FreeLists / va_co_birding / [va_co_birding] Re: screaming into the void...

[BlkVulture@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 4/14/2004 11:36:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, cms@xxxxxxxxx 
writes:
How many cities/counties in Virginia have records for Fish Crow and Common
Raven? 
Away from the mountains where I would expect Ravens, I've had Raven in Prince 
William, Fauquier (breeds), Loudoun, Culpeper, and Rappahannock (off the 
ridge).  I've not done much birding in other western piedmont counties where I 
think they would be easier.  Fred Atwood reported one from one of the counties 
along I-95 between Richmond and Fredericksburg.  Might have been Caroline.  
Fish Crow I've had in all the northern counties west of the Blue Ridge (north 
of the Rappahannock/Hazel/Thornton Rivers).  On the other side of the ridge, 
the only place I've had them is Clarke.  They are regular at Snickers Gap. 

Some miscellaneous facts relevant to this question: I see (and hear) Fish
Crows in Farmville (Prince Edward Co.) every spring, but only then. 
I have them in my Culpeper County yard in spring and in fall, but not 
otherwise.  I've had them year round in nearby Fauquier.  I have a pair 
building a 
nest in the trees near my Stafford County office, barely on the piedmont.  
That's an odd process to watch.  The rate their going, it might be August 
before 
they finish.  They probably lose or drop five twigs for every one they fly to 
the nest. 

Are they
migrating up (or down) the Appomattox River? Where do they come from? 
Eggs.  Don't you have a Ph.D. in ornithology?  They should have taught you 
that. 

Mike asks:

 Why can't I find a Brown-headed Nuthatch in Prince Edward County?

Probably looking in the wrong places?  I've recently received good 
documentation of a BHNU in Albemarle, photos included.  This is interesting to 
me.  I've 
also been talking to a woman in Rappahannock who is convinced she's seen them 
there in the past, but I'm yet to be convinced.  

Mike asks:

What counties in Virginia don't have records for Chuck-will's-Widows? and
how many counties actually have any solid evidence for the occurrence of any
of the caprimulgids that occur there (something besides verbal reports)?

As far as I know, there is no CWWI record for Fauquier, though Ken Bass used 
to report them from Quantico, and a small chunk of that base sits in Fauquier. 
 I'm the unofficial keeper of things Fauquier (a self appointed title). The 
VDGIF site known as Phelps WMA has an abundance of Whip-poor-wills in spring, 
but it is the only stronghold in Fauquier that I know of.  I've trolled for 
CWWI there many times, but whiffed repeatedly.  This is the extreme southern 
tip 
of Fauquier (under ten miles from the Coastal Plain).  My guess is that CWWI 
regular breeding in the eastern edge of VA stops somewhere on the Northern 
Neck, but maybe breeds regularly in Stafford.  Prince William Forest Park in 
Prince William was said to have them at one point, but I'm not certain of 
details.  

Common Nighthawks as fall and spring migrants are pretty easy to find in 
these parts.  As breeders it's another story.  I've never had them in summer in 
Fauquier.  I've recently heard them calling in the town of Culpeper, and the 
1996(?) foray to Madison/Culpeper and such had them confirmed nesting on a 
roof.  
I suspect they are still nesting in Culpeper County.  Why not in Fauquier is 
a mystery.  Best bet would be the town of Warrenton, and probably Remington.  

Whips have bred in my yard (no true confirmation, but have sung all summer), 
and are certainly breeding (again with nothing concrete) at Phelps.  There 
might be more firm evidence of them at Quantico or Prince William Forest Park.  

Mike asks:

And here's a big one: which species of birds will it be possible to close
out in Virginia (i.e., for an individual birder to see the species in every
city and county in the state)? How long would it take to close out, say,
Cedar Waxwing?

Well, instead of taking up an hour of time, I think we should each pick ten 
birds we think can be closed out.  Since I'm going first, I'm taking the easy 
ones.  I'll leave non-native species off my list. 

Mourning Dove
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Mallard
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
Eastern Towhee
Yellow-shafted Flicker
Song Sparrow
Red-bellied Woodpecker

I took the easy way out here.  All essentially year-round residents, and 
relatively easy to find.  Good luck to whomever is next. 

Can we just pass a hat around and get Fenton Day a computer already?  He 
needs to be on this list. 

tmd


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