[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 75, No. 9, November, 2002]

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By: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne Homeyer

Many birders have noticed that Crows and Bluejays have all but disappeared in certain areas, and many people have found dead or dying birds in their yards. According to a wildlife disease specialist with the U.S. Geological Survey, 111 species of birds have been affected by West Nile Virus, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Bald Eagle. The National Audubon Society advocates integrated pest management to control mosquitoes and therefore, West Nile Virus. Integrated pest management calls for elimination of mosquito breeding habitat, the use of environmentally sound tools to combat mosquitoes, and a more targeted approach to the use of pesticides. Bacteria-based larvacides are preferred over chemical larvacides because they do not kill beneficial insects, amphibians or fish. Broadcast ground spraying of pesticides kills beneficial insects, which reduces food available to birds.

The only birds found in very good numbers were Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery. Golden-winged and Canada Warblers were found in fair numbers. A WGNSS birding group failed to turn up a single migrant at Tower Grove Park on 9/2.

Sightings. Several hundred White Pelicans, 12 Caspian and 1 Forster's Tern were seen at Winfield Dam on 9/14 (CA, T Bo, KL). Wigeon had returned to HL by 9/22 (FH). Pintails, Wood Ducks, both Teal, plus Marsh Wren and Least Bittern, were found at Clarence Cannon on 9/14 (CA, T Bo, KL). Marbled Godwit was reported from CL on 9/2 (DK). Ian Hunt found a juvenal plumaged Red-necked Phalarope at Creve Coeur Lake on 9/12. Josh Uffman observed a Red Knot at REDA on 9/2. Connie, Tom and Kent had Black-bellied Plover, both Yellowlegs, 100 Least, a Stilt, 2 Buff-breasted, plus 12 Black Terns, at REDA on 9/6. The only Jaeger report was a Jaeger species, probably a Long-tailed, at CL on 9/8 (DK). The first Bonaparte's Gull sighting was at BCA on 9/17 (DH). Many birders found King Rail at the Prairie Slough Conservation Area, and Mike Brady found 2 King Rails and Sora at Little Creve Coeur Lake on 9/2. Dave Rogles reported 2 kettles of 15-20 Turkey Vultures from REDA on 9/11. Northern Harriers were found at HL on 9/1 (FH) and at REDA on 9/3 (D Ro) and on 9/29 one was seen at REDA (J Mo, KP). A Sharp-shinned was reported at Castlewood on 9/15 (MB). Many birders found a Cooper's Hawk near the Cypress Circle (J Ck) and Jack Cowan saw a Cooper's Hawk eating a Bluejay near the Gaddy Bird Garden. On 9/21, 14 Broad-winged Hawks, 7 Osprey and a Cooper's Hawk were seen at BCA (YH, SM). A WGNSS Hawk Watch at Mark Peters' Prairie on 9/22 produced 166 Broad-wings. Ed Barresi watched a Merlin eat a grasshopper on 9/21 at BCA. Mark Peters had a Merlin stay at his prairie from 9/25 until the end of the month. It fed exclusively on large dragonflies (Common Green Darners) and perched in dead treetops, where it groomed and rested.

On 9/16, 65 to 70 Nighthawks were observed in Madison County (FH). Olive-sided Flycatchers were reported on 9/11 at TGP (IH, AC), on 9/12 at TGP (G&TB), on 9/12 at HL (FH), and on 9/17 at BCA (DH). Thousands of swallows were seen staging at REDA on 9/17 (D Ro). White-eyed Vireo was heard at Valley View Glade on 9/26 (J Mo). Sherry McCowan found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet at TGP on 9/24. Philadelphia Vireo was seen at TGP on 9/11 (IH, AC) and on 9/12 (G&TB). Sherry McCowan also reported Blue-headed Vireo and Yellow-billed Cuckoo on 9/15 at TGP. On 9/7, Josh Uffman and Nick Barber found 2 Veerys, Gray-cheeked & Swainson's Thrush at TGP. Nick commented that he was only seeing migrants in low numbers. By 9/10, birds picked up ahead of a cold front. The Thursday Group had a Wood Thrush at TGP on 9/12. The Solodars found Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Canada, Wilson's, Ovenbird and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at TGP on 9/4. Two Blackpoll Warblers were found in TGP on 9/10 (T Be, Tina Weyman) and on 9/15 at the Cypress Circle (CM). Mourning Warblers were seen at TGP on 9/1 (Tom Kennedy, SM) and on 9/12 (T Be). The first Yellow-rumped Warbler was seen at REDA on 9/11 (D Ro). Charlene Malone found Orange-crowned and Cape May at Stump Lake, 2Rivers NWR, on 9/14. A Black-throated Blue Warbler was found at CL on 9/13 (DK). By 9/27, there was a good movement of vireos, tanagers, and warblers, including many Black-throated Green, at TGP (DB) and on 9/28 Anne McCormack found Red-eyed, Philadelphia and Blue-headed Vireo there. Sherry McCowan reported Chipping Sparrows at FP on 9/25. The first White-throated Sparrow was seen at Castlewood on 9/15 (MB). On 9/14, 50 Dickcissels and Bobolinks were found at Clarence Cannon (CA, T Bo, KL). A typical day at TGP on 9/16 produced Worm-eating Warbler, 2 Common Yellowthroats, 2 Black-and-whites, a Chestnut-sided, 2 Magnolias, a Blue-winged, 3 Redstarts, 7 Ovenbirds, a Red-eyed Vireo, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a Gray-cheeked Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Red-headed Woodpecker and Ruby-throated Hummingbird. A typical day at Clarence Cannon on 9/20 included 6 Semi-palmated Plover, 10 Common Snipe, 2 Dowitcher sp., 2 Greater and 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Least Sandpipers, Baird's Sandpiper, 2 Marsh Wrens, and 8 Bobolinks (T Be). Torrey also had 3 Bald Eagles at Winfield Ferry on 9/20. Mike Brady, Mary Ann Auer and David Becher found Sora, Snipe, Sedge & Marsh Wrens, Swamp Sparrow and Yellow-throated Vireo on BCA on 9/29.

Comments: Good backyard birds included Redstart on 9/2 & on 9/30, Nashville Warbler on 9/4 and Rose-breasted Grosbeak on 9/16 (WK). A Catbird was also being found in her yard; one wintered there a few years ago. Cheryl Delashmit found 4 Bewick's Wrens and 8 Summer Tanagers in her yard in Franklin County on 9/1. Margy Terpstra reported several Screech Owls and 2 Barred Owls in her Kirkwood yard. Josh Uffman saw Redstart, Black-throated Green and Chestnut-sided Warbler on 9/21.

Contributors: Mary Ann Auer, Connie Alwood, Nick Barber, George & Terry Barker, Ed Barresi, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Angela Clark, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Ron Goetz, Sue Gustafson, Donald Hays, Yvonne Homeyer, Frank Holmes, Ian Hunt, Dan Kassebaum, Wilma Kennell, Jim & Charlene Malone, Anne McCormack, Sherry McCowan, Jeannie Moe, Kraig Paradise, Mark Peters, Dave Rogles, John & Nancy Solodar, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Rad Widmer, Jim Ziebol. An asterisk means "documented".

Abbreviations: Busch Conservation/Wildlife Area, BCA; Carlyle Lake, CL; Forest Park, FP; Horseshoe Lake, HL; Little Creve Coeur Lake, LCCL, Lost Valley Trail, LVT; Marais Temps Clair, MTC; Riverlands, REDA, Tower Grove Park, TGP.

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