Monthly Archives: July 2020

Listserv Posts

Re: Thank Godwit (marbled)

It’s also typical to start seeing migrant flocks of Wilson’s
Phalaropes in eastern Idaho by mid June.

Cliff

On 7/10/20 2:40 PM, rattlesnake4873
wrote:

To your point, Jay, the curlews I follow for
your study have all departed and are on or near their non-
breeding  grounds. I recall that in the 70s while teaching at
Council High, Adams County, I regularly saw yellowlegs the
third and fourth weeks of August at a pond south of town.

On Fri, Jul 10, 2020 at 2:29
PM Jay Carlisle via groups.io <carlislejay=yahoo.com@groups.io>
wrote:
I might add that, though it seems crazy relative to our
traditional thinking about summer, most shorebirds are
quite early migrants after breeding.  Most of this has to
do with their molt strategy as all shorebirds migrate
south before their complete molt. Thus, whereas many
songbirds (robins, warblers, many sparrows) molt on or
near the breeding grounds – and therefore linger for 3-6
weeks after nesting – adult shorebirds “pack their bags”
remarkably quickly after nesting.  Reports in Idaho this
year have shown multiple species of southbound shorebirds
(e.g., godwits, yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers) since the
last week of June and many of the Long-billed Curlews we
study head S by the 2nd or 3rd week of June – 1 bird a few
years ago even flew south in late May!!!

The early southbound migrants are all adults – and
largely failed breeders followed by successful breeders.
Hope this helps explain this seemingly odd timing 😁
Jay

On
Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:15 PM, Larry Arnold <larnold47@…>
wrote:

vacation ???  
From: “Jonathan” <jrb4jc@…>
To: “IBLE” <IBLE@groups.io>
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2020 8:35:16
PM
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Thank Godwit
(marbled)

Wow, they are already heading back?  They
get less than 3 months of vacation,
apparently…  Jonathan Barnett, Horseshoe
Bend

 

Sent from
Mail for Windows 10

 

From:
Elizabeth
Medes
Sent: Thursday, July 9, 2020
6:35 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] Thank Godwit
(marbled)

 

Indeed, Denise.  This has been 115 days
of  confinement while covering
birding/fishing as much as possible in
Gem Cty.  But what a reward waited for
us this week in Valley.

 

Liz Medes

Emmett

 

On Thu, Jul 9, 2020, 6:26 PM Denise
Hughes <deniseh449@…>
wrote:

Nice
find!  I love large groups of
unexpected birds. It becomes a WOW
moment. 

Denise Hughes

Caldwell, Idaho

On
Jul 9, 2020, at 6:21 PM,
Elizabeth Medes <liz.medes@…>
wrote:

Still adding photos from a
morning birding at Sugarloaf in
Valley County.  https://ebird.org/checklist/S71298275

 But, the big surprise – which
wouldn’t have happened without a
bored spouse benched from the
ice rink due to Covid 19, an
electric trolling motor, and a
startling view of them lifting
off 200 yards away, was 100+
Marbled Godwits, parked on the
east side near HWY 55 among
Canadian geese, pelicans, and
other waterfowl.  What gorgeous
critters.

Liz Medes
Emmett (the east side)

 

-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@...
Listserv Posts

Not Rare but Unusual Timing

Had an usual appearance by a female Cassin’s Finch at the black-oil sunflower seed feeder today. Primarily see in the spring, as Cassin’s migrate through to higher elevations. Have never had a summer one along the Snake, before. 

Appears, after 2 wks of adult male & female Rufous Hummingbirds, they have since moved on. Now, seeing mostly female Black-chinned Hummingbirds. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Listserv Posts

Re: Thank Godwit (marbled)

I might add that, though it seems crazy relative to our traditional thinking about summer, most shorebirds are quite early migrants after breeding.  Most of this has to do with their molt strategy as all shorebirds migrate south before their complete molt. Thus, whereas many songbirds (robins, warblers, many sparrows) molt on or near the breeding grounds – and therefore linger for 3-6 weeks after nesting – adult shorebirds “pack their bags” remarkably quickly after nesting.  Reports in Idaho this year have shown multiple species of southbound shorebirds (e.g., godwits, yellowlegs, Western Sandpipers) since the last week of June and many of the Long-billed Curlews we study head S by the 2nd or 3rd week of June – 1 bird a few years ago even flew south in late May!!!

The early southbound migrants are all adults – and largely failed breeders followed by successful breeders.
Hope this helps explain this seemingly odd timing 😁
Jay

Listserv Posts

Re: Thank Godwit (marbled)

Apologies for my “unkind” remarks yesterday…. 

“ hey Larry, lighten up, dude! ”   (  this ish me self-talk focus this morning   =)  (=   

 

Apparently, I’m irreversibly afflicted with HES…. “high expectations syndrome” that we, on a state listserv regarding birds, could have science-based discussions about topics like the fossil remains of birds and of their predecessors, of their subsequent evolution and radiation, phylogeny, classification, biogeography, origin of feathers and molt, origin(s) and evolution of flight, or loss of flight, aspects of physiology unique to birds, bill structure, feeding, nutrition, behaviors and communication, annual cycles and the role of photoperiod, migration or lack thereof, navigation, social behaviors, mating systems, reproduction and development, population dynamics, habitat associations, conservation, extinction, yes extinction….!!    allez allons-y, allons-y  !!!

 

Whew!  That was a mouthful, eh?

 

So, about every three years or so, I get frustrated over our lack of science-based discussion on IBLE regarding bird-related topics like those above, with THE Inferred Purpose of IBLE being to find, post, and chase the next year bird, next state bird, next county bird, the next “any list” bird, but especially the next Life Bird, regardless of how many resources we expend, e.g., petroleum.  I’ve been plenty guilty of this as well.  But hey, I’m thankful that IBLE isn’t as bad as it could be, because I know of state listservs that *forbid* posting about our yard birds (good grief), the focus being strictly listing, any and all kinds of listing…. 

 

Here’s my point, i.e., my lead-in to the notion of a “pair” of hummingbirds, which don’t really exist per se.  Most college textbooks on ornithology discuss “mating systems” and I’m lifting the following list of so called “pair bonds” (systems) and their “known” prevalence (definitions and examples are easy to find on google, wiki, etc.) from one such textbook (Ornithology, Frank Gill, 1994), but these occurrence rates have been changing as we learn more…

 

Polyandry        fewer than 1% of all bird species

Polygynandry  occurance ?

Polygyny         about 2%

Polygamy         about 3%

Promiscuity      about 6% of all bird species, including hummingbirds, manakins, grouse

Monogamy      predominant avian mating system, but I will note that I’ve seen recent peer-reviewed papers wherein this system is not as prevalent as we had always “thought” it was.  need data.  need input.  need more data and more input.  need analysis of data.  need reanalyses and peer reviews.  need science.

 

Totally free rant by Larry

No down payment necessary, easy payments of $0, no interest accruing !!   hahahaha