[bristol-birds] Kirtland's Warbler

Dear Bristol Bird Club Network Birders,
   I did not realize that I was going to stir up so much controversy, 
although I expected to stir up some interest.  I'll try to take up some of 
the issues raised.
   1. I did not hear or see a Kirtland's Warbler this morning.  After an 
hour of searching I did play a tape again, but as usual there was no 
response.  I have never experienced a Kirtland's answering a tape, even its 
own.  The first one I found was in conditions such as James Brooks has 
described, right after a thunderstorm, and it was actively feeding and in 
the open. Little did I realize then how lucky I was.  I call Wallace Coffey 
and other area birders, some of whom came the next day.  We searched to no 
avail.  The next day I tried again and managed to record the bird's song.  
When I played the tape back, the bird shut up and I never found it again.  
The taped call was submitted to the VSO records committee and became the 
first accepted spring record of the species in Virginia. I have found the 
species in the same general area in subsequent years (always identifying it 
first by song) but have never had one respond to a taped call.
   2. I respect Marion Finucane's concerns.  I birded with her father and 
consider his concerns about playing taped calls very seriously.  I vividly 
remember the effect of unwise taping on Mt. Rogers.  Some birders who shall 
remain nameless taped Yellow-bellied Flycatchers incessantly despite the 
remonstrances of me and Phil Shelton. Apparently they drove the species off 
the summit. We have had difficulty finding this species again, although we 
have had some success recently.
Generally speaking, then, I don't approve of playing taped calls to nesting 
birds.
   3. I believe that we in our area are right in the migration path of the 
Kirtland's Warbler.
I found one in Athens, Georgia, one spring; and when I was at Clemson, 
Gaston Gage, a very good birder, told me of seeing the species several times 
in fall migration. I believe one was seen in the fall in Grundy this past 
year (am I correct?).  Everyone in our area should be on the lookout for 
this species during both spring and fall.
Dick Peake



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