The Upland
Plover
Publication of the North Country Bird Club, Inc.
May / June 2017
ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 10 - 7:00 pm
Stone Presbyterian Church - 140 Chestnut St, Watertown
(please see the full notice on page 4)
Program: Waterfowl Migration
SPRING BIRD CENSUS
The Spring Bird Census continues through Tuesday, June
20. If you need a Survey Form for the Census, please
contact the Editor. Complete instructions are included on
the form. You are encouraged to join this effort to catalog
the wide variety of birds which can be seen in our area.
Please note: All sightings must be from Jefferson, Lewis,
or St. Lawrence County (NYSOA Region 6).
Red-breasted Merganser at Pillar Point
April 8, 2017 Photo by Kathy Killeen
FALL MEETINGS
Remember to note the dates of our fall meetings on your
calendar. We meet at 7:00 pm at Stone Presbyterian
Church (140 Chestnut St, Watertown). Meeting dates are:
Wednesday, September 13
Wednesday, October 11
Wednesday, November 8
Since 1948
Volume 58 No. 3
FIELD TRIPS - 2017 Season
Cornell Lab & Montezuma NWR: Sat, May 6 - 8:30 am
Red Lake: Sat, May 20 - 8:30 am
Limerick Cedars: Wed, May 31 - 8:00 pm
Chaumont Barrens: Sat, June 3 - 8:30 am
Marlowe Camp, Beartown: Sat, June 10 - 8:30 am
Derby Hill & Three Rivers WMA: Sat, June 24 - 8:30 am
Annual Picnic (Brouse Preserve): Sun, July 9 - 1:00 pm
Marlowe Camp, Beartown: Sat, July 22 - 8:30 am
Perch River WMA: Sat, August 26 - 8:30 am
Montezuma South: Sat, Sept 16 - 8:30 am
Montezuma North: Sat, Oct 21 - 8:30 am
Please note: We meet for all field trips, except the Limerick Cedars
evening trip and the Annual Picnic, at 8:30 am in the parking lot of
the Arsenal St Wal-Mart, across the entry drive from Red Lobster.
NORTH COUNTRY BIG DAY
Each year, the Global Big Day event gives birders the opportunity
to use their skills in a friendly competition, with teams seeking to
identify the greatest number of bird species in a 24-hour period.
To provide this type of opportunity for birders in our area, and to
create another setting in which our members and friends can share
their enthusiasm for birding with one another, North Country Bird
Club will again sponsor a North Country Big Day event this spring.
Teams of two to four birders are to work together to identify as
many species as possible between midnight and midnight of a day
in mid-May. We are not specifying a particular day for the event,
but ask teams to choose any single day between Saturday,
May 13, and Friday, May 19. While team members may bird
individually and record species at their feeders on the teams
chosen day, the intent is that the team will bird together for much
of the time spent in the field. To encourage all North Country
birders to take part, we will list the members of all teams, as well
as all species recorded, but note the number of species recorded
only for the team which finds the most.
A checklist with detailed instructions is included with this issue.
Plan to be a part of this exciting event!
 OFFICERS FIELD TRIP: CORNELL ORNITHOLOGY LAB & MONTEZUMA NWR
President Saturday, May 6th - Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
Corky Marlowe 782-4705 We will visit Cornell Universitys world-renowned Lab of Ornithology on a springtime Saturday to view
a great variety of birds. The lab facilities and the Labs Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary provide an
Vice-President experience available virtually nowhere else in North America. On our return trip, we will also visit the
Bill Haller 639-6848 Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Reservations are required.
Treasurer FIELD TRIP: RED LAKE (Theresa)
Kathleen Killeen 646-6007
Saturday, May 20th - Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
Secretary This is a must trip for adding birds to your Spring Bird Census list. The setting includes woodlands,
Christine Bourquin 649-5403 fields, wetlands, and the lakeshore environment, so a wide variety of species is possible. This always
rewarding field trip is an easy walk along a level gravel road.
DIRECTORS
FIELD TRIP: LIMERICK CEDARS
Richard Brouse To 5/2017 Wednesday, May 31st at 8:00 pm
David Prosser To 5/2019 Meet along the Ransom Road
Mike Shepard To 5/2019
We will meet in the evening at the Limerick Cedars Preserve to
June Walker To 5/2017 look and listen for Whip-poor-wills, American Woodcock, Prairie
Robert Walker To 5/2019 Warblers, and other spring birds. Come and enjoy the
enchanting sights and sounds of twilight in the Cedars.
Field Trip Coordinator
Richard Brouse 788-6778 FIELD TRIP: CHAUMONT BARRENS
Saturday, June 3rd
Census Coordinator Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
Bill Haller 639-6848
Those who do not wish to go to Watertown on their way to the
Historian Barrens can meet us at the Sunoco Convenience Store, Rt 12E in Chaumont, at 9:00 am.
Robert Walker 649-2161 We will look for Prairie Warblers and other songbirds, plants such as prairie smoke and wood lily, and
much more at this unique Nature Conservancy site. The two-mile walk through the Barrens is on a
Newsletter Editor level trail through a variety of habitats.
Bill Haller 639-6848 FIELD TRIP: MARLOWE CAMP (Beartown)
Saturday, June 10th - Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
On The Web:
We will travel to Club President Corky Marlowes camp in the Town of Croghan to look for warblers and
NORTH COUNTRY other woodland birds. This event involves a moderate walk along a gravel road and will last into early
BIRD CLUB afternoon. Please bring a dish to pass. Salad, dessert, and tableware will be provided.
ON FACEBOOK Details for additional Club Events are on the next page. TREASURERS REPORT
After all local field trips, Bring insect repellent and from the April 12th Meeting
For detailed info about birds,
visit the website of participants are invited water on all field trips. A Checking account balance.... $1625.06
the Cornell Ornithology Lab to join for lunch at a field trip may be cancelled Savings account balance ...... $1780.54
nearby restaurant, if due to bad weather.
and of Cornells renowned Kathleen Killeen, Treasurer
their schedule permits.
Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary These gatherings are Call Dick Brouse at 788-
If you would like to be added to our E-mail
at http://www.birds.cornell.edu always most enjoyable 6778 with any questions Notification List for news of select sightings
The Cornell Lab now offers (and entertaining). about our field trips. and events, please let the Editor know.
p r e d ic t i o ns o f b i rd A beautiful set of bird-themed notecards is given to a member or members of the
migration patterns. Track Club by random selection each time the Plover is issued, to provide extra incentive
spring migrations through our for members to keep memberships in good standing. We would like to congratulate
area at http://birdcast.info Paul and Kathy Buell of Gouverneur, selected as this issues recipients.

INFORMATION SOURCES FOR REGIONAL SIGHTINGS

A list of birding organizations and list serves for New York (and other states) is available at http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/
Northern New York Birds List Serve: Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Northern_NY_Birds.
Click on the Join This Group button and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Yahoo account.)
Oneida Birds List Serve (sightings in Central New York): Subscribe at http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Oneidabirds.
Click on the Join This Group button and follow the on-screen instructions. (You will need to have or to set up a Yahoo account.)
Cayuga Birds List Serve: Sightings of birds in the Finger Lakes Region with a focus on the Cayuga Lake Basin.
E-mail Cayugabirds-L-Request@cornell.edu. In the message body put JOIN Your name (first and last name in quotes). 2
 FIELD TRIP: DERBY HILL & THREE RIVERS WMA
Saturday, June 24th - Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
We will visit Onondaga Audubons Derby Hill Bird Observatory, the Three
Rivers Wildlife Management Area, Beaver Lake Nature Center, and the
Phoenix Dam and Lock on the first Saturday of summer. These sites offer a
wide variety of habitats hosting waterbirds, songbirds, and raptors. The
Nature Center also has a visitors center with some very interesting exhibits.
This will be a full-day trip concluding with dinner at an Oswego restaurant.
WOODY WITH MR & MRS HOODY
Three Mile Bay Boat Launch - March 29, 2017 ANNUAL PICNIC: AT THE BROUSES (Watertown)
Photo by Lynn Chavoustie Sunday, July 9th - 1:00 PM (rain or shine)
Dick and Marion Brouse have again generously offered to host
the Clubs annual picnic at their home on Hazelhurst Avenue in
Watertown. The property includes extensive lawns and
gardens, woodlands, and a marsh along Kelsey Creek, which
flows through the grounds. As many Club members are aware,
a great variety of birds of all types find their way to the
Brouses remarkable preserve. Hazelhurst Avenue runs
eastward from Bradley St (NY 12) on the north side of
Watertown, near the city line. The Brouses is the last house
GRAY JAY on the street. Further details about the event will be included
Bloomingdale Bog (Saranac Lake) - February 22, 2017 in the next issue of the Plover.
Photo by Dick Brouse
FUERTES PAINTING FIELD TRIP: MARLOWE CAMP (Beartown Road)
From the State Museum in Albany Saturday, July 22nd
Published in Birds of America, 1917 Meet at Arsenal St Wal-Mart at 8:30 am
BALTIMORE ORIOLE We will travel to Club President Corky Marlowes camp in the Town of
ORCHARD ORIOLE Croghan for a second time this season. On this trip we will look for
butterflies and dragonflies, as well as warblers and other songbirds.
EASTERN MEADOWLARK
This is a moderate walk along a gravel road. The event will last into the
afternoon and include lunch at the camp. Please bring a dish to pass.
Salad, dessert, and tableware will be provided.
The Henderson Historical Society will host a birding walk at
Southwick Beach State Park on Saturday, May 13, beginning at
9:00 am. The walk will be led by members of North Country Bird Club.
Meet along the entrance road to the park, which is on Rt 3 south of
Henderson. This is the second year NCBC has worked with the
Henderson Society to offer this event. Last years walk was an excellent
and very rewarding experience, both for the variety of species sighted
along the trail at Southwick and for the opportunity to share our love of
birding with folks from the Henderson area. Members of North Country
Bird Club are encouraged to join us for a truly enjoyable morning.

Original
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD - FEMALE CHIPPING SPARROW
Sackets Harbor - April 11, 2017 Chaumont - April 24, 2017
Photo by Kathy Killeen Photo by Lynn Chavoustie
For information on Onondaga Audubon field trips and programs visit http://onondagaaudubon.com/ 3
 NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - 7:00 PM
NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTION
AT THE 2017 ANNUAL MEETING
Listed below are the members who have been nominated for election at the 2017 Annual
Meeting as Officers of the North Country Bird Club. Officers are elected to one-year terms.
President: Corky Marlowe Vice President: Bill Haller
Secretary: Christine Bourquin Treasurer: Kathleen Killeen
BUFFLEHEAD PAIR
The following members have been nominated for election to three-year terms as Directors Sackets Harbor - April 11, 2017
of the Club: Richard Brouse - June Walker Photo by Kathy Killeen

Photos from the River Parks Field Trip Field Trip Report: River Parks Field Trip - April 22
Lynn Chavoustie
On Saturday, April 22, 11 members of NCBC visited several birding
Tree Swallows sites in northern Jefferson County, traveling along the St. Lawrence
River and the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario. The group
observed 52 species during the trip. We began the morning at Grass
Point State Park, continued to the Rivergate Trail near Clayton, then
to Cedar Point State Park, proceeded to the village park on the
eastern edge of Cape Vincent, to Wilsons Bay Marsh, and finally,
appropriately, to the Blue Heron Restaurant in Chaumont, where we
enjoyed an excellent lunch. Species observed during the day included
Eastern Phoebe Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Ring-necked
Duck, Lesser Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Bufflehead, Common
Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Wild Turkey, Common Loon,
Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron,
Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin,
Wilsons Snipe, Bonapartes Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed
Gull, Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove,
Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, American
Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Black-capped
Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Brown Thrasher,
European Starling, Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern
Canada Geese flying above a Laker Towhee, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow,
Please note the Onondaga Audubon event Discover Derby Hill Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern
Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, and Common Grackle.
Bird Observatory on Saturday, May 13, from 8 am to 3 pm at
the Derby Hill Observatory near Mexico, NY. From Onondaga Bring the whole family to the Indian River Lakes Conservancys
Audubons newsletter: Celebrate Spring migration at one of the Annual Birds, Blooms and Bugs Hike. Local experts on birds,
Northeasts best birding locations during a day of field walks. plants and insects will lead small groups along the trails of the
Explore the trails and habitats of this premier birding location Conservancys Grand Lake Reserve, beginning at 10 am on Saturday,
with experienced leaders. Walks start on every hour. Enjoy the May 13. Enjoy and photograph the birds and spring blooms such as
spectacle of migrating birds on trails through the fields and trillium, bloodroot, and jack-in-the-pulpit
forest, as well as from the lake watch and at the hawk watch. Grand Lake Reserve is near Redwood, two miles from Cottage Hill
The Derby Hill Observatory is on Sage Creek Drive, which turns Road on Burns Road. Reservations for this event are appreciated,
north from Rt 104B one-half mile west of Rt 3. but not required, and can be made at http://indianriverlakes.org.
National Audubon recently launched Plants for Birds, an initiative to encourage 50,000 people to plant 1 million bird-friendly native plants.
Devoting a part of your property, even if its only a container on an apartment deck, to bird-friendly native plants will contribute to a
collective action that can add up to significant change. The Plants for Birds website (audubon.org/plantsforbirds) identifies native plants
based on locality, provides information on the birds supported by these native plants, and locates the closest native plant nurseries. You
can find plants native to your own area simply by entering your ZIP code into the database at audubon.org/nativeplants. As a part of this
initiative, Onondaga Audubon is developing a program to assist individuals who wish to restore habitat for birds and other wildlife. To help
narrow the focus, Onondaga Audubon (onondagaaudubon.com/) will highlight and advertise 10 to 12 bird-friendly native plants each year.
Look for more information on Onondaga Audubons website and Facebook page. We hope our members will take advantage of this
excellent opportunity to improve conditions for birds (and, as a result, help to provide better birding) in our area. 4
 NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB SIGHTINGS
Please forward notable sightings for the next issue by June 15, using the contact info on the last page.
Snowy Owls were a rare sight during this winter in the North Country. However, Lynn Chavoustie sighted one
along Rt 12E between Chaumont and Three Mile Bay on March 3. Robin Booth found a Snowy (presumably
the same one) there the same day. Lee Ellsworth reported a Snowy Owl at the Carrying Place near Point
Peninsula on March 4.
Dick and Marion Brouse reported that large flocks of Snow Geese were flying over their home in Watertown in
mid-March, but there were few reports of flocks on the ground. Doris Gibson reported that her son saw two
large flocks along Rt 37 near Pamelia on March 16, then found another large flock at the intersection of Rts 11
& 26 near Evans Mills on March 27. Corky Marlowe and Bill Haller sighted a large flock of Snow Geese in a
field south of Ellisburg on the same day.
Waterbirds have been moving into and through the region for several weeks. Corky and Bill sighted a group of
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER more than 50 Long-tailed Ducks at Sherwins Bay and 5 (3m/2f) Hooded Mergansers at Point Salubrious on
Cape Vincent - March 4, 2017 March 3, then found several Northern Shovelers at Perch River WMA on March 19. On the same day, Kezia
Photo by Robin Booth and Steve Sullivan reported Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Ring-necked Ducks at their home at
Boultons Beach in Sackets Harbor. Lynn sighted a Wood Duck and a pair of Hooded Mergansers at the Three
Mile Bay boat launch on March 29 (see photo p 3). Corky and Bill sighted the first reported Great Blue Herons of the season on March 25, two flying
over Guffins Bay near the Pillar Point shore. Kezia and Steve reported a pair of Great Blue Herons flying by their home and landing in a tree in a
nearby swamp on March 26. Lynn found 5 Great Blue Herons at the Three Mile Bay boat launch on March 27. On April 1, Corky and Bill sighted two
American Coot at Perch River WMA. They found 2 Great Egrets there on April 3, as well as 2 Pied-billed Grebes, Northern Pintails, and Northern
Shovelers. They also saw a large number of Tree Swallows flying over the Lower Pool that day, the first reported this season. Lee sighted a Great
Egret near Sulphur Springs on April 5. He reported tree swallows everywhere on the marsh at Perch River on April 7. In a remarkable sighting for
our area, Corky and Connie Mason found a Sandhill Crane at Perch River WMAs Stone Mills Pool on April 27.
Steve Guy reported a great variety of waterfowl at Perch River WMA on April 5, sighting Ruddy Duck, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern
Shoveler, Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, American Black Duck, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead,
and Gadwall. He also found 2 Trumpeter Swans, a Great Blue Heron, 2 American Kestrels, 6 Osprey, and 100s of Tree Swallows there.
Corky and Bill sighted Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs at Perch River on April 5, as well as finding 2 Common Loons at Point Salubrious. Lee sighted a
pair of Bonaparte Gulls at Perch River on April 7 (see photo below), then on April 8 found a Horned Grebe (see photo p 6), Ruddy Ducks, and both
Lesser and Greater Scaup at the Chaumont Boat Launch. On April 9, Lee sighted both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs at Perch River.
Doris has reported a variety of birds at her home near Perch Lake. On March 14, she recorded 25+ Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinch, Tree
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, 4 Northern Cardinals, Purple Finch, House Finch, and Mourning Dove. On March 17, Doris sighted 4 Common Grackles
and a very cold Song Sparrow on a bitter late-winter day. On March 24, 10 Purple Finches visited Doris yard.
Robin reported a Red-bellied Woodpecker at her feeders in Cape Vincent on March 4 (see photo above). Robins father sighted several Tufted Titmice
at his home in Cape Vincent on March 6. Kezia and Steve watched a Pileated Woodpecker at work on a tree in their yard on March 26. Corky and
Ellen Darabaner sighted a Pileated Woodpecker along the Calcium Trail on April 23. A Barred Owl visited Diona Naklicks yard near Mannsville on
March 19.
On March 28, Bill heard the first reported American Woodcock of the season along Ransom Road. Doris reported on March 31 that her son had seen
3 Black Vultures along the Military Road earlier in the month, a very rare sighting. Bill sighted the first reported Osprey of the season at the Stone Mills
Pool on March 31. Since that time, Osprey have returned to virtually all of the nests in the Perch River area. Bald Eagles have been seen on the nests
at Perch River WMA and the Moffatt Road since late March. On April 2, Corky and Bill sighted the first reported Eastern Meadowlark of the season at
Ashland WMA. On April 3, Corky and Bill heard both Song Sparrows and Eastern Towhees at Perch River WMA. On April 16, Robin sighted the first
reported Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the season at her feeder. There were 2 Northern Flickers in her yard the same day. Bill heard the first
reported Whip-poor-will of the season along the Ransom Road on April 23. The first report of the return of the Bank Swallows to the Town of
Brownville Highway Dept came from Dick and Marion on April 24. Kezia and Steve reported visits from a remarkable variety of birds in late April: both
a Brown Creeper and a Yellow-Rumped Warbler on April 24, a White-crowned Sparrow on April 27, and an Orchard Oriole on April 28.
The biggest birding news of late winter in Upstate
New York was assuredly the visit from three
Great Gray Owls to the North Country, two near
Massena and one in Keene. These birds are the
largest owls in North America, noticeably larger
even than Snowy Owls. They very seldom come
into our region from their home in northern
Canada. All three Great Grays remained for
several weeks, and birders came from all over the
northeastern United States to see them. Our
Clubs Secretary, Christine Bourquin, travelled to
Massena in early March in search of these
GREAT GRAY OWL magnificent birds and had the good fortune to see BONAPARTES GULL
Massena - March 3, 2017 both owls during her visit. We thank Christine for Perch River - April 7, 2017
Photo by Christine Bourquin sharing the photo at left of this stunning creature. Photo by Lee Ellsworth 5
 THE UPLAND PLOVER

P. O. Box 634
Watertown, NY 13601
On FACEBOOK: North Country Bird Club

NORTH COUNTRY BIRD CLUB MEMBERSHIP

Membership is for the calendar year. Dues are per individual.
Renewals are due by January 1st. To ensure that you receive Club
materials, be sure to give your correct mailing address below.

Name(s): _____________________________________________
E-mail: _______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
City: _______________________ State: _____ Zip: __________
HORNED GREBE
Regular at $10.00 Number _____ Total $______________ Chaumont Boat Launch - April 8, 2017
Sponsor at $15.00 Number _____ Total $______________ Photo by Lee Ellsworth
Consider joining the New York State
Patron at $20.00 Number _____ Total $______________
Ornithological Association. Membership
___ New ___ Renewal Total Dues $______________ includes both a quarterly journal and a
newsletter. Details at www.nybirds.org.
Dues payable to: North Country Bird Club Send newsletter by:
P.O. Box 634 ___ e-mail ___USPS
Year: 20____ Watertown, NY 13601 (please check one)
Meetings / Programs: March, April,
HELP THE BIRD CLUB SAVE MONEY! May, September, October, November,
RECEIVE THE UPLAND PLOVER ONLINE (Second Wednesday of the month)
Receive the Clubs newsletter via e-mail Field Trips: Spring - Summer - Fall
(viewed with Adobe Reader - http://www.adobe.com/). Spring Bird Census
The online Plover is the same as the printed version, but in COLOR! North Country Big Day
Contact the Editor, Bill Haller, to sign up. Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Newsletter: The Upland Plover
ITEMS FOR THE NEXT PLOVER ARE DUE BY JUNE 15 Website: North Country Bird Club
If you have sightings, photos, or other items for the July / August issue, on FACEBOOK
please forward them to the Editor by June 15. The North Country Bird Club, Inc.,
Contact info: Bill Haller, Editor - Mail: P. O. Box 6, Dexter, NY 13634 is a member of the New York State
E-mail: haldex@twcny.rr.com - Phone: (315) 639-6848 (9 am to 9 pm) Ornithological Association, Inc.