FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: Ballard County CBC follow-up

[Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxx]

A Chipping Sparrow snuck under my radar in glancing at preliminary data for
the Ballard County count; it brings our species total to 93 for the December
21st tally.

I forgot to mention that one of my highlights from the day was getting to
hear my favorite bird, a Winter Wren, singing away at dawn.  These little
guys typically wake up with some "chip-chips," but this one was determined
to make sure all in the vicinity got to hear it's sparkling song at the
onset of the day. I don't hear Winter Wrens a lot, but when I do it's
typically later in winter.

I have had a couple of requests for directions to the Spotted Towhee. The
location is on page 58 of the KY Gazetteer; block F5. It is south of
Rossington, (typically) on the west side of Bethel Church Road (KY 1321),
about 1.3 miles south of KY 358 (last year I posted the mileage as 2.55
miles north of 1321's junction at KY 725 at Cimota City, which is another
way to approach the site). It is in a honeysuckle tangle next to a woodlot
with a fallen down barn (last year the bird occasionally went over into the
weeds on the east side of the road). This is NOT state Wildlife Management
Area land, but private property. Last year we secured permission to do a
limited amount of walking around out off the road in search of the bird, but
I need to reacquaint the landowner with the situation now that the towhee
has returned. Will try to do that this week. In the meantime, you should be
OK keeping pretty close to the road. As last year, I think the best strategy
is to take some cracked corn with you, spread it out in the woodsy cover
just southwest of the pull in (next to the broken down metal gate), and sit
and wait or go off and bird for awhile and return. Last year I was
successful in seeing the bird several times fairly easily by utilizing that
strategy. There are several Eastern Towhees in the area.

bpb, Louisville
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============

The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign 
your messages with first & last name, city, & 
state abbreviation.
--------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx