ARKANSAS & LOUISIANA 
record for the coastal zone. A Chestnut-col- 
lared Longspur photographed at M.L., 
Howard 19-20 Oct (ph. CM, K&LN, D&PBr) 
was only about the 6th for Arkansas, the 2nd 
from fall, and the first since 1983. A wintering 
Dickcissel was first noted at a Baton Rouge 
feeder 20 Nov (vt. JH). 
Rare and relatively late Bobolinks included 
one in Arkansas, AR 21 Sep (DS, SH, Bill 
Shepherd), 3 detected during a corrective 
flight of other passerines at Bayou Sauvage 
N.W.R. 18 Oct (DPM), and one at Johnsons 
Bayou 2 Nov (DBo). Several reports of Yellow- 
headed Blackbirds from sw. Louisiana possi- 
bly indicated that the species is becoming 
more regular there (although there was but a 
single report during fall 2007); more interest- 
ing away from sw. Louisiana were 3 at 
K.C.G.O.M. 5-9 Oct (ph. BM, LO), only the 
3rd fall offshore record, and 3 at Buras, lower 
Plaquemines 16 Nov (DPM, CR, vt. PAW). 
Twenty-five Great-tailed Crackles at S.EU. 3 
Aug (DPM, PAW) suggested breeding there; 
there are still very few records of any sort for 
this species e. of the Atchafalaya Basin; one at 
Dardanelle 15 Nov (K&LN) was unusually 
far e. in Arkansas and apparently a first for 
Yell Bronzed Cowbirds are also becoming 
more expected in small numbers in sw. 
Louisiana, but 17 near Sweet L. 12 Oct (PEC, 
BMM, DP) was a relatively high number; one 
near St. Gabriel 18 Nov (SWC) was possibly 
the first Nov occurrence for the Baton Rouge 
area. A late Baltimore Oriole at Dixie 22 Nov 
(TD) more likely may have been attempting 
to winter in nw. Louisiana. Possible signals of 
an impending strong winter incursion of Pine 
Siskins included one near Hayes, Jefferson 
Davis 25 Oct (only a handful of other Oct 
records; PAW); another early individual near 
St. Gabriel 3 Nov (SWC); numbers of up to 
20-25 as far s. as Milton, Lafayette as early as 
26 Nov (ph. Erik I. Johnson); and one as far 
s. as Diamond, Plaquemines 30 Nov (DPM, 
PAW). A flyby flock of 30 Red Crossbills at 
Mount Magazine S.P., Logan, AR 25 Oct (DSi) 
was possibly a local first and the only report 
of the season. 
Initialed observers (subregional editors bold- 
faced): Leif Anderson, Dick Baxter, Sarah Bax- 
ter, Devin Rosier (DBo), Dennis Braddy 
(DBr), Patricia Braddy (PBr), Gary Broussard, 
Jacque Brown O^r), Terry Butler, Steven W. 
Cardiff (Louisiana), H. David Chapman, Kel- 
ly Chitwood, Paul E. Conover, Abby Darrah, 
Terry Davis, Dennis Demcheck (DDe), Paul 
M. Dickson, Donna L. Dittmann, R. Martin 
Guidry, Jeff Harris, Samantha Holschbach, 
Robert Herron, Hubert Hervey, Jay V. Huner, 
Charles E. Lyon, Brad Martin, Charles Mills, 
Michael A. Mlodinow, David E Muth, B. Mac 
Myers, Joseph C. Neal (Arkansas), Kenny 
Nichols, LaDonna Nichols, David Oakley, 
Layne Olson, Glenn Ousset, Dave Patton, R. 
D. Purrington, E. J. Raynor, J. V Remsen, 
Christie Riehl, Jacob Saucier, Dan Scheiman, 
Don Simons (DSi), Curtis C. Sorrells, Ronald 
J. Stein, Josh T. Sylvest, Jeff and Jean Trahan, 
Phillip A. Wallace, Melvin Weber. @ 
Stewen W. Cardiff, 435 Pecan Drive 
St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776, (scardifiagmaiLcom) 
Northern Canada & Greenland 
/"'■‘v Crrenldn 
(KAlAAlUTNaWATl \ 
^ lOesmsfk) 
.W 
1 
Cameron D. Eckert 
T he job of compiling observations from 
across Northern Canada comes with an 
inspired sense of awe for the remark- 
able nature of our native birds — not only for 
their diversity and beauty but also for the 
enormous survival challenges they face in an 
often harsh and changing environment. Con- 
sider the thousands of shorebirds staging on 
the shores of Akimiski Island, Nunavut, 
which have only just begun a long journey 
that will take them many thousands of kilo- 
meters south to their wintering 
grounds. Then there are the inex- 
plicable forces that drive unpre- 
dictable movements of birds such 
as the waves of Alder Flycatchers 
and irruptions of chickadees that 
were observed at the Teslin Lake 
and Albert Creek bird observatories 
in southern Yukon this year. Our 
birds need every possible advantage 
they can get in order to breed, mi- 
grate, return each year, and thrive. 
The responsibility is ours to make 
sure that happens by protecting im- 
portant habitats, conserving wet- 
lands, eradicating marine pollution, 
reducing our ecological footprint — 
especially plastics and greenhouse gases — and 
by ensuring a safe environment for birds 
around our homes and communities. 
WATERFOWL 
THROUGH SHOREBIRDS 
The season’s high count of 2000 American 
Wigeons at the Whitehorse sewage ponds, s. 
Yukon was recorded 10 Sep (HG). A large 
flock of about 1000 Mallards was at Shallow 
Bay, s. Yukon 1 Oct (IC, HG). The waters 
around Herschel 1., n. Yukon are known for 
their importance to molting and staging div- 
106 
ing ducks; a count of 1000 Surf Scoters was 
recorded there 16 Aug (CE). An ad. male 
Black Scoter, casual in s. Yukon, was on 
Schwatka L. 25-26 Aug (ph. HG; CE); anoth- 
er ad. male Black Scoter was shot by duck 
hunters at Marsh L., s. Yukon 12 Sep (ph. 
MaP, MiP). A count of 1400 Long-tailed 
Ducks was made around Rowley/Spicer Is. 
near Igloolik, Nunavut 4 Oct (WR). Four 
Hooded Mergansers, rare in the Yukon, were 
at Chadburn L. 21 Sep (PS). Red-throated 
Loons were observed migrating s. on Teslin 
L., s. Yukon in good numbers, with 32 on 4 
Sep and 17 on 5 Sep QJa); a count of 17 Red- 
throated Loons, also high for s. Yukon, was 
recorded at L. Laberge 12 Sep (HG). Yellow- 
billed Loon reports included an ad. at Salmon 
R. Delta, Baffin I., Nunavut 24 Aug (AD, WR); 
2 molting ads. near Bray I., Nunavut 4 Oct 
(WR); and 3 ads. and a juv. near Steensby In- 
let off the Cockburn R., Nunavut 11 Oct 
(WR). An Eared Grebe, casual in s. Yukon, 
was at Whitehorse 8 Aug (tHG, BSu). 
A juv. Northern Harrier was at Arviat, 
Nunavut 25 Aug (NL, LR). Swainson’s Hawk 
is a casual fall migrant in s. Yukon; migration 
watches at Teslin Lake B.O. recorded 2 on 30 
Aug, one on 2 Sep, and one on 24 Sep OJ^)- 
Unusually low numbers of American Coots 
were present at the Whitehorse sewage ponds 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
