South Florida Feb 1-5 2013 An Amazing 3 or 4 Life Birds

I joined another New Jersey birder from Friday 2/1 to Tuesday 2/5 for a try at several bird species in S FL.  A relatively leisurely expedition that escaped the NJ cold and brought me closer to 800 species in the NA ABA region was expected. He left early on Sunday, Feb 3. The main target species successfully found were, Western Spindalis and La Sagra's Flycatcher (below).......however..........

While there a possible Caribbean Martin was reported, causing contemplation of a scramble down three counties and the keys; I was fortunate to get several sky photos of the subject martin, or less likely a different, odd bird. Carribean Martin, if accepted by the Florida OS, would be new species for North America! 

The original plan was to see a few life species in the first days and later inquire about the S FL python situation, an ecological concern, and any recent, possible Ivory-billed Woodpecker sightings in the Big Cypress area. Tanner's thesis and Bob Russell's short work both rate this area highly. It has not been covered well by any modern, experienced Ivory-billed searchers as far as I know; although Cornell visited at least the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve with some odd, additional effort in the mangroves. NBP has not be able to find any Ivory-billeds S of the Florida Panhandle however we have spent less time in S FL than other SE US areas. More on all this later.

As often occurs on these trips, the unexpected should be expected. On Sunday early PM a text was received about a vague report of a Caribbean or Cuban Martin at Zachary Taylor Park, Key West. I was pursuing the La Sagra's Flycatcher at Green Cay Wetlands, counties away from the martin; this would be quite a dash with a Super Bowl intertwined. To make the drive more compressed, I lingered at the wetlands until 5 PM as the general photography was good and the La Sagra's was shy.

Zachary Taylor Park, Key West FL was where the second, first record of Loggerhead Kingbird for North America showed for us in 2007. Say what? It's the second first, because the first first record was eventually struck down. Loggerhead Kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus, originally was on the Florida and NA lists via a bird  photographed at Islamorada, 12/71–1/72; accepted by Robertson and Woolfenden in Birds of Florida, as were three other photographs from the 1970s. The first bird was judged a Giant Kingbird by James Bond, Birds of the West Indies, (in litt., cited from Stevenson and Anderson 1994).  In 2000 Smith et.al., reviewed the records of the Loggerhead Kingbird from Florida, and he determined that none of the records were detailed enough to determine species. The Florida State Records Committee removed Loggerhead Kingbird from their official list in 2003 as did the AOU Checklist Committee in 2002 and the ABA's CLC in 2002. 

This bird called to be added back to the NA ABA list in 2007:

Well I made it through S Florida and the keys and saw most of the Super Bowl when the lights were on; surprisingly only one other birder trickled in during the time I was there (0800 to 1135 Monday, AM) despite this being a potential mega-tick. My first impression of this bird was---"That's a Different Hirundinidae Than Usual But its Not a Bull". 

Here are some heavily cropped pictures followed by my description and write up from my field notes taken the day of the sightings (2/4/13).

There are several more distant pictures, like these, from various angles, if needed.

Field Notes on the Martin: (transcribed and expanded from handwritten notes of 2/4/13)

Bird shorter than Purple Martins when concurrently together in immediate sky; appeared relatively more compact and wider bodied than PUMAs especially in chest. Glided much more than PUMAs; in general seemed less maneuverable or acrobatic on this day from PUMAs.  Winds were from NNE at 5 to 8 mph.  Bird never appeared to have same giss as PUMA; more swallow-like body, compact, less attenuated in shape than the martin I am most familiar with (Purple); again meaning this bird was not as slender. Bird did not frequently fully extend wings IMHO, making it appear more swallow like than PUMA. Did not hear any calling although it may have been (wind, distractions, distance, short duration of appearances).  Tail was moderately forked when not fanned; when completely fanned the terminal end formed a slightly convex line. The bird was never seen or photographed from less than 40-75 yards away.

While the two adult PUMAs appeared periodically and almost always together approx. 15 times in the 4 hours I was there, the subject bird was infrequently in the same immediate sky and was never flying purposely with these two PUMAs. The bird was a loner; a singleton. It was only in my view from the eastern, elongated,  parking lot ~ 3 times in the 4 hours plus I was there. It showed for ~ 1 minute each time and then wandered off to the NW. It was only later in the AM that I realized the fort top was open for possible closer viewing but I could not locate the bird when up there after 11. The water around the fort may have been the source of flying insects that periodically attracted it.

Note that in direct, bright AM sunlight the bird appeared at times buffy brown and warmer in throat and head than is shown in some pictures. Another possibility is that there was a female martin that appeared ( a second bird).  If only one bird, this buffiness may have been more a function of light reflection or base feather color than actual distal feather color. The head feather color appearance was perhaps a result of some feathers being dark brown or blue black and some feathers being all or partly lighter brown. The remiges and tail were in general darker than the rest of the body. I had no books of any type although a later arriving birder (Nancy Glickman) had an Eastern US guide which I used to confirm the elimination of Rough-winged Swallow via moderately forked tail and darker dorsal body/wing/tail and ventral wing/upper chest color; although the head/throat color periodically suggested a warm Rough-winged when direct sunlight was perpendicularly on the bird.  The bird appeared to not be an adult male or adult female ASSUMING AT THE TIME that these age classes had to have a very dark blue or blue-black head in winter.

Color of dorsal, side and entire head seemed a uniform dark to medium blue brown or gray brown rather than any dark blue or black that may be in various age classes. The dorsal wings (which I may have a picture of) was generally darker than the head but was still suggesting dark brown rather than any dark blue or black that may be in various age classes of this species.

I never saw any of the pictures of the bird from 2/3 taken by others and was not aware of the exact plumage variations, any sexual dimorphism or exact characteristics of this species while in the field.  Zeiss 10X bins were used; light conditions were sunny/bright. 60 to 70 degrees, winds from NNE.  Most pictures taken at 20 to 45 degrees up, to the W, NW or SW.  I have ~ 25 pictures.

More to come in final transfer of notes/words. I also must check again to see if I filmed this bird; battery power was low and bird disappeared quickly.
__------ ----------____---

(Upon home review of 2/3 pictures taken by others I believe the bird above (2/4) is very likely the same bird seen on 2/3.  If so some of the 2/3 pictures seem to darken some of the ventral and the head of the bird due to body shadowing or back lit conditions compared to my pictures.  I assume some of the the 2/3 pics were taken in less direct light on viewable surface than 2/4 and/or the 2/3 bird was back lit a bit.  The relative direction of the sun to the bird may be enough to explain the differences.  The 2/3 bird may have been photographed to the east of camera if in the AM while my bird was taken to the west on 2/4 AM.

Perhaps specific knowledge of the Caribbean martin species', molt, aging and sexual dimorphism will clinch this ID.  If not a literature review and/or a museum visit may better explain these pictures as far as species, sex and age.


Pictures of Western Spindalis, La Sagra's Flycatcher and more to come.

Western Spindalis female, on Virginia Key in the AM is best, found by call note

Ivory-billeds in the  Florida Panhandle.   http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/ivorybill/

Biodiversity in Northeast NJ - Ramapo Mountains

The NE corner of NJ is dominated by Bergen County and its well known development.  But not far from the George Washington Bridge, the semi-tamed  Ramapo Mountains bevel up through the western edge of the county.  Many years ago locals spread grain around summit peaks to catch Passenger Pigeons and today wildlife struggles to avoid that specie's flight into oblivion.

Looking at the green palette used to denote this large open space on maps, the area, including the edge of Passaic County gives one hope of a quality outdoor experience.  During late spring and early summer I hiked into the valleys and mountains from an assortment of starting points. Certainly the area is the most scenic and biodiverse section of the county.

 An hour from the lots one feels the wilderness experience developing as other people become scarce. The most impressive viewscapes are from the tops of the rounded peaks on the Passaic/Bergen County border and at Bear Swamp Lake.

After a few progressively longer and better planned hikes the remaining biological treasures are slowly discovered while missing members of the natural community are just that...........gone.

Gradually one gets a taste of what species are present in acceptable numbers.  Every half-mile a signing male Worm-eating Warbler's insect like trill is heard (above).  Over fifteen were found and no doubt there are at least one hundred pairs remaining in the larger area.

American Redstarts (above) are present in good numbers; a few hundred breeding pairs are no doubt feeding on the acceptable insect biomass of the forest.  Ovenbirds (2 above) sing in the scores and here and there, in appropriate habitat, are a few Blue-winged (2 below), Black-and-White, Yellow, Louisiana Waterthrushes, Prairie Warblers (below) and Common Yellowthroats.

Some frugivores are in low numbers. The expected breeding forest thrushes, Wood Thrush and Veery are sparse.  Blueberry plants are numerous but the flute-like song of even one Hermit Thrush is absent. In 2006 our survey team was surprised to find a few Hermit Thrushes singing in Earle Naval Base in Monmouth County, NJ surrounded by blueberry patches under the pines.  And of course the species sings on in various places in N NJ similar to the Ramapo Mts.

And where are the Northern Waterthrushes, Hooded, Black-throated Green, Canada, Nashville, Parula, Chestnut-sided, Pine and Golden-winged Warblers?  Are we seeing the same compounding ecological problems of invasive plant species, over browse by White-tailed Deer, Brown-headed Cowbird, excessive multiple use, unneeded trails and fragmentation that we see in other NJ counties?  Probably.

Wood Ducks, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Red-eyed Vireos (2 below), Eastern Wood Pewees, Great Crested Flycatchers, an Acadian Flycatcher (nest found), Cedar Waxwings, Scarlet Tanagers (below), Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Cardinals (4 below), Chipping Sparrows (5 below) and other species were noted.

Although several species of herps were found they seem to be in low numbers; some local extirpations may be developing.  The highlights were a large Timber Rattlesnake (well below), striking Eastern Garter Snake (2 below), Five-lined Skinks, Red Efts (below) and Wood Frogs.

One is immediately dissappointed by the baffling and excessive number of trails and roads penetrating the various Ringwood and Ramapo open spaces. Just about every body of water, even the small ones are completely ringed by trails. Some paths are for mountain biking but its all poorly marked.  I couldn't figure out which trail was safe from approaching bikes to feel comfortable losing myself while binning the canopy.

 Bikers were observed in wetland areas and off allowed trails.  Anastomosing roads for emergency response or maintenance are numerous; these gaps are all attractive travel "prairies" and expedient sight lines for Brown-headed Cowbirds, a brood parasite. 

Between the sparse vehicles and frequent bikes there is undoubtedly direct herptile mortality. The road hardpack allows surface water to linger for weeks which unfortunately attracts courting and egg laying amphibians with mostly poor results.

 

A hundred plus acres of manicured grasses in Ringwood Manor State Park and the Botanical Garden are unnatural feeding grounds for White-tailed Deer and feral Canada Geese. The forest's deer browse line was severest nearest these blankets of food; invasive plants are spreading since deer prefer natives.

The ponds near the visitor center which might be able to support State Endangered, Pied-billed Grebes instead are occupied with aggressive Canada  Geese which in general preclude grebes and other native species from breeding. 

Invasives like Japanese barberry (below) covered many acres. Berberis thunbergii forms dense stands in various US habitats including canopy forests, open woodlands, wetlands, pastures, and meadows.  It alters soil ecology by raising pH and changing nitrogen levels.  Once in a forest, barberry displaces native plants and reduces wildlife habitat and forage.

White-tailed deer apparently avoid browsing barberry, preferring to feed on native plants, giving barberry a competitive advantage. In New Jersey's open space, Japanese barberry has been found to raise soil pH and reduce the depth of the importnat leaf and top soil layer.

Together these seemingly small impacts have and will continue to lead to local extirpations.  A call to the park's supervisor to find out more on these issues informed me of personnel cuts and the lack of any local biological staff to address ecological issues. 

Regardless of problems the Ramapo Mountains contain substantial biodiversity with the potential for restoration and improvement with citizen input.  Local academics and NBP are interested in teaming with citizens or students to work on solutions.  Contact us if interested in discussing pragmatic projects that will help biodiversity and animals ( NBP@comcast.net ).

After reaching the more secluded habitats of the Ramapo Mts. a careful search was made and a very healthy Timber Rattlesnake with 12 rattles was located. 

The  Ramapo Mountains are a beautiful but threatened asset of NJ. 

NBP would like to thank F. Virrazzi for submitting this article and  B. Rothauser, S. Elowitz and F. Virrazzi for the pictures which are their copyright and/or NBP's.