Thanks, Mike. That's a great big mixed bag of blessings I'd say.

We banded the rehabilitated killdeer a couple days ago and off he went; he
was ready.
We also put a little silver bracelet on the little robin (attached) and
"hatched" the idea of gathering rehabers for an annual banding session.
Any rehaber or bander interested, please contact me by email so I can keep
you informed of future plans.

IN THE SPIRIT OF CONSERVATION
Debra Bowles, AMV Communications
www.orgs.muohio.edu/AudubonMiamiValley
~ ~ ~
Rehabilitating native birds via
Second Chance Wildlife: 513 875 3433




-----Original Message-----
From: MU Ornithology Listserv (ZOO 408)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mike Busam
Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 1:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Butler County sprawl-lands birding, 6-5-05


Greetings... Bob Lacker and I visited a few of the ugliest, weediest spots
we could find today, searching for grassland birds. Our goal was to bird as
much as possible in areas where at least one fast-food restaurant could be
seen from anywhere in the field. Only two spots failed to provide views of
restaurants, but a major highway and a large power station (plus fly-over
plane traffic from a local airport) fit the day's theme nicely. We also had
some luck with birds.

First, at Gilmore Ponds, right behind the power plant on Gilmore Road we
found a pair of Bell's vireos. John Habig said last week that he saw a pair,
and indeed, there's a pair there. The two birds were working through the
honeysuckle and dogwoods together and we had nice looks at both birds.
Interesting.

Next, we visited the Fairfield Township Wal Mart along the Butler County
Regional Highway (formerly The Mike Fox Highway), where in a 20+ acre field
dominated by upwards of 90% yellow sweet clover, we had 20 +/- killdeer, and
3+ horned larks, including one juvenile. The soil in this field is made of
compacted and graded gravel and shale, stone, etc., dug up from the Regional
Highway project. It's not very attractive, but would be good possibly for
snow buntings when the weather is right. Lots of weeds, lots of rocks, wide
open, etc.

A 10 acre weedy field behind the Walgreen's on 747 in West Chester had two
grasshopper sparrows and at least three dickcissel, possibly more.

A 15+ acre field just down the road off of Jacqemir Lane across from the Liz
Claiborne distribution center had one dickcissel and two grasshopper
sparrows.

The Allen Road retention basin didn't disappoint. Seven white-rumped
sandpipers, 1 semipalmated plover, 1 pectoral sandpiper (a little on the
late side), 4 spotted sandpipers, 20+ killdeer, and a pair of hooded
mergansers (!?). Interesting also. The white-rumpeds offered very satisfying
views from a weedy overlook off of a driveway just past the Scholastic book
warehouse. The birds didn't seem to be in full breeding plumage, but they
had some streaking along the flanks, white rumps, dark legs, black bills
with small reddish-yellow spots on the lower mandible, and long wings that
crossed over their tails when they were feeding and dipping around in the
mud and water.

Most of the habitat at Union Centre Boulevard opposite Lakota West High
School near First Financial Bank has been destroyed. The wetland area that
attracted decent numbers of migrant shorebirds in recent years has been
filled and graded over. Most of the 50+ acres of grass adjoining the site
was mowed recently. Still, two-plus horned larks, two savannah sparrows, one
grasshopper sparrow were still out and about, and more might show up as the
summer progresses, if the area isn't mowed again too soon.

So amidst the sprawl and construction sites, there are some interesting
birds hanging on, in a fashion, in the Upper Mill Creek valley area.

Take care,
---Mike Busam
West Chester, OH