For many years into the mid-20th Century, the Falls of the Ohio was one of the
best places to view waterbirds in Kentucky. It still has its moments, but in
recent years waterbird abundance and diversity has generally been on the
decrease. One exception has been the number of Great Egrets, in large part due
to the appearance of breeding birds on Shippingport Island.
In "Birds of Kentucky" (1965), Robert Mengel noted that "200 or more" Great
Egrets could be found at the Falls "prior to 1949." During the "DDT era"
numbers of all waders declined, and the typical number of egrets dropped into
the "dozens" during the 1950s and 1960s. Even fewer were normal during the
1970s and into the 1990s.
However, as the number of pairs in the local nesting colony has increased, the
abundance of Great Egrets feeding out on the Falls of the Ohio has increased
dramatically.
Last year, as many as 87 (Tom Becker, 9/28) were reported at the Falls of the
Ohio, but this year is a record-setter already! This morning, Jamie Baker
counted at least 225 there, and Clay Bliznick mentioned that there were "tons"
a few evenings ago.
If you bird the Falls of the Ohio in coming weeks, try to get a *careful* tally
of the egrets, as we are bound to set some more records for local high count
there.
bpb, Louisville
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============
When posting on BIRDKY, please close posts with
your first and last name and your address (city or county).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To post on BIRDKY, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the KOS website at
http://www.birdky.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Visit the KOS Photo Page to view photos of birds recently
sighted in Kentucky:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/kentucky_ornithological_society/pool
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison.
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx