january 2008 flicker flashes birmingham audubon society newsletter

8/9/2019 January 2008 Flicker Flashes Birmingham Audubon Society Newsletter

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Volume LX, Number 4 January 2008

Anne is the founder and Executive Director ofThe Alabama Wildlife Center. Located in the heart ofOak Mountain State Park, the Centers educationalmission is to arouse awareness and concern for Ala-bamas native wildlife and the problems they face be-cause of the rapid spread of human activity. As adirect result of her extensive work in rehabilitatingwildlife with the intent of returning them to the wildAnne has gained a wealth of knowledge about herfavorite group of animals: raptors!

Several species of hawksare found in Alabama throughoutthe year, and winter is an idealtime to observe them. Buteos,accipiters, falcons and eagles -we have them all. Our buteosconsist primarily of Red-shouldered and Red-tailedHawks, with Red-tails beingthe most common hawk inAlabama in the winter season.Coopers and Sharp-shinnedHawks are the most likelyaccipiters one might see in

Alabama any time of the year,but Northern Goshawks arentcompletely out of the realm ofpossibilities. Peregrine Falconsor Merlins are both uncommonand our most likely eagle is the Bald Eagle butGolden Eagles are occasionally seen too.

But how to tell one from the other? Roundedor pointed wings? Broad vs. narrow, or short vs. longtail? Soaring, flapping or gliding, or a combination ofall three? Dont be confused; come learn for yourself

as Anne discusses this most interesting group ofbirds.

Additionally, dont forget that the January fieldtrip to Lake Guntersville will include a trip to the HawkFarm near the Guntersville dam. This location isprobably the best place in Alabama in the winter towatch for rare hawk species. Two years ago twoRough-legged Hawks were observed at the farmduring the BAS field trip to this site. More importantly,

it provides a limited opportunity toaccess this private property that isotherwise off-limits. Read the fieldtrip details elsewhere in this newsletter and make your plans now to

join us on January 19th.

Remember, the AlabamaWildlife Center will serve cookiesand punch in the ObservationRoom before the seminar. Anddoor prizes will be awarded too, butyou must register and be present inorder to win.

Our next seminar in the series:

February 3:Amazing Migrations ~ a Look at theMigratory Routes of select AlabamaBirds, presented by Dr. Jim Brownand Greg Harber, Guest Speakers

Come early for fellowship and refreshments in theObservation Room at The Center!

Audubon Teaches NatureRaptors Up Close ~ An Intimate Look at Alabamas Hawks

Presented by Anne G. MillerSunday, January 6, 2008 at 2:00 P.M.

The Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park


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SoSo for the RecordSightings - September 29 through November 24, 2007

Howard Horne (Mobile) has posted an alert to Alabama birders about the possibility of encountering some great birds that

have been seen north of us this fall season. In particular, various RBAs have reported sightings ofNorthern Saw-wet Owl,Northern Shrike, and Townsends Solitaire. Northern Saw-wet Owl has already been banded in Alabama 21 November atthe Walls of Jericho Forever Wild tract by Eric Soehren and John Trent. So, it behooves us all to be vigilant.

Also, though not as rare, many more Red-breasted Nuthatches than usual have been reported this fall.

Other sightings were:

9/22 Caspian Tern (2); Probably off course, tropical depression (SD).

9/29 Philadelphia Vireo; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Ruffner Mountain Nature Center (SD).

10/3-8 Red-eyed Vireo (window kill); A lesson for my grandsons about huge numbers of birds killed each year from colli-

sions with buildings and cell-phone towers, Gray Catbird; First in eight years. This bird is of special interest to me be-cause of declining numbers on the Farm. Was at one time a common nester, Ovenbird; For five days, a first for the Farm,

and a treasure, Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Drinking from dripping sprinkler, Cusick Farm, Leeds (GC,RC,CA,JA).

10/13 Snow Goose (both morphs); Great Egret; Peregrine Falcon; Scattering everything, Sanderling; Stilt Sandpiper;

Bonapartes Gull (early Tn Valley); Blue-headed Vireo; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Orange-Crowned Warbler;Decaturarea. Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot (many of both); Laughing (1) and Ring-billed Gulls; Forsters Tern;Gun-

tersville (GJ,DJ).

10/14 Needing a Sparrow fix. Savannah,Song, Lincolns (2), Swamp Sparrows; Sedge and Marsh Wrens; Nice to see

the wrens and the Lincolns Sparrows. They arebirds I do not see very often in the Birmingham area Saginaw Swamp,

Shelby Co (GJ).

10/18 Wood Duck (over 100 in two locations, high for Mountain Region); Logan Martin Lake (RH,PD).

10/27 California (1ad,1, 3rd year !!!) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls; Guntersville (SMcC,GJ).

10/28 Purple Finch (6+); Clay (BS,MS).

11/2 Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); Pine Siskin (small flock); Clay (BS,MS).

11/20 Black-legged Kittiwake; Bear Lake mudflats, Colbert Co (DS).

11/23 Rufous Hummingbird ; Vestavia, Huffman, and Steele (BS,MS).

11/24 Ground Dove (3) !!; Tanyard Road, Shelby Co (GH).

Contributors:

Cole Alexander

Joseph Alexander

George CusickRichard Cusick

Patrick Dawson

Scot Duncan

Greg Harber

Russell Hatfield

Howard Horne

Greg and Debi Jackson

Steve McConnell

Bob and Martha Sargent

Please submit sightings for February FFat least five days before the January first deadline to Ann Miller,

520 Yorkshire Drive, Birmingham Al, 35209.


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January Monthly MeetingRwanda, Land of A Thousand Hills

Presented by Dick MillsThursday, January 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Birmingham Zoo Auditorium

Notorious for the gruesome genocide that occurred

there in 1994, Rwanda, the "land of a thousand hills,"is now a reasonably safe and increasingly populartravel destination. The country's main attraction, themountain gorillas, have miraculously survived - eventhrived - despite a devastating civil war that broughtpoachers, settlers and rebel soldiers into their ruggedpark refuge. Between April and July 1994 an ethni-cally motivated genocide, during which nearly 1 millionRwandans were methodically hunted down and mur-dered by Hutu extremists took place, while the inter-national community watched but refused to intervene.

Since then, however, this central Africancountry has embarked on a program of positivechange and gradual reconciliation. Local as well asinternational tribunals have dealt with the perpetratorsof the genocide. The country held its first elections in1999, paving the way for the unveiling of a new de-mocratic constitution and a peaceful presidential elec-

tion in 2003. The Volcanoes National Park, home tothe rare mountain gorilla, reopened in July 1999 andtravelers can once again visit these gentle giants,made famous by Dian Fossey.

Dick Mills the President / Owner of World Dis-covery Safaris, Inc. Birmingham, Alabama visitedRwanda in October of 2007. His program will focus,both on the wildlife of this beautiful country and on theprograms the people of Rwanda have made to insuretheir survival.

Attend and enjoy this program

Please come early at 6:45 to socialize and enjoysome refreshments. Guests are welcome.

Hans PaulVP Programs

The Birmingham Audubon Society would like to thank the following for their recent memorial gifts:

In memory of Percy Lee Thigpen from Maureen Shaffer

Friends of Edward Patrick Roden, Jr. of Pratt City, AL have selected Birmingham Audubon Society as therecipient of the proceeds from their annual golf tournament held in memory of Mr. Roden.

John Findlay Bluebird Trail

15,525 Bluebirds have fledged from the trailsince its beginning! Imagine! And

last year 480 Bluebirds fledgedfrom the trail!

There are many rewardsfrom monitoring Bluebird boxesduring the nesting season. Somefemales are so trusting I had to lifther from the eggs to count them;she did not leave the box! Onevolunteer had the exciting experi-ence of watching a baby hatch outof its shell! Unlike most birds,Bluebirds are very accepting of"homo sapiens" and like to nestnear human habitation.

Perhaps you would like to becomea volunteer to check several boxes this

coming year? The boxes are already inplace and need to be checked aboutonce every 10 days from March throughJuly. Our Bluebirds nest as many asthree times during the nesting season.

Patsy Scott (Mrs. Mark) is theJohn Findlay trail chairman whom youshould call to be a volunteer. Her phoneis 995-5502. Patsy would provide youthe instructions and routine for checkingthe boxes.

Harriett Wright (Findlay)


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January Half-day Field TripJanuary 5, 2008Shades Creek Birding Spots

This month's half-day field trip is to two loca-tions on Shades Creek. We will start in Homewoodexploring the lagoon between Shades Creek and Wild-wood Shopping Center. Owls, raptors, and a variety

of ducks and wintering passerines have been seenhere.

After we have explored this area, and depend-ing on what birds were seen, we can optionally visitthe Freshwater Land Trust Shades Creek RestorationProject site off of Morgan Road. This area is teeming

with sparrows and woodpeckers. Depending on re-cent weather the ground may be mushy in some ofthese areas, so dress appropriately with suitable foot-wear.

Travel plans: meet at Wildwood ShoppingCenter on Lakeshore Parkway in front of Office Depotat 7:00 am. For more information contact our tripleader Hans Paul (807-7357) [email protected].

January Field TripSaturday, January 19, 2008Lake Guntersville & Environs

Please join us Saturday, January 19, for anall-day trip to view wintering waterfowl and raptors inthe Guntersville area. It is the best place I know of tohave a very close look at a number of ducks speciesup close and enjoy their rich colors. In addition, hawksand eagles are quitelikely.

We willleave at 7:00 a.m.sharp from theMcDonalds in theTarrant Shopping

Center on Highway79 N in Pinson,From I 59/20 takethe TallapoosaStreet Exit, go about3 miles north, about10 signal lights.McDonalds and theTarrant ShoppingCenter will be on theleft. After travelingnorth on AL Hwy 79, we will stop around 8:00 am atthe Burger King in Guntersville for coffee, biscuits anda rest room break. To reach the Burger King fromHighway 79, turn left at the intersection with US 431and drive north a few blocks.

During the morning we will make severalstops around Guntersville Lake with Dick and LindaReynolds, our hosts, expert birders and guides to thearea. At 11:30, we will stop for lunch at the Gunters-ville Public Library. Refer to the accompanying mapfor the location of the library if you wish to join the tripin progress. Bring your favorite picnic lunch anddrinks.

At 12:45 PM, we will prepare to visit thenearby Hawk Farm to view hawks and eagles. Returnto 431 N, Blount Av, go left to just before US 431crosses the lake. This is the site of the former HarborHouse restaurant. We will meet here to caravan to

Guntersville Dam andfrom there on to the HawkFarm. PLEASE - ONLYGO TO THE HAWKFARM WITH OURGROUP. IT IS NOTOPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

If you wish tomeet the group at Gun-tersville Dam at 1:00 p.m.go north on Hwy 431across Lake Guntersville.Some 12.5 miles fromwhere Hwy 431 crossesthe lake, turn left onto theLake Guntersville DamRoad. Stop in parking lotat the end of the road.

Here we will consolidate riders and go to Hawk Farmas we will need as few cars as possible driving ontothe property.

Since temperatures in Guntersville can bequite lower than those in Birmingham, it would beadvisable to wear coats, hats, gloves, etc., and lots ofwarm layers. Please bring drinks, snacks andbinoculars and a spotting scope if you have one.

For more information, call our trip leader John Swan933-6469 home, 205-276-4909 cell.

See you on January 19!


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Welcome to the Kids Corner, the newest fea-ture of the Flicker Flashes, written especially for fledg-ling naturalists! Each issue we will feature a differentanimal or habitat found in Alabama. This issue willfeature our national bird and an Alabama native, theAmerican Bald Eagle.

In 1782 the Continental Congress chose theAmerican Bald Eagle as our national bird because it isthe eagle found ONLY in North America. The GoldenEagle can be found in North America and Europe.

American Bald Eagles are found from Alaskato Northern Mexico with almost half of them living inAlaska. We have eagles that spend all year in Ala-bama and we have northern visitors. During the win-ter, as food becomes hard to find, bald eagles migratesouth to find food. They may come from as far awayas Canada looking for food.

The Bald Eagle is not really bald. Its head iscovered with white feathers. These white feathers ap-pear when the bird is 4-5 years old. The term baldoriginally meant white. The bald Eagles scientificname is Haliaeetus leucocephalus. (The scientificname is in Latin. The word parts are halo=sea, aee-

tos=eagle, luekos=white, and cephalus=head) So hisname means white-headed sea eagle. I think hisname fits! Male and female eagles are identical incolor. The white head and tail indicates the eagle is anadult. It takes 4-5 years for an eagle to become anadult. Thats a lot longer time than most birds and awhole lot shorter than people.

Females are usually larger than the males.This is true for most predatory birds. Bald eagles canweigh 8-15 pounds and be 3-3.5 feet tall with a 7-footwingspan. These strong wings help the birds to soaron wind currents or dive onto prey. They have excel-

lent eyesight and can see as far as 1.5 miles. Thatswhere we get the phrase Eagle Eye. They also havesharp talons and hooked beaks that help the birdscatch and eat prey. The talons and beaks are made ofkeratin. Your hair and fingernails are made from kera-tin, too.

Bald eagles build their nests in the tops oftrees. They reuse their same nests year after year.Before laying eggs, they refurbish (rework) and add tothe nests. The biggest Bald Eagle nest ever found was20 feet deep, 10 feet wide and weighed 2 tons (4,000

pounds.) Thats about the size and weight of an up-side-down Volkswagen Beetle car. In Alabama, theeagles lay eggs and take care of their babies fromabout January to April.

The female will lay up to 3 eggs, which areabout the size of goose eggs. Both males and femalesincubate, or hatch, the eggs. It takes about 35 daysfor the eggs to hatch. Both males and females feedthe young. The eaglets, baby eagles, are never leftalone for long. There is usually a parent somewherenearby. The eaglet is the fastest growing North Ameri-can bird. By the time the eagle chick is 6 weeks old,he will weigh between 8 and 9 pounds.

A pesticide named DDT almost killed all theeagles in Alabama and in the lower 48 states. DDTwas used to kill mosquitoes and other insects. Run-offfrom DDT ended up in the rivers and lakes. Thischemical killed fish. (Eagles love to eat live or deadfish.) When eagles ate the dead fish, the DDT causedtheir eggs to be brittle. The eggshells would break be-fore the chicks hatched. Due to the use of DDT, 1949was the last time eagles were born in Alabama. Theuse of DDT was banned in 1973. Alabama did nothave any eagles building nests or laying eggs in the

state anymore. In 1985 the first eagles were releasedin Alabama but the first successful hatching was in1991. Today we have over 80 pairs of bald eaglesbreeding in Alabama.

On June 28, 2007, the American Bald Eaglesoared off the Endangered Species List. Our nationalbird is still protected by the Bald and Golden EagleProtection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Where to Watch Bald Eagles

Eagles may be seen any where throughout

the state where there is a large river, very large lake,or near the coast. There are several places in Ala-bama where eagles can easily be seen. The best timeof year to watch eagles is during the winter. We havenorthern bald eagles spending their winters with uswhile their homes are very cold and food is scarce.Along the Tennessee River you may see a bald eagleon any day.

1. The area around Waterloo, AL has excellent view-ing opportunities.


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2. Joe Wheeler State Park hosts an Eagle Watch week-end in January.

3. Lake Guntersville State Park has Eagle Watch week-ends throughout January.

4. Perry Lakes Park near Marion, AL has a pair of nest-ing eagles. They can be seen flying over the fish hatch-eries at the entrance to the park.

For more information about the Eagle Watching Week-ends, contact Joe Wheeler State Park at 256-247-5466or Lake Guntersville State Park at 256-571-5440. Youcan always call 1-800-ALA-PARK for both parks, too.Good luck using your eagle-eyes!

Bald Eagles Watching Rules

1. Eagles usually sit in treetops watching for fish. Scanthe tree line along riverbanks.2. To have the closest view of the eagles, use binocularsor a spotting scope (telescope).3. Never approach an eagle or eagle nest.4. Do not make loud or sudden noises.5. Do not enter private property without the owners per-mission.6. Follow all laws, rules and regulations governing theuse of roads and public areas.

(Contd from previous page)

Bald

EagleWordSearch


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clip along dotted line

~ Membership Application ~Birmingham Audubon Society/ National Audubon Society

Name:_______________________________________________________Address: _____________________________________________________

City:_______________________________ State:__________ Zip:_______Phone: ( )

My check for $___________ is enclosed.

Please make check payable to: National Audubon Society

Mail this form and check to: Birmingham Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 314Birmingham, AL 35201

Birmingham Audubon Society *AOO7XCH8

Introductory membership ~ $20.00

Includes quarterly subscription to Audubonmagazine and 8 issues of Flicker Flashes, thechapter newsletter.Senior (62 & older) and student (full-time)memberships available for $15.00.

(Preferred method of payment for all new mem-bers is through the chapter, using this form).

Regular membership/Renewals ~ $20.00

The National Audubon Society handlesmembership renewals through theirMembership Data Center. Contact them at1-800-274-4201 or write them at:P.O. Box 52529,

Boulder, CO 80322-2529.

Did you know?

The average American uses between 300 and700 plastic bags yearly. These bags litter the land-scape, clog landfills and choke wildlife.

If everyone in the US tied their annual con-sumption of plastic bags together in a chain, the chainwould reach around the earth not once, but 760 times.Baggers in Birmingham are beginning to "get it" whenasked to put groceries in shoppers' canvas bags. Themore we ask baggers to do this, the easier this gets.

Are you wondering what to do with those plas-

tic bags which keep our newspapers dry duringdrought or rain? Put apples and oranges in them

rather than using the grocer's "see through" plastics.

Or you might slip shoes into them to protect cleanclothes when packing.

Uganda has combated the plastic bag prob-lem with a nationwide ban on the import and use ofplastic bags. A new law imposes a jail term of threeyears or a fine of up to $20,000 for anyone caughtselling plastic bags. Kenya has a similar ban goinginto effect in January.

For more information on the destruction whichplastic bags cause, and for a little purchaseopportunity to reduce your plastic bag consumption,

go towww.chicobag.com Some folks are seriousabout this issue. What about us?
http://www.chicobag.com/http://www.chicobag.com/http://www.chicobag.com/


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Flicker Flashes is published eight times a year bythe Birmingham Audubon Society.Editor: Bianca J. Allen (205) 854-5233Asst Editor: Greg Harber (205) 251-2133

Birmingham, Audubon SocietyA Chapter of the National Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 314Birmingham, AL 35201Business Office:

200 19th St. No.Birmingham, AL 35201(205) 714-8227

DATED MATERIAL

Please deliver by December 31

Birmingham Audubon Societywww.birminghamaudubon.org(205)879-7709

Printed on recycled paper

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 3794

Birmingham, AL

January 2008

5 Flicker Flashes articles due, February issue

BAS 1/2 day Field Trip, Shades Creek/Morgan

Road

Gulf Shores Christmas Bird Count

17 Board Meeting, (BZA) 5:45 p.m.

General Meeting, BZA 7:00 p.m.

19 BAS Field Trip, Lake Guntersville SP

25-27 Alabama Ornithological Society meeting,

Joe Wheeler State Park, Rogersville, AL

February 2008

1 Flicker Flashes articles due, March issue

2 BAS 1/2 day Field Trip, Downtown/McWane

Center

21 Board Meeting, (BZA) 5:45 p.m.

General Meeting, BZA 7:00 p.m.

23 BAS Field Trip, Talladega National Forest

Gulf Shores Christmas Bird Count Correction

The calendar in the November/DecemberFlicker Flashes listed an incorrect date for the Gulf Shores Christ-mas Bird Count. The count will be held on Jan 5, 2008, not on Dec 29, 2007 as listed. We regret the error.

january 2008 flicker flashes birmingham audubon society newsletter

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