- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 02/26/2004 * NYBU0402.26 - Birds mentioned ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Please phone in any rare sightings so they may be shared via the DAB telephone update system, and submit email contributions directly to dfsuggs@localnet.com. Thank you, David \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ COMMON RAVEN RED-W. BLACKBIRD GREAT BLUE HERON Tundra Swan Bald Eagle Sharp-sh. Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Iceland Gull Eastern Screech-Owl Nor. Saw-whet Owl Red-bellied Wdpkr. Northern Flicker Horned Lark Brown Creeper Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Shrike Snow Bunting Common Redpoll Pine Siskin - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 02/26/2004 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report: Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs@localnet.com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Transcriber: David F. Suggs Thursday, February 26, 2004 [Plan ahead for a BOS field trip on Sunday, March 7, to search for owls in Niagara County. Meet at 1:00 PM near the Toy R Us entrance at the Summit Park Mall on Williams Road just south of Niagara Falls Blvd. in the Town of Wheatfield.] Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and this answering system was donated by the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings and use this system. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received February 19 through February 26 from the Niagara Frontier Region include COMMON RAVEN, RED-W. BLACKBIRDS and GREAT BLUE HERONS. February 26, a COMMON RAVEN was seen soaring over a rare location, the Erie County Forest on Genesee Road in southern Erie County. February 22, five RED-W. BLACKBIRDS were reported at Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo. Also at Tifft, 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS, AMERICAN KESTREL, BROWN CREEPER and 30 AMERICAN ROBINS. A female RED-W. BLACKBIRD was noted this week in Niagara Falls. On the upper Niagara River, GREAT BLUE HERONS are increasing at Motor Island. February 23, 21 were counted in and around the nests on the island, up from six herons are few weeks ago. Several GREAT BLUE HERONS were also nearby at Beaver Island State Park, as were over one hundred of the wintering TUNDRA SWANS. Four BALD EAGLES were reported on the upper river, 2 at Motor Island, and single eagles at Strawberry Island and over the river at Tonawanda. Along with these signs of spring, winter birds are still in the region. An ICELAND GULL on Lake Ontario at Lakeside Beach in Carlton. During the windy weather on February 22, only two NORTHERN SHRIKES were found in the Lake Ontario Plains, compared to the record 22 shrikes in the same area the week before. At a feeder in the Town of Colden, 4 COMMON REDPOLLS and 10 PINE SISKINS. Several more COMMON REDPOLLS in the Town of Somerset. Flocks of several hundred SNOW BUNTINGS are still being found along Niagara-Orleans Countyline Road, and the east on Marshall Road in Yates. And, a late report from February 15, of 10 SNOW BUNTINGS over Amherst State Park. Other reports this week - 3 NOR. SAW-WHET OWLS were heard calling at the Iroquois Refuge. A field trip through the refuge reported BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN SHRIKE, 5 HORNED LARKS, 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and 30 AMERICAN ROBINS. From Amherst, at a feeder in Williamsville, RED-BELLIED WDPKR., NORTHERN FLICKER and a SHARP-SH. HAWK, and in Eggertsville, an EASTERN SCREECH-OWL at a feeder, after dark. Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, March 4. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird. - End Transcript "David F. Suggs" <dfsuggs@localnet.com> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.