Date:         Wed, 26 Jul 2000 08:07:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Charlie <cmmbirds@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fwd: [MDOSPREY] Least Bittern advice
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Bonnie,

Last year at Jug Bay I saw Least Bitterns several times by walking
fairly quickly down one one of the 2 boardwalks off the Railroad Bed
Trail.  This apparently would spook them into flying a short
distance.  I usually walked down the boardwalks slowly and quietly,
but never once saw a bittern when I did.  In every case I saw a pair,
and am pretty confidant that there was one pair off each boardwalk.

'Course this method will drastically reduce other species you see and
hear...

Charlie

--- Harvey Mudd <shm@CODON.NIH.GOV> wrote:
> >Could anyone help with some pointers on how to SEE a Least
> Bittern?
> >>From all these reports were they "heard only" or seen? Any tips
> or
> >pointers on how to find LBs and where to look when in appropriate
> >habitat would be appreciated.
> >        Bonnie Ott
>
> Bonnie:
>
> Years ago, each spring Marion and I used to see Least Bitterns
> regularly at
> the marsh in Hughes Hollow.   Very rarely, by standing and waiting
> long
> enough on the dyke through the marsh one would catch a glimpse of a
> Least
> Bittern flying low from spot to spot within the marsh.  A much more
> successful tactic was to wade throught the tall reedy portions of
> the
> marsh.  This involved going waist- or chest-deep into the water,
> but we
> invariably flushed up to half a dozen Least Bitterns within a few
> minutes
> once we got to the right area.   I don't believe we caused any
> lasting
> damage to the habitat or the birds themselves.  The major problem
> with this
> approach was to get back in the car dripping wet with muddy marsh
> water and
> drive home.  We always thought it was worth it (but I admit we
> haven't done
> this now for many years).
>
> Harvey Mudd
>
> ______________________________
>
> Harvey Mudd
> 9507 Wadsworth Drive
> Bethesda, MD 20817
> email: shm@codon.nih.gov
>
>
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=====
****************************************
Charlie Muise, Naturalist
Frostburg, Maryland, USA

And it came to pass that in the hands of the ignorant, the
words of the Bible were used to beat plowshares into swords - Alan Wilson=
 Watts

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