april 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
April 2007
Volume XXXIII, Issue 4 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
I N S I D
Presidents Perch.......
From the Exec Dir ......
Field Notes .................
Field Trips...................
N Alabama Birdfest....
Memoriam.................
Sonny Boy ..................
Birding Trips...............
Birds in the Park..........
GA Important Bird Area
Classifieds.................
Backyard Bird Count..
Membership ..............
Atlanta Audubon Society
presents
Celebrating the Wonders of Nature
The 28th Annual Photo Contest Presentation
Ribbons, Prizes Awarded and Talk by Charles Needle
with
Special Dragonflies Presentation and Book Signing by Giff Beaton
Sunday, April 15, 2007, 3 PMPike Family Nursery Auditorium
4020 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093
This year the Annual AAS Photo Contest Presentation promises to be very exciting. The facilities at the PikeFamily Nursery Auditorium will allow us to share all the digital photograph entries in a wide-screen format. Weare delighted that Charles Needle, well-known professional photographer, is again our judge for this event. Inaddition to speaking about nature photography in general, Mr. Needle will give a short presentation on digitalphotography.
In addition, a special presentation will be given byGiff Beaton. He will talk about dragonflies and damselfliesand their breeding biology. Besides sharing some amazing dragonfly photos, Giff will also be signing his new book,
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast.
We encourage emerging photographers to come out and see what wonderful and insightful photographs havebeen entered into this years competition and learn from an expert how to expand your photography skills!
See page 6 for directions to Pikes and information on prizes to be awarded for the photo contest.
Be A Part of Birdathon 2007!Atlanta Audubons #1 Fundraiser
Participate in one of two ways:
Sign up as a Birdathoner and collect sponsors for birding up to 24 consecutivehours, or sponsor a Birdathoner with a per species pledge or a set donation.
Go birding for up to 24 consecutive hours any time betweeen April 21 and May6. You can bird alone, with a team or with one of AASs planned field trips. Youcan bird anywhere, e.g., in your backyard, around the metro Atlanta area oreven out of the state or out of the country. You can bird and count species foras long as you want up to, 24 consecutive hours.
Birdathoners: Collect your pledges and send checks (payable to AtlantaAudubon Society) to AAS Birdathon, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.
If you have any questions about this very special event,
please contact Ellen Miller, [email protected].
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Ah, spring! A few days before writing this articleI was sitting in traffic on Roswell Road in Atlanta
at about 5:45 PM and suffering from angst
because I wanted to get to a store before the 6PM closing time, and it was looking doubtful. AsI sat, I looked up and at first glance saw sixCanada Geese flying over the road. However, on
second and third glances, I realized they werenot Canada Geese but Sandhill Cranes headed
north, working on their commute. Wow, whatluck! I got stuck in traffic and got to see Sandhill
Cranes.
It seems to me Ive known all my life that birds
migrate. But until a few years ago, I had no ideajust how astounding the phenomenon of
migration really is. When I started seriouslypaying attention to the birds in my backyard, I
began to realize just how many species of birdsthere are. I began to learn about the birds thatare in the Atlanta area all the time, here only in
the winter or summer, and birds that migratethrough such that our opportunity for seeing
them is very limited. I then took AtlantaAudubons Master Birder course and learned
about the physics of flight, migration and ourbest understanding of how birds navigate, what
triggers migration, migration routes, etc. Ilearned that the number of daylight hours and
hormonal changes play a big part in the timing ofwhen birds migrate.
I get that part. Anyone who has lived with ateenager understands that hormones can make
organisms do strange things. But think about thefact that to the best of our knowledge, birds usethe Earths magnetic field, the stars, sight and, for
some birds, even smell to know where they aregoing and be able to find their wintering and
breeding grounds. Their navigational skills are soadvanced that banded birds have been found in
the exact same locations year after year.
We also learned about the challenges such asweather, tall buildings, communication towers,
cats and more that migratory birds face. Its no
wonder the population numbers of manymigrants continues to decline.
Then I took the Warbler Workshop, which is
being offered by Atlanta Audubon again thisspring. Giff Beaton taught us about various
migration routes the warblers that come througthe Atlanta area take. There are trans-gulf
migrants and circum-gulf migrants, whichbasically means they either go across the Gulf oMexico or they go around it, with the most
common route being about 650 miles long. Birdsmaller than the palm of my hand fly across the
Gulf of Mexico non-stop.
Hummingbirds are trans-gulf migrants. Theyreally do not ride on the backs of geese, and
juvenile hummingbirds know where to gowithout being shown. They dont follow theirparents or other birds. They go alone and
somehow know where to go and how to getback. Is all that phenomenal or what?
So this spring when you go on a field trip to
Kennesaw or other great Atlanta birdinglocations and see migrants in beautiful breedingplumage, take a step back and think about wha
an astounding act of nature it took for the birdsto be where you are seeing them.
Then think about what you can do to help these
magnificent creatures.
Thanks and Happy Birding!
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 Tarpley404.687.0079
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 404.351.0518
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
Thoughts on Migration
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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
When I first joined Atlanta Audubon Society,
I really didnt know the extent to whichoutdoor cats killed birds. I had vaguely heardabout the problem, but I didnt realize that
scientists estimate that cats (both domesticand feral) kill hundreds of million of birds
each year. Common victims includeCardinals, Blue Jays and House Wrens, as
well as other endangered and rare species. Inaddition, cats may out-compete naturalpredators for food, which can have a
detrimental effect on wildlife.
Advocates of keeping cats indoors say thatbells and declawing do not solve the birdpredation issue, and hence they have worked
hard to push for cats to remain inside. TheAmerican Bird Conservancy, in fact, has an
entire campaign focused on this issue (visitthe Conservancys Web site for more
information and details atwww.abcbirds.org/cats/).
Naturally, not having cats myself, I began towonder if there were any issues regarding
birds safety and dogs. To this point, I hadntrun across anything, but my own personalexperience proved otherwise.
I share my home with my cockatiel, Jimmy,
and three dogs, Cosmo, Tasha and ourrecently adopted dog, Lucy. BL (beforeLucy), Jimmy could fly around the house,
sitting out with me while I worked andplaying on his custom-built play stand. Tasha,
the Maltese, is so oblivious to Jimmy that onoccasion he would use her back as a
stepping stone to wherever he wanted to go.Tasha would barely glance behind her tocheck out the pesky visitor. Those were the
good ol days when dogs and birds couldintermix.
Enter Lucy, and the entire picture changes.
My new little West Highland White Terrierwould like nothing better than to slip on achefs hat, tie on a bib and enjoy a little
cockatiel surprise. Outside, the birds seemfair game too. And while I realize that the
terrier in her is a major factor, it still mademe wonder if birders are simply being biased
toward our feline friends. I had proof thatdogs could possibly be a birds greatestnightmare as well!
What I found is that letting a dog roam is one
of the main issues (as would be expected)with birds. Along the shore, owners whodont carefully monitor their dogs can find
them chasing after and catching shorebirds.In New Zealand, it was reported that in 1987
one roaming dog killed up to 500 kiwi in theWaitangi State Forest Northland in six
weeks. Dogs are natural predators. They huntmostly by smell, but movement attracts theirattention and stimulates the hunt. Birds, as
we all know, like moving. In fact, they makequick rapid moves, the most inviting type of
movement. To a dog, this is as good aswaving a flag in front of a bull. Writer Cheryl
Smith warns homeowners who feed the birdsand also have dogs to be careful about wherethey place their feeders. The dogs obviously
dont need to be eating the birds food, andthe birds dont need the danger of dogs
roaming too close to the feeders.
So what all this means is that while outdoor
cats pose a much greater threat to birds, wemust still take special care to protect the
birds from our dogs as well. As for me, Illhave to work each day to keep Lucy away
from my bird, Jimmy, and the wild birdsoutside. Unfortunately, Lucy and the birds go
together like oil and vinegar, and puttingthem together is a recipe that spells disaster.
From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar
Birds + Dogs = Trouble (or not?)
April 2007
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ATLANTA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS SB reported aGREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE from theE.L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) inClayton County on 1 Jan. This bird was alsoseen by a group of birders led by CL the sameday. A different GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDGOOSE was seen at Shamrock Lake (part ofthe ELHLAF) on 2 Jan. (CL). In Bartow County,at least two GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDGEESE were reliably seen during the monthalong the Floyd Creek Church Road by severalobservers. At this same location 10 SNOWGEESE were seen on 15 Jan. by KB. At theSmith Reservoir (part of ELHLAF), CL had 21AMERICAN WIGEON on 13 Jan. and KB hadas many as five CANVASBACKS on 3 Jan. A
female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER spentthe entire month at Shamrock Lake (CL).
GREBES THROUGH SANDPIPERS Interesting sightings from the ELHLAF werethree HORNED GREBES on 1 Jan. (SB), anentirely unexpected ANHINGA on 1 Jan. (CL et.al.), a late GREAT EGRET on 1 Jan. (CL et al.),and several BALD EAGLES during the month(CL). A downtown PEREGRINE FALCON wasreported near the Biltmore Hotel on 16 Jan. byJT. Back at the ELHLAF, CL reported SORASand COMMON MOORHENS during the month,and SB had 14 LEAST SANDPIPERS there on1 Jan.
HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH TANAGERS ABROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD spent theentire month at a Mableton feeder (m.ob.).This is about the seventh record for thiswestern species in Georgia. The only RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH report came from theDecatur area on 7 Jan. (SM). A MARSH WREN
was a good find at the Wetlands Center of theELHLAF on 22 Jan. (CL). A male WESTERNTANAGER appeared at a Powder Springsfeeder on 9 and 10 Jan. (L&DB). This is thefifth year in a row that they have had a maleWESTERN TANAGER visit their feeder. ABALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported from the
downtown Atlanta area on 20 Jan. (fide NS).
GEORGIA AREA
GEESE THROUGH LOONS WC reported fiveCACKLING GEESE from the Oxbow Meadowsarea near Columbus on 6 Jan. This is a newlysplit species whose status in Georgia needs tobe well documented. CL and JSe had at least100 GREEN-WINGED TEAL along the AndrewsIsland Causeway on 5 Jan. A WHITE-WINGEDSCOTER and a BLACK SCOTER were presentfor most of the month at the Bear Creek
Reservoir in Jackson County (MF). There wereseveral reports of COMMON GOLDENEYES,with nine at the West Point Dam on 3 or 4 Jan.(KB), six in Rabun County on 13 Jan. (JT), andone at Andrews Island on 31 Jan. (JG). ACOMMON MERGANSER was reported fromRabun County on 13 Jan. by JT, butunfortunately the bird could not be relocated.The 14 Jan. pelagic trip out from the Savannaharea netted a PACIFIC LOON and numerousRED-THROATED LOONS (BZ et al.). KB had agood count of 18 RED-THROATED LOONS at
Tybee Island on 13 Jan.GREBES THROUGH RAZORBILL A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen by severalobservers from 13 Jan. through at least 20Jan. at Carters Lake. The 14 Jan. pelagic tripfound three MANX SHEARWATERS for a goodspot (BZ et al.). A late GREAT EGRET was seenin Gordon County on 19 Jan. by JSp. At theowl fields in Sumter County, B&DZ had atleast 38 NORTHERN HARRIERS on 6 Jan.Evidently there was a large movement ofAMERICAN AVOCETS into the Brunswick area,
as CL and JSe on 5 Jan. and KB on 13-14 Jan.reported as many as 300 birds. A CALIFORNIAGULL was reported from St. Catherines Islandon 22 Jan. (fide KB). Hopefully, somedocumentation will be submitted to supportthis very rare record for Georgia. The 14 Jan.pelagic trip found a good number of REDPHALAROPES and one PARASITIC JAEGER(BZ et al.). At least 15 RAZORBILLS werereported east of Cumberland Island on 26 Jan.
by DNR personnel.
OWLS THROUGH SWALLOWS Severalobservers journeyed to the Sumter Countyowl fields during the month, with the peakcount of three being reported by severalobservers. A CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD wa
present at a Savannah feeder during the mo(SC). The previously reported VERMILIONFLYCATCHER at the Eufaula NWR was presthere the entire month (m.ob.). A WESTERNKINGBIRD was spotted in the Glenville area12 Jan. (fide JSe). The first PURPLE MARTreport was one in Sumter County on 27 Jan(PH). Very odd was a report of a NORTHERROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at Carters Laon 1 and 2 Jan. (AS, KB).
NUTHATCHES THROUGH CROSSBILLS TRED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen
along the Burrells Ford Rd. in Rabun Counton 1 Jan. (KB). On 31 Jan. JG had a YELLOTHROATED WARBLER and an OVENBIRD aJekyll Island. WC had an excellent count of FOX SPARROWS at Oxbow Meadows on 6Jan. KB had 20+ WHITE-CROWNEDSPARROWS along Fite Bend Road in GordoCounty on 2 Jan. Wintering PAINTEDBUNTINGS were reported from McIntoshCounty on 12-14 Jan. by BC and in TattnallCounty (two males) on 25 Jan. (GW). WC ha very good count of 300 RUSTY
BLACKBIRDS at Oxbow Meadows on 13 JaThe Glennville area must be very attractive tBALTIMORE ORIOLES, as evidenced by the10-12 seen on 12 Jan. (fide JSe). An adultmale BULLOCKS ORIOLE was seen in theStatesboro area on 19 Jan. by EH. There habeen very few reports of PURPLE FINCHESthis winter, so a report of 10 in the OxbowMeadows area on 13 Jan. was quite asurprise. One RED CROSSBILL was a goodspot on 20 Jan. in Gordon County by JSp.
CONTRIBUTORS Steve Barlow, Laura and
Doug Brown, Ken Blankenship, Steve CalveWalt Chambers, Bob Churi, Mark Freeman,John Galvani, Phil Hardy, Earl Horn, CarolLambert, Stefani Melvin, Peggy and TerryMoore, Nedra Sekera, Jeff Sewell, SteveSlayton, Joshua Spence, Ann Stewart, JimThrockmorton, Gene Wilkinson, and Bob anDeb Zaremba.
January Field Notes by Terry Moorez
We got the New Year off to agreat start with veryimpressive totals for Atlanta
and Georgia. We had someinteresting records such as Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Western
Tanager, Bullocks Oriole, Pacific Loon,California Gull and many others. The Atlantaarea scored well with 113 species (average106.1), and the Georgia area noted 207species (average 197.6).
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WildlifeSanctuar
Many folks would cthat April is the bemonth for birding
Georgia. With every birds are coming a
going with a great msongs and behavioWinter species are lingering, permane
residents are establis
territories and beginto nest, and neotropmigrants are arrivi
some to nest in the and others to migr
through it. It's a glomonth to be a birder,reassured by the retuour favorite tropical and to renew our s
with the dawn choru
only we could haveAprils every year
Can you help us cebackyard wildlife
sanctuaries?Contact Jacqueline M
for more info.
Field TripsCompiled by Dave Butler
Field trips are open to the public andfree (unless otherwise noted). Wewelcome everyone from advancedbirders to beginners!
Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
(DeKalb County)Thursday, April 12,Lisa HurtSaturday, April 21,Lisa HurtMeet at 8 AMBirding Focus: Migrants, residentsDirections: From I-285 N or S: Take Highway78, Stone Mt. Freeway exit, west towardDecatur. Highway 78 passes North DeKalb Malland continues 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 TrailLane. Go through one stop sign; travel another
200 yards to Preserve entrance.From I-75/I-85 N or S: From I-85 north or southtake North Druid Hills exit, east towardDecatur. After approx. 3 miles, go right onHighway. 78 (at North DeKalb Mall). Followdirections as above.
Fernbank Forest (DeKalb County)Saturday, April 14, Chris ShowalterSaturday, April 28, Chris ShowalterMeet in side parking lot in front ofobservatory at 8 AM.Directions: Fernbank Science Center is
located at 156 Heaton Park Drive, Decatur.From I-285, take Stone Mountain Expressway(US 78) toward Decatur (it becomes ScottBlvd.) Turn right at Coventry Rd., then left atfirst light (Heaton Park Dr.) From downtownAtlanta, take Ponce de Leon toward Decaturand turn left onto Artwood before RR bridge.Take a right on Heaton Park Dr.
E.L. Huie and Newman Wetland Center(Clayton County)Saturday, April 14,Dale HardeeSaturday, April 21,Carol Lambert and Jeff SewellMeet at Wetland Center at 8 AM.
Birding Focus: Migratory songbirds,shorebirds and waterfowlDirections: 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. TheNewman Wetland Center is a mile or so downFreeman Road on the right after a sharp turn.Call the Wetlands Center for information aboutbirding at both sites: 770.603.5606. These tripsare sponsored by the Clayton County WaterAuthority.
Mill Creek Nature Center (GwinnettCounty)
Saturday, April 21,Dave DeckerMeet at the center at 8 AMDirections: Mill Creek Nature Center, a facilityowned and operated by the Georgia WildlifeFederation, is 88 acres of wetlands, uplands andfloodplains of Ivy Creek. It is located betweenthe Mall of Georgia and I-85.
Kennesaw MountainWednesday, April 18,Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebySaturday, April 21,Earl HornWednesday, April 25,
Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebySunday, April 29,Giff Beaton/Chuck SaleebyMeet in the parking lot at 7:30 AMDirections: From Atlanta, take I-75 to Exit 269(Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn westonto Barrett Pkwy. Travel down Barrett Pkwy.for approximately 3 miles. Turn left at the light,onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at the next light,Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will beimmediately on the left.
GOS on Jekyll April 20-22The Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) will hold its spring weekend in Brunswick from Friday,
April 20 through Sunday, April 22, 2007.
Attending all or part of this event is an excellent way to visit some of the key birding hotspots on
the southern Georgia coast via field trips led by expert birders. There will also be informative talksabout topics such as bird biology, conservation and behavior. Field trip destinations include Jekyll
Island State Park, Little St. Simons Island, Altamaha Wildlife Management Area, Paulks Pasture andmore.
The deadline to register for the weekend is April 10.
Please go to www.gos.org for details.
April 2007
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In MemoriamMilton N. Hopkins Jr.
It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of one of Georgias great birders andornithologists, Milton N. Hopkins Jr. on March 5. An author of many publications on Georgia
birds, Milton was well known to nearly everyone who has birded Georgia for any time and whhas attended Georgia Ornithological Society meetings regularly over the past many decades.
He was a treasure of knowledge and a delight to be with.
He was a 1943 graduate of Fitzgerald High School, attended Middle Georgia College and
Mercer University and received his masters degree in zoology from the University of Georgiain 1951. He was very involved with the Boy Scouts of America and had attained the rank ofEagle Scout. Mr. Hopkins was a farmer, conservationist, environmentalist and birdwatcher. F
44 years he assisted with the migratory bird count on Sapelo Island. He held membership inthe Georgia Ornithological Society for more than 70 years.
Guided field trips during the North AlabamaBirding Festival will showcase some of the
225 species that can be seen in that part ofthe state. Two field trips are available on
Friday to Wheeler National Wildlife Refugeand Guntersville. Saturday offers nine
different field trips to Wheeler NationalWildlife Refuge, Swan Creek WildlifeManagement Area, Monte Sano State Park in
Huntsville, Thomas Agricultural Station, The
Shoals and to Sauta Cave NWR nearScottsboro. Two guided field trips to WheelerNational Wildlife Refuge and Swan Creek
Wildlife Management Area are also availableon Sunday. The deadline to register for any ofthe guided field trips is April 14, 2007.
The North Alabama Birding Festival is setMay 4-6, 2007 at Rhodes Ferry Park in
Decatur and consists of a free day-longbirding EXPO with childrens activities, cra
workshops and a live wildlife demonstrationationally-known speakers; guided field tri
and other art exhibits and presentations. Fmore information or to sign up for a guidedfield trip, contact the Decatur-Morgan Cou
Convention & Visitors Bureau at 256.350.20
or 800.239.7219 or visit their website atwww.decaturcvb.org and click on the BirdiFestival icon.
North Alabama Birding Festival May 4-6
Prizes to be awarded on April 15th include ribbons plus:
First PrizeBirds: Stokes Talon 8 x 42 Binoculars, retail value$179.99 (Sponsored by Eagle Optics) and two free registrations tothe 2008 Space Coast Birding Festival in Florida.
First PrizeAnimals: REI Stratocruiser 27 Wheeled LuggagePack, retail value $230.00 (Sponsored by REI)
First PrizeHabitat: Smith & Hawkens amazing life-size pairof cranes rendered in steel with hand-hammered detail, retail value$189.00 (Sponsored by Smith & Hawken)
Grand Prize: Two-night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn CapeCanaveral Cocoa Beach, Florida plus Space Coast Outdoor Adventure
Package for 2 (dinner at Dixie Crossroad Seafood Restaurant,Airboat Tour, Kayak Tour, AND Kennedy Space Center VisitorComplex passes). Also includes the opportunity to have yourphotograph printed on the AAS official picture postcard for 2007!
Best in Show: Two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott inCocoa Beach, Florida, includes breakfast for two! Enjoy the Floridasun with this great prize!
Photo Contest Sponsored By
Directions to Pike FamilyNurseries Support Center
Take I-85 north of Atlanta to BeaverRuin Road/GA 378 (Exit 102). If
you are traveling northbound, turnright at the end of the ramp. If youare traveling southbound, turn leftat the end of the exit ramp. Travel1.1 miles to Steve Reynolds Blvd.and turn left at the light. PikeFamily Nurseries Support Center
will be up on your right approxi-mately 0.5 miles, at 4020 SteveReynolds Blvd. Park in the front ofthe building and come to the mainoffice entrance. Volunteers willguide you to Pikes auditorium.
Celebrating the Wonders of Nature (contd.)
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If it was living historyyou came to see at the
Atlanta Audubon March11 Speaker Series
presentation, you were
not disappointed. Mrs.James (Nancy) Tanner
came armed with slidesand a DVD to tell of
experiences whilestudying Ivory-billed
Woodpeckers with her husband, James Tanner,over a two-year period on the Singer Tract inLouisiana. She treated us with her stories, her
humor and precise and vivid memories of anincredible experience. On the DVD, one could
actually hear the wingbeats of the bird in flightas well as its calls, and watch the interaction of
a pair with one another. We were also treatedto some unpublished photos.
Nancy spoke of Ivory-billed behaviors, matingcalls and other vocalizations upon exiting
roosting holes and about the banding of Sonny
Boy, a fledglingthe only Ivory-billed Woodpecker ever banded.
Her continued involvement withIvory-billed Woodpeckers has been
a life-long experience and a labor
of love.
All of this provided a magicalexperience for all. A great tributewas paid to Nancy Tanner, as
several members of Ivory-billedWoodpecker searching teams came
out of the bottomlands and droveto Atlanta to hear what Nancy had
to say. The Atlanta AudubonSociety audience acknowledgedtheir presence with a round of
applause. Many said that this
presentation was a unique lifeexperience. We all knew we werein the presence of a great lady.
Our many thanks go to Pike
Family Nursery as well for hosting
this special event.
The Magic of theIvory-billed Woodpecker Continues
By Lisa Hurt
Join birder Tim Keyes Saturday, May 19, for aspecial day of birding in the Georgia
Mountains. The day begins with a half-mile
walk up to the top of Brasstown Bald,Georgia's highest mountain at 4,784 feet.
Along the way expect to see many species ofbirds, including some high- elevation
specialists whose range barely extends southnto the mountains of North Georgia such as
Canada Warbler, Winter Wren, Veery and
Northern Raven. Also likely are many othermountain specialists such as Chestnut-sided
Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Black-throated Green Warbler andthe ever-stunning Blackburnian Warbler.
Search for other species at Neel's Gap,Sosebee Cove and Lake Winfield Scott.
Registration information is available on
Georgia Conservancys Web site,
www.georgiaconservancy.org.
Birding in North Georgiawith Tim Keyes and Georgia Conservancy
Atlanta Audubon Society is sponsoringa trip to Panama October 3-11, 2007. We
will visit both the Canopy Tower andhe Canopy Lodge. The cost is $1,640
per person double occupancy with a$200 single supplement. Price includeseight nights lodging, birding guides,
transfers and most meals. It does notinclude airfare to Panama City, Panama.
Group size is limited to 10.
For additional information and to be
put on the list for a space, contact
Bird with AAS in Panama October 2007
Q:WhatspeciesrecentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththelongestmigration?
Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 10 for answer
Q: What is the primarysource of food for theshort-tailed hawk?
Saturday, April 14Saturday, May 5
8:00 AM 10:00 AM,
Ages 8 & up, General Admission/CNCMembers free
Join Chattahoochee Nature Center
wildlife volunteer and Master BirderStacy Zarpentine for a morning bird
walk to discover what feathered friendsyou will find around the grounds.
Bird Walks at the Chattahoochee Nature Center
Nancy Tanner.
Photo by Mim Eisenberg
Nestling Ivory-billed Woodpecker,
by James T. Tanner. Reprinted with permission.
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8/9/2019 April 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
8/128 Atlanta Audubon Soci
A Full Morning and
Afternoon of Special
Activities and Events:
Be a citizen scientist
and discover what owls
eat
Get up close and
personal with a
bird of prey
Learn to identify
Atlanta's ten most
common birds
Try out binoculars and
learn what all those
numbers mean
Learn about the
benefits of drinking
shade grown coffee
Chart migration routes
of millions of birds that
fly through Atlanta
Transform your back-
yard to attract birds
with native plants
Build a bird feeder
Learn to create a bird
and butterfly garden
Spy on birds in their
native habitats
Discover how birds are
being protected in
Georgia
Have fun!
Birds in the Park!Come Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Piedmont Park
Festival Time: 9:00AM - 3:00PM
All the days events take place near the Piedmont Park Community Center
located on Piedmont Avenue, between 11th and 12th Streets
For more information visit www.atlantaaudubon.org
Presented by
Everyone Welcome!
Kids, Families, Singles, Couples!
Its free. Its fun.
Special Festival Events:Along with numerous other stations and activities, enjoy the following
special events held throughout the day:
8:00am9:00am Piedmont Park Bird Walks
8:30am9:30am
9:00am10:00am Learn About Bird Songs Special Hands-on InteractiveSession with birder, Jay Davis
10:00am10:45am Build Your Birding Skills Special Presentation with
Ornithologist, Georgann Schmalz
1:00pm2:00pm Fresh Air, featuring BAIR, The Better Air Bear, by the
Georgia Clean Air Campaign
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8/9/2019 April 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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As of January 2007, I became the
coordinator for the Georgia IBA Program. Iwant to take this opportunity to thank JimWilson and recognize all the hard work that
he put into getting this program off theground in Georgia. It is no small task to
initiate a program of this scope, and I wouldbe remiss if I didnt mention everyone who
has helped Jim along the way. The namesare too numerous to mention here, but theboard of the Atlanta Audubon Society, the
Georgia IBA Advisory and TechnicalCommittees and the many volunteers are
especially important to this work.
Fortyeight sites have been approved so far
as Important Bird Areas in Georgia, with 13of these sites having had official designation
ceremonies. How does Georgia ranknationally? Well, according to the National
Audubon Society Web site, the scorecard isas follows: At the national level, there are 98
Global IBAs and 5 at the Continental Level.At the State Level, there are 1,162recognized IBAs, with 48 of these being in
Georgia, and the 48 Georgia IBAs representmore than 2 million acres. Everyone
involved should be very proud of thisaccomplishment.
And now onto the next phase of the GeorgiaIBA Program. While we continue to collectdata from the 48 recognized and 29+
potential IBA sites, we are planning an on-the-ground habitat conservation program
that will involve numerous partners,including (hopefully) the Albany Audubon
Society, Augusta Aiken Audubon Society,Coastal Georgia Audubon Society, Columbus
Audubon Society, Ocmulgee AudubonSociety, Oconee Rivers Audubon Society,Ogeechee Audubon Society, Georgia
Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service,
Georgia Ornithological Society and othersnot yet identified. This project will research
and implement a Georgia Important BirdArea (IBA) species and habitat conservationprogram, that will identify and select species
such as the Loggerhead Shrike, PaintedBunting and Golden-winged Warbler and the
habitats and management techniques tosupport them on select IBAs. We will need
lots of volunteers to help with theimplementation phase of this crucialconservation program!
In closing, I would like to list the goals wehave set for the first 6 months of 2007:
Present to all Audubon societies, theGeorgia Ornithological Society and the
Georgia Wildlife Federation for programsupport;
Build upon current and form newpartnerships;
Submit grant to the National Fish andWildlife Foundation for on-the-groundconservation program;
Reconvene Technical Committee; Coordinate dedication on Ossabaw Island
to be held June 2, 2007; Build GIS map of Georgia IBA sites; and
Research other granting organizations.
If you would like more information, pleasedont hesitate to contact me at the new IBA
e-mail address: [email protected].
A New Phase for theGeorgia Important Bird Areas Program
By Mary Elfner, Georgia IBA Coordinator
April 2007
Shade-Grow
Coffee
The Atlanta Audubon
Shade-Grown CoffeeCommittee has beenworking since 1996 to
increase public awarenof the connection betw
neotropical migratory
birds and traditionalcoffee farms. As avolunteer effort, ourcampaign aims to educ
consumers about thepositive role that shad
coffee plays in theconservation of songbi
habitat in the LatinAmerican coffee-producing countries.
For more information
coffee sources, visit
www.atlantaaudubon.oTo volunteer for commi
activities, contact Jan
Brann
(jtbrann@mindspring.
or 404.237.3542)
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8/9/2019 April 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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
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
10 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Looking for ways for the whole family to enjoy the
outdoors this spring? Come to Charlie Elliott WildlifCenter's Outdoor Festival and J.A.K.E.S. (Juniors
Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship) Daon Saturday, May 19, 2007. This free, fun-filled event
runs from 10 AM to 2 PM at Charlie Elliott WildlifeCenter's Discovery Area in Mansfield. Activities willfocus on wildlife conservation and outdoor recreatio
opportunities. Children can try their hands at archerfishing, and shooting sports. Scheduled presentation
include a retriever demonstration, puppet shows andlive snake and raptor programs. Several exhibitors frwildlife-related organizations also will be on hand to
give out information and goodies to those interestedexpanding their outdoor horizons. For more
information, call CEWC at 770.784.3059.
Eleventh Annual Charlie Elliott WildlifeCenter Outdoor Festival
800-289-1132www.eagleoptics.com
2120 W. Greenview Dr.
Middleton, WI 52562
Your source for a full line ofbinoculars and spotting scopesfrom all major manufacturers
Answer: SootyShearwater
Answer:Birds
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8/9/2019 April 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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
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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.
If you participated in the February GreatBackyard Bird Count, you contributed to itsphenomenal success. Organizers had hoped toset a new record, but this years eventexceeded their wildest dreams more than80,000 checklists, with 624 species and morethan 11 million birds counted.
Literally, there has never been a moredetailed snapshot of a continental bird-
distribution profile in history, said JohnFitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology. This is a cool, timeless project,and this year it achieved real scale. Imagineornithologists and ecologists 250 years fromnow comparing these data with their own!Fitzpatrick urged the Labs data analysts touse these new data along with past counts totake a look at what the 10-year data set maytell us about birds.
This year, for the first time ever, AmericanRobins ranked as the most numerous speciesreported. Participants counted more than twomillion robinsan astounding number,considering that the highest GBBC count for
robins previously was 337,973.
One citySaint Petersburg, Floridareportednearly 1.7 million robins on just 13 checklists.Thats more than 82 percent of the robinstallied in the all rest of the United States andCanada. Most of these robins belonged to amassive roost in a mangrove forest nearWeedon Island Preserve in northeast SaintPetersburg. Robins returned to the roost for a
month or so before their numbers begandwindling as they moved on in search of food.
American Robins are the most widespread andabundant thrush species in North America. Inautumn, they gather into flocks and migrate tothe southern states. They roam in search ofberries during winter, their movements varyingdepending on the availability of food. GBBCdata have shown that robins avoid areas withheavy snow cover. Weather and food supplycan determine which areas the robins mayinundate in any given year.
Participants in Washington State also reported
an influx of robins, with flocks as large as37,000 reported in Yakima.
Great Backyard Bird Count Beats Old Record
April 2007
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Birds Matter. . ..in Conserving the Natural WorldBy Clark Rushing, Atlanta Audubon Society Conservation Chair
As bird lovers, I suspect we have a tendency to think of our winged friends as special creatures. However,because many of us love birds for their beautiful songs or plumage, we may take for granted their vitalecological functions.
Avian services span the entire ecological circle of life. By foraging over large areas, fruit-eating birds manage to spread seeds over largedistances and in doing so help colonize new and disturbed areas. This service ensures the maintenance of biodiversity in those areas.Additionally, it has been estimated that approximately five percent of crop species and thousands of wild plant species rely on avian pollinato
to reproduce. Insectivorous birds are equally as important for crops. They are estimated to reduce crop damage from insects by as much as$1,820 per kilometer per year in temperate areas. This service is likely to be even more pronounced in the tropics, where insect populations amore stable year round.
And to complete the circle of life, vultures provide one of the most under-appreciated avian services: scavenging. Just imagine what the worldwould be like without these amazing birds to do the dirty work of removing carrion and in the process limit the spread of disease and unwantmammalian scavengers. Though birds play a vital role throughout the world, scientists are only beginning to discover and quantify the range oservices that they provide.
Perhaps the most important service may simply be serving as ambassadors for the rest of nature. Bird watching is the fastest growing outdoorhobby in the U.S., and new attention to birds brings with it a host political and ecological benefits. In developing countries bird watchingprovides strong incentives to conserve the natural landscape and reap the economic benefits of tourism.
In developed countries many bird-minded individuals are switching to native plants in their yards and parks to provide functioning habitat fobirds and other creatures. Most importantly, birding provides a gateway for greater awareness of other environmental issues and encouragespeople to become more involved in efforts to protect our planet.
These are just a few of the many vital services provide by birds for our planet. So the next time you are out birding -- whether it's toucans inCentral America or vultures in South Georgia -- make sure you stop to think about what our planet would be like without these amazingcreatures.
Birds Matter
Upcoming:Birds in the Park
9 AM - 3 PMPiedmont Park
May 6