[obol] Re: Rusty Blackbird and MSP
- From: David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
- To: Judy Meredith <jmeredit@xxxxxxxxxxx>, OBOL Oregon Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2013 01:00:00 +0000
Judy,
You are hardly being disagreeable. When looking for rarities, I don't get hung
up on how many birds are around, as it only takes ONE (the right one)! The late
Rich Stallcup, who found many rarities in his day (probably due to the care he
invested in looking at every bird), is often quoted as having said that you
should look at every individual bird as if it is a lifer...because in essence
it is."
Dave Irons
From: jmeredit@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [obol] Re: Rusty Blackbird and MSP
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 17:31:34 -0700
I can be so disagreeable.
Two years ago Wednesday Birders were looking for Rusty BB ( Wallowas area)
and we just looked at every bird, all the time. A couple of the group hoped for
it for a lifer. We found the Rusty in with ONE Red-winged BB and ONE
Brown-headed Cowbird. Two weeks later, Russ Namitz found the Rusty in the same
farm lot, with the same 2 species, hanging out together. Only 3 birds in a
“flock” both times. So, I say look for small flocks and large flocks, single
birds, every bird. And our bird wasn’t hanging out with a manure pile, but
there was a wet ditch with a few small scrubby trees, and to be sure, a few
clods of manure here and there in the general area.
Sometimes we bird a large flock of thousands north of Madras, and have
never found a Rusty in it. So some birds don’t follow the rules we birders
think
exist. My 2 cents, Judy, jmeredit@xxxxxxxxxxx
From: David Irons
Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 5:05 PM
To: BILL ROSIE
TICE ; OBOL
Oregon Birders Online
Subject: [obol] Re: Rusty Blackbird and MSP
Same bird? Almost assuredly not. Although Rusty Blackbirds are not
detected that often in w. Oregon, they are not so few that we should presume
the
disappearance of one and appearance of another 50+ miles away the next day are
related events. Multiple Rusty Blackbirds are found in Washington state every
year. Here in Oregon, scant few birders pay attention much attention to
blackbird flocks. A few years ago, after I found one of several Rusty
Blackbirds
that I've found in Oregon, another birder sent me a private message asking what
I was doing that caused me to stop and look at a flock of blackbirds n. of
Eugene. His query was something like:
"Were you scouting for the CBC or counting the Eurasian Collared-Doves
at the feedlot?"
He was rather surprised to learn that, no, I found that Rusty Blackbird
because I had stopped to specifically look for Rusty Blackbirds. If you hope to
see a Rusty in Oregon half of the battle is knowing when (October/November is
the prime season) and where (feedlots and manure piles with lots of other
blackbirds have yielded most of my Rusties) to look and then making a point of
doing so. As these recent sightings indicate, Rusties aren't restricted to
barnyards and livestock operations, but I've had my best 'luck' at such places.
Any mixed blackbird flock will do. That said, I've never found a Rusty with
only
Red-wingeds or Brewer's and they seem more likely to end up in the big flocks.
Dave Irons
Portland, OR
From: watice@xxxxxxx
To: obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [obol] Rusty
Blackbird and MSP
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 23:39:28 +0000
Hi
Folks,
I met with Brandon
Wagner around noon at Monmoth Sewage Ponds and refound the Rusty
Blackbird. It is a female, and not difficult to differentiate from any
Brewar's Blackbird, of which there were none present anyway. There were 2
adult male Red-winged Blackbirds and plenty of starlings there, and it does not
seem to associate with either.
As birders have had a good relationship with the
staff of MSP, we were able to negotiate weekend birding there. So for
those of you who would like to chase this bird, the staff is leaving one of the
gates (I think the one straight ahead as you drive into the area: the other is
between the cable/satellite building and the public works building - both off
to
the right) unlocked, but there is to be a chain allowing it to be opened enough
for birders to get through. Please close it after going in or out.
The bird was seen at the first lagoon, on
all four sides of this lagoon, either at the water's edges or in the brush or
trees or marsh (west side). We heard that the Forest Grove bird was
not found today, so are wondering if this is the same one? Brandon has
good pics, so may weigh in on it. Good luck.
Bill
Tice: Birding - The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding
chores.
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