december 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

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

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ATLANTAAUDUBON SOCI

Box 29189Atlanta, GA 303

www.atlantaaudubon

AAS OFFICEand Information

770.913.051

GOS RARE BIRD AL

770.493.886

December 2007

Volume XXXIII, Issue 12 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

I N S I D

Presidents Perch..........

From the Exec Dir.........

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

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

Woodruff Park...............

Merritt Island Refuge ...

Scholarships .................Hemlock War.................

Spotlight Barbara Tarple

Volunteer Opps..............

A Million Thanks............

08 Photography Contest

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

GAs Protected Birds.....

Membership..................Christmas Gifts .............

From Loganville to Palmetto and a lot of points between

Metro Atlanta kids are: Learning About Birds

By Marcia Klenbort, LAB coach

It all started with master birders.

In the fall of 2002, the Atlanta Audubon Societyoffered its first Master Birder class. Sixteen peoplesigned up to take it; Marilyn Harris and JoHunsinger and I were three of them. GeorgannSchmalz challenged an eight-member team ofMaster Birder graduates to take what we hadlearned and create a Junior Birder Camp to betaught at the Dunwoody Nature Center. We had a

strong group of volunteers who could translatesome of what we learned in the Master Birder classinto fun learning activities for children.

By June of 2003, we had met Kelly Hopkins, a freshMaster Birder. Kelly thought we could write a grantto the United Way for a great idea to support andstrengthen community somewhere in the metroarea. We did that. Our $800 grant bought supplies forthe fascinating after-school experiences we had withsecond, third and fourth graders at M. Agnes Jones

Elementary School near the Morehouse College campus in Atlanta.

Now, four years later, with a grant from the Department of Natural Resources Watchable

Wildlife fund to purchase materials for the dozen activities included in large plastic bins, wehave evolved the program according to the successes teachers and leaders have achieved, andnoted what they most want and need. The bins now come with ready-made materials thanks totireless AAS members who cut, pasted, laminated, strung name cards, counted out owl pellets,made dozens of Match the Pairs bird cards and outfitted the stuff for every activitydescribed in the 70-page leaders notebook.

Marilyn Harris, with the program from the beginning, notes, After that first year, we decidedthat Learning About Birds would work best if the teachers were actively involved, so that they

L to R: Marge Igyarto, AAS 2008 Chair, Education;

Marilyn Harris, AAS Learning About Birds coach; Anna

Conrad, Trinity School; Sheri Pisaturo, Home School

group, Gwinnett Co.; Kathleen Bancroft, assistant to

Melody Swierski, Tritt Elementary, Cobb Co.; Mary Nevil,

Knollwood Elementary, DeKalb Co.; Sheila Appling,

Centennial Place Elementary, Atlanta Public Schools;

Marsha Francis, Margaret Fain Elementary, Atlanta Public

Schools; Mary Nevins, Cochran Mill Nature Center,

Fulton Co.

Food, Fun and Great Gift Opportunities:Its all there at the Holiday BanquetFriday, December 7, 20076 PM wine and beer (cash bar) 7 PM dinner

Silent auction throughout the evening

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta

The place to be Saturday, December 7, is the annual Atlanta Audubon Holiday Banquet. This funand highly anticipated event is also Atlanta Audubons annual meeting and the introduction of newand continuing board members.

The food will be great, as always. Avalon Caterers will serve up a varied menu of organic produceand entrees for both vegetarians and carnivores. Shade-grown coffee will be served.

continued on Page 6

continued on Page 6


2/12

Its that time of year again; time to review the

past year and give thanks for all the great things

in our lives.

When I started thinking about what I am

thankful for this year, one of the blessings in my

life that stuck out for me is birding. What a

wonderful hobby! What did I do before birding?

Now, I know that some of us become a bit, or

maybe a lot, obsessed with this hobby and it

becomes more like a passionand I know that

passions can cause issues with non-birding

friends, family, significant others, jobs, et

cetera., etc. But as we all know, there are much

worse obsessions, and in my mind, if you are

going to be obsessed, birding is basically the

perfect obsession. It gets you outdoors, almost

forces you to get at least some exercise, is

intellectually challenging and fun, can be

competitive or not, spectacularly beautiful at

times, can be done anywhere, at almost any

time and is infinitely interesting. And what

great people you meet. When I am birding all

my problems (except, of course, What bird is

that?) go away.

I am also thankful for the books, CDs, iPods,

listservs, trips, guides, classes, optics, lodges,

conventions, festivals and on and on that caterto birders and help to make the whole

experience more comfortable and rewarding.

All of these products and services, of course,

exist because there are so many people

involved in birding, somewhere around 20

million people, the last I heard. And all of these

products and services provide a number of jobs

here and around the world and contribute to a

healthy economy.

And most especially I am thankful for the birds

Without them where would we be? I have a

hard time seeing myself making a hobby out of

much else. Im afraid of snakes, and mammalsare great, but many of them are only active at

night, when Im usually asleep. In fact, I had

never had a hobby (obsession) until I started

birding. Birds come in a multitude of sizes,

shapes, colors and behaviors, and living where

we do, even some of our everyday birds chang

from season to season to make sure we never

get bored. And what about birds that show up

unexpectedly at places where they arent

supposed to show up? Most recently a Green-

breasted Mango Hummingbird, which normally

lives in Mexico and South America, has beenseen in Dublin, Georgia. Wow!! How could you

ever get tired of this hobby? There are

somewhere around 10,000 species of birds

world wide, which I figure gives me plenty to

last my lifetime since Im on about number 550

currently.

Of course, if youve been reading my Perches

this year, you know where I am headed. If you

are as thankful for birds and birding as I am,

think about what you can do to help the birds,

and please take some action.

Oh, and one other opportunity I am thankful fo

this year: 2008 is an election year. This gives us

an opportunity to vote for birds interests at th

polls. There are a lot of us. We can make a

difference.

Happy Holidays and good 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 Jernigan

[email protected]

Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley404.687.0079

[email protected]

DirectorsConservation Vacant

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 Atlanta

Audubon Society. We feature news, upcoming

events, meetings, field trips and projects. We

hope you will join us. Opinions expressed are

those of the authors and do not necessarily

eflect 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

Thanksgiving and Birds

2 Atlanta Audubon Soci


3/12

Georgias Colonial Coast Birding Festival,

based out of Jekyll Island, provided

participants with many fun and educationalopportunities over a long weekend. Among

them, I was thrilled to take part in one of the

bird-banding station activities. It was

wonderful to see so many birds up close and

to have the opportunity to release them. But

there was a growing concern over the Jekyll

Island State Park Authoritys (JIA)

redevelopment plans for the island.

I know many of you worked with us to help

stop development of the critically important

south end, but the latest plans could also

create big problems for local wildlife andimpact the islands ecology, beauty and

character. JIA and its partner-developer

Linger Longer Communities new 64-acre

proposed town square center will feature 437

condos and time-share units, three hotels

totaling 725 rooms, 102,000 square feet of

retail space and a new convention center

75,800 square feet in size. This will

necessitate the re-routing of Beachview Drive

to the interior of the park west of the town

square center and partially through the

maritime forest.The proposed area is bordered on the north

by the Great Dunes golf course and extends

south along the ocean to the border of the

Days Inn tract and is bordered on the west

by the Historic District.

Opponents of the proposal, including the

Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island (IPJI), say

that, among other problems such as

affordability issues, sea turtle breeding could

be greatly impacted, along with some bird

nesting sites. The IPJI states on its Web site,The town square center (TSC) is simply too

big. Initially, when the concept of a TSC was

first raised by the JIA some two years ago,

the idea was to rebuild the convention

center, perhaps add a convention hotel, and

enhance the current retail center. There was

also some talk of including a modest number

of condos. How this original concept mutated

into a 60+-acre villagereplete with 430+

pricey condos/time-shares is anybodys

guess. What is certain, however, is that

Jekyll's visitors clearly have spoken outagainst a center of this size, and hardly any

of them (113 out of 5,700+) want to see

hundreds of condos line the park's

beachfront land and change the entire

ambiance of the parks core.

For those of us who enjoy the natural beauty

of Jekyll Island, there is much cause to be

concerned. The proposed project is a major

initiative that will greatly reshape the look

and feel of the island, and will impact birds

and other wildlife that depend on it.

It is important for all Georgians to geteducated and get involved in the important

issue. Take the time to check out the

proposal in more detail to make up your own

mind and see how you can get involved. Visit

the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Islands Web

site at www.savejekyllisland.org. Youll find

plenty of information to help you become

better informed about this project.

From the Executive Directorbby Catharine Brockman Kuchar

Development Concerns on Jekyll Island

are NOT Over

December 2007

Election of Officers and Board of DirectorsThe membership of Atlanta Audubon Society will vote on the ballot of candidates for officers and board directors at the Holiday Banquet on

December 7. If you are interested in serving on the board or would like to nominate someone, please contact Kelly Hopkins([email protected]). As per AAS by laws, we accept nominations from the floor at the banquet provided you have that personspermission.

POSITION/ TERM NAMEOfficersPresident2008 Ellen MillerPresident Elect2008 Allyson ReadTreasurer2008-2009 Deanna HelieRecording Secretary2008-2009 Mark Jernigan

POSITION/ TERM NAMECorresponding Secretary2008-2009 Barbara TarpleyPast-President (ex officio)2008 n/aDirectorsCommunications2008-2009 Barbara TarpleyPublicity2008 Denese Van Dyne

POSITION/ TERM NAMEVolunteers2008 Nancy HamiltonConservation2008 Kelly HopkinsEducation2008-2009 Marge IgyartoMembership2008-2009 Darlene Moore

POSITION/ TERM NAMField Activities2008 Dave ButleSpecial Events2008-2009 VacanAt LargeAt Large: EarthShare& Speakers Bureau2008-2009 Victor WilliamAt Large2008-2009 Jay Dav

In Memoriam

We are gratefu

to the

International

Affairs Office o

the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife

Service for thei

gift to AtlantaAudubon Societ

in memory of

Mr. Franklin

Martin.


4/12

ATLANTA AREA

GEESE THROUGH SHOREBIRDS A SNOW (BLUE)GOOSE was an interesting find near Perimeter Mallon 14 Sept. (LC). Rare for the Atlanta area was aMISSISSIPPI KITE in the Cartersville area on 3 Sept.(JSe,CL). Good hawk sightings from KennesawMountain National Battlefield Park (KMT) in CobbCounty were 22 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS on 16 Sept.,

a single PEREGRINE FALCON on 14 Sept. and twoPEREGRINES on 29 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). Sod farms inBartow County proved to have the best of shorebirdsightings for the month. Among the highlights weretwo WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS on 7 Sept. (BZ), aBAIRDS SANDPIPER on 8 Sept. (K&RB), three STILTSANDPIPERS on 25 Sept. (BZ) and small numbers ofBUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS starting on 1 Sept.(SB) and continuing at least until 11 Sept. (PH,BH).The peak count of 17 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERSwas reported on 8 Sept. by K&RB et al. AnotherBAIRDS SANDPIPER was seen there on 11 Sept. byPH and BH. An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was a rarereport from the E.L. Huie Land Application Facility(ELHLAF) in Clayton County on 3 Sept. (TMc).

DOVES THROUGH THRUSHES Another rare find forthe Atlanta area was a COMMON GROUND-DOVEseen in Spalding County on 1 Sept. by EB. The onlyreport of a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was one at KMTon 13 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). A number of observersreported a few COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, but the peakcount was 82 at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on1 Sept. (SZ). A single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER wasreported from the Chattahoochee River NationalRecreation Area (CRNRA) on 22 Sept. by KB et al.Reports of single YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERScame from KMT on 8 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.) andSpalding County on 22 Sept. (EB). Sightings of the

rarer vireos included a WARBLING VIREO at theCRNRA on 23 Sept. (PH), one PHILADELPHIA VIREO atthe CRNRA also on 23 Sept. (PH), threePHILADELPHIA VIREOS in Forsyth County on 25 Sept.(GM) and two PHILADELPHIA VIREOS at the ELHLAFon 30 Sept. (CL). The peak count of RED-EYED

VIREOS was 13 at KMT on 13 Sept. (BZ,GB et al.).

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES staged a rather majorinvasion with as many as 10 separate reports,starting with the first one on 9 Sept. at KMT (BZ, GBet al.). Three MARSH WRENS were a good reportcoming from the CRNRA on 19 Sept. (KB). The peakcount of SWAINSONS THRUSHES was 24 at KMT on26 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). Numbers of the otherthrushes were about normal for the month.

WARBLERS THROUGH ORIOLES Most areasreported rather small numbers of migrants during themonth, but there were a few rather decent counts tomention. The peak count of TENNESSEE WARBLERSwas 41 at KMT on 12 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). SingleNASHVILLE WARBLERS were reported from KMT on12 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.), again from KMT on 22 Sept.

(BZ, GB et al.) and at Henderson Park in DeKalbCounty on 29 Sept. (K&RB). Peak counts of somewarbler species at KMT included 12 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS on 10 Sept., 14 MAGNOLIAWARBLERS on 30 Sept., and 12 BLACKBURNIANWARBLERS on 12 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). Peak countsfrom the ELHLAF included 14 MAGNOLIA WARBLERSon 30 Sept. and 35 PALM WARBLERS also on 30Sept. (CL). Back at KMT as many as eight CERULEANWARBLERS were reported on 10 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.).The peak count of SCARLET TANAGERS was at KMTwith 18 on 13 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.). A rarely seenLARK SPARROW was reported from Spalding Countyon 1 Sept. (EB). The peak count of BALTIMOREORIOLES was 11 at KMT on 8 Sept. (BZ, GB et al.).

GEORGIA AREA

DUCKS THROUGH RAILS Several observers reportedsmall numbers of BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKSfrom the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area(AWMA) near Darien. The peak count was 20 on 14Sept. (JF, EH). An AMERICAN BITTERN was an earlyand rather unusual find at the Marshallville sod farmarea on 1 Sept. (BB). GW had an excellent count of43 ROSEATE SPOONBILLS in the Brunswick area on 3Sept. A CINNAMON TEAL was quite an odd report forGordon County on 26 Sept. (MM). Unfortunately, thebird could not be relocated. JSe and CL had a verygood count of 55 OSPREYS from St. CatherinesIsland on 15 Sept. Rather early was a NORTHERN

HARRIER in Butts County on 1 Sept. (PB). Unusual fornorthwest Georgia were two SORAS in Murray Countyon 17 Sept. (MM).

AVOCETS THROUGH TERNS The sighting of fourAMERICAN AVOCETS at Carters Lake on 27 Sept.was very rare for an inland location (CK). Two

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER were seen in BurkeCounty on 16 Sept. (JF, EH). BZ and KB had a reallyexcellent shorebird day at the Marshallville sod farmarea on 3 Sept. Some of their totals included 45GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 135 LESSER YELLOWLEGS,300 unidentified YELLOWLEGS, 11 UPLANDSANDPIPERS, 75 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 250 PECTORAL

SANDPIPERS, six BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS,three LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a WILSONPHALAROPE that had been discovered there on 1Sept. by BB. MM had some shorebird goodies innorthwest Georgia at Carters Lake, with threeSEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, three WESTERNSANDPIPERS, two BAIRDS SANDPIPERS and three

SANDERLINGS on 4 Sept. JF and EH reported a rainland RUDDY TURNSTONE on 16 Sept. in BurkeCounty. Along the coast, JSe and CL had a very gocount of 449 RED KNOTS on St. Catherines Island16 Sept. Several observers mentioned BLACK TERat some of the larger lakes, but the peak count ofcame from West Point Lake on 8 Sept.

FLYCATCHERS THROUGH NUTHATCHES SingleOLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS were reported from BCanoe on 1 Sept. (TH) and from Dawson Forest onSept. (YB). Single YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERSwere seen in the Dawson Forest on 20 Sept. (JF) in Heard County on 29 Sept. (JF, EH). An ALDERFLYCATCHER was seen and heard at the AWMA onSept. (JF, EH) and again on 16 Sept. (DV, BL). Ther

were four separate reports of PHILADELPHIA VIREfrom 13 through 28 Sept., with the peak count ofcoming on 28 Sept. at Carters Lake (TH). BZ had good count of 40 HORNED LARKS at Marshallville 3 Sept., and DF had 41 at Super Sod near Perry o29 Sept. As with the Atlanta area, RED-BREASTEDNUTHATCHES invaded northern Georgia with at le10 separate reports starting on 12 Sept. (JSp).

WARBLERS THROUGH COWBIRDS SingleNASHVILLE WARBLERS were seen in Athens on 1Sept. (EM), near Culloden on 15 Sept. (NK) and in Dawson Forest on 15 Sept. (GS, YB, TH). Rare for fall sighting was a SWAINSONS WARBLER in FannCounty on 22 Sept. (NS). A female WILSONSWARBLER was a good find at the Standing Boy Won 15 Sept. (WC). A BACHMANS SPARROW was ainteresting find near Thomasville during mid-mon(NK). Good counts of BOBOLINKS were 60-70 in BCounty on 1 Sept. and 725 at the AWMA on 14 Se(JF, EH). A SHINY COWBIRD made a brief appearain the Brunswick area on or about 24 Sept. (fide L

CONTRIBUTORS Natalie Bailey, Steve Barlow, GiBeaton, Eric Beohm, Betty Belanger, Bill BirkheadKen and Rachel Blankenship, Yvonne Bombardier,Richard Bondi, Bill Boyd, Patrick Brisse, WaltChambers, Bob Churi, Leslie Curran, Vickie DeLoaJim Flynn, Dot Freeman, Greg Gilbert, Bruce HalleTheresa Hartz, David Hedeen, David Hollie, Earl HoPierre Howard, Cheryl Kanes, Nathan Klaus, Carol

Lambert, Bill Lotz, , Ed Marioriello, Grant McCrearJim McDermott,Trey Mccuen, Mark McShane, MaMedley, Al Mercer, Darlene Moore, Peggy and TerrMoore, Mary Ellen Myers, GeorGeorgiann SchmalzNedra Sekera, Jeff Sewell, Joshua Spence, LoisStacey, Ann Stewart, Stanley Tate, Deanna Taylor,

Vickers, Gene Wilkinson, Bob and Deb Zaremba, aStacy Zarpentine.

Have an interesting bird to report? Contact TerryMoore at [email protected].

September Field Notes by Terry Moorez

The hot, dry conditions continued

to plague the state during the

entire month. Luckily, there are

a number of sod farms in Georgia

that could continue to water theircrops. This has allowed birders to

see a decent shorebird migration.The

passerine migration was about average, but

there were a few good numbers of migrants at

some hotspots like Carters Lake, Kennesaw

Mountain and a new location, Henderson Park

in DeKalb County

The Atlanta area came in with 159 species,

just slightly less than the average of 161.6.

That brings the year-to-date total to 239 which

is a little better than the average of 234.8.The

Georgia area responded with 224 species

(average 219.8) to bring that year-to-date total

to 328 (average 320.6).



5/12

Field TripsCompiled by Dave Butler

December 2007

Piedmont Park (Fulton County)

Saturday, December 1,Marcia KlenbortMeet at 8 AM the Piedmont Park ConservancyCommunity RoomDirections: The Piedmont Park ConservancyCommunity Room is located at the corner ofPiedmont Ave. and 12th St. From south of the city,ake the I-75/85 connector north to the Pine St. Exit

(Exit 249B). Go straight on Pine, crossingPeachtree St. Turn left on Piedmont Ave. Travelabout one mile to 12th St. From northwest ofdowntown, take I-75 south to the 16th St. Exit (Exit250). Go straight, crossing 14th St. Follow the signso 10th St. Turn left on 10th. Travel about a half

mile to Piedmont. Turn left on Piedmont to 12th St.

From northeast of downtown, take I-85 south to

the 17th St. Exit (Exit 84). Continue straight,crossing 14th St. Follow directions above.

Dawson Forest WMA Atlanta Tract(Dawson County)Saturday, December 8Georgann SchmalzMeet at 8 AM inside the gate at the wetlands.Directions: Drive approximately 35 miles from theI-285/GA 400 interchange to Dawson Forest Rd.Turn left (west) on Dawson Forest Rd. Drive fourmiles, crossing over GA Hwy. 9 and continuing twomiles into the WMA. Meet inside the gate at thewetlands.

Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted).We welcome everyone from beginners to advanced birders!

Please check the Audubon Website for other field trips not listed here.

Who Has The Highest Score in Woodruff Park?

Ovenbirds. Twenty of Them!By John Beard

The morning light was still low when Marcia Klenbort, education director of the Atlanta Audubon Society, arrived at

he Arts Center MARTA Station at 7:30 on a Monday morning in October. When she ascended the long escalator at

he Peachtree Center Station in downtown, bright sun reflected off the windows of the old Candler Building.

Arriving at Woodruff Park before 8 AM, she spotted Cooper Holland, Woodruff Parks monitor and angel, and John

Beard, the best birder in Woodruff Park. I guess you could call me that, John said, since Im the only birderdown here.

The three had arranged the October 15 meeting to scope out the migrating birds that John, an Atlanta Audubon

member who works downtown, had found during his lunch hour. They were not disappointed.

Walking along Park Place, across the street from the Sun Trust Bank, with buses huffing behind them, they scanned

he crepe myrtle trees and the pachysandra ground cover below. First, Common Yellowthroats dominated the scene.

They darted up into the trees and back down to the ground. Then the Ovenbirds began to take over, striding along

he ground, digging for grubs. Cooper, a new birder, had just gotten used to her borrowed Audubon binoculars when

she observed, You can just point your binoculars anywhere and birds will come into view!

As the birding group walked along the sidewalk toward Edgewood Avenue, people on their way to work stopped

hem. One local asked, You must be from out of town, the way youre looking up at the tall buildings. When they

showed him the migrating warblers in the tops of the crepe myrtles, he was surprised and delighted. Another

woman, on her way to work at the Sun Trust Bank, noticed the birders and borrowed the binoculars to get a close-upview of an Ovenbird feeding at their feet. Oh, Id like my church youth group to see this! she marveled. Other birds

emerged: Northern Waterthrush, Gray Catbirds, a Northern Mockingbird, and a Tennessee Warbler.

The most spectacular sight, however, was yet to come. Whats that? asked Cooper, looking down the sidewalk to a

arge bird fanning its tail feathers. Probably pigeons mating, Marcia misinformed her. As they got closer, they saw

a young Coopers Hawk heartily devouring a breakfast pigeon.

A large crowd gathered around the birders as they observed the hawk. The birders circulated the Sibley field guide

and binoculars among the onlookers. Downtown ambassadors joined pedestrians. Obviously disturbed by the

attention, the Coopers Hawk moved his breakfast to a tree on Peachtree, still highly visible to passersby. Every

onlooker became a bird enthusiast, studying the Sibley pictures and gazing through binoculars. Ive never seen a

hawk feeding at such close range, admitted John, as he went off to find the Yellow-breasted Chat that he had

discovered last week but hadnt seen since Saturday.

Ch

This Webs

The National BiodiveParks (NBP) has rec

launched the NationSchoolyard BirdingChallenge. The evenpart of the NBP'sFledging BirdersProgram. The contebeen designed topromote awarenesslocal bird life for youthrough the use of ainteractive format.

The Challenge is a

monthly birding conopen to students in public and privateschools in the contigUnited States. Studeparticipants will wortogether to observe,identify and recordvarious species fountheir school groundmain objective is to more young peopleoutside and explorinnature through a birportal. For moreinformation, visitwww.fledgingbirderchallenge.html

For information on all Georgia Christmas Bird Counts for 2007-2008,please visit www.gos.org/cbc/108schedule.html for up-to-date listings.


6/126 Atlanta Audubon Soci

As reported last month, Atlanta Audubon Society will again sponsor a two-day/three-night trto Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Titusville, Florida, on January 18, 19 and 20, 200

Merritt Island has the distinction of being the home of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, thewildlife refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore.

The trip leaders will be Theresa Hartz and Lisa Hurt. The cost of the trip (NOT including fooor lodging) will be $155 for Friends of Atlanta Audubon members, $180 for assigned membe

and $200 for non-members. This trip is limited to 12 people.

For reservations or more information contact Lisa Hurt by phone (770.934.7660) or e-m

([email protected]). Your payment will confirm your reservation.

Bird Merritt Island

National Wildlife Refuge

with Atlanta Audubon

could use the activities in ways and at times convenient for them. And emphasis on teaching about birds would last loin the schools if our program attached to teachers who are passionate about birds and the environment.

Who are the learning about birds teachers and leaders in 2007?

They are two dozen classroom teachers and science lab leaders, parents and librarians in nine public schools and oneprivate school; environmental educators in five nature centers; and parents in a home school consortium. They are in city Atlanta, the city of Decatur and in Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton and Clayton counties. They teach the Atlanta AuduboSociety activities in before-school sessions, science classes and labs, and after school clubs.

Sheila Appling, science lab teacher at Centennial Place Elementary School, leads a club of students. They call themsethe Bird Brains and theyre quite proud of that name. When I hear a kindergartner point to a poster and tell a friend,Theres my favorite bird the Pileated Woodpecker, it makes my day!

At Parkside Elementary, school librarian Stephanie Gwinn got interested in the Atlanta Audubon Societys Learning AbBirds program for elementary age children. I had a lot of fun working on this with the kindergarten classes last year, I'd love to do it again. This year our school has a host of environmental projects going on, and the Learning About Bird

activities fit right in.Atlanta Audubon Society member Mary Nevils Brown Thrashers club at Knollwood Elementary has grown from thremembers to forty. Several members went to the Youth Birding Competition sponsored by the Georgia DNR at CharlieElliott last April. They are keen to go again in May 2008. Well do a citizen science project this school year, notes Mar

Birds Matter!

This year Learning About Birds teachers and leaders will make good use of the new AAS publication, Birds Matter! At November 3 training, Marsha Francis, teacher at Margaret Fain Elementary, said, This little document puts into wordpictures my purpose for teaching birds and about the ecology that supports birds. I want to provide students withexperiences in science that will trigger lifelong interests and out-of-school learning.

The silent auction is always a hit and helps Atlanta Audubon fund its important work as an educatand advocate for environmental protection and stewardship. Items of interest this year include a

weekend getaway at a vacation cottage in Rabun County, a photography workshop for birds, pet sitand a landscape consult. Booklovers make be tempted by Lansdowne's Birds of the Forest.

So bring your checkbook or new this year, your credit card and join Atlanta Audubon for anevening of holiday fun.

Reservations for the banquet should be sent to Sally Davis at [email protected],by Friday, November 23.

Learning About Birdscontinued from page 1.

Holiday Banquetcontinued from page 1.


7/12December 2007

For more than a decade, the Atlanta Audubon Society has

awarded two scholarships annually for one of National

Audubons renowned summer ecology camps. The Louisa

Echols Scholarship is awarded to an adult, and the

Edward Barnsley Scholarship is awarded to one youth.The scholarships cover both camp fees and airfare.

Louisa Echols Scholarship

The Louisa Echols scholarship enables the recipient to attend an

Audubon camp to enhance his or her knowledge of the environment and incorporate that knowledge

on the job. The scholarship recipient can select to attend an Audubon camp in either Hog Island,

Maine (Maine Audubon Society); Pine County, Minnesota (Audubon Center of the North Woods); or

Northwestern Wisconsin (Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary and Nature Center. The faculty of these

Audubon camps is composed of Audubon staff educators and naturalists who bring years of

experience and skill in environmental and outdoor learning.

To apply, applicant must:

Be a teacher or environmental educator in the metro Atlanta area involved with teaching youths

or adults science, natural history or environmental education in either a formal school setting or

a non-formal environmental education program;

Be available and willing to be interviewed by the Atlanta Audubon Scholarship Review

Committee;

Be willing to participate in three Atlanta Audubon Society activities during 2008; and

Be 18 years or older.

Edward Barnsley Scholarship

The goal of the Edward Barnsley Scholarship is to instill in the recipient a love, respect and a sense

of stewardship for the natural world. The scholarship recipient will attend an Audubon youth camp

program in Hog Island, Maine. Campers get to hike through cathedral-like spruce fir forests, search

for organisms in tide pools and learn about wildlife. The curriculum is wide ranging and includes

marine biology, forest geology, ornithology and pond life.Eligible Barnsley Schoolarship applicants will:

Be a student in the metro Atlanta area;

Be willing to participate in three Atlanta Audubon Society activities during 2008; and

Be between 10-15 years old

How to Apply

Application deadline for both scholarships is

February 15, 2008.

Scholarship covers airfare and the cost of camp only.

Mail completed applications to:

Barbara Giebelhaus

418 Bridlewood Circle

Decatur, GA 30030 Or email completed applications to

[email protected]

The application is on the Atlanta Audubon Society

Web site: www.atlantaaudubon.org.

For additional information, contact Barbara

Giebelhaus by phone at 404.378.2746 or e-mail

[email protected].

Apply Now for anAtlanta Audubon Scholarship

Join the

Hemlock War

Atlanta Audubon is organ

teams to combat the Hem

Wooly Adelgid in our belo

north Georgia forests. Th

deadly infestation has cu

reached many counties

including Rabun, Stephe

Towns, Habersham, Unio

White, Lumpkin, Floyd, F

Gilmer, Murray,Whitfield

Walker, Gordon and Chat

In cooperation with the U

Forest Service, beetle la

Young Harris College, an

advice from Patrick HoraProfessor Emeritus from

our beetle teams would

about the infestation and

current treatments that a

being used including inje

and beetles, explore a be

raising lab, visit a recove

forest in North Carolina,

finally, release b beetles

our adopted forests. We

then be asked to monito

forests for a decrease in

infestation and return ofhemlock vigor. The Fores

Service is currently relea

beetles in selected sites

infected areas of the nor

Georgia mountains. Our t

would be helping them f

next few years monitor a

they cannot get to. If you

interested in becoming a

member of a Hemlock Te

please contact either Kel

Hopkins at

hopkins_kelly@bellsouthGeorgann Schmalz at

georgannschmalz@alltel

Teams need to be forme

early January for beetle

in February.

Q:Whatspecies recentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththe

longestmigration?

Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 10 for answer

Q: Who wrote:"We cannot win this

battle to save speciesand environments withoutforging an emotionalbond between ourselvesand nature as well, forwe will not fight to savewhat we do not love."


8/128 Atlanta Audubon Soci

A Million Thanks!Atlanta Audubon Society is an amazing organization because of

its volunteers. As always, we extend our unending gratitude to all

of our volunteers but would like to send a special thank-you to thefollowing individuals this month:

Atlanta Audubons holiday party is always a special event. This

years event is being overseen bySally Hodges, who is coordinatingthe many aspects involved in making the party a success. We are

extremely grateful to her for making this event possible.

Many thanks toKelly Hopkins and her committeefor pulling together the slate ofcandidates for officers and board of directors for the 2008-2009 term.

We are always grateful to our many field trip leaders. We are especially appreciative to

Darlene Moore and Cheryl Kanesfor conducting four wonderful field trips all aroundthe metro Atlanta area in November. Way to go, Darlene and Cheryl!

olunteerOpportunitiesVolunteers make Atlanta AudubonSociety such an amazing organization.We rely on volunteers in virtually everyarea of the organization in order to besuccessful. We are always looking forndividuals who want to get involved.Check out some of our currentvolunteer opportunities. If there is anyother way you would like to use youralents to serve Atlanta Audubon, we

would like to hear from you.Please contact Nancy Hamilton [email protected].

Atlanta Audubon Festival ManagerWe are looking for someone to help usorganize our involvement in festivals.This person would simply track theestival and events where we set up a

display or booth and let members know

about volunteer opportunities as festivaleaders and shift workers.f interested, please contact NancyHamilton at [email protected] more information.

Whos That Bird?Create a bird profileVolunteers are needed to create birdprofiles (Whos That Bird?) for birds ofparticular interest to the kids we serven our Learning About Birds program.

Volunteer tasks: Collect magazine orWeb photo pages and informationabout the birds habits, habitats andmigration patterns -- all sorts of birdacts. You choose the bird, or well help

you choose. Well give you guidelineson what you need to produce.

Contact Marcia Klenbort [email protected].

Audubon Adventures CoordinatorNational Audubon Society createsquarterly newsletters for use inelementary classrooms.An AtlantaAudubon volunteer solicits requestsrom metro area teachers and follows

up to see how the materials were used.This project needs a coordinator.Allsupplies and instructions are provided.Contact Marcia Klenbort [email protected] ifnterested.

Spend some time in the FreedomPark Bird and Butterfly GardenVolunteers are needed to help weed

and water the garden and to help withhe fall planting. Hours are flexible.Volunteers are asked to commit to twohours per month.Contact Carol Vanderschaaf [email protected].

Speaker Series ManagerTypically Atlanta Audubon organizesabout five speaker series programseach year.We are looking for someoneo help with the speaker series

programs in 2008 by working to helpus come up with ideas for speakersand to line them up.f interested,please contact Catharine Kuchar [email protected].

Barbara Tarpley has been volunteering with

Atlanta Audubon Society for 30 years. As

membership chair, she initiated the

organizations first database. She hasmanned tables at exhibits and activities and

participated in various Peel and Stick

activities for Wingbars. With the help of the

Shade-Grown Coffee Committee, of which

she is a member, she handled the

application for a $10,000 grant and ads in

three major magazines. She is currently the

corresponding secretary, retrieving mail

from Atlanta Audubons post office box and

handling general correspondence. Barbara

is an Atlanta Audubon board member and

will be director of communications in 2008.Her duties will include overseeing the

production of Wingbars each month and

reviewing the Web site for up-to-date

information.

Barbara began birding 35 years ago, when

her sister encouraged their mother to

participate in backyard birding when their

mother became less mobile. The best bird

Barbara has ever seen is the Magnificent

Hummingbird. Her favorite place to bird in

Georgia is Kennesaw Mountain.

When she was a wannabe birder, Barbarajoined a field trip at the Chattahoochee

River National Recreation Area led

by Atlanta Audubons

infamous Dick Parks. She asked Dick about

a Gambels Quail that had taken shelter

from the rain under the stems of a pot of

impatiens in her mothers flower garden.

For a few days she has watched him groomhimself in a bed of sand at the edge of their

woods. She said, Dick had heard these

sorts of tales before and gravely doubted its

authenticity. But Barbara had done her

research well and observed the bird for

hours. She, too, was perplexed. Her

question was the same now as yours may

be: A Gambels Quail in Stone Mountain,

Georgia? It turned out that a few miles

away was a game ranch, and this bird had

escaped.

Barbara is a trust associate with SunTrust

Banks Wealth and Investment

Managements Estate Group and lives in

Decatur.

Spotlighting... Barbara Tarpley

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 eCorner Volunteer Corner Volunteer Corner Voluntee

Barbara Tarpley is delighted to hold a bird


9/12December 2007

A t l a n t a A u d u b o n S o c i e t y

2 0 0 8 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 Ready, Aim...Shoot!

Pull out your best photographs now for the 2008 Atlanta Audubon Society PhotographyContest! Were looking for amazing images of birds, animals and habitat. Your winning photo-graphs could earn you prizes, recognition, ribbons and the coveted grand prize.

Criteria for judging include: Originality Overall impact Composition Technique Presentation Difficulty

Photographs will be judged in the following categories:Birds (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, i.e. perching on a fence)Animals (all living creatures, other than birds; no man-made elements)Habitat (flora and fauna in their natural environments, landscapes or panoramas)

Additional prizes will be given for:N Georgia Youth (18 and under Georgia residents) in any category above. Encourage the

young people you know to participate!

N Judges Choice

N Humor (a new award in this years photo contest)

Prizes:Here are some of the fantastic prizes:

N First PrizeBirds: 10x42 Vortex Diamondback binoculars; retail value $209.99(sponsored by Eagle Optics)

N First PrizeAnimals: Day Hiking Package, including Shocklight Trekking Poles,Daypack with Hydration System and Daypack first aid kit; retail value $275.00 (sponsoredby REI)

N First PrizeHabitat: Smith & Hawkens life-size pair of cranes rendered in steelwith hand-hammered detail; retail value $189.00 (sponsored by Smith & Hawken)

N Youth: iFlyer Birdsong Scanning Wand; retail value $99.95 (sponsored by Wild BirdCenters)

N Humor: Backyard birdJam CD East; retail value $39.99 (sponsored by birdJam)N Judges Choice: TBDN Grand Prize: Two-night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa

Beach, Florida plus Space Coast Outdoor Adventure Package for 2 (over $600 in value).Also includes the opportunity to have your photograph printed on the Atlanta Audubonofficial picture postcard for 2008!

Submission Details and Rules:N The format is all digital (JPEG format) like last year.

N File size per picture shall not exceed 3 megabytes (The 2006 winning picture was less than200,000 bytes in size).

N Contestants agree to allow pictures to be posted on AAS Web site and in Wingbars.

N Photographers who derive income from their pictures can participate as long as they do notderive a substantial portion of their income from this effort.

N Pets, domestic animals and animals in captivity are excluded.

N No image can be entered in more than one category.

N Fees and methods of payment will be available on-line.

N Up to 12 images are allowed per entrant.

N File naming and submission instructions will be available on-line.

N Judges decisions will be final.

KEY DATES

Entries must have beenphotographed sinceJanuary 1, 2007 andmust be received by

midnight on Feb. 25,2008.

All entries will be displayedat the March 16 SpeakerSeries event. Ribbons andgreat prizes will be awardedat the meeting. All entrieswill be judged prior to theMarch Speaker Series event.

Check Out the AtlantaAudubon Web Site Soon

for MoreInformation at

www.atlantaaudubon.org

Sponsored by

2008 Contest Judge

Our judge for this yearscompetition will be LarryWinslett, a naturephotographer who haschronicled the naturalworld in many parts ofNorth America, with anemphasis on the SouthernAppalachian Mountains.


10/12

CLASSIFIEDSRates for 2.5 x 2.5 ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent with the conservation and birding missio

of Atlanta Audubon Society. Ads may be accepted via e-mail, preferably in .pdf format. Call 770.913.0511 if you havequestions. Send payment to Sally Davis, Wingbars Ads, Atlanta Audubon Society, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.

Send ads via e-mail to Catharine Kuchar at [email protected].


W en You Come

To The Mountains -Ask about the new Birders Guide to Fannin County!We feature Coles seed,squirrel-proof feedersthat truly are, houses,hummingbird stuff,great books, Audubonoptics, & hard to findhardware. Plus 100sof 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

Bird Songs of GeorgiaCD now available.

Email Georgann Schmalz [email protected] or visit

www.birdingadventuresinc.com

JavaJoe Java Co.Shade Grown - Fair Trade Organic

Start your day with fresh roasted coffee

Choose from our international selection

coffees and start enjoying a great cup

coffee today! Decaf. coffee is Swiss Wa

Fresh RoastFresh CoffeeFair Pri

www.javajoejavaco.com

Costa Rica Photo Tou

Mountains, volcanoes, cloud fwaterfalls, lakes, rainforest, rivers

forest, scenic valleys, the sea. Pand nature. By land and water. O

two weeks. Trips personally leDarcy Pino and Costarican crew.

Call 678-524-6302 ore-mail darcy53@gmail

for more informati

www.darcysphotography.c

Answer: SootyShearwater

Answer:Stephen Jay Gould

Black Oil

Sunflower20lb Bag $8.00 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 770-813-9476

Peachtree City 1211 N. Peachtree Pkwy 770-631-2473

WWW.Wildbird.com


11/12December 2007

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

J Renewal J New Membership

Name _____________________________________

Address ___________________________________

City___________________________ State _____

Zip Code _____________

E-mail ____________________________________

Phone_____________________________________

J Basic MembershipJ Individual ...........................................$25J Family................................................$35J Student..............................................$15

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

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

J Donor Membership ......................................$250Receive an official

Atlanta Audubon T-shirt

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

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

Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society

J Please do not share this information with any other organization

J Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars

BENEFITS

OF

MEMBERSHI

12 issues ofWingbarsNewsletter

Friends discounton classes, tripsand special even

Use of the AASlibrary

A great taxdeduction!

Thanks to allof you for your suppo

and enthusiasm.

Getting to Know Georgias Protected Birds:Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcons,

Falco peregrinus, areraptors that range in

length from 38 to 53 cm

(15 to 21 in) with long

pointed wings whichmay reach 112 cm(44 in) in span.

The tail is long and narrow, with adark subterminal band. Mature birds arelate gray on the back and have a light

breast with dark markings on the belly.Females are noticeably larger than males.

Peregrines are found throughout the U.S.,ncluding Alaska. The nest, or eyrie, is

normally located on a high, inaccessiblecliff ledge, where the young are safe from

predators. Adults hunt for food over the

urrounding countryside and may range

more than 83 km (50 mi) in a single day.

Peregrines have adapted to new habitatsprovided by cities, and many pairs nownest on city buildings and bridges and

forage in surrounding urban areas. They

are occasionally seen throughout Georgia,particularly on the coast during migrationand winter. Georgia is the southern limit

of the historic breeding range of thespecies.

A Peregrine Falcons diet consists of birdscaught on the wing, including pigeons,

shorebirds, various songbirds andoccasionally waterfowl.

Historically, an estimated 400 pairs ofperegrines nested in the eastern U.S.

Although shooting, egg collection and nestdisturbance were detrimental to thisspecies, it was primarily due to the effects

of DDT that the population declined un

there were no known peregrines nestinin the East by the late 1950s. Severalhundred peregrines have been released

numerous sites in the eastern U.S. since

1972, and the population has beenpartially restored.

The Peregrine Falcon has been downlis

to rare on the State of Georgia and onAugust 25, 1999 it was delisted and

removed from the Federal List ofEndangered and Threatened Wildlife.

Source: Georgia Department of Natura

Resources, Protected Animals of Georg


12/12

december 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

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