Two New Bird Species Spotted in Oklahoma
September 17, 2008
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, seven species of birds that are rare in Oklahoma were spotted at Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in southeast Oklahoma. Two of these – Cory’s Shearwater and Sooty Tern - had never been seen in the state before. The Cory’s Shearwater and the Sooty Tern are both open-ocean species, meaning that they are usually found around islands in the ocean and not along coastlines, let alone inland as far as Oklahoma.Â
David Arbour, the biologist aid for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation who documented these birds, said open-ocean birds sometimes get caught in the high winds of hurricanes that can carry them for hundreds of miles across the ocean and even inland. Since the eye of Hurricane Gustav passed directly over Red Slough WMA Sept. 3, these birds almost certainly must have been on a long ride.
The unusual birds documented on that day included a Cory’s Shearwater, a Magnificent Frigatebird, two Red-necked Phalaropes, three Sabine’s Gulls, a Royal Tern, ten Sooty Terns and a Parasitic Jaeger. All of these birds are rare in our area and are typically found along the Gulf Coast or in the open ocean. This was only the second time a Royal Tern had been spotted in Oklahoma and one of only a handful of Magnificent Frigatebird and Parasitic Jaeger observations in the state.
“In the case a hurricane comes inland, you will never know what you could spot. Seeing these birds here in Oklahoma was the treat of a lifetime,” Arbour said.
But when an open-ocean bird is that far inland, how does it make its way back out to sea? Arbour says that is simple.
“Birds that travel across the open ocean have a well-developed sense of direction and can quickly re-orient themselves. Additionally, they tend to orient toward water and can easily follow the major river drainages like the Red and the Mississippi back to the gulf coast and further out to sea. Their sense of direction is genuinely impeccable,” Arbour said.
It is rare to see oceanic birds in Oklahoma, but coastal species occasionally stray inland. Because Red Slough is the closest location a person can get to the gulf coast while still being in Oklahoma, there is always a chance to view unusual visitors. Other rare coastal birds that have been observed at Red Slough this summer include several dozen Wood Storks, a few Roseate Spoonbills and at least three Tri-colored Herons and four Laughing Gulls. Covering 7,800 acres, Red Slough has always been a great spot for birding. With more than 260 species of birds confirmed, there are now seven more reasons to travel to the southeast part of the state.Â
Besides bird watching, there are many other activities available, including hunting and fishing. Waterfowl are present in good numbers along with deer, rabbits, and furbearers. There are also plenty of opportunities for fishing for bass, sunfish and catfish. For more information about the area, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
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Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report - 9/3/2008
September 4, 2008
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
North Zone Dove: Good hunts were posted in Harrison County around goatweed and plowed ground. Those who hunted in the morning were able to miss the rains associated with Hurricane Gustav; however, rains moved in during the afternoon and put a damper on flight in the northeast region of the state. Many people in the northeast region did not hunt due to preparations for the storm. Soybean fields and milo near Bogota were solid for limits of mourning doves. Lubbock, Abilene and Amarillo saw good shoot in milo, sunflowers and watering holes in the afternoon. Knox City hunters had great opening day shoots with a mix of whitewings and mourners in peanut fields. Not much water in the region, so many birds have been shot in the afternoon around watering holes. A cold front is forecasted to move through the region mid-week, which could push new birds in or out of the area. Prospects are good.
Central Zone Dove: The hotspot of the state was the San Antonio region. Milo and corn fields on the outside of the San Antonio city limits held excellent numbers of whitewings that made for easy limits in the morning. Hondo and Uvalde reported similar results. Those who did not scratch a limit in the morning finished their bag in the afternoon. Outfitters reported a better afternoon flight. Fields in Liberty County saw strong concentrations of mourning dove over goatweed, rice and milo. Fields near Hempstead, Sealy and Brookshire were solid. Hunters near Rockwall reported their birds moved out before the opener. Prospects are good.
Special White-Winged Dove Area: Prospects look good for the Sept.6-7 and Sept. 13-14 special afternoon-only hunting season. Fields around Uvalde and Del Rio look promising. South Texas fields of sunflowers, milo, corn and watering holes are holding the brunt of birds. Laredo, Harlingen, Port Mansfield and Brownsville are loaded with whitewings. Prospects are good.
Teal Prospects: Reports from around the coast indicate strong numbers of teal on the prairies and marshes. The coast has not had much rain in the past two weeks and hot temperatures have aided in evaporation. Water is not in abundance, but those with water should have plenty of birds. The Panhandle received five days of rain in late August that helped fill playa lakes for teal season. Bluewing numbers look good there. The region around Knox City is mostly dry, with scattered reports of birds. Some outfitters fear they may have to dip in their pockets and pay for pumped water.
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AGFC Fields Ready for Opening of Dove Season
September 3, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – Opening day of dove season is this Saturday. For those hunters still looking for a field to hunt, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains dove fields on some wildlife management areas. These plots are open to the public and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We’re stepping up opportunities for the dove season opening on our lands,” said Ricky Chastain, AGFC assistant chief of wildlife management. “With many privately-owned fields being an invitation-only proposition, we want to offer something for hunters, especially youth, who are new to the sport.”
The acreage put into dove fields is fairly small when compared to the size of the entire WMA because most hunters spend only a few days a season chasing these birds.
“Dove hunting fields can handle a hunter for every two acres or so,” Chastain said. “Most of the wildlife openings on our properties are small with irregular borders to serve a number of different wildlife species. Our dove fields will only provide limited opportunity in most cases,” he said.
What’s left of Hurricane Gustav has put a damper on the opening weekend, Chastain said. “Without a doubt, this rain will have a negative effect on the fields themselves, “ he said. Hunters are urged to talk with area managers about total acreage available for hunting, status of management on the fields and the interest shown by other hunters.
AGFC Dove Fields
Brinkley Regional Office (877) 734-4581
Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA
UA Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA
Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA
Departee Creek WMA
Monticello Regional Office (877) 367-3559
Bayou Meto WMA
Choctaw Island WMA
Little Bayou WMA
Trusten Holder WMA
Hope Regional Office (877) 777-5580
Hope Upland WMA
Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA
Mayflower Field Office (877) 470-3650
Camp Robinson SUA
Cypress Bayou WMA
Holland Bottoms WMA
Prairie Bayou WMA
Fort Smith Regional Office (877) 478-1043
Fort Chaffee WMA
Dardanelle WMA
Ozark Lake WMA
Russellville Regional Office (877) 967-7577
Galla Creek WMA
Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA
Petit Jean River WMA
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