- Transcript
Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Date: 03/04/99
Number: 716-896-1271
To Report: Same
Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs@acsu.buffalo.edu)
Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario
Announcer: Debra B. Suggs
Transcriber: David F. Suggs
Thursday, March 4, 1999
Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of
Science and this answering system was donated by the Buffalo
Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3)
for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for
instructions on how to report sightings and use this system.
To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200.
Highlights of reports received February 25 through March 4
from the Niagara Frontier Region include HERMIT THRUSH,
SHORT-EARED OWL, MERLIN, RED-HEADED WDPKR. and migrant
CANADA GEESE and TUNDRA SWANS.
February 26, at Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, a HERMIT
THRUSH was reported feeding in the bushes along the
boardwalk to the North Blind. This species occasionally
winters in the region and this individual has been present
since January 27. Also at Tifft, a SWAMP SPARROW along Old
Tifft Street.
For the past week, up to 6 SHORT-EARED OWLS have been found
at dusk in the fields around the Dunkirk Airport at Newell
and Airport Roads. The pair of MERLINS at the UB Main Street
Campus continue to be seen late in the day between Clark
Hall and the Hayes Buildings. Another wintering MERLIN in
the Town of Tonawanda was reported for the second time on
March 2, on Janes
Street, near the site of the previous report - at the
railroad intersection on Center Street.
February 27, at Fort Niagara State Park, 2 RED-HEADED
WDPKRS. were preparing a nest hole at the picnic grove near
the old base theater. Also the 27th, the first note of
migrant CANADA GEESE; over 400 moving north at a high
altitude over Delaware Park in Buffalo. March 3, several
flocks totaling over 200 geese were reported over Darien and
27 migrant TUNDRA SWANS were at the Route 77 overlook at the
Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. Other early spring
migrants this week; RED-SHOULDERED HAWK February 26 on Grand
Island and 3 KILLDEER March 3 at the Van Buren Road ponds in
Pomfret.
From the Niagara River this week; an interesting
identification of a male RING-NECKED DUCK X GREATER SCAUP
hybrid on the west river off West Oakfield Road on Grand
Island. Not one BONAPARTE'S GULL was found along the length
of the river during the morning of the 27th, but on the
28th, over 2000 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 15 to 20 LITTLE GULLS
were off the sand-docks in Queenston. ICELAND GULL at Fort
Erie and GLAUCOUS GULLS at Queenston and Niagara-on-the-
Lake. 21 GREAT BLUE HERONS at the Motor Island Rookery. Up
to 200 TUNDRA SWANS at Beaver Island State Park. AMERICAN
WIGEON and NORTHERN PINTAIL above the falls. Small flocks of
RING-NECKED DUCKS on the upper river. 10 to 30 WHITE-WINGED
SCOTERS at Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake along with
thousands of OLDSQUAWS, and a BELTED KINGFISHER and singing
SONG SPARROW at Queenston.
Other reports this week; BL.-CR. NIGHT-HERON roosting in a
tree at Huntington and Parker in Buffalo. On Lake Ontario
off Somerset, 2 RED-THROATED LOONS, 11 HORNED GREBES and
numerous WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. GLAUCOUS GULL at St.
Columbans near Silver Creek. SURF SCOTER on Van Buren Bay in
Pomfret. Small numbers of first hawk migrants at the Ripley
Hawkwatch included NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-TAILED HAWKS and
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. GREAT HORNED OWLS on nest near Four Mile
Creek in Porter and in Ellery in Chautauqua County, and a
MOURNING DOVE has been singing on Shirley Avenue in Buffalo.
[UPDATE: Thursday, March 4, 5:30 PM. A late report from
Eggertsville on March 4, of both a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a
[well described] NORTHERN GOSHAWK taking prey at backyard
feeder. The next BOS meeting will be on Wednesday, March 10,
at 7:30 PM at the Buffalo Museum of Science. Visitors are
always welcome. Thank you.]
Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, March 11.
Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may
report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and
reporting to Dial-a-Bird.
- End Transcript