Eastern PA Birdline - 2014 May 16

- RBA
* Pennsylvania
* Lehigh / Northampton Counties and Vicinity
* May 16, 2014
* PAEA1405.16

- Birds mentioned

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH

AMERICAN BITTERN

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER

MOURNING WARBLER

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT

KIRTLAND’S WARBLER (probable)

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

- Transcript

Hotline: Eastern PA Birdline
Date: May 16th at 5:00 AM
To Report by E-Mail: Send tobecard@rcn.com with “Birdline” in subject heading.
Compiler: Dave DeReamus

My reporting area includes all of Lehigh and Northampton Counties with the northern edge of the area reaching Beltzville State Park and the southern edge reaching Peace Valley Park in Bucks County.  Updates are typically done every Friday, more often when necessary.

You can visit the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society Website at http://www.lvaudubon.org/ .

You can visit my 'Eastern PA Birding' Website for photos and information at http://users.rcn.com/becard/home.html .

There will be a field trip to Leaser Lake on May 17th  Meet at the Tilghman Square parking lot, near the Red Robin restaurant, just west of Route 309 at 6:30 AM.  Trip leader will be Fritz Brock.

There will also be a field trip to Penn Forest Township in Carbon County on May 18.th  Meet at the Tilghman Square parking lot, near the Red Robin restaurant, just west of Route 309 at 6:30 AM.  Trip leader will be Adam Smith.

Directions to many of the sites in this report can be found in the area’s birding guidebook, “Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity”.  A completely revised, 2nd edition of the book can be ordered at: http://www.lvaudubon.org/shop/ .

NOW FOR THE BIRDS!

Sightings from UPPER MOUNT BETHEL TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

Along National Park Drive:

20 warbler species.

Along Fox Gap Road:

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH – 1 on 5/10.

Along School Road:

AMERICAN BITTERN – 1 on 5/10.

Also Common Nighthawk.

Sightings from LAKE MINSI, Northampton County:

Red-breasted Merganser – 1 on 5/10.

Sightings from BEAR SWAMP, Northampton County:

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER – 1 on 5/9

MOURNING WARBLER – 1 on 5/10.

Sightings from PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP RECREATION TRAIL, Northampton County:

21 warbler species.

Sightings from LOWER NAZARETH TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

At a flooded field along Route 191 north of Route 946:

Bonaparte’s Gull – 1 on 5/10

Wilson’s Snipe – 1 on 5/10

Dunlin – 1 on 5/9.

Sightings from the GREEN POND area, Northampton County:

White-rumped Sandpiper – 1 on 5/14.

Also Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Solitary, Spotted, and Least Sandpiper.

Sightings from the BETHLEHEM area, Northampton County:

Peregrine Falcons – 2 during this past week.

Sightings from MOORE TOWNSHIP, Northampton County:

American Pipits – 26 on 5/10 (along Schlegel Road).

Sightings from BELTZVILLE STATE PARK, Carbon County:

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 1 on 5/9.

Sightings from LEASER LAKE, Lehigh County:

Red-breasted Merganser – 1 on 5/12

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON – 1 on 5/10

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT – 1 on 5/11.

Also Horned Grebe, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and 21 additional warbler species.

Sightings from the HAAFSVILLE area, Lehigh County:

Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and Solitary and Least Sandpiper.

Sightings from the JORDAN CREEK PARKWAY, Lehigh County:

KIRTLAND’S WARBLER – 1 on 5/10 (probable; heard only).

Unfortunately, the bird was never positively verified.

Sightings from WALKING PURCHASE PARK, Lehigh County:

15 warbler species.

Sightings from PEACE VALLEY PARK, Bucks County:

Ruddy Duck – 1 to 5/10
Double-crested Cormorants - 93 on 5/9

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER – 2 seen during this past week.
Also Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood Pewee, Winter Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and 23 additional warbler species.

Cliff and Bank Swallow, Swainson's Thrush, Orchard Oriole, and many other arrivals were reported from several sites this past week.

- End transcript

Pennsylvania Migration Count

Common Yellowthroat

What is the Pennsylvania Migration Count?

The Pennsylvania Migration Count (PAMC) was established to gather annual data on migratory bird populations, and to help answer some fundamental questions regarding their distribution throughout Pennsylvania. PAMC is an annual one-day snapshot of bird populations within our state attempting to answer which species are present, where are they and how many there are? Detecting the changes in population will help give us an early warning of possible declines and it is hoped that steps can be taken toward assisting their future survival.

How does it work?

The Pennsylvania Migration Count takes place each spring on the second Saturday in May, in conjunction with International Migratory Bird Day. PAMC is similar to the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The difference is that PAMC takes place on a countywide basis, rather than within the confines of a CBC circle. The rules are simple: spend some time in the field counting all birds encountered in a specified area, and keep track of miles traveled and time spent counting. Participants are free to roam their favorite county birding locales at any time during the 24 hour period, starting at 12:01am, counting every bird that they find. Totals are passed along to county compilers, who, in turn, report to the state compiler. The state compiler maintains the PAMC data, and an annual report is published in Pennsylvania Birds, the journal of the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (PSO).*When did it start? The Pennsylvania Migration Count originated as part of the continent-wide North American Migration Count (NAMC) in 1992, when there were 141 observers in 10 Pennsylvania counties. The count grew steadily in popularity in PA over the years, and was renamed PAMC in 2003, reflective of the fact that the national count was struggling everywhere but in Pennsylvania. Last year 903 observers from 53 counties participated in the PAMC. They counted 120 birds of 238 different species in over 2932 field hours. This year there are already more counties committed while we are always looking for more people to help. This year has us up to 59 counties committed out of the 67 in the state.

How can you help?

Birders of all skill levels can help out with the count. Beginning at midnight with the songs of the Whip-poor-wills and the hooting of the Great Horned Owls, the PAMC is a great way to spend time outside. Whether you tally birds in your backyard, at your feeders, the local little league ball field, along the river, on a lake, at your camp or spend time hiking through a state park, your observations count. Forms and information for PAMC participation are available from your county compiler, or go online at www.pabirds.org/PAMC/Index.html Data can be submitted via e-mail or post. If participating or for more information, please contact the county compiler first, to avoid duplicate submissions from the same area. If no compiler, contact PSO@PABIRDS.ORG for submission or assistance. You are always welcome to enter your own information on www.ebird.org, a free & public site, for submissions by the general public. This contributes valuable information that is used to track trends of birding population and distribution. This site allows you to keep track of your own sightings where ever you go and see what else is being seen in your area.

Warbler Season

I like it under the Rt.33 bridge. Yellow-throated Warbler  (c) Scott Burnet

For anyone wondering if it is worth it to join any of our many outings in May, here's a vote for yes. While we have had Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, and Pine Warblers around for a while it gets more and more interesting as gems like these start to show up.

Hummingbirds are back

Feisty and elegant, hummingbirds are amazing creatures.

To live their high energy lifestyles hummingbirds must sync their migration and nesting times with the flowering of nectar-bearing plants, but climate change threatens to throw off this delicate balance.

We need you. With today's technology we can all become citizen scientists, spending a few minutes each week to collect data in our communities that will be invaluable for researchers.

Join Audubon's Hummingbirds at Home to help crowdsource rigorous data that can uncover how hummingbirds are affected by climate change and provide the information necessary to help them.

How does it work? It's easy.

Submit sightings.    Record feedings.    Explore data.

World Migratory Bird Day 2014

Destination Flyways: Migratory Birds and Tourism

Bonn, 2 April 2014 - Each year on the second weekend in May, dedicated organizations and people around the world plan events to mark World Migratory Bird Day. Since World Migratory Bird Day began in 2006, events have been held in 130 countries and this year we hope to reach even more people and organizations to connect and work together towards conserving migratory birds worldwide.

This year’s World Migratory Bird Day theme is "Destination Flyways: Migratory Birds and Tourism" and will highlight the links between migratory bird conservation, local community development and wildlife watching tourism around the world. [Learn More about this Year’s Theme]

Register Your World Migratory Bird Day Event!

Join the global celebration of a great natural wonder on World Migratory Bird Day! We invite everyone to join us to celebrate, conserve and raise awareness of migratory birds on 10-11 May 2014 by holding bird-watching activities, educational programmes, lectures, art exhibitions, competitions and other public events. However you decide to participate, your contribution will help make a difference! [Learn More & Register Your Event]

Background Information

World Migratory Bird Day was initiated in 2006 and is an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats. World Migratory Bird Day is jointly organized by the Secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) – two international wildlife treaties administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – and a growing number of partners, including UNWTO for the 2014 campaign. [Visit the WMBD Partners & Sponsors Page]

This year’s campaign is financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), which we acknowledge with great gratitude.

Contact:

Contact us at: contact@worldmigratorybirdday.org

Tel: +49 (0)228 815 2454
Fax: +49 (0)228 815 2450

www.worldmigratorybirdday.org

You can also keep in touch with the growing World Migratory Bird Day Community and get updates on the latest developments and news relating to the campaign on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/worldmigratorybirdday

www.twitter.com/wmbd