היומן של j-naturalist

The points on the map are a series of 25 Bluebird Boxes in Andorra Meadow. A group of volunteers are making weekly checks on the boxes to observe nest activity. Each box is represented as an observation in the project which can modified with photos and notes/comments.

These early migrants started appearing as bird-window collision victims around campus in late February and early March because of a very mild late winter. A snow storm and seasonal cold weather disrupted their migration. On campus we had both window-collision fatalities and 2 rescues (although it may have been the same bird both times). I have been aware of Woodcock activity on campus for a few years, they are among the top victims of bird-building collisions. When I heard that American Woodcocks use Houston Meadow for their complex mating ritual dance I made sure that I made it out there to see it. If I found a Woodcock on campus, I knew they would be active at the meadow that night. I made 3-4 visits and was able to record audio of the "peent" call and the strange whistling sounds that the male makes when ascends and descends.

Fatalities and Rescues on Campus:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5418595
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5434030
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5319190
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5161102
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5600112

Audio Recorded at Houston Meadow:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5439408

The American Woodcock fallout this spring made the news:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/nyregion/an-early-bird-gets-caught-in-the-snowstorm.html?_r=0

On a quick 15 minute morning (aprox. 8:30-9:00) walk through Woodlands I observed Palm Warblers and plenty of White-throated Sparrow. A few minutes beofre 9:00, at the Biopond I observed a Eastern Towhee kicking up the underbrush, more White-throated Sparrows and what I think was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Photos to follow). The interesting thing about the sapsucker was the "cryptic" pattern on its back - patchy pattern of black and white.

One of the highlights of the trip was Friday morning when we spotted dolphins just off shore. We also enjoyed seeing a pair of Oystercatchers with their brilliant orange beaks and sharp contrasting black and white plumage. On Saturday afternoon I parked at South Cape May Meadows and started the loop trail and realized that the two preserves, South Cape May Meadows and Cape May Point State Park are really one large preserve. After tagging along with an official birding group, I took the trail over to the State Park. There were a number of highlights that day including Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Savannah Sparrow (I am always glad to be able to add a new sparrow species to my list), Oystercatchers, Great Egret in green mask breeding plumage and various shorebirds in the fresh water impoundments, Caspian Tern, Greater Yellowlegs. As my hike winded down some hikers gave me a heads up on a Osprey eating a really large fish on a spur trail. Over all a fantastic trip to Cape May.