March through May, 2009 - New Jersey Audubon Society

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This Roseate Tern was at the South Cape May Meadows May 29. If in doubt on a Roseate i.d., look for bands – almost all New Jersey Roseates are banded. Photo/Karl Lukens and likely consisted mostly of breeders. There were 9 Horned Larks in the snow at the Beanery 2 Mar (VE). Some nice swallow counts on Cape Island included 45 Northern Rough-winged Swallows 9 May (GD), 40 Bank Swallows 18 May (CV), and 15 Cliff Swallows 9 May (RS). Tufted Titmouse is a bird rarely if ever reported by observers, but 100 were recorded at various BSF locales 5 Apr (MO). A full perusal of Cape Island 18 Apr produced 45 Ruby-crowned Kinglets along with 40 Hermit Thrushes (both JG). An Orange-crowned Warbler that was seen at Davies Lake 14 Mar likely wintered in the area (TM). A perusal of various locales in BSF produced 23 Yellow-throated Warblers 23 May (MO). A count of 40 Palm Warblers around Cape Island 18 Apr was the maximum report (VE), as was the 25 Blackpoll Warblers around CMPt on the 27th (LZ). Cerulean Warblers were encountered 26 Apr (BF et al.) and 8 May at HB (m.obs), while another was on New Road, Cumberland 6 May (fide VE). A probable Cerulean Warbler x Northern Parula hybrid, an outstanding find, was discovered 5 May at Head of River, Cumberland (MO, LZ). A high tally of 19 Worm-eating Warblers came from various locations around BSF 1 May (MO), a good indicator of a healthy breeding 112 — March through May, 2009 population in that area. The same date and general location produced 80 Ovenbirds (MO). Additionally, 30 Ovenbirds were counted in the Dividing Creek area on the 13th (JC). Typically late as spring migrants, two Mourning Warblers were around CMPt 27 May (MO). Several BSF locations collectively held 11 Hooded Warblers 1 May (MO). The 25 American Tree Sparrows tallied at BNWR 14 Mar (SG) was an impressive count for the region. A Vesper Sparrow was on territory at Buckshutem WMA 13 May (JC), an oddity in the region whether successful or not. There were four Grasshopper Sparrows there as well on 13 May (JC). Migrant Grasshopper Sparrows were along Bayshore Road 12 May (MO) and at the Beanery on the 23rd (KL). There were 5 White-crowned Sparrows along New England Road in the snow 1 Mar (VE). A count of 40 Indigo Buntings on Cape Island 9 May (GD) gives an indication of their relative abundance in the region. Rare at any time of year, but especially in spring, was a Painted Bunting at the Beanery 5 May (MG). The only Dickcissel report of the spring was one along Bayshore Road 12 May (MO). Up to nine White-winged Crossbills lingered at BNWR until at least 21 Mar (MN, v.obs). Counts of 12 Pine Siskins in Galloway Township 5 Apr (JW), and 10 at HB 19 Apr (BF) give an indication of northward movement after a good winter for the species. Contributors Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, John Beetham, Erica Brendel, Paula Clark, Janet Crawford, Richard Crossley, Glen Davis, Joe Delasantro, Vince Elia, Bob Fogg, Don Frieday, Mike Fritz, Sam Galick, Mark Garland, Jason Guerard, Barb Hiebsch, Kathy Horn, William Keim, Anthony Laquidara, Dave Lord, Tony Luekering, Karl Lukens, Linda Mack, Tom Magarian, Alan Mapes, Katie Margo, Mike Newlon, Michael O’Brien, Tom Reed, Mark Schilling, Volker Schmidt, Rob Scranton, Chris Vogel, Chris Walters, Janis Weisberger, Chris Wood, Louise Zemaitis, Vince Zollo. A highlight from spring was this Say’s Phoebe 30 Apr - May 2 on the dunes at the South Cape May Meadows. Photo/Michael O’Brien
Fifty Years Ago — Spring 1959 compiled by Don Freiday n each issue of NJB, we feature a few excerpts from corresponding NJAS publications half a century ago. The following are from New Jersey Nature INews, Volume 14, No.3, published July, 1959, which contains regional reports from spring, 1959. Wilderness Preservation – A Wilderness Preservation Bill was first introduced in 1956. Meeting stiff opposition, it has since been revised by conservation leaders, government administrators of Federal lands and critics who have studied and amended the bill carefully. . . The Congress recognizes that an increasing population, expanding settlement and growing mechanization, will occupy and modify all areas of the United States except those designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition. The preservation of such designated areas of wilderness is recognized as a desirable policy of the Government for the health, welfare, knowledge and happiness of present and future generations. . . .” (p. 49. Author: Elsie E. Weisbrod.) [Ed.’s note: Weisbrod’s article was a quaint but poignant call for support of the federal bill, which became the Wilderness Act, eventually signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. It defined “wilderness” famously and poetically: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” Currently over 100 million acres in the U.S. are designated as Wilderness.] Latest Nomenclature – “In response to many requests we are listing below changes in nomenclature based on the latest edition of the American Ornithologist’s Union check list of North American Birds. . . Former Name New Name Water Turkey Anhinga Old-squaw Oldsquaw Wilson’s Snipe Common Snipe Red-backed Sandpiper Dunlin Arkansas Kingbird Western Kingbird (p. 61. Author: Frank W. McLaughlin.) [Ed.’s note: this is only a partial list of the name changes McLaughlin listed.] Region 1, Sussex County and adjacent areas – Earliest broadwing report was February 21. (p. 65. Author: Mrs. Allen Black.) [Ed.’s note: With such an early date, this record is almost certainly wrong, but at least Mrs. Black used the regional editor’s time-honored word for such sightings: “report.”] Region 2, North Hill Region – During late winter and early spring of this year, an unprecedented flight of red-necked grebes occurred on the New Jersey Coast, and a good number of these birds appeared inland as well. . . Sixty-four [sic! – ed.]of these birds were seen in a day’s trip by several members of the Urner Club, who covered most of northern and northwestern New Jersey. (p. 66. Author: Frank P. Frazier.) Region 3, North Central [Ed.’s note: this region is now mostly included in current NJB Region 2] – Perhaps the outstanding feature of spring migration was a definite movement of red-necked grebes up the Delaware during the early weeks of March. One to four grebes were found at virtually every bridge. . . (p. 67. Author: Edwin D. Bloor.) Region 4, Lower Delaware Valley – Mrs. Betty Woodford, of Cedar Run Lake, counted 1,538 whippoor-will calls during the full moon of may – one sits right on her housetop. (p. 69. Author: May A. Middleton.) Region 5, Atlantic Coast and Delaware Bay – The most recent rarity is a Sprague’s pipit. This bird was seen by 21 members of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club at Brigantine Wildlife Refuge on May 10. It was in good light and painstakingly observed. (p. 69. Author: E. A. Choate.) Vol. XXXV, no. 4 — 113
Page 1 and 2: Birds March through May, 2009 — V
Page 3 and 4: the location; all records involve a
Page 5 and 6: Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficolli
Page 7 and 8: Ash-throated Flycatcher has become
Page 9 and 10: Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
Page 11 and 12: Co. 2 birds. D. Brill*. Tagged Onta
Page 13 and 14: Study Area Delaware Bay is situated
Page 15 and 16: proximity of sandy New Jersey Atlan
Page 17 and 18: Status and Trends. The peak counts
Page 19 and 20: Format of the Regional Reports Spec
Page 21 and 22: Denmark 29 Apr (RR), and another wa
Page 23 and 24: Arboretum in Morristown 5 Apr (KC).
Page 25 and 26: An Eared Grebe on Newark Bay was a
Page 27 and 28: This Thayer’s Gull, left, at Sout
Page 29 and 30: Twp; IBSP is Island Beach State Par
Page 31 and 32: Nine Black-billed Cuckoos were foun
Page 33 and 34: Lower Delaware Valley, including Bu
Page 35 and 36: Up to 5 Brewer’s Blackbirds (3 ma
Page 37: The impoundment at Heislerville, Cu

March through May, 2009 - New Jersey Audubon Society

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