“for the birds”eeingeorgia.org/files/ee/2009/newsletters/january2010wingbars.pdf · atlanta...
TRANSCRIPT
HOLIDAY EVENT FORFAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Tuesday, December 22, 3:30 PM to 5:30 PMBlue Heron Nature Preserve
ATLANTAAUDUBON SOCIETY4055 Roswell RoadAtlanta, GA 30342
678.973.2437www.atlantaaudubon.org
GOS RARE BIRD ALERT
770.493.8862
December 2009
Volume XXXV, Issue 11 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
I N S I D E2009 Photography Contest ..2
Foster’s Wine Grant .............3
Christmas Bird Count...........3
Legacy Club .........................3
Field Notes - September .....4
Field Trips.............................5
Spotlight - Jim Flynn .............6
A Million Thanks..................6
Volunteer Opportunities .......6
In Appreciation.....................7
Space Coast Birding ............7
Book Reviews ......................8
Earth Watch Trip...................8
TogetherGreen Grant............9
Classifieds..........................10
CBC Count Circle................10
Space Coast Ad ...................11
Membership........................11
Southern Birding Trails.........12
Would you like to enjoy some fun activitieswith your children without having to standin lines and fight with Atlanta traffic? TheBlue Heron Nature Preserve and AtlantaAudubon Society are offering a nature-inspired event for the holidays.
As the seasons change, so does the weather.Birds and other wildlife have to find waysto adapt to their surrounding environment.During this two-hour activity, your childrenwill have fun while learning about the basicneeds of animals and plants, and how theycan help the wildlife in their yards make itthrough another winter.
Join us for art activities, a nature walk andhot chocolate at the BHNP/AAS educationalbuilding at 4055 Roswell Road. You will
meet other families in the neighborhoodand learn more about the natural history ofthe land at Buckhead’s hidden natural jewel.This event is a fundraiser for our newbutterfly garden, a joint project of theBlue Heron Nature Preserve andAtlanta Audubon Society.
For: Children ages 2 to 6 years.(An adult must accompany thechild/children.)Cost: $5 per child. On-site parking available.Limit 30. You must have a reservation. Bring your payment on the day of the event.RSVP to Nancy Jones or Jack White at404.814.8228 [email protected].
“For the Birds”Holiday Card Making Workshop
Thursday, December 17, 7 PM to 9 PM
Want to learn how to make some fun holiday cards? Take some time out of the busyholiday season for a relaxing evening of card making. We will create four differentholiday cards with bird themes using a variety of scrapbooking techniques includingstamping, paper piecing, etc.
The workshop will be held on Thursday, Dec. 17, from 7 PM to 9 PM in AAS’seducation center at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve in Buckhead. The class is open toeveryone and is a beginner/intermediate level class. The instructor is AAS ExecutiveDirector Catharine Kuchar, who is an avid scrapbooker/card maker and is currentlyworking on illustrating a children’s book using paper piecing techniques.
This is a hands-on workshop and therefore the class size is limited to 10 participants,so sign up before the Dec. 14 deadline (a reservation is required). The cost per studentis $15 for Friends of Atlanta Audubon and $20 for non-members. To reserve your placein the class, please call 678.973.2437. You may pay by credit card or send a check to4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Board of Directors2009Officers
President Stacy E. Zarpentine404.219.5869
[email protected] Carol N. Hassell
TreasurerVacant
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan404.298.8825
[email protected] Secy Barbara Tarpley
DirectorsConservation Dave Butler
Education Marge Igyarto678.398.0569
Field Trips Stanley [email protected]
Membership Vacant
Communications Barbara Tarpley404.687.0079
Publicity Beth Giddens770.792.3712
Volunteers Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338
At LargeJay Davis
JoAnn Jordan678.488.8022
Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative
StaffExecutive Director Catharine Kuchar
Education Coordinator Emily Toriani-Moura404.661.6613
Administrative Coordinator Sally Davis770.216.9680
WebsiteJim Flynn
Wingbars EditorMary Ann Hindes 770.497.0664
ProofreadingSteven Phenicie
Design & LayoutCopy Preparation 770.939.2002
Newsletter deadline is the first ofthe month for material to be
published the following month.Please submit articles as MS-Word to
[email protected] attachments, if possible.
Wingbars is the official newsletter of AtlantaAudubon Society and is published 11 times a
year. We feature news, upcoming events,meetings, field trips and projects. We hope youwill join us. Opinions expressed are those of theauthors and do not necessarily reflect policies
of the Atlanta Audubon Society.
Mission Statement:Protecting Georgia's birds and the habitats that sustain them
through education, conservation and advocacy.
22 Atlanta Audubon Society
KEY DATES
Entries must have been photo-graphed since January 1, 2009 and must be received by midnight on February 22, 2010.
All entries will be displayed at the March 21 Speaker Series event. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded at the meeting. All entries will be judged prior to the March Speaker Series event.
Our judge for the 2010 competition is well-known photographer Richard J. Green of Down To Earth Portraits
Check out the Atlanta Audubon website shortly for more
information at
www.atlantaaudubon.org
A t l a n t a A u d u b o n S o c i e t y 2 0 1 0 A n n u a l P h o t o g r a p h y C o n t e s t
Get Those Cameras Ready!
Check Out This Year’s Great Prizes: x� First Prize—Birds in Portrait: 6.5 x 32 Raven Binoculars by Eagle Opticsx� First Prize—Birds in Motion: 6.5 x 32 Raven Binoculars by Eagle Opticsx� First Prize—Animals: Eagle Optics Denali 8 x 42 Roof Prism Binoculars x� First Prize—Habitat: Vortex Pro GT Tripod Kit x� First Prize—Georgia’s Grassland Birds (2010 Conservation Category)*: Atlanta Audubon
Society “Fun Pack” (includes Pajaro original field bag with AAS patch, AAS license plate, AAS t-shirt, Peterson Field Guide’s “Eastern/Central Birding by Ear” CD set, and a copy of “Sibley’sBirding Basics”)
x� Judge’s Choice: Eagle Optics Denali Spotting Scope Package (sponsored by Eagle Optics) x�Grand Prize: **Adobe Photoshop CS4. Also includes the opportunity to have your photograph
printed on the Atlanta Audubon Society official picture postcard for 2010!
Criteria for judging include: Originality Overall impact Composition Technique Presentation Difficulty
Photographs will be judged in the following categories: Birds in Motion (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, must convey the originaldynamic motion of the bird or birds); Birds in Portrait (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, i.e. perching on a fence; may show nesting, stalking or roosting activity) Animals (all living creatures, other than birds; no man-made elements); Habitat (flora and fauna in their natural environments, landscapes or panoramas); Georgia’s Grassland Birds (see list of eligible birds* below); and Judge’s Choice.
Sponsored by
Sandhill Cranes by 2009 Grand Prize Winner, Jo Ginn
* Birds that are eligible for entry in the “Georgia’s Grassland Birds” (2010 Conserva-tion Category) include: Northern Bobwhite, Bobolink, Yellow-breasted Chat, HornedLark, Eastern Meadowlark, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Sandhill Crane, GrasshopperSparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Field Sparrow, Wilson’s Snipe, Loggerhead Shrike, Prairie Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, Barn Owl, Vesper Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Upland Sandpiper.
** Prizes subject to change if availability issues arise. **Adobe prize cannot be upgraded to later editions in the future.
Matching Contributions Another Important Way to Support
Atlanta Audubon Society
Your contributions to Atlanta Audubon Society make asignificant statement about how you value what we do inthe community.
Hundreds of companies in and around Atlanta alsorealize the importance of giving back to the community and are getting involved by matching their employees’donations to non-profit organizations. By asking youremployer to back your commitment to AAS, you are making your contribution even more meaningful!
Participating in your employer’s matching gifts program is a simple process. Check with your human resources department for forms and procedures. Send your infor-mation to Matching Gifts Coordinator, Atlanta Audubon Society 4055 Roswell RoadAtlanta, GA 30342
Your support ensures that our workin the community continues today and flourishes tomorrow.
Q: What species recently dethroned the Arctic Tern as the bird with the longest migration?
Answer: Sooty Shearwater
See page ___ for the answer See page 9 for answer
What do chick-rearing CommonMoorhens, Red-
cockaded Woodpeckers,Florida Scrub-Jays,Chimney Swifts and
Brown-headedNuthatches have in
common?
DDeecceemmbbeerr 22000099 33
AtlantaAudubon
Society
LegacyClub
Join the AAS Legacy Club byincluding Atlanta Audubonin your bequests.
Your gift to Atlanta AudubonSociety ensures our long-termability to manage theresources necessary topreserve and protect metroAtlanta’s birds and theecosystems that support them.While cash donations are themost popular form of support,a variety of options exist,from charitable gift annuitiesand more.
The Questions andAnswers section hasgenerated additionalinquiries about AtlantaAudubon's Legacy Club.We would be happy toanswer any questionsconcerning ways you couldhelp ensure future effortsof AAS in protecting birdsand their habitat. Contactus to see if we can help youwith your plans.
Contact Art Hurt [email protected] Catharine Kuchar [email protected].
AAS Receives Grant from Foster’s Wine Estatesto Support Phase Two of the
Atlanta BeltLine ProjectAtlanta Audubon, along with partner TreesAtlanta, received a major grant from Foster’sWine Estates in support of phase two of ourAtlanta BeltLine project. The $24,000 grant willbe used to restore critical habitat for wildlifeand birds along a six-mile urban corridor.
Foster’s Wine Estates is the parent company ofBeringer Vineyards, Chateau St. Jean, Penfolds,Rosemount, Stags’ Leap, and several otherwineries. The grant awarded to AtlantaAudubon is part of Foster’s communityinvestment program that has donated to morethan 700 non-profit organizations over the pastyear.
Our key project objectives for phase twoinclude 1) developing an assessment plan for
each of the remaining seven sites detailingthreats to habitat and target species; 2) creatingthe remaining seven educational pieces for eachneighborhood site; and 3) completing two on-the-ground restorations projects.
We hope to have strong citizen participation andincreased awareness by local students andresidents of the unique natural featuressurrounding them. Our goal is to increaseenvironmental stewardship and have asubstantial impact for birds and wildlife in eachneighborhood along the Atlanta BeltLine.
We are extremely grateful to Foster’s for makingthe continuation of this project possible.
Atlanta Christmas Bird Count Slated for December 20, 2009By Bob Zaremba
The longest running citizen science survey in theworld, Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count(CBC), will take place between Dec. 14, 2009 andJan. 5, 2010. From Alaska to Antarctica, tens ofthousands of volunteers will add a new layer to overa century of data vital to conservation. Scientists relyon these data to better understand how birds and theenvironment we share are faring. Just like canaries inthe coal mines, birds serve as early indicators ofproblems that can eventually affect people andwildlife. Data from Audubon are at the heart ofseveral scientific reports. CBC data informed the firstState of the Birds report issued earlier this year bythe U.S. Department of the Interior. CBC analysis alsofueled Audubon’s report that climate change isalready having an impact on birds across thecontinent.
The CBC began in 1900 when the founder of Bird-Lore (the progenitor of Audubon magazine), FrankChapman, suggested an alternative to the “side hunt”in which teams competed to see who could shoot themost game, including birds. Chapman proposed thatpeople “hunt” birds only to identify, count and recordthem. These “binocular brigades” often brave winter’schill, ice and snow to record changes in residentpopulations and ranges. “When Frank Chapmanstarted the Christmas Bird Count, it was a visionaryact,” said National Audubon Society President JohnFlicker. “No one could have predicted how importantthe CBC would become as a resource and tool forconservation.” CBC data also help document successstories. The Christmas Bird Count helped document
the comeback of the previously endangered BaldEagle and significant increases in waterfowlpopulations, both the result of conservation efforts.“Each CBC volunteer observer is an importantcontributor, helping to shape the overall direction ofbird conservation,” says Geoff LeBaron, Audubon'sChristmas Bird Count director.
Richard Parks, in an article in the December 2002GOShawk, described the early history of the AtlantaChristmas Bird Count. According to Dick, the firstAtlanta count took place in 1903, making it one of theoldest counts in the country. The first count,performed by a single observer, was the fourthhighest in the country, with 30 species recorded and556 individuals. Counts were held in 1905, andbeginning in 1911 counts were held for most yearswith the exception of an interruption during WorldWar I. These early counts laid the foundation for thecurrent counts throughout the state.
The Atlanta Christmas Bird Count is sponsored by theAtlanta Audubon Society. In 1974 the current countcircle was moved to its present location, which iscentered in Marietta, Cobb County, near Due WestElementary School. If you are interested inparticipating in this year’s count on Sunday, Dec. 20,please contact me at [email protected] or call770.422.5830. See Pg. 10 for other Georgia CBCs.For up-to-date scheduling, go tohttp://www.gos.org/cbc/cbc.html.
Sources: The National Audubon Society; GOShawk
44 Atlanta Audubon Society
ATLANTA AREA
HERONS THROUGH RAILS – A YELLOW-CROWNEDNIGHT-HERON was rather late in Bartow Co. on 9 Sept.(KB, NF). SB reported a group of three WHITE IBIS overAtlanta on 5 Sept. Highly unusual was a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE over Ball Ground on 3 Sept. (JM). The peakcount of BROAD-WINGED HAWKS was 53 over Roswellon 13 Sept. (SZ). Two PEREGRINE FALCONS in BartowCounty on 26 Sept. was a wonderful sighting (PB, HG).Probably one of the most unusual reports was that of aBLACK RAIL at Panola Mtn. on 30 Sept. during a workparty to eradicate foreign vegetation (NK).
SHOREBIRDS – The AMERICAN AVOCET previouslyreported from Bartow Co. was seen again on 4 Sept.(RC) and 5 Sept. (TF). JS, HG and PB found sixAMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS in Bartow Co. on 8 Sept.KB, RC and NF had a total of seven there the same day.The last report was one bird at the same location on 27Sept. (B&DZ, et al.). Some other interesting shorebirdsightings were an UPLAND SANDPIPER in Bartow Co.on 8 Sept. (KB, RC, NF), a SANDERLING in Forsyth Co.on 17 Sept. (JF) and two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERSat the E. L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) inClayton Co. on 17 Sept. A number of STILTSANDPIPERS were seen at the ELHLAF with fourstarting on 14 Sept. (NF) and a peak of six on 17 Sept.(CL). One additional STILT SANDPIPER was seen inForsyth Co. on 17 Sept. (JF). Two BUFF-BREASTEDSANDPIPERS were found in Bartow Co. on 9 Sept. (KB,NF). The peak count was four in Bartow Co. on 13 Sept.(NF) with the last report of three birds on 27 Sept.(B&DZ, et al.). An immature RED-NECKED PHALAROPEwas found in Forsyth Co. on 22 Sept. (JF) and was lastseen on 23 Sept. by PMcL and KM.
NIGHTHAWK THROUGH WAXWING – Several observersreported groups of COMMON NIGHTHAWKS movingthrough the area from 12 Sept. through 22 Sept. withtotals of generally 160-200 (m.ob.). Reports of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS came from the Mercer Wetlandson 2 Sept. (PMcL) and the Chattahoochee RiverNational Recreation Area (CRNRA) on 18 Sept. (MD) andagain on 19 Sept. (KB, et al.). Single YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHERS were found at the Newman’s WetlandsCenter on 10 Sept. (CL), at Henderson Park (HP) on 14Sept. (HG, et al.) and at the CRNRA on 19 Sept. (KB, etal.). Single LEAST FLYCATCHERS were seen at theSuwanee Creek Greenway on 6 Sept. (BB), at HP from3 Sept. until at least 14 Sept. (HG, et al.). An additionalbird was seen at the CRNRA on 22 Sept. (KB). Otherinteresting reports were a MARSH WREN at the ClydeShepherd Nature Preserve on 29 Sept. (StC) and aCEDAR WAXWING at the Little Mulberry Park on 4 Sept.(BB).
WARBLERS THROUGH TANAGERS – There were tworeports of the hybrid BREWSTER’S WARBLER with onebird being found on or about 9 Sept. at HP and seenthrough 14 Sept. (NF). Another bird was seen at theClyde Shepherd Nature Preserve on 17 Sept. (LH).Interesting warbler reports included 12 TENNESSEEWARBLERS at HP on 30 Sept. (HG, et al.), a NASHVILLEWARBLER at HP on 13 Sept. (JSe), 15 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS at HP on 14 Sept. (HG, et al.), 11MAGNOLIA WARBLERS at HP on 30 Sept. (HG, et al.),11 AMERICAN REDSTARTS at HP on 14 Sept. (HG, etal.), and a CONNECTICUT WARBLER at HP on 14 Sept.(HG, et al.). WILSON’S WARBLERS were well reportedwith two at HP on 12 Sept. (PMcL), one at HP on 13Sept. (JSe), and two at the CRNRA on 14 Sept. (NF). NFhad a decent count of 14 SCARLET TANAGERS atKennesaw Mtn. National Battlefield on 13 Sept.
GEORGIA AREA
DUCKS THROUGH WADERS – BLACK-BELLIEDWHISTLING-DUCKS continue to expand their numberswith approximately 30 in Dougherty Co. on 7 Sept. (WS,MMa) and 47 at the Altamaha Waterfowl ManagementArea near Darien also on 7 Sept. (KB, RC).Approximately 15 SNOW GEESE were reported fromOconee Co. on 2 Sept. (fide MF). Five TRICOLOREDHERONS were rather rare in Baker Co. on 3 Sept. (WS).Peak wader counts included five REDDISH EGRETS onLittle St. Simon’s Island (LSSI) on 14 Sept. (CM, ScC),100 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS on Raccoon Keyon 5 Sept. (BL, et al.) and 104 ROSEATE SPOONBILLSin Glynn Co. on 6 Sept. (KB, RC). Seventy-three WHITEIBIS were rather unusual in the Marshallville area on 21Sept. (WC).
KITES THROUGH SHOREBIRDS – A late MISSISSIPPIKITE was seen in Polk Co. on 26 Sept. (PB, HG). SingleAMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were seen in DoughertyCo. on 1 and 13 Sept. (WS). A good count of sevenPIPING PLOVERS was reported from LSSI on 14 Sept.(CM, ScC). UPLAND SANDPIPERS were spotted inDougherty Co. from 1 through 13 Sept. with the peakcount of four coming on 13 Sept. (WS). Always a goodbird for GA was a LONG-BILLED CURLEW on LSSI on14 Sept. (CM, ScC). BW, TK and SH had an impressivecount of 2500 RED KNOTS on Wolf Island NWR on 1Sept. A single BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen atBostwick Sod in Morgan Co. from 18 Sept. (MF)through 20 Sept. (JN). WS had a nice count of eightSTILT SANDPIPERS in the Albany area on 21 Sept.BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were reported fromEmanuel Co., Glynn Co., and the Perry and Albanyareas by a number of observers.
GULLS THROUGH TERNS – Five LAUGHING GULLS werequite unusual in the Marshallville area on 21 Sept.(WC). WC had a rare FRANKLIN’S GULL at the WestPoint Dam on 29 Sept. but the rarest gull by far was
the adult SABINE’S GULL in Murray Co. on 22 Sept.(JSp). A number of other observers were able to seethe bird, but unfortunately it had left by the nextmorning. JMcN, et al. had an impressive count of 18LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Gould’s Inlet on 6Sept. Also a very rare occurrence was an ARCTIC TERNat Gould’s Inlet on 6 Sept. (KB, RC, JMcN, MMcS).
WHIP-POOR-WILLS THROUGH WHEATEARS – JFrecorded as many as 34 WHIP-POOR-WILLS in Greeneand Hancock Counties on 7 Sept. JF also had a rareWARBLING VIREO in Habersham Co. on 13 Sept. Therewere seven separate reports of PHILADELPHIA VIREOSfrom 8 Sept. through 30 Sept. with the peak count offour coming from Carter’s Lake on 27 Sept. (PMcL, etal.). Four PURPLE MARTINS were late at Carter’s Lakeon 22 Sept. (JF). An extremely rare NORTHERNWHEATEAR was reported from Nannygoat Beach onSapelo Island on 8 Sept. (JK). Hopefully this sightingwill be documented as it would be only the secondrecord for GA.
FLYCATCHERS – There were a number of reports ofEmpidonax flycatchers during the month. ACADIANFLYCATCHERS were of course noted in reasonablenumbers, but the sightings of YELLOW-BELLIEDFLYCATCHERS and LEAST FLYCATCHERS were quiteunusual. There were a total of five reports of YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS from 5 Sept. through 29 Sept.There were a total of four LEAST FLYCATCHER reportsfrom 3 Sept. to 22 Sept. Most of these sightings wereof single birds, but there were occasionally multiplereports from the same location (m.ob.).
WARBLERS – A hybrid BREWSTER’S WARBLER wasreported from the Albany area on 29 Sept. (AA, MMa).WC had a number of good reports from the Columbusarea with a NASHVILLE WARBLER on 29 Sept., 20+BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS at Pine Mtn. on 14 Sept.,21 AMERICAN REDSTARTS on 29 Sept., and fourSWAINSON’S WARBLERS on 16 Sept. TT, also reportingfrom the Columbus area, had five SWAINSON’SWARBLERS on 10 Sept. Single WILSON’S WARBLERSwere seen in Catoosa Co. on 6 and 24 Sept. (DH) and inthe Albany area on 29 Sept. (AA, MMa).
CONTRIBUTORS – Katharine Andregg, Alan Ashley,Steve Barlow, Zack Barrow, Brandon Best, KenBlankenship, Walt Bowman, Patrick Brisse, RachelCass, Walt Chambers, Stan Chapman, Scott Coleman,Mark Davis, Nathan Farnau, James Fleullon, Jim Flynn,Terry Forbes, Mark Freeman, Liz and Hugh Garrett,Stacia Hendricks, David Hollie, Lisa Hurt, Jessie Kanes,Tim Keyes, Nathan Klaus, Carol Lambert, Bill Lotz, Maryand Gavin MacDonald, Melissa Martin, Patty McLean,Joel McNeal, Mark McShane, Jenny Michaels, KathyMiller, Darlene Moore, Peggy and Terry Moore, CharlieMuise, James Neves, Bill and Karla O’Grady, SteveParrish, Wayne Schaffner, Jeff Sewell, Steve Slayton,Adam Smith, Joshua Spence, Ted Theus, Eran Tomer,Gene Wilkinson, Brad Winn, Bob and Deb Zaremba, andStacy Zarpentine.
Terry Moore, 13000 Bucksport Ct., Roswell, GA 30075– [email protected]
September Field Notes by Terry Moorez
Torrential rains during the lasthalf of the month caused muchflooding and misery in the
state. The only good news was thatthis much rainfall caused excellentshorebird habitat to be made
available, especially at sod farms which arescattered around the state. Read on for someof the highlights of the shorebird migration.
The Atlanta area recorded 156 species(average = 161.5) to bring the year-to-date listto 234 (average = 237.6. The Georgia areareported 221 species (average = 220.2) tobring that year-to-date list to 321 (average =324.6).
DDeecceemmbbeerr 22000099 55
Field Trips Compiled by Stan Chapman
Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted). We welcomeeveryone from beginners to advanced birders! Please check the Atlanta Audubon
Website (www.atlantaaudubon.org) for December field trips that may be scheduled.
Sketch by Anne McCallum
We encourage carpooling. If you arecoming from the Atlanta area and arewilling to take riders or if you wish to ridewith someone (and share expenses),please e-mail Stan Chapman [email protected] and include your name,location and phone number(s) for MurrayCounty trip by 8 PM Wednesday, Dec. 2and for Rome trip by 8 AM Thursday, Dec.10, at which times Stan will send a masterlist of drivers and riders so everyone canmake their own arrangements.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 AMPiedmont Park (City of Atlanta)Sponsored by the Piedmont ParkConservancy and AASMatt WardMeet at the Piedmont ParkConservancy Community Room,Piedmont Ave. and 12th St.Children accompanied by a parent areinvited.Birding focus: This trip is an excellentway for beginners to learn about birdsfound in the forest and adjacent pond.Directions: From south of Atlanta: TakeI-75/85 N to Exit 249B/Pine St. Go straighton Pine St., crossing Peachtree St. Turn lefton Piedmont Ave. Travel about 1.0 mi. to12th St. From northwest of Atlanta: TakeI-75 S. to Exit 250/16th St. Go straight,crossing 14th St. Follow the signs to 10thSt. Turn left on 10th St. Travel 0.5 mi. toPiedmont Ave. Go left and travel about 1.0mi. to 12th St. From northeast ofdowntown: Take I-85 S to Exit 84/17th St.Continue straight, crossing 14th St. Followdirections above. From MARTA ArtsCenter station, walk south 1.5 mi. to 14thSt., turn left (east) and walk two blocks toPiedmont Ave., then turn right and walksouth two blocks to 12th St.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 AMCarter’s Lake area, Murray County(near Ellijay)Sandy Pangle (cell 770.656.3298) andJoshua SpenceMeet at the Carter’s Lake Re-regulation Dam parking area.Birding focus: Bald Eagle, Red-breastedMerganser, Common Loon, Winter Wren,Bonaparte’s Gull and many sparrows,raptors and waterfowl. We will scope out acouple of places on the lake, walk thesongbird trail and nearby sparrow fieldand, depending on time and preference,bird nearby Pine Chapel Road. There is a$3 parking fee at one of these locations.Directions: From I-285, take I-75 N toExit 293 and follow U.S. 411 N forapproximately 27 mi. to the intersectionwith GA 136 in Ranger where there is a gasstation and Ralston’s Corner store. Turnright (east) onto GA 136, go 0.5 mi. to oldU.S. 411, turn left (north) and go 0.7 mi.,turn right into the recreation area by thedam.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 8 AMChattahoochee Nature Center (Fulton County)Stacy Zarpentine (cell 404.219.5869)Meet at the store of theChattahoochee Nature Center,9135 Willeo Road, Roswell.Birding Focus: Winter birds includingwaterfowl, kingfishers and herons alongthe river, and raptors, kinglets, waxwings,sparrows and wrens, among many otherspecies.Directions: From Roswell Rd./U.S. 19heading north from Atlanta or I-285: At thefirst traffic light after crossing theChattahoochee River, turn left onto AzaleaDr. At the second traffic light, turn left ontoWilleo Rd. CNC is located 0.5 mi. on theright. From GA 400 Northbound, take Exit6/Northridge Rd. and bear to the right,going back over the freeway. Immediatelyafter crossing over GA 400, turn right ontoDunwoody Pl. Follow for 1.2 mi. to
Roswell Rd., turn right and follow thedirections above. From GA 400Southbound, take Exit 6/Northridge Rd. Atthe end of the ramp, travel straight throughthe traffic light onto Dunwoody Pl. FollowDunwoody Pl. for 1.2 mi. to Roswell Rd.Turn right and follow the directions above.
Sunday, Dec. 13, 8 AMRome, GA, areaOwen Kinney (cell 706.346.4874) andMarion DobbsMeet in the parking area ofHermann Hall, a large brick building atBerry College.Birding Focus: Bald Eagles, harriers andkestrels, and many types of waterfowl andearly winter songbirds. Habitats includeopen agricultural zones, beaver swamps,mountain longleaf pine stands, severalwetland areas and open water at GardenLakes. We will bird campus sites (PossumTrot and the Old Mill area) and move on toGarden Lakes.Directions: From I-285, take I-75 N toExit 290 and follow GA 20 W toward Romefor 2.4 mi. Turn left (west) onto the rampto U.S. 41 N/U.S. 411/GA 20 W/GA 3 N/JoeFrank Harris Pkwy. and follow for anadditional 3.0 mi. Merge onto U.S. 411/GA20 W and follow for 16.7 mi. Turn rightonto GA 1 Loop N/GA 746 N /VeteransMemorial Hwy. and continue to follow GA1 Loop N for 8.0 mi. Make a slight rightturn onto the Martha Berry Hwy./U.S.27/GA 1 for 0.7 mi., turn left into the mainentrance to Berry College and follow theroad to the traffic circle—enter the circle,take the second exit, and follow the road ashort distance to the parking area besideHermann Hall (large brick building).
Sunday, December 20 Marietta, GAChristmas Bird CountBob & Deb Zaremba (770.422.5830)See pages 3 & 10
If you are interested in leading a field trip and/or volunteering to help with the Field Trip Committee, have ideas ofwhere you would like to go and/or feedback about leaders or trips, please e-mail Stan Chapman, Field Trips
Coordinator, at [email protected].
66 AAttllaannttaa AAuudduubboonn SSoocciieettyy
V o l u n t e e r C o r n e r • V o l u n t e e r C o r n e r • V o l u n t e e rCorner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer
A Million Thanks!Atlanta Audubon Society is an amazing organization because of itsvolunteers! As always, we extend our unending gratitude to ALL ofour volunteers, but would like to send a special thank you to thefollowing individuals this month.
We can’t thank volunteer and recent Master Birder graduate, DonnaWensink, enough for getting out the 2010 membership mailing. She
stuffed over 800 envelopes and got them ready to go to the post office.Donna, you’re the best.
Our Master Birder program is one of the most important educational opportunities provided byAAS. Our program would not be possible if it were not for the amazing instructors who work sohard. Many, many thanks go to Lisa Hurt, Georgann Schmalz, Diane LaCole and CharlieMuise. We think all of you are wonderful.
Many thanks to Victor Williams, an AAS board member. He helped us put up our new birdfeeder and bird house, which were graciously donated by Bob May and Lee Baker of WorkshopCreations. Victor does a lot of handy work on the grounds of our new home and in the preserve,and we really appreciate his efforts.
olunteer Opportunities
Compiled by Carol Hassell
Publicity for upcoming fieldtrips Are the field trips your favoriteAAS activity? They are the top-rated activity we offer, accordingto our members. And we’ve gotseveral field trips scheduled inDecember. Help us spread theword about these trips bycontacting local newspapers, birdand nature stores, bulletin boards,mailing lists, etc.—anywherewhere people interested in birdwalks might see them. Or you canhelp coordinate with members ofthe Field Trip Committee to spreadthe word about upcoming trips inother ways. Contact Field TripCommittee members SylviaChandler, [email protected], forpublicity other than newspapersand Pam Higginbotham,[email protected], fornewspaper publicity.
Be an emissary—leadbeginners' walksLeaders teach participants thevery basics of birding. You don’thave to be an A1 birder, just shareyour knowledge by acquaintingnewbies to birding and helpingthem identify common birds.Contact Stan at [email protected] arrange locations and times.
Interested in leading a birdwalk next spring at Williams MillPark in Flowery Branch (HallCounty), an AAS Backyard WildlifeSanctuary? Dates and times areflexible. Contact Stan Chapman([email protected]) and Roz Schmitt (770.531.3953 [email protected]).
Freedom Park Bird and ButterflyGarden is looking for volunteersfor occasional one- or two- hourworkdays. Contact Carol Vanderschaaf [email protected].
4 Tis the season ... to take up birding! Yuletide isfast approaching and with it comes the 110thChristmas Bird Count, the longest runningwildlife census conducted by thousands ofvolunteers throughout the Americas. Back in1976, Jim Flynn, the webmaster for AtlantaAudubon Society, read about an upcomingChristmas Bird Count in the Erie Daily Times.A few months before Jim, who had always beeninterested in nature, had come across one ofPeterson’s field guides at the home of his AuntEdith. He was drawn to an account of theDouble-crested Cormorant—Jim had learned inschool that the Chinese had used cormorants tofish. He was surprised to find that cormorantscould be found in Erie where he lived; hethought this fact was pretty cool. That sessionwith the field guide sparked the birding bug, sowhen Jim read about the Christmas Bird Count,he hopped right on it.Actually, Jim hopped on his bike and rode eightmiles through the snow (we are talking Erie, PA,snow) to Presque Isle State Park, a key locationfor the Erie count. As hoped, Jim was able tomeet up with other birders who quicklywelcomed him to the flock. They stowed hisbike in the trunk of a car, and he spent the restof the afternoon with the group and doubled hislife list. As Jim says, “From that point on, I wasreally hooked.”A resident of Cumming, GA, Jim is a network
architect designing online communication networks. That expertise, combined with his love of birding, makes him a natural to
be the AAS webmaster.As such, he takesinformation created byboard members, projectdirectors and othervolunteers and formats itfor the web. Jim alsoleads an occasional fieldtrip for AAS, serves asthe webmaster andsecretary for theChecklist and RecordsCommittee for the Georgia OrnithologicalSociety and has managed websites to assistDepartment of Natural Resources biologistswith photo selection for state wide atlases, suchas Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia and theupcoming Breeding Bird Atlas of Georgia.Jim’s favorite places to bird in Georgia changewith the seasons. When pressed to pick a singlefavorite he named the Altamaha River area, acritical habitat located in southern Georgia forBald Eagles, Swallow-tailed Kites and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. As for Jim’s favoritebird, that’s a hard one. “I’ve had so many greatexperiences, I don’t know where to even start! Iprobably don’t have a favorite bird species, but Ido have a favorite bird family—Ducks.”So for those readers who want to help cultivatethe next generation of birders, leave those fieldguides lying around when youngsters come tovisit and encourage beginning birders to join theChristmas Bird Count community. Those simplesteps have led to 33 years of birding memoriesfor our webmaster Jim Flynn.
Happy Birder Jim FlynnPhotographer: Cathy Flynn
Spotlighting... Jim FlynnBy Lynn Waldvogel
As 2009 draws to a close, so does my two year-term as AtlantaAudubon Society’s volunteer coordinator. It has been achallenging experience, but one that I have enjoyed immensely.I’ve had the privilege of recruiting and coordinating, therebygetting to know many AAS members who volunteered for suchpopular events as the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour, theOpen House at our new home at the Blue Heron NaturePreserve and our annual holiday and auction parties. I’ve alsocoordinated volunteers for various events such as Earth Day,International Migratory Bird Day and activities at shade-growncoffee venues, as well as arranging for volunteer speakers torepresent AAS at various organizations. It is a full-time job!
All I can say is that we have the best and most diversely skilledvolunteers of any nature group in Atlanta! Thank you, thankyou, thank you to each of you who has volunteered, thushelping our organization attain its mission. AAS is run almostexclusively by our volunteers, a remarkable feat considering allthat we do. While there are too many wonderful volunteersmembers to name, some folks deserve special recognition.
Carl Tyler, before me, wanted to track our volunteers and thehours they gave to AAS and to thank them. He invited PamHigginbotham to format a database to do just that. She hasworked tirelessly on this project for well on four years! Buildingon what Carl created and working with Catharine Kuchar andBarbara Tarpley, we designed the volunteer page in Wingbars tohighlight the Time Well Spent by volunteers, Thanks a Millionacknowledgments of volunteers, the spotlighting of anindividual volunteer, and a listing of special volunteeropportunities for members.
Carol Hassel created the monthly e-mail blast of volunteeropportunities for Master Birders, which has been immenselyhelpful in communicating with interested volunteers. HavingSally Davis in the AAS office allowed for better communicationwith members about administrative volunteer activities andrequests from outside organizations. We created adownloadable request form for events and festivals and postedit on our website to facilitate our outreach activities, and nowEmily Toriani-Moura has expanded the programmaticopportunities for volunteers to promote and support the AASmission.
The role of volunteers as well as our ability to recruit andcommunicate with them has grown as AAS has moved forwardin our goal of becoming a larger presence in the metropolitanAtlanta community. When I first began managing special eventsthree years ago, we had limited strategies for contacting andrecruiting volunteers, and the number of active volunteers wasquite small in comparison to all we did. Today, with theleadership of Catharine Kuchar, her staff and the AAS board,volunteers and volunteer opportunities can be more aptlymatched, and this creates a bright future for all of us.
I will truly miss my colleagues on the board, a great group ofcommitted volunteers, but I look forward to finding my place asan active volunteer off the board. I would encourage each ofyou to do the same. On or off the board, we all have theopportunity to share with others the enjoyment of birds bylearning their identities and participating in the conservation oftheir wildlife habitats.
In AppreciationBy Nancy Hamilton
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The 13th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife FestivalJanuary 27 to February 1, 2010
Presented by the Brevard Nature Alliance and timed to coincide with peak activity for wintering birdpopulations in Florida, this event has something of interest for everyone—more than 250 activitiesincluding classroom presentations, an exhibit center with over 70 exhibitors, an art competition with$1,600 plus in prizes, a silent auction, the Raptor Project, field trips, water adventures, a pelagic boattrip and more. Blessed with diverse habitats and favorable climate, Florida's Space Coast is among the best birdinglocations in North America. More than 330 species of birds have been seen here including manycoveted species such as Florida Scrub-Jay, Crested Caracara, Snail Kite, Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill,Reddish Egret, Peregrine Falcon, Black Rail, Painted Bunting, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Bachman'sSparrow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Glaucous Gull, Iceland (Kumlein's) Gull, Thayer's Gull and more. Outstanding birding and wildlife-watching sites include: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge,Canaveral National Seashore, Enchanted Forest Nature Sanctuary, Port Canaveral and 30 local Floridabirding trail locations—38 within a one-hour drive of Titusville.
Field trips, seminars, workshops and keynote presentations are led by a consortium of local, national and international talent. The2010 festival will feature: David Allen Sibley, Kim and Kenn Kaufman, Pete Dunne, Jessie Barry, Jeff Bouton, Victor Emanuel, KevinKarlson, Paul Lehman, Barry Lyon, Reinier Munguia, Michael O’Brien, Clay Taylor, Bill Thompson III, Joanne Williams, ChristopherWood, Louise Zemaitis and over 90 other ornithologists, biologists, scientists, historians, naturalists, photographers, and others. Visit www.nbbd.com/fly to review scheduled festival activities, registration information, accommodations, birds and wildlife seenduring the 2009 festival, and more. Contact Neta Harris, 800.460.2664 or [email protected].
Tosohatchee Wildlife ManagementArea, a very “birdie” area andhistorically home to the TimucuanIndians for several centuriesPhotographer: DeeAnn Kiesel
Books for Beginning BirdersHere are a few books that will greatly aid beginners (or anyone, for that matter) in their quest to become a better birder.
For the most part, these books won’t help you identify a particular bird. But they will give you a firm foundation to make quicker and moreaccurate identifications in general. What’s more, they will help you better enjoy and get more out of the pursuit of bird watching.
For an expanded list of recommended books on birding, go to www.birderslibrary.com/features/books_for_beginning_birders.htm.
Pete Dunne on Bird Watching by Pete DunneDunne provides many tips and suggestions, butmore than anything else he clearly introduceswhat this birding thing is all about, from birdfeeding to pelagic trips. As a bonus, you get allof this with the author’s trademark wit andhumor. This is more than a treasure trove ofinformation from one of our foremost birders,it’s also a fun read.
The Complete Birder: A Guide to Better Birdingby Jack ConnorEven though this is older and out-of-print, it’sworth tracking down. Although there is someoverlap with the other books, this one providesan overview of the birding seasons andinformation on some problematical families likewarblers and gulls. Personal anecdotes and livelywriting keep it interesting.
National Geographic Birding Essentials byJonathan Alderfer and Jon L. DunnThis covers more technical, but still crucial,topics than Dunne and Connor, such as the partsof a bird and molt. Many great color photosillustrate the concepts.
Sibley’s Birding Basics by David Allen SibleyThis is a great guide, but contrary to the title Ithink intermediate and even advanced birderswill get more out of this than beginners. If therest of these books haven’t satiated your desirefor birding know-how, then turn here next.
Ever thought about how bird populations are affected by the numberof small animals in a particular area? Over the summer I got thechance to participate in a study designed to, among other things,determine just how many small mammals were populating an area ofabout a half a square mile in a remote part of Nova Scotia. The tripwas sponsored by Earthwatch, an organization that funds scientificresearch of various types around the world and makes use ofvolunteers to conduct its projects. The principal investigators were Dr.Christina Buesching and Dr. Chris Newman of England’s OxfordUniversity.
To determine how many animals were populating the area, we had toset traps—two-part metal boxes consisting of an entry tunnel and anesting chamber. Inside of each box we placed a wad of grass, somebird seed and a slice of apple. Going through the bush, we set 50traps in rows of 10 each, with about 10 meters between traps. Thetraps had to be checked twice a day over a stretch of two weeks.
We hoped to catch chipmunks, voles, lemmings, shrews, mice andsquirrels. Each of the 14 volunteers got a chance to grab the animals(with nary an eek!) and place them in a plastic bag so they could beweighed and various data recorded. A bit of fur was trimmed so wewould know/recognize the animal if it were caught again. We thenreturned them to the place in the forest where they were captured andreleased them.
With one particular chipmunk, we noticed that a botfly larva wasstarting to worm its way out of her abdomen. When we caught her a
second time, she had somehow lostmost of her tail. She quickly picked upthe name “Stubby.” Our leaders told usthat chipmunks can shed their tails toescape a predator, although they will notregrow. Like some career criminals, shewas caught again and again. Each timethe botfly larva was closer to working itsway out of her body. Finally, on the lasttime we caught her, the larva fell out andwas retrieved by the principalinvestigators. It had not hatched by thetime our expedition was over, but theytold us they planned to name the botfly“Gordon.”
In the end, we captured all of the target animals except squirrels, andmore than one species of several of them. And what did our workdetermine? The principal investigators told us that populations ofsmall mammals appeared to be down this year—not good news forbirds such as owls and goshawks, which depend on an ample supplyfor their livelihood.
If you think that you, too, might like to tromp through rugged terrainsetting mouse traps in just about any kind of weather, it is not too late.The trip will be offered nine times next year from March to December.For more information, check the Earthwatch website,
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Book Review by Grant McCreary
Steven hamming it up:Photographer: Alexandria Stainov
Earthwatch TripBy Steve Phenicie
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AAS Wraps Up TogetherGreen Grantfor 2008-2009
Atlanta Audubon, working with its partner Trees Atlanta,wrapped up its work on the TogetherGreen grant that wereceived last year. We focused on giving a voice to the wildlifeand birds living along the Atlanta BeltLine, engaging ininnovative, on-the-ground conservation projects in theWarehouse Row and West Connection neighborhoods andactively involving citizens in these unique neighborhoods.
With support from TogetherGreen, Atlanta Audubon Societycompleted phase one of our project, supporting 7 of the 14neighborhoods (all in the southern half of the Atlanta BeltLine).This phase incorporated both habitat goals of reducing thethreat to habitats (and identified wildlife/bird species) andrestoring habitat for the wildlife/bird species.
We were successful in achieving the following projectobjectives:
• developed an in-depth field analysis and plan of the uniquewildlife/bird species for each of the seven “natural habitats”(identified habitats/neighborhoods: West Connection,Warehouse Row, Southern Way, The Confluence, New South,Piedmont Park and Entrenchment Creek);
• worked with Trees Atlanta and the Atlanta BeltLine to makerecommendations on future planning that would be bothbird- and wildlife-friendly;
• conducted four restoration projects in the West Connectionand Warehouse Row neighborhoods including
o a special planting project with low-income students fromBrown Middle School (also did pre- and post-testing withthe students)
o a planting project in the West Connection neighborhood
o a planting project in the Warehouse Row neighborhood
o an invasive plant removal project in the West Connectionneighborhood;
• developed seven beautiful and informative educationalpieces—one for each of the seven natural neighborhoodsfocusing on the unique habitat/wildlife of the area.
Additional printed material will be developed in the comingyears; these educational pieces are a vital step in buildingrecognition and community around the natural neighborhoodsalong the Atlanta Beltline. They will serve as an important partof the conservation agenda to reduce threats and engage
audiences in citizen participation and environmentalstewardship. These neighborhoods already have “built-in” targetaudiences with many educational facilities (schools—elementary/high school—and universities such as MorehouseCollege, Spelman College and Georgia Tech).
In the seven “natural neighborhoods” we focused onhighlighting habitat issues for wildlife/birds that will serve asthe model for replication in the seven remaining neighborhoods.We believe we have brought a specific conservation voice tothis project that is so important to the future of Atlanta.
Many thanks to Charlie Muise for working on our assessmentreport and to Laura Woods, who did an outstanding job ofdesigning of our educational pieces.
Q: What species recently dethroned the Arctic Tern as the bird with the longest migration?
Answer: Sooty Shearwater
See page ___ for the answer
The young of previousseasons assist in chickrearing.
What is the Atlanta BeltLine and Arboretum?
The Atlanta BeltLine is being implemented to connect 45 Atlanta neighborhoods and 40 city parks with transit,
trails, greenspace, and new development along 22 miles of historic rail segments that encircle the city’s urban core. The BeltLine is attracting and organizing some of the region’s future growth around transit, trails, and parks, helping to change the pattern of regional sprawl and leading to a vibrant and livable Atlanta with an enhanced quality of life. The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum is an outdoor, living tree museum following the path of the BeltLine around Atlanta’s city center. The BeltLine Arboretum will include planting and care of fourteen unique tree collections; provide educational programming to all neighborhoods and constituents; and serve as a corridor of scienti�c research and education. The �rst section of BeltLine Arboretum is open in Atlanta’s West End; the balance will be built over the next twenty years. The BeltLine Arboretum will be a success when everyone in Atlanta can identify their neighborhood by the trees that surround them, and therefore understand the value of trees in an urban environment.www.beltline.org Warehouse Row
Symbolic Bird
Northern CardinalAlthough it is not Georgia’s o�cial state bird, the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, is a brilliantly-colored, year-round favorite that is the o�cial bird for seven other states.
The Northern Cardinal is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning that members of the opposite sex look di�erent from one another. The male is a brilliant red, and the female is primarily gray with red on her wings and head. Both sexes sport a red crest, a long tail, a black mask and an orange/red bill (gray on immature birds). The cardinal song is a series of ascending sharp notes. The omnivorous Northern Cardinal’s diet includes seeds, fruits, and invertebrates.
The female builds a nest of broken and bent twigs that is three to four meters above the ground. The eggs, which are grayish white or speckled, are often removed by Brown-headed Cowbirds. On average, only a quarter of cardinal nests produce �edglings.
Northern Cardinals are common visitors in inhabited areas such as parks and yards. They are often seen attacking re�ections of themselves in mirrors and windows. This bird, with its striking colors and territorial behavior, deserves credit for inspiring many people to pick up a �eld guide and begin to enjoy the wonderful world of birds.
Exploring YOURNatural Neighborhood
Warehouse Row
What is Unique Aboutthe Warehouse RowNatural Neighborhood?The Warehouse Row natural neighborhood is a narrow right-of-way segment between rows of warehouses and the stretch of trail that follows the road. Neighborhoods in the Warehouse Row area include Westview, Cascade Road, Oakland City and West End. Trees in this neighborhood will have high visual impact that can be appreciated while traveling faster than walking speed. This landscape of motion also features ancient and primitive trees that have existed for a long time.
This special natural neighborhood not only provides trails and an important tree canopy (see “What are WKH�%HQH¿WV�RI�WKH�7UHHV�LQ�0\�1HLJKERUKRRG"´�inside), but it gives birds and wildlife suitable green VSDFH�WR�WKULYH�DQG�ÀRXULVK���6SULQJ�DQG�IDOO�PLJUDQW�species of birds will rest and refuel here before traveling on. Birds and other wildlife that make this DUHD�WKHLU�KRPH�\HDU�URXQG�ZLOO�DOVR�EHQH¿W�IURP�WKH�Warehouse Row natural neighborhood. Thanks to VWXGHQWV�DW�%URZQ�0LGGOH�6FKRRO�ZKR�SDUWLFLSDWHG�LQ�a native habitat restoration project near Rose Circle, \RX�ZLOO�¿QG�PDQ\�FRPPRQ�ELUGV�KHUH�LQFOXGLQJ�Yellow-rumped Warblers, Cedar Waxwings, Red-headed Woodpeckers and American Robins. Other wildlife might include deer, foxes, beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, opossums, along with various types of reptiles and amphibians. A box turtle was VHHQ�ZDONLQJ�DORQJ�:KLWH�6WUHHW���7DNH�D�ZDON�DW�GLIIHUHQW�WLPHV�RI�WKH�GD\�DQG�¿QG�ZLOGOLIH�VFXUU\LQJ�along, sharing your natural neighborhood.
Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Natural Neighborhood Series
Northern Cardinal by Jim Wilson
Atlanta Audubon SocietyAtlanta Audubon Society is the region’s primary education and conservation group dedicated to birds. Educational programs, conservation initiatives and community outreach are at the heart of the organization. Atlanta Audubon provides the community with important educational opportunities including �eld trips, workshops, the exclusive
Master Birder Program, birding camps for young people and scholarship programs. Individuals and communities are engaged in unique ways to directly impact the conservation of birds. Atlanta Audubon’s conservation work focuses on “Creating, Promoting and Preserving Bird-Friendly Habitat,” and includes overseeing the Georgia Important Bird Areas program, monitoring eastern hemlock trees to combat the hemlock woolly adelgid in the North Georgia Mountains, managing the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Certi�cation program, and serving as the steward for a 183-acre wildlife sanctuary. Protecting the birds that we love is the most important thing we do. www.atlantaaudubon.org
Trees AtlantaTrees Atlanta is a nationally recognized citizens group dedicated to protecting and improving Atlanta’s urban forest by planting,
conserving and educating. Trees in urban areas provide a number of economic, health and social bene�ts and are essential for clean air, storm water management, erosion control, noise absorption, bird and wildlife habitat, and more. Since 1985, Trees Atlanta has planted and distributed 75,000 trees. Trees Atlanta programs include NeighborWoods, volunteer-based planting and care of trees 6-10 feet tall; Large Trees, planting and care of trees 10-15 feet tall; Forest Restoration, a program that teaches citizens about the problems of invasive species and how to evaluate, manage and improve community green spaces; Neighborhood Arboreta, a program that places identifying markers next to neighborhood trees along with a self-guided walking tour map of the area; and Education, o�ering programming year round to teach citizens about the importance of trees. Trees Atlanta does not just plant trees…we plant communities.
www.treesatlanta.org
About the Photos
Cover:Luna Moth, Monarch Caterpillar, Monarch Butter�y and Blue Grosbeak by Dan Vickers; Bald Cypress by Steve Sanchez
Inside Left Panel:Ginkgo and Dawn Redwood by Steve Sanchez; Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and Raccoon by Dan Vickers; Green Tree Frog by Darlene Moore
Design by Laura Woods
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (often raids the nests of many types of birds)
2. Virginia Opossum (nocturnal and North America’s only marsupial—mammals of which the females have a pouch)
3. Green Tree Frog (females can lay up to 400 eggs in shallow water)
4. Eastern Chipmunk (its diet consists of grains, nuts, birds’ eggs, small frogs, fungi, worms and insects)
5. Raccoon (walking on all four feet with an arch in its back and non-retractable claws, it uses the whole sole of the foot “heel to toe” as it walks, like humans)
Answers: Wildlife in Your Neighborhood
This publication is made possible through the generous support of:The Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum Natural Neighborhood Series was written and
produced by Atlanta Audubon Society, 2009. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
1100 AAttllaannttaa AAuudduubboonn SSoocciieettyy
CLASSIFIEDSRates for 2.5” x 2.5” ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent with the conservation and birding mission
of Atlanta Audubon Society. Ads may be accepted via e-mail, preferably in .pdf format. Call 678.973.2437 if you have questions.Send payment to Wingbars Ads, Atlanta Audubon Society, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Send ads via e-mail to Catharine Kuchar at [email protected].
Bird Songs of GeorgiaCD now available.
Email Georgann Schmalz [email protected] visit www.birdingadventuresinc.com
CCrroossssrroocckk CCaabbiinn RReennttaallss
Phone: 1-877-376-5032 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cabinsinblueridgega.com
Blue Ridge, Georgia
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Perfect for birding in the mountains...90 minutes from Atlanta
When You ComeTo The Mountains -Ask about the new Birder’s Guide to Fannin County!
We feature Cole’s seed,squirrel-proof feedersthat truly are, houses,hummingbird stuff,great books, Audubonoptics, & hard to findhardware. Plus – 100’sof Ravensburger Puzzles,Music of the SpheresChimes & a hugeselection of educationaltoys andgames for kids!
Downtown Blue Ridge & Inside Mercier Orchards
611 E. Main St. • Blue Ridge, GA 30513(706) 258-BIRD (2473) • blueridgebirdseed.com
P.O. Box 921455, Norcross, GA 30010
Website: www.workshopcreations.com E-Mail: [email protected] Tel: 770-448-5363 Fax: 770-448-5363
Affordable Housing and Feeders for Birds, Bats and Butterflies
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COUNT CIRCLE COMPILER(S)Monday, December 14, 2009
Piedmont NWR-Rum Terry Johnson 478.994.1438Creek WMA [email protected]
Tuesday, December 15, 2009Lake Oconee Steve Holzman 706.613.9493 ext 229
Friday, December 18, 2009Harris Neck NWR Contact: Dot Bambach 912.598.3764
[email protected] Compiler: Steve Calver [email protected]
Saturday, December 19, 2009Athens Mary Case 706.548.3848
[email protected] Eugenia Thompson [email protected]
Augusta Anne Waters [email protected]
Cumberland Island Sheila Willis: by invitationMacon Marie Amerson 478.746.5697
[email protected] City Brock Hutchins 770.486.3715
[email protected]. Catherines Island Emil Urban: by invitation
COUNT CIRCLE COMPILER(S)Sunday, December 20, 2009
Atlanta (Marietta) Bob & Deb Zaremba [email protected]
Chattahoochee N.F. Johnny Parks 706.937.7163Songbird Mgmt. Area [email protected]
Tuesday, December 22, 2009Carters Lake Josh Spence 706.629.4325
Saturday, December 26, 2009Okefenokee NWR Sheila Willis 912.285.0419(date is tentative) [email protected]
Monday, December 28, 2009Bainbridge/Lake Seminole Oscar Dewberry 229.246.1890
[email protected] Bob Sargent 478.397.7962
[email protected] Falls Georgann Schmalz 404.245.7273
[email protected] Theresa Hartz [email protected]
Floyd County Owen Kinney [email protected]
Glynn County Mike Chapman [email protected]
COUNT CIRCLE COMPILER(S)Monday, December 28, 2009 (continued)
Savannah Contact: Dot Bambach [email protected]: Steve Calver [email protected]
To Be ScheduledAlbany Alan Ashley 229.439.8232
[email protected] Ridge Robert Kimsey 706.492.5667
[email protected] Gardens Cory Croft 706.663.6745
[email protected] Sam Pate 706.327.2574
[email protected] Phil Riner 706.226.0956
[email protected] NWR, AL/GA Sam Pate 706.327.2574
[email protected] Blackshear Terry Johnson 478.994.1438
[email protected] Island William Dopson: by invitation
DDeecceemmbbeerr 22000099 1111
Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Society members receive anintroductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon Society. Thus,you will not receive Audubon magazine.
If you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.
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SOUTHERN BIRDING TRAILSBy Kenn Kaufman
A complete list of the trails can be found in Audubon Magazine published by National Audubon Society.
Comprising 13 separate loops in Oklahoma’s western halfof the state, the trail calls for weeks of exploration.Prepare to be surprised by the diversity oflandscapes and their associated birds. Flocks ofblue-gray Pinyon Jays swarm across the slopesof the far west’s rugged Black Mesa country;elusive Black-capped Vireos and Rufous-crowned Sparrows chatter from thickets inthe southwestern Wichita Mountains; andSnowy Plovers and stately American Avocetsparade across the glistening flats of the Great SaltPlains. During spring and fall, clouds of Franklin’sGulls circle over the fields en route to or from thenorthern prairies. Winter flocks of bold Harris’s Sparrows,
black-faced and pink-billed, swarm through the riversidethickets. Come anytime in the warmer months, and
you’ll be greeted by Oklahoma’s state bird, thegorgeous Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, pale withsalmon-pink tinges and streaming tail feathers.Summer is also the time for Mississippi Kites,graceful acrobatic raptors that are perhapsmore numerous here than anywhere else,shelling and diving above cottonwood groves on
the plains. For more information:www.wildlifedepartment.com/wildlifetrails.htm or
call the Oklahoma Tourism and RecreationDepartment at 800.652.6552
Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Join us for fun December activities including our Sunday,Dec. 6, Holiday Party & Silent Auction at Five Seasons Brew-ing’s inside location (deadline for registration is Nov. 30by calling the AAS office).
Volunteer for an AAS Board of Directors position for 2010.
Renew your AAS membership online and check with your employer regarding Matching Contributions.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR for an education on lichen at ourJan. 21 Speaker Series. Malcolm Hodges and Sean Beech-ing will be our guest speakers. There’s also a follow-up work-shop at Kennesaw Mountain on Jan 23. For more details, see the January issue of Wingbars and/or AAS website.
It’s not too late to: