News

Vol. IIX No. 5

May 2008

New Birds of the Year

*New to MNSA Life List

Notable Sightings for the Month

Exotic Visitor

On 2 May, after loud and unfamiliar calls, Kim’s curiosity finally got to her, while working near to office.   A loud squawking was coming from along the northeast fence line from the parking lot.  As she approached the trail the noise continued.   One of our neighbors collects pet birds; with the beautiful weather they had them outside enjoying the day.  It sounded like their birds were responding to the loud calls.  As she got closer the call was coming from atop a tree.  To
her surprise, sitting on the branch in all its brilliance was a Monk Parakeet.  She quickly called Mike from the dunes to witness her discovery.  Mike was able to snap a few photos before the bird flew north into the neighborhood.  Later that day the parakeet was seen flying over the marsh into the dunes, before disappearing.  The next time it was seen was on 7 May in the late afternoon.  It flew over the parking lot from its original location, on the northeast fence line, west to the dunes.

New Bird to the MNSA Life List

On a rainy overcast morning on 8 May, as Kim and Mike head out to do the daily morning bird count, neither of them knew they would be discovering a new species to the MNSA life list.  While rounding the pond on the east side a sparrow caught their attention.  It has characteristics of a Savannah and Sharp-tailed Sparrow but not a perfect match, thinking the bird was also wet and may appear a little different.  Upon returning to the office Mike breezed through the field guides and found the bird they just saw.  As he panned up to read the name he was surprised to read Grasshopper Sparrow.  He checked the list… no record, he then checked the index cards… no record.  “New bird!” Mike shouted, with camera in hand he went back in hopes it would be still there for some photo documentation, and it was.  The Grasshopper was feeding on the trail near the northern bench on the east side, in the same area.  Singing in the tops of the cut phragmites was a Seaside Sparrow, and at the base scurrying among the grass line was a Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow as well. 

Banded Shorebirds
On a brisk rainy overcast morning on 22 May a group of shorebirds was feeding along the blue bulkhead along the trail to the pond feeding on horseshoe crab eggs.  Among the group were six Ruddy Turnstones, of which one was flagged and banded.  After logging a report to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory, I began search the web for more information on the possible location of this bird.  It leads me to the Pan American Shore Bird Program part of the Canada Wildlife Service.  A list of colors suggests this bird was banded in Suriname, which uses light green flags and bands.  A report was submitted to the CWS as well.  I will add any new information I receive from my reports when I am contacted.  In related news the massive number of horseshoe crabs laying eggs along the trail between the large pond and the eroded end of the blue wall has also maintained a large number of shorebirds at the MNSA; Short-billed Dowichers, Semiplamated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, and larger flocks of Ruddy Turnstones.

Canada Goose Update

Our nesting Canada Geese continue to be affected by outside nature factors hindering their success.  Raccoons are still evident harassing and stealing eggs from the nests.  An eleventh pair, G11,  nested just south of the Dune bridge, only to be flooded 2 days later.  Of the 11 pairs these are the results.

·         G1-failed

·         G2-4 chicks

·         G3-4 chicks

·         G4-3 chicks

·         G5-5 chicks

·         G6-flooded

·         G7-6 chicks

·         G8-failed

·         G9-flood

·         G10-?

·         G11- flooded

MNSA Osprey Update

May is the month of hatching.  Our historical 4 eggs started hatching on 5/23, (2) 5/24, (3) 5/26, and the fourth and final, a week apart from the first on 5/30.  Our Snow Craft Osprey-Cam is successfully broadcasting a snapshot of the cam to the internet every 30 sec.  Giving our viewers at home an opportunity to see what’s going on with the family. 

Tree Swallow Cam Update

The new cam for 2008 is the Tree Swallow Cam donated by the Farina Family.  After constructing the nest for the first half of the month with grass and ending with goose feathers she laid her first two eggs on 5/20,  (3) 5/21, (4) 5/22, and (5) 5/23.   Incubation range from 11-19 days, but more commonly 14-15 days.  This would make the hatching date around the 6/7 weekend.

Massive Debris after Nor’Easter like storm

Mother’s Day weekend brought in a massive windstorm that brought lots of debris throughout the Study Area.  Workers from all over the department came to assist in the cleanup.  During the storm the south bridge was washed out on the East side.  Repairs were made with rock and stone to make the trail passable.  

Zoe Update

On 5/21 Chris Nadareski, with members from my department went out to band and chicks for Zoe and a second marsh nest site with a banded female with a black L over a green 3, L/3.  Zoe’s platform was in the same condition when she was first observed back on 3/24.  The box held one egg; Chris noted it was sun bleached.  During the investigation, Zoe and a second bird were flying over the box, but high not defending the platform.

Willet Nests in Peril

A nest identified along the main trail between the parking lot and the Algae Board was a victim of a feral cat.  A corpus was found only a couple feet from the nest site one morning.  A bird was still sitting on the nest with the body so close.  The next morning the body of the sitting bird was found in the same area and the eggs in the nest cold as steel.  On a similar note a few days later in the same area a dead Laughing Gull.  Cat kills are easily assumed because they rarely eat, to any great extent, what they kill.  The thrill of the hunt is what is activated when they leave our warm homes.

The Lengthy return of Earl the original friendly Egret

Earl has not returned to MNSA for over 3 years.  We all thought the worst, but to our surprise this year he has returned.  The first of the friendly crew to return on 5/27, Earl is identified by his knobby toe.  In related news Finger Lic’en returned on 5/31.