february 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society
TRANSCRIPT
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8/9/2019 February 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
February 2007
Volume XXXIII, Issue 2 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
Yes, birds matter! And your participation inthe Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) matters
a great deal to the scientists who are tracking
species and their populations throughout North
America. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and
National Audubon depend upon local birders togather broad-based bird counts from backyards
and other locations and submit their GBBC
checklists online for rapid tally and analysis.
About the Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual
four-day event to create a mid-winter snapshot
of the numbers, kinds and distribution of birds
across the continent. You count birds for as
little or as long as you wish during the four-day
period and tally the highest number of birds of
each species that you see at any one time. Then
you fill out an online checklist atwww.birdsource.org/gbbc/ to submit your
counts.
You can track online what is being reported
from Atlanta, the state and other locations. As
the count progress you can see how this years
numbers compare with those from the eight
previous years. You can also submit digital
photographs for the GBBC photo contest and
gallery.
Last year a total of 51,926 checklists were
submitted, with a total tally of 6,546,606 birds of613 species. Georgia submitted 215 checklists,
with more than 213 species reported. After the
count, Cornell and Audubon scientists will
analyze the results and post summaries
highlighting the years trends and findings.
How to Participate
Count the birds in your backyard, local park or
other natural area on one or all four count days.
You can count in as many different locations as
you wish, just keep separate records and fill out
a checklist for each area. Get a checklist for
Georgia at www.birdsource.org/gbbc/, print it
out and use it to organize your tallies.
Watch the birds for at least 15 minutes on each
day that you participate. GBBC recommends
watching for a half hour or more, so that youll
have a good sense of what birds are in yourarea.
How to count for GBBC: It is critical that
people count their birds in exactly the same
way so the data can be accurately tabulated. On
the day(s) that you count, watch your bird
feeders or take a short walk (less than one
mile) in your neighborhood or park.
For each species of bird that you see, keep
track of the highest number of individuals that
you observe at any one time. If you record only
the highest number of individual birds that yousee in view at one time, youre sure to never
count the same bird more than once.
Use a tally sheet to help keep track of your
counts. Your tally sheet should look something
like the following:
House Finch - 3, 5, 3, 1; high count = 5
Blue Jay - 1, 3, 6, 2; high count = 6
At the end of the day, go to Submit Your Bird
Checklist on the GBBC web site. Fill out the
questions about your location, local habitat and
count duration. Then enter your high counts for
each species sighted on that day and location.
You can submit one checklist for each day that
you count or for each new area that you count
in. If you count on four days at one location,
youd submit four different checklists. If you
count on four days at two different locations
each day, submit eight checklists, and so on.
So mark your calendars for February 16-19,
count the birds, submit your checklists online,
send in your photographs and track the results.
Each of us canmake a difference!
I N S I D
Presidents Perch.......
From the Exec Dir ......
Field Notes .................
Field Trips...................
By the Way .................
Waterfowl Workshop...
Birdathon ....................
Warbler Workshop ......
Girl Scouts.................
Cerulean Warbler.......
2007 Photo Contest....
Scholarships..............
Classifieds.................
Shorebird Workshop..
Membership ..............
Make a Difference:Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
February 1619, 2007
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While I was deciding what to write about inthis months Perch, a couple of eventsoccurred that got me thinking. First, one
morning as I was driving up Peachtree Roadgoing to work, I noticed several newcondominium projects going up, with treesbeing cut down and open space going.Second, I started receiving spring plantcatalogs in the mail.
Seeing the condos going up made me thinkabout the loss of bird-friendly habitat in andaround Atlanta. But as I lamented the lossof habitat, I remembered that many of mylife birds, birds I saw for the first time, I
saw sitting on the deck of the condo where Ilive located a couple of blocks off PeachtreeRoad along Peachtree Creek inside the cityof Atlanta. I saw my first Pine Siskin on athistle feeder, along with goldfinches in ourbackyard. My first Ruby-crowned andGolden-crowned Kinglets and IndigoBuntings were seen in our backyard. Myfirst House Wren was picking around weedsthat had grown up next to our deck. Aroundour condo complex we have a nice colonyof Song Sparrows year round, and two
summers ago we had a pair of Broad-winged Hawks that nested down the creekfrom our condo. For several weeks a Broad-winged fledgling sat in trees right in ourbackyard and occasionally called thatdistinctive Broad-winged call which broughtmom or dad around to check and make surethings were all right. Even in the middle of acity, there are areas where a good variety ofbirds can be found.
From these thoughts, I also remembered the
great large birding areas we have aroundthe region. Who can beat KennesawMountain on a good day in spring for seein
neo-tropical migrants? Anyone who readGABO (Georgia Birders On-Line listserv)this fall saw numerous reports of neo-tropical migrants at Henderson Park inDecatur. And how many of you have beenon an Atlanta Audubon field trip toFernbank Forest in the spring and seenseveral kinds of thrushes and maybe an owsitting in one of the fabulous old trees? Andof course the Chattahoochee River has avariety of habitats and birds.
So what does this have to do with plantcatalogs? Well, those got me thinking abouwhat we all can do to enhance our own bigor small green spaces, and from there whatwe can do to help protect bird habitat inand around Atlanta.
Seeing the plant catalogs, I have fantasies otearing out the non-bird friendly sod thatour condo association so rigorouslymaintains and putting in native grasses thawould provide food for the birds. Of coursebeing realistic, I look for plantings that will
provide food and shelter for birds, to plantin our planting areas. No matter where youlive, we can all make our yards more birdfriendly by what we plant, by providingwater, and by using fewer pesticides andother wildlife friendly practices. Remembethat the birds in our area evolved along witthe native plants of our area, so consideradding natives to your yard to attract birds
Board of Directors2006
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar770.993.9579
President Ellen Miller404.355.8892
President-elect Vacant
Treasurer David Yon404.513.9806
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan404.298.8825
Corresponding Secy Barbara [email protected]
DirectorsConservation Clark Rushing
Education Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826
Field Trips Dave Butler404.580.3917
Membership Art Hurt770.934.7660
CommunicationsGeorgann Schmalz706.216.5012
Publicity Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324
Special Events Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338
Volunteers Vacant
At LargePast PresidentKelly Hopkins404.622.1888
Jay Davis404.624.4973
Lisa Hurt770.934.7660
Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative
---
WebsiteJim Flynn
Wingbars EditorGrace Trimble [email protected]
Design & Layout
Copy Preparation [email protected]
ProofreadingMim Eisenberg
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
2 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Planting the Seeds for Great Birding
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olunteerOpportunitiGET INVOLVE
IN ATLANTA
AUDUBON
We invite you to volunteerwith these Atlanta Audubonprograms.
Monthly ProgramsWe need your hospitalityassistance to bring refreshto the monthly meetings.Contact: Ellen Miller at404.355.8892
PublicityHelp us get the word outthrough local media about field trips and workshops.Contact: Denese Van Dyne
404.406.9324
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 ogreenspace 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 Miller404.355.8892
Important Bird Areas ProgHelp distribute informationmonitor input, networkthroughout the state withIBA participants.Contact: Jim Wilson770.602.1679
Ah, amor! It seems that Februaryconjures up thoughts of romance asValentines Day fast approaches. It is,after all, the season of love! For all ourdreams, we hope that love will last alifetime.
Like many others, I thought that humanscould take a cue from our featheredfriends as the perfect picture ofmonogamy. Birds, of course, find matesand stay together for life, right? Well,wouldnt you know it: Much to my
dismay, another bird fact is nowanother myth. In the birding world,monogamy is not always the preferredchoice.
Basically, there are four types of matingsystems in the birding world. First, thereis promiscuity. Six percent of all birdsfall into this category, including thebeloved hummingbird. The relationshipbetween birds here is indiscriminate andusually brief. Second is polygyny, a typeof polygamy in which one male pairswith several females. This accounts fortwo percent of the bird population. Thirdis polyandry. This again is a type ofpolygamy, but in this case, it is onefemale who pairs with several males.This type of mating accounts for onlyone percent of all birds and can be seenin such species as the Northern Jacanaand Spotted Sandpiper.
Finally, there is monogamy, which can bedefined as a prolonged, exclusive
reproductive association with a singlemember of the opposite sex. This matingsystem, which more than 90 percent ofall birds practice, can be found in mostsongbirds, birds of prey, ducks, geeseand so on. Interestingly, monogamy isexceptionally rare in all other groups ofanimals, for which the standard mating
system is polygyny, according toCornellsHandbook of Bird Biology.
Monogamy, however, may not be asexclusive as was once thought. Birdsfrequently fail to live up to our cherishedview that breeding pairs are faithful.Cheating, it seems, is not that uncommon and not just among males. In one nowfamous study, scientists sought to assessvasectomy as a possible means ofpopulation control among Red-wingedBlackbirds. To their surprise, the
researchers discovered that femaleblackbirds, mated to vasectomizedmales, were nonetheless laying eggs thathatched. Evidently, there was somehanky-panky going on.
Recent studies employing newtechniques of genetic analysis and DNAfingerprinting have allowed scientists todetermine whether one or both membersof a pair are the parents of all of thenestlings or fledglings they are rearing.This philandering activity is referred toas extrapair copulations.
There are, of course, perfectlyreasonable evolutionary explanations forsuch hanky panky. Working for AtlantaAudubon Society has been incredible,full of many exciting opportunities andwonderful people, but, boy, has it burstthe bubble of some of my beloved birdfacts. But then again, the Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Konrad Lorenz usedto recommend that every scientist
discard at least one cherished notionevery day, before breakfast. So I guess allI can say is, Pass the cornflakes!
February 2007
From the Executive Directorby Catharine Kuchar
February:
The Season of Love and Romance. Or, Is It?
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ATLANTA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS A blue morph SNOWGOOSE was seen at the E.L. Huie Land ApplicationFacility (ELHLAF) in Clayton County on 1-3 Nov.(CL). EB had a white morph in Henry County on 2Nov., plus a previously reported white morph inSpalding County was still there the same day.Interesting duck sightings at the ELHLAF includedthree BLUE-WINGED TEAL through 29 Nov., aNORTHERN PINTAIL on 14 Nov., a CANVASBACKon 14 Nov. and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE
from 8 to 11 Nov. (CL).EGRETS THROUGH CRANES Three GREATEGRETS were late at Blalock Lake (part of theELHLAF) on 30 Nov. (CL). Also late was a WHITEIBIS in Bartow County on 3 Nov. (SP). An adultBALD EAGLE was seen along the ChattahoocheeRiver north of Atlanta on 4 Nov. (SZ) and on 11Nov. (JB). Highly unusual was a third-yearGOLDEN EAGLE seen by WC at the DeKalbReservoir on 10 Nov. There were six separatereports of SANDHILL CRANES from 3 Nov.through 25 Nov., with the peak count of 350coming from Marietta on 22 Nov. (KB).
SWALLOWS THROUGH SPARROWS A CAVESWALLOW made a highly unusual appearance atLake Horton on 8 Nov. (EB, DM). Late warblersightings included a TENNESSEE WARBLER inCherokee County on 1 Nov. (VD), a NASHVILLEWARBLER on the Georgia Tech campus on 14Nov. (SB), a MAGNOLIA WARBLER on theGeorgia Tech campus on 29 Nov. (SB) and aHOODED WARBLER along the ChattahoocheeRiver in Cobb County on 19 Nov. (DH). A singleLINCOLNS SPARROW was a good find at the
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area on4 Nov. (PB, HG, TM).
GEORGIA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS EB had great luckwith geese sightings, with two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the Eufaula National WildlifeRefuge (ENWR) on 18 Nov., 15 SNOW GEESEalong I-75 near Exit 205 on 3 Nov., a ROSSSGOOSE at Lake Walter F. George (LWFG) on 13Nov. and another ROSSS Goose at FlorenceMarina on 17 Nov. The previously reportedCOMMON EIDER at Brunswick was seen by anumber of observers through the entire month.Two other COMMON EIDERS were reported by JTfrom Tybee Island on 23 Nov. Two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were found by MF at the BearCreek Reservoir in Jackson County on 7 Nov., andthey remained there for most of the month. On 26Nov. MF also found a BLACK SCOTER at the sameplace. EB and TK had a LONG-TAILED DUCK at
West Point Dam (WPD) on 19 Nov., and CL, JS,and DV had one at Jekyll Island on 26 Nov.
LOONS THROUGH VULTURES The previouslyreported PACIFIC LOON from Plant Scherer wasstill there as of 4 Nov. (JA, TJ, PJ, PHoi). AnotherPACIFIC LOON was seen at LWFG on 17 Nov. byEB. Back at Plant Scherer, a RED-NECKED GREBEwas a good find on 4 Nov. (JA, TJ, PJ, PHoi). AnEARED GREBE was a good sighting at theGlennville Water Treatment Facility (GWTF) on 8Nov. (JG, GW). There were a couple of reports ofAMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the Brunswickarea, but those sightings were outmatched by the150+ seen at WPD on 18 Nov. by BZ and PHow.Four AMERICAN BITTERNS was an excellentcount at the Phinizy Swamp in the Augusta areaon 18 Nov. (LS). Two ROSEATE SPOONBILLSwere quite late at Kings Bay on 28 Nov. (fide SW).There were several reports of TURKEY VULTURESmigrating during the month, with the high countof 300 or so in the Athens area on 21 Nov. (AB).
CRANES THROUGH SKIMMERS There were fivereports of SANDHILL CRANES for the month. Thehighest count was 200 in Upson County on 23Nov. (CM), and the most unusual report was of 15in the Brunswick area on 22 Nov. (MC). DC had anexcellent count of 52 AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHERS at Tybee Island on 5 Nov. Alate PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen at CartersLake on 2 Nov. (NS). Rare for GORDON Countywere two DUNLIN on 1 Nov. (JSp). Rare gullsightings were a FRANKLINS GULL at WPD on 6Nov. (EB), six LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS atTybee Island on 5 Nov. (DC) and a BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Lake Hartwell on 11 Nov.(JF,EH). DC reported a fine count of 400+ BLACKSKIMMERS at Tybee Island on 5 Nov.
DOVES THROUGH SWALLOWS One and
sometimes two WHITE-WINGED DOVES wereseen on Jekyll Island from 11 Nov. through atleast 20 Nov. (CM, MC). On Tybee Island, JS anCL spotted two other WHITE-WINGED DOVES 23 Nov. A female RUBY-THROATEDHUMMINGBIRD was still in Harris County on 1Nov. (TT). The previously reported VERMILIONFLYCATCHER at the ENWR was still there on 4Nov. (JF). A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen onSkidaway Island on 12 Nov. (JE), and another bwas seen on Jekyll Island on 24 Nov. (JG, JS,CNORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS arenot commonly seen after late August, so singlebirds seen on 19 Nov. at Lake Seminole (EB,TKat Augusta on 24 Nov. (EB) and at the AltamahWaterfowl Management Area (AWMA) nearDarrien on 26 Nov. (SB) were quite unusual. Otrare swallows were a CAVE SWALLOW at theAWMA on 26 Nov. (SB) and a BARN SWALLOWat the Phinizy Swamp on 18 Nov. (LS).
WARBLERS THROUGH SISKINS Late warble
reports included a TENNESSEE WARBLER on 2Nov. at Carters Lake (NS), a MAGNOLIAWARBLER at Macon on 11 Nov. (TI, JA, PHoi)PRAIRIE WARBLER at Tybee Island on 25 Nov(RW) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at theAWMA on 26 Nov. (SB). A late SUMMERTANAGER was seen at Waycross on 21 Nov. bySW. Good sparrow reports were a HENSLOWSSPARROW at Paulks Pasture on 4 Nov. (KB), aCLAY-COLORED SPARROW on 4 Nov. at theGWTP (KB), two to three LECONTES SPARROat the ENWR on 4 Nov. (JF et al.), two LINCOLSPARROWS near Columbus on 4 Nov. (WC) anone LINCOLNS SPARROW at Carters Lake onNov. (JSp). EM had an excellent count of 525RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at the Phinizy Swamp onNov. One BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported frSkidaway Island on 26 Nov. (BR), and six wereseen in the Augusta area on 24 Nov. (EB). Theonly report of PINE SISKINS was a few in theRome area on 16 Nov. (AS).
CONTRIBUTORS Jerry Amerson, Amy BarbeSteve Barlow, Eric Beohm, Ken Blankenship,Patrick Brisse, Jerry Brunner, Walt Chambers,Mike Chapman, Diana Churchill, Marjorie ClarkHarry and Vickie DeLoach, John Ester, Jim FlynMark Freeman, John Galvani, Hugh Garret, Dav
Hedeen, Paul Hoinowski, Earl Horn, Liz HorseyPierre Howard, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson, TerryJohnson, Tracy Kirkpatrick, Carol Lambert, EdMaiorello, Ben Moore, Darlene Moore, PamMoore, Peggy and Terry Moore, Charlie Muise,Sandy Pangle, Tim Rose, Beth Roth, NedraSekera, Jeff Sewell, Joshua Spence, Lois StaceAnn Stewart, Ted Theus, Jim Throckmorton,Dennis Tolsma, Dan Vickers, Russ Wigh, GeneWilkinson, Sheila Willis, Bob and Deb Zarembaand Stacy Zarpentine.
November Field Notes by Terry Moorez
Even though we didnt set anynew records for either theAtlanta or Georgia areas, we
certainly came up with a veryimpressive number of raresightings for the month. There
arent that many months when you can finda Pacific Loon, Common Eider, CaveSwallow, Nashville Warbler, MagnoliaWarbler, Black-legged Kittiwake, VermilionFlycatcher and many others all in the samemonth in Georgia.
The Atlanta area recorded 116 species(average 113.9) to bring the year-to-date listto 246 (average 240.4). The Georgia areacame in with 208 species (average 200.6) tobring that year-to-date total to 330 (average= 324.3).
4 Atlanta Audubon Soci
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WildlifeSanctuar
This February, think cleaning out your
birdhouses and putti
any new ones youve
intending to place in
backyard habitat. M
boxes are constructe
that last years nests
easily be removed, b
watch out for th
occasional wasp nes
not too early to get a
of your feathered fri
by readying the
birdhouses now. Our
will soon be checkin
the best sites for th
spring clutches of e
and you want them
in your own backyhabitat.
Field TripsCompiled by by Dave Butler
Chattahoochee River NationalRecreation Area --Johnson Ferry Landing (Cobb County)Saturday, February 24, 2007Leader:Jerry BrunnerMeet in the parking lot at 8AM.
Directions: From I-285 North, take Exit 25 ontoRoswell Road, U.S. Hwy. 19 north. Travel approx.1 mile and take a left on Johnson Ferry Road.Travel approximately 2 miles. After you cross thebridge at the Chattahoochee River, take the first
right into the parking area at the NationalRecreation Area.
Training for New Field Trip Leaders,Clyde Shepherd Nature PreserveSaturday, February 17, 2007
9 to 11:30 AM2580 Pine Bluff Road, DecaturCall Dave Butler at 404.580.3917 for moreinformation or to register for the class.
By The Way is a feature in Wingbarsthat highlights information, announcements, short updates and miscellaneous items. If you
have brief items of interest to Friends of Atlanta Audubon members, please send them to the editor.
PROJECT PUFFIN
The new Project Puffin Visitor Center(www.projectpuffin.org/puffin-visitor-center.html), located at 311 Main Street indowntown Rockland, Maine, opened itsdoors officially on July 1, 2006. The long-anticipated center introduces people of allages to the amazing lives of puffins andother Maine seabirds. The Center celebratesthe success of Project Puffin in bringingpuffins and other rare Maine seabirds backto historic nesting islands. Here the public
can view puffins andother seabirds in realtime through aremarkable video systemthat delivers live videoto the Center. StephenKress, director ofProject Puffin(www.projectpuffin.org),writes that summer 2006was the best yet, withincreased nesting on all
three Audubon-managed islands on theMaine coast.
FEDERAL DUCK STAMPS
If you do nothing more for wildlife andbirds in 2007, at least buy a Duck Stamp.Check out theGeorgiaOrnithologicalSociety (GOS)Web site for aneat promotionfor the MigratoryBird Hunting andConservation Stamp (along with a cool
holder):www.gos.org/duckstamp/duckstamp.htm.
UPCOMING EVENT
Dave Mehlman, director of The NatureConservancys Migratory Bird Program willpresent a program about migratory birdconservation February 6, at 6:30 PM at theAtlanta Botanical Gardens in the GardenHouse Workshop Room. To reserve a space,contact Mimi Bittick at [email protected] orcall 404.253.7208.
Waterfowl Workshop in Clayton County
The Clayton County Water Authority Newman Wetlands Centerwill hold its annual waterfowl workshop on Saturday, February17 at 9 AM until 12:30 PM The Authoritys E.L. Huie site isrecognized by many as one of the best inland Georgia birdingareas. More than 250 species of birds have been recorded on thismetro Atlanta site. The winter months bring many species of
waterfowl to the Huie ponds, reservoirs and wetlands.continued on page 8
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Here is your chance, as AtlantaAudubon Society is again pleased toannounce the 2007 Warbler WeekendWorkshop. This two-part workshopwill be conducted by twooutstanding experts: Giff Beaton andGeorgann Schmalz.
The 212-hour class session will beconducted by Giff at the DunwoodyNature Center on a Sundayafternoon in April. The exact datefor this will be announced later. Theweekend field trips in the North
Georgia mountains will be led by Georgon May 19 and 20.
The cost (excluding food and lodging) is
$125 for Friends of Atlanta Audubon, $1for assigned members and $175 for non-members.
Your payment confirms your reservation
To register or get more information,
contact Lisa Hurt by e-mail
([email protected]) or phone
(770.934.7660).
A REMINDER ABOUT THE 2007
WARBLER WEEKEND WORKSHOPAre you ready to sharpen those warbler
identification skills?
Mark your calendars: Birdathon 2007 will take place between April 21 and May 6, 2007.
On March 25, 2007, Atlanta Audubon will host a pre-Birdathon cookout at Georgann Schmalzs house, along with
an early field trip to Dawson Forest to recognize and thank those who participated in Birdathon 2006 and
previous Birdathons and to gear up for Birdathon 2007. Everyone who has participated in past Birdathons or
plans to participate this year is invited. Well ask some of our top performers to share tips and strategies.
Those who participated in Birdathon 2006 and their results are:
Species Money RaisedLiz Horsey 98 $2,737.50
Georgann Schmalz 161 1,111.85
Lisa Hurt 71 820.00
Ellen Miller 55 764.00
Sylvia Chandler 60 748.00
Anne McCallum 73 598.55
Jim Wilson 98 514.00
Allyson Read 28 272.00
Jackie Heyda Unknown 175.00
Babe Breasted Warblers 104 104.00
(Becky Valentine, Cheryl Kanes,
Lynda Wiggins, Nita Winn, Darlene Moore)Judy McStravick 50 100.00
Clearly, Liz Horsey was the star of the show in terms of money raised, and
placing third in the number of species seen. Liz has come in first or second
for the past several years in money raised and is always right at the top in
terms of species seen. We are hoping that Liz will share some of her secrets
with the rest of us this year.
Thanks again to all who have participated in past Birdathons either by
conducting a Birdathon or by being a sponsor.
BIRDATHON 2007
Q: What speciesrecently dethroned
the Arctic Tern asthe bird with thelongest migration?
See page ___ for the answerSee page 8 for answer
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), aftertalling for six years and missing numerous
deadlines required under the EndangeredSpecies Act, has issued a decision not to list theCerulean Warbler as a threatened species. TheNational Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife
and regional conservation organizations thatpetitioned the agency in 2000 to list theCerulean as threatened expressed graveconcerns over the songbirds future without thecomprehensive protections provided by the Act.
The Cerulean Warbler population has droppedalmost 82 percent throughout its U.S. rangeover the last 40 years, making it the fastestdeclining warbler in the country. The rate ofdecline has quickened, and the threats to itsurvival, particularly from mountain removal
mining, have worsened while the groupspetition has been pending before the FWS.
The FWS decision comes after the groups suedhe agency in February 2006 for repeatedly
violating deadline requirements under the Act.n June, the FWS settled that case by promisingo render a final decision by November 30. The
decision was entered into the Federal Registern early December.
The birding community is greatly concernedbecause the Cerulean has been declininghroughout its range for such a long period ofime, said Greg Butcher, PhD, director of bird
conservation with Audubon. He said the birdhas declined an average of 6 percent per year
over the last eight years, compared to an annualaverage of 4.3 percent from 1966 to 2004.
Its a tragedy that the Fish and Wildlife Servicewont step up and act now, before this songbirdmoves any closer toward extinction, said D.J.Gerken, staff attorney with the SouthernEnvironmental Law Center, a nonpartisan,nonprofit organization representing theconservation groups.
Since the petition was filed, new informationhas come to light about the increasing loss andragmentation of the Ceruleans eastern forest
habitat from mountaintop removal mining. This
orm of surface mining is expected to increasedramatically in the core of the Ceruleans range,where the bird has already suffered drasticpopulation declines 80 percent in theCumberland Plateau in Tennessee, Kentuckyand West Virginia, and 65 percent in the OhioHills in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
A multi-agency environmental study ofmountaintop mining in four states (WestVirginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia)predicts that between 1992 and 2012, some 1.4million acres of forests will be lost, more than
half due to mountaintop mining. The studynoted that this loss of habitat for forest birdswith core breeding areas in the Appalachiancoal fields has extreme ecological significancein that habitats required by these species forsuccessful breeding are limited in the eastern
United States. The Partners in Flight programhas identified 15 songbirds with habitat in theseforests as priority species for conservation, withthe Cerulean as the highest priority. Ceruleanswill be the most affected because they favor thesteep slopes and ridge tops targeted bymountaintop removal. More than 70 percent ofbreeding Cerulean Warblers are found in theOhio Hills and Cumberland Plateau regionstargeted by mountaintop mining.
In 2000, 28 groups throughout the Eastpetitioned the FWS to list the Cerulean asthreatened, citing the precipitous decline in
population and the growing threats to itssummer breeding habitat in higher-elevationdeciduous forests, including logging, sprawldevelopment and mountaintop removal mining.FWS biologists at one time considered the birda candidate species and found in 2002 that thegroups petition warranted further study.However, the agency, which has continuallycome under fire for ignoring its own scientistsanalysis in favor of politically expedientdecisions, evaded issuing a final determinationuntil forced by the court.
The FWS decision not to list the CeruleanWarbler is just one more example of the
administrations blatant disregard for science,said Caroline Kennedy, senior director of fieldconservation with Defenders of Wildlife. Anydelay in taking the steps necessary to protectthe warbler and its habitat only propel thesongbird closer to extinction.
The Southern Appalachians form thesouthernmost range for the Cerulean, one of thesongbirds most cherished by the growingnumber of birders who come to the mountainsof western North Carolina, said Bob Gale,ecologist for the Western North CarolinaAlliance. The federal government is shirking its
responsibility to do everything possible to keepthis bird from disappearing from our mountainsaltogether.
The conservation groups said they will continuetheir efforts to protect the Cerulean Warbler,including a possible legal challenge to theagency decision, continued tracking anddocumentation of the birds population,advocating improved logging practices that dothe least damage to Cerulean habitat, andseeking habitat protection on national forestlands.
The announcement of t
special event at the
Dunwoody Nature Cent
for Girl Scouts and thei
leaders in last months
Wingbars announced th
wrong time. The event w
begin at 9 AM and end
PM, not noon as previou
reported.
If you can help, join oth
Atlanta Audubon memb
at the Dunwoody Natur
Center to help
participating Girl Scout
work on the requiremen
for their Bird Patch.
All materials and
instructions (as well as
confidence, if necessary
supplied. Contact Mar
Klenbort at 404.874.9826
e-mail: marcia.klenbort
@comcast.net
for more information.
CORRECTIOGIRL SCOUT
PROGRAMMARCH 3
FEDERAL AGENCY WONT LIST DISAPPEARING
CERULEAN WARBLER AS THREATENED
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A t l a n t a A u d u b o n S o c i e t y
2007 Annua l Pho tography Contes t
Get Ready for the 2007 Atlanta AudubonSociety Photography Contest!
Check Out This Years Great Prizes:First PrizeBirds: Stokes Talon 8 x 42 Binoculars,retail value $179.99 (Sponsored by Eagle Optics) and two freeregistrations to the 2008 Space Coast Birding Festival in Fla.
First PrizeAnimals: REI Stratocruiser 27 WheeledLuggage Pack, retail value $230.00 (Sponsored by REI)
First PrizeHabitat: Smith & Hawkens amazinglife-size pair of cranes rendered in steel with hand-hammereddetail, retail value $189.00 (Sponsored by Smith & Hawken)
Grand Prize: Two-night stay at the Marriott Residence InnCape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, Florida plus Space Coast
Outdoor Adventure Package for 2 (dinner at Dixie CrossroadSeafood Restaurant, Airboat Tour, Kayak Tour, AND KennedySpace Center Visitor Complex passes). Also includes theopportunity to have your photograph printed on the AASofficial picture postcard for 2007!
Criteria for judging include:Originality Overall impact Composition Technique Presentation
Entries will be judged by category which include: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)Habitats (flora and fauna in their natural environments, landscapes, or panoramas)
We are proud to announce that Mr. Charles Needle, well-known professional
photographer, will be our judge for the event!
Got Milk?by Julie Hodder (2006 Grand Prize Winner)
Check out the AAS Web site for all theSubmission Details and Rules at:
www.atlantaaudubon.org
Sponsored by
Key Dates:Entries must be taken either in Calendar Year2006 or in the period in 2007 up to March 16,2007, the deadline for submission. All entries will
be displayed at the April AAS Speaker Series event onSunday the 15th. Ribbons and great prizes will be
awarded at the meeting. Participants dont have to bepresent to win. All entries will be judged prior to theApril AAS Speaker Series event.
Answer: SootyShearwater
The instructors are Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell. Participants will spendapproximately one hour at the Wetlands Center in a discussion of the species,habitat and waterfowl migration patterns. The group will then drive to the Huieponds and other nearby waters, as needed, for field study of these birds.
Space is limited and reservations are required. A non-refundable program fee of$20 is payable by February 12.For information and reservations, call or e-maiCarol Lambert: 770.603.5603, [email protected].
Waterfowl Workshopcontinued from page 5
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Louisa Echols Scholarship
The goal of the Louisa Echols
scholarship is to enable 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 canattend 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
includes Audubon staff educators and
naturalists who bring years of
experience and skill in environmental
and outdoor learning.Eligibility
Be a teacher or environmentaleducator 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 AudubonScholarship Review Committee;
Be willing to participate in threeAtlanta Audubon Society activities
during 2007;
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.
Eligibility
Be a student in the metro Atlantaarea;
Be willing to participate in threeAtlanta Audubon Society activities
during 2007;
Be between 10 and 15 years old.
Applications for both scholarships are
available on the Atlanta Audubon
Website, www.atlantaaudubon.org.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
DEADLINE APPROACHING
Logistics
Applications are available on the Atlanta Audubon Web
site: www.atlantaaudubon.org.Mail completed applications to:Nita Wynn2090 Bankston CircleSnellville, GA 30078
You may also e-mail completed applications [email protected].
For additional information, contact Nita Wynn at
770.985.0015 or [email protected].
In case you missed it in last months Wingbars, Atlanta
Audubon is calling for applications for the two
scholarships the organization awards each year. The
Louisa Echols Scholarship goes to one adult, and the
Edward Barnsley Scholarship is awarded to one youth.
The scholarships cover both camp fees and airfare forone of National Audubons renowned summer ecology
camps.
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CLASSIFIEDS
Black Oil
Sunflower20lb Bag $7.00 always
with Audubon Membership Car
Proud Supporters of Environmentally
Conscious Organizations in our Local
Community.
Wild Bird CentersCumming 2825 S. Vickery St. 678-456-6900
Dunwoody2472 Jett Ferry Rd 770-396-3353Johns Creek3630 Peachtree Pky 770-813-947
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
10
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
Plant a Wax Myrtle and see what comes to visit. And remember, Atlanta Audubon,through its Wildlife Sanctuary Program, provides advice on making your yard as birdfriendly as possible.
On the broader level, we can become active in our local communities to make our
voices heard through activities such as Atlanta Audubons Armchair Activist Programor the Greater Atlanta Greenspace Inititative to support as wide a variety ofgreenspace initiatives as possible, to keep the great birding areas around Atlanta greatand in general find ways to help our cities support birds and other wildlife.
If these particular programs arent your thing, there are plenty of other programs andways to have an impact on your local community and surrounding areas. Theimportant thing is to get involved. If we all take action, however small it may seem, wenot only enhance the environment for birds and other wildlife but make our planet amore healthy and nurturing place for people.
Presidents Perchcontinued from page 2
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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.
Experience a spectacular
birding event: migratingshorebirds feasting onhorseshoe crab eggs. You
dont have to go to DelawareBay to see this because this
phenomenon also occurs hereon our Georgia Coast.
Observe thousands ofmigrating shorebirds like RedKnots, Semipalmated
Sandpipers, Short-billedDowitchers, wading birds in
breeding plumage and more.
You can see all this if youparticipate in AtlantaAudubons 2007 Shorebird
Workshop. This unique fieldtrip is timed with the laying of
horseshoe crab eggs during
the full moon in May.
The two-part workshop willhave a class session taught by
Georgann Schmalz, AASresident ornithologist, on
Sunday, March 18, 2 PM to 4
PM at the Dunwoody NatureCenter, and weekend fieldtrips led by Brad Winn, awildlife biologist with DNR on
May 19 and 20. There will be afull day of birding on
Saturday, May 19, and a halfday of birding on Sunday, May
20. The weekend will includea boat trip to St. CatherinesSound (weather permitting)
and field trips to the SouthBeach on Jekyll Island and
Goulds Inlet on St. Simons
Island.
Trip cost:
$125 for Friends ofAtlanta Audubon, $150 for
assigned members fromNational Audubon and $175
for non-members. Trip costdoes not include food or
lodging.
Trip is limited to 15
participants.
For more information and to
register, contact Lisa Hurt by
e-mail
or phone (770.934.7660).
Payment confirms your
registration.
STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY
SHOREBIRD WORKSHOP
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