april 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

8/9/2019 April 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society

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ATLANTA

AUDUBON SOCIEBox 29189

Atlanta, GA 3035

www.atlantaaudubon

AAS OFFICEand Information L

770.913.051

GOS RARE BIRD AL

770.493.886

April 2007

Volume XXXIII, Issue 4 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

I N S I D

Presidents Perch.......

From the Exec Dir ......

Field Notes .................

Field Trips...................

N Alabama Birdfest....

Memoriam.................

Sonny Boy ..................

Birding Trips...............

Birds in the Park..........

GA Important Bird Area

Classifieds.................

Backyard Bird Count..

Membership ..............

Atlanta Audubon Society

presents

Celebrating the Wonders of Nature

The 28th Annual Photo Contest Presentation

Ribbons, Prizes Awarded and Talk by Charles Needle

with

Special Dragonflies Presentation and Book Signing by Giff Beaton

Sunday, April 15, 2007, 3 PMPike Family Nursery Auditorium

4020 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093

This year the Annual AAS Photo Contest Presentation promises to be very exciting. The facilities at the PikeFamily Nursery Auditorium will allow us to share all the digital photograph entries in a wide-screen format. Weare delighted that Charles Needle, well-known professional photographer, is again our judge for this event. Inaddition to speaking about nature photography in general, Mr. Needle will give a short presentation on digitalphotography.

In addition, a special presentation will be given byGiff Beaton. He will talk about dragonflies and damselfliesand their breeding biology. Besides sharing some amazing dragonfly photos, Giff will also be signing his new book,

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast.

We encourage emerging photographers to come out and see what wonderful and insightful photographs havebeen entered into this years competition and learn from an expert how to expand your photography skills!

See page 6 for directions to Pikes and information on prizes to be awarded for the photo contest.

Be A Part of Birdathon 2007!Atlanta Audubons #1 Fundraiser

Participate in one of two ways:

Sign up as a Birdathoner and collect sponsors for birding up to 24 consecutivehours, or sponsor a Birdathoner with a per species pledge or a set donation.

Go birding for up to 24 consecutive hours any time betweeen April 21 and May6. You can bird alone, with a team or with one of AASs planned field trips. Youcan bird anywhere, e.g., in your backyard, around the metro Atlanta area oreven out of the state or out of the country. You can bird and count species foras long as you want up to, 24 consecutive hours.

Birdathoners: Collect your pledges and send checks (payable to AtlantaAudubon Society) to AAS Birdathon, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.

If you have any questions about this very special event,

please contact Ellen Miller, [email protected].


2/12

Ah, spring! A few days before writing this articleI was sitting in traffic on Roswell Road in Atlanta

at about 5:45 PM and suffering from angst

because I wanted to get to a store before the 6PM closing time, and it was looking doubtful. AsI sat, I looked up and at first glance saw sixCanada Geese flying over the road. However, on

second and third glances, I realized they werenot Canada Geese but Sandhill Cranes headed

north, working on their commute. Wow, whatluck! I got stuck in traffic and got to see Sandhill

Cranes.

It seems to me Ive known all my life that birds

migrate. But until a few years ago, I had no ideajust how astounding the phenomenon of

migration really is. When I started seriouslypaying attention to the birds in my backyard, I

began to realize just how many species of birdsthere are. I began to learn about the birds thatare in the Atlanta area all the time, here only in

the winter or summer, and birds that migratethrough such that our opportunity for seeing

them is very limited. I then took AtlantaAudubons Master Birder course and learned

about the physics of flight, migration and ourbest understanding of how birds navigate, what

triggers migration, migration routes, etc. Ilearned that the number of daylight hours and

hormonal changes play a big part in the timing ofwhen birds migrate.

I get that part. Anyone who has lived with ateenager understands that hormones can make

organisms do strange things. But think about thefact that to the best of our knowledge, birds usethe Earths magnetic field, the stars, sight and, for

some birds, even smell to know where they aregoing and be able to find their wintering and

breeding grounds. Their navigational skills are soadvanced that banded birds have been found in

the exact same locations year after year.

We also learned about the challenges such asweather, tall buildings, communication towers,

cats and more that migratory birds face. Its no

wonder the population numbers of manymigrants continues to decline.

Then I took the Warbler Workshop, which is

being offered by Atlanta Audubon again thisspring. Giff Beaton taught us about various

migration routes the warblers that come througthe Atlanta area take. There are trans-gulf

migrants and circum-gulf migrants, whichbasically means they either go across the Gulf oMexico or they go around it, with the most

common route being about 650 miles long. Birdsmaller than the palm of my hand fly across the

Gulf of Mexico non-stop.

Hummingbirds are trans-gulf migrants. Theyreally do not ride on the backs of geese, and

juvenile hummingbirds know where to gowithout being shown. They dont follow theirparents or other birds. They go alone and

somehow know where to go and how to getback. Is all that phenomenal or what?

So this spring when you go on a field trip to

Kennesaw or other great Atlanta birdinglocations and see migrants in beautiful breedingplumage, take a step back and think about wha

an astounding act of nature it took for the birdsto be where you are seeing them.

Then think about what you can do to help these

magnificent creatures.

Thanks and Happy Birding!

Board of Directors2007

Executive Director Catharine Kuchar770.993.9579

[email protected]

President Ellen Miller404.355.8892

[email protected]

President-elect Vacant

Treasurer David Yon404.513.9806

[email protected]

Recording Secy Mark Jernigan404.298.8825

[email protected]

Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley404.687.0079

[email protected]

DirectorsConservation Clark Rushing

[email protected]

Education Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826

[email protected]

Field Trips Dave Butler404.580.3917

[email protected]

Membership Art Hurt770.934.7660

[email protected]

CommunicationsGeorgann Schmalz706.216.5012

[email protected]

Publicity Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324

[email protected]

Special Events Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338

[email protected]

Volunteers Vacant

At LargePast PresidentKelly Hopkins404.622.1888

[email protected]

Jay Davis404.624.4973

[email protected]

Lisa Hurt770.934.7660

[email protected]

Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative

[email protected]

---

WebsiteJim Flynn

[email protected]

Wingbars EditorGrace Trimble 404.351.0518

[email protected]

Design & Layout

Copy Preparation [email protected]

ProofreadingMim Eisenberg

[email protected]

Newsletter deadline is the first ofthe month for material to be

published the following month.Please submit articles as MS-Word to

gmtrimble @mindspring.com.Email attachments, if possible.

Wingbars is the monthly newsletter of AtlantaAudubon Society.We feature news, upcomingevents, meetings, field trips and projects.Wehope you will join us.Opinions expressed arethose of the authors and do not necessarily

reflect policies of the Atlanta Audubon Society.

Mission Statement:

To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to

conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.

Presidents Perchby Ellen Miller

Thoughts on Migration

2 Atlanta Audubon Soci


3/12

olunteerOpportunitiGET INVOLVE

IN ATLANTA

AUDUBON

We invite you to volunteerwith these Atlanta Audubonprograms.

PublicityHelp us get the word outthrough local media about field trips and workshops.Contact: Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324

MembershipHelp with mailings tomembership.Contact: Art Hurt770.934.7660

EventsRepresent Audubon at specfunctions and displays.Contact: Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338

EducationVolunteer for a variety ofeducational programs. Weprovide training workshopsContact: Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826

Wildlife SanctuarySupport the preservation o

greenspace in Atlanta.Contact: Jacqueline McRa

jacqueline.mcrae@comcas

ConservationBecome an Armchair Activiand keep updated on legislaction both locally and natiContact: Clark Rushing404.373.8585

Office and PhoneAnswer the AAS hotline anassist visitors to our officethe Dunwoody Nature CentContact: Ellen Miller

404.355.8892

Important Bird Areas ProgHelp distribute informationmonitor input, networkthroughout the state withIBA participants.Contact: Jim Wilson770.602.1679

When I first joined Atlanta Audubon Society,

I really didnt know the extent to whichoutdoor cats killed birds. I had vaguely heardabout the problem, but I didnt realize that

scientists estimate that cats (both domesticand feral) kill hundreds of million of birds

each year. Common victims includeCardinals, Blue Jays and House Wrens, as

well as other endangered and rare species. Inaddition, cats may out-compete naturalpredators for food, which can have a

detrimental effect on wildlife.

Advocates of keeping cats indoors say thatbells and declawing do not solve the birdpredation issue, and hence they have worked

hard to push for cats to remain inside. TheAmerican Bird Conservancy, in fact, has an

entire campaign focused on this issue (visitthe Conservancys Web site for more

information and details atwww.abcbirds.org/cats/).

Naturally, not having cats myself, I began towonder if there were any issues regarding

birds safety and dogs. To this point, I hadntrun across anything, but my own personalexperience proved otherwise.

I share my home with my cockatiel, Jimmy,

and three dogs, Cosmo, Tasha and ourrecently adopted dog, Lucy. BL (beforeLucy), Jimmy could fly around the house,

sitting out with me while I worked andplaying on his custom-built play stand. Tasha,

the Maltese, is so oblivious to Jimmy that onoccasion he would use her back as a

stepping stone to wherever he wanted to go.Tasha would barely glance behind her tocheck out the pesky visitor. Those were the

good ol days when dogs and birds couldintermix.

Enter Lucy, and the entire picture changes.

My new little West Highland White Terrierwould like nothing better than to slip on achefs hat, tie on a bib and enjoy a little

cockatiel surprise. Outside, the birds seemfair game too. And while I realize that the

terrier in her is a major factor, it still mademe wonder if birders are simply being biased

toward our feline friends. I had proof thatdogs could possibly be a birds greatestnightmare as well!

What I found is that letting a dog roam is one

of the main issues (as would be expected)with birds. Along the shore, owners whodont carefully monitor their dogs can find

them chasing after and catching shorebirds.In New Zealand, it was reported that in 1987

one roaming dog killed up to 500 kiwi in theWaitangi State Forest Northland in six

weeks. Dogs are natural predators. They huntmostly by smell, but movement attracts theirattention and stimulates the hunt. Birds, as

we all know, like moving. In fact, they makequick rapid moves, the most inviting type of

movement. To a dog, this is as good aswaving a flag in front of a bull. Writer Cheryl

Smith warns homeowners who feed the birdsand also have dogs to be careful about wherethey place their feeders. The dogs obviously

dont need to be eating the birds food, andthe birds dont need the danger of dogs

roaming too close to the feeders.

So what all this means is that while outdoor

cats pose a much greater threat to birds, wemust still take special care to protect the

birds from our dogs as well. As for me, Illhave to work each day to keep Lucy away

from my bird, Jimmy, and the wild birdsoutside. Unfortunately, Lucy and the birds go

together like oil and vinegar, and puttingthem together is a recipe that spells disaster.

From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar

Birds + Dogs = Trouble (or not?)

April 2007


4/12

ATLANTA AREA

GEESE THROUGH DUCKS SB reported aGREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE from theE.L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) inClayton County on 1 Jan. This bird was alsoseen by a group of birders led by CL the sameday. A different GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDGOOSE was seen at Shamrock Lake (part ofthe ELHLAF) on 2 Jan. (CL). In Bartow County,at least two GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDGEESE were reliably seen during the monthalong the Floyd Creek Church Road by severalobservers. At this same location 10 SNOWGEESE were seen on 15 Jan. by KB. At theSmith Reservoir (part of ELHLAF), CL had 21AMERICAN WIGEON on 13 Jan. and KB hadas many as five CANVASBACKS on 3 Jan. A

female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER spentthe entire month at Shamrock Lake (CL).

GREBES THROUGH SANDPIPERS Interesting sightings from the ELHLAF werethree HORNED GREBES on 1 Jan. (SB), anentirely unexpected ANHINGA on 1 Jan. (CL et.al.), a late GREAT EGRET on 1 Jan. (CL et al.),and several BALD EAGLES during the month(CL). A downtown PEREGRINE FALCON wasreported near the Biltmore Hotel on 16 Jan. byJT. Back at the ELHLAF, CL reported SORASand COMMON MOORHENS during the month,and SB had 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS there on1 Jan.

HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH TANAGERS ABROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD spent theentire month at a Mableton feeder (m.ob.).This is about the seventh record for thiswestern species in Georgia. The only RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH report came from theDecatur area on 7 Jan. (SM). A MARSH WREN

was a good find at the Wetlands Center of theELHLAF on 22 Jan. (CL). A male WESTERNTANAGER appeared at a Powder Springsfeeder on 9 and 10 Jan. (L&DB). This is thefifth year in a row that they have had a maleWESTERN TANAGER visit their feeder. ABALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported from the

downtown Atlanta area on 20 Jan. (fide NS).

GEORGIA AREA

GEESE THROUGH LOONS WC reported fiveCACKLING GEESE from the Oxbow Meadowsarea near Columbus on 6 Jan. This is a newlysplit species whose status in Georgia needs tobe well documented. CL and JSe had at least100 GREEN-WINGED TEAL along the AndrewsIsland Causeway on 5 Jan. A WHITE-WINGEDSCOTER and a BLACK SCOTER were presentfor most of the month at the Bear Creek

Reservoir in Jackson County (MF). There wereseveral reports of COMMON GOLDENEYES,with nine at the West Point Dam on 3 or 4 Jan.(KB), six in Rabun County on 13 Jan. (JT), andone at Andrews Island on 31 Jan. (JG). ACOMMON MERGANSER was reported fromRabun County on 13 Jan. by JT, butunfortunately the bird could not be relocated.The 14 Jan. pelagic trip out from the Savannaharea netted a PACIFIC LOON and numerousRED-THROATED LOONS (BZ et al.). KB had agood count of 18 RED-THROATED LOONS at

Tybee Island on 13 Jan.GREBES THROUGH RAZORBILL A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen by severalobservers from 13 Jan. through at least 20Jan. at Carters Lake. The 14 Jan. pelagic tripfound three MANX SHEARWATERS for a goodspot (BZ et al.). A late GREAT EGRET was seenin Gordon County on 19 Jan. by JSp. At theowl fields in Sumter County, B&DZ had atleast 38 NORTHERN HARRIERS on 6 Jan.Evidently there was a large movement ofAMERICAN AVOCETS into the Brunswick area,

as CL and JSe on 5 Jan. and KB on 13-14 Jan.reported as many as 300 birds. A CALIFORNIAGULL was reported from St. Catherines Islandon 22 Jan. (fide KB). Hopefully, somedocumentation will be submitted to supportthis very rare record for Georgia. The 14 Jan.pelagic trip found a good number of REDPHALAROPES and one PARASITIC JAEGER(BZ et al.). At least 15 RAZORBILLS werereported east of Cumberland Island on 26 Jan.

by DNR personnel.

OWLS THROUGH SWALLOWS Severalobservers journeyed to the Sumter Countyowl fields during the month, with the peakcount of three being reported by severalobservers. A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD wa

present at a Savannah feeder during the mo(SC). The previously reported VERMILIONFLYCATCHER at the Eufaula NWR was presthere the entire month (m.ob.). A WESTERNKINGBIRD was spotted in the Glenville area12 Jan. (fide JSe). The first PURPLE MARTreport was one in Sumter County on 27 Jan(PH). Very odd was a report of a NORTHERROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at Carters Laon 1 and 2 Jan. (AS, KB).

NUTHATCHES THROUGH CROSSBILLS TRED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen

along the Burrells Ford Rd. in Rabun Counton 1 Jan. (KB). On 31 Jan. JG had a YELLOTHROATED WARBLER and an OVENBIRD aJekyll Island. WC had an excellent count of FOX SPARROWS at Oxbow Meadows on 6Jan. KB had 20+ WHITE-CROWNEDSPARROWS along Fite Bend Road in GordoCounty on 2 Jan. Wintering PAINTEDBUNTINGS were reported from McIntoshCounty on 12-14 Jan. by BC and in TattnallCounty (two males) on 25 Jan. (GW). WC ha very good count of 300 RUSTY

BLACKBIRDS at Oxbow Meadows on 13 JaThe Glennville area must be very attractive tBALTIMORE ORIOLES, as evidenced by the10-12 seen on 12 Jan. (fide JSe). An adultmale BULLOCKS ORIOLE was seen in theStatesboro area on 19 Jan. by EH. There habeen very few reports of PURPLE FINCHESthis winter, so a report of 10 in the OxbowMeadows area on 13 Jan. was quite asurprise. One RED CROSSBILL was a goodspot on 20 Jan. in Gordon County by JSp.

CONTRIBUTORS Steve Barlow, Laura and

Doug Brown, Ken Blankenship, Steve CalveWalt Chambers, Bob Churi, Mark Freeman,John Galvani, Phil Hardy, Earl Horn, CarolLambert, Stefani Melvin, Peggy and TerryMoore, Nedra Sekera, Jeff Sewell, SteveSlayton, Joshua Spence, Ann Stewart, JimThrockmorton, Gene Wilkinson, and Bob anDeb Zaremba.

January Field Notes by Terry Moorez

We got the New Year off to agreat start with veryimpressive totals for Atlanta

and Georgia. We had someinteresting records such as Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western

Tanager, Bullocks Oriole, Pacific Loon,California Gull and many others. The Atlantaarea scored well with 113 species (average106.1), and the Georgia area noted 207species (average 197.6).



5/12

WildlifeSanctuar

Many folks would cthat April is the bemonth for birding

Georgia. With every birds are coming a

going with a great msongs and behavioWinter species are lingering, permane

residents are establis

territories and beginto nest, and neotropmigrants are arrivi

some to nest in the and others to migr

through it. It's a glomonth to be a birder,reassured by the retuour favorite tropical and to renew our s

with the dawn choru

only we could haveAprils every year

Can you help us cebackyard wildlife

sanctuaries?Contact Jacqueline M

for more info.

Field TripsCompiled by Dave Butler

Field trips are open to the public andfree (unless otherwise noted). Wewelcome everyone from advancedbirders to beginners!

Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve

(DeKalb County)Thursday, April 12,Lisa HurtSaturday, April 21,Lisa HurtMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Migrants, residentsDirections: From I-285 N or S: Take Highway78, Stone Mt. Freeway exit, west towardDecatur. Highway 78 passes North DeKalb Malland continues up hill past Banner Ford. Atintersection of Highway 78, North Decatur Rd.and Medlock Rd., take right on Medlock Rd.Follow Medlock Rd. 1/4 mile to MedlockElementary School; go right on Wood TrailLane. Go through one stop sign; travel another

200 yards to Preserve entrance.From I-75/I-85 N or S: From I-85 north or southtake North Druid Hills exit, east towardDecatur. After approx. 3 miles, go right onHighway. 78 (at North DeKalb Mall). Followdirections as above.

Fernbank Forest (DeKalb County)Saturday, April 14, Chris ShowalterSaturday, April 28, Chris ShowalterMeet in side parking lot in front ofobservatory at 8 AM.Directions: Fernbank Science Center is

located at 156 Heaton Park Drive, Decatur.From I-285, take Stone Mountain Expressway(US 78) toward Decatur (it becomes ScottBlvd.) Turn right at Coventry Rd., then left atfirst light (Heaton Park Dr.) From downtownAtlanta, take Ponce de Leon toward Decaturand turn left onto Artwood before RR bridge.Take a right on Heaton Park Dr.

E.L. Huie and Newman Wetland Center(Clayton County)Saturday, April 14,Dale HardeeSaturday, April 21,Carol Lambert and Jeff SewellMeet at Wetland Center at 8 AM.

Birding Focus: Migratory songbirds,shorebirds and waterfowlDirections: Take I-75 south beyond I-285 to US19/41 (Tara Blvd., exit 235); drive south for 8.2miles to Freeman Rd. and turn left. TheNewman Wetland Center is a mile or so downFreeman Road on the right after a sharp turn.Call the Wetlands Center for information aboutbirding at both sites: 770.603.5606. These tripsare sponsored by the Clayton County WaterAuthority.

Mill Creek Nature Center (GwinnettCounty)

Saturday, April 21,Dave DeckerMeet at the center at 8 AMDirections: Mill Creek Nature Center, a facilityowned and operated by the Georgia WildlifeFederation, is 88 acres of wetlands, uplands andfloodplains of Ivy Creek. It is located betweenthe Mall of Georgia and I-85.

Kennesaw MountainWednesday, April 18,Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebySaturday, April 21,Earl HornWednesday, April 25,

Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebySunday, April 29,Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebyMeet in the parking lot at 7:30 AMDirections: From Atlanta, take I-75 to Exit 269(Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn westonto Barrett Pkwy. Travel down Barrett Pkwy.for approximately 3 miles. Turn left at the light,onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at the next light,Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will beimmediately on the left.

GOS on Jekyll April 20-22The Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) will hold its spring weekend in Brunswick from Friday,

April 20 through Sunday, April 22, 2007.

Attending all or part of this event is an excellent way to visit some of the key birding hotspots on

the southern Georgia coast via field trips led by expert birders. There will also be informative talksabout topics such as bird biology, conservation and behavior. Field trip destinations include Jekyll

Island State Park, Little St. Simons Island, Altamaha Wildlife Management Area, Paulks Pasture andmore.

The deadline to register for the weekend is April 10.

Please go to www.gos.org for details.

April 2007


6/126 Atlanta Audubon Soci

In MemoriamMilton N. Hopkins Jr.

It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of one of Georgias great birders andornithologists, Milton N. Hopkins Jr. on March 5. An author of many publications on Georgia

birds, Milton was well known to nearly everyone who has birded Georgia for any time and whhas attended Georgia Ornithological Society meetings regularly over the past many decades.

He was a treasure of knowledge and a delight to be with.

He was a 1943 graduate of Fitzgerald High School, attended Middle Georgia College and

Mercer University and received his masters degree in zoology from the University of Georgiain 1951. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and had attained the rank ofEagle Scout. Mr. Hopkins was a farmer, conservationist, environmentalist and birdwatcher. F

44 years he assisted with the migratory bird count on Sapelo Island. He held membership inthe Georgia Ornithological Society for more than 70 years.

Guided field trips during the North AlabamaBirding Festival will showcase some of the

225 species that can be seen in that part ofthe state. Two field trips are available on

Friday to Wheeler National Wildlife Refugeand Guntersville. Saturday offers nine

different field trips to Wheeler NationalWildlife Refuge, Swan Creek WildlifeManagement Area, Monte Sano State Park in

Huntsville, Thomas Agricultural Station, The

Shoals and to Sauta Cave NWR nearScottsboro. Two guided field trips to WheelerNational Wildlife Refuge and Swan Creek

Wildlife Management Area are also availableon Sunday. The deadline to register for any ofthe guided field trips is April 14, 2007.

The North Alabama Birding Festival is setMay 4-6, 2007 at Rhodes Ferry Park in

Decatur and consists of a free day-longbirding EXPO with childrens activities, cra

workshops and a live wildlife demonstrationationally-known speakers; guided field tri

and other art exhibits and presentations. Fmore information or to sign up for a guidedfield trip, contact the Decatur-Morgan Cou

Convention & Visitors Bureau at 256.350.20

or 800.239.7219 or visit their website atwww.decaturcvb.org and click on the BirdiFestival icon.

North Alabama Birding Festival May 4-6

Prizes to be awarded on April 15th include ribbons plus:

First PrizeBirds: Stokes Talon 8 x 42 Binoculars, retail value$179.99 (Sponsored by Eagle Optics) and two free registrations tothe 2008 Space Coast Birding Festival in Florida.

First PrizeAnimals: REI Stratocruiser 27 Wheeled LuggagePack, retail value $230.00 (Sponsored by REI)

First PrizeHabitat: Smith & Hawkens amazing life-size pairof cranes rendered in steel with hand-hammered detail, retail value$189.00 (Sponsored by Smith & Hawken)

Grand Prize: Two-night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn CapeCanaveral Cocoa Beach, Florida plus Space Coast Outdoor Adventure

Package for 2 (dinner at Dixie Crossroad Seafood Restaurant,Airboat Tour, Kayak Tour, AND Kennedy Space Center VisitorComplex passes). Also includes the opportunity to have yourphotograph printed on the AAS official picture postcard for 2007!

Best in Show: Two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott inCocoa Beach, Florida, includes breakfast for two! Enjoy the Floridasun with this great prize!

Photo Contest Sponsored By

Directions to Pike FamilyNurseries Support Center

Take I-85 north of Atlanta to BeaverRuin Road/GA 378 (Exit 102). If

you are traveling northbound, turnright at the end of the ramp. If youare traveling southbound, turn leftat the end of the exit ramp. Travel1.1 miles to Steve Reynolds Blvd.and turn left at the light. PikeFamily Nurseries Support Center

will be up on your right approxi-mately 0.5 miles, at 4020 SteveReynolds Blvd. Park in the front ofthe building and come to the mainoffice entrance. Volunteers willguide you to Pikes auditorium.

Celebrating the Wonders of Nature (contd.)


7/12April 2007

If it was living historyyou came to see at the

Atlanta Audubon March11 Speaker Series

presentation, you were

not disappointed. Mrs.James (Nancy) Tanner

came armed with slidesand a DVD to tell of

experiences whilestudying Ivory-billed

Woodpeckers with her husband, James Tanner,over a two-year period on the Singer Tract inLouisiana. She treated us with her stories, her

humor and precise and vivid memories of anincredible experience. On the DVD, one could

actually hear the wingbeats of the bird in flightas well as its calls, and watch the interaction of

a pair with one another. We were also treatedto some unpublished photos.

Nancy spoke of Ivory-billed behaviors, matingcalls and other vocalizations upon exiting

roosting holes and about the banding of Sonny

Boy, a fledglingthe only Ivory-billed Woodpecker ever banded.

Her continued involvement withIvory-billed Woodpeckers has been

a life-long experience and a labor

of love.

All of this provided a magicalexperience for all. A great tributewas paid to Nancy Tanner, as

several members of Ivory-billedWoodpecker searching teams came

out of the bottomlands and droveto Atlanta to hear what Nancy had

to say. The Atlanta AudubonSociety audience acknowledgedtheir presence with a round of

applause. Many said that this

presentation was a unique lifeexperience. We all knew we werein the presence of a great lady.

Our many thanks go to Pike

Family Nursery as well for hosting

this special event.

The Magic of theIvory-billed Woodpecker Continues

By Lisa Hurt

Join birder Tim Keyes Saturday, May 19, for aspecial day of birding in the Georgia

Mountains. The day begins with a half-mile

walk up to the top of Brasstown Bald,Georgia's highest mountain at 4,784 feet.

Along the way expect to see many species ofbirds, including some high- elevation

specialists whose range barely extends southnto the mountains of North Georgia such as

Canada Warbler, Winter Wren, Veery and

Northern Raven. Also likely are many othermountain specialists such as Chestnut-sided

Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted

Grosbeak, Black-throated Green Warbler andthe ever-stunning Blackburnian Warbler.

Search for other species at Neel's Gap,Sosebee Cove and Lake Winfield Scott.

Registration information is available on

Georgia Conservancys Web site,

www.georgiaconservancy.org.

Birding in North Georgiawith Tim Keyes and Georgia Conservancy

Atlanta Audubon Society is sponsoringa trip to Panama October 3-11, 2007. We

will visit both the Canopy Tower andhe Canopy Lodge. The cost is $1,640

per person double occupancy with a$200 single supplement. Price includeseight nights lodging, birding guides,

transfers and most meals. It does notinclude airfare to Panama City, Panama.

Group size is limited to 10.

For additional information and to be

put on the list for a space, contact

[email protected].

Bird with AAS in Panama October 2007

Q:WhatspeciesrecentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththelongestmigration?

Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 10 for answer

Q: What is the primarysource of food for theshort-tailed hawk?

Saturday, April 14Saturday, May 5

8:00 AM 10:00 AM,

Ages 8 & up, General Admission/CNCMembers free

Join Chattahoochee Nature Center

wildlife volunteer and Master BirderStacy Zarpentine for a morning bird

walk to discover what feathered friendsyou will find around the grounds.

Bird Walks at the Chattahoochee Nature Center

Nancy Tanner.

Photo by Mim Eisenberg

Nestling Ivory-billed Woodpecker,

by James T. Tanner. Reprinted with permission.


8/128 Atlanta Audubon Soci

A Full Morning and

Afternoon of Special

Activities and Events:

Be a citizen scientist

and discover what owls

eat

Get up close and

personal with a

bird of prey

Learn to identify

Atlanta's ten most

common birds

Try out binoculars and

learn what all those

numbers mean

Learn about the

benefits of drinking

shade grown coffee

Chart migration routes

of millions of birds that

fly through Atlanta

Transform your back-

yard to attract birds

with native plants

Build a bird feeder

Learn to create a bird

and butterfly garden

Spy on birds in their

native habitats

Discover how birds are

being protected in

Georgia

Have fun!

Birds in the Park!Come Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Piedmont Park

Festival Time: 9:00AM - 3:00PM

All the days events take place near the Piedmont Park Community Center

located on Piedmont Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets

For more information visit www.atlantaaudubon.org

Presented by

Everyone Welcome!

Kids, Families, Singles, Couples!

Its free. Its fun.

Special Festival Events:Along with numerous other stations and activities, enjoy the following

special events held throughout the day:

8:00am9:00am Piedmont Park Bird Walks

8:30am9:30am

9:00am10:00am Learn About Bird Songs Special Hands-on InteractiveSession with birder, Jay Davis

10:00am10:45am Build Your Birding Skills Special Presentation with

Ornithologist, Georgann Schmalz

1:00pm2:00pm Fresh Air, featuring BAIR, The Better Air Bear, by the

Georgia Clean Air Campaign


9/12

As of January 2007, I became the

coordinator for the Georgia IBA Program. Iwant to take this opportunity to thank JimWilson and recognize all the hard work that

he put into getting this program off theground in Georgia. It is no small task to

initiate a program of this scope, and I wouldbe remiss if I didnt mention everyone who

has helped Jim along the way. The namesare too numerous to mention here, but theboard of the Atlanta Audubon Society, the

Georgia IBA Advisory and TechnicalCommittees and the many volunteers are

especially important to this work.

Fortyeight sites have been approved so far

as Important Bird Areas in Georgia, with 13of these sites having had official designation

ceremonies. How does Georgia ranknationally? Well, according to the National

Audubon Society Web site, the scorecard isas follows: At the national level, there are 98

Global IBAs and 5 at the Continental Level.At the State Level, there are 1,162recognized IBAs, with 48 of these being in

Georgia, and the 48 Georgia IBAs representmore than 2 million acres. Everyone

involved should be very proud of thisaccomplishment.

And now onto the next phase of the GeorgiaIBA Program. While we continue to collectdata from the 48 recognized and 29+

potential IBA sites, we are planning an on-the-ground habitat conservation program

that will involve numerous partners,including (hopefully) the Albany Audubon

Society, Augusta Aiken Audubon Society,Coastal Georgia Audubon Society, Columbus

Audubon Society, Ocmulgee AudubonSociety, Oconee Rivers Audubon Society,Ogeechee Audubon Society, Georgia

Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service,

Georgia Ornithological Society and othersnot yet identified. This project will research

and implement a Georgia Important BirdArea (IBA) species and habitat conservationprogram, that will identify and select species

such as the Loggerhead Shrike, PaintedBunting and Golden-winged Warbler and the

habitats and management techniques tosupport them on select IBAs. We will need

lots of volunteers to help with theimplementation phase of this crucialconservation program!

In closing, I would like to list the goals wehave set for the first 6 months of 2007:

Present to all Audubon societies, theGeorgia Ornithological Society and the

Georgia Wildlife Federation for programsupport;

Build upon current and form newpartnerships;

Submit grant to the National Fish andWildlife Foundation for on-the-groundconservation program;

Reconvene Technical Committee; Coordinate dedication on Ossabaw Island

to be held June 2, 2007; Build GIS map of Georgia IBA sites; and

Research other granting organizations.

If you would like more information, pleasedont hesitate to contact me at the new IBA

e-mail address: [email protected].

A New Phase for theGeorgia Important Bird Areas Program

By Mary Elfner, Georgia IBA Coordinator

April 2007

Shade-Grow

Coffee

The Atlanta Audubon

Shade-Grown CoffeeCommittee has beenworking since 1996 to

increase public awarenof the connection betw

neotropical migratory

birds and traditionalcoffee farms. As avolunteer effort, ourcampaign aims to educ

consumers about thepositive role that shad

coffee plays in theconservation of songbi

habitat in the LatinAmerican coffee-producing countries.

For more information

coffee sources, visit

www.atlantaaudubon.oTo volunteer for commi

activities, contact Jan

Brann

(jtbrann@mindspring.

or 404.237.3542)


10/12

CLASSIFIEDS

Black Oil

Sunflower20lb Bag $7.50 always

with Audubon Membership Card

Proud Supporters of EnvironmentallyConscious Organizations in our Local

Community.

Wild Bird CentersCumming 2825 S. Vickery St. 678-456-6900

Dunwoody2472 Jett Ferry Rd 770-396-3353

Johns Creek3630 Peachtree Pky 770-813-947

Peachtree City 1211 N. Peachtree Pkwy 770-631-247

WWW.Wildbird.com

Rates for business card size ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistentwith the conservation and birding mission and agenda of Atlanta Audubon Society.You may also design your own ad. Call for pricing.Send ads and payment to:

Wingbars Ads Atlanta Audubon Society, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359

en ou ome

To The MountainsVisit the best bird storein North Georgia!

We have fresh Colesseed and a HUGEarray of squirrel-prooffeeders, Bushnell optics,hard to find hardware,great books (includingABA Guides), stainedglass, unique gifts & thebest candles youveever smelled!

Under the big maples in downtown Blue Ridge611 E. Main St. Blue Ridge, GA 30513

(706) 258-BIRD (2473) blueridgebirdseed.com

When You Come

To The Mountains

1874 Piedmont Ave. Suite 101-AAtlanta, Georgia 30324

CANINE SHOWCASE

& WILD BIRD INC.

4048750611

Weve moved to a bigger and better location.

We are located in Piedmont Pointe next t o Einstein Bagels on

Piedmont Road. We are expanding our already great selection

of bird supplies to include:

Swift Binoculars

Droll Yankee Feeders

Coveside Houses

Garden & Yard Art


Looking for ways for the whole family to enjoy the

outdoors this spring? Come to Charlie Elliott WildlifCenter's Outdoor Festival and J.A.K.E.S. (Juniors

Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) Daon Saturday, May 19, 2007. This free, fun-filled event

runs from 10 AM to 2 PM at Charlie Elliott WildlifeCenter's Discovery Area in Mansfield. Activities willfocus on wildlife conservation and outdoor recreatio

opportunities. Children can try their hands at archerfishing, and shooting sports. Scheduled presentation

include a retriever demonstration, puppet shows andlive snake and raptor programs. Several exhibitors frwildlife-related organizations also will be on hand to

give out information and goodies to those interestedexpanding their outdoor horizons. For more

information, call CEWC at 770.784.3059.

Eleventh Annual Charlie Elliott WildlifeCenter Outdoor Festival

800-289-1132www.eagleoptics.com

2120 W. Greenview Dr.

Middleton, WI 52562

Your source for a full line ofbinoculars and spotting scopesfrom all major manufacturers

Answer: SootyShearwater

Answer:Birds


11/12

Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Societymembers receive an introductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a

Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.

f you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.

Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.

You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org.Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the NationalAudubon Society. Thus you willnot receiveAudubon magazine.

Join the Atlanta Audubon Society

Make check payable to:

Atlanta Audubon Society

Membership Director

P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359

Renewal New Membership

Name_____________________________________Address___________________________________

City___________________________ State _____

Zip Code _____________

E-mail ____________________________________

Phone ____________________________________

Basic Membership Individual .......................................$25 Family ............................................$35 Student ..........................................$15

Contributing Membership..........................$50

Supporting Membership..........................$100

Donor Membership..................................$250Receive an officialAtlanta Audubon T-shirt

Patron Membership.................................$500Receive a T-shirt and signedcopy of Birds of Atlanta

Benefactor Membership........................$1,000Receive all of the above plus a signed framedprint of Charles Harpers Missing Migrants

Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society

Please do not share this information with any other organization Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars

BENEFITS OFMEMBERSHIP

12 issues ofWingbarsNewsletter

Friends discounon classes, tripand specialevents

Use of the AASlibrary

A greattaxdeduction!

Thanks to allof you for your

support andenthusiasm.

If you participated in the February GreatBackyard Bird Count, you contributed to itsphenomenal success. Organizers had hoped toset a new record, but this years eventexceeded their wildest dreams more than80,000 checklists, with 624 species and morethan 11 million birds counted.

Literally, there has never been a moredetailed snapshot of a continental bird-

distribution profile in history, said JohnFitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology. This is a cool, timeless project,and this year it achieved real scale. Imagineornithologists and ecologists 250 years fromnow comparing these data with their own!Fitzpatrick urged the Labs data analysts touse these new data along with past counts totake a look at what the 10-year data set maytell us about birds.

This year, for the first time ever, AmericanRobins ranked as the most numerous speciesreported. Participants counted more than twomillion robinsan astounding number,considering that the highest GBBC count for

robins previously was 337,973.

One citySaint Petersburg, Floridareportednearly 1.7 million robins on just 13 checklists.Thats more than 82 percent of the robinstallied in the all rest of the United States andCanada. Most of these robins belonged to amassive roost in a mangrove forest nearWeedon Island Preserve in northeast SaintPetersburg. Robins returned to the roost for a

month or so before their numbers begandwindling as they moved on in search of food.

American Robins are the most widespread andabundant thrush species in North America. Inautumn, they gather into flocks and migrate tothe southern states. They roam in search ofberries during winter, their movements varyingdepending on the availability of food. GBBCdata have shown that robins avoid areas withheavy snow cover. Weather and food supplycan determine which areas the robins mayinundate in any given year.

Participants in Washington State also reported

an influx of robins, with flocks as large as37,000 reported in Yakima.

Great Backyard Bird Count Beats Old Record

April 2007


12/12

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

Atlanta, GA

Permit #917

Atlanta Audubon SocietyBox 29189 Atlanta, GA 30359

Wingbarsis printed on recycled paper

ATLANTAAUDUBON OFFI

atDunwoody Natur

Center

5343 Roberts DrivDunwoody, GA 303

770.913.0511

I85

PleasantHillRoad

SteveReynoldsBlvd

BeaverRuinRoad

Pike Family

Nursery

Auditorium

400DunwoodyVillage

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285

Birds Matter. . ..in Conserving the Natural WorldBy Clark Rushing, Atlanta Audubon Society Conservation Chair

As bird lovers, I suspect we have a tendency to think of our winged friends as special creatures. However,because many of us love birds for their beautiful songs or plumage, we may take for granted their vitalecological functions.

Avian services span the entire ecological circle of life. By foraging over large areas, fruit-eating birds manage to spread seeds over largedistances and in doing so help colonize new and disturbed areas. This service ensures the maintenance of biodiversity in those areas.Additionally, it has been estimated that approximately five percent of crop species and thousands of wild plant species rely on avian pollinato

to reproduce. Insectivorous birds are equally as important for crops. They are estimated to reduce crop damage from insects by as much as$1,820 per kilometer per year in temperate areas. This service is likely to be even more pronounced in the tropics, where insect populations amore stable year round.

And to complete the circle of life, vultures provide one of the most under-appreciated avian services: scavenging. Just imagine what the worldwould be like without these amazing birds to do the dirty work of removing carrion and in the process limit the spread of disease and unwantmammalian scavengers. Though birds play a vital role throughout the world, scientists are only beginning to discover and quantify the range oservices that they provide.

Perhaps the most important service may simply be serving as ambassadors for the rest of nature. Bird watching is the fastest growing outdoorhobby in the U.S., and new attention to birds brings with it a host political and ecological benefits. In developing countries bird watchingprovides strong incentives to conserve the natural landscape and reap the economic benefits of tourism.

In developed countries many bird-minded individuals are switching to native plants in their yards and parks to provide functioning habitat fobirds and other creatures. Most importantly, birding provides a gateway for greater awareness of other environmental issues and encouragespeople to become more involved in efforts to protect our planet.

These are just a few of the many vital services provide by birds for our planet. So the next time you are out birding -- whether it's toucans inCentral America or vultures in South Georgia -- make sure you stop to think about what our planet would be like without these amazingcreatures.

Birds Matter

Upcoming:Birds in the Park

9 AM - 3 PMPiedmont Park

May 6

april 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

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