****************************************************************** *^^^^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^^ * ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ * ^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^ * ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ * ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^ *The electronic publication of the David Cup/McIlroy competition. *Editors: Allison Wells, Jeff Wells *Basin Bird Highlights, Leader's List, Composite Deposit: * "Thoreau" Geo Kloppel * Pilgrim's Progress: "Stoinking" Matt Medler * Evans Cup: "Bird Hard" Bard Prentiss * Stat's All: Karl "Father of the Madness" David * Bird Brain Correspondent: "Downtown" Caissa Willmer * Mobile Phone Supervisor: Jeff Wells ****************************************************************** Oh, that crazy World Series of Birding, that mind-boggling 24-hour tick-athon in the Garden State of New Jersey. Sure, it rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the birds. Fifty-odd (you ain't kiddin') teams compete, some from as far away as Britain (re: "Brits on Bikes," ha!) There's the camaraderie, the media exposure, yadda, yadda, yadda. Whoopee. La-ti-da. oesn't it make it you want to tear up your David Cup checklist and go home? Well, then drive thru and smell the golden arches! The World Series may make some pretty lofty headlines, but when you boil it all down, whatcha got is fast food! 223 species in one day? Heck, McDonald's can make an entire "mean" in 1.48 minutes. Wouldn't you rather have a romantic, candlelight dinner? THAT's the David Cup. Okay, maybe it's more like an old-fashioned, home-cooked meal. And yeah, maybe the potatoes get a tad overbaked. But think of the love and care that goes into making that meal-just for you! Now, pull up a chair, the table is set, enjoy the feast of another issue of The Cup. Just remember to put on your bib; there's bound to be a little drivel, er dribble. @ @ @ @ @ @ NEWS, CUES, and BLUES @ @ @ @ @ @ WELCOME TO THE CUP CLAN: What do all of the new Kloppel names in the Pilgrim's Progress mean? It means Jon Kloppel, frere to Geo, is biding for the Family Time Prize. That's right, he's brought daughter Rachel and son Aaron into the funny farm. Of course, until he's recruits the family pets, the McGowans may take home the coveted award yet again. Wait a minute, "Ramona" Kloppel. David "Kitty" Cup. Watch out, McGowans! Wait, here comes another family strolling for the Family Time Prize: It's the Mingles! How did Terry and Brian convince young un' Jeremy to join the big birding hurrah? They told him he could dress like a rapper, if he wanted o long as he didn't dye his hair blue. Can't risk anyone one mistaking him for a Blue Bunting. STRAIGHT FLUSH?: Congratulations to Ken Rosenberg, who may have the only Basin record for a "flushed WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW." Cup spies reported Ken's Cayugabirds news-flash post to us, and we've been wondering ever since what such a bird would look like. A bit red in the face, contrasting with the black and white crown? In other words, a little like Ken when he reads this note. WATCH WARBLERS: Don't forget to put your warbler sightings to use for science and conservation! Get them into the Warbler Watch database at http://birdsource.cornell.edu. Enjoy the maps while you're there-a great return on your investment of a little time. SAPPING AROUND NEW JERSEY: Despite our attempt to sound like curmudgeons in the intro, we're pleased to congratulate the Cornell Lab/Swarovski Sapsuckers in their WSB showing. The team - made up entirely of Cuppers -- identified 220 bird species, shattering their previous high set a few years ago of 204. They brought home, for the second year in a row, the prestigious Stearns Trophy for out-of-state-team victory and placed second overall, their highest placing ever, behind a New Jersey team who made it to 223. With pledges weighing in at $543.85 per species, that's an awesome $119,647.00. To read more about the team's highlights, visit the Lab's web site at http://birds.cornell.edu. Be sure to check out the link that'll show you an image of the magnificent Stearns Trophy, featuring the Lab's own highly paid models! And it's also not too late to pledge. (607) 254-2473 if you'd like to show your support. If you've already pledged, thanks! Here's to WSB 2000! BIRD CUP BLUES AND ALL THAT JAZZ: There was some new band, alt rock we think, that had the name "bird" in the their title. We tore the blurb out of Entertainment Weekly (the most impressive news mag available these days, after The Cup), but e lost it. Be assured, we had something clever planned, some witty tie-in. Although we lost the blurb, at least we've accomplished our original purpose in the first place: filling up this space. :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> :> BASIN BIRD HIGHLIGHTS By Geo Kloppel Now that the woods are well leafed-out and the warblers have all returned, it's an effort to think back to distant March. Recalling that month's most exciting birds ought to be pleasant exercise, though. On March 1, Matt Young spotted two BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in a large flock of Cedar Waxwings on the TC3 "game preserve." They were not found again, but Cuppers pressed ahead, and the subsequent most winning birds of March were observed by many. The first of these were the ROSS' GEESE. Sightings of the diminutive Chen among feeding Snow Geese began on March 11 in the greater Montezuma area, and continued through the month. On the 20th, Kevin and Jay McGowan found a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE along Cornell Lane south of Dryden. Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen on the 26th north of Aurora. Also seen during the month were OLDSQUAW and RUDDY DUCK. February's first-winter GLAUCOUS GULL, ICELAND GULLS and LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS continued to be seen well into March. My vote for March's happiest surprise goes to the pair of RED CROSSBILLS found atop Summer Hill on the 24th by Chris T. Hymes. Chris' optimism was not quenched by the apparent absence of winter finches in our region, and for that he has his reward! In the week or so following his discovery a handful of birders managed to find the birds. When you consider how large the Summerhill State Forest is, that seems an impressive feat, but Matt Sarver's experience, which we all shared vicariously, may help to explain it: he found the crossbills deliberately visiting Salt Road to pick up grit right before his shoes! Putting aside some closely extralimital Pine Siskins (Keuka Park) and Evening Grosbeaks (Tioga County), those crossbills have been the principal echoes of the previous winter's celebrated finch irruption. A LONG-EARED OWL turned up dead in Danby, the first "record" for the year, though a live bird would have been preferred. The finder was not a Cupper, so we were not obliged to revisit the old question of when a dead bird may be counted, happily! A few more SHORT-EARED OWLS, NORTHERN SHRIKES and LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen during March, even while the likes of RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, MERLIN, AM. WOODCOCK, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, TREE SWALLOW, E. PHOEBE, AM. PIPIT, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, E. MEADOWLARK and FOX SPARROW were moving in from the south. A pair of NORTHERN BOBWHITES were seen on the 30th of March in the Town of Enfield. I was out of the Basin the first weekend of April and missed a major fall-out, which included RED-NECKED GREBE, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, OLDSQUAW, RUDDY DUCKS, and CASPIAN TERN at Dryden Lake, more OLDSQUAW at Jennings Pond and Montezuma, plus many BONAPARTE'S GULLS at Stewart Park and elsewhere. Later in the month two SURF SCOTERS and yet more OLDSQUAW were seen at Dryden Lake, and numbers of RED-NECKED GREBES, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, FORSTER'S TERNS and COMMON TERNS dropped in at various dates and locations. BLACK TERN and COMMON MOORHEN returned to Tschache Marsh, where Meena Haribal also saw BLACK SCOTERS overhead. Jon Kloppel viewed a spring-migrant RED-THROATED LOON at very close range near the north end of Cayuga Lake, and a few days later several of the Matts spotted another one at the south end! But the biggest find of April was not seen by any Cuppers. It was a SANDHILL CRANE, watched at leisure by a group of birders on an Eaton Birding Society outing near the Greater Montezuma Wetland Project Headquarters on Morgan Road opposite Howland Island. Scattered RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and GOLDEN EAGLES were seen during the month, plus a few more departing SHORT-EARED OWLS. At least one MERLIN and one PEREGRINE FALCON were reported. Several Cuppers heard a LONG-EARED OWL calling near Neimi and Hanshaw Roads in the Town of Dryden. Shorebird species during April included GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL, SPOTTED and SOLITARY SANDPIPER, DUNLIN, AM WOODCOCK and COMMON SNIPE, plus a fly-over UPLAND SANDPIPER seen by the McGowans, who also discovered the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON that lingered at Dryden Lake for a number of days. AMERICAN BITTERN appeared at Montezuma and, more surprisingly, at Jennings Pond, where it may yet remain! GREEN HERON and VIRGINIA RAIL returned to their summer haunts. Rather large numbers of breeding-plumage LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen by many over the course of a few days on the Savannah Mucklands, once again confirming the speculative optimism of Chris Tessaglia Hymes. The expected sparrows showed up, as did the earliest warblers: YELLOW-RUMPED, PINE, PALM, YELLOW, BLACK-THROATED GREEN and BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, LOUISIANA and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES. April also brought the first BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, BLUE-HEADED and WARBLING VIREOS, all the rest of our swallows, CHIMNEY SWIFT, HOUSE WREN, BROWN THRASHER, E. KINGBIRD, LEAST FLYCATCHER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BOBOLINK. Our appetites for the wealth that flows in during May were thoroughly aroused. (Geo Kloppel makes and repairs violin bows. That is, when he's not birding. In other words, he seldom makes and repairs violin bows.) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 CLUB 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Matt Sarver's BIRD 100: Long-eared Owl Matt Medler's BIRD 100: Eastern Meadowlark Ken Rosenberg's BIRD 100: Field Sparrow Jon Kloppel'S BIRD 100: Ruddy Duck Matt Williams' BIRD 100: Swamp Sparrow Steve Kelling'S BIRD 100: Virginia Rail Meena Haribal's BIRD 100: refused to share this top-secret info Bard Prentiss BIRD 100: ditto Rachel Kloppel's BIRD 100: American Woodcock Anne Kendall's BIRD 100: Pine Warbler Allison Wells' BIRD 100: Eastern Meadowlark Jeff Wells' BIRD 100: House Sparrow (answered by his wife, because Jeff is currently out of town) Terry Mingle's BIRD 100: Blue-headed Vireo Pat Lia's BIRD 100: Palm Warbler Catherine Sandell's BIRD 100: Yellow-rumped Warbler Jeremy Mingle's BIRD 100: Baltimore Oriole 200 200 200 200 200 2 0 0 200 200 200 200 HA! WISHFUL THINKING! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< PILGRIMS' PROGRESS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> April 1999 David Cup Totals 157 Matt Young 145 Geo Kloppel 145 Matt Medler 144 Jay McGowan 143 Kevin McGowan 139 Matt Sarver 138 Chris Tessaglia-Hymes 133 Ken Rosenberg 131 Jon Kloppel 129 Matt Williams 126 Steve Kelling 125 Meena Haribal 119 Bard Prentiss 116 Rachel Kloppel 115 Anne Kendall 111 Allison Wells 110 Terry Mingle 110 Jeff Wells 107 Pat Lia 103 Catherine Sandell 101 Jeremy Mingle 100 Chris Butler 95 Marty Schlabach 94 Tringa "Bird Dog" McGowan 91 Aaron Kloppel 91 Jim Lowe 90 Tom Nix 86 Taylor Kelling 85 Sam Kelling 82 Melanie Uhlir 80 Kim Kline 79 Bill Evans 79 Ben Taft 78 Nancy Dickinson 69 Perri McGowan 67 Brian Mingle 63 Andy Farnsworth 57 Martha Fischer 45 Carol Bloomgarden 45 Anne James 43 Swift McGowan (David "Kitty" Cup) 30 Teddy Wells (David "Kitty" Cup) 26 Mimi Wells (David "Kitty" Cup) 25 Romona Kloppel (David Kitty Cup) 21 Rob Scott 0 Ralph Paonessa March 1999 McIlroy Award Totals 97 Kevin McGowan 93 Jay McGowan 82 Jim Lowe 82 Allison Wells 75 Jeff Wells 73 Ken Rosenberg 66 Bill Evans 55 Matt Medler 53 Martha Fischer 37 Chris Butler March 1999 Evans Trophy Totals 140 Matt Young 127 Ken Rosenberg 121 Kevin McGowan 118 Jay McGowan 97 Bard Prentiss 72 Allison Wells 72 Jeff Wells Lansing Listers 83 Kevin McGowan 52 (???) Jay McGowan (Hey, Matt, did you drop this ball!) 44 Matt Williams Etna Challenge 59 Allison Wells 0 Matt Young Yard Stickers 80 Kelling Family, Caroline, NY 79 McGowan/Kline Family, Dryden, NY 79 Rosenberg/James Family, Dryden, NY 67 Geo Kloppel, West Danby, NY 59 Wells Family, Etna, NY 47 Nancy Dickinson, Mecklenberg, NY 46 Jeff Holbrook, Canton, NY 41 Fredericks Family, Van Etten, NY 33 Carol Bloomgarden, Etna, NY Office Report 56 Ken Rosenberg & friends, Green Trailer, Lab of O 46 Steve Kelling & friends, Tan Trailer, Lab of O 26 Melanie Uhlir ("Tan Trailer," Lab of O) 22 Allison Wells (main building, Lab of O) 3 Matt Medler (windowless cave of LNS, Lab of O) LEADER'S LIST LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL By Geo Kloppel No surprise here: Matt Young was well in the lead at the end of May. He wasn't quite sure what-all was supposed to be on his list, so at the absolute ultimate last minute before publishing time he sent me a list of 153 species and invited me to suggest 4 more in order to make up the 157 he expected. Then he went out birding, I guess! I came up with 5 birds which I believe he MUST have seen before May 1st, and I've placed them in parentheses within his list, resulting in a total of 158. I'm sure Matt will explain the discrepancy when he finds a little more time to update his records! C & R-t Loon,P-b,R-n & H Grebe,D-c Cormorant,Great Blue & Green Heron,B-c Night Heron,T & M Swan,Snow Goose,ROSS'GOOSE,C Goose,W Duck,G-w & B-w Teal,Am Black Duck,Mallard,N Pintail,N Shoveler,Gadwall,Am Wigeon,Canvasback,Redhead,R-n Duck,G & L Scaup,KING EIDER,L-t Duck,Surf & W-w Scoter,C Goldeneye,Bufflehead,H,C & Rb Merganser,Ruddy Duck,(T Vulture),Osprey,Bald Eagle,N Harrier,Sharp-shinned,Cooper's & N Goshawk,B-w,R-s,R-t,& R-l Hawk,Golden Eagle,Am Kestrel,R Grouse,W Turkey,R-n Pheasant,V-Rail,Am Coot,(Killdeer),G & L Yellowlegs,Sol,Pect & Spotted Sandpiper,Dunlin,C Snipe,A. Woodcock,Bonaparte's,R-b,H,I,LB-b,G & GB-b Gull,Casp,Common & Forster's Tern,R & M Dove,E-Screech,G-H,Barred,S-e & S-w Owl,Ch Swift,B Kingfisher,R-b,D,H & P Woodpecker,N Flicker,Y-Bellied Sapsucker,L Flycatcher,E Phoebe,H Lark,Tree,N.R-w,Bank,Cliff & Barn Swallow,B Jay,Am & F Crow,Common Raven,B-c Chickadee,T Titmouse,R-b & W-b Nuthatch,B Creeper,Carolina,H,M & W Wren,G-c & R-c Kinglet,B-G Gnatcatcher,E Bluebird,H Thrush,A Robin,N Mockingbird,(Brown Thrasher),(Am Pipit),BOHEMIAN & C Waxwing,N Shrike,E Starling,B-h Vireo,Yellow,Y-r,B-t Green,Pine,Palm,& B & w Warbler,L & N Waterthrush,N Cardinal,E Towhee,Am Tree,Chip,F,V,Sav,Fox,Song,Swamp,& W-t Sparrow,D-e Junco,L Longspur,S Bunting,E Meadowlark,R-W,Rusty Blackbird,YELLOW HEADED BLACKBIRD,C Grackle,B-h Cowbird,H Finch,(Purple Finch),Red Crossbill,Am Goldfinch,House Sparrow COMPOSITE DEPOSIT CT CT CT CT CT CT CT CT CT A few birds had escaped Matt's roving eye. There was a Long-eared Owl found dead in Danby, which I won't include in the composite total, and then there were the following 17 species: American Bittern,Greater White-fronted Goose,Black Scoter,Peregrine Falcon,Merlin,Common Moorhen,Sandhill Crane,Upland Sandpiper,Thayer's Gull,Black Tern,Purple Martin,Warbling Vireo,C Yellowthroat,Rose-breasted Grosbeak,Bobolink,Baltimore Oriole,Evening Grosbeak Composite total as of 4/30/99: 175 live birds (plus one dead L-e Owl) (You already know Geo. ) <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< < COACH'S CORNER < < <<<<<<<<<<<<<< < < < < < < < < Whatcha gonna do when you forget to tap a coach for the prestigious Coach's Column and you're too tired to write it yourself because you put together everything else because your spouse is leaving town? If that spouse is in the masthead, you get him to write spew something over breakfast the morning of his departure. Aw, shucks, he's glad to help, because he's Jeff Wells, and he's swell. The editor would marry him if she weren't married to him already. COACH WELLS: I'm giving this Coach's Column a name, because I want to emphasize what the David Cup is all about in the upcoming months. "Pushing the Limits," it's as simple as that. Actually, it's as "simple" as finding these key species: Clay-colored Sparrow: A species that breeds in relatively large numbers within about 200 miles northeast of the Basin, Clay-colored Sparrows very likely occur as sporadic, occasional breeders or solitary singing males within the Basin. In the western tier of NY, they have occasionally been found in Christmas tree plantations. Along with this habitat, check fields that have a mix of open grass and clumps of shrubs and Listerine for the easy-to-identify song: a series of usually three low buzzes, "bizz-bizz-bizzz." Western Meadowlark: This is another species that regularly occurs sporadically throughout the northeast U.S. Western NY, being closer to the regular breeding range, would seem even more likely to have an occasional bird. Check lots of very large grassy fields, listening for its distinctive, bubbly song and the characteristic "chuck" call note. Dickcissel: As recently as 1992, territorial singing Dickcissels occurred in the Basin (South Lansing) and the species has bred or attempted to breed in western NY. Again, check large, grassy fields, especially ones that have been fallow for a few years and that have scattered old stems for singing perches. The fields near Ledyard Road in King Ferry are potentially good locations. As always, learn the song well and listen carefully as the song can be as easy to overlook as the Henslow's Sparrow simple song. Others: Cattle Egret, Glossy & White-faced ibis, Yellow Rail, Sedge Wren, Kentucky Warbler, Le Conte's Sparrow. Hit the books, and then the field! (Jeff Wells is director of bird conservation for National Audubon of of New York State. He is sadly missed when out of town for his job ...especially when it's time to put out The Cup.) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! KICKIN' TAIL! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What better way to prove birding hasn't completely worn you out than by being featured in an interview exclusively for The Cup? "Kickin' Tail" brings well deserved honor and recognition to the Cupper who has glassed, scoped, scanned, driven, climbed, dug, or final-exammed his/her way to the top of the David Cup list. Any guesses who's on first thing by the end of April? THE CUP: Greetings, Mighty Matt. We'll keep this brief, we don't want to be held responsible if you don't break the Basin record this year! First, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? You've got a good chance of breaking the David Cup record, if merely by willing the birds into the Basin. And you run off to help scout for the Sapsuckers in New Jersey? And what was your motive by including Matt Medler in this little soiree? YOUNG: I must move on and at least try to make my birdwatching into Something productive, so I'm moving out of the Basin come August, so I can go back to school full-time. The record will have to be broken by Someone else - Saaarver!! THE CUP: I guess one Matt's the same as the next. Just different hair, that's all. YOUNG: I went to NJ because I felt it was a great chance to get out of the Basin - THE CUP: Blasphemy! YOUNG: --and do some real birding. Medler's the only one who could possibly put up with me on such an adventure. THE CUP: Sure. We couldn't help but notice some slippage in Medler's total since you convinced him to run off with you. Now Sarver's taken over his slot. Yeah, purely coincidental. Anyone on Cayugabirds lately is keenly aware of your uncontrollable urge for "time in the field." Why was it so important for you to break 200 by May 10? YOUNG: I just thought it would be cool to do it before the 10th, I didn't succeed. I did end up seeing an Indigo Bunting on the 11th, before the NJ trip, for #200. THE CUP: Congratulation. Enlighten us, now. What is the significance of the name "Matt," i.e., what's your theory as to why the Basin has a proportionately high number of them? And in your opinion, is this a blessing or a curse? YOUNG: It's a definite blessing, we all actually get along quite well, which makes it even more special. I guess Ithaca was prime for an "irruption" of Matts. THE CUP: And it's still irrupting. Case in point, Jeff's new employee, Matt Victoria. Watch out! Now the obligatory "what are your glaring omissions?" question. YOUNG: I can't really think of many. THE CUP: Well, excuuuuuuuse us! YOUNG: Maybe the two common falcons and the Long- eared Owl that Sarver found behind my house- yeah, right. THE CUP: Ouch. How is Jess holding up during all of this crazy birding turmoil of yours? YOUNG: She's a saint! She understands my need for time in the Field, which isn't always easy to find. THE CUP: Huh? Well, listen, don't move. The Basin needs you! YOUNG: I wish I didn't have to, but I will still be in striking distance - 25 minutes away. I'm going to miss everyone a lot. I've learned a tremendous amount of info from everyone, and I really appreciate everyone for that. """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SCRAWL OF FAME """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" NADDA (If you have an opinion--or insider information--about the art, science, and/or esthetics of birding or birding-related topics, write it up for the Scrawl of Fame.) mmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm McILROY MUSINGS mmmmmmmmmmm mmmmm Since we didn't get totals (eh-hem) in time to know who's deserving of this space, we're going to wing-it. Get it? Uggh. WHAT WE WOULD DO IF ALLISON WELLS WERE LEADING: Congratulate her and give her a coveted interview. WHAT WE WOULD *LIKE* TO DO IF ALLISON WELLS WERE LEADING: Place a a lea of native plants around her neck and hope a small flock of unusual migrants finds it. WHAT WE WOULD DO IF KEVIN MCGOWAN WERE LEADING: Congratulat him and give him a coveted interview. WHAT WE WOULD *LIKE* TO DO IF KEVIN MCGOWAN WERE LEADING: Send him on a wild crow chase - to Lansing. WHAT WE WOULD DO IF MARTHA FISCHER WERE LEADING: Congratulate her and give her a coveted interview. WHAT WE WOULD *LIKE* TO DO IF MARTHA FISCHER WERE LEADING: Close down Larch Meadows WHAT WE WOULD DO IF JAY MCGOWAN WERE LEADING: Congratulate him and give him a coveted interview. WHAT WE WOULD *LIKE* TO DO IF JAY MCGOWAN WERE LEADING: Hold Tringa hostage until he promises never to bird in McIlroy territory again. WHAT WE WOULD DO IF BILL EVANS WERE LEADING: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! ================================================= BIRD BRAIN OF THE MONTH By Caissa Willmer This month's Bird Brain is the fourth of the continually proliferating Matts: Matthew J. Williams, to be formal and precise. He is from Sunderland, Massachusetts, a small town north of Amherst in Western Mass. "My family's (grandparents' and uncle's) farm," he relates, "is located in that town and has been for nearly two centuries, so I guess I am 'rooted' there. The family house is on the edge of a field in a very out-of-the-way location, so it was very good bird habitat. My parents, James and Patricia Williams, definitely fostered, if not initiated my interest in birds. They took me outdoors in the woods around my house and got me fascinated with everything I saw. My grandmother Agnes Williams took me for nature walks in the woods and my other grandmother Jane Gifford provided me with my first bird book, the basic and small Golden book of common eastern birds. Other avid naturalists/family friends including Larry and Helen Stowe and Gretchen Whitman (Gretty) were even greater influences on my interest in nature and birding. They taught me a great deal and fueled my desire to learn about birds. "I remember an early morning bird hike that Gretty led, I was the youngest in the group by at least 25 years. I vividly recall seeing an American Woodcock, a Black-and-white Warbler plus many more. "Another early experience was going to see a Great Grey Owl that had appeared up in Hadley, near my home. My parents piled me and my brothers in the car and on the edge of a grassy field, we joined the crowd that was observing this wonderful bird." In addition to those early birding experiences, Matt cherishes the memories of his trip to Florida last May. "Despite the fact that many of the birds had headed north (presumably to avoid the heat)," he says, "I was able to see many of the southern egrets, herons, and shorebirds that I hadn't been able to see in western New England." And he's looking forward to many such trips in the future. Matt is a junior at Cornell, studying Ag & Bio Engineering (ABEN), which means that he's had two-and-a-half years to bird the Basin, but he was a bit hampered by lack of adequate transportation. "I made a few trips up to Sapsucker Woods on my bike in the past few years," he explains, "but it wasn't until this year, with a car, that I've been able to get off campus and bird. It also wasn't until this past fall that I heard about the Cayugabirds mailing list. I certainly wish I had found it sooner. I guess I missed it because it isn't exactly a 'Cornell' club and wasn't on any lists of activities." It must be stated here, that Matt was interviewed way back in February, well before all the spring excitement, to which he has contributed in such large measure, so that when he was asked about his favorite birding experiences in the Basin, he had to hark back to the fall. "My first trip up to Montezuma last fall was very amazing to me. While I did not see any excessively rare birds, the magnitude of Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and other waterfowl passing through that area was just impressive. I had never seen such great numbers of birds. Even the huge flocks of starlings were impressive to me." And then he made contact with the other Matts. "On Sunday, January 31, 1999, I decided that it was a nice day to get out for some birding. After checking out Stewart Park, I continued northward to Myers Point. From the park area I saw Chris Tessaglia-Hymes (whom I didn't know at the time) by the marina motioning me over to take a look through his scope at what initially appeared to be a Blue-winged Teal, but was actually a backlit Greater Scaup. Soon after, I met the three other Matts (Medler, Sarver, Young), who were a bit frantic looking for the teal because all they saw was the scaup. "They were headed up to Summer Hill, and I was going to follow them in my car, but they shifted the scopes, and made room for me. It was nice to finally be able to put faces on people who frequently posted to the list and to meet fellow bird enthusiasts. We saw at least 30 different species that day, and after that I was essentially hooked on Basin birding." And then he was asked a standard question for this column: To what extent does birding influence the routine of your day-to-day life? "Birding has been latent in me for a number of years. I always have loved to ID and take note of the birds that I see while doing other things, but only recently (late last semester and this semester) have I actually found myself making trips to places specifically to see birds. With the exception of my trip to Florida, which was planned as a vacation, not as a birding trip, the farthest I have traveled specifically for birds was Binghamton, when I went to see the Anna's Hummingbird. Luckily, it was there, and I went home with a lifer and not simply two hours of driving. I will probably be going further this spring." Matt came to Ithaca in the fall of 1996 as "an undecided freshman in the Engineering school. I knew I loved science and technology, but I also knew that I had a deep need to be doing something that dealt with nature in some way. Surprisingly, I was able to fulfill both of these by affiliating with the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department in the fall of my Sophomore year. I am still exploring options for after graduation. I am considering grad school or maybe working for an Environmental Engineering or consulting firm, or perhaps the EPA, DEC, FWS or some other government or non-profit agency. So basically, I am undecided about my future career plans. As for birding, I know it will remain a large part of my life, no matter what. It has been with me for so long, and I am very happy that there are others in the area to share the enjoyment with. Also, I would like to mention that I was lucky enough to find a work study job at the Lab of Ornithology helping Laura and Margaret with Project Feederwatch. "Finally, I would like to thank anyone who had anything to do with dubbing me 'Bird Brain of the Month.'" (Caissa Willmer is a Senior Staff Writer for the Cornell Office of Development and theater critic for the Ithaca Times.) BIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRDBIRD BIRD VERSE VERSEVERSEVERSEVERSEVERSEVERSE YOUR BIRD VERSE HERE @#$$%#%$^!(*$)%^@>(#?@<$&%^@( DEAR TICK @#%$^!)$(%*&^>$*%?<!>*%^#*%(*& Because birders suffer so many unique trials and tribulations, The Cup has graciously provided Cuppers with a kind, sensitive and intuitive columnist, Dear Tick, to answer even the most profound questions, like these... DEAR TICK: One of my cobirders is morally opposed to using tapes to draw in birds (rails, for example). What if he's with a bunch of birders and we use tapes and we get a Sora calling back and he hears it because he's standing there with us. Does Mr. No Tape get to count the bird? He wouldn't have heard it if hadn't been with us, using the tape. --It Matt-ers at Montezuma Dear It Matt-ers: Put it this way: You're eating a sandwich and you inadvertently drop some crumbs on the table. Mr. Purist could, theoretically, eat those crumbs, even though he didn't make the sandwich, but it wouldn't taste very good if he did. By all rights, it should make him quite ill. (Send your questions for Dear Tick to The Cup at jw32@cornell.edu) """"""""" CUP QUOTES """""""" "My 1999 Basin bird list total is still zero. But, hey, it's early! And, since reading in Cayugabirds about all the Yard Birds that Ken Rosenberg is tallying with his 60X scope from his bathroom window, I'm talking to some people at Caltech who might be able to get me some 'unofficial' time with the Hubble Telescope pointed down on the Cayuga Basin. (The average citizen is really not supposed to do this, but these guys -- freshman computer hackers all -- are GOOD.) 'I'll be seeing you, Ken!' Now I just have to find a field guide that discusses ID'ing from above ..." --Ralph Paonessa "Total (which I guess is a David Cup total) for the end of April was 82. My office list total for the end of April was 26. (I don't hang out the window by my toes the way Steve Kelling does.)" --Melanie Uhlir "Stepped out of the house this morning to hear and then see a Great Crested Flycatcher. Not a bad welcome to May!" --Marty Schlabach "Matt, Matt, Matt Williams and I took a cruise up to Summer Hill." --Matt "We need some new kind of raptor to contain this Matt population explosion before these guys start jumping off the cliff at Aurora Bay!" --Bill Evans "I think they must be a flock of Matts, or perhaps Matt-Matts." --Linda A. Clougherty "There was a Winter Wren yesterday late afternoon on the west end of the big pond in Sapsucker Woods. I'd not have seen it if it wasn't for a more prompt than usual walk home en route to free ice cream at Ban & Jerry's. Sorry, no flying saucers. Oh, and there's a Swamp Sparrow in the same area of the Woods this morning too. Aside from that, it was a slow day for birding in the woods. --Wesley Hochachka "I had a chance to really study the bird (a very lucky chance indeed as usually you see MERLIN fly by as if it were late for something important). I was able to see the faint moustache stripe (indicating it was of the Taiga race), dark breast barring, and a black tail with thin buffy bands (indicating it was either a female or immature). Then it suddenly flew and I was able to see the checkered underwing. (I realized why it flew away when I looked up to see Sam running from the pond as fast as he could claiming he saw a UFO). About 20 minutes later the MERLIN was back in the tree. h, and it wasn't a UFO afterall, just a plane." --Steve Kelling "Tennessee Warbler: A drive-by singer on West Hill along Bundy Road, just in some scrubby stuff. I heard a snatch of song as we sped by at 55, then >backed up to confirm. Man, if I could only repeat that feat in the World Series next week!" --Kevin McGowan "Come commiserate with fellow birders about warbler neck and other avian-induced aches and pains tonight at the Cayuga Bird Club meeting--and hear a most important talk relating to birds and conservation." --Margaret Barker "It's raining today. It often is when Jay and I decide to go birding." --Kim Kline "Where is everyone getting all these warblers? My guess is I was just too early on a cold morning, and the sun hadn't had a chance to really warm the area yet. Either that or I'm just cursed of late...ask Medler and Young about that..." --Matt Sarver "Remember, it's peek migration time, SO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE BIRDS!! It was a 24 warbler week for me, and with the right attitude and a good neck, you too can see these lovely jewels from the tropics!" --Matt Young "In spite of the easy Worm-eater, I haven't been able to hit 20 West Danby Warblers in one day yet; 19 yesterday, but today I'm stuck at just 17... must be a poor year!" --Geo Kloppel May Your Cup Runneth Over Allison and Jeff Editors |
Resources > The David Cup >