march 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
March 2007
Volume XXXIII, Issue 3 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
Join Atlanta Audubon on March 11 at 3 PMfor some living history as we introduce Nancy
Tanner, the wife of the late James T. Tanner,
who was given a fellowship in 1937 by the
National Audubon Society to study the Ivory-
billed Woodpecker and determine its needs in
order to save it from extinction. James Tanner
wrote the definitive book published by
Audubon in 1942, The Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Dover republished it in 1966 and again in 2003.
The last confirmed sighting of the Ivory-billed
Woodpecker was in 1944, and Nancy Tanner is
the last living person to have seen five Ivory-
bills and studied them for two weeks in the
field. With the latest possible evidence of Ivory-
bills in Arkansas and Florida, there is hope thatNancy will not be the final person to study
these magnificent birds.
Nancy will show her husband's close-up
pictures of the Ivory-bill and a DVD on which
you can see and hear the bird.
James Tanner received his PhD from Cornell
University and was a professor at the University
of Tennessee, where he started the first
graduate program in ecology in the country. He
was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy in
World War II. He died in 1991.
Nancy and Jim have three children and seven
grandchildren. Nancy graduated from MountHolyoke College and got her graduate degree
from Harvard University. After her children
were in high school, she returned to teaching in
the College of Education at the University of
Tennessee. She and Jim traveled extensively in
Europe, South America, Kenya and Japan, and
both retired in 1979.
Directions to Pike Family Nurseries
Support Center (map on back page)
Take I-85 north of Atlanta to Beaver Ruin
Road/GA 378 (Exit 102). If you are traveling
northbound, turn right at the end of the ramp. Ifyou are traveling southbound, turn left at the
end of the exit ramp. Travel 1.1 miles to Steve
Reynolds Blvd. and turn left at the light. Pike
Family Nurseries Support Center will be up on
your right approximately .5 miles, at 4020 Steve
Reynolds Blvd. Park in the front of the building
and come to the main office entrance. Volun-
teers will guide you to Pikes auditorium.
I N S I D
Presidents Perch.......
From the Exec Dir ......
Field Notes .................
Field Trips...................
Upcoming Events .......
2007 Birdathon............
Photo Contest ............
Green Day at the Zoo .
Migratory Bird Day.....
Whooping Crane Alive
Kennesaw Mountain ..
Classifieds.................
Merritt Island Tour.....
Membership ..............
AUDUBON SPEAKER SERIESNancy Tanner, wife of Dr. James T. Tanner
Sunday, March 11, 2007, 3 PMPike Family Nursery Auditorium
4020 Steve Reynolds Blvd., Norcross, GA 30093
As many of you know, the Jekyll IslandAuthority (JIA) has recently begun plans to
redevelop one our states most beloved andimportant coastal islands. Thanks to a law that
mandates 65 percent of the island must remainundeveloped, Jekyll has served as "a state park
for the plain people of Georgia" for nearly 60years, unlike its upscale neighbors such asHilton Head and St. Simons. More than one
million visitors enjoy walking on desertedbeaches, bird watching and hiking on this
beautiful island every year. In addition, theislands 4-H Center educates more than 10,000
children annually. Moreover, the 65/35 rulehas allowed Jekyll to become one of the most
important ecological areas in the state, servingas prime nesting ground for many threatenedbirds and sea turtles and providing vital
continued on page 6
Help Protect Jekyll IslandBy Clark Rushing
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As I write, it is winter -- the season forIvory-billed Woodpecker searches.Considering that Nancy Tanner, who is
probably the last living person to have seenand conclusively document Ivory-billedWoodpeckers, is the Atlanta AudubonSpeaker Series featured speaker in March, Idecided to find out the latest on the searchfor those birds.
As Im sure most of you know, a number ofexperts, including some in the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, believe that credibleevidence of the continuing existence ofIvory-billed Woodpeckers has been found in
Arkansas. Because the evidence is notcompletely conclusive, however, there aresome, David Allen Sibley for one, whoquestion the evidence and believe that thebirds seen may be the more commonPileated Woodpecker.
Im sure you also know that the decline ofthe Ivory-billed Woodpecker was causedmostly by habitat loss. Virtually all the oldgrowth forests of the Southeast were loggedin the early part of this century, whichdestroyed most of the habitat suitable for
Ivory-bills.
But did you know that in addition tosearches again taking place in the Cacheand White Rivers areas of Arkansas thiswinter, there are also searches going on inFlorida, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisianaand Texas? In August of 2006, 60representatives of natural resourcesorganizations, universities, and state andfederal agencies met to discuss strategy and
logistics of a national search. The evidenceof the survival of Ivory-bills in Arkansas anadditional evidence in Florida convinced
this wide-ranging group that it made senseto cooperate on what some say is a long-overdue systematic national effort in all thebig forests of the Southeast to try toconclusively determine the existence ornon-existence of the Ivory-billedWoodpecker and to catalog appropriateIvory-bill habitat.
As part of this effort, the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology put together a mobile searchteam made up of experts traveling to the
various on the ground search sites to assiswith advice, equipment and personnel. Atthe time of this writing, the mobile searchteam had assisted a group in the CongareeNational Park in South Carolina and was inFlorida with a group who reported possiblevidence of Ivory-bills in a scientific journain September.
Speaking of the Florida search, have youheard about it? A group of searchers wholike to call themselves the Other Guysbegan searching for Ivory-billed
Woodpeckers along the Gulf Coast ofFlorida in the Choctawhatchee river basinin 2005. Within a short period of time, theyencountered what they believe was anIvory-billed Woodpecker. In addition theyhave found a number of tree cavities thatare of a size to suggest Ivory-bills. Thegroup also installed listening stations. Whethe recordings were analyzed, they
Board of Directors2007
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
The Search for Ivory-Bills
continued on page 10
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olunteerOpportunitiGET INVOLVE
IN ATLANTA
AUDUBON
We invite you to volunteerwith these Atlanta Audubonprograms.
PublicityHelp us get the word outthrough local media about field trips and workshops.Contact: Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324
MembershipHelp with mailings tomembership.Contact: Art Hurt770.934.7660
EventsRepresent Audubon at specfunctions and displays.Contact: Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338
EducationVolunteer for a variety ofeducational programs. Weprovide training workshopsContact: Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826
Wildlife SanctuarySupport the preservation o
greenspace in Atlanta.Contact: Jacqueline McRa
jacqueline.mcrae@comcas
ConservationBecome an Armchair Activiand keep updated on legislaction both locally and natiContact: Clark Rushing404.373.8585
Office and PhoneAnswer the AAS hotline anassist visitors to our officethe Dunwoody Nature CentContact: Ellen Miller
404.355.8892
Important Bird Areas ProgHelp distribute informationmonitor input, networkthroughout the state withIBA participants.Contact: Jim Wilson770.602.1679
In my early exploration into the birdingworld, I was quite surprised to come
across several texts exploring the manyproblems associated with so-callednuisance birds.How could birds be a
nuisance?, I asked myself.
Websters dictionary definesnuisance asone that is annoying, unpleasant orobnoxious (a.k.a. a pest). So just whatexactly are these bird culprits that couldbe defined as annoying, unpleasant orobnoxious? Here is a countdown of fivebirds often cited as the top contenders:
#5 - Red-winged Blackbird
Whether it is fact or fiction, thegregarious Red-winged Blackbird has areputation for its bad eating habits.Southerners have long complained thatredwings pull up long-leaf pine seedlingsand eat the seeds. This is particularlyproblematic for such a delicate andendangered habitat. In addition, theprevailing impression that redwings arevery injurious to the farmer's interestscontinues. While there is some research
to counter this, the Red-wingedBlackbird is still considered to be a pest.
#4 - House Sparrow
Non-native species that are introduced toan area by humans often get a bad rap.The House Sparrow is no exception.Imported from Europe, it has adaptedextremely well and is known to killbluebirds when competing for a nestbox. With many bluebirds disappearingfrom much of their traditional range, thelast thing they need is competition from
the House Sparrow.
#3 - European Starling
The European Starling shares manythings in common with its counterpart,the House Sparrow. Both were importedfrom Europe, and both limit housing forother, more desirable birds. It has hada substantial impact on several nativespecies, including the Purple Martinpopulation. With its aggressive nature, it
can easily destroy the martins eggs andyoung and even kill the adults.
#2 - American CrowDespite its intelligence, the AmericanCrow is not a particularly well-lovedbird. Writer Rosemary Drisdelle statesthat crows are renowned for getting intogarbage, eating carrion and road kill,destroying crops, killing livestock andbeing a noisy nuisance. A large group ofcrows can make quite a racket, and theytend to do this at unfortunate times, suchas the predawn hours when most humanswould rather be asleep. If that wasnt
enough, the American Crow is alsoconsidered by some to be a bad omen.
The #1 Nuisance Bird - Brown-
headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is agrasslands species that has recentlyexpanded its range. These seeminglyinnocent birds lay their eggs in otherbirds nests, and the hosts raise thecowbird chick(s). The result is that theunsuspecting caretakers often fail to
raise their own young. Naturally, thebiggest problem is for very rare speciesthat already have difficulty breeding dueto habitat loss and other factors. TheBrown-headed Cowbird never builds itsown nest.
When faced with these facts, its hard todeny that these birds might be ratherannoying, unpleasant and, yes, evenobnoxious. However, Id still ratherbelieve that no bird is a nuisance. Theonly nuisance bird that I can come up
with is the one who wont hold still forthe camera! Now, that is the definition ofanuisance bird!
From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar
The Nuisance Bird
March 2007
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ATLANTA AREA
GEESE THROUGH FALCONS Two GREATERWHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen on a BartowCounty pond on 21 Dec. (BZ). Interestingly enough,this is the same pond where two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were found last year. A ratheramazing count of 48 WILD TURKEYS was made onthe Marietta Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on 17 Dec.(BZ et al.). A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen atLake Spivey on 23 Dec. by HG, but unfortunatelythe bird could not be relocated. An EARED GREBEwas a good find at Sweetwater Creek State Park on10 Dec. (HG). Good birds at the E. L. Huie LandApplication Facility (ELHLAF) in Clayton Countywere an AMERICAN BITTERN on 20 Dec. and aGREAT EGRET from 29 Dec. through 31 Dec. (CL).Always exciting was a PEREGRINE FALCON seen onthe Marietta CBC on 17 Dec. (BZ et al.).
RAILS THROUGH TERNS During the month, CLhad KING RAILS, SORAS and COMMONMOORHENS at the ELHLAF. There were six reportsof SANDHILL CRANES, with almost all the reports
coming on 10 Dec. (m.ob.). The peak count was1,500 over Atlanta on 10 Dec. by SE. Rare for thewintertime was a SPOTTED SANDPIPER seen at theChattahoochee River National Recreation Area on 1Dec. by DH. CL had a couple of good observationsat the ELHLAF, with 15 LEAST SANDPIPERS on 29Dec. and a BONAPARTES GULL on 22 Dec. AFORSTERS TERN was a good find at theSweetwater Creek State Park on 10 Dec. (HG).
HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH SPARROWS ACALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was reported from the
Decatur area on 5 Dec. (PW). A female BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD was banded in theMableton area on 19 Dec. by RT. Very rare for theMarietta CBC area was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE on17 Dec. (TD et al.). A very late or over-winteringTENNESSEE WARBLER was seen at the ELHLAFWetlands Center on 22 Dec. (CL). Another rare bird
on the 17 Dec. Marietta CBC was a LINCOLNSSPARROW (fide BZ).
GEORGIA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS Two GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were seen in the Warner Robinsarea on 7 Dec. (BF). A ROSSS GOOSE wasreported from the West Point Dam (WPD) on 1 Dec.by WC. Two British birders reported to CL that theyhad seen a EURASIAN WIGEON at Jekyll Island on2 Dec. Unfortunately, no other observers were ableto see the bird. EB had an excellent count of 75REDHEADS at WPD on 3 Dec. At the Bear CreekReservoir in Jackson County, MF had two WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and one BLACK SCOTER on 1Dec. Another inland BLACK SCOTER was seen onthe Dalton CBC on 16 Dec. (SP, JG, MM). At JekyllIsland on 2 Dec., JSe had 1500 BLACK SCOTERS,12 SURF SCOTERS and five WHITE-WINGEDSCOTERS. Ten COMMON GOLDENEYES were seenat the WPD on 3 Dec. (EB), and a single bird wasseen in Jasper County on 10 Dec. (EM).
LOONS THROUGH GREBES Rare inland RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at the WPD on 1Dec. (WC) and at the Walter F. George Dam on 2Dec. (JF, EH). EB and MB had a very impressivecount of at least 100 RED-THROATED LOONS atTybee Island on 17 Dec. A PACIFIC LOON wasreported from Tybee Island on 15 Dec. for one of
the few records for the state (fide JF). Generally,PIED-BILLED GREBES are found either as individualbirds or as small groups, so a count of 85 in theLake Park area on 8 Dec. was quite interesting(MF). A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at LakeSeminole on 6 Dec. and again on 27 Dec. by EB. EBand DM had 20+ EARED GREBES at Lake Julietteon 4 Dec. EB had a single EARED GREBE at LakeSeminole on 6 Dec. and again on 27 Dec. AWESTERN GREBE was found at Lake Walter F.George on 6 Dec. and was seen at least through 27Dec. (EB). This is one of the very few records ofthis species in Georgia.
PELICANS THROUGH GULLS JF and EH had atleast 100 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at BagbyState Park on 2 Dec. Elsewhere, 20 were seen atBrunswick on 17 Dec. (EB, MB), and three were atLake Walter F. George on 27 Dec. (EB). FourROSEATE SPOONBILLS were late at Jekyll Island on19 Dec. (fide LT). Two BLACK RAILS were reportedfrom the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area(AWMA) near Darien on 17 Dec. by EB and MB.There were only a couple of sightings of SANDHILLCRANES, with the peak count of 75 coming on 10
Dec. in Taylor County (BM). Interesting shorebirsightings included a WILLET at Lake Juliette on Dec. (EB, DM), four LEAST SANDPIPERS on theDalton CBC on 16 Dec. (SP, JG, MM) and twoSHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on the Macon CBon 16 Dec. (TMc). EB and MB had singlePOMARINE and PARASITIC JAEGERS at Goulds
Inlet on 17 Dec. and 52 LESSER BLACK-BACKEDGULLS at Tybee Island the same day.
DOVES THROUGH FLYCATCHERS Single WHITWINGED DOVES were seen on Jekyll Island on 2Dec. (MC) and in Savannah on 7 Dec. (SW). Acalling LONG-EARED OWL was reported fromRabun County on 20 Dec. by EB and DM. A SHOEARED OWL was seen in Sumter County on 11Dec. by CR. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL waheard in Rabun County on 20 Dec. by EB and DMIn the Savannah area, a CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIwas reported on 17 Dec. by SC. Single WESTERKINGBIRDS were reported from Jekyll Island on
Dec. (fide JSe) and the AWMA on 17 Dec. (EB, MAn extremely rare ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERwas reported from Baker County on 16 Dec. by AUnfortunately, the bird could not be relocated.
NUTHATCHES THROUGH BLACKBIRDS ThreeRED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were a good findthe Chattahoochee CBC on 18 Dec. (JSp). Anothextremely rare bird was a BEWICKS WREN seenBaker County on 13 Dec. by AA. Unfortunately, tbird also could not be relocated. JF and EH had acouple of good sightings, with a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER in Terrell County on 2 Dec. an22 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in Sumter
County on 2 Dec. EB and MB found a PAINTEDBUNTING on Jekyll Island on 17 Dec. In theValdosta area, RC had two BALTIMORE ORIOLEon 28 Dec. A very rare sighting was an adult maBULLOCKS ORIOLE in Bulloch County on 27 Deby JP. Good numbers of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS wreported with 1,000 in the Augusta area on 9 De(EM) and 372 in the Macon area on 16 Dec. (TM
CONTRIBUTORS Alan Ashley, Eric Beohm,Michael Beohm, Patrick Brisse, Steve Calver, WaChambers, Bob Churi, Marjorie Clark, Rita CollinMark Davis, Terri Davis, Steve Ehly, Jim Flynn,Bryan Fobbus, Mark Freeman, Hugh Garrett, JimGreenway, David Hedeen, Earl Horn, Carol LambEd Maiorello, Trey McCuen, Max Medley, EllenMiller, Ben Moore, Darlene Moore, Peggy and TeMoore, Charlie Muise, Sandy Pangle, John ParriParrie Pinyan, Clive Rainey, Jeff Sewell, JoshuaSpence, Paul Sykes, Lydia Thompson, Rusty TruSteve Wagner, Pat White, Victor Williams, and BZaremba.
December Field Notes by Terry Moorez
We had another good month ofbirding in Atlanta and thestate. There were a number of
good birds, which allowed us topost some fairly impressive totalsfor the year. Some of the good
birds were Red-necked Grebes, a WesternGrebe, a couple of Calliope Hummingbirds,a Broad-tailed Hummingbird and possibleAsh-throated Flycatcher and Bewicks Wren.
The Atlanta area recorded 119 species(average 113.5) to bring that year-to-datelist to 249 (average 243.5). The Georgiaarea recorded 211 species (average 205.0)to bring that year-to-date list to 332(average 331.6). Based on these figures, ithas to be said that 2006 was a fairlyaverage year for birding in the state of
Georgia.
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WildlifeSanctuar
Believe it or not, lateMarch hummingbi
might show up in yyard, so it will be tim
make sure the necfeeders are out and for the new arrivals.
males arrive first, folby the females, who
which males have thehabitat for their nes
sites. Nectar can be by dissolving one p
sugar with four pawater, with no foo
coloring added -- thon the container is en
to attract the hummThrow out the nec
when it becomes cloand put fresh nectar
Use small containunless you really halot of hummers in y
yard. Separate twomore containers byfeet or more to ke
aggressive males ftaking over more tha
feeder.
Field TripsCompiled by by Dave Butler
Rock Creek Park (Dawson County)Saturday, March 10, Georgann SchmalzSaturday, March 17, Georgann SchmalzMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Migrants, residentsDirections: Take GA 400 north to Dawson
Forest Rd. Turn left (west) on Dawson Forest Rd.Turn right (north) on Hwy 9. Pass the middleschool, cross over the flood plain and take a leftinto Rock Creek Park at sign.
Big Creek Greenway (Fulton County)Sunday, March 11, Georgann SchmalzSunday, March 18, Georgann SchmalzMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Migrants, residentsDirections: Take Georgia 400 north to Exit 8,Mansell Rd./Alpharetta exit. After exiting, turnright onto Mansell Rd. At the first traffic light,turn left onto North Point Parkway (P F Changs
on corner and Smokey Bones BBQ on the other).Continue on North Point Pkwy. through three orfour lights, staying in the right hand lane. Lookfor the (small) Big Creek Greenway sign at theentrance on the right, just past the car wash.Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve(DeKalb County)
Saturday, March 24,Lisa HurtSaturday, March 31,Lisa HurtMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Migrants, residentsDirections: From I-285 N or S: Take Highway 78,Stone Mt. Freeway exit, west toward Decatur.
Highway 78 passes North DeKalb Mall andcontinues up hill past Banner Ford. Atintersection of Highway 78, North Decatur Rd.and Medlock Rd., take right on Medlock Rd.Follow Medlock Rd. 1/4 mile to MedlockElementary School; go right on Wood Trail Lane.Go through one stop sign; travel another 200yards to Preserve entrance.From I-75/I-85 N or S: From I-85 north or southtake North Druid Hills exit, east toward Decatur.After approx. 3 miles, go right on Highway. 78 (atNorth DeKalb Mall). Follow directions as above.
E.L. Huie Water Treatment Facility
(Clayton County)Saturday, March 31,Dale HardeeMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Waterfowl, migrantsDirections: Take I-75 south beyond I-285 to US19/41 (Tara Blvd., exit 235); drive south for 8.2miles to Freeman Rd. and turn left. The officesare on the right. This trip is sponsored by theClayton County Water Authority.
Events Further Afield
Event Dates Location Contact
Advancing Sustainable Prosperity
(Ceres Conference) April 25-26 Boston www.ceres.org
Verde Valley Birding and
Nature Festival April 26-29 Cottonwood, AZ [email protected]
South Florida: Gateway to
Tropical America April 28-May 5 Miami sandiegoaudobon.org
North Alabama Birding Festival May 4-6 Decatur, AL www.decaturcvb.org
March 2007
Upcoming Bird Walks at theChattahoochee Nature Center
Saturday, April 14 Saturday, May 58 - 10 AM, Ages 8 & up,
General Admission/Members FREEJoin Chattahoochee Nature Center wildlife volunteer and
Master Birder, Stacy Zarpentine, for a morning bird walk todiscover feathered friends around the grounds.
Dont forget to fill out and return the 2007 Atlanta Audubon
Society Member Survey included with your February 2007 edition of
Wingbars. You can also go on-line at www.atlantaaudubon.org
to fill out the form. Remember that everyone who fills out the survey will
be entered to win a $50 gift certificate from Pike Family Nurseries!
To be included in the drawing, be sure to fill out your survey and
return it by Friday, March 16, 2007.
Field trips are open to the public andfree (unless otherwise noted).
We welcome everyone from advanced
birders to beginners!
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foraging grounds for thousands of migratory
birds during their annual trips between theArctic and the tropics.
However, visitation to the park has dropped in
recent years. Because of declining revenuesfrom the existing development, JIA has hired a
private real estate firm to develop a master planfor the island that focuses on identifying themeans by which revenues can be enhanced
within the parameters of the 35/65 rule. Thismaster plan, available at the JIA Web site, has
been put together with little input from theplain people of Georgia and contains
recommendations that will put the islandsfragile ecology at risk, such as placingbeachfront homes along undeveloped portions
of South Beach and replacing currentbeachfront motels with high-rise hotels and
condos.
In the coming year, JIA expects several private
development firms to submit major proposalsfor the island. So far, interested developers
have stated they have big plans, ensuring thatthe island will match the Cloisters at SeaIsland. Proposed plans include hundreds of
beachfront homes and condos, a members-o
golf club, a gated community and moving thcurrent 4-H Center to make room for high-eluxury redevelopment.
While there is little doubt that someredevelopment on Jekyll is needed, opening
island to this type of private development wonly result in the destruction of one of the ECoasts last pristine barrier islands. This
destruction would be a huge loss not only tothe plants and animals that rely on Jekyll bu
all the plain people of Georgia for whom tisland was intended.
If you would like to make your voice heard fight to protect Jekyll, please write a letterexpressing why the protection of Jekyll Islan
is important to you. Letters should be sent tthe Bill Donohue, executive director of the
Jekyll Island Authority, Governor Sonny Perand your state representatives. In addition,
please send a blind copy to conservationdirector Clark Rushing for Atlanta Audubon
records. Thanks for your dedication and helpreserving this jewel of the Georgia coast.
Mark your calendars now for Birdathon 2007, which will take placebetweenApril 21, 2007, and May 6, 2007.
Birdathon is one of Atlanta Audubons annual fundraisers. Everyone can participate in this competitive birdingevent that will raise money this year for all of our education programs (Master Birder Program, Audubon
Adventures, Nature Camps, Learning About Birds, etc.) and our conservation initiatives such as the ImportantBird Area (IBA) program. It's fun, and we need everyones help to meet our goal of $10,000.
On March 25, Atlanta Audubon will host a pre-Birdathon cookout at Georgann Schmalzs house in Dawsonville,
along with an early field trip to Dawson Forest, to recognize and thank those who participated in Birdathon in2006 and previous Birdathons and to gear up for Birdathon 2007. Everyone who has participated in Birdathons inthe past or plans to participate this year is invited. Well ask some of our top performers to share tips and
strategies. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can determine food needs by e-mailing Ellen Miller [email protected]. Ellen will answer any questions you may have and provide directions to Georganns.
You can participate in one of two ways:
1. Sign up as a Birdathoner and collect sponsors for birding an hour, a morning or up to 24 consecutive hours.
2. Sponsor a participating Birdathoner and make a per species pledge or a set donation to Atlanta Audubon
Society.
What does a Birdathoner do?
1. Collect per species or set pledges from parents, neighbors, friends, co-workers and others and keep a record
on the sponsor sign-up sheet included in this issue of Wingbars.2. Go birding for up to 24 consecutive hours sometime during April 21 - May 6. You can bird alone, with a team,
or with one of Atlanta Audubons planned field trips. You can bird anywhere, e.g., in your backyard, aroundthe metro Atlanta area or even out of the state or out of the country. You can bird and count species as long
as you want, up to 24 consecutive hours.
3. Report back to those anxious sponsors, tell them what great birds you saw, thank them for their support and
collect all of their checks (made payable to Atlanta Audubon Society).
2007 Birdathon Needs You!
6 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Help Protect Jekyll Islandcontinued from page 1.
Where to write:
Bill Donohue,Executive Director
Jekyll Island Authority100 James Road
Jekyll Island, GA31527
Governor SonnyPerdue
203 State CapitalAtlanta, GA 30334
Clark Rushing
135 Glenn CircleDecatur, GA 30030
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Q:WhatspeciesrecentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththelongestmigration?
Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 8 for answer
Q: Where theirterritories overlap,theGolden-frontedWoodpecker has beenknown to interbreed withwhat species?
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
The Deadline for Entries is Approaching Fast!
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 CoastOutdoor 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!
Best in Show: Two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott inCocoa Beach, Florida, includes breakfast for two! Enjoy theFlorida sun with this great prize!
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 professionalphotographer, 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 beawarded at the meeting. Participants dont have to bepresent to win. All entries will be judged prior to the
April AAS Speaker Series event.
Atlanta Audubon at the Zoo
Think Green Day on
Saturday, March 17,from 10 AM until 3 PM
Join Zoo Atlanta again this year for its second annual ThinkGreen Day on Saturday, March 17, from 10 AM until 3 PM.
The event highlights the zoo's conservation efforts andrecycling programs with displays and activities on how to
be more "green." The Atlanta Audubon Shade-GrownCoffee Committee will participate with a display on
sustainable coffee and migratory birds. For moreinformation, go to zooatlanta.org.
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Answer: SootyShearwater
8 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Answer:Red-belliedWoodpecker
Come one, come all! Kids, families,singles, couples. Its free. Its fun.
Celebrate International MigratoryBird Day Sunday, May 6, in PiedmontPark.
In partnership with the PiedmontPark Conservancy, the AtlantaAudubon Society will put on anInternational Migratory Bird Day
(IMBD) event in Piedmont Park onMay 6, 2007, from 8 AM until 3 PM.
The free event for families, youthand adults celebrates the incredible
and timely journey of migratorybirds between their winter home inMexico and Central and South
America to their summer home inNorth America. The days activities
are for all ages and include birdwalks in the 185-acre park,
interactive stations (including MeetAtlantas Birds!), all you need toknow about binoculars, how to
create a bird habitat in yourbackyard, learn bird sounds and
songs through a special iPod
experience, arts and crafts,migration games, get to knowvisiting live birds of prey and buildyour birding skills. More than a
dozen activity stations will invite youto participate.
Come early for the bird walks.Theyll start at 8 AM and again at
8:30 AM. Come if you are anadvanced birder, a backyard birder
or a no-count birder. Bring yourbinoculars or borrow ours.
During the day, Atlanta AudubonMaster Birders and other naturalists
will lead talks and interactivesessions on conservation, birdingbasics, habitats, backyard birding,
migration, climate change and more-- in a variety of formats to appeal to
various age groups. You can break
for lunch at one of several eateriesright near by.
IMBD, created in 1993 by the
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centerand the Cornell Laboratory ofOrnithology, is now under the
direction of the National Fish andWildlife Foundation and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, and iscelebrated in May in Canada, the
United States, Mexico and CentralAmerica.
Birds in the Park!
Celebrating International Migratory Bird Day
The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership
(WCEP) recently announced that one of the18 juvenile cranes presumed lost in the
storms that hit central Florida on February
1-2 has been found.
Project biologists with the InternationalCrane Foundation picked up the radio signal
of crane 15-06 on Saturday afternoon nearthe pen site at the Chassahowitzka NationalWildlife Refuge, where the other birds
perished in the storm. They lost the signalbriefly before picking it up again, tracking
the young bird to an area in Citrus County,some miles away from the pen site. The
juvenile crane was observed from the air ingood remote habitat with two Sandhill
Cranes. Number 15-06 is in the same areawith three whooping cranes from the Classof 2005.
During the last leg of the ultralight-ledmigration last fall, crane 15-06 dropped out
but was found nearby two days later andbrought to the pen site with his flock mates.
Finding 15-06 alive represents a ray of lightduring an otherwise dark time for Whooping
Crane recovery, said John Christian, co-chair of the Whooping Crane Eastern
Partnership. While we are still recovering
from the initial shock of the loss of so manyother young birds, this latest development
demonstrates the resilience of this particular
crane, and our partnership will bounce backas well.
Seventeen juvenile whooping cranes died as
a result of the storms that swept throughcentral Florida during the evening and earlymorning of February 1 and 2.
WCEP is still determining the cause of death
of the 17 whooping cranes what were part ofthe ultralight-led Class of 2006 and arrivedat the Chassahowitzka NWR in mid January.
Endangered Juvenile Whooping Crane
Discovered Alive in Florida
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Most members of Atlanta Audubon haveprobably birded at Kennesaw Mountain(KMT) at one time or another. Thosewho havent probably know at least thatthe birding is great out there. Thenumber of migrant passerines is so goodthat we have been conducting a long-term migration study for the last 15years at KMT, possibly the mostcomplete migratory database in theinland South. Numerous rarities haveshown up during that time, and if thatwasnt enough, its one of the bestplaces to see a Cerulean Warbleranywhere.
Now that I have your attention, changeis in the air at Kennesaw. Use of the
park, particularly the Mountain Road, isincreasing steadily, but the parkcontinues to face a shrinking budget.The park is currently reviewing trafficon the Mountain Road, and federal roadsafety engineers have told the park thatthe road cannot continue to operate as itis now because of serious safetyconcerns. They are deciding how to besthandle the various constituencies thatuse it, from pedestrians to bicyclists tocars. The increased traffic of all kinds
has also strained the limited resourcesat the park.
What can we do to try to make sure
park officials hear the concerns of
birders and see us as responsible
and cooperative users of this great
site, you ask? Take these four simpleactions:
1. Stop by the KMT Visitor Center ifyou are at the park, and mention thatyou are birding and tell the staffthats why you came. We thinkmentioning that you are there towalk up and down the mountain viathe Mountain Road may also behelpful.
2. The University of Georgia will beconducting surveys of users on theMountain Road. If you are asked,please answer the representatives
questionnaire. It will be important toget birders opinions included in thesurvey findings.
3. Drop a note or an e-mail to DanBrown, the superintendent, in
support of continuing pedestrianaccess on the Mountain Road, butplease be courteous. We want topromote goodwill, not antagonizeanyone by protesting too strongly.Sending him a note now will put youon a contact list for the upcomingchanges, and you will then benotified when the various proposedalternatives are published. At thattime, it will be crucial to commenton the alternatives that would allow
road birding to continue. Here is hiscontact info:
Daniel R. BrownSuperintendentNational Park ServiceKennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park905 Kennesaw Mountain DriveKennesaw, GA [email protected]
4. Please be mindful of the posted rules
about using the road. Please dontwalk up the middle of the road. Stickto the edges to stay out of the way ofcars and bikes. Stay to the left on theway up and to the right on the waydown. This works out well for usbecause the best viewing is usuallydown the hill anyway, and helps youavoid warbler neck. If you arethere with a large group of birders,please stretch your group out a bit soyou arent blocking the road.Basically, just be nice like birdersusually are, and promote a positiveimage of our community among allthe others users of the park.
Thanks for your help, and hopefully we
can keep watching warblers from the
road for many years to come.
Birding on Kennesaw MountainBy Giff Beaton, Catharine Brockman Kuchar and Dan Vickers
March 2007
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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
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
contained 99 double-knocks that seem to match descriptions of Ivory-bill Woodpeckerraps and 210 calls that share similarities with Ivory-bill calls recorded in the 1930s.
So who knows, by the time this article comes out maybe absolute and irrefutableevidence will have been found that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker really has survived.
Wouldnt that be exciting?Thanks as always for your support of the birds!
For more information on the Florida Ivory-bill project, visit the following Web site:
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/cosam/departments/biology/faculty/w
ebpages/hill/ivorybill/.
Presidents Perchcontinued from page 2
10 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Panama!October 3-11, 2007
Canopy Tower andthe Canopy Lodge
$1640 per persondouble occupancy
($200 single supplement).Price includes 8 nights lodging,birding guides, transfers and
most meals.Group size is limited to 10.
For additional information andto be put on the list for a
space, contact:[email protected]
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11/12
Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Societymembers receive an introductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a
Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.
f you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org.Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the NationalAudubon Society. Thus you willnot receiveAudubon magazine.
Join the Atlanta Audubon Society
Make check payable to:
Atlanta Audubon Society
Membership Director
P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359
Renewal New Membership
Name_____________________________________Address___________________________________
City___________________________ State _____
Zip Code _____________
E-mail ____________________________________
Phone ____________________________________
Basic Membership Individual .......................................$25 Family ............................................$35 Student ..........................................$15
Contributing Membership..........................$50
Supporting Membership..........................$100
Donor Membership..................................$250Receive an officialAtlanta Audubon T-shirt
Patron Membership.................................$500Receive a T-shirt and signedcopy of Birds of Atlanta
Benefactor Membership........................$1,000Receive all of the above plus a signed framedprint of Charles Harpers Missing Migrants
Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society
Please do not share this information with any other organization Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars
BENEFITS OFMEMBERSHIP
12 issues ofWingbarsNewsletter
Friends discounon classes, tripand specialevents
Use of the AASlibrary
A greattaxdeduction!
Thanks to allof you for your
support andenthusiasm.
Two days is scarcely enough time to explore
all of the trails, pockets, nesting areas andhammocks of Merritt Island, Florida, but ourband of birders took a big enough bite of it to
know that we want to return.
Merritt Island is a 140,000-acre National
Wildlife Refuge. About half of it consists ofcoastal dune, scrub oak, pine forest and pineand oak hammock. In the remaining half, youwill find brackish estuaries, marshes and
mpoundments, ideal for wintering waterfowl.There are wading bird rookeries, 10 active
bald eagle nests, many osprey nests and anestimated 2,500 Florida scrub jays. For those
n search of wintering ducks and otherwaterfowl, it is a treasure trove.
Fifteen Atlanta Audubon Society birders,ncluding leaders Lisa Hurt and Theresa Hartz,
enjoyed the short-sleeve weather in January,concentrating on the good close looks that
many species presented. Images of
flocks of White Pelicans and RoseateSpoonbills in magnificent flyovers,and of the pelicans busily feeding and
the spoonbills perching and preeningin the Florida sun, will linger with us
all.Some notables sightings includedBald Eagle, American Bittern,Limpkin, Crested Caracara,
Loggerhead Shrike, Roseate Spoonbill, Tri-colored Heron, Northern Pintail, American
Wigeon, White Pelican, Blue-winged andGreen-winged Teal and of course, the Florida
Scrub Jay. River otters and manateerepresented mammal sightings. The two-daytotal was 89 species, but several participants
added others while birding en route to andfrom Merritt Island. Many members of the
group added birds to their life lists.
Merritt Island Tour Nets LifersBy Art Hurt
March 2007
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Upcoming:
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April 21-May 6see page 6
ATLANTAAUDUBON OFFI
atDunwoody Natur
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5343 Roberts DrivDunwoody, GA 303
770.913.0511
I85
PleasantHillRoad
SteveReynoldsBlvd
BeaverRuinRoad
Pike Family
Nursery
Auditorium
400DunwoodyVillage
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rdRd
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285
Birds Matter. . .in the BackyardInvasive Plants and the BirdsBy Connie Gray, President, Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council and
Special Projects Coordinator, Trees Atlanta
There is no question that many birds enjoy the fruit produced by non-native plants that are invasive in natural areas. In fact,many of these plants were widely planted at least in part to provide food and habitat for wildlife autumn olive, multiflora roseand bush honeysuckles, for instance. Equally evident is that birds are major contributors to the spread of these plants, and that
invasive exotic plants are degrading natural areas at an ever-increasing rate. For those of us who are concerned aboutpreserving what we can of our natural world, this can appear to pose a dilemma: Do we feed the birds or eliminate invasiveplants?
It is important that we remember that our native birds co-evolved over many thousands of years with the plants that are nativeto this area. We may never know how many important interrelationships there are between our native flora and fauna. Clearlyour birds did just fine before we introduced Chinese privet, Japanese honeysuckle and oriental bittersweet!
There is a wealth of native plants that produce fruit appealing to many birds viburnums, hawthorns and blueberries, to name afew. These plants are less abundant than they once were due to increased development and degradation of the remainingenvironment, much of that the result of invasive species. A healthy, diverse, natural floodplain should contain a variety of fruit-producing plant species such as swamphaw, silky dogwood and chokeberry. Most floodplains in the Atlanta area are now wall-to-wall Chinese privet that is thriving at the expense of the native plants. Yes, the birds eat privets fruit, but they are forced to eata very limited diet.
We can best benefit our bird populations in the long run by removing invasive plants from our yards and replacing them withappropriate native species. You can find out more about invasive plants at www.gaeppc.org and about native plants atwww.gnps.org.
Birds Matter