Ring-billed Gull numbers
were well below average, but the six Herring Gulls tied a ten-year high.
Doves to Wrens
Eurasian Collared-Doves have yet to be recorded on the count, although they
have been found in the count circle during other times of the year. Mourning
Dove numbers were well below average. A pair of Eastern Screech-Owls was found
in the early morning at a traditional location west of North Liberty. Great
Horned Owls set a ten-year high, and four Long-eared Owls at Hawkeye Wildlife
Area were a nice find. The three Red-headed Woodpeckers were the fewest seen
in a decade, and the six Northern Flickers were the fewest in more than twenty
years. Other woodpeckers were seen at about normal levels. Northern Shrikes
have been recorded for three straight years; this year a single bird was on
the north side of Hawkeye Wildlife Area. Blue Jays and American Crows were
seen in average numbers. Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and creepers were
all found in normal numbers. A Winter Wren at Hickory Hill Park provided only
the third record of this species in the last ten years.
Thrushes to Old World Sparrows
Following a banner year in 2008, fruit-eating birds were scarce this year,
and numbers of Eastern Bluebirds, American Robins, and Cedar Waxwings were
all much lower than usual. A single Fox Sparrow was at a feeder near Kent
Park, marking five straight years for this species on the count. A single
Swamp Sparrow was at Hawkeye Wildlife Area. American Tree Sparrows and White-throated
Sparrows were down this year, while Dark-eyed Juncos were at a ten-year high.
A single Rusty Blackbird was only the third one found in twelve years. Other
blackbirds were scarce, with only two Red-winged Blackbirds and two Common
Grackles found. Purple Finch, House Finch, and American Goldfinch numbers
were all down sharply this year, and no Pine Siskins were found following
last years irruption year. The seven Eurasian Tree Sparrows found at
Linda and Roger Fishers feeders in Coralville were an all-time high
count.
This year there were 29 field observers, fewer than normal, in 11 parties.
Field observers were Mark Brown, Chris Caster, Bob Dick, Karen Disbrow, John
Donelson, Linda Donelson, Chris Edwards, Jonni Ellsworth, Judy Ellyson, John
Erickson, Mike Feiss, Linda Fisher, Jim Fuller, Bruce Gardner, Rick Hollis,
Ken Hunt, Ken Lowder, Ramona McGurk, Alan Nagel, Mary Noble, Jason Paulios,
Diana Pesek, Jim Scheib, Sharon Scheib, Bill Scheible, Don Swartzendruber,
Dick Tetrault, David Weiss, and Carol Winter.
There were 15 feeder watchers in 12 locations this year, about the same as
last year but a significant decrease from previous years. Feeder watchers
were Jack and Ann Bagford, Barbara Beaumont, Jeanne Bonde, Al Carr, Carolyn
Gardner, Marilou Gay, Gloria Henry, Nancy Johns, Barbara Kalm, Paul and Lorraine
Kent, Duane and Jill Miller, and Ronnye Wieland.
This years count was organized by Bob Dick. The results were compiled
by Chris Edwards. The pre-count planning meeting was cancelled due to road
conditions. On the day of the count we met for lunch at the North Liberty
Community Center, at which time we had 51 species. We met for an evening meal
and compilation at The Brown Bottle Café in North Liberty. An interesting
aspect of this years count was the increased media coverage, as two
eastern Iowa TV crews accompanied two field parties for portions of the day.
The report on KCRG TV-9 aired several times Sunday night and Monday morning.
Nationally, this year marked the 110th consecutive Christmas Bird Count. More
than 45,000 people from all 50 states, every Canadian province, the Caribbean,
Central and South America, and many Pacific Islands participate in this annual
bird census. Christmas Bird Count results are published annually in a special
issue of American Birds. The results of all counts from 1900 to the present
are available online at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc, a cooperative project of
the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
Thanks to everyone who participated for making this years count a success.
SPECIES LIST
Canada Goose 87
Mallard 88
Ring-necked Pheasant 3
Wild Turkey 101
Great Blue Heron 4
Bald Eagle 50
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Coopers Hawk 4
Red-tailed Hawk 50
Rough-legged Hawk 3
American Kestrel 19
Ring-billed Gull 7
Herring Gull 6
Rock Pigeon 171
Mourning Dove 102
Eastern Screech-Owl 2
Great Horned Owl 10
Barred Owl 5
Long-eared Owl 4
Owl sp. 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Red-headed Woodpecker 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 67
Downy Woodpecker 133
Hairy Woodpecker 27
Northern Flicker 6
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Shrike 1
Blue Jay 177
American Crow 649
Horned Lark 42
Black-capped Chickadee 309
Tufted Titmouse 69
Red-breasted Nuthatch 9
White-breasted Nuthatch 102
Brown Creeper 4
Carolina Wren 4
Winter Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 7
American Robin 2
European Starling 732
Cedar Waxwing 81
American Tree Sparrow 200
Fox Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 16
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 19
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Dark-eyed Junco 1050
Northern Cardinal 496
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Rusty Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 2
Purple Finch 2
House Finch 43
American Goldfinch 89
House Sparrow 795
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 7
TOTAL SPECIES 57
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS 5873
The
Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund
Don Brown
This article
originally appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of IOU News and is reprinted
with permission.
In 2010 Iowans will have a chance to vote on an amendment to the Iowa Constitution
which is of major importance for bird life in Iowa. Amendments to the Iowa
Constitution are rare. If this Amendment receives more votes for than against
its adoption, the next time the Iowa Legislature increases the Iowa Sales
Tax, the first 3/8ths of one cent of the increase will be permanently dedicated
to the preservation and improvement of our water quality, natural areas and
soils. Every Iowan, rural or urban, who enjoys birds (or clean waterways,
butterflies, native plants, mammals, fish, reptiles, etc.) should promote
and vote for this Amendment.
Iowa ranks a dismal 48th out of the 50 states in the amount of land remaining
in natural habitat. This Amendment has been approved for submission to Iowa
voters by a large majority (over 90%) of both the Republicans and Democrats
in the Iowa Legislature. It provides the best opportunity, and probably the
last opportunity for a long time, to save or restore Iowas habitat for
birds and fish, wetlands and clean water.
Minnesota voters have just approved a similar amendment to the Minnesota Constitution.
Missouri has had dedicated funding for natural resources for over 30 years,
and the results for Missourians have been outstanding. If we in Iowa do not
begin to take a long view and start to fund habitat conservation now, our
quality of life for future generations will suffer seriously, and the very
existence of many native Iowa plant and animal species will be in doubt.
The Amendment will provide the basis for the establishment of a permanent
fund, to be called The Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust
Fund. The Fund will provide permanent and dedicated funding for Iowas
natural resources. The revenue in the Fund will be protected and cannot be
reallocated to any other purposes. Currently funding for conservation programs
and outdoor recreational opportunities is subject to a fluctuating state budget,
and in many cases these programs have been and continue to be under-funded
or unfunded. It is estimated that 3/8ths of a one cent sales tax will provide
$150 million annually.
A number of Iowa organizations have come together to support the Amendment.
They include the IOU, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Nature Conservancy,
Pheasants Forever, Izaak Walton League, Ducks Unlimited, Iowa Audubon, Iowa
Farmers Union and a substantial number of other organizations that support,
in some way, quality outdoor life experiences and recreation in Iowa, or better
quality water for all of us.
Every member of the IOU should help get out the vote for this important measure.
You should also get your local birding groups to participate in some way in
the effort to obtain voter approval next November. It is not too early to
get started now. It will be a tough fight under current economic circumstances.
But if Iowa voters understand what this Amendment can do to make Iowa a better
place for us and for future generations they will enthusiastically support
it. Now is the time to become better informed, to make your personal commitment
to vote next November, and to fight for its approval. Now is also the time
to begin to spread the message to everyone that you may be able to influence.
For detailed and up-to-date information about the Amendment and the campaign
for its approval, please contact Rosalyn Lehman, campaign coordinator, at
rlehman@tnc.org or 515-202-7720, or visit http://www.creatinggreatplaces.org/page12023744.aspx.
Introduction
to Birding Course
March 23 April 25, 2010
at Kent Park
The Iowa City Bird Club and the Johnson County Conservation Department are
offering a 6-week Introduction to Birding Course at the Conservation Education
Center in Kent Park. There will be five Tuesday evening sessions along with
five weekend field trips to area birding hot spots, plus a special Thursday
evening session and weekend field trip for kids ages 7-12.
Tuesday evening sessions are $5 for adults and free for children accompanied
by an adult. Iowa City Bird Club members receive free admission (a one-year
membership is $15 per household or $10 for students). Participants may attend
all five sessions or pick one or more to attend. Classes can hold 30, and
advanced registration is requested please call Brad Freidhof at 645-1011
by noon of the Tuesday session. Handouts and refreshments will be provided.
Come to class early and bird the loop path near the CEC.
Weekend field trips are free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring
binoculars to all field trips; if you dont have a pair let us know in
advance and loaners can be arranged. Spotting scopes are helpful for viewing
shorebirds and waterfowl; if you have one bring it. Club members will have
several scopes available on those field trips requiring one. All field trips
will depart from the Dodge Street Hy-Vee in Iowa City unless otherwise noted;
meet in the SW corner of the parking lot. For more information on field trips,
call Karen Disbrow at 339-1017.
Tuesday, March 23, 7 p.m. BASICS OF BIRDING I by Rick Hollis. This will include
field identification of birds, field guides, and equipment that every birdwatcher
needs, or might someday need.
Sunday, March 28, 8 a.m. Field Trip to CONE MARSH. Located about 25 miles
SE of Iowa City, Cone Marsh is an excellent place to view migrating ducks,
geese, and other water birds. Wear boots for walking in wet areas, and bring
a spotting scope if you have one. Meet at the Fin & Feather parking lot.
Tuesday, March 30, 7 p.m. BASICS OF BIRDING II by Rick Hollis. Continuation
of first session topics.
Saturday, April 3, 8 a.m. Field Trip to KENT PARK near Tiffin. We will explore
the trails in Kent Park looking for migrating songbirds and resident woodland
birds. Meet at the CEC in Kent Park.
Tuesday, April 6, 7 p.m. WHERE TO BIRD IN JOHNSON COUNTY by Rick Hollis. Well
known, lesser known and secret places to watch birds and study nature in and
around Johnson County.
Saturday, April 10, 8 a.m. Field Trip to HAWKEYE WILDLIFE AREA near North
Liberty. We expect to see ducks, geese, American White Pelicans, and other
early spring migrants. Wear boots for walking in wet areas, and bring a spotting
scope if you have one.
Tuesday, April 13, 7 p.m. BACKYARD AND FEEDER BIRDS by James Scheib. This
session will cover the common birds found in our areas backyards during
the year, and what types of feeders and food to use to attract them.
Sunday, April 18, 8 a.m. Field Trip to MACBRIDE NATURE-RECREATION AREA. Visit
the Raptor Center, observe birds up close from the bird blind, and hike the
nearby trails.
Tuesday, April 20, 7 p.m. WARBLER IDENTIFICATION & SHOREBIRD REVIEW by
Karen Disbrow. Warblers are coming! Warblers are among our most colorful birds.
Compare and contrast similar warblers.
Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m. BEGINNING BIRDING FOR KIDS ages 7-12 by Rick Hollis.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday, April 24, 8 a.m. - Noon. FIELD TRIP FOR KIDS ages 7-12. Meet at
the CEC in Kent Park. Rick will lead young birders accompanied by an adult
around the park. Bring binoculars if you have them; if not, let Rick know
on Tuesday night so loaners can be made available.
Sunday, April 25, 8 a.m. Field Trip to HICKORY HILL PARK. This park is a great
place to view warblers and other migrating songbirds.
Field Trip and Meeting Reports
November 14, Lake Macbride. Originally we planned to go to the Hawkeye
Wildlife Area, but due to high water conditions we changed to the West Overlook
and Lake Macbride. Greencastle Avenue was flooded to the Gun Club Ponds, and
Swan Lake Road was impassable beyond the second curve to the west. Much of
the area is a refuge at this time of year, and with the high water the ducks
are so far from land that identification can be difficult even with a scope.
The day started out clear, sunny and 45°. At the West Overlook about 30
Ring-billed Gulls and a Mallard pair were found. The Lesser Black-backed Gull
reported earlier was not there. Juncos, Blue Jays, starlings, cardinals, chickadees,
crows, and a White-breasted Nuthatch were found.
We traveled to Mehaffey Bridge in the hopes of finding the previously reported
Red-throated Loon. But no loon, only a lonely Ring-billed Gull and duck hunters
decked out with camouflage on their pontoon. So on to Sugar Bottom, where
the beach area had water almost to the parking lot and no birds. The campground
was closed and there were deer hunters in the area, and no birds except crows.
We went to the south arm of Lake Macbride and at the boat dock were nine sleeping
pelicans, a single Canada Goose, and the Lesser Black-backed Gull. YEAH!!!
A few Ring-billed Gulls were floating around and a Great Blue Heron was in
the shallows. We toured the entire lake and found juncos, a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Blue Jays, cardinals and finally Red-tailed Hawks were in the air around 10:30
a.m. The day had become overcast by this time and though we stopped a few
other places the birds were not out. Sparrows must have been somewhere, but
we did not see many and not long enough to identify.
Participants: Karen Disbrow (leader), Ken Hunt.
Birds (15 species): Canada Goose, Mallard, American White Pelican, Great Blue
Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-billed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted
Nuthatch, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal.
Karen Disbrow
January 10, Owl Prowl. The day was overcast and the temperature
was cold but not frigid. Snow was on the ground, however the roads were clear.
We headed to Morse where screech-owls are heard in the neighboring woods.
We got lucky and a screech-owl responded to our tape. We thought we could
get close enough to see the owl, but as usual the owl decided to remain hidden.
Greatly encouraged by this success, we headed to the Hawkeye Wildlife Area
in the hopes of spotting a Long-eared Owl at the location where several were
found on the Christmas Bird Count. These owls are very skittish and are hard
to see before they flush. We flushed at least one, which everyone saw fly
laterally away and behind the stand of trees. We went to the next entrance
area and tried to have one person walk in front of the trees while the rest
of us were to the back. The brush was thick in front of the trees and we were
unsuccessful in getting the owls to cooperate. While waiting we played a Barred
Owl recording and actually had a Great Horned Owl call back in the distance.
Northern Saw-whet Owls were not reported from Johnson County this winter.
This may be due to the thick snow cover. We did check at Kent Park where the
saw-whet was found last year but did not see any signs. We moved on to Iowa
City to check areas where Barred Owls were seen in previous years, but got
no response to the tape. At dusk we went to Sycamore Bottoms hoping to find
a Short-eared Owl flying over the marsh area, but had no luck there.
It was a good trip, but few owls were found. As the winter wore on it became
clear that the heavy snow cover was hurting their ability to hunt, possibly
forcing some to move farther south.
Participants: Karen Disbrow (leader), Tony Franken, Bruce Gardner, Ken Hunt,
Patricio Otero, Damien Pieper.
Birds: Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-owl, Long-eared Owl.
Karen Disbrow
January 21, Meeting. Jim Scheib started the program with
some great photographs of owls he took at local areas, including a Barred
Owl in his backyard. He then showed a wonderful video which he shot of Short-eared
Owls flying at dusk.
Karen then showed a DVD of a program that Bernie Knight gave for the Friends
of Hickory Hill Park in August, 2002. The Friends of Hickory Hill Park were
just beginning their efforts to support the park, and Bernie and her husband
Cal had birded the park for many years. Owls had long held Bernies interest,
and she developed this program which she titled An Evening with Enchanted
Owls.
It is a hot, humid evening at the pavilion in Hickory Hill Park as Bernie
starts her program. She explains the myths and legends about owls around the
world. The Barred Owls may say Who cooks for you in English, but
in Chinese they say Go dig your grave. The Chinese believe that
owls snatch souls. In India the myth is that men become owls when they die.
In Transylvania it was believed that owls brought evil spirits. In order to
protect their farms from these evil spirits, farmers would run around the
periphery of their farms at dawn in the nude. Cold winter mornings must have
been very uncomfortable for these farmers! Shakespeare had owls giving ominous
callings. Interestingly enough, Native American tribes saw the owls
as a spirit that communicated with their shamans.
Worldwide there are 133 owl species, and 19 of these occur in North America
Bernie concentrated her talk on owls found in Iowa, and especially the four
species found at various times in Hickory Hill Park. An owl has round eyes
that do not move, so instead the owl moves its head, which can rotate 270
degrees. Bernie had everyone try to see like an owl by keeping their eyes
stationary and moving their heads.
Off we go with Bernie, chasing owls. First Long-eared Owls, which
are not found at Hickory Hill Park, but can be found in more remote locations
such as Hawkeye Wildlife Area during the winter. They are a social owl which
can sometimes be found in groups of 6 or more. Then the screech-owls, with
pictures of the eastern and western species, as well as the red and gray phases.
The Great Horned Owl, whose call is Who who whooo, whoo, whoo.
These owls have been found in Hickory Hill Park. Barred Owls are often seen
and heard in the park. The barring on the feathers of the face and neck give
this owl its name. It is the only owl in our area with dark eyes. It calls
Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?.
The Short-eared Owl is a bird of open prairies and pastures. In the winter
they might be found at dusk hunting with Northern Harriers. Both fly in a
butterfly manner, dipping up and gliding down. The Barn Owl has
been essentially extirpated from Iowa. This owl with a heart-shaped face needs
hay fields and pastures. A reintroduction effort by the DNR was not very successful.
Owls have 4 claws on each foot; two that face forward and are extremely sharp
and two that face toward the rear. Owls are silent fliers due to the structure
of their feathers. Owls leave a white-wash on the trees that they
roost in and pellets at the base of the tree. The owl regurgitates
the fur and bones of the small animals that it eats. Often groups of children
in nature programs take these pellets and are able to reconstruct the small
mammals skeleton
Bernie discussed several other owls which are occasionally seen in Iowa, including
the Great Gray Owl, Snowy Owl, Boreal Owl, and Burrowing Owl. She also mentioned
the Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, a rare resident of Arizona and Texas.
Why dont we see owls more often? All owls have adaptive coloration that
allows them to blend in with their habitat, and they fly silently. Their calls
are the best way to know if they are in the neighborhood.
Thoreau said, I rejoice that there are owls. And so do I,
said Bernie. I rejoice that the ICBC has Bernie Knight and owls. The Iowa
City Public Library will burn a copy of this DVD, or any other of their long
list of programs, at no cost if you supply a blank DVD.
Attendees: Karen Disbrow, Bruce Gardner, Peter Hansen, Rick Hollis, Ken Hunt,
Steven Jones, Lorraine Kent, Khristen Lawton, Ed Lins, Terry Mangold, Alan
and Kris Nagel, Jim and Sharon Scheib, Blossom Shaw.
Karen Disbrow
January 24, Feeder Watch Social at the home of Rick and Janet
Hollis. Not so exciting birds, nice fellowship, smoked salmon to die for.
Not a bad way to spend a winters morning.
Attendees: Barb Beaumont, Karen Disbrow, Joni Ellsworth, Kurt Hamann, Rick
and Janet Hollis (hosts) , Lorraine Kent, Blossom Shaw.
Birds (15 species): Bald Eagle, Coopers Hawk, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, House
Finch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow.
Rick Hollis
January 31, Coralville Winterfest. It was a lovely winter
day for the third annual Coralville Winterfest at the Iowa River Landing area.
We setup our display near the large windows in the Marriott overlooking the
Iowa River. Several Bald Eagles were seen, including one that perched across
the river for much of the afternoon, allowing Bruce to set up his scope and
offer nice views to many visitors. A few other birds were seen including Ring-billed
Gulls and an American Kestrel. This was a fun activity and we plan to participate
again next year.
Attendees: Chris Caster, Karen Disbrow, Chris and Anne Edwards, Bob and Dara
Dick, Bruce Gardner, Ken Hunt, Paul and Lorraine Kent, Mary Noble, Jim and
Sharon Scheib, and many others.
Karen Disbrow
February
6, Amana Turkey Walk and Feast. The weather was sunny and in the
20s. Because the parking lots of the Amana Nature Trail were unplowed, we
started by visiting the feeders at the Conservation Education Center at Kent
Park. We found a Coopers Hawk hanging out at the feeders, but it soon
left and the songbirds returned. One of the highlights there was an overwintering
Red-headed Woodpecker. We searched the evergreens in Kent Park without success
for Northern Saw-whet Owls. After leaving Kent Park we drove to breakfast
at the Colony Inn. On the way a Wild Turkey, several Bald Eagles, and a Rough
Legged Hawk were seen, as well as a very early woodchuck. In the fields near
the Old Creamery Theater, we saw several Horned Larks. On the way back from
breakfast we drove north of the Hawkeye Wildlife Area, where we saw Bald Eagles
and a dark-morph Rough Legged Hawk.
Participants: Karen Disbrow, Roger and Linda Fisher, Jim Fuller, Therese Guedon,
Ken Hunt, Paul and Lorraine Kent, Ramona McGurk, Mary Noble, Patricio Otero,
Jim and Sharon Scheib, Marybeth Slonneger.
Birds (18 Species): Wild Turkey, Bald Eagle, Coopers Hawk, Red-tailed
Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Black-capped Chickadee,
White-breasted Nuthatch, European Startling, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed
Junco, Northern Cardinal, House Sparrow.
Ken Hunt
February
18, Meeting. Iowa Audubon President Doug Harr spoke about that groups
current activities and conservation projects. Doug provided this summary and
follow-up to his presentation:
In February I was pleased to present a program to the Iowa City Bird Club,
explaining just exactly what Iowa Audubon was all about. I wish to express
my thanks to those patient members and guests who graciously forgave the equipment
malfunction that forced me to talk rather than show some nice photos.
As a follow-up to that program Id like to formally welcome the ICBC
to its recent affiliation with Iowa Audubon and thank Karen Disbrow for offering
to serve of as your clubs representative on our board of directors.
I can assure you that Karen is already taking an active role in helping shape
the directions of Iowa Audubon.
Because of my February meeting presentation and Karens explanation of
Iowa Audubon in the ICBC December newsletter, I wont spend much time
repeating whats already been said. But just as a brief refresher, Iowa
Audubon is a newly independent state Audubon Society not directly affiliated
with the National Audubon Society (NAS). We organized in 2004 in order to
focus upon the conservation of, and education about, Iowas birds and
their habitat. However, we do continue to serve as a link between the 10 NAS
chapters in Iowa as well as any other bird organizations that might share
our goals for Iowas birdlife, and we still partner with NAS on projects
of mutual interest.
Iowa Audubon also compliments the work of the Iowa Ornithologists Union,
which has its focus primarily upon birding and being Iowas official
bird record-keeping organization. As a result, Iowa Audubon and the IOU share
many members in common. I am a member of both organizations, as well as the
Prairie Lakes Audubon chapter (NAS), for which I serve as Iowa Audubons
board representative. Many of you know that I have also headed the DNRs
Wildlife Diversity Program since 2002. I will be retiring from DNR at the
end of May, after which I intend to spend more time trying to raise the image
of Iowa Audubon and our statewide partnership role in promoting birds and
bird conservation.
So I encourage you all to consider an individual ($10) or family ($15) membership
in Iowa Audubonwe thinks its one of the best (and least expensive)
investments you can make to help Iowas birds. The funds we raise through
memberships, donations, and an annual fundraising event go directly into conservation
of Iowas birds and habitat, or into educating more Iowans in the beauty
and wonder of birds. But whether or not you choose to personally become a
member, we welcome ICBCs organizational partnership with us. In the
future, I hope to keep you posted on some of our important projects. For further
information about Iowa Audubon and how to join go to www.iowaaudubon.org .
Attendees: Lois Beasley, Barry Buschelman, Chris Caster, Karen Disbrow, Bruce
Gardner, Peter Hansen, Rick Hollis, Ken Hunt, Paul and Lorraine Kent, Khristen
Lawton, Nancy Lynch, Linda Rudolph, Bill Scheible, Richard and Marcia Shaffer,
Blossom Shaw, Jim Walters.
Doug Harr
February 21, Quad Cities. Our first stop off I-80 was Canal
Shore Drive. Bruce did a fine job approaching the birds until he accidentally
hit the car alarm, fortunately it is a big river and there were lots of birds.
We saw more goldeneyes and mergansers than we cared to count and some other
divers. Most interesting were a pair of juvenile swans feeding against the
Illinois shore.
Lots of gulls were about at Lock and Dam 14 as well as a few eagles, but we
didnt find anything out of the ordinary there. We had a nice conversation
with one of the employees at the dam. He hates gulls. Evidently one had eaten
its meal on his car hood one day and he had a tough time scrubbing off the
remains. Needing a break from the cold, we stopped at the McDonalds in Bettendorf.
Unbelievably the old guy behind the counter asked me if I was a seniorapparently
I wouldve gotten a quarter off my coffee if I had said yesBruce
did. There werent any birds on the river behind the casino in Bettendorf
and there wasnt any reason to stop at the Mound St. marina in Davenport.
We did stop at Lock and Dam 15. There were only a handful of gulls there,
however the walleye fishermen were out in force. Above it all, a Peregrine
Falcon sat with its back to the flotilla. Credit Island wasnt any more
productive. Three herons and a small group of Mallards were the dominant avian
life forms. We did enjoy a stop along Concord St. where we watched a group
of motorcyclists race the short-track they had created on the ice. They werent
real good, but they might be Iowas best shot at a medal during the winter
games.
Our last stop was at Fairmount Cemetery. We spent some time searching the
most likely cedars for owls and were delighted to hear a Barred Owl calling
in the distance. Our best birds were found at the feeders near the back entrance.
There we found both nuthatches, both weaver finches, and a Fox Sparrow.
Participants: Chris Caster (leader), Bruce Gardner (driver), Ken Hunt (emotional
support).
Birds (33 species): Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Mallard, Canvasback, Lesser
Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Great Blue Heron,
Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Ring-billed
Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Pigeon, Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy
Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse,
Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, European Starling, Fox Sparrow,
White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch,
House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow.
Chris Caster
March 13, Burlington Area. This was a full-day trip to Burlington
to view the spring migration along the Mississippi Flyway. We left Iowa City
at 6:45 a.m. and arrived at the Port of Burlington at 8:00 a.m. The weather
was chilly at 45° with a light mist that continued throughout the day.
John Rutenbeck and Chuck Fuller with fellow local birder Ted joined us to
search out the spring migrants.
When we arrived a Peregrine Falcon was roosting on the Mississippi River bridge
where a pair has nested for at least four years. We drove to the tennis club
parking lot in order to walk the storm drainage walkway. Fourteen Turkey Vultures
were roosting in a tree there, and for many of us they were the first vultures
of the year. Even though there was a light mist many birds were singing. A
Fox Sparrow was spotted amongst other birds flitting in the trees. The light
was so bad that many birds were just silhouettes.
We traveled to Green Bay Bottoms where we found many ducks feeding in the
area corn fields. Tree Swallows were flying over the Mississippi River. In
a flooded bottomland forest we found a Barred Owl, and a nearby cavity appeared
to be a good possibility for the owl and its partner to be nesting. We traveled
to Fort Madison and Montrose, checking each water area. Many of the landlocked
ponds were frozen or only partially melted. At the marina in Fort Madison
the boat slips remained frozen and the gulls actively pecked the ice to feed
on frozen fish. There was a Great Blue Heron on the dock, and a lone American
White Pelican floating back and forth in the shallow open water. We spotted
an immature Thayers Gull among the Ring-billed Gulls.
All in all it was a great day, although the wind made the viewing very chilly.
We left Burlington at 5 p.m. with a total of 75 species, having seen most
of the ducks and geese except Snow Goose. A big thank you to John and Chuck
for a great day.
Participants: Karen Disbrow, Chuck Fuller (co-leader), Ramona McGurk, Mary
Noble, John Rutenbeck (co-leader).
Birds (75 species): Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Canada Goose,
Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern
Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked
Duck, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser,
Common Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed
Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture,
Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine
Falcon, American Coot, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Thayers
Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay,
American Crow, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird,
American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, American Tree Sparrow, Fox
Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal,
Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird,
House Finch, Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree
Sparrow.
Karen Disbrow
March 25, Meeting. We had two speakers at this meeting.
Billy Reiter-Marolf, Iowas new Breeding Bird Atlas Coordinator,
gave an update on the status of the BBA project in the state: 24 blocks have
been completed, with 20 hours or more of effort; 73 blocks have had 10-20
hours; 570 blocks have had less than 10 hours; and 124 sites have had no recorded
hours. Billy then went over Johnson County and the surrounding counties in
more detail. There are many blocks in areas that we usually bird or close
to areas that we have visited. Collection of data is primarily based on bird
behavior: birds carrying food, pairs sitting together on limbs or electric
lines, mating displays, males singing on territory, removal of fecal sacs,
identifying existing nests, etc. Great Blue Herons, Red-tail Hawks, and owls
are species that are pairing up or breeding now. There are great resources
for identifying nests that are easily seen before the trees bud.
Billy pointed out that we have three species that are nesting in the state
that were not present when the last BBA was done in the late 1980s: Sandhill
Cranes are back after being extirpated from the state for over 100 years,
and Eurasian Tree Sparrows and Eurasian Collared-Doves have colonized the
state in the last twenty years.
There are three blockbusting weekends scheduled for the coming months (see
page 4 for more information.) During these events, people can join other birders
and explore new areas in specific areas of the state. These weekends will
kick off with a Friday night training by Billy about what to look for to determine
if birds are nesting in the block.
Mark Brown also provided a presentation on the Iowa
Ornithologists Unions trip to Monterey, California on October
3-13, 2009.
Jim Bangma and Ann Johnson of Hologram Birding Tours led 11 participants from
around the state to such places as Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore,
Mines Road, Pinnacles National Monument, and Monterey Bay. By the end of the
trip, our wildlife totals included 12 butterflies, 23 mammals, and 176 birds!
Mark took many pictures and presented the highlights in the presentation.
The first few days were spent on land. Among the targets that were successfully
seen well by the group were Wrentit, Nuttalls Woodpecker, California
Thrasher, and Yellow-billed Magpie. Tarantulas, Mormon Metalmark butterflies,
and a Bobcat were also noteworthy. By the fourth day the group ventured toward
the coast. Monterey would be the home base for the bulk of the remainder of
the trip. Shorebirds that prefer rocky beaches were plentiful. Highlights
were Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird,
Marbled Godwit, and Snowy Plover. Also around Monterey Peninsula, the group
was impressed by a battle between two White-tailed kites. Eventually the juvenile
stole the rodent that was caught by the adult! The most unexpected sighting
occurred at one of the beaches on the peninsula. A young Mountain Bluebird
was found and would remain for 4 days. Not only was it just the third time
this species was seen in the Monterey area, but it was also at the location
where John Denvers plane went into the ocean 12 years ago. A local paper
read, Rockies bird pays tribute to John Denver.
The highlight of this vacation for most of the participants was two pelagic
trips out into Monterey Bay. The bay is world famous for its deep canyon just
a short distance from shore, which produces nutrient rich upwellings that
reach the surface and attract mammals and seabirds from all over the world.
Monterey Seabirds was the tour operator we used. They limited the tours to
25 people and that allowed us all to have enough rail space and get fantastic
views of such birds as Bullers, Pink-footed, Black-vented, and Sooty
Shearwaters, Cassins and Rhinoceros Auklets, Parasitic and Pomarine
Jaegers, Black-footed Albatrosses, and Northern Fulmars. The mammals were
equally spectacular, which included Blue and Hump-backed Whales, Rissos,
Pacific White-sided, and Northern Right-whale Dolphins, and Northern Fur Seals.
Towards the end of the trip we took a pontoon ride in a backwater estuary
known as Elkhorn Slough, giving us all killer looks at Sea Otters, Elegant
Terns, Western and Clarks Grebes, and Brant. At the nearby agricultural
area called Moonglow Dairy, flocks of Tri-colored Blackbirds were a nice treat.
By the end of our tour, a huge storm was looming offshore that would dump
6 inches of rain on many parts of California and bring winds in excess of
50 miles per hour. This made us appreciate the calm and dry weather we enjoyed
for the entire trip. It turned out to be quite a memorable outing for everyone
involved, as even the most well-travelled participants got to see a few life
birds!
Trip participants were Jim Bangma (leader), Mark Brown, Linda Donelson, Judy
Garton, Ann Johnson (leader), Mike Johnston, Sandy Johnston, Jerry Probst,
Lee Schoenewe, Carolyn Sonderman, Richard Tetrault, Karen Viste-Sparkman,
and Pamela Wingert.
Attendees: Mark, Matsalyn and Russell Brown, Karen Disbrow, Linda Donelson,
Bruce Gardner, Peter Hansen, Rick Hollis, Ken Hunt, Lorraine Kent, Dave Kyllingstad,
Khristen Lawton, Ramona McGurk, Rosemarie Petzold, Jim and Sharon Scheib,
Carol Winter.
Karen Disbrow/Mark Brown
March 28, Cone Marsh. This trip was held in conjunction with
our beginning birder course, and we had a nice mix of enthusiastic beginners
and veteran birders. A strong NW wind made it seem much colder than the actual
temperature of 45°. On the way to the marsh we spotted a Eurasian Collared-Dove
along Hwy. 6 outside of Iowa City, and another one at the south edge of Lone
Tree. This species continues to increase its presence in our area and throughout
Iowa.
We started our loop around the marsh in the NE corner near the caboose. The
water level was very high. The highlights were two Horned Grebes in breeding
plumage and a group of six Sandhill Cranes which flew past and briefly landed
in a field behind us. We obtained good scope views of many ducks including
Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, and Blue-winged Teal,
as well as a flock of American White Pelicans out in the marsh.
We moved on to the south side of the marsh. There were not many ducks there,
but we added Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, and Redhead to our list. Our next stop
was on the west side at the dike. We didnt venture too far onto the
dike because of the wind. Everyone enjoyed viewing a nearby Rusty Blackbird
through the spotting scopes. As we were leaving the area a Northern Harrier
flew past.
The NW corner of the marsh, being somewhat sheltered from the wind, held many
ducks and geese. Several hundred Greater White-fronted Geese flew up out of
the marsh and then settled back into the cattails, and a single Snow Goose
was spotted in the vegetation. Canvasbacks and many other ducks were present,
and we heard (but didnt see) our only Wood Duck of the day.
After leaving the marsh we made a stop nearby along Atwood Avenue, and in
a field there we found several American Pipits, an early American Golden-Plover,
and a distant flock of longspurs.
Participants: Art Bettis, Kay Burke, Chris Caster, Jerry Denning, Bob Dick,
Drew Dillman, Karen Disbrow (leader), Chris Edwards, Bruce Gardner, Therese
Guedon, Peter Hansen, Ken Hunt, Amelia Lobo, Brenda Nations, Mary Noble, Patricio
Otero, Mary Beth Stevenson.
Birds (53 species): Greater White-fronted Goose, Snow Goose, Canada Goose,
Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,
Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck,
Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Pheasant, Pied-billed Grebe,
Horned Grebe, American White Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern
Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Sandhill Crane,
American Golden-Plover, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian
Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern
Phoebe, American Crow, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, American
Robin, European Starling, American Pipit, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Lapland
Longspur, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Western
Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Sparrow.
Chris Edwards
25 Years Ago in
Eastern Iowa Birdwatch
The Spring 1985 issue of Eastern Iowa Birdwatch featured an article about
making field observation notes by Carol Thompson, in which she described her
use of field checklists, notebooks, and portable cassette recorders for taking
notes in the field.
Tom Staudt reported on the 1984 Christmas Bird Count. The species total was
only 49, the lowest total since the count took its present form in 1974. Good
birds were Wild Turkey (seen for the second straight year), Eastern
Bluebird, and Lapland Longspur.
Carl Bendorf led the annual mid-winter field trip to Amana to look for Wild
Turkeys, which were much less common than they are today. Due to the large
number of participants, the group split into two, and both parties were successful
at finding several turkeys in the bottomland timber. Even more remarkable
was the sighting of a male and female Evening Grosbeak eating small buds at
the top of a sunlit tree. The outing was followed by breakfast at the Colony
Inn.
The Summer 1985 Eastern Iowa Birdwatch featured a note about the start of
Iowas first five-year Breeding Bird Atlas project, which ran through
1990.
The issue also included reports from spring field trips to the Coralville
Reservoir, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, and the annual Mothers Day trip
to Fullers Farm in Cedar County. The upcoming summer schedule included
only one outing, to the Coralville Reservoir in August. This is a stark contrast
to our current busy summer schedule.
Chris Edwards
IOWA CITY BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FORM
Please send this form with your annual membership dues to Bruce Gardner, 3055
Wapsi Ave. NE, Iowa City, IA, 52240. Annual dues are $15 per household or
$10 for students. Members receive a 10% discount on bird seed at Birds Eye
View, 410 First Ave. in Coralvilles Riverview Square.
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Iowa City Bird Club
For general bird club information, or to lead or suggest a field trip, contact
our president and field trip coordinator, Karen Disbrow at (319) 339-1017
or k_disbrow@yahoo.com.
Annual membership dues are $15 per household or $10 for students, payable
by January 1st for the coming year. Check your mailing label for the year
you have paid through. Make checks payable to Eastern Iowa Birdwatch and mail
to Bruce Gardner, 3055 Wapsi Ave. NE, Iowa City, IA 52240. You may contact
Bruce at (319) 643-2575 or woodsidefarms@juno.com.
Our club web site is located at www.icbirds.org and is maintained by Jim Scheib.
You may contact Jim at (319) 337-5206 or jim@tenlongview.net.
Eastern Iowa Birdwatch is published three times per year, in April, September,
and December. Members are encouraged to send submissions and comments to the
editor, Chris Edwards, 4490 Daniels Cir. NE, Solon, IA 52333. You may contact
Chris at (319) 430-4732 or credwards@aol.com.
Eastern Iowa Birdwatch
Chris Edwards, Editor
4490 Daniels Cir. NE
Solon, IA 52333