[From Nature Notes (the journal of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society), Vol. 77, No. 6, June, 2004] APRIL 2004 BIRD REPORTBy: Jim Ziebol and Yvonne HomeyerIntroduction: In early April, the migration was fairly typical but a number of cold fronts and adverse (north) winds significantly slowed the migratory birds from mid-April to the end of the month, especially the songbirds. According to the director of Wild Bird Rehab, no birds were seen there in 2003 with West Nile Virus. We encourage you to contact your local governments about broadcast spraying of pesticides. The cumulative effect of such spraying on birds, animals and people has not been well documented, and the killing of insects is detrimental to birds because they need insects to feed themselves and their young. Even sparrows and finches are insectivores during breeding season. Early Arrival Dates: 4/3 Red-breasted Nuthatch Her home PL Sightings: Thousands of White Pelicans were seen in flight north of Lincoln Shields at REDA on 4/11 (J Ch). Frank Holmes estimated 2,000 Cormorants at REDA on 4/9. American Bittern sightings included 1 at LCCL on 4/4 (P&BJ), 1 at REDA on 4/15 (Margie R), 1 at LCCL on 4/16 (CA), and a well-observed individual at the Gaddy Bird Garden in TGP on 4/16 (BM). On a SLAS field trip on 4/3, the group found 16 species of ducks, including all 3 mergansers (MT). On 4/15, the Thursday Group found Little Blue Heron at REDA and Snowy & Little Blue Herons at Indian Lake. Dick Coles reported 20 Great Egrets, 5 Little Blue Herons & 5 Cattle Egrets along the highway in IL. On 4/19, Charlene Malone saw 6 Marbled Godwits at LCCL and on 4/22, she observed 11 Willets there. Good numbers of shorebirds were reported from Two Rivers, REDA and LCCL during April. Frank Holmes found 15 Bonaparte’s Gulls at HL on 4/4. The only terns reported were 2 Caspians at REDA on 4/14 (CA, T Bo) and Black Terns on 4/30 at REDA (CM). Several Bald Eagles were sighted the first few days of the month, including an immature at REDA on 4/2 (JCh, Th. Group), an adult at Young C.A. on 4/3 (JZ, YH), one at HL on 4/4 (FH) and one at BCA on 4/4 (BB, DG). Sharp-shinned Hawk sightings included 1 on 4/8 at LVT (JCh, Margie R, Th. Group), 1 on 4/17, along with a N. Harrier, at BCA (DB & Sat. Group), 1 on 4/20 in TGP (Mick R), and 1 on 4/26 at LCCL holding a Kingbird (NB). Nick also reported a dark-phase Red-tailed Hawk, probably a Harlan’s, at LCCL that day. On 4/3, Mike Thelen observed a Red-tailed Hawk in flight carrying a squirrel in its tendons, over I-64 in St. Louis Co. Merlins were reported at TGP on 4/7 (T Be) and at SNR on 4/17 (DB, Sat. Group). The Merlin that wintered at Lakewood Park Cemetery in Affton was last seen on 3/1; the dead tree that was its favorite perch has been cut down. A Long-eared Owl was observed in Spanish Lake Park on 4/5 (KP). On 4/10, a Short-eared Owl was seen in CSP (MAA, MB, JU). Mark Peters found a Whip-poor-will on his Jefferson Co. property on the very early date of 4/6. Good days for Tree Swallows at HL were 4/4 and 4/25, with thousands present on both days (FH). Nesting Fish Crows were reported across the area during April (MB, P&BJ). From 4/7 to 4/9, many migrants were observed in TGP, including the movement of many Flickers, hundreds of Sapsuckers, hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warbers, and good numbers of Brown Creepers and Winter Wrens (T Be, D&JS, JZ, m. ob.). Prothonotary Warblers are not easy to find in city parks but one was seen on 4/25 in FP (RK, BB, DG) and one on 4/27 in TGP (SM). (Yellow-throated Warblers were sighted in very good numbers, including several at Lost Valley Trail on 4/3 (DB, Sat. Group), 10+ at SNR on 4/3 (J. Majka), 1 at Emmenegger Park on 4/16 (Margie R), 1 at HL/Walker Island on 4/18 (FH, JZ), and 1 at eye level in TGP on 4/21 (Mick R). Connie Alwood and Tom Bormann reported many Henslow’s Sparrows and 3 LeConte’s on the Chubb Trail on 4/10. Good numbers of Henslow’s were also seen at SNR on 4/17 (DB, Sat. Group). On 4/22 and 4/25, Mark Paradise reported 2 Lark Sparrows at Creve Coeur Lake. Several Harris’s Sparrows were seen in early April at HL (FH) and at Blue Grosbeak Trail (DB, P&BJ) and a beautiful Harris’s Sparrow in breeding plumage was found at LCCL on 4/25 (YH, JZ; refound on 4/26 by NB). On 4/20, Mark Mittelman found a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Creve Coeur Lake, also seen by Mark Paradise and Josh Uffman; 3 were seen there on 4/24 (JCh, Th. Group, Mark Paradise) and 4 were observed there on 4/25 (RAB). It has been a good year for Purple Finch and many were heard and seen migrating through the St. Louis area, including 3 females and 2 males in TGP on 4/17 (SM). Kraig Paradise reported Pine Siskin at Champ Park on 4/1 and several were seen at SNR on 4/17 (DB, Sat. Group). On 4/16, Bruce Wetteroth found several Purple Finch, Savannah and Swamp Sparrows and several Rusty Blackbirds in TGP. A sizeable flock of Rusty Blackbirds in TGP, first reported on 3/9, remained until 4/18. A typical day for the Thursday Group on 4/2 included Snipe at Smart Field, Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, Wood Ducks, Pelicans, Cormorants at Hideaway Harbor, St. Charles County Park, Eurasian Collared Doves on Hwy. 94 (RAB), Great Egret in West Alton (JL), and Pintails, Gadwall, Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Turkey Vultures and an immature Bald Eagle at REDA. A typical day for 4/26 included Ring-necked Duck, Least Bittern, Little Blue Heron, Sharp-shinned Hawk, 4 Broad-winged Hawks, dark-phase Red-tail, 9 Sora, 2 Common Moorhens, Vesper Sparrow, a singing Harris’s Sparrow and a Baltimore Oriole – all at LCCL; plus Orange-crowned Warbler, 2 Nashvilles, several Yellow-rumped, 1 Palm, 2 Common Yellowthroats, 2 Indigo Buntings, and 2 Field Sparrows at FP (NB). Nick had a total of 11 species of sparrow on 4/26. Contributors: Connie Alwood, Matthew Andrews, Mary Anne Auer, Bob Bailey, Loy Barber, Nick Barber, George & Terry Barker, David Becher, Torrey Berger, Rose Ann Bodman, Tom Bormann, Dennis Bozzay, Mike Brady, Jackie Chain, Dick Coles, Jean Cook, Jack Cowan, Dale & Nancy Delaney, Joe Eades, David Garcia, Donald Hayes, Frank Holmes, Yvonne Homeyer, Ian Hunt, Jim Jackson, Paul & Barbara Johnson, Wilma Kennell, Bob Kleiger, Vivian Liddell, John Loomis, Pat Lueders, J. Majka,Anne McCormack, Sherry McCowan, Jim & Charlene Malone, Brien & Alex Meilleur, Mark Mittleman, Jeannie Moe, Mark Paradise, Kraig Paradise, Mark Peters, Margie Richardson, Mick Richardson, Dave Rogles, Julie & David Scheu, John & Nancy Solodar, Mike Thelen, Josh Uffman, Jane Walker, Bruce Wetteroth, Jim Ziebol. An asterisk means “documented”. Please submit sightings by the last day of the month to Yvonne Homeyer (homeyer@earthlink.net). Abbreviations: Busch Conservation/Wildlife Area, BCA;
Carlyle Lake, CL; Clarence Cannon, CC; Forest Park, FP; Horseshoe Lake,
HL; Little Creve Coeur Lake, LCCL, Lost Valley Trail, LVT; Marais Temps
Clair, MTC; Riverlands, REDA; Shaw Nature Reserve, SNR; Tower Grove Park,
TGP. |