July 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society

8/9/2019 July 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

July 2007

Volume XXXIII, Issue 7 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

I N S I D

Presidents Perch.......

From the Exec Dir ......

A Million Thanks ........

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

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

By the Way .................

Jekyll Island...............

Shorebird Lovers .......

Wish List.....................

Member Survey .........

Of Dogs & Birds..........

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

GAs Protected Birds ..

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

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

2007 Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary TourMark Your Calendars for September 8

On Saturday, September 8, four unique Atlanta properties that were designed and cultivated to

provide vital urban habitat for birds and other wildlife will be open for touring. The event willbe held from 9 AM to 4 PM and will display and demonstrate how a property can be enhanced

to include vital food, water, shelter and nesting sites for birds and wildlife that are beingpressured by rapid development throughout the region.

This year's Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary properties are all located within a four-mile radius inVirginia-Highland and Candler andAnsley parks. Exhibits, information

booths and birding experts will beavailable at The Dell in Ansley Park.

Tickets are $12 in advance and forAtlanta Audubon members and $15 the

day of the tour. More information aboutthe tour will be available on the AtlantaAudubon Web site at

www.atlantaaudubon.org.

Organizers of the event also need

volunteers to help at the sites. If you areinterested in volunteering that day

please, contact [email protected]. All volunteers receive a complimentary ticketto the tour and can enjoy the other sites for free.

The tour is very generously sponsored by BB&T, birdJam, Patagonia,

Earth Share of Georgia and Toco Instant Printing.

Upcoming: ATLANTA AUDUBON

SPEAKER SERIESTed Reissing

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

July 15, 3 PM,Pikes Corporate Support Center;

You wont want to miss Ted Reissings presentation onBorneo and Malasia for the next Atlanta Audubon Speaker

Series. Malaysia, a largely Islamic nation, is struggling toprotect its incredible natural environment. There is one spot

on Borneo Mt. Kinabalu that unquestionably has themost diverse ecology on earth. It has more than 500 species

of birds, many of them spectacularly beautiful and endemic,

continued on Page 6Mt. Kinabalu

by Georgann Schmalz


2/12

A couple of months ago I went to a birdingfestival in northern California. One of the fieldtrips was to nesting sites for the Spotted Owl. I

figured if I was going to be in the PacificNorthwest, Spotted Owl was definitely a bird Ishould try to see so I signed up.

On the trip we drove onto a gated road ownedby a forest products company that employs thetwo field trip leaders. When we got out of thevehicles, one of the leaders gathered everyonearound and gave us a lesson on Spotted Owls.I discovered that in northern California,Spotted Owls do not necessarily live in old-growth forests, but are more often found insecondary mixed forests such as what wewere standing beside. And they tend to nest in

areas that are close to clear cuts or scrubbybrushy areas. This choice of habitat is due totheir primary prey, wood rats.

Remembering the controversy, or perhapsmore accurately the semi-warfare between thelogging industry and environmentalists in the1980s that made the Spotted Owl a householdword, I was astonished! Our leaders explainedthat in Oregon and Washington the owls donest almost exclusively in old-growth habitatbecause in those areas they prey primarily onflying squirrels.

Okay, I thought, this is fascinating, but when

do we see the bird? About that moment, one ofour leaders walked to the edge of the road andhootedtwice. Then turned back to us andbegan explaining more about owl behavior.

Yeah, right, I thought, an owl is just going to flyout of the woods. In about five minutes, thatwas exactly what happened! Suddenly,someone said they saw movement, and sureenough a Spotted Owl was flying from tree totree headed directly for us. The owl landed ona bare branch about 15 feet from the groupand calmly sat watching us. Wow!

This went on for the next 30 minutes, at whictime one of the trip leaders asked who wanteto mouse the owl. Mousing the owl involved

holding up a four- or five-foot stick while oneof the leaders took a white mouse out of a boand put it on the end of the stick. The owlimmediately flew in, took the mouse and flewinto the forest to eat. Once hed eaten he camback for more.

Our leaders explained that when it wasdiscovered that Spotted Owls would take micin this way, studying the owls became mucheasier. Thus, more is known about SpottedOwls than most other endangered species, anof course the more we know, the better we arable to protect the birds. It turns out there is a

protocol for mousing Spotted Owls, outlininghow many mice per bird, how often in aseason and more. This protocol is apparentlywidely used by researchers studying SpottedOwls in northern California.

Seeing the owl was exhilarating and made mewant to know more about Spotted Owls andthe practice of mousing owls. I did a bit ofresearch and found that Spotted Owls areknown for being tame and for having littlefear of humans. I also found that Spotted Owldue to the controversy surrounding loggingold-growth forests, are one of the most studie

endangered species ever. Studies have evenbeen done to determine if all the study ofSpotted Owls has changed their behavior orinterfered with normal nesting or otheractivities. The studies show that it has not. Itlooks like mousing owls is not muchdifferent than putting up sunflower seedfeeders.

Wouldnt you agree that the endless surpriseand opportunities for learning are part ofwhat make birds and birding so great?

Board of Directors2007

Executive Director Catharine Kuchar770.993.9579

[email protected]

President Ellen Miller404.355.8892

[email protected]

President-elect Vacant

Treasurer David Yon404.513.9806

[email protected]

Recording Secy Mark Jernigan404.298.8825

[email protected]

Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley404.687.0079

[email protected]

DirectorsConservation Vacant

Education Marcia Klenbort404.874.9826

[email protected]

Field Trips Dave Butler404.580.3917

[email protected]

Membership Art Hurt770.934.7660

[email protected]

CommunicationsGeorgann Schmalz706.216.5012

[email protected]

Publicity Denese Van Dyne404.406.9324

[email protected]

Special Events Nancy Hamilton404.874.2338

[email protected]

Volunteers Vacant

At LargePast PresidentKelly Hopkins404.622.1888

[email protected]

Jay Davis404.624.4973

[email protected]

Lisa Hurt770.934.7660

[email protected]

Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative

[email protected]

---

WebsiteJim Flynn

[email protected]

Wingbars EditorGrace Trimble 404.351.0518

[email protected]

Design & LayoutCopy Preparation [email protected]

ProofreadingMim Eisenberg

[email protected]

Newsletter deadline is the first ofthe month for material to be

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

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

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

reflect policies of the Atlanta Audubon Society.

Mission Statement:

To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to

conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.

Presidents Perchby Ellen Miller

Mousing the Spotted Owl

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

Important Bird Areas ProgHelp distribute informationmonitor input, networkthroughout the state withIBA participants.Contact: Jim Wilson770.602.1679

It might seem odd to tell a dog tale in a

newsletter devoted to birds, but here goes.

About six months ago I fostered a WestHighland White Terrier that had beenabandoned. Lucy was a mess. Her formerowner had kept her outside, and while shelived neglected and alone, she contracted ahorrible skin disease. It was so bad thatmaggots where growing in her back. Oddlyenough, it was these same maggots thatkept the infection from killing her. Whenshe came into foster care, she had littlehair, and her skin was exposed and raw onher back. With some medicine and TLC,Lucy was finally adopted.

As it turns out, last month I attended avery special rescue dog picnic where I sawLucy again. After six months, her hair hadcompletely grown back in, and she lookedamazing. She was one of the most beautifuldogs I had ever seen, and she seemed sohappy. She went from a scruffy looking,lonely dog to one that could easily be

mistaken for a show dog. As she paradedaround the room and the MC retold Lucys

story, I couldnt help feeling overwhelmed.I thought about it a lot afterwards, and itmade me wonder about the kind of personswe all choose to be. Its funny how thisworld is filled with the type of person whowould abandon and neglect a living thing,and others who would open their heartsand homes and offer their love. Each of ushas a choice about who we want to be andhow we want to impact the world. Will wework for the good, add to its suffering ordo nothing?

Its really the same with the birds that welove. Every day we make choices abouthow we will care for the Earth, preservethe habitats and spaces that birds rely on,and speak up for our feathered friends whohave no voice. Each day we choose whatside of the fence we want to sit on, andeach day we must ask ourselves, What

kind of person do I want to be?

From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar

What Kind of Person Do I Want to Be?

July 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:

Carol Hassell oversees our Attention Master Birdervolunteer opportunities page. She also puts together our

Volunteer Corner section for the newsletter. These important documents spread theword about Atlanta Audubon Societys critical volunteer needs.

Jim Flynn is Atlanta Audubon Societys Web site guru. Along with a recent completeoverhaul of the look of our Web site, Jim constantly works to update the site, keepingmembers and visitors abreast of AAS happenings.

Marcia Klenbort,Atlanta Audubons education chair, organized our bigBirds in thePark celebration in May. Marcia was the heart and soul of the event, and there wouldnot have been a festival without her.


4/12

ATLANTA AREA

DUCKS THROUGH RAILS SZ had aninteresting observation of two adult HOODEDMERGANSERS plus three young at theChattahoochee Nature Center on 14 April. ARED-BREASTED MERGANSER was a good findat the DeKalb Reservoir on 9 April (WC).AMERICAN BITTERNS were more widelyreported than usual, with one at Lullwater onthe Emory Campus on 19 April (CS), three tofour birds at Site G of the E.L. Huie LandApplication Facility (ELHLAF-G) on 20 April (CL)and another single bird at Blalock Lake of theELHLAF on 28 April (PB, HG). A LEAST

BITTERN was seen at the ELHLAF-G on 21 Aprilby CL. Three CATTLE EGRETS were a rathersurprising report from SW Clayton County on28 April (PB, HG). SS had a YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at theChattahoochee River National Recreation Area(CRNRA) on 10 April. CL reported an adultBALD EAGLE feeding a couple of nestlings inthe vicinity of the ELHLAF on 5 April, plus asmany as 14 SORAS at the ELHLAF-G on 11April.

HUMMINGBIRDS THROUGH WRENS PW inDecatur had at least one and most likely two

different CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRDS at herfeeder from 5 April through at least 17 April. HGfound an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at theKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park(KMT) in Cobb County on 30 April. As of 29April, only the male SCISSOR-TAILEDFLYCATCHER had returned to its usual locationnear McDonough (DV). KMT had someinteresting vireo reports, with 10 WHITE-EYEDVIREOS on 10 April (GB et al.), singleWARBLING VIREOS on 17 April (GB et al.) and30 April (BZ et al.) and 18 RED-EYED VIREOS

on both 28 April (DZ et al.) and 29 April (GB etal.). A MARSH WREN frequented the NewmanWetlands Center (NWC) part of the ELHLAF formost of the month (CL).

WARBLERS There were a fair number ofsightings of NASHVILLE WARBLERS, with twoat KMT on 17 April (GB et al.), one at Pine Log

WMA in Bartow County on 21 April (JF, EH) andanother bird back at KMT on 30 April (DZ et al.).The following peak counts all came from KMT:24 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS on29 April (GB et al.), 18 BLACKBURNIANWARBLERS on 29 April (GB et al.), sixYELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS on 9 April(GB et al.), 10 PALM WARBLERS on 24 April(GB et al.), 10 CERULEAN WARBLERS on both28 April (DZ et al.) and 29 April (GB et al.), 14BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS on 17 April(GB et al.) and 18 HOODED WARBLERS on 29April (GB et al.). A single SWAINSONSWARBLER on 19 and 20 April at the Clyde

Shepherd Nature Preserve was a good find forthe Atlanta area (C&PK).

TANAGERS THROUGH SISKINS Peak tanagercounts came from KMT on 28 April, with 14SUMMER TANAGERS and 16 SCARLETTANAGERS (DZ et al.). Interesting sparrowreports included a VESPER SPARROW at theCRNRA on 1 April (AM), a late FOX SPARROWin the Marietta area on 16 April (AM) and aLINCOLNS SPARROW at the NWC on 14 April(DH et al.). Two more peak counts from KMTwere 20 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS on 24April (GB et al.) and 10 INDIGO BUNTINGS on

26 April (DZ et al.). An outstanding report wasthat of an adult male YELLOW-HEADEDBLACKBIRD at the ELHLAF on 28 April throughat least 30 April. The bird was initially found bysome of the youth birding groups organized byTK. Congratulations on a great find! This wasnot a great winter finch year, but VD did report asingle PINE SISKIN coming to her CherokeeCounty feeder on 11 April.

GEORGIA AREA

DUCKS THROUGH BITTERNS KT reported 16BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS from theAltamaha Waterfowl Management Area near

Darien on 5 April. The species was reported bymany observers for the remainder of the monthfrom the same area. Interesting waterfowlobservations included a ROSSS GOOSE in theMacon area on 26 April (CK) and a femaleHOODED MERGANSER with 10 chicks on 17April at the Arrowhead Fish Hatchery in FloydCounty (DR). On 21 April the number of chickswas already down to 8 (PB, HG). SingleAMERICAN BITTERNS were seen at Arrowheadon 17 April (DR) and at Standing Boy WMA on21 April (WC).

LOONS THROUGH SHOREBIRDS Fifty-threCOMMON LOONS was a good count at CarteLake on 2 April (JSp). Single ANHINGAS werreported from Murray County on 9 April (JSpand from the Athens area on 10 April (AB). Vunusual for the location was a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE in the Dawson Forest on 1 Apri(GS). In the Glenville area, GW had sixSWALLOW-TAILED KITES and 30 MISSISSIKITES on 30 April. A GOLDEN EAGLE wasreported from Meriwether County on 16 Apriby TK. Single CASPIAN TERNS were seen atLake Oconee on 21 April (EM), another in theAugusta area on 27 April (LS, AW, AB) and aFORSTERS TERN at Lake Blue Ridge on 28April (DF et al.). TP and JA had a couple gooreports from Laurens County on 14 April, witsingle BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER and asingle LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER.

DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen in the Savannah ar

on 21 to 22 April by SW. A SCISSOR-TAILEDFLYCATCHER was a great find at Jekyll Islandon 29 and 30 April (RT et al.). An ALDERFLYCATCHER was reported from PaulksPasture on 21 April (GK) and again on 23 Apby BL and DM. JSp had a nice count of 100CLIFF SWALLOWS at Carters Lake on 2 AprRED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was seen alongthe Burrells Ford Road on 8 April by MM. TwNASHVILLE WARBLERS were seen in WhitfiCounty on 24 April by AS. A femaleAUDUBONS WARBLER was an interestingsighting on St. Catherines Island on 28 April(BZ, JF). Good warbler counts included at lea

100 PRAIRIE WARBLERS at the Blythe IslanRegional Park near Brunswick on 9 April (GKand 26 KENTUCKY WARBLERS at Standing WMA on 28 April (WC).

CONTRIBUTORS Jerry Amerson, AnneBasilicato, Amy Barbe, Giff Beaton, PatrickBrisse, James Brooks, Walt Chambers, VickieDeLoach, Jim Flynn, Dot Freeman, HughGarrett, Dale Hardee, Earl Horn, Cheryl andPanos Kanes, Gene Keferl, Tim Keyes,CarolLambert, Bill Lotz, Ed Maiorello, Patty McLeaMark McShane, Al Mercer, Darlene Moore,Peggy and Terry Moore, Tommy Patterson, D

Roper, Georgann Schmalz, Chris Showalter,Steve Slayton, Adam Smith, Joshua Spence,Lois Stacey, Karen Theodorou, Rusty Trump,Dan Vickers, Steve Wagner, Anne Waters, PaWhite, Gene Wilkinson, Bob and Deb Zaremband Stacey Zarpentine.

Have an interesting bird to report? Contact TMoore at [email protected].

April Field Notes by Terry Moorez

If it werent for some of the

reports of migrants coming

from Kennesaw Mountain,

this month would have been

rather dull. However, April still is

one of our best months, so it wasgood to get out into the field and see what

was happening. The Atlanta area scored a

reasonable total of 166 species (average

171.6) to bring the year-to-date total to 201

(average 195.0). The Georgia area came in

with 245 species (average 237.6) to bring

that year-to-date total to 298 (average

281.5). Keep up the good work.



5/12

Field TripsCompiled by Dave Butler

July 2007 5

Backyar

WildlifeSanctuar

Please volunteer dur

Backyard Wildli

Sanctuary Tour

Saturday Septemb

9AM to 4PM

Shifts are 2.5 hours

and will earn you a

ticket for the tou

To volunteer for a

please e-mail

jacqueline.mcrae@comc

All sanctuaries are in

By The Way highlights information, announcements, short updates and miscellaneous items. If you have brief items of interest toFriends of Atlanta Audubon members, please send them to the editor.

A New Birding Spot

The City of Roswell recently opened an expanded section of the Big Creek Wetlands Park. The

trail system now includes three trails, including a new walking path with more than two miles ofsidewalk and a boardwalk. The path goes through a protected wetlands area prime for bird

watching. The park is located off of Old Alabama Road about a half mile north of Holcomb BridgeRoad. Youll see the sign for the park on the left. The gravel parking lot up front is used by

mountain bike riders. Continue on down the gravel road to the new section of the park.

Birding at Sawnee Mountain

Located just 40 miles north of Atlanta, Sawnee Mountain offers more than 720 acres of scenicpassive green space. Phase I of this natural recreational park was opened in June 2005 by Forsyth

County Parks and Recreation and the Sawnee Mountain Foundation. This included 3.5 miles of

natural hiking trails around the mountain, including the Indian Seats Trail, which takes hikers to abeautiful vista of the Blue Ridge mountains. The upland forest provides a dynamic habitat for

thrushes, tanagers, warblers and various birds of prey. Take exit 15 off of GA 400 and head westto downtown Cumming. Take a right onto Tribble Gap Road, follow for three miles and the

entrance will be on your right. Visit www.sawneemountain.org for more information.

Dragonflies of the Wetlandswith Giff Beaton

Sunday, July 29, 8:30am

Join Giff Beaton, author ofDragonflies &Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast,for a morning walk through the wetlands.Well learn identification techniques for themany species of these beautiful insects thatplay a crucial role in our environment. The

walk is free, but group size is limited andreservations are required. Quiet, attentivechildren 10 yrs.+ are welcome.Newman Wetlands Center2755 Freeman RoadHampton, GA 20228 / 770-603-5606Clayton County Water Authority Environmental Education

Q:WhatspeciesrecentlydethronedtheArcticTernasthebirdwiththelongestmigration?

Seepage___fortheanswerSee page 10 for answer

Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted). Wewelcome everyone from advanced birders to beginners!

Please check the Audubon website for other field trips not listed here.

Q: The male

species of what Duckcan be identified byits white chest andneck, black back andbelly, orange facialplate, and pale bluecrown and nape?

by Giff Beaton


6/126 Atlanta Audubon Soci

As the legislative session began in January

2007, ominous signs emerged that the south

end of Jekyll Island was in imminent danger

of development. Birders know the importance

of the south end to migrating neotropicalmigrants and nesting Wilson's Plover, Willet

and Least Tern. Loggerhead turtles also nest

there.

But the developers had visions of sugar plums

dancing in their heads. They wanted to put a

luxury hotel on the current soccer fields and

turn the south end into a resort. Some version

of this plan had support at the highest levels

of the Georgia government. Skilled and

influential lobbyists under the Gold Dome had

been hired to make sure that HB 214 became

law. It provided for the renewal of theproperty lease to the Jekyll Island Authority

and the extension of the Authority itself.

Clearly, the Sword of Damocles hung over

Jekyll Island.

The well-greased bill sailed through the

House despite the protestations of Rep.

DuBose Porter (D- Dublin) and others. But

when it got to the Senate, something

unexpected happened. A legislative hero

emerged in the person of Sen. Jeff Chapman

(R-Brunswick). Sen. Chapman, recognizing

the environmental importance of the southend, offered an amendment to protect it from

development from just above the soccer fie

all the way to the end of the island. He also

offered an amendment to prevent the state

from selling the island to developers.

The fight was joined. Pressure was applied

tense meetings, but Sen. Chapman would n

budge. He lost in committee by one vote, b

when the bill got to the Senate floor, it was

different story. People from all across the

state, including lots of birders, had e-maile

their state senators to insist on the protect

of the south end. In the end, the Chapman

amendments passed easily in the Senate. W

some deft maneuvering, Rep. DuBose Porte

(D-Dublin) got the House to agree to the

amendments, and the bill, with the protecti

amendments was passed. When the Governsigned the bill on the last possible day,

Jekyll's south end was protected.

One of the important lessons to learn from

the "Battle of Jekyll Island" is that in a

democracy, the will of the people still

matters. It makes a difference when people

take the time to communicate with their

elected officials. We owe this victory to Sen

Chapman and Rep. Porter and many others

who stood with us at the Capitol. But in th

final analysis, it was the voice of the people

that won the day.

Jekyll Island's South End Protectedfrom Development

By Pierre Howard

so a session on these creatures alone would

be worthwhile. But this area also has morethan 1,000 species of orchids and more ferns

than the entire African subcontinent.

This program covers both Mt. Kinabalu and

six other national parks and World Heritagesites. After viewing the incredible beauty ofthe many Malaysian bird species, its easy to

see why this is one of the top birdingdestinations in the world. Come to the next

event in the Atlanta Audubon Speaker Seriesnot only to see some knock-out birds, but also

to learn more about one of the emergingeconomic dynamos of the world.

Directions to Pike Family Nurseries

Corporate Center, 4020 Steve Reynolds Blvd.Norcross, GA 30093: Take I-85 north of

Atlanta to Beaver Ruin Road/GA 378 (Exit102). If you are traveling northbound, turn

right at the end of the ramp. If you are

traveling southbound, turn left at the end ofthe exit ramp. Travel 1.1 miles to Steve

Reynolds Blvd. and turn left at the light. PikeFamily Nurseries Support Center will be up

on your right approximately .5 miles, at 4020Steve Reynolds Blvd. Park in the front of the

building and come to the main officeentrance. Volunteers will guide you to theauditorium. (This is Pikes corporate office,

not a nursery location.)

Borneo and Peninsular Malaysiacontinued from page 1.


7/12July 2007 7

Shorebirds! I love shorebirds. I live where Ido because of shorebirds. So when Lisa Hurt

nvited me along on the Atlanta AudubonSociety Shorebird Workshop, Saturday, May

19, I jumped at the opportunity. Sixteen of usmet at Midway, Georgia, and headed out to St.Catherines Sound in three small boats. There,

on an island so small that it is unnamed, wasa thick gathering of horseshoe crabs,

spawning, leaving millions of eggs as a feastfor the migrating shorebirds. This feast is the

fuel the birds need for their migration to thenorthern reaches of Canada for breeding.

Semipalmated Sandpipers, Red Knots,Sanderlings, Dunlins, Willets, Short-billed

Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstones and Marbled

Godwits were all scrambling for the bounty ofsmall green horseshoe crab eggs, while bothBrown and White Pelicans stood by stoically.It happens every year, but to witness it was a

spectacle of a lifetime.

In the afternoon we spent our time birdingthe Altamaha Wildlife Management Area nearDarien, Georgia. There were Mottled Ducks

with ducklings, a few Lesser Yellowlegs andgreat looks at the elegant Black-necked Stilt,

which are nesting in the area and awaiting thehatching of their new chicks. A Purple

Gallinule surprised us by flying up, then

disappearing into the tall grass, and a LeastBittern crept through the edge of the grass,

delighting us all with a great view.

For the next event of theworkshop on Sunday, May 20, we

met at the Jekyll Island Visitors'Center to watch some birds on

the low tide mud flats. The star ofthis stop was a Clapper Rail withchicks. The chicks retreated, but

the adult walked about, then flewacross in front of us.

We then decided to finish theworkshop at the south beach on

Jekyll. Sanderlings were the mainshorebird to study there, with

plumages varying from basic toalternate and in between. A

Wilson's Plover along the dune

line watched us carefully lest weget too close to her nesting spot.We have our fingers crossed thatthey succeed in getting their

young raised this year.

It was a wonderful end to a greatweekend, studying the shorebirdsI love.

Editor's Note: This annualworkshop, organized by Lisa

Hurt, includes a class session

taught by Georgann Schmalz

and field leadership by Brad

Winn of Georgia's DNR.

A Feast for Shorebird LoversBy Lydia Thompson

Atlanta Audubon Wish ListAtlanta Audubon is in need of a desk for its office located

at the Dunwoody Nature Center. If you, or someone atyour place of work, has an office desk you would like to

donate that is in good condition, please contact Catharine

Kuchar at [email protected]. Due to size

constraints, we are looking for a desk that is

approximately 5 x 2 1/2 with built-in file drawers

preferred for extra storage.

by Brad Winn


8/128 Atlanta Audubon Soci

Some Findings from the

2007 Member Survey

This spring Atlanta Audubon Society analyzed the findings of its first member

survey. Thank you to everyone who participated. Over the next couple of months

we will share with you some of our results. Below are a few of the findings about

the birding behavior of your fellow Atlanta Audubon members.

Nearly half of respondents (49.6%) report that they go birding more than six

times a year.

42.7% report having four to six feeders in their yards.

Only 18.3% report that they feed the squirrels.

The most commonly found feeder types include hummingbird feeders (96),

suet feeders (89), sunflower tubes (74), nyjer tubes (65) and platform and

bowl feeders (50).

The foods most commonly provided include black oil sunflower (89), suet or

feed cakes (84) and blended mix (51). 44.3% report that they have one to three nest boxes in their yards; 22.9%

provide four to six.

The birds most commonly found in nest boxes include chickadees (59),

wrens (57) and bluebirds (55).

34.4% report that they spend more than $500 per year on birding.

For more details about the member survey, visit the Atlanta Audubon Web site.

WANTED: Person withgraphic design skills for

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

WANTED: Person withxperience and knowledge in

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

[email protected].

WANTED: Accounting-wise

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

bookkeeping functions.Compensation: A position onhe Atlanta Audubon Society

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

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

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

Help Wanted:

Do You Qualify?

Will You Help?

Tom and Jane Blaisdell volunteer for Atlanta Audubon at the Charlie Elliotts 11th Annual Outdoor

Festival & JAKES Day on May 19.


9/12July 2007 9

When youre deciding where to locate birdfeeders and bird houses, you probablyconsider cats, whether theyre yours orbelong to the neighborhood. But have you

given any thought to the family dog?

A dog may be neutral toward birds, showingno interest; moderately interested, viewingthem as something akin to live television; ortotally obsessed, unable to tear themselvesaway. Dogs likely to fall into the firstcategory include Newfoundlands, BassetHounds, Tibetan Terriers and Lhasa Apsos.Those who might find feathered action ofmoderate interest could include ItalianGreyhounds, Dalmatians, Corgis andDoberman Pinschers. Any of the terriersmight see birds as an excuse to bark, whileany of the sporting breeds, especially thosestill close to their hunting roots (Brittanies,English Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels,Labrador Retrievers out of field lines), maybe totally focused on the flighty activity. Itpays to know the level of your dogs interestin bird watching before locating yourfeeders and houses.

If your dog is neutral, obviously it doesntmuch matter. But if your dog shows

moderate interest, you can place feeders toprovide some happy viewing opportunities.Many of these dogs will happily spend hoursobserving the activity going on at thefeeders. It can keep them occupied whileyoure at work or out running errands. Youronly potential conflict comes if some formof redecorating suddenly obstructs the dogsview of the feeders. A dog deprived of his or

her accustomed entertainment may go togreat lengths to regain viewingopportunities, perhaps damaging those newdrapes in the process.

For the really intense, really birdydogs, viewing so much featheredactivity may be over-stimulating.You could find yourself with abarking problem, or a dog who asksand asks to be let out to get up closeand personal with those birds.Better in this case to keep feederssituated where windows above dogheight keep them from view.

If youre not sure how your dog will

react to some real-life Discovery Channel-style wildlife viewing, place a feeder in avisible location and watch what happens. Itsbest if you have a nearby non-viewableplacement in mind. That way, if you have tocut down on visual stimulation and move thefeeder, the birds can easily follow along.

Taking a little extra time to consider placingyour feeders can prevent problems and justmay provide some much-appreciated canineentertainment.

Cheryl S. Smith is an award-winningwriter, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant,

lead trainer at Legacy Canine, host of

PetSmith on KONP radio, and evaluator for

Delta Pet Partners and AKC Canine Good

Citizen. Her web site is

www.writedog.com.

Of Dogs and Birdsand Feeders and Things

By Cheryl S. Smith

The Georgia Conservancys CommonGround 07 conference September 6-7 willfocus on both electricity generation andtransportation and will educate participantsabout environmental impacts of energyproduction and use, current issues relatedto climate change, energy efficiency andrenewable energy in Georgia, and methodsfor individuals, business, industry, schools

and government to decrease energy use intheir own sectors. This conference aims toinspire and motivate Georgia citizens tocreate a new vision for the states energyfuture.

Please visit www.georgiaconservancy.org

to register or for more information.

Georgia Conservancys Common Ground 07 Conference:

Advancing Clean Energy Solutions for Georgia


10/12

CLASSIFIEDS

Black Oil

Sunflower20lb Bag $7.50 always

with Audubon Membership Card

Proud Supporters of EnvironmentallyConscious Organizations in our Local

Community.

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

Dunwoody2472 Jett Ferry Rd 770-396-3353

Johns Creek3630 Peachtree Pky 770-813-947

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

WWW.Wildbird.com

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

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


W en You Come

To The Mountains -Ask about the new Birders Guide to Fannin County!We feature Coles seed,squirrel-proof feedersthat truly are, houses,hummingbird stuff,great books, Audubonoptics, & hard to findhardware. Plus 100sof Ravensburger Puzzles,Music of the SpheresChimes & a hugeselection of educationaltoys andgames for kids!

Downtown Blue Ridge & Inside Mercier Orchards

611 E. Main St. Blue Ridge, GA 30513

(706) 258-BIRD (2473) blueridgebirdseed.com

1874 Piedmont Ave. Suite 101-AAtlanta, Georgia 30324

CANINE SHOWCASE

& WILD BIRD INC.

4048750611

Weve moved to a bigger and better location.

We are located in Piedmont Pointe next t o Einstein Bagels on

Piedmont Road. We are expanding our already great selection

of bird supplies to include:

Swift Binoculars

Droll Yankee Feeders

Coveside Houses

Garden & Yard Art

Answer: SootyShearwater

Answer: King Eider

Panama!October 3-11, 2007

Canopy Tower and the Canopy Lodge

$1640 per persondouble occupancy

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

Group size is limited to 10.

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

contact: [email protected]


11/12July 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: Piping PloverPiping Plovers

are about 17.5cm (7 inches) in

length. This speciesbreeds in the northern

Great Plains of the U.S.and Canada in alkali

wetlands and along the larger rivers, on

he beaches of Lake Superior and LakeMichigan and on the northeast Atlantic

coast from Newfoundland south tonorthern North Carolina. The barrier

slands of Georgia and South Carolinaare used as major wintering areas forhese birds.

A Piping Plovers diet consists ofnvertebrates, including marine worms,

ly larvae, beetles, crustaceans andmollusks. They feed in intertidal areas

of beaches, mudflats, sandflats,horelines or coastal ponds, lagoons

and salt marshes. Most of their feeding

activity is concentrated during daylighthours, but they have been known to

feed at night.Piping Plovers are threatened

according to the states status. Thismeans that the species is likely tobecome an endangered species in the

foreseeable future throughout all orparts of its range. At the federal level, it

is considered threatened except theGreat Lakes population, which is

considered endangered.The greatest threats to nesting PipingPlovers are loss of nesting habitat to

beachfront development; destruction ofadults, nests and young by humans and

vehicles; disturbance by humans andpets; and predation by wild, feral and

domesticated animals. Along themigratory pathway and on the wintering

grounds, loss of critical stopover and

wintering sites can greatly reduce thesurvival rate of individuals by

increasing the distance betweenrefueling stops (stopover sites) and

increasing competition with otherPiping Plovers and shorebird species.On the breeding grounds this species

has been protected by excluding peoplepets and vehicles from nesting areas

during the breeding season. Wireenclosures have been used to protect

nests from predators where predation isa problem. Identifying and protectingimportant migratory stopover and

wintering sites as well as the birds onthese sites will ensure opportunities to

breed in subsequent years.

Source: Georgia Department of Natural

Resources, Protected Animals of

Georgia


12/12

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

Atlanta, GA

Permit #917

Atlanta Audubon SocietyBox 29189 Atlanta, GA 30359

Wingbarsis printed on recycled paper

ATLANTAAUDUBON OFFI

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5343 Roberts DrivDunwoody, GA 303

770.913.0511

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285

Birds Matter. in Conserving Habitat in our CommunitiesBy Connie Head, Consulting Urban Forester, Technical Forestry Services, Commerce, Georgia

As described by Executive Director Catharine Brockman Kuchar in the May issue of Wingbars, habitat loss is the greatest contributing factor ithe decrease of bird populations in Georgia. Every day in communities throughout the state our native forests are being converted tosubdivisions, offices, shopping centers and industrial facilities. Impervious surfaces are replacing multi-level tree canopies. A few urban tolerantree species are planted to replace 30 or more diverse, native tree species. Herbaceous plants are removed with the topsoil.

The conservation of forested areas is critical if we want an abundant and healthy bird population and a healthy ecosystem. Trees provide manyvaluable and irreplaceable functions, including:

Decreasing storm water runoff and soil erosion, leading to an improvement of water quality;

Decreasing ground level ozone and interception of particulate matter, leading to an improvement in air quality; Moderating temperatures, especially summer temperatures, leading to a reduction in the urban heat island effect; Improving human health by providing places for passive and active recreation.

Forested areas provide more of these benefits than do trees growing singly. Large, native canopy trees such as oaks, elms, yellow poplars,sweetgums and maples provide more of these benefits than do small, ornamental trees. Pine trees, too, provide significant benefits, and do so the winter when our deciduous trees are at rest.

Foresters, arborists and planners in communities across the state provide education and incentives for tree conservation. They also administetree ordinances, many of which require tree conservation on new development sites. A recent survey on Georgias tree ordinances by the GeorUrban Forest Council (www.gufc.org) estimates that more than 180 communities in Georgia have a tree ordinance. Many of these ordinancesregulate trees on new developments and require tree conservation. However, tree ordinance administrators reported in the survey that theysometimes have difficulty enforcing the ordinance due to a lack of political support, staffing, knowledge about trees or clearly written regulatio

The conservation of forested areas within our communities is critical. You can help by conserving forested areas around your home or business

Learn more about trees, their care and your communitys tree regulations. When you visit businesses that have conserved forested areas, tellthem how much you appreciate their efforts. Let public officials know that you support tree conservation for the reasons listed above, andespecially because it promotes a healthy and diverse bird population.

Next Meeting:

Birds ofMalaysia

3 PM

PikesAuditorium

July 15

I85

PleasantHillRoad

SteveReynoldsBlvd

BeaverRuinRoad

Pike Family

Nursery

Auditorium

Documents

July 2007 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society