Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 15:26:24 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Charlie Subject: Green Ridge S.F. Breeders - final analysis MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi Folks, Well, we're done in Green Ridge State Forest, and only one day left at Savage River SF, so I thought I'd post a final analysis on each. Today it'll be Green Ridge. Please remember that this is not an official Results Summary of the research - that is months away, and not my job, nor is it my right to post. This is just based on my observations, and on sightings my peers have told me of, coupled with some stuff my boss (a PhD candidate who runs the study) has told me. Yesterday I was going to happily tell you that all but the Goldfinches have finished nesting, but today a brand-new Towhee nest was found, so perhaps I could accurately say all the neo-tropical migrants have finished? The place was an auditory morgue yesterday and today. I actually surveyed one site and *didn't hear a SINGLE Red-eyed Vireo!* After running out to get a hearing test, I looked at this year's data, and compared to last years's. About the same. So how did this year (lottsa rain) compare to last year (drought)? Well, contrary to my predictions, not all that different, it's looking like. In fact it appears, that a much bigger difference was observed in the 4 sites that suffered the wrath of the gypsy moth. Those sites had the same number of migrants, and the same number of early territories set up. But when compared to the same sites last year, or compared to similar sites this year, there was far less fledgling success, particularly for the Ovenbirds and Worm-eating Warblers. In fact, towards the end of the season, there seemed to be some recruitment of edge/open area species: Indigo Buntings and Eastern Towhees both bred there. Neither bred there last year. We'd hoped that the moths would help the Cuckoo population, but there doesn't seem to be an increase, and as with last year, we totally missed any family groups of this species. Must have a Romulan Cloaking Device. Other than those 4 sites, most species seem stable compared to last year. Things I've learned: Green Ridge is a GREAT place for spring migration. Even as late as June we still had Blackpoll Warblers and far more thrushes, Ceruleans and Redstarts than appeared to breed there. In the month of May, I'd rather be there than Assateague, at least on weekends... So, what breeds there? here is a list of confirmed breeders - from my memory, so likely flawed, but close... And keep in mind this was an interior species study, so lots of edge birds aren't included. Wood Thrush was the only thrush confirmed, despite late migrants. Eastern Wood Pewee was very common, as is Scarlett Tanager. Red-eyed Vireo is hard not to trip over. Blue-headed Vireo likely nested, but wasn't confirmed. Warblers: Ovenbird and Worm-eating Warbler are EVERYWHERE. American Redstart and Hooded Warbler are common in places with lots of cover. Ceruleans and Black-and-white Warblers are findable with a bit of effort. Oh, yeah. A single family of Blue Jays can REALLY reduce breeding success for all species within a fairly small (100 M) radius. Other (non-interior) birds: Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Towhee are not missable! Other: I finaly saw my first bobcat in Maryland this week! Saw 2 black bears this summer, 8 species of snake (alas, no rattlers, despite lots of searching), 2 species of lizard, and somewhere about 30 box turtles. Also my first and second Wood Turtles in this state. Finaly, I can say with certainty that there are not nearly enough black-fly eating birds out there. Good day. Charlie ====**************************************** 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 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com/ ========================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ========================================================================== =========================================================================