Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Re: Golden-crowned Sparrow - no - and logistics

From:

Dan Haas

Reply-To:

Dan Haas

Date:

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:03:53 -0500

MD birders,

I wouldn't be discouraged just yet.  The sightings / timeline /
locations for this bird (I think) leave birders with much optimism for
success.

Here's why (and I hope I have all these details correct):

The bird was found feeding (around 11AM on Sunday) by Bruce Peterjohn,
back behind the hedgerow in the wooded ravine about 100 yards to the
East.  He got great looks at the bird, but took the time to walk back
to his car to get scope views... which were even better and more
extensive.  ID clinched.  State record.

Winger West and I, covering the neighboring territory, drove over to
meet others counters for lunch on the main part of Chesapeake Farm
around Noon.  That is when we met up with Bruce, heard the stunning
news and lost our collective appetites.  (I can't quite forget about
that time I was not out on the deck when the SKUA sailed over the bow
on a Paulagic.  No no no... I just HAD to eat dinner.)  I digress.

Around 12:30 PM, a group of us intensely searched for about an hour in
that wooded ravine, covering all the spots that the bird was initially
observed and then some.  Bruce did get another look at the bird at
this time, but the rest of us missed it.  Being good CBC'ers we
decided to get back to cover our territory (and maybe find a Brewer's
Sparrow?)  Okay, perhaps not that... but the other birds did need to
be tallied.

Around 3:45 PM, we all decided to work the area where the
Golden-crowned was seen one last time.  There were Songs,
White-throats galore (the forest floor looked like it was moving with
all of the leaves jumping) and a White-crowned, but the star of the
show was absent. I suspect that the Golden-crowned Sparrow was
spending its time perched on our cars, eating our untouched lunches,
or working the hedgerow where it was observed this morning.

Back at our cars, the group of us were departing in total darkness to
listen for owls.  There was one distinctive chip note coming from the
hedges, but no way of knowing without a spotlight.

Fast forward to sunrise this morning: to say it was amazing to find
the bird on the portion of this property for all to enjoy was an
understatement.  Merry Christmas to us. Seed was spread.  Photos were
taken.  It was spectacular.

So, this is my wild speculation as to what the bird's day-to-day
schedule might be now that it's a Marylander:

Sunrise - 10AM: Hide in the hedgerow.  Read the paper. Go feed out in
the open every 25-30 minutes for only a minute or two. Hide.
10AM-1PM: Stop hiding. Fly. Move to the wooded ravine and perch
prominently, awaiting Bruce's return.
1PM-sunrise: Chip once. Hide.
Sunrise: Repeat.

I remain optimistic that this bird will be enjoyed by many... just
don't band it!  ; )

Get it?

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD
nervousbirdsatgmail.com




On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 7:35 PM, Amanda Spears
<> wrote:
> A note to GCSP chasers...
>
> Although the seed is spread along the break, don't particularly focus just
> on that area....to be really exact, this morning the bird was seen feeding
> on the ground a little further down the hedgerow near some dead pokeweed. Of
> course this may change in the future if/when it finds the seed. But
> definitely prepare to be patient (and frustrated!), as you could wait an
> hour between 2-minute sightings . Definitely worth it though, awesome bird!
>
> Amanda Spears
> Chestertown
>
> On Mon, Dec 20, 2010 at 5:58 PM, Phil Davis <> wrote:
>
>> MD Osprey:
>>
>> First, thanks to Nancy and Walter for posting the info on the Kent
>> County/Chesapeake Farms sparrow.
>>
>> I was there from 1:15 until 3:15 this afternoon (12/20) and the bird was a
>> no show. About 6 or 7 other cars were there during my stay.
>>
>> I always try to pay attention to the logistics of rarity sightings, so
>> allow me to pass on some personal observations ...
>>
>> 1. Prepare to be frustrated ... not disappointed (as in missing the bird),
>> but frustrated. Nancy and Walter are correct, only 3-4 cars of birders will
>> be able to see into the break in the hedgerow where the bird was seen this
>> morning (and where some bird seed was spread on the ground). Even all of
>> those four cars may not be able to see both sides of the hedgerow break. So
>> if you are not one of those four cars, be prepared to be frustrated since
>> you won't be able to see much.
>>
>> 2. Even though the break in the hedgerow is on the left (east) side of the
>> road (heading in), be sure to park on the right (west) side and look across
>> the road. Otherwise only one car would be able to see the area and they
>> would block the view for everyone else.
>>
>> 3. You will be frustrated since YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GET OUT OF YOUR
>> CAR (I saw birders out of their cars this afternoon ... this will kill this
>> for everyone!!!); so this makes it difficult to communicate with any other
>> birders present. Cell phones work, but I would suggest bringing FRS radios
>> with you so you can all talk with the others about if the bird has been seen
>> or to pass the word if someone does see it. Years ago, people had proposed a
>> "birders channel" ... I don't know if people are still using it, but it is
>> 11-22 (channel 11, subchannel 22).
>>
>> 4. Perhaps more people could see the hedgerow break if people parked their
>> cars perpendicular to the road (there is enough shoulder for this) or parked
>> at a 45-degree angle. This may allow more cars to see the area, but it may
>> mean that birders will have to look out through front windows, which are
>> notoriously distorted, or cause grief for birders in the back seats. I don't
>> know about this one, just a rambling thought ...
>>
>> 5. The people with the prime parking spots will not want to give up their
>> position, based on first come, first serve. An altruistic policy might be to
>> periodically rotate, but this will be a tough nut to crack.
>>
>>
>> My impression is that this bird is not showing any site fidelity, so I
>> don't think I'm going to go back unless I hear that it's been seen again.
>>
>> Hope this helps ...
>>
>> Phil
>>
>>
>>
>> ==================================
>> Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>>                mailto:[log in to unmask]
>> ==================================
>