[MDOsprey] Reply to Finzel BBCU's
J B Churchill (jbc@caf.wvu.edu)
Tue, 22 Jun 1999 09:42:49 -0400 (EDT)
William,
I could not help but respond to your post about Black-billed Cuckoo. My
experience with them is that they are not reliable anywhere. This is because
they don't always call (same with Yellow-billeds). If they are not calling,
they can be right under your nose and you will never see one. I am no expert
but this has been my experience ...
Living in (and around) Frostburg for 4 years (or more), I have seen BBCU
a number of times. Finzel does not stick out in my mind as the greatest spot
but I am sure they could be there. I was a preserve monitor for Finzel for
awhile and have been there a zillion times. In my recollection, I may or may
not have seen them there. I definitely remember seeing one at the FSU arboretum
(woods next to the track) a few times. Also near the top of Dan's Rock a few
times.
I found a BBCU nest at Cooper's Rock State Forest in WV in 1997. I
conducted spot-mapping research there and nest-searching 20 hours per week (4 or
5 days). Prior to finding the nest I only heard birds calling 4 or 5 times.
Chasing one that was reported may not be a bad idea but it may take patience and
perseverence. Spring-time when birds are calling would be the best time.
If you send me a direct e-mail request, I will print out a list of all
the locations and the number of times I have seen BBCU's at each location from
my personal birdwatching database.
J.B.
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West Virginia University
Natural Resources Analysis Center
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