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From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto
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It's a good, constructive discussion.
(Re. robins, a big flock of hungries landed chez nous on Wyman Road this
morning! Almost certainly migrants.)
Now. Canada Geese, on the other hand, are even more fun!
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
On Behalf Of Eric Mills
Sent: March 21, 2018 11:36 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
Here's a tip for determining if a flock of robins is made up of migrants or
not. Look at the flock composition: if it is made up of both sexes and
immatures, it is certainly an overwintering flock, or at most has moved only
a short distance (being in a multiflora thicket is another clue to local
origin). if, on the other hand, you find a flock on your lawn, looking
around and trying to feed voraciously, and all big bright males, they are
spring migrants. The same principle applies, with variations, for grackles:
migrant flocks, entirely males, tend to show up in treetops in significant
numbers just after arrival, displaying and calling frequently.
This is where field experience and local knowledge come in, as I suggested
in a more general way in an earlier posting. It's not the kind of skill that
will be acquired by just filling in an eBird checklist.
Sermon ended.
Eric
_____
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
behalf of Keith Lowe <mythos25@live.com>
Sent: March 19, 2018 7:13:06 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
But no way to know if they were from out of province or elsewhere in the
province. Probably out of province but there were groups of robins (up to
75) reported in King's County in February so we can't be certain
Keith
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_____
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
behalf of David <dwebster@glinx.com>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 6:56:16 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
Dear All,
Monday evening at 6:09 one of the Multiflora Rose bushes was mobbed by
40-50 Robins and by 6:15 most had drifted elsewhere. Having not seen any in
the yard previously this winter I think it is safe to assume new arrivals.
Yt, DSW, Kentville
------ Original Message ------
From: "Keith Lowe" <mythos25@live.com>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: 3/19/2018 4:46:07 PM
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
I better apologize to Eric too. To me my email wasn't strong, that was not
my intention while writing it but two people have written me now and it
appeared to them that my email was certainly stronger than I intended. I
felt disappointment in Eric's post and felt it was belittling the effort but
I think I also read more into that than Eric intended.
I mostly wanted to let the group know there were also those of us who
appreciated their effort. But "disparage" Eric--never would I want to do
that.
Keith
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_____
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
behalf of Alix d'Entremont <alixdentremont@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 2:19:34 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca; Eric L. Mills
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
Thanks for this note Keith.
Given that 'Spring First Arrivals' is a new initiative and that there are
content changes for NS Birds on the horizon, I think discussion is
necessary. Availability of data is much different now than during pre-eBird
days. We have to take this into account to know where to focus our efforts.
I do want to apologize to Eric regarding my earlier e-mail. I've known Eric
as long as I've been a birder and I have nothing but respect for him (I know
he knows that too). Lets work together and ensure that we focus our efforts
on the most useful tasks.
Alix Arthur d'Entremont
BSc Geomatics Engineering
292 Abbott's Harbour Road
Middle West Pubnico
Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia
Canada B0W 2M0
Phone: +1 902 762 2082
Mobile: +1 902 307 0373
e-mail: alixdentremont@hotmail.com
Bird Photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/alixd/
Website http://alixdentremont.blogspot.ca/
_____
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
behalf of Keith Lowe <mythos25@live.com>
Sent: March 19, 2018 1:40 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
I was quite shocked to read this Eric. Your tone seems over the top in
criticizing an initiative from a group of people who volunteered so much
time and effort to bring us this information. I did provide some data
processing to them but I don't consider myself part of the "cabal" so I can
say that I think they are doing are great job in proving useful information
and I'll be following it for sure. This info is something I've been wanting
for years and I'm glad someone is finally getting it done.
If a new group of eiders or scoters moves into an area in spring, how could
anyone know if they came from elsewhere in the province or not? You may be
one of a few that would have a good idea on that but I don't think you could
be certain.
Likewise with robins. There have been groups of hundreds of robins reported
around the province this winter. If an avid birder recognizes a new a group
or robins that moved into their patch, how could they possibly know if they
overwintered in NS or not? And frankly what difference does it makes when it
comes to robins. We have way too many that over winter to sort out which
ones didn't
Keith
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_____
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on
behalf of Eric Mills <E.Mills@Dal.Ca>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 9:07:58 AM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Spring first arrivals
Hello Nancy,
So lots of species - Common Eiders, loons, the Scoters, most common gulls,
Robins, on and on - are excluded from this Citizen Science project.
I think that the anonymous cabal (I know who they are; I am just being
facetious) that has established these criteria and the list should think
again. There are many good field birders in Nova Scotia who know their local
patches very well and can make good informed judgements about what has
arrived and what has been around all winter.
With such a constipated list we will cer