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Birdline Delaware Number: 302-658-2747 [Transcript] For Friday, April 24th, this is Birdline Delaware from the Delaware Museum of Natural History in Greenville. The 2009 Unofficial Delaware State Year List now stands at 232 species with 20 species added last week. A WHITE-FACED IBIS was reported this week at Prime Hook NWR. That bird was with about 20 GLOSSY IBIS in a wet field along Prime Hook Beach Rd. near Cod Rd. Look for the farmhouse with the silo. WHITE-FACE IBIS has also been reported further south in Worcester Co., Maryland and as far north as Ipswich, Massachusetts this spring. BLACK-NECKED STILTS were reported at Broadkill and Fowler's Beach. TRICOLORED HERON was seen at Delaware Seashore State Park. Two birds were seen in the marsh below Dewey Beach, just south of the sailing beach. LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen behind the Old Inlet Bait and Tackle Shop. COMMON TERN was reported at Indian River Inlet with several FORSTER'S TERN. RUDDY TURNSTONE and COMMON LOON were also seen. A flock of about 20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL made an appearance at a Norway Spruce in Brandywine Hundred this week. Those birds, reported to be mostly males were at 110 Gibson Ave., near the intersection of Weldin and Shipley Rds. just north of the Rockwood Museum. The BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK continues to be seen at Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. There are still about 100 RUDDY DUCKS also at Silver Lake, some going into outstanding breeding plumage. LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER and BRANT were seen at Rehoboth County Club at the north end of Rehoboth Bay. Thompson's Island between Rehoboth and Dewey Beach had a good fallout of birds this weekend. PRAIRIE, PALM and PINE WARBLERS were reported, along with several BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and SALT MARSH SHARP-TAILED SPARROW were also reported. There was a big hawk flight at Cape Henlopen State Park on Wednesday. Despite a strong headwind, the spring hawkwatch recorded 21 MERLIN, 43 AMERICAN KESTRELS, and 26 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. An INDIGO BUNTING was seen at the feeders of the Seaside Nature Center on Sunday and WHITE-WINGED SCOTER was found at the fishing pier. BROWN-HEADED and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were also reported. CASPIAN TERN and PIPING PLOVER were seen at the point. A SUMMER TANAGER was reported at Blair's Pond near Milford. SPOTTED SANDPIPER, NORTHERN PARULA and OVENBIRD were also reported. The first EASTERN KINGBIRDS of the season were reported at Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. A flock of 8 PURPLE FINCHES were also reported there, along with PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS. YELLOW-THROATED and BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER were reported in Redden State Forest. BLACK-THROATED BLUE, KENTUCKY, and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS were also reported at Milford Neck Wildlife Area. AMERICAN PIPITS were in a field there. WHIMBREL, AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and WILLETS were seen at Mispillion Inlet. VESPER SPARROW was seen this week at Raymond tower at Bombay Hook NWR. Pectoral Sandpipers were also reported, along with AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED STILT, LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPER, plus LONG and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. SORA, VIRGINIA and KING RAIL were reported at Thousand Acre Marsh near Delaware City. COMMON MOORHEN were heard at Dragon Run. AMERICAN COOTS were also seen there, along with PIED-BILLED GREBE. CATTLE EGRETS were in the fields by Gunning Bedford School. There was a big flight of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS in northern Delaware on Saturday. Kettles of 20 or more birds were reported at Ashland, Greenville and Newark. COMMON LOONS were seen flying over Ashland Nature Center on Thursday, along with MERLIN and KESTREL. PINE SISKINS are still at the feeders there. BARN OWL was heard in south New Castle this week, near Gambacota Marsh. A flock of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were also in New Castle, on the river was a flock of 40+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Neotropical migrants are starting to arrive at White Clay Creek State Park. New there this week were YELLOW - THROATED VIREOS, HOUSE WREN, BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER, and AMERICAN REDSTART. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are being seen at feeders in Newark this week. This week we celebrate Earth Day, so let's reflect on the status of birds in our environment. Where have we been, what's happening, and where are we going. Almost 30 years ago was our first Earth Day. Delaware was enacting the Coastal Zone Act under Governor Russell Peterson to preserve habitat. 30 years ago, the BALD EAGLE was nearly extinct. Our national symbol was being decimated by chemicals affecting its breeding. Since then, nests have increased from 3 nests to over 40 in the state. PEREGRINE FALCONS and OSPREY had suffered similar declines. Now, both species are nesting right in downtown Wilmington. Loss of habitat is threatening our songbird populations. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were practically wiped out by severe winter storms. Changing to a suburban landscape removed bluebird nesting cavities. Delaware Audubon's nest box program increased breeding and brought the BLUEBIRD back. Now we face new threats; loss of grasslands affects GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, EASTERN MEADOWLARK, and AMERICAN KESTREL. Clear-cutting woodlands, only 10% of Delaware habitat, fragments the forest affecting the CERULEAN WARBLER and VEERY. Shorebirds have seen a 90% population decline in the last 20 years because of loss of food source provided by mating horseshoe crabs. Global warming threatens salt marsh habitat. Next month, The DOS is starting it 3rd annual Bird-A-thon to help preserve habitat. This Earth Day, you can make a contribution to the environment at DOSBirds.org. Preserving ecology and economics are not mutually exclusive. Special thanks this week to Lisa Smith, Andrew Boguish, Chris Bennett, Roger Masse, Meta Little and Jason Beale for their reports. You can reports your sightings, or add to the state year list by calling 302-792-9591, or email me at ednieap@verizon.net. Thanks for calling and until next week, good birding. [End Transcript] Birdline Delaware is posted weekly on the Delaware Audubon web site as a public service. It is not created or sponsored by the Delaware Audubon Society.
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