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Fw: Willow Flycatchers



CarolinaBirders should be aware that the first confirmed breeding pair of
Willow Flycatchers in SC was found in the early 1990's at Caroland Farms,
along the North Pacolet River, in extreme northern Spartanburg County.
Marilyn's prediction has already been confirmed.

Robin Carter
Columbia, SC
rcarter@sc.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "mjwestphal" <mjwestphal@unca.edu>
To: <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 10:11 AM
Subject: Willow Flycatchers


> Just a comment on the Willow/Alder Flycatcher discussion.  As we have good
> numbers of Willow Flycatchers in Henderson County, NC throughout the
spring
> and summer and have found nests here, I wouldn't be in the least bit
surprised
> if they weren't also spreading down into upstate SC just across the border
> from Henderson County.  One small correction, the entire French Broad
River
> watershed is in western North Carolina and in Tennessee (sorry to be
picky,
> but rivers and streams are my business), but I would think that Willow
> Flycatchers might be found along the Pacolet and Broad River watersheds in
> upstate SC. In fact, I would bet money that they are in the Landrum area
of
> SC.
>   The flycatchers heard on the CawCaw bird walk certainly sound like
Willow.
> Most of the Willows at this time of the year sing only early in the
morning
> and in the evening right up to dark - much later than most other birds
sing.
> Otherwise, they just do the "weep" thing.
>   As for the Willow/Alder differences, there does seem to be some
differences
> in habitat preference, at least in Western NC.  Willow seem to prefer wet,
> shrubby ditches in very open areas with no or few trees, more often in
lower
> elevation river valleys, but occasionally higher up.  Alders seem to
prefer
> shrubby/grassy mountain balds (but not heath balds) with some low trees,
> especially (no surprise) alders.  I have never heard a breeding Alder
> Flycatcher below 3500-4000 feet, but most Willows are around 2000-2500
feet.
>   In northern climates where both species can be found in the same area, I
> have been told that Alders are usually slightly more upland and away from
the
> marsh or wet area than Willows.
>   I don't know about DNA tests.  Maybe someone else can answer that.
> Marilyn Westphal
> Hendersonville, NC
> mjwestphal@unca.edu
>
>