- Transcript
Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science
Date: 03/25/99
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 25, 1999
[PLEASE NOTE: Dial-a-Bird will be updated next Wednesday,
Mar 31, 1999. From April 1 until April 8, I will be away
from all email. I will be checking phone messages, so if
there are any important sightings, please report to the
phone system. Thanks.]
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 many reports received March 18 through 25 from
the Niagara Frontier include PEREGRINE FALCON, KING EIDER,
GOLDEN EAGLE and RED CROSSBILL.
In downtown Buffalo, a pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS have
started nesting in an enclosure on the Genesee Street side
of the Statler Building. On March 22, three eggs had been
laid. With funding from the Buffalo Ornithological Society
and the New York State D E C, a video camera was installed
in the nest box this week. Very soon, a viewing monitor will
be placed in the window of the US Airways office on the
ground floor of the Statler. The installers of the system
describe the image of the nest box as "fabulous".
March 20, near the western limit of the BOS region, at
Victoria Avenue in Vineland, Ontario, an adult male KING
EIDER was seen on Lake Ontario among a massive flock of
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. 3 female KING EIDERS were also seen
nearby off Maple Grove Road. This is the prime time of the
year for KING EIDERS along the Lake Ontario shore of the
Niagara Peninsula.
It is also time for breakthrough hawk migration. March 20, 2
GOLDEN EAGLES were noted at the Hamburg Hawkwatch, located
at Lakeside Cemetery off Route 75 in Hamburg. March 21, at
the Ripley Hawkwatch in Westfield, highlights included over
600 TURKEY VULTURES, BALD EAGLE, 19 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 64
SHARP-SH. HAWKS, COOPER'S HAWK, 163 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS,
196 RED-TAILED HAWKS, MERLIN and 13 AMERICAN KESTRELS, plus
over 4000 RED-W. BLACKBIRDS. One of the MERLINS at the UB
Main Street Campus was still present at sunset on March 23.
A pair of reported MERLINS on Woodward Avenue, in either
Buffalo or Tonawanda, and up to 6 SHORT-EARED OWLS continue
at Airport and Newell Roads in Dunkirk.
In Cattaraugus County, March 21, at Bush Hill State Forest
in Farmersville, a singing male RED CROSSBILL was reported
along with a BARRED OWL, calling at mid-day, and 2 COMMON
RAVENS. Ravens were also reported this week in Chautauqua
County - in the Town of Gerry and at Barcelona Harbor.
Spring migrant reports - March 20, 10 TREE SWALLOWS were
first at the Cayuga Pool at the Iroquois Refuge, by
the 21st, there were over 200 at Cayuga plus lesser numbers
at several locations. Also the 20th, an early RUBY-CR.
KINGLET at Wood Marsh in the Tonawanda Wildlife Area. FOX
SPARROWS in Allegany and Chautauqua Counties. Numbers of
KILLDEER from many locations and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS March
23 at the Tonawanda Area. EASTERN PHOEBES in Chautauqua and
Cattaraugus Counties and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS at the Tillman
Area in Clarence.
Other reports this week; BLACK-HEADED GULL seen
sporadically with over 25 LITTLE GULLS and large numbers
of BONAPARTE'S GULLS off Queenston. Waterfowl species
and numbers are increasing greatly at Iroquois and the
surrounding areas and at the Batavia Waste Water Plant - at
least ten species at each location. 70 SNOW GEESE in Pomfret
this week, BUFFLEHEAD on Green Lake in Orchard Park, and
NORTHERN SHRIKES lingering in Concord and Lancaster.
[UPDATE: The next BOS Field Trip will be to the Iroquois NWR
for waterfowl, on Sunday, March 28. Meet at 8 AM at the
Tanning Bed store, on the south side of Main Street, east of
Transit Road in Clarence.]
Please note, Dial-a-Bird will be updated Wednesday evening,
March 31. Please call in your sightings by noon Wednesday.
You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for
calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird.
- End Transcript