june 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

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

1/12

ATLANTA

AUDUBON SOCIEBox 29189

Atlanta, GA 3035

www.atlantaaudubon

AAS OFFICEand Information L

770.913.051

GOS RARE BIRD AL

770.493.886

June 2007

Volume XXXIII, Issue 6 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

I N S I D

Presidents Perch.......

From the Exec Dir ......

Thanks a Million.........

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

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

In Memoriam..............

Youth Birding.............

Volunteer Corner........

Help Wanted ...............

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

Amphibians ................

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

GAs Protected Birds ..

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

Birds Matter...............

28th Annual Photo Contest the Best YetGiff Beatons Introduction to Dragonflies and

Damselflies Was Added Treat

On a cold, windy Sunday afternoon hopeful photographers and eager Atlanta Audubonmembers turned out at the Pike Family Nurseries corporate office in Norcross to see the

entries and find out who won the fantastic prizes in the 28th Annual Atlanta Audubon SocietyPhoto Contest. Those who came got a double treat, as Giff Beaton, master birder and superb

photographer, shared with the audience his newest book and passion, Dragonflies andDamselflies of Georgia and the Southeast.

We were most fortunate to have Charles Needle, professional nature photographer, again serve

as the judge for the photo contest. Judging was blind; Charles did not know the names of theentrants until after the rankings were completed. He gave lots of tips and suggestions to would-be winners and the many amateur photographers in the audience, as did Giff in his slide

presentation of dragonflies and damselflies. Our thanks go to both Charles and Giff for their

Upcoming: AUDUBON SPEAKER SERIESTed Reissing

Presentation on Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia:One of the Top Birding Destinations in the World

July 15, 3 PM, Pike Family Nurseries Corporate Office; Norcross

Malaysia is struggling to protect its incredible naturalenvironment. There is one spot on Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu, that

unquestionably has the most diverse ecology on earth, with more

than 500 species of birds, many of them spectacularly beautiful and

endemic. A session on these creatures alone would be worthwhile.

This area also has more than 1,000 species of orchids and more

ferns than the entire African subcontinent. This program also

covers six other national parks and World Heritage sites. After

viewing the incredible beauty of the many Malaysian bird species,

its easy to see why this is one of the top birding destinations in the world. Come to the next event in the

Atlanta Audubon Speaker Series not only to see some knock-out birds, but also to learn more about one of the

emerging economic dynamos of the world.

Giff Beaton, Michael Clifford and Charles Needle,

by Mim EisenbergMichael Clifford congratulates Grand Prize Winner, Julie Hodder,

by Mim Eisenberg

continued on Page 5


2/12

For those of us who travel on business, thereare several downsides, such as spending waytoo much time in airports or waking up and

trying to figure out where you are. But interms of birding, the upsides include havingbirding trips at least partially paid for by thecompany and getting to bird in areas whereyou wouldnt necessarily go on your own.Luckily there are birds everywhere.

I figured out several years ago that I can oftenfind a few hours, occasionally tack on an extraday or stay over the weekend to do somebirding in the area where Ive traveled onbusiness, so I almost always take binocularson business trips. Even if I end up looking at

Boat-tailed Grackles in a hotel parking lot inBoca Raton, Florida, I still get to seesomething I dont regularly see.

And usually the birding is much moreproductive than grackles in a parking lot. Irecently returned from a trip that worked outgreat. I had to be in the San Francisco area onbusiness, so I took a few vacation days andwent to a birding festival in northern Californiacalled Godwit Days. I got to see Spotted Owl,Marbled Murrelet and a total of 10 life birds.The airfare to and from San Francisco was

paid by my company, and I only had to pick upthe cost of transportation up the coast, plushotel and meals for the days of the festival.Pretty good deal! And if youre interested, thisis a great birding festival with 100 or so fieldtrips and seminars in a beautiful area justnorth of Eureka, California.

Ive found that there are a number of resourcesfor finding places to bird while traveling onbusiness. There is a book of birding sites inmetropolitan areas around the country that

gives excellent directions and even tells howmuch time you need in order to visit the site.The book is available through the American

Birding Association and is calledBirdersGuide to Metropolitan Areas of North

America.Also, the Internet is a great source oinformation. Many Audubon Society chaptersadvertise their field trips on the Web, and anumber post maps of birding areas, givingdetailed information on species to beexpected, directions, any hazards to be awareof and other helpful information. Ive foundtoo that asking people Im working with oftenleads to some excellent and surprisinginformation.

Last summer I was in Mountain View,California, and asked some people I wasworking with where might be a good placeclose by to see some birds. They suggested apark just a few miles from our location, calledShoreline Park. They said there was some sorof a bird area across from the golf course. Iwent, and it turned out that the some sort ofbird area was an area being managed forBurrowing Owls. Sure enough, there wereowls standing around on a burrow. In JanuaryI was in the same area and had two hours, nomore, to bird. I returned to that same park angot my life Eurasian Wigeon.

So if youre traveling on business or to visitfriends or relatives, take your binoculars. Youget to see a bit of the area that you might nototherwise see and often get to see somefabulous birds. And while youre at it, letpeople you come in contact with know thatthey have great birds in their part of the worldthat are well worth saving.

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] 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 Vacant

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]

Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324

[email protected]

Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative

[email protected]

---

WebsiteJim Flynn

[email protected]

Wingbars EditorGrace Trimble 404.351.0518

[email protected]

Design & Layout

Copy Preparation [email protected]

ProofreadingMim Eisenberg

[email protected]

Newsletter deadline is the first ofthe month for material to be

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

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

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

reflect policies of the Atlanta Audubon Society.

Mission Statement:

To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to

conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.

Presidents Perchby Ellen Miller

Birding on Business

2 Atlanta Audubon Soci


3/12

olunteerOpportunitiGET INVOLVE

IN ATLANTA

AUDUBON

We invite you to volunteerwith these Atlanta Audubonprograms.

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

MembershipHelp with mailings tomembership.Contact: Art Hurt770.934.7660

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

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

Wildlife SanctuarySupport the preservation o

greenspace in Atlanta.Contact: Jacqueline McRa

jacqueline.mcrae@comcas

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

I was lucky enough to have a small role

during the 2007 Youth Birding Competitionbanquet in April, an event that Atlanta

Audubon helped sponsor. The kids were

having a blast, and it was so energizing to see

them get so excited about birds. Their

excitement is actually something that we all

need to take very seriously.

As you know, we count on our good birders

to lead our field trips, conduct workshops,

monitor bird populations and so on around

the state. In our 2007 Member Survey we

found that our members are aging. Almost 45

percent have been members of AtlantaAudubon for more than seven years, and half

are over the age of 55. Not to anyones

surprise, we need to get more young people

involved in birding.

AAS mission is to promote the enjoyment

and understanding of birds and to

conserve and restore the ecosystems

that support them. Promoting the

enjoyment and understanding of birds isparticularly important for young people.

Atlanta Audubon is working hard at offering

fun, educational programming geared at

young people. We offer our Learning About

Birdsprogram, which provides interactive

bird activities for teachers to use in class or

after school at the third, fourth and fifth

grade levels. We also conduct a Junior

Birders Camp in June, hold our Birds in

the Park day at Piedmont Park in May and

award the Barnsley Scholarship aimed at

deepening the birding skills of a youngperson.

It is important that we get young people

excited about birds at an early age so that

someday they will be the ones to lead field

trips, conduct workshops and monitor our

bird populations. We need them, and so do

the birds!

From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar

Why We Need to Get More Young People

Interested in Birding

June 2007 3

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 the following individuals

this month:

Allyson Read created a new, much-needed, table-topdisplay board for Atlanta Audubon Society. With the help ofsome friends, Allyson added beautiful new pictures to the board and informational

blocks. In addition, she created a new "bin" of materials to bring to festivals along

with the board.

David Paddock volunteered to take on the big task of tabulating and analyzing thedata of Atlanta Audubon Societys 2007 Member Survey. With 131 returned surveys

to go through, David had a major task. The findings will be released in upcoming

editions of Wingbars, thanks to Davids efforts.

Michael Cliffordmade AAS 28th Annual Photo Contest a reality because of hiscommitment and hard work. Michael organized all of the entries, and oversaw the

judging process and the April 15th event. It was an enormous task.


4/12

ATLANTA AREA

GEESE THROUGH DUCKS BL, JH, PB and HGreported as many as 12 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE plus one SNOW GOOSE fromFloyd Creek Church Road in Bartow County on3 March. Another SNOW GOOSE was found atthe DeKalb Reservoir on 14 March (WC), andthe bird remained there for at least several days.A ROSSS GOOSE was seen in Douglas Countyon 11 March (PB) and 17 March (MF). PB hadan excellent count of 200 GADWALLS inCoweta County on 11 March. Other good ducksightings included a female GREATER SCAUP atthe DeKalb Reservoir on 18 March (JS, CL), afemale COMMON GOLDENEYE in ForsythCounty on 19 March (JF), three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Sweetwater CreekState Park in Douglas County on 25 March (PB,HG) and 125+ RUDDY DUCKS at Lake Hortonnear Fayetteville, also on 25 March (PB, HG).

ANHINGA THROUGH SHOREBIRDS TwoANHINGAS seen in Spalding County on 26March continued a series of observations fromthat section of the Atlanta area (MI). Always arare sighting, an AMERICAN BITTERN was seenfrom 28 March through 31 March at the E.L.Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) inClayton and Henry counties (CL). Single GREATEGRETS were seen at the Newman WetlandsCenter (NWC) of the ELHLAF on 10 March(AM), and another was seen in DeKalb Countyon 15 March (PB). Both SORAS and COMMONMOORHENS were recorded at the ELHLAFduring much of the month (CL). There were justa few reports of SANDHILL CRANES, with 31seen at the ELHLAF on 1 March (CL), 10 inBartow County on 3 March (BL, JH, PB, HG)and a small flock in the Lilburn area on 20

March (BB). There were as many as 22 LEASTSANDPIPERS at the ELHLAF on 24 March (PB),and TK found an AMERICAN WOODCOCK plusa chick in southwest Atlanta on 26 March.

HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS The male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD previouslyreported from Decatur remained there at least

through 18 March (PW). The BROAD-TAILEDHUMMINGBIRD previously reported from theMableton area was still there as of 21 March(RW). GB et al. had a good count of nineYELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS at KennesawMountain Battlefield Park (KMT) in Cobb Countyon 24 March. TMo had a fairly early NORTHERNWATERTHRUSH at the Chattahoochee RiverNational Recreation Area on 23 March. CL had aMARSH WREN at the NWC on 8 March andagain on 12 March. A GRASSHOPPERSPARROW was a good find in Newton Countyon 18 March (PB, TMi). Single BREWERSBLACKBIRDS were reported from BartowCounty on 3 March (BL, JH) and at the ELHLAF

on 24 March (PB).GEORGIA AREA

GEESE THROUGH DUCKS One SNOWGOOSE was reported from the Lake Hartwellarea on 3 March by KT. An immature maleWHITE-WINGED SCOTER was found at GardenLakes in the Rome area on 2 March by MD, andthe bird continued there at least through 23March (MM, DH). Other reports of the speciesincluded two at Clark Hill Reservoir on 18March (JF, EH), and the bird previously reportedfrom the Bear Creek Reservoir, along with aBLACK SCOTER, was still there on 22 March

(MF). Quite a rare sighting was a LONG-TAILEDDUCK at Clark Hill Reservoir on 18 March (JF,EH). A COMMON GOLDENEYE was found inWhitfield County on 3 March by JF and EH. OneCOMMON MERGANSER was still at theSouthwire Lake in Carrollton on 11 March (PB).

LOONS THROUGH IBIS A single RED-THROATED LOON was seen at Rum Creek on 3March (TMc), again on 7 March (JH) and finallyon 25 March (SB). One to two RED-NECKEDGREBES were seen during the month at ClarkHill Reservoir from 2 March through 27 Marchby several observers. A WESTERN GREBE wasseen off Cumberland Island on 20 March by PL.

Photos were taken of this quite rare visitor toGeorgia. A BROWN PELICAN was unusual inthe Lake Park area of South Georgia on 3 March(JA). Interesting heron and ibis observationsincluded an AMERICAN BITTERN at theArrowhead Fish Hatchery in Floyd County on 22March (JD), a GREAT EGRET in the Rome areaon 3 Mach (JF, EH), a TRICOLORED HERON atthe Eufaula NWR on 24 March (WC), aREDDISH EGRET on Little St. Simons Island on8 March (PH, NVL) and 1,500 to 2,000 WHITEIBIS at Paulks Pasture on 19 March (GK).

RAILS THROUGH SHOREBIRDS JF and EHrecorded two VIRGINIA RAILS and a SORA iMurray County on 3 March. There were just few reports of SANDHILL CRANES during thmonth. Eight birds were seen in WhitfieldCounty on 3 March (JF, EH), 90 were inValdosta on 9 March (PHi), 95 were at CarterLake on 12 March (JSp), and a small flock w

in Lamar County on 20 March (JO). Veryinteresting was the report of three WHOOPINCRANES near Perry on 28 March (fide JO).Interesting shorebird reports were 25 PIPINGPLOVERS on Little St. Simons Island on 8March (PHo, NVL) and an UPLANDSANDPIPER in the Athens area on 29 March(CS).

HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH CROSSBILLS Georgias second record of a BROAD-BILLEDHUMMINGBIRD came from Camden Countywhen an adult male visited a feeder there on March (PMc fide GK). Early swallow reportswere six ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS at

Oxbow Meadows in the Columbus area on 2March (WC) and one BARN SWALLOW atGarden Lakes on 3 March (JF, EH). JF and EHreported a very high count of seven BROWNCREEPERS at the Salacoa State Park on 3March. An interesting number of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS was the 20 at theChickasawhatchee WMA on 4 March (WS).Interesting warbler sightings were a LOUISIAWATERTHRUSH in Talbot County on 10 Mar(JF, EH) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in Augusta area on 17 March (LS). A good findwas 10 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS inMorgan County on 31 March (PB). TheBULLOCKS ORIOLE and the WESTERNTANAGER in the Dublin area remained there least through 17 March (SS). Three REDCROSSBILLS were seen in Fannin County onMarch by NS.

CONTRIBUTORS Julius Ariail, Steve BarlowGiff Beaton, Bill Boyd, Patrick Brisse, WaltChambers, Jeff Dixon, Marion Dobbs, JimFlynn, Mark Freeman, Hugh Garrett, Jim HanDavid Hendrix, Phyllis Hiers, Earl Horn, PierrHoward, Mike Ivie, Daniel Jacobson, GeneKeferl, Tim Keyes, Carol Lambert, Nick VanLanen, Patrick Leary, Bill Lotz, Chris FeeneyMartinez, Anne McCallum, Trey McCuen,Patricia McMillan, Max Medley, Terry Miller,Peggy and Terry Moore, Jim Ozier, WayneSchaffner, Nedra Sekera, Jeff Sewell, ChrisShelton, Steve Slayton, Josh Spence, LoisStacey, Karen Torghele, Pat White, RickWilliams, Gene Wilkinson, Bob and DebZaremba and Eugene Zielinski.

Have an interesting bird to report? E-mail TerMoore at [email protected].

March Field Notes by Terry Moorez

All in all, March was a prettygood month for birding.Spring migration was well

underway by the end of themonth, and quite a few of the goodwinter birds stayed around to be

recorded during the first part of the month.Among the new sightings for the month, theWestern Grebe and the Broad-billedHummingbird were probably the bestreports.

The Atlanta area came in with 120 speciesfor the month, which is right on the averageof 120.2. That brings the year-to-date totalto 145, which is a good bit higher than theaverage of 136.9. The Georgia area tallied193 species (average 196.7) to bring thatyear-to-date total to 241 (average 233.5).



5/12

DilemmaBy Art Hurt

How do you feel, po

little birdFlying back to Atlantto nest,

That developers toothe trees and theshrubs

And the bulldozers gall the rest?

Where used to bepoplars, maples, apines

Dogwoods and

sycamores too,Its K-Marts and

Wal-MartsAnd weve-

got-it-all marts.What are you going

Where are you goinglay your eggs,

And find the food foyour chicks?

With ball parks andmall parks

And weve-paved-it-all parks,

It looks like youre in

Called progress by sexpansion by othersSome say its

all for the best.But what does that

gain you?It doesnt sustain yoYou still have no pla

nest.So here you are with

straw in your beaStraw for a nest to b

used,Perched on a street Over an exit ramp,Alone and

awfully confused.

Field TripsCompiled by Dave Butler

time and presentations. For photographers andnature lovers, it was an incredible afternoon.

This year the photo contest was all digital. As aresult and with the low entry fee of $2 perimage and the outstanding prizes, the number

of entries skyrocketed. Michael Clifford againwas the techno-wizard behind all the computer

applications and online registration that madethe photo contest both easy and engaging for

participants. This year we had 59 entrants,compared to 16 last year. Altogether 472individual images were entered, versus 133 last

year. Michael did a superb job, and weappreciate his creative solutions for the contest.

Catharine Kuchar, our executive director, hit

the ground running and secured wonderfulprizes for the winning participants. Special

thanks to her and to the sponsors she securedfor the photo contest: Courtyard by Marriott,Eagle Optics, Florida Space Coast,

Marriott Residence, REI and Smith &

Hawken.

Winners in the 28th Annual AAS Photo Contestare, in order, by category:

Animals: Brad Wilson, 1st Place; Julie Hodder,

2nd Place; Michael Bartell, 3rd Place; Denise

Gaskill and Mindly Leeds, Honorable Mention.Habitat: Ron Hold, 1st Place; Don Saunders,

2nd Place; Mim Eisenberg, 3rd Place; GeorgeHardaloupas and Michael Bartell, Honorable

Mention. Birds: David Hodgson, 1st Place; JulieHodder, 2nd Place; David Hodgson, 3rd Place;

Julie Hodder and Cam Myhrvold, HonorableMention.

The Best in Show was changed this year to

Judges Pick, and no points were offered.

Cam Myhrvold of Medina, Washington, wasawarded a Florida birding trip based upon his

humorous picture of an Antarctic bird. TheGrand Prize was based on points, and Julie

Hodder was declared the winner. She received atwo-night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn,

Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, Florida, plus theSpace Coast Outdoor Adventure package.

Whats next? If you would like to help with next

years contest, please contact Michael Cliffordat [email protected]. Some suggestionsfor making the contest even better include

changing the rules regarding captive animals toreflect the difficulty of shooting animals and

birds, developing webbased software to helpcontestants post images and pay entry fees,

adding a humor category or award andrenaming the Habitat category to Landscapes.

Look for the announcement for the 2008 Atlanta

Audubon Photo Contest in the fall.

Until then, keep snapping those pictures.

June 2007 5

Q:WhatspeciesrecentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththelongestmigration?

Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 10 for answer

Q: In 1903, which twobirds were the mostsought after forapparel?

28th Annual Photo Contestcontinued from page 1.

For a list of this months field trips, please visit

the Atlanta Audubon Society Web site at

www.atlantaaudubon.org

As always, our field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise

noted). We welcome everyone from advanced birders to beginners!


6/126 Atlanta Audubon Soci

A tired but excited group of kids descendedupon Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center April 29

at the conclusion of the second annual YouthBirding Competition. Many had crossed the

state from the Coast to Kennesaw, somerunning on only a few hours of sleep. They

had spent some or all of the preceding 24hours trying to find and identify as many

birds in Georgia as they could. For these 24hours, adults were relegated to chauffeursand could not help locate or identify birds in

any way.

The awards ceremony was a wonderfultribute to a young and growing group ofGeorgia birders. The skills developed and

demonstrated over the weekend competitionwere truly inspiring and represented

thousands of hours of studying and birding.(For those who share my concerns, this

represents thousands of hours not in front ofTVs, video games and computer screens.) Theexcitement of seeing a room full of almost

100 young birders from age 4 to 18 wasenough to keep me smiling for weeks.

By all measures, the Youth BirdingCompetition has grown since last year,

expanding from 17 teams with 68 kids to 25teams with more than 100 participants. The

winning species count grew from 100 species

last year to 126 species this year. We gaveaway 20 pairs of binoculars and many othergreat bird-related prizes.

Teams came from Bainbridge, Valdosta,LaGrange, Suwannee, Macon, Athens, Atlanta

and elsewhere. We had a huge number of newbirders competing for the first time this year.Sixteen of 25 teams were new to the

competition. Our biggest growth was in thePre-Elementary School Division, which grew

to four teams and was composed of kids from4-9 years old.

For those teams that returned from last year,it was amazing to see how they have

improved. The Kinglets, our youngest teamlast year identified 23 species; this year they

spotted 102. This would have been a winningtotal last year, beating our champion middleand high school teams. The Homeschool

Hummers, champions of the ElementarySchool division both years, increased their

count from 92 to 113 species. The Kestrels

improved from 43 to 63 species, theThunderbirders from 82 to 123, and the

Goofbald Eagles from 59 to 91. Our winninteam was the Golden Eagles, who found 12

species. These kids are finding and identifyfar more species of birds in a day than mos

adults will recognize in a lifetime.

What excites me most about this event can

be expressed by numbers, but by the fun ththese young people have outdoors and the

great birds they find and appreciate. Someincredible birds were found this year,

including Yellow-headed Blackbird (by a prelementary team), Swallow-tailed Kite, LeaBittern, American Bittern and many more.

One team even saw a Bald Eagle eating aGreat Egret. Just as great was seeing the

excitement of a team that found a hatchlinYellow-bellied Slider (a turtle) as it was

working its way to the pond, and hearing amother explain that her seven-year-old hadmemorized 102 bird songs.

Several teams made their own shirts, my

favorite of which were the InvincibleIvorybills, who had black shirts, with thewhite stripes indicative of Ivory-billed

Woodpeckers running down their backs, anred bandannas on their heads. The front of

the shirts read U wish U were on Our Team

The Youth Birding Competition has becomewonderful outlet for kids already hooked obirds, and a great chance for other kids to

their first taste of birding, whatever their tospecies count. We will certainly be running

this event next year and would welcome minvolvement. So please help spread the woto kids and potential mentors. My thanks g

to all the team mentors and volunteers whomade the event a success, as well as the

Atlanta Audubon Society which was asponsor.

Second Annual Youth Birding

Competition Draws 25 Young TeamsBy Tim Keyes

In Memoriam:

Harriet DiGioiaBy Pierre Howard

Georgia birders have lost anirreplaceable friend with thepassing of Harriet DiGioia onApril 10, 2007. She was an

irrepressible and stalwart

personality who introduced alot of young people to birding.

She also was a strong voicewithin the National Forest

Service for bird-friendlymanagement practices on the

Chattahoochee NationalForest. I remember the firsttime that I met her was on a

Chattahoochee National ForestChristmas Bird Count back inthe mid-1990s. At that time Iwas on a quest to see a Red-Crossbill in Georgia, and sheoften got them on her CBCcounts, unless I was there.

She and I trooped around theCohuttas for many days

looking for them. I think thatwhen I finally saw one, she

was quite relieved, as were myother birding friends. Nowthey didn't have to hear anymore about crossbills. She

said, "Now you can pester usabout another species!"

Harriet was a fighter for whatshe believed was right. It wasnot easy to be a woman in theU.S. Forest Service, and shehad her challenges being

short of stature and a bit olderthan some of the personnel.There were times when she

had to fight for the right to bein a truck by herself in the

mountains enforcing the law.What she found out was thatthe people she encountered

who were in violation of somelaw or regulation were so

taken aback by this cheerfulbut strict grandmotherlyfigure, all they ever said to her

was "Yes ma'am." We willmiss Harriet DiGioia, but wewill remember her for whatshe was and for what she gave

to others -- a lifetime ofenjoying birds and in some

cases, advocating for thepreservation of their habitat.


7/12June 2007 7

TEAMBrownie ThrashersThe Wood ThrushesBirds of a featherHomeschool HeronsRockin RobinsBrown Thrashersboys

Brown ThrashersgirlsChaotic KestrelsEagle Eyes 1Southern SearchersThe Lightning EaglesThe KingletsHomeschoolHummersValdosta VulturesThe WingwatchersEagle Eyes 2nvincible Ivorybills

Eagle Eyes 3The KestrelsCaracara CousinsThe ThunderbirdersMarietta MerlinsGoofbald EaglesGolden Eagles

DIVISIONPre-elementaryPre-elementaryPre-elementaryPre-elementaryElementaryElementary

Elementary

ElementaryElementaryElementaryElementaryElementaryElementary

MiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleMiddleHigh SchoolHigh School

SPECIES184751582329

31

51707080102113

3341455356639812312491126

MONEY RAISED

$40.00$388.40

$25.00

$25.00

$111.00

$182.00

$202.00

$491.75

$372.80$233.25

Brown Thrashers at the Youth Birding

Competition Banquet

This team from Knollwood Elementary School had a

wonderful time, and it was a great experience for

the kids. The team spotted about 30 species, along

with a baby turtle, a tiny frog, a snake, rabbit and

salamanders. They had a stone skipping

competition, climbed a tree and walked in the

woods. They also raised $50 to send to OperationMigration, and each team member received a Sibley

guide. The teams best birds were Eastern Kingbird,

Great Blue Heron and Killdeer.

Mary Nevil, an Atlanta Audubon member and teacher

at Knollwood who usesLearning About Birds in her classroom, was leader of theBrown Thrashers. This is the onlyLearning About Birds team that went to the YouthBirding Competition this year. We are certainly inspired by their good work.

Participants of the Youth Birding Competition examine

the bird checklist at Charlie Elliott.


8/128 Atlanta Audubon Soci

AAS Photographer

Do you like to take photographs? We are looking

for someone interested in being the official AAS

photographer. If interested, please contact

Catharine Kuchar at

[email protected].

Calendar of Events Coordinator

We are looking for a volunteer to help us get our

field trips, events, etc., in the local calendar of

events around town. We will provide you with alist of contacts with deadline dates, etc., and you

will simply submit the listings. The position is for

one year and would require approximately 1 to

1.5 hours per month. If interested, please contact

Catharine Kuchar at

[email protected].

Birdathon Coordinator

We need a coordinator for our annual

Birdathona fun AAS event and an important

fundraiser for the organization. Being Birdathon

coordinator is easy and fun and involvesdetermining dates for Birdathon, publicizing the

event, securing prizes to be awarded, answering

questions, etc. If interested, please contact Ellen

Miller at [email protected].

Scholarships Coordinator

A one-year position, the Scholarships coordina

announces and publicizes the opportunity to a

for the adult and youth scholarships, recruits a

trains a small committee to review the

applications and interview the applicants, info

winners of their good fortune and reminds the

of their obligations to AAS upon returning from

camp. To volunteer, contact Marcia Klenbort at

[email protected].

Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program

We are looking for volunteers to work three-ho

shifts on Saturday, September 8, during the

Wildlife Sanctuary Tour. We are also looking f

help with the certification of properties. If

interested, contact Jacqueline McRae at

[email protected]

Database Update

We regularly need someone to do data entry in

our database. You can work from home. High-

speed Internet access is required. Keeping thdatabase current is critical. For more informat

contact Art Hurt at [email protected].

Volunteer Corner We need YOU!

Volunteers are what make Atlanta Audubon Society such an amazing organization. W

rely on volunteers in virtually every area of the organization in order to be successfu

and we are always looking for individuals who want to get involved. Check out som

of our current volunteer opportunities below. Additional volunteer opportunities can

found on the Web site at www.atlantaaudubon.org.

Shade-Grown Coffee

The Atlanta Audubon Shade-Grown Coffee Committee has been working since 1996 to increa

public awareness of the connection between neotropical migratory birds antraditional coffee farms. As a volunteer effort, ourcampaign aims to educate consumers about the positive

role that shade coffee plays in the conservation ofsongbird habitat in the Latin American coffee-producing

countries.

For more information and coffee sources, visit

www.atlantaaudubon.org. To volunteer for committee

activities, contact Jane Brann

([email protected] or 404.237.3542)

WANTED: Person withgraphic design skills for

creation of brochure andnew promotion pieces. Finalproduct to be produced thissummer. Compensation:Satisfaction for a job welldone in service to AtlantaAudubon. Contact Art Hurt,[email protected].

WANTED: Person withxperience and knowledge in

producing a monthlynewsletter, including editing,cut and paste, layout andproduction. Training startsmmediately. Could lead toEditor-in-Chief."Compensation: Your nameprominently displayed invery issue. Contact

[email protected].

WANTED: Accounting-wise

person to run Quick Books,make deposits, produceeports and provide other

bookkeeping functions.Compensation: A position onhe Atlanta Audubon Society

Board of Directors, plus thegratitude of the entireorganization. Contact:[email protected].

WANTED: EducationChairperson to chair thecommittee, whichadministers the variousducation programs put on

by AAS. Compensation:Knowing that you arespreading knowledge ofbirds and birding to youngand not-so-young. Contact:[email protected]

Help Wanted:

Do You Qualify?

Will You Help?


9/12June 2007 9

A volunteer from the Chattahoochee NatureCenter holds a rehabilitated female Red-shouldered Hawk at the May 6 Birds in thePark program put on by the Atlanta

Audubon Society and Piedmont ParkConservancy. Birds in the Park, anInternational Migratory Bird Day event,drew 500 visitors. Fifteen stations, operated

mostly by 30 Atlanta Audubon Societyvolunteers, entertained and taught childrenand adults alike the value and joy ofmigrating birds and our common Atlanta

birds as well. Five other natureorganizations participated. Thanks to allwho participated:

Birds in the Park

Anita ChilcuttAnne McCallumBarbara TarpleyCarol VanderschaafEllen MillerGeorgann SchmalzJay Davis

Jane BrannJackie HeydaJim WilsonJoy CarterJudy CandlerKathleen BancroftKelly Hopkins

Lenny BorgMary KellyMarilyn HarrisMelody Swierski

and her son, EvanNancy HamiltonSandy Miller

Scottie JohnsonVictor WilliamsCliff LuttonSally DavisSally HodgesMarcia KlenbortCatharine Kuchar

As most springand summerbirders at theNewman

WetlandsCenter know,the wetlandsare filled with

the music of frogs as well as birds. DNRherpetologist, John Jensen, will lead anevening walk through the wetlands trail,identifying the night calls and collectingspecimens. The walk will be preceded byan indoor program on our frogs,salamanders and methods to monitor their

presence and abundance in our streamsand wetlands.This is a fun way to learn the various frogcalls and more about these wonderful

indicators of watershed stability. There is a25-person limit, and reservations arerequired.Call or e-mail Carol Lambert at the NWC

at 770-603-5606 [email protected].

The Newman Wetlands Center is located at2755 Freeman Road in Hampton.

For more information, visit www.ccwa.us

(Wetlands Center).

Amphibians of the WetlandsFriday, June 22, 7:30 PM

Newman Wetlands Center, Clayton County

Chattachoochee Nature Center volunteer, Joey Giunta, displays a Red-shouldered Hawk

to the IMBD crowd.


10/12

CLASSIFIEDS

Black Oil

Sunflower20lb Bag $7.50 always

with Audubon Membership Card

Proud Supporters of EnvironmentallyConscious Organizations in our Local

Community.

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

Dunwoody2472 Jett Ferry Rd 770-396-3353

Johns Creek3630 Peachtree Pky 770-813-947

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

WWW.Wildbird.com

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

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


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

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

Answer: SootyShearwater

Answer: Great andSnowy Egrets werekilled for their plumes

Panama!October 3-11, 2007

Canopy Tower and the Canopy Lodge

$1640 per persondouble occupancy

($200 single supplement). Price includes 8 nights lodginbirding guides, transfers and most meals.

Group size is limited to 10.

For additional information and to be put on the list for a spa

contact: [email protected]


11/12June 2007 11

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.

Getting to Know Georgias Protected Birds: Bachmans SparrowThe Bachmans Sparrow is about 15 cm

n length with a long rounded tail. Theyare found throughout much of the

outheastern United States in matureopen pine woods, regenerating clear-

cuts, old pastures with a dense groundcover of grasses and forbs or palmettocrub. In Georgia they are primarily

ound in the southern Piedmont and theCoastal Plain, with occasional reports

rom the northern Piedmont andmountains. Their diet includes

nvertebrates, like beetles,grasshoppers, crickets, millipedes,nails and spiders; seeds of grass,

edges and some forbs gleaned from theground surface. Nesting usually starts in

March or April. The female lays three toive eggs in a nest she constructs at the

base of a grass clump, small shrub orpine seedling.

Bachmans Sparrow is a "rare" bird

according to the states status. Thismeans that the species may not be

endangered or threatened but should beprotected because of its limited

numbers. It is important to note thatstate listed species don't enjoy the samehabitat protection that federally listed

species do.Generally, Bachmans Sparrows are

found in older pine stands (60-plusyears) with widely spaced trees.

However, maintaining lower basal areaswithin younger stands can providesuitable conditions for grass and forb

growth, and consequently for thesparrows. Regular burning is needed in

pine woods habitats, and often in fields,to keep shrubs and saplings from

becoming too dense, thereby inhibitingherbaceous ground cover. The federal

Breeding Bird Survey has documented a

7 percent decrease per year inBachmans Sparrow populations over

the last 30 years.Bachman's Sparrows can be found

throughout the year on Fort Benningand Fort Stewart, two Georgia IBAs thatwill be nominated this year for Global

IBA Status, partly due to the fact thatthe Bachman's Sparrow occurs on

them. Bachmans Sparrow has also beenfound in Dawson Forest, Pine Log

WMA; Mayhaw, Rum Creek, Yuchi, DoeRun Natural Areas, Chickasawhatchee,River Creek, Clarks Hill, Di-Lane, Grand

Bay and Lake Seminole WMAs.

Source: Georgia Department of Natural

Resources, Protected Animals of

Georgia


12/12

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

Atlanta, GA

Permit #917

Atlanta Audubon SocietyBox 29189 Atlanta, GA 30359

Wingbarsis printed on recycled paper

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5343 Roberts DrivDunwoody, GA 303

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Birds Matter.Out on the TrailBy Margie Cohen, American Hiking Society

More than 75 million Americans hike, and their reasons vary from connecting to nature to enjoying exercito bird watching. Hiking remains one of the most popular outdoor activities because it is a terrific nature-

based recreational activity for a lifetime of health and fitness and because hiking can be enjoyed by people of all ages, backgrounds andphysical ability.

Many of you venture beyond your backyard to observe and learn about the birds of Georgia (and areas further afield). To explore the habitatflora and fauna that create your birding experience, you hike on trails in county parks, state parks, national forests, national parks and othpublic and private lands. You may identify yourself as a hiker and observe birds along your rambles. Or you may be a birder and hike to reachunique areas that allow you to discover, see and hear birds that enthrall you.

I love to hike and have been hiking Georgias trails for over 20 years. For me, hiking is a journey of exploration. I rouse my physical self andimmerse myself in nature. And nature awes me every trail and every trip.

The hiking experience connects all of us. And yet I am always surprised, in meeting folks along the trails, by the expectation that hiking traijust happen and are well tended. Surprising to many is that hiking trails dont just happen. They need to be designed, built, maintained,supported and protected. Hiking trails are there for you because the community wants them and citizens like you get involved.

I encourage all of you, for whatever reasons you enjoy hiking, to get involved. Volunteer to help clean up and maintain your favorite trails.Contact your local and state representatives and let them know how important hiking trails and natural corridors are to you. Introduce hikin

and birding to a friend or to your children and share your passion. Enthusiasm is contagious. Pass it on!

For more information, visit www.AmericanHiking.org.

Birds Matter

Upcoming:

Birds ofMalaysia

3 PM

PikesAuditorium

July 15

I85

PleasantHillRoad

SteveReynoldsBlvd

BeaverRuinRoad

Pike Family

Nursery

Auditorium

june 2007 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society

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