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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
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
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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
President Ellen Miller404.355.8892
President-elect Vacant
Treasurer David Yon404.513.9806
[email protected] Secy Mark Jernigan
Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley404.687.0079
DirectorsConservation Vacant
Education Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826
Field Trips Dave Butler404.580.3917
Membership Art Hurt770.934.7660
CommunicationsGeorgann Schmalz706.216.5012
Publicity Vacant
Special Events Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338
Volunteers Vacant
At LargePast PresidentKelly Hopkins404.622.1888
Jay Davis404.624.4973
Lisa Hurt770.934.7660
Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324
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
Birding on Business
2 Atlanta Audubon Soci
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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
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.
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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).
4 Atlanta Audubon Soci
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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
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
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
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
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
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?
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8/9/2019 June 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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.
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8/9/2019 June 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
10 Atlanta Audubon Soci
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]
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8/9/2019 June 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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
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8/9/2019 June 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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
ATLANTAAUDUBON OFFI
atDunwoody Natur
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5343 Roberts DrivDunwoody, GA 303
770.913.0511
400DunwoodyVillage
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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