Fall Migration: A Recap

Fall migration in the Laramie area was very busy this year. The fun kicked off as early as July, with the earliest migrants, shorebirds, started moving. The earliest shorebird migrants that show up in July are generally failed breeders. Shorebird migration peaks in mid to late August, but continues well into September and even October.

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) - Albany Co. 

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) - Albany Co.

Besides shorebirds, songbirds and other land birds made a good appearance as well.  Wilson's Warblers (Cardellina pusilla) were very this year, with smaller number of other warblers such as MacGillivray's (Geothlypis tolmiei), Orange-crowned (Oreothlypis celata), Townsend's (Setophaga townsendi), and Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia), and rarities including Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) and American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Sparrow diversity was also impressive, with good numbers of White-crowned (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Lincoln's (Melospiza lincolnii), and Clay-colored Sparrows (Spizella pallida).  Hummingbirds, which start moving by late July, lingered into September, with especially good numbers of Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus), and smaller numbers of Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus) and Calliope Hummingbirds (Selasphorus calliope).

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) - Albany Co.

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) - Albany Co.

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) - Albany Co.

Laramie was also host to some more unusual birds this fall.  While not completely unexpected, two Lewis's Woodpeckers (Melanerpes lewis) were found at the Greenhill Cemetery, while Williamson's Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) were found elsewhere in town.

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) - Albany Co.

In late October and November, gulls and waterbirds started pushing through in good numbers. Lake Hattie and Hutton Lakes National Wildlife Refuge were particularly productive, with huge concentrations of waterfowl that included both Surf and White-winged Scoters. Gull highlights included Wyoming's second record ever of Little Gull at Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, several Sabine's Gulls, and a single Thayer's Gull at Lake Hattie.

Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) - Albany Co.

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) - Albany Co.

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

The latest binocular review from CLO is out

If you are looking for a holiday gift for a birder in your life or if you are considering a personal upgrade, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's latest binocular review is out. This is a one-stop shop for comparing many models in difference price categories so you can hone in what you need. They've added a new price category and reviewed over 100 binoculars. Check out their top picks here.

Christmas Bird Count - December 14th

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE PART IN AUDUBON’S 114^th

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

The Laramie Audubon Society will again take part in a 100-year-old Christmas tradition, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, which mobilizes more than 70,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,300 locations. This wildlife survey effort provides important information about birds and their habitats to scientists and conservationists.

Volunteers are welcome to join in the count with the Laramie Audubon Society chapter as it conducts the Albany County Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 14.  This will be the 36th count of the Albany County circle. Volunteers are needed to help count every bird present in a 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie on the day of the count. Novices are welcome and will be paired with more experienced bird watchers.

Volunteers can call ahead (307-286-1972) or meet at Coal Creek Coffee (110 E. Grand) at7:30 am on the day of the count to get data forms and team assignments. Some teams walk while others drive through portions of the count circle. Volunteers will reconvene at The Grounds Internet and Coffee Lounge (171 N. 3^rd St.) at 12:00 pm to drop off morning reports and to regroup if continuing in the afternoon.

Volunteers should wear warm, layered clothing and boots, and bring water, snacks and binoculars if they have them. Bird feeder watchers are also welcome. Volunteers are invited to a chili supper where results will be compiled beginning at 4 pm at the home of Shay Howlin, event organizer. Potluck items welcome, but not required.  Please contact Shay Howlin if you would like to be assigned a route early, would like forms for feeder watching, or have any questions (307-286-1972; wolfhowlin@gmail.com).

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Laramie Co., WY (2013)

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

Sage Spirit Program on Wednesday, November 20

Wednesday, November 20th. Sage Spirit Project Update by Dave Showalter. This program is sure to be a visual delight!

Dave Showalter is a conservation photographer who is in his fifth year of working on a book and multi-media project—the Sage Spirit Project—that features our imperiled sagebrush ecosystem. LAS has served as fiscal sponsor for the project, enabling funders to make tax-deductible donations.

Dave is not unique in his belief that the "sagebrush is the beating heart of the Intermountain West" but he does have a remarkable ability to capture its beauty and highlight the diversity of species that call this habitat home. He also has photographed the industrial development that threatens this region and has worked with conservation groups to draw attention to these threats and foster protection for this ecosystem.

Come and see spectacular photographs and support this important work to highlight and protect the sagebrush ecosystem.

UW Berry Biodiversity Center, 10th & Lewis Street intersection. Bird chat and refreshments at 6:30 pm in the lobby. Program begins at 7 pm in the auditorium.

Fall Raptor Trip--Sat, Nov 9th

Saturday, Nov. 9th, 8:30am.  Fall Raptor Field Trip led by our local raptor expert Chad Olson.  We will search high and low for Golden and Bald Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks,  Red-tailed Hawks, owls, American Kestrels, Merlins, and whatever else is out there.  We are always successful on this fall trip.  If you want to know about the various stages of coloration, age, and other characteristics of raptors, this trip is for you!  Very little walking is involved in this trip, but when we step out into the cold wind to spot the birds overhead or on the ground, you'll want to be dressed very warmly.

Laramie Audubon field trips are free and open to birders of all levels.  We will meet at Night Heron Books and Coffee, 107 E. Ivinson, downtown Laramie, to caffeinate and carpool.  Please dress for the worst weather and bring your birding paraphenalia, water and snacks.  This particular trip involves a lot of driving in search of raptors in our plains near Laramie, so gas up ahead of time.

Alternate date, in case of inclement weather (rain or blizzard counts as inclement), is Nov. 16th.  Call 307-760-8546 if you have questions.

Fuzz to Feathers to Flight: Geology Museum Exhibit Unveiling

Late notice, but thought this would be of interest to many Laramie Audubon members. Tonight at the UW Geology Museum, a new exhibit, entitled "Fuzz to Feathers to Flight: how birds arose from dinosaurs and took to the air" will be unveiled tonight, with a presentation by Katrina van Grouw (author of The Unfeathered Bird). Event starts at 6, and goes until 8.

Remarkable Raptors

October Public Talk: Reproduction in Hybrid Gulls

Reproductive success of gulls in a hybrid zone
Libby Megna, PhD student at UWYO

Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) and Western Gulls (L. occidentalis) hybridize extensively where their ranges overlap along the coasts of Washington and Oregon, producing a continuum of phenotypic intergrades between the two parental species. This zone typically is considered an example of geographically bounded hybrid superiority, but studies have not consistently supported this model. I'll talk about mating patterns and hatching success of these gulls, and how such data help us to understand how this hybrid zone works.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 30
6:30pm Bird Chat and refreshments in the lobby
7:00pm Presentation in the auditorium

Where: UW Berry Biodiversity Center, 10th St. & Lewis St. (free parking after 5pm)

Field Trip Oct 12th to Plains Lakes

We will be heading out tomorrow morning to the Plains Lakes. Hutton Lakes NWR is closed due to the government shutdown. Meet at Night Heron Books at 8am. We will carpool and be back in Laramie at about noon. If you can't join us for the entire morning, please drive separately. Dress for the weather and bring plenty of water and snacks. All ages and abilities welcome.

Swifts in Migration

I just came across this blog post today by Ed Young about swifts staying on the wing for 200 days straight. Remarkable.

Oct 5 Field Trip Canceled

Due to inclement weather, the field trip for Saturday, Oct 5th, to Hutton Lakes has been canceled. We will reschedule for next Saturday, weather permitting.

Public Seminar Tomorrow Night - Sept 25

LAS and the UWYO Zoology & Physiology Department are hosting a guest lecture by Dr. Harry Greene from Cornell University. His talk is titled "Natural History, Aesthetics, and Conservation" and will begin at 7:30 pm in the Berry Center Auditorium. Refreshments and BirdChat will begin at 7 pm in the lobby. Afterwards, Dr. Greene will be holding a book signing for his book Tracks and Shadows.

Please join us tomorrow evening, Sept 25th at 7:30 pm, for an engaging natural history talk!