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Bird Checklist for Gibson Lake / Gibson Power Plant Gibson County, Indiana 294 species Last updated - February 27, 2010
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The Gibson Lake/Gibson Power Plant birding site is also known as the Duke Energy (Cinergy/PSI) Gibson Generating Station. It is located in Gibson County in southwest Indiana. This site and its location are described at the bottom of this document.
English Name Scientific Name DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS Anatidae Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Ross's Goose Chen rossii Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus Wood Duck Aix sponsa Gadwall Anas strepera American Wigeon Anas americana American Black Duck Anas rubripes Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Common Merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEYS, and OLD WORLD QUAIL Phasianidae Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo NEW WORLD QUAIL Odontophoridae Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus LOONS Gaviidae Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Common Loon Gavia immer GREBES Podicipedidae Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis PELICANS Pelecanidae American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis CORMORANTS Phalacrocoracidae Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus BITTERNS, HERONS, and ALLIES Ardeidae American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Ardea alba Snowy Egret Egretta thula Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Green Heron Butorides virescens Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea IBISES and SPOONBILLS Threskiornithidae Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi STORKS Ciconiidae Wood Stork Mycteria americana NEW WORLD VULTURES Cathartidae Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura KITES, HAWKS, EAGLES, and ALLIES Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos CARACARAS and FALCONS Falconidae American Kestrel Falco sparverius Merlin Falco columbarius Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS Rallidae King Rail Rallus elegans Virginia Rail Rallus limicola Sora Porzana carolina Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus American Coot Fulica americana CRANES Gruidae Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis PLOVERS and LAPWINGS Charadriidae Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Piping Plover Charadrius melodus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus STILTS and AVOCETS Recurvirostridae Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus American Avocet Recurvirostra americana SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, and ALLIES Scolopacidae Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Willet Tringa semipalmata Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Red Knot Calidris canutus Sanderling Calidris alba Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Dunlin Calidris alpina Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata American Woodcock Scolopax minor Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria GULLS, TERNS, and SKIMMERS Laridae Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Sabine's Gull Xema sabini Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus Least Tern Sternula antillarum Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Black Tern Chlidonias niger Common Tern Sterna hirundo Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Black Skimmer Rynchops niger SKUAS and JAEGERS Stercorariidae Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus PIGEONS and DOVES Columbidae Rock Pigeon Columba livia Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, and ANIS Cuculidae Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus BARN OWLS Tytonidae ----- ----- TYPICAL OWLS Strigidae Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus Barred Owl Strix varia Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus GOATSUCKERS Caprimulgidae Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus SWIFTS Apodidae Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica HUMMINGBIRDS Trochilidae Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris KINGFISHERS Alcedinidae Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon WOODPECKERS and ALLIES Picidae Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Tyrannidae Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus SHRIKES Laniidae Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus VIREOS Vireonidae White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus JAYS, MAGPIES, and CROWS Corvidae Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos LARKS Alaudidae Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris SWALLOWS Hirundinidae Purple Martin Progne subis Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica CHICKADEES and TITMICE Paridae Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor NUTHATCHES Sittidae White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis CREEPERS Certhiidae Brown Creeper Certhia americana WRENS Troglodytidae Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus House Wren Troglodytes aedon Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris KINGLETS Regulidae Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula OLD WORLD WARBLERS and GNATCATCHERS Sylviidae Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea THRUSHES Turdidae Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides Veery Catharus fuscescens Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina American Robin Turdus migratorius MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS, and ALLIES Mimidae Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum STARLINGS and ALLIES Sturnidae European Starling Sturnus vulgaris WAGTAILS and PIPITS Motacillidae American Pipit Anthus rubescens WAXWINGS Bombycillidae Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum WOOD-WARBLERS Parulidae Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla Northern Parula Parula americana Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens TANAGERS Thraupidae Summer Tanager Piranga rubra Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea NEW WORLD SPARROWS and ALLIES Emberizidae Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii Nelson's Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus Smith's Longspur Calcarius pictus Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis CARDINALS and ALLIES Cardinalidae Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Dickcissel Spiza americana BLACKBIRDS and ALLIES Icteridae Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula FINCHES and ALLIES Fringillidae House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis OLD WORLD SPARROWS Passeridae House Sparrow Passer domesticus
TOTAL SPECIES COUNT FOR GIBSON LAKE: 294
The above species count is for all birds in the above list. It does not include Whooping Crane or Trumpeter Swan (below), uncountable species.
*Whooping Crane: a first-year bird with leg bands and a transmitter was present from November 4, 2007, through November 23. This bird was identified as DAR 46-07 Whooping Cranes were also present in fall/early winter of 2008.
*Trumpeter Swan: December 21, 2008; Gary and Lisa Bowman
IBRC Review List species are in blue. top
This checklist should not be considered an official checklist, but instead a reliable guide to the birds that may be found at the Duke Gibson Generating Station property in the right season.List Contributors
Gary Bowman, Lisa Bowman, Denny Jones, Chuck Mills, IBRC
Location
Gibson Lake is in southwest Indiana about half way between Vincennes and Evansville--21 miles south of Vincennes and 26 miles north of Evansville. It is eight miles west of U.S. 41 and about nine miles west-northwest of Princeton off State Road 64.
Gibson Lake is immediately north of Cane Ridge Wildlife Management Area. Together, Gibson Lake and Cane Ridge, along with Coffee Bayou Natural Area and Tern Bar Slough Restoration area and surrounding land, make up one of 26 Indiana Important Bird Areas (IBA) -- the Cane Ridge-Gibson Lake IBA (map).
See the Indiana Audubon web site for detailed directions to Gibson Lake. Also see these printable maps.
Important: See access information below.
Description (from http://www.indianaaudubon.org/Birds/BirdingSites/CaneRidgeGibsonLake/tabid/161/Default.aspx)
The entire Gibson property consists of about 6,000 acres of reservoir, ponds, and wetlands. Gibson Lake itself is a 3,000-acre cooling reservoir with a surrounding levee and a 2-mile-long breakwater down the center. Because the warm water discharge keeps the lake from freezing in the winter, it often accumulates thousands of ducks and geese when the local lakes freeze. Winter also brings eagles to Gibson Lake! A typical day's drive around the levee produces at least two Bald Eagles.
There are retaining ponds on the west and northeast sides of the lake, as well natural ponds and wetlands along the east, southeast, south, and southwest sides of the lake on the county roads. The Gibson Lake Wildlife Habitat Area (DeLorme p. 54 G6) is located on the Gibson property on the north side of the lake. This 160-acre area of natural wetlands is open to the public and accessible via two trails that course through woodlands and grassy areas on their way to the wetlands. In drought years the various ponds and wetlands around the property become resting areas for shorebirds that seek out mudflats during the fall flight.
The Gibson Lake property [with Cane Ridge] contains one of only two nesting areas for Least Terns in Indiana. The Least Terns can usually be viewed from mid June through mid August from the observation platform at Cane Ridge. Because these birds are endangered in the state and need protection, all visitors should be careful not to disturb them. There are certain areas of the property that are off limits to EVERYONE during the breeding season, so visitors should refrain from attempting to gain access into the restricted areas set aside for their nesting.
Although not on Duke property itself, the adjacent property to the west along the Wabash River can be an excellent riparian birding area in the spring and fall. This narrow stretch of woods runs along a county road that varies from asphalt to dirt, with the dirt portion being prone to flooding when heavy spring rains occur. To the south, the road ends at a closed bridge at Coffee Bayou, a recently purchased Nature Conservancy property. [See Cane Ridge-Gibson Lake Important Bird Area and Wabash River Corridor Conservation Lands.]
Access
Access to the Duke Energy Gibson Generating Station property is strictly controlled. You will not be allowed in unless you or a companion has obtained a letter of permission. Even then you will have access only to certain areas. There are now only four or so birders who have access to the central breakwater. See the Indiana Audubon web site for additional information about access.
maintained by / comments to: Gary Bowman otus44(AT)sbcglobal.net
last modified: February 27, 2010
This web page has been visited times since November 11, 2004.
URL: http://bbowman.ms11.net/birds/indiana/gibson.html
