New Invaders from the South?

Over the last few decades, Louisiana has had its share of avian invaders. House Finches from the east, Eurasian Collared Doves from the southeast, even Tree Swallows from the north have arrived and set up shop here. However, the biggest source of new arrivals has been from the south and west. Many birds that were once uncommon or rare in the state, such as White-winged and Inca Doves, are now common. Swainson's Hawks have been documented as breeders and are no longer a surprising summer sight in SW Louisiana. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and Cave Swallows have colonized the state as nesters, and Northern Caracara numbers have possibly been augmented by wanderers from Texas. Migrants and winterers such as Yellow-green Vireo and White-tailed Hawk have seen recent upticks as well.

Another bird that's shown an upsurge is Great Kiskadee. Although the first Louisiana record for this species dates back many decades and there has been a steady flow of records since, the past winter and this current spring have given cause to wonder if Great Kiskadees might not have gained at least a minor foothold in the state. One calling bird was found by James Beck on the northern edge of the marsh south of Klondike this past winter. Another was located by Michael Seymour at the White Lake Preserve. Wildlife personnel there informed him that two have been present during the past winter, raising the possibility of breeding. In April, a kiskadee was reported by Jacob Saucier and James Maley near Creole. Then, earlier this month near the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Vermillion Parish, Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff found two Kiskadees attending a nest. Although this wasn't the first reported nesting attempt for the species in the state, it was the first involving a pair of birds. Prior attempts have all been made by single birds.

How successful the current attempt will be remains to be seen. Whether this attempt is their first, and whether other records in the area stem from local offspring or vagrants is a mystery, but Great Kiskadee would be a welcome addition to the regular birdlife of SW Louisiana.

Gull of Interest

Back on April 12, Mac Myers and I were intrigued by this somewhat petite Herring-type gull on Holly Beach, Cameron Parish, Louisiana. We found the the overall plumage of this bird, especially the tail and primary patterns, unusual. It was on the small side for a Herring. Click on the third photo for enlargement. Any thoughts?

Why Not? My "Next Ten List" for Louisiana

I recently asked Louisiana birders for their predictions for the next ten birds they felt would be found in the state. Because I got to read the lists before I posted them, I thought it would be better to use birds that none of the others had chosen. Even after everyone had picked*, I found ten species that I think have a reasonable chance of being found here.

White-crowned Pigeon

This species isn't a common vagrant, but White-crowned Pigeons commute over water every day in south Florida, and one popped up in coastal Mississippi a year or two ago. White-crowned Pigeons look so distinctive that if even only one showed up it could conceivably attract attention.

Black-capped Vireo

This is an eye-catching bird that is increasing in number and has strayed long distances. Its Texas range isn't too far from us, and it's migratory.

Clay-colored Thrush (Clay-colored Robin)

I'm hoping this is another in the line of Mexican/South Texas birds that is expanding northward and will eventually reach us. In the meantime, a few pioneers might show up.

Common Poorwill

I don't know how possible this bird is, but it's migratory. If one arrives, it could easily go undetected as it's nocturnal, but why not keep an eye out for it?

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

It's a flycatcher, and it shows up as close as Texas. Will it be passed off as an Ash-throated?

Golden-cheeked Warbler

It's an early migrant in the summer, so it might pass through when few birders are in the field, but a nice male would stand out.

Lucifer Hummingbird

One of the few breeding hummers of the U.S. that hasn't made an appearance in Louisiana. A male would be distinctive.

Ross's Gull

Eventually one will turn up this far south. Why not in Louisiana?

Streak-backed Oriole

This species has turned up in pretty far-flung places, and it's orange. If it shows up, it might attract the atention of even a non-birder.

White-tipped Dove

Doves are prone to wandering. See my thoughts about Clay-colored Thrush.

*For the complete list of everyone's predictions, see the LOS website.

Eastern Kingbird

            For all their elegance, nesting Eastern Kingbirds seem possessed by a wildness beyond their control. No matter how large or dangerous the intruder, kingbirds defend their territory. Through the heat of summer these flycatchers are on the alert for anything that moves. Whether it's passing prey, an enemy, or a rival, kingbirds are ready to flash out from their open perch to the edge of their airspace on stiff, stuttering wings, calling wildly. 

When late summer comes, a personality change seems to come over Eastern Kingbirds. Their hostility seems to fade away, and kingbirds begin to gather in groups to work their way south. Their migration takes them all the way to South America.

To me, the Eastern Kingbird is the bird. Whether I see them holding down a featureless patch of the infinite marsh or touching down in the treetops of my urban backyard, they give me a sense of an uncompromising, untamed world that seems genetically incapable of giving way to civilization.  

'Tis the Season

Swarms of deerflies can be a major distraction along the coast from mid-spring to late summer. Deerflies are attracted to moving objects such as cattle, cars, and birdwatchers. They fly to the top of the object and, if it's alive, stick their sharp mouthparts into it and suck its blood. This is painful (and later itchy), but the really unpleasant part for me is their knack for zeroing in on eyes and ears, and on exposed hands that are trying to hold and focus binoculars. Birding can be difficult when deerflies are around.

There's been debate about the degree of protection needed against deerflies, ranging from none to nuclear, and whether physical or chemical barriers are best. I personally believe in extreme measures, usually physical, to stay comfortable during peak deerfly season. Being able to stand motionless in a cloud of deerflies is a major plus in my book.

If they weren't so frustrating, these insects would be pretty fascinating. Gayle and Jeanell Strickland have some amazing scans of of deerflies at:

http://public.fotki.com/gstrick3/tabanidae-deer-flie.

As you can see, deerflies are beautiful animals.

However, if your idea of beauty doesn't include bloodsucking dipterans, Russell Mizell, University of Florida entomologist, came up with a clever trick for reducing deerfly numbers. Be sure to see his page at:

http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/PestAlert/deerfly.htm.

Don't be surprised if you see someone wearing a blue cup on his head next time you go birding.

Photo above by Dave Patton

Yellow-Green Vireos in Cameron Parish

Speaking of deerflies, Gary Broussard decided to go birding following the rain on Saturday, May 16. He entered the Peveto Woods Baton Rouge Audubon Society Sanctuary and before long, spotted a bird that he thought might be a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher or something similar. The bird flew before he could confirm its ID or photograph it, and of course, he set out after it. However, the flies were bad that day, and forced a retreat to his car. Gary crafted a makeshift bug suit and went back out. He failed to relocate the flycatcher, but he did find and document a silent Yellow-Green Vireo. Soon after, Phillip Wallace and David Muth pulled up and managed a few brief glimpses of the bird through the gauntlet of flies.

The following day, many birders got looks at the bird. The north wind helped calm the flies down, and the bird was very cooperative. Dave Patton got the nice shot of the bird, above.

Also on Sunday, while birders were checking out Gary's bird, Muth and Wallace found a second Yellow-Green Vireo a few miles to the west. This bird was much brighter than the Peveto bird, and it was singing. Given that most birders have called it a migration by May and that vireos have an easier time hiding in the dense foliage by this time, it's possible that finding two Yellow-Green Vireos in two days was no fluke. There have been a handful of earlier records, including a suspected pair in Cameron Parish in early summer several years back.

Reports and photos at: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/viewreport9.html