Hudson River Almanac 3/1/15 - 3/7/15

Compiled by Tom Lake, Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

OVERVIEW

Bald eagles continued to be the featured fauna. Eighteen years ago, when our first successful Hudson Valley hatch in 100 years occurred and eagles were struggling to regain their breeding range, we hardly anticipated such an incredible recovery to a point where they are “common.”

HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK

3/3 - Green Island, HRM 152: The Barrow's goldeneye, originally found by Jeremy Collison, was still present today in the river below the federal dam along with a red-necked grebe. Overhead, a merlin was harassing some crows. We were able to get a nice photo of the Barrow’s goldeneye in the same frame as a common goldeneye, for comparison. [Photo of male Barrow's goldeneye (foreground) with male and female common goldeneye, courtesy John Hershey.]
    - John Hershey, John Kent, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

[Barrow’s goldeneye is an uncommon to rare winter visitor to New York’s coastal waters and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Ice conditions in the latter two areas may have forced this bird south. According to the "Birds of North America Online," its scientific name, Bucephala islandica, refers to Iceland, where this duck was first described. Later it was found that more than 90% of the world’s Barrow’s goldeneye population breeds west of the Rocky Mountains from central Alaska to northern California. So where do the birds seen in the Northeast come from? Near the end of the 20th century a small breeding population – an estimated 4,000 birds – was discovered north of the St. Lawrence River in southeastern Quebec. In contrast, the common goldeneye nests across all of northern North America, as far south as the Adirondacks. Steve Stanne.]

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

3/1 - Town of Esopus, Ulster County: The visual caretaker and monitor of bald eagle nest NY261, Dave Lindemann, reported that the mated pair were incubating eggs.
     - Tom Lake

3/1 - Town of Wappinger, HRM 67: The air temperature fell to 0 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, tying the record low for the date. In Newcomb, 235 miles north in the watershed, the overnight temperature fell to 20 degrees below zero.
     - National Weather Service

3/1 - Croton Point, HRM 34: I counted 23 bald eagles this morning - a mix of adults and immatures - the majority of them near the camping area. A couple of wary buffleheads were swimming beneath the eagles in Croton Bay.
     - Kieran Mannion

3/1 - Manhattan, New York City: I spotted a red-necked grebe (in transitional plumage) feeding not too far off the shore along the east side of the East River a short distance south of the Robert F. Kennedy Triboro Bridge. Among other duck species present were ruddy, common goldeneye, bufflehead, gadwall, black duck, and red-breasted merganser.
     - Thomas Fiore

3/2 - Cohoes, HRM 157: The Barrow's goldeneye, spotted yesterday by Scott Stoner, Gregg Recer, and Naomi Lloyd, was still present this morning on the Mohawk River at Cohoes.
     - Tom Wiliams, Ron Harrower, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/2 - New Baltimore, HRM 132: I sat and watched for more than half an hour as a lone coyote attempted to cross the river. He came across from Schodack Island, very cautiously eying the shipping channel with its loose floes, before finally giving up and heading back to the island.
     - Steven Young

[This story prompted memory of Hugh McLean’s coyote from last week, sneaking over the ice on Croton Bay (HRM 34) heading toward a gathering of eagles. Coyotes can detect the scent of eagle “leftovers” from a distance. Tom Lake.]

3/2 - Town of Poughkeepsie: This was Day 5 of the nest watch for NY62. The adult eagles switched incubating roles at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When the male was relieved, he dropped down to a sheltered area of the field with little snow, gathered some grass, and brought it back to the nest.
     - Bob Rightmyer

[We theorized that this was either a replacement for “used” grass (wet from the snow), or an addition for the eggs. The initial egg cup might have been too small if multiple eggs were being incubated. Tom Lake.]

3/2 - Orange County, HRM 61: I usually see quite a few red-tailed hawks on my daily drive on Route 84 between Newburgh and Middletown. This afternoon I saw something quite striking: a rough-legged hawk soared above the highway, deftly handling the rough winds that followed yesterday's snowstorm. No offense intended to my beloved red-tails, but this was such a beautiful and unusual sighting. What a gorgeous bird! [Photo of light-phase rough-legged hawk courtesy of Terry Hardy.]
     - Joanne Zipay

3/2 - Stony Point-Verplanck, HRM 40.5: I’ve been spending the last few days along the river watching the ice floes thin out during the last two hours of the ebb tide. Despite the cold air temperatures, the increased daylight and strength of the sun were taking their toll. Thanks to the eagles we know there are plenty of gizzard shad in the river. They come off their Rockland County night roost in early morning and perch along the shoreline from Tomkins Cove to Bowline Point (HRM 41-37). From there they head out onto the river ice to find their fish.
     - Tom McDowell

3/3 - Town of Poughkeepsie: This was Day 6 of the nest watch for NY62 and there was another midday changing of the guard. Dad brought in more grass as they switched roles. Mom was really generous today: when she left the nest, she flew straight toward us, right over our heads! We don't always get that lucky.
     - Bob Rightmyer, Debbie Quick

3/3 - Town of Wappinger, HRM 67: The air temperature fell to 2 degrees F overnight. In Newcomb, 235 miles north in the watershed, the overnight temperature fell to 19 degrees below zero.
     - National Weather Service

3/4 - Warren County, HRM 206: I stopped for a while at the Fenimore Bridge between Hudson Falls and South Glens Falls and saw about 300 common goldeneyes, three buffleheads, a single black duck, and – the highlight – a drake redhead duck.
     - Mona Bearor, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/4 - Saratoga County, HRM 183: I spotted two pairs of redhead ducks on the east side of Stafford's Bridge, mixed in with 150 mallards and black ducks.
     - Ron Harrower, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/4 - Gallatin, Columbia County, HRM 100: We have bird feeders set up around the driveway and have had many visitors: redpolls, chickadees, juncos, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers. As the light waned on this relatively warm afternoon, I saw the first chipmunk of the season emerge from his tunnel. He sat there seemingly stunned by two feet of wet snow and the activity of squirrels and bird traffic all around. The chipmunk ventured a short distance from the hole over the snow, then scurried back, presumably so as not to lose track of his refuge.
     - DJ Anderson

3/4 - New Hamburg, HRM 67.5: While clearing up after last night’s storm, we spotted nine bald eagles that had taken up temporary residence on a large ice floe just offshore. We only saw one white head and believed the rest were immatures. Fifteen minutes later they were gone with the tide. We saw no evidence they were fishing.
     - Charles Hill, Sara Hill

[Despite snow, ice, and below freezing air temperatures, increased daylight and the angle of the sun communicate to wildlife that the seasons are changing. And if your breeding range is far to the north, you cannot argue. Instinctively, it is time to move. Tom Lake.]

3/4 - Town of Wappinger, HRM 67: The last snowstorm of the winter? Seven more inches overnight added to our “piecemeal blizzard” making the winter total 66 inches. In the aftermath, I went looking for tracks in the fresh snow. Three or four coyotes must have had a party in my front yard, oblivious to the deep snow. The two white-tailed deer herd paths on the opposite side of the yard – where 30 inches of snow had been tamped down to less than a foot – looked unused, which I found strange. Then I found them. At least ten white-tails had used the less-difficult road for travel. Charlotte Demers (SUNY-ESF) reminded us that depth of snow is far more disruptive to deer than below freezing winter nights.
     - Tom Lake

3/5 - Newcomb, HRM 302: Overnight air temperatures dropped to 21 degrees F below zero. In New York City, more than 300 miles south in the watershed, the low temperature was a “balmy” 19 degrees.
     - National Weather Service

3/5 - Saratoga County, HRM 183: The “redhead gang” on the east side of Stafford's Bridge had increased since yesterday to three pairs that were swimming and diving with a pair of lesser scaup.
     - Ron Harrower, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/5 - Gallatin, Columbia County, HRM 100: This morning, amid the cooperative feeding of squirrels and six crows along with numerous songbirds, there suddenly appeared two chipmunks bursting over the frozen crusted snow, this time locked belly-to-belly, rolling, sliding like a bocce ball at top speed from one spruce tree to the next, then breaking apart to careen in opposite directions. Spring must certainly be at hand.
     - DJ Anderson

3/5 - Green Island, HRM 152: On Thursday, birders met at this week's hot spot, the open water below the federal dam at Green Island. We saw a few dozen common goldeneye, one long-tailed duck, and the two red-necked grebes.
     - Naomi Lloyd, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/5 - Cohoes, HRM 157: Later, our Thursday birders traveled to Cohoes and, with careful scoping, eventually pulled out a male Barrow's goldeneye [see 3/2]. He was really a textbook specimen, showing every field mark to perfection. A flyover merlin sent the resident pigeons into the air.
     - Naomi Lloyd, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/6 - Saratoga County, HRM 183: There were still six redhead ducks at Stafford’s Bridge early this morning and they were all paired off. In mid-afternoon they were joined by a drake bufflehead, though the redheads had been reduced to four: three drakes and one hen.
     - Ron Harrower, Alan Mapes, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/6 - Altamont, HRM 144: While driving along the open fields of Indian Ladder Farm orchard, I noticed a medium-sized dark spot moving on the snow. Initially thinking it was a northern harrier, I went back to get a better look. I was surprised to see an early season woodchuck stretching its legs after a winter's snooze. It looked so out of place in a snow-covered field. The longer length of days had not translated into a warm day, given a morning low of zero; it was only in the teens when I saw the woodchuck. Note: Even with the bright sun and snowy white background, no shadow accompanied this groundhog. Spring is close.
     - Mark Fitzsimmons

3/6 - New Paltz, HRM 78: The air temperature was 1.7 degrees F below zero this morning above the flood plain of the Wallkill River. Although the cardinals had been singing for several weeks, this morning we saw a male cardinal pick up a seed from the bird feeder and give it to his lady-love. It may be cold, but the longer days are bringing changes, and not just to eagles.
     - Lynn Bowdery, Allan Bowdery

3/6 - Town of Poughkeepsie: We arrived on site (eagle nest NY62) at 10:30 to find the female incubating and the male perched in a tree near the nest. There may have been a recent turnover as he left and did not return until 2:50 p.m. when he relieved mom. The next nest exchange occurred at 4:30. It is interesting to note how they regularly time their change-overs with a minimum of audible communication; it is very likely that their non-verbal exchanges are entirely adequate.
     - Bob Rightmyer, Kathleen Courtney, Debbie Quick

3/6 - Town of Wappinger, HRM 67: The air temperature overnight fell to -2 degrees F, tying the record low for the date. In Newcomb, 235 miles north in the watershed, the overnight temperature fell to 29 degrees below zero.
     - National Weather Service

3/7 - Saratoga County, HRM 183: We counted a total of seven redhead ducks, three drakes and four hens, at Stafford’s Bridge this morning. A very hefty muskrat had made a hole in the ice and was making multiple forays in and out of the water, presumably working over some food items. [Photo of drake redhead by Dave Herr, courtesy U.S. Forest Service.]
     - Gregg Recer, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/7 - Cohoes, HRM 157: The Barrow's goldeneye was still present in the Mohawk River below Cohoes Falls, viewable now with a group of common goldeneyes.
     - Scott Stoner, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/7 - Cohoes, HRM 157: What a beautiful day for birding! We were easily able to add Barrow's goldeneye to our life-lists this morning at the Cohoes Falls overlook. The Barrow's goldeneye cooperated by swimming fairly close in the company of many common goldeneyes. We also had an adult bald eagle flyover and an immature on the ice above the falls.
     - Heidi Carl Klinowski, Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club

3/7 - Staatsburg, HRM 85.5: As we walked up the hill to the cabins at the Mills-Norrie Campground, we were discussing the local eagles. With the river still frozen over solidly, would they delay nesting until there was open water? But at the top of the hill we looked across the river and, though we couldn't see a white head on the nest, we did see an adult bald eagle sitting in a tree very close to the nest. Then our attention was drawn to our side of the river by the loud cries of nearby crows. Looking up, we were treated to two ravens soaring just above the treetops, noisily pursued by several crows. The ravens went south toward Norrie Point and the crows, satisfied with their work, settled in the campground's trees.
     - Linda Lund, David Lund

3/7 - New Hamburg, HRM 67.5: Winter appeared to be loosening its grip on the estuary; many open patches of water extended outward from Diamond Reef in mid-river. While we saw no eagles, we could infer that they had been here recently. We counted a half-dozen fish carcasses strewn over the ice in several places where eagles had their fill, and now the gulls and crows were cleaning up.
     - Tom Lake, T.R. Jackson

3/7 - Peekskill, HRM 44: Traveling south on Route 9 this morning presented a perfect opportunity to look up into the clear blue sky and see two adult bald eagles dancing around and having the time of their lives as we were trapped in our cars below heading somewhere. The sunlight was perfect to spotlight their brilliant white heads and tails - no mistaking those marks! My traveling companion was amazed, eyes glued on the two birds as long as possible.
     - Andra Sramek

[There is an active nest not far from this spot and the behavior sounds a lot like adults intent on nesting. Tom Lake.]

3/7 - Croton-on-Hudson, HRM 35: An adult bald eagle passed over my deck numerous times this morning within 40 feet before disappearing into the trees down by the river just north of Croton Landing. It talons were full of twigs. Nesting materials?
     - Jim Miller

[While we would like to think we know where all the eagle nests are, the reality is we do not. Is there a nest near Croton-on-Hudson? Probably. The behavior is one common to an adult “feathering the nest” in advance of or while incubating eggs. Tom Lake.]

SPRING 2015 NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS

Wednesday, April 8: 10:00 a.m.
Furs and Totems: Connecting Young Minds To Nature at the Saratoga Springs Public Library [Saratoga County]. Join NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist Tom Lake as we investigate relationships and apply our imaginations to better understand our natural world. Intended for elementary school age children. For information and to register, call 518-584-7860.

Wednesday, April 8: 1:00 p.m.
The River before Henry: How the ten millennia before European arrival shaped the world we see today. Saratoga Springs Public Library [Saratoga County]. Join NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist Tom Lake as we journey through time from the last ice age through extinctions caused by climate change to our arrival in the Northeast. For information and to register, call 518-584-7860.

HUDSON RIVER MILES

The Hudson is measured north from Hudson River Mile 0 at the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. The George Washington Bridge is at HRM 12, the Tappan Zee 28, Bear Mountain 47, Beacon-Newburgh 62, Mid-Hudson 75, Kingston-Rhinecliff 95, Rip Van Winkle 114, and the Federal Dam at Troy, the head of tidewater, at 153. The tidal section of the Hudson constitutes a bit less than half the total distance – 315 miles – from Lake Tear of the Clouds to the Battery. Entries from points east and west in the watershed reference the corresponding river mile on the mainstem.

TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OBSERVATIONS OR TO SUBSCRIBE

The Hudson River Almanac is compiled and edited by Tom Lake and emailed weekly by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program. Share your observations by e-mailing them to trlake7@aol.com.

To subscribe to the Almanac (or to unsubscribe), go to DEC's Email Lists page at http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/65855.html , enter your email address, and click on "Submit." A page listing available subscription topics will appear. Scroll down; under the heading "Natural Areas and Wildlife" is the section "Lakes and Rivers" with a listing for the Hudson River Almanac. Click on the check box to subscribe. While there, you may wish to subscribe to RiverNet, which covers projects, events and actions related to the Hudson and its watershed, or to other DEC newsletters and information feeds.

Weekly issues are archived at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/25611.html . The DEC website's search engine can find species, locations, and other data in the archives.

Discover New York State Conservationist - the award-winning, advertisement-free magazine focusing on New York State's great outdoors and natural resources. Conservationist features stunning photography, informative articles and around-the-state coverage. For a free, no-obligation issue go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.html

USEFUL LINKS

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration online tide and tidal current predictions are invaluable when planning Hudson River field trips.

For real-time information on Hudson River tides, weather and water conditions from eight monitoring stations, visit the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System website at  .

Information on the movements of the salt front in the Hudson estuary is presented by the U.S. Geological Survey: http://ny.water.usgs.gov/projects/dialer_plots/saltfront.html .

Information about the Hudson River Estuary Program is available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html .

Smartphone app available for New York outdoor enthusiasts!
DEC, in partnership with ParksByNature Network®, has launched the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App for iPhone and Android. This FREE, cutting-edge mobile app gives both novice and seasoned outdoorsmen and women essential information in the palm of their hands. Powered by Pocket Ranger® technology, this official app for DEC will provide up-to-date information on fishing, hunting and wildlife watching and serve as an interactive outdoor app using today's leading mobile devices. Using the app's advanced GPS features, users will be able identify and locate New York's many hunting, fishing and wildlife watching sites. They will also gain immediate access to species profiles, rules and regulations, and important permits and licensing details.

NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative
Governor Cuomo's NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.
In support of this initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have gone largely untapped until now. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
This year's budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.

Copies of past issues of the Hudson River Almanac, Volumes II-VIII, are available for purchase from the publisher, Purple Mountain Press, (800) 325-2665, or email purple@catskill.net