HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dremsen@mbl.edu (David Remsen)
Subject: Backyard Bird Blitz
Organization: Marine Biological Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 14:12:40 GMT

I live in a quiet wooded area on Cape Cod, MA about a mile from the ocean. 
I have numerous feeding stations around the yard and this time of year
typically get only sporadic visits by one or two species of birds.  This past
Saturday was very strange though.  I awoke because I could see an unusual
amount of activity on the feeder outside my window.  There were a number of
chickadees and titmice and house finches. These are the usual fare at the feeder
this and any other time of the year.  But then I noticed many other birds flitting
through the trees and bushes of the yard.  In the trees were dozens of Robins.  
There were many on the ground as well.  Below the feeder were several
white-throated sparrow.    To the left in some low brush were at least six
Carolina Wrens.  More movement nearby revealed a wood thrush.  I got up and went
to check on another feeder near the porch.  It was being visited by house finches and
Northern Junco.  While I watched this feeder I saw a mixed flock of birds flying 
toward the house. More robins and with them,  dozens of Cedar Waxwings!
They landed right outside the window.  I looked back toward where they came
from and saw that the woods were alive with Robins and Waxwings! I went
back to my room to get my scope. This time there were two Downy Woodpeckers
on the feeder and another on an old summer sausage hanging from a tree. Plus
two more in the tree itself!  On the ground at the base of the hill in the backyard
were a pair of Flickers!  The woods, the lawn, the brush was filled with birds.
Waxwings flew by in flocks of dozens mixed with Robins.  I could hear the wrens
calling mixed with the waxwings trill.  To top it off, there were crows and blue jays
calling from the tops of trees and a great blue heron landed in the cedar swamp in
the rear of the yard.

I have never seen so many birds at a time especially this time of year.  It seemed
to me that the waxwings and Robins were on a wide-ranging berry hunt (that's 
what they were feeding on).  By the afternoon they were all but gone although
yesterday (Sunday)  there were ten or so in the top of an oak.  I wonder if
all their activity is what brought out the rest of the birds I saw.  Most remain in 
the area but are not seen in the numbers I saw Saturday.  It was one of those 
scenes that I'd like to see repeated once or twice a week.

P.S. As an aside, there's a family  of Great Horned Owls in these woods.  Can
anyone give me a few details on when they start courting and nest building.
Im interested in following these events.

- Dave Remsen
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: edm@verdix.com (Ed Matthews)
Subject: Status of "Oregon" Junco in Virginia?
Organization: VERDIX Corporation
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 13:39:19 GMT

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24 and 25 December) there was a
prototypical female "Oregon" Junco at my feeder in Virginia.  Does
anyone know if this is a significant bird?  Does anyone care about
tracking subspecies of Juncos?

Ed

P.S. Saw a Merlin on the way home on Christmas Eve.  This is not
a bad bird for this time of year here.
-- 

Ed Matthews                                                edm@verdix.com
Manager, APSE Development
Verdix Corporation Headquarters                            (703) 318-5800
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Owls - where and when to find them? (In NJ)
Keywords: owls NJAS hawks reply.
Date: 22 Dec 92 05:56:46 GMT
Distribution: nj
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Digest

ka1gt@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (robert.m.atkins) writes:

>Are there any good sites in NJ where there is a reasonable probability
>of seeing owls? I live near the great swamp and visit frequently, but I
>have only once seen an owl (in about 4 years!). Are there any better
>sites, am I just being unlucky, or am I there at the wrong time (usually
>in the late afternoon and just after sunset). The only owls I saw were
>a group of three, in the middle of the day, while I was paddling on the
>Passaic river near the swamp.

I don't know if the name is a misnomer, but the New Jersey Audubon Society
(no relation to the National Audubon Society) has a location in Tennent NJ
called the Owl Haven Nature Center.  It's on Englishtown-Freehold Road 
(route 522) and the phone number is (908) 780-7007.

I have not been to that Nature Center yet, but I frequent the Rancocas Nature
Center (also NJAS) which is on the far side of the Rancocas State Forest from
me.  I've heard owls around my house at night in the fall (Hainesport, 
Burlington County), but have only spotted one, being chased by crows during
the day, a mile from here.  Being very close to the State Forest and the 
Rancocas Creek, this is very good territory for spotting birds of prey during
the day, particularly hawks.

-Shag

-- 
Shag                    | Operator, ShagNET | Editor of "Screaming in Digital" 
birchall@pilot.njin.net |  Rutgers / NJIN   |  The Queensryche E-mail Digest 
birchall@njin.bitnet    | dialup access for | queensryche-owner@pilot.njin.net
shag@most.other.places  | Burlington County | Anything Queensryche, every week
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: What owl makes this sound?
From: Tina Hay @ Penn State <TMH1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 16:47:16 EST
Organization: Penn State University

I know that trying to identify bird calls by computer is a dicey
proposition, but I figure it's worth a try:

Last night I heard what I *think* were two owls calling each other in the
distance.  I think I'm familiar with the calls of great horned, barred, and
screech owls (unless they have a variant I'm not aware of), and it wasn't
any of those three.  The sound was a long, drawn out whirring sound that
started low, rose gradually in pitch, and then lowered in pitch and faded
out.  I'd hear it to my north, and then about 15-30 seconds later I'd hear
what I asssume was a response coming from the other side.

Any ideas?  Or was it just some piece of farm equipment off in the distance?
From: bruceb@mpd.tandem.com (Bruce Burden)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Advice sought on Florida birding in February
Date: 23 Dec 92 17:50:59 GMT
Organization: Tandem Computers (MPD) Austin, TX

In article <1992Dec22.223630.8499@reed.edu> celarier@reed.edu (Stuart Celarier) writes:
>
>What changes might I expect from the hurricane?  Changes in wildlife?  Any  
>areas or facilities that might be still closed?
>
	You need to call the visitor center to find out what the changes
    are. I think that you find that lodging will be in short supply, since
    Florida City was decimated by the hurricane. Also, keep in mind that
    the "main" area of Everglades National Park is about 5 hours from
    Orlando.
>
>My ideas so far are to visit Merritt Isalnd NWR, Locahatchee NWR, Corkscrew  
>Swamp Sanctuary, Sanibel Island, and "Ding" Darling NWR.  What about Big  
>Cypress Swamp...after the hurricane?
>

	When I was at Loxahatchee NWR, there was a Great Horned that liked
    to hang out on the radio antenna in the NWR. There should be good views
    of Herons and Egrets possible, with various other ducks in the area.
    You might want to contact these folks as well, as they were attempting
    to open some of the reed chocked "ponds" when I was there in April or
    so.

	Don't forget Cape Canaveral National Seashore, I understand that
    this area is popular for wintering hawks. Perhaps this is the area
    Merritt Island MWR is located?

	Now that I don't live in Florida, I will have to go back to 
    visit the areas I never whet to...




								Bruce


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Bruce Burden            bruceb@mpd.tandem.com         Tandem Computers Inc.
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Request for info: NJ Falconry
Keywords: Hawks, NJ, Hunting.
Date: 29 Dec 92 08:44:35 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Digest

toby@stein.u.washington.edu (Toby Bradshaw) writes:

>What kind of game do have around, and what kind of hawk would be
>suitable for it (not that you'll have much choice in hawk/falcon
>species until your apprenticeship is over)? 

Rabbits, mice, voles, occasional possums, muskrats, small yappy dogs... ;) 

>In many parts of the country, this is difficult to do without
>one or more good dogs.  

The falconers I encountered were flushing game from brush by walking around
thrashing large sticks, the hawk would wait on a tree until the game was
flushed.

>>What are the requirements to become a falconer in New Jersey?
>Is this getting to be a FAQ? 

Yes, but I didn't see a list of addresses for each state...

>Dept. of Environmental Protection
>Div. of Fish, Game, and Wildlife CN-400
>Trenton, NJ  08625
>(609)292-2965

Make that "Dept. of Environmental Protection and Energy."  We're odd. ;)

>It's my understanding that NJ has a ridiculously high falconry
>permit fee, like $80 per year.  No doubt needed to cover the
>high cost of paperwork in the PRNJ :(

That's probably why the local Nature Center folks didn't even know falconry
was legal in the state.  I guess it truly is "the sport of royalty" - who
else can afford it? ;)

>>How does one acquire a raptor?  (I'm clueless, here :)

>As an apprentice, by trapping a passage (first-year) redtailed
>hawk or kestrel.  It's not difficult if you know what you're
>doing.  

Which, of course, I don't.  Having had waterfowl as pets for some years,
I'm quite certain that a hawk, even a young one, would be at least as
uncooperative (toward being caught and/or handled) as a duck.  Wear lots
of heavy clothing and gloves, right?

>Did you get the names and phone numbers of the falconers
>you met?  They are by far your best contacts, as state
>Game Depts. are often sadly ignorant about the practical
>aspects of the sport.  If one of the falconers you met was
>Teddy Moritz, find her at all costs.  She's good.

I got the name and number of one of the female falconers, but am waiting
till the holidays are past to call... I will ask whether she knows Teddy
Moritz - if I do manage to get in touch with Teddy, I'll tell her you sent
me. :)

Thanks,
	-Shag


-- 
Shag                    | Operator, ShagNET | Editor of "Screaming in Digital" 
birchall@pilot.njin.net |  Rutgers / NJIN   |  The Queensryche E-mail Digest 
birchall@njin.bitnet    | dialup access for | queensryche-owner@pilot.njin.net
shag@most.other.places  | Burlington County | Anything Queensryche, every week
From: Conrad_Nobili@Harvard.EDU (Conrad C. Nobili)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: "feeder puzzles" or "stupid bird tricks"...?
Date: 29 Dec 92 00:26:12 GMT
Followup-To: rec.birds
Organization: Harvard University Office for Information Technology

Hello there....  Nice looking newsgroup....

Some few weeks ago I saw an amusing film on the tube that showed the antics
of some British guy and his Tits.  He constructed various devices to
dispense peanuts to the birds when they solved some sort of puzzle.  The
puzzles got more elaborate and difficult.  I found it both interesting and
worth a good hearty laugh.  The birds were Great and Blue Tits I believe
they said.  I don't remember what network I saw this on, but I do remember
that the film was produced by Oxford Scientific Films.

I made a very bad attempt at constructing one of these puzzles to the great
bewilderment and amusement of my parents over the weekend.  I would like to
see about getting a copy of this film or other such material both to prove
my sanity to them and so as to possibly make a *working* feeder puzzle.  I
would greatly appreciate any information about this film or any other such
work.  E-mail or post as appropriate.  I will summarize any useful
information that isn't posted or other results of my searching.

I don't suppose there is an FAQ for this newsgroup...?  ;-)

Conrad C. Nobili  N1LPM  Conrad_Nobili@Harvard.EDU  Harvard University OIT
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: toby@stein.u.washington.edu (Toby Bradshaw)
Subject: Re: Request for info: NJ Falconry
Keywords: Hawks, NJ, Hunting.
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 15:53:10 GMT

In article <Dec.22.01.20.25.1992.29071@pilot.njin.net> birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes:
>I'm looking for information on getting into falconry in New Jersey.
>I have already encountered some falconers from the central part of the state
>who were hunting hawks in a field area near my home, so I know the sport does
>exist here.
>
>I live in a fairly rural area, within a few hundred yards of fields, marsh,
>a creek, and woodlands.  Large open sand/gravel pits are also situated nearby.
>So, finding places to hunt a hawk would not be difficult.

What kind of game do have around, and what kind of hawk would be
suitable for it (not that you'll have much choice in hawk/falcon
species until your apprenticeship is over)?  You will need to provide
quite a few good slips at game to have a good chance of success.
In many parts of the country, this is difficult to do without
one or more good dogs.  Game species are justifiably nervous
about running/flying out under a hawk or falcon, and will
do dome things to escape that you've probably never seen
before as a casual observer.

>What are the requirements to become a falconer in New Jersey?

Is this getting to be a FAQ?  Anyway, call or write:

Dept. of Environmental Protection
Div. of Fish, Game, and Wildlife CN-400
Trenton, NJ  08625
(609)292-2965

It's my understanding that NJ has a ridiculously high falconry
permit fee, like $80 per year.  No doubt needed to cover the
high cost of paperwork in the PRNJ :(

>How does one acquire a raptor?  (I'm clueless, here :)

As an apprentice, by trapping a passage (first-year) redtailed
hawk or kestrel.  It's not difficult if you know what you're
doing.  Did you get the names and phone numbers of the falconers
you met?  They are by far your best contacts, as state
Game Depts. are often sadly ignorant about the practical
aspects of the sport.  If one of the falconers you met was
Teddy Moritz, find her at all costs.  She's good.

Toby Bradshaw                       |
Department of Biochemistry          |  Will make genetic linkage maps
and College of Forest Resources     |            for food.
University of Washington, Seattle   |
toby@u.washington.edu               |



From: tonyz@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Tony Zugates)
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:23:49 GMT
Subject: Re: Cockatiel from HELL
Organization: the HP Mtn.View Resp. Cntr.
Newsgroups: rec.birds

Sorry for posting here.. I didn't realize this was for wild birds only.

See you.
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Dull birds here....
Date: 29 Dec 92 17:23:09 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Digest

tonyz@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Tony Zugates) writes:

>While visiting the East Coast last year, I noticed quite a number of 
>brilliantly colored birds. Red, yellow, blue... they were a joy to watch.

>I don't know much about birds...I watch them with my father after filling
>the feeder out back in San Diego.  But it seems even here in the SF bay 
>area, most birds lack brilliant colors seen in the East.  I would imagine
>that because this region is considered "desert" or arid/semi-arid that
>the birds here are significantly different in color scheme, feeding habits
>etc.. 

>Can anyone explain why?  It seems that if birds use brilliant colors for 
>mating etc that we would find them here also since there are large areas
>of forest etc.. Or is it just that they are lacking in the large uban
>areas... 

Large urban areas would probably figure into it, yes.  A quick scan through
my bird book indicates that there _are_ some very pretty birds on the west
coast, but you might have to do something else to see them.

- Hummingbirds (which I haven't seen here in NJ) tend to be really neat, I
  think you might want to look into putting up a hummingbird feeder.
- Common flicker (red-shafted race) - red, grey, brown, black, and a polka-dot
  chest.  Unfortunately, not the type of bird you'd see in the city.
- Red-breasted sapsucker - red head, red+yellow breast.  Also not urban.
- Bluebirds - you've got 2 species of them out there.
- Yellow Warbler (and a few other yellowish warblers)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (look in a marsh)
- Northern Oriole (Bullock's race) - nice orange and black bird.
- Western Tanager - red head, yellow body, black wings.  Pine woods.

There are a lot of species that are only found in one half of the country,
and I don't really have an explanation for why there seem to be more colorful
ones in the east.  If the book is to be believed, there seem to be the most
colorful ones in the _south_, so maybe birds in colder areas (northern and/or
mountain) aren't as colorful.  [Of course there was the Mountain Bluebird,
which prefers high altitudes, so there goes that theory.]

-Shag

-- 
Shag                    | Operator, ShagNET | Editor of "Screaming in Digital" 
birchall@pilot.njin.net |  Rutgers / NJIN   |  The Queensryche E-mail Digest 
birchall@njin.bitnet    | dialup access for | queensryche-owner@pilot.njin.net
shag@most.other.places  | Burlington County | Anything Queensryche, every week
Newsgroups: rec.birds
From: lp@well.sf.ca.us (Lily Pond)
Subject: A New Bird!!!
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 18:08:54 GMT


What an exciting moment! I saw a new (to me, of course) bird - one that
though the book says it's common I've never seen or even heard of before!

A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet!

Cute little thing - sort of that pudgy little shape of a chickadee or a
bushtit but bigger - though not as big as a house finch. Bit black eye with
big white ring around it - makes the eyes look enormous! Slightly mustardy
gray unspeckled belly, and slightly mustardy wings. And the most surprising
and delightful irridescent pinkish-reddish-orangish stripe on the top[ of
its head!! I thought I was seeing things at first!

Right here in my backyard in Berkeley. :^)
From: drintoul@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (David A Rintoul)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Electronic Audubon Newsletter Available
Date: 2 Jan 1993 13:54:00 -0600
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

Prairie Falcon Available in Electronic Form

Thanks to the assistance of Eric Devolder and Betsy Edwards here at
KSU, the text of the Prairie Falcon (the monthly newsletter of the
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society in Manhattan KS) is now available
electronically via the UNICORN service on the KSU mainframe computer
known as KSUVM.  These files will be updated monthly, and represent
the full text of the newsletter (sorry, we can't do graphics right
now).  This may be the first electronic version of an Audubon Society
newsletter in history, and it can be read by anyone who has a
computer.

Simply telnet to KSUVM.KSU.EDU, and log in by typing UNICORN as your
user id.  You will see the menu depicted below; use your TAB key to
move from one choice to the next.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                   |
|       Move the cursor to any topic below and press Return         |
|                                                                   |
| Calendars and Events            News and Announcements            |
| Academic Information            Policies and Procedures           |
| Services and Facilities         Employment Information            |
| Weather Information             Miscellany                        |
|                                                                   |
| Help                            What's New in UNICORN             |
| Index                           Information about UNICORN         |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+


The Prairie Falcon is in the "News and Announcements" section, so just
tab the cursor to that item and hit the RETURN key to read the
newsletter there.  Lots of other information about KSU activities can
be found on UNICORN as well. To exit and logoff from UNICORN, just use
the EXIT (F3) or CANCEL (F12) key repeatedly to back out through the
menus layers.  Direct all comments and/or queries to:

drintoul@matt.ksu.edu

Enjoy!
-- 
Dave Rintoul            Internet: drintoul@matt.ksu.ksu.edu
Biology Division - KSU     Latitude 39.18, Longitude -96.34
Manhattan KS 66506-4901                         TCN: id2418
(913)-532-5832 or 6663                  FAX: (913)-532-6653
From: adams@pyramid.unr.edu (Brian Adams)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Ruby Crowned Kinglet vs Hutton's Vireo
Date: 2 Jan 93 23:05:43 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Nevada, Reno  Department of Computer Science

The original post specifically mentioned the reddish crown patch. Such
a bird could not be a Hutton's Vireo, as Hutton's has no such colored
crown. Also, the fine size distinctions bandied about are highly
unreliable when dealing with such small, relatively active birds as
Kinglets and Vireos. I agree with the original poster that it was
a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.

Incidently, I also made my first Ruby Crowned Kinglet in my backyard
last April. He was very active, the light was bad, and I had the devil
of a time glassing him, but for a couple of seconds he sat still and
raised his scarlet patch. It took my breath away! The patch glowed like
a road flare!
From: grp@Unify.com (Greg Pasquariello)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: A New Bird!!!
Date: 1 Jan 93 22:34:42 GMT
Organization: Unify Corporation (Sacramento)

In article <C04yEv.34y@well.sf.ca.us>, lp@well.sf.ca.us (Lily Pond) writes:

> 
> What an exciting moment! I saw a new (to me, of course) bird - one that
> though the book says it's common I've never seen or even heard of before!
> 
> A Ruby-Crowned Kinglet!
> 
> Cute little thing - sort of that pudgy little shape of a chickadee or a
> bushtit but bigger - though not as big as a house finch. Bit black eye with
> big white ring around it - makes the eyes look enormous! Slightly mustardy
> gray unspeckled belly, and slightly mustardy wings. And the most surprising
> and delightful irridescent pinkish-reddish-orangish stripe on the top[ of
> its head!! I thought I was seeing things at first!
> 
> Right here in my backyard in Berkeley. :^)


They don't often show the red crest, so you were lucky indeed!  Sometimes
an agitated male will flare it up so that it looks like a little red flame
on his head.

If you have a field guide, look up Hutton's Vireo.  They are quite common
in California, and can often be mistaken for ruby crowned kinglet.  Notice
especially the differences in bill and head size.  Also, the vireo tends to
be less active than the kinglet.

-- 

--
Greg Pasquariello   	grp@unify.com 	        I've trained my chia pet to use
Unify Corporation	   or			my clapper...
(916) 928-6258	    ...!uunet!unify!grp
Newsgroups: rec.audio
From: pms26964@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Phil Scopes)
Subject: Re: CD Changers
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 01:16:22 GMT

I am actually in the process of shopping for a CD changer.  The reason I want
the changer is that I have a lot of CDs that I just like one or two songs on,
so I'd like to be able to put five CDs in, program my ten favorite songs, and
jump in the shower while listening to all my favorite music from the different
discs without having to switch the discs after hearing each one.  Now, I don't
believe in pre-programming a whole magazine, but a player that programs each
individual CD's selections and identifies the CD by its "signature" would be
nice.


-- 
* Phil Scopes (pms26964@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu)
* University of Illinois
* Champaign/Urbana