[texbirds] Re: Meadowlark ID in the RGV
- From: Martin Hagne <martinhagne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "antshrike1@xxxxxxx" <antshrike1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:32:19 -0600
Dan and all,
While i don't have the details, there was a supposedly a very thorough study
done in S Texas on wintering meadowlarks by a university group. That is the
study that found that Western flocked together and utilized short grass areas,
while Eastern stayed in pairs, solitary, or small groups and use winter
territories, utilizing taller and often wetter pasture grasslands.
I believe the study said that both species were found throughout the RGV area,
although out west there were more Western than Eastern. So, as Dan said,
Eastern can be found singing all across the RGV and not just along the coast.
I have experienced that to be so over the years as well, finding Eastern
signing in all places of the RGV. Unless, as brought up here in these threads
that it's really Western signing Eastern songs!
As I recall the study mentioned this flocking/habitat preference to be some 90%
true with all the meadowlarks they studied there.
Martin Hagne
Bandera, TX
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jan 24, 2014, at 11:20 AM, antshrike1@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> Here in the Rio Grande Valley it is commonly thought that meadowlarks
> occurring in pairs in coastal grasslands are all Eastern while flocks
> (sometimes large) occurring in barren fields are all Western. I've heard
> this theory espoused by some fairly big-brained birders. While I find the
> former supposition to be mostly true, I think the latter is a lot more
> complicated. I seem to hear Eastern Meadowlarks singing everywhere and
> rarely hear a Western in song. I guess I need to learn the call notes.
> Here's a meadowlark from a flock of about 25 in a barren area south of
> Mission. I took the photo figuring I had my Hidalgo County Western
> Meadowlark for the year. But looking at the field guides, it seems to be an
> Eastern Do you agree?
>
> http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n610/antshrike/rMealowlarkMissionBikePark1-23-14IMG_7331_zps8c5e0d05.jpg
>
>
> So I guess my point is we (or at least "I") need to to be more careful about
> our meadowlark identification.
>
>
> Dan Jones, Weslaco
>
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