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Not All Migratory Birds Are “Neotropical”: a Snowbird’s Perspective     by Bob Ross

5/17/2023

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​I was still a little boy when I realized that my grandparents were gone from Pennsylvania for the winter.  Where did they go?  Like many of us still do when retired: to Florida or another warm winter place.  And likewise, the reverse is also true of many Florida retirees who wander north during summers.  My aunt and uncle from Tampa did so because, among other reasons, they loved Pennsylvania sweet corn in season and abundance here.  This reason matches exactly the major theory why birds from the tropics evolved to migrate north to breed in the Temperate Region: an abundance (and therefore less competition) of food (forest insects) for successfully raising young.
              A year ago I wrote about neotropical migrants that we suddenly hear and see in our yards and forests come Spring in Pennsylvania.  These birds spend their winters in tropical America (southern Mexico to South America) then migrate north to nest and raise their young in temperate and arctic North America.  However, there is another group of birds that are still migratory, but stay largely north of Mexico and the Caribbean: nearctic migrants.  The same theory explains their migration: explosive food supplies for a brief part of the summer as far north as the arctic tundra.  These are the birds that also winter in big numbers in places like Florida.  For those who travel to or winter in Florida, you will see these birds in your yards and forests there as wintering birds (like many of us “snowbirds”), then the same birds back up here in Pennsylvania as spring/summer breeding birds.  Examples among insectivorous warblers include pine, palm, yellow-throated, and yellow-rumped warblers (see photos).  These songbirds are an occasional treat to hear and see in my yard in Pennsylvania.  But in recent winter trips to Florida I found them to be common “yard birds” there.  They just don’t fly so far between summer and winter homes as do the neotropicals!
              And what about our most ubiquitous Pennsylvania songbird, the American robin (with a namesake scientific name Turdus migratorius)?  On rainy days in Florida I found them foraging in many yards by the dozens.  Of course there are many variations of this nearctic migration pattern.  The palm warbler mentioned above actually overflies us in Pennsylvania, stopping in migration here only to feed/refuel, before reaching subarctic breeding locales in Canadian boreal forests or subtropical wintering locales such as residential yards of Florida.
              So the next time you “head south for the winter,” remember that birds have been doing this for way longer than humans have, and perhaps for similar reasons.  Go into our forests and enjoy them while you can.  Seasons are short.  And tip your hat to a brook trout, wood frog, or fisher.  May the Forest be with you!
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Recap-Picnic McKethan Lake

4/25/2023

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Several birders arrived early in anticipation of not only identifying some birds, but the food that was to come. The White Ibis and a Greater Yellowlegs was evident at a distance from the pavilion. A Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs was in the group. 
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We walked through the woods in the back of the pavilion, but it was very quiet. 
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Also across from the pavilion was a Roseate Spoonbill dining with an Ibis.
Most of the time we were at the pavilion, the Swallow-tailed Kites were active. I got this photo as he swooped in for a drink. It was a treat to see them flying around. Then it was to eat. 

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If you have never seen Penguins, here is your opportunity. Except they are edible. Thanks to Wendy Zematis.
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We had 35 species, 36 including the penguins. Here is the ebird link. https://ebird.org/checklist/S134960945
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Photos: Pepper Creek

4/21/2023

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Recap: Final Pepper Creek Birdwalk of Season, 15 April 2023, 0800-1000

4/21/2023

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Citrus County Audubon’s Pepper Creek Birdwalk finale was conducted on the Ides of April 2023 at Homosassa Wildlife State Park, with Elaine Roche and Bob Ross leading.  Only three other birders participated (more commonly a dozen), but the five of us had a great time along the trail.  A few new seasonal neotropical migrants were added to the list of monthly recorded winter residents, including Swallow-tailed Kite, Great-crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, and N. Parula (warbler).  In all 24 species were recorded.  Photos of the Great-crested Flycatcher and N. Parula were obtained by Bob (see photos here), with these and more found in the eBird report submitted by Elaine.  A beautiful photo was obtained and submitted of a male Wood Duck near its wooden nest box (see photo and eBird).  In addition the group was rewarded by a river otter crossing the trail (see photo here).  Thanks to Elaine and Joyce Lewis for their loyal participation and leadership every winter at Pepper Creek.  Many community birders (with varying degrees of experience) are enriched by these organized monthly birdwalks at Homosassa State Park.
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April 19th, 2023

4/19/2023

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Baby Bird Shower

4/16/2023

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This was Michele Kline's day at the Baby Bird Shower that Citrus County and Hernando Audubon's hosted at Chinsegut Conservation Center. Michele brought ambassador Spencer Barred Owl and a new ambassador, White-winged Dove. She gave good advice about when not to bother baby birds that seemed to be without parents. There were tables of items for sale and the monies received were all turned over to Michele so that she can continue to do the awesome work she is so good at.

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Prior to Michele's presentation, Bev Hansen led 20 interested birds on a brief tour around the premises. Red-headed Woodpeckers were in abundance, several species of Warblers, male and female Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated and White-eyed Vireos were seen to name a few. The excitement for the day was the Blue Grosbeak.

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Photos by Jim Meyer & Fred Hileman. My eBird list link is here https://ebird.org/checklist/S133987950
We had 32 species.
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Recap-Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve

4/16/2023

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One consolation of the wind blowing was that the "no-see-ums" were at bay for the 13 birders. Morning started overcast, but that did not deter the Clapper Rails that were calling back and forth in the marsh.  This one just sat up on the top of the reeds for the longest time and gave us all opportunities for photos. Marsh Wrens, Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Parulas,  and Pine Warbler were a few of our sightings. We spotted a flying bird that took some identifying. Thanks to Effie Smith who helped with the ID. At first with the long tail, it seemed to be a Mississippi Kite, but after checking the photo on computer, it was determined to be a  migrating Northern Harrier. Then out to the boat ramp we added a few more with the Willets all in a row. Here is the eBird link to the 33 species seen. https://ebird.org/checklist/S133601118
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Recap - Cedar Key

4/5/2023

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12 members were present for Cedar Key. Tim & i arrived about 7:30 and when we got out of the car, we were nearly devoured by the "no-See-ums." The two different sprays all over did not deter them. Tide was extremely low which made them more active, I suppose. We had 16 species including one of the several Clapper Rails. There were 3 Black Skimmers patrolling the low water pockets for their morning breakfast.

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We left the Mounds and along the way out several members spotted a Florida Scrub Jay. The mud flats afforded several species to add. There was a Black-crowned Night Heron out foraging. Off in the distance we could see a large flock of White Pelicans. We were hoping to travel farther down the road and get a better look at them, but an airboat dashed that hope. 

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The best views for the trip were of the Great-horned Owls. Mom and babies gave us some good photo ops. It has been several years since we have seen them. It was good to have them back. This was one of the best specie tallies we have had in some time. This was without the migration. The tally for the trip was a whopping 67 species!! Congratulations to some great birders. Thanks to Bob Ross for the bird photos.
The ebird link is here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S132765436
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​Fred Hileman

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Recap - Ocala Wetlands

3/24/2023

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8 birders joined in  a beautiful morning of birding. Weather was perfect. One of the most interesting and not a bird were the 3 Sherman Fox Squirrels that gave us plenty of photo ops. It just seemed strange to find them in the openness of the wetlands. One was quite acrobatic with a frolocking , tumbling and jumping up and down display that kept us all mesmerized for several minutes. 

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The best bird surprise was to see 2 Black backed Stilts in a retention pond next to the park along with a Lesser Yellowlegs. This was a great distance from our vantage point, but the photo is rather odd. It seems as if the Stilt is drowning the Yellowlegs. 
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There were three raptors. An American Kestrel, Red-shouldered Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk were seen. Great-crested Flycatcher, Parula, Pine & Palm Warbler, many Red-headed Woodpeckers as well as Red-bellied, Downy, & Pileated were seen through-out the trek. 

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The surprise was being photo-bombed by the Canada Goose on the right of the group photo. Here's a close -up. We tallied 38 species for sure, but Merlin picked up Painted Bunting, and several others we could not verify.
The eBird list is here at this link. .
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S131689146
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​Fred Hileman
​Photos by Fred Hileman
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March 9th, 2023

3/15/2023

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9 birders trekked some of the trails at Circle B. Tim and I arrived about 7:15 and by the time the rest of the group had arrived; we had already tallied 21 species.  It is a good lesson for being there at or near dawn. I saw my first of the season Great Crested Flycatcher. That is always a thrill. There were several Great Blue nests that were active. 
The tally for the the morning was 51 species.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S130978913 Here is the ebird link.

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Tim and I travelled down on Wednesday and checked out Lake Mirror and Lake Morten. The Mute swans were very pretty.
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Lip Kee