CBC newsletter

8 Pages·2002·0.34 MB·English

by  Carolina Bird Club

1
CBC
Newsletter
for members of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., ornithological society of the Carolinas
Volume 48 December 2002/January 2003 Number 6
In Search of Sparrows
We are very fortunate to be the nights ofthe 16th, 17th, and
welcoming Dr. Jim Rising of 18th - you need to tell them you
the University ofToronto as are with the CBC when you
speaker at the Winter Carolina book the room. The block is
Bird Club meeting in only reserved until the 16th of
Washington, NC. Dr. Rising December, but they will honor
authored the standard guide to the rate for rooms booked after
North American sparrows - A that date ifany are available.
Guide to the Identification and Unfortunately, none ofthe
Natural History ofThe hotels in Washington are
Sparrows ofthe United States located in the downtown area, ( \
and Canada. He will be but none require more than a
Field Trip Schedule
speaking to us about the ten minute drive to reach the
#
sparrows typically found in our civic center. Trip
part ofthe country. He has Friday (AM): 1,7
The number for the Comfort
promised to go on a birding trip Inn is [phone]. Other Friday (PM): 7, 9, 10
or two as well, so those hoping Friday (Full-day): 2,3,5
lodging options include: Days
to work more on the often nasty Inn [phone]; Econo- Saturday (AM): 7, 8, 1
ID problems faced when
lodge [phone]; Hampton Saturday (PM): 9, 10
looking at sparrows are in for a Inn [phone]; Holiday Saturday (Full-day): 3,4, 5, 6
real treat. Inn Express [phone]. V /
We expect our second speaker
to speak on the subject of
planting for birds in the
Carolinas, but we are still Field Trip Descriptions
waiting on a final answer at this
point. Trip 1 (Half-day): Aurora-Bayview Ferry, VOA Site A: We will
take the free ferry across the Pamlico river to look for
The meeting will be held at
diving ducks and then look for sparrows and possibly
the Washington, NC, Civic
Short-eared Owl at the VOA site in Beaufort county.
Center. This is a lovely
NWR
converted railroad station Trip 2 (Full-day): Mattamuskeet impoundments, Lake
located in the heart ofthe Phelps: We will visit impoundments at the eastern end of
historic downtown. Parking is Lake Mattamuskeet and the causeway across the lake.
available immediately adjacent The flocks ofwintering swans, geese, and ducks can be
to the building. incredible. The fields around Lake Phelps can produce
We have a block of rooms rare sparrows, Longspurs, and possibly Short-eared Owl.
reserved at the Comfort Inn at
$55/night. This rate is good for Continuedonpage6
Page1
!
For Hummingbird Enthusiasts
It is that exciting time of
year once again-winter wintering range of Ruby-
hummingbird season! With the throateds along the Outer Banks,
temperatures cooling, the well up into northern Dare
reports will really begin to roll County. I caught several in
in over the next few weeks. So, Manteo, saw multiple birds in Catching a bird banded
before it gets too busy, I want Kill Devil Hills and banded two elsewhere by a different bander
to give you an update of my at feeders in Kitty Hawk. is even more exciting. Last
activities and hummingbird Further south, multiple Ruby- January I had not one but two
happenings across the state. throateds were again reported in such events! I found a banded
the Morehead City area and adult female Rufous
Last Winter
around Wilmington. I managed to Hummingbird at a feeder in
The winter of2001-2002 get to a greater proportion of Pinehurst that had been banded
was fantastic for hummingbird these hummers this year but still three years previously in
activity in our state. In a good number went unbanded as Louisiana by a colleague in a
summary, last year across North time ran out in February. I hope well-known winter hummer
Carolina I managed to band 12 to be able to spend more time haven near Lake Pontchartrain.
Rufous, one Black-chinned, and along our coast this winter in And shortly after that I
16 Ruby-throateds. I banded my order to catch and study a greater recaptured an adult female
first Calliope and Broad-tailed number of these birds. This is a Black-chinned Hummingbird in
Hummingbirds (both juvenile very unique situation and we Wilmington that had been
males) last season as well. The know so very little about this banded by Gary Phillips, my
Calliope was at a feeder in species during the non-breeding subpermittee, in Murrell’s Inlet,
Winston-Salem (Forsyth Co.) season. 1 really look forward to South Carolina about ten weeks
all winter. The Broad-tailed, taking greater advantage ofthe earlier!
our first state record for the opportunities to band and
species, spent from late October observe Ruby-throated Fall Highlights
through mid-April in Hummingbirds at this time of Selasphorus (Rufous-type)
Gibsonville (Guilford Co.). We hummingbirds have already
year.
also had the first state record been spotted at a number of
Broad-billed Hummingbird, Recaptures feeders in the last couple
another immature male, but Recaptures ofbanded birds months. However most ofthese
unfortunately, it did not stay are as exciting to a bird bander birds have been only passers
long enough for me to catch it. as capturing new or rare species by; migrating to points
I encountered a good ofbirds. I was reunited with unknown. I did manage to catch
number of Ruby-throated three familiar Rufous over the a handsome adult male Rufous
Hummingbirds last winter. One winter, two in Hampstead in Hendersonville (Henderson
particularly interesting (Pender Co.; one male and one Co.). More recently I was able
individual was an inland female) and one in Vass (Moore to catch two female Rufous
immature male Ruby-throat that Co.). The Hampstead birds I had Hummingbirds that continue to
I banded in Hillsborough banded as juveniles the year be seen: one in Lewisville
(Orange Co.), a very rare find before. The Rufous in Vass, (Forsyth Co.) and one in
during the cooler months. however, had been banded as an Pinehurst (Moore Co.). Also we
On somewhat a different a adult two years before, making have what 1 expect to be three
note, I managed to confirm a him at least three years old last Rufous back at feeders they
northern extension ofthe winter. have used for multiple winters:
Continuedonpage 5
Page2
Larry persuaded Larry to at least
cross the stream and head for
the waterfall to see ifthe bird
and the
would possibly still be there.
Persistence paid off. When
Wallcreeper
we finally got to the waterfall,
after fording three streams,
All serious birders have boulders. Larry was in the lead there was not one but two
their “bugaboo” birds - birds van, some distance in front of Wallcreepers! For the next 10
that elude them despite every me driving the second vehicle, minutes we watched the pair
effort to find them. No matter when Milege Hahn, one ofmy climbing the rock face above
how many times they go to the passengers, requested a our heads, floating right above
appropriate countries or correct waterfall photo stop. As she us in tandem, and showing off
habitats, they just can’t seem to was carefully setting the their crimson wings. At one
find that darn bird! Larry’s picture, a bird with a slow, stage they approached to within
“bugaboo” bird was the floating flight approached the a few meters ofus, almost
Wallcreeper, a fancy relative of van. “Wallcreeper!” I shouted, oblivious ofour presence, as
the treecreepers and nuthatches, and we tumbled out ofthe van they fed in the rocks. This was
found only in high elevations like dice from a cup. The bird an unbelievable show. We were
across Eurasia from France to both ecstatic! Larry not only
China. He had been on birding got his Wallcreeper, but got
trips to the Pyrenees in France views that many ofus could
and Spain, to the kingdom of only dream of. He came home
Bhutan high in the Himalayas, from France a very happy
and the Alps in Switzerland, birder, and spent the next few
trying to get a glimpse ofthe days telling and retelling this
bird. Many ofthese trips were story to anyone that would
without me, so I kept telling listen.
him that he would not see this Unfortunately, three days
bird without me also being after returning home, on
there to enjoy it. flew over our heads and landed September 23, Larry Farer
This past September, Larry on a pile ofrocks about 30 feet suffered a brain aneurysm and
and 1 went with my Ventures away, allowing us to get great died on October 1 1 after being
group on another visit to the looks at this enigmatic species. in a coma for 2 weeks. Who
French Pyrenees. After Then off it flew again, its could have ever imagined that
watching rock walls for hours black, white and red wings the Wallcreeper would be his
and staking out sheer rock faces contrasting with the gray rocks, final lifer, a bird he had so had
in several locations, we had not across the stream and towards a so wanted to see for the past
managed to find the elusive distant gorge and waterfall. five years. Larry was a very
Wallcreeper. We spent our final Meanwhile we were all special friend, a good birder
day ofthe trip near the Spanish yelling and gesturing to the and we will miss him a lot.
border in the Valle d’Ossoue, a folks in the first van to run as Donations in Larry’s
spectacular area of granite fast as they could, but alas, memory may be made to Elisha
cliffs, boulder-strewn fields and when they arrived the bird was Mitchell Audubon Society, PO
sweeping vistas. We climbed nowhere to be seen. Larry was Box 1871 1, Asheville, NC
over rocks and along cliff trails absolutely beside himself and 28814 and designated for the
for several hours finding no was predicting yet another Beaver Lake Sanctuary.
sign ofthe bird ofour quest, miss. However, I was
then decided to head back down determined not let my friend be Simon Thompson
into the valley to check out denied the bird ofhis dreams. Jo Ann Martin
another area of scree and Coaxing and cajoling, I
Page3
Christmas Bird Counts in the Carolinas
as ofNovember 5th. Check the web sitefor updates - www.carolinabirdclub.org
Christmas Bird Count Date Contact Phone E-mail
ACE Basin, SC 12/29/02 David Chamberlain
Bodie-Pea Island, NC 12/29/02 Paul Sykes 706-769-9436 [email protected]
Brevard, NC 12/14/02 Norma Siebenheller 828-884-5443 [email protected]
Buncombe County, NC 12/21/02 Marilyn Westphal 828-891-9896 [email protected]
Cape Hatteras, NC 12/30/02 Pat Moore [email protected]
Central Beaufort, NC 12/15/02 JimAlbera 252-946-2192
Chapel Hill, NC 12/22/02 Will Cook 919-967-5446 [email protected]
Charleston, SC 01/05/03 Bob Chin [email protected]
Charlotte, NC 12/28/02 Wayne Covington 704-362-1774 [email protected]
j
Clemens, SC 12/14/02 Drew Lanham 864-656-7294 [email protected]
j
Congaree Swamp N. M., SC 12/15/02 Robin Carter 803-782-8820 [email protected]
Durham, NC 12/15/02 Mike Schultz 919-490-6761 [email protected]
Falls Lake, NC 12/28/02 Brian Bockhahn 919-676-1027 [email protected]
Gaston County, NC 12/22/02 Duane Crane 704-866-7527 [email protected]
Grayson Highlands, VA 01/04/03 Allen Boynton 540-677-1204 [email protected]
Guilford County, NC 12/14/02 Elizabeth Link 336-273-4672 [email protected].
Henderson County, NC 12/29/02 Wayne K. Forsythe 828-697-8828 wforsythe@a-o com
.
Highlands Plateau 12/16/02 Edwin Poole 828-526-2775 [email protected]
Jordan Lake, NC 12/29/02 Carol Williamson 919-383-2364 [email protected]
Kitty Hawk, NC 12/14/02 JeffLewis 252-473-1086 [email protected]
Lake Wateree 01/04/03 Donna Slyce Bailey 803-996-0960 [email protected]
Litchfield/Pawleys Island, SC 12/30/02 Jack Peachey 843-347-5810 [email protected]
McClellanville, SC 12/14/02 Perry E. Nugent 843-556-3841 [email protected]
Morehead City, NC 12/15/02 John Fussell, 252-240-1046 [email protected]
Mt. Jefferson, NC 12/14/02 Vaughn Morrison 336-877-8795 [email protected]
New Bern, NC 12/16/02 Bob Holmes 252-633-3003
New River, NC 12/21/02 James Coman 336-359-2909 [email protected]
Pee Dee NWR, NC 01/04/03 Laura Fogo 704-694-4424 [email protected]
Portsmouth Island, NC 12/30/02 Peter Vankevich 202 547-4523
Raleigh, NC 12/14/02 John Connors 919-755-0253 [email protected]
Raven Rock State Park, NC 12/14/02 Paul Hart 910-893-4888 [email protected]
Santee NWR, SC 12/28/02 Lex Glover 803-438-9855 [email protected]
South Lake Norman, NC 12/15/02 Taylor Piephoff 704-532-6336 [email protected]
Southern Pines, NC 12/15/02 Susan M. Campbell 910-949-3207 [email protected]
Southport, NC 01/05/02 Ricky Davis 252-443-0276 [email protected]
Spartanburg, SC 12/30/02 Lyle Campbell 864-503-5751 [email protected]
Stone Mountain, NC 12/28/02 John Mac Connell 336-384-1162 [email protected]
j
Wilmington, NC 01/04/03 Sam Cooper 910-392-9253 [email protected]
York/Rock Hill, SC 12/21/02 Bill Hilton, Jr. 803-684-5852 [email protected]
Page4
CBCs by bate Hummer Update thus far in our state and is
loaded with specifics (including
12/14/02 a male in Vass (Moore Co.) and photos), about my banding
NC one in Hampstead (Pender Co.)
Brevard, activities.
Clemens, SC and a female in Shelby
Guilford County, NC (Cleveland Co.). With colder Acknowledgements
Kitty Hawk, NC temperatures forecast for this I must add that last year I
McClellanville, SC weekend, I suspect I will hear had help from two other winter
Mt. Jefferson, NC about the presence ofmore of hummer banders who are
Raleigh, NC these hardy hummingbirds very relatively new on the scene:
Raven Rock State Park, NC shortly. Gary Phillips and Rusty Trump.
12/15/02 Ofeven greater interest, an Gary spends most ofhis time
Central Beaufort,NC immature male Calliope banding hummingbirds along
Congaree SwampN. M., SC Hummingbird has been seen the northern coast of South
Durham, NC daily since October 15th in a Carolina near his home in
MoreheadCity, NC yard in Castalia (Franklin Co.). Conway. Rusty travels from
South Lake Norman, NC He is using the vast array of Suwanee, Georgia throughout
Southern Pines, NC Salvias planted there. the state in search ofwinter
12/16/02 Interestingly, this is the same hummingbirds. Rusty banded a
Highlands Plateau yard where I banded a Rufous few hummers (two Rufous; one
New Bern, NC back in 2000. However with each in Franklin and Bryson
12/21/02 frost predicted over the City) in the mountains and Gary
Buncombe County, NC weekend, I am hoping that the banded a number ofhummers (6
New River, NC hummer will find the feeder so Ruby-throats & 4 Rufous; in
York/Rock Hill, SC that I may be able to catch him both Hampstead/Wilmington
12/22/02 in the near future. It would be and Morehead City/Beaufort)
Chapel Hill,NC the third banded Calliope in two along the coast. Both Rusty and
Gaston County, NC years in North Carolina. So far, Gary are very talented banders
12/28/02 several birders have been to see who through their commitment
Charlotte, NC this feisty little beast and he and dedication have proven
Falls Lake, NC has put on quite a show, invaluable in our quest to
SanteeNWR, SC ‘bugging’ in his favorite tree understand more about
Stone Mountain, NC and chasing other feeder birds wintering hummingbirds in
12/29/02 around the yard. I have a North Carolina.
ACE Basin, SC feeling this is just the beginning I would also like to express
Bodie-Pea Island,NC ofanother very exciting winter my sincere thanks to The
Henderson County, NC here! Museum (for public relations
Jordan Lake,NC work including creation and
More News
12/30/02 maintenance ofthe web site as
For anyone that has not yet
Cape Hatteras, NC heard, we now have a hummer well as loan ofbanding
LPiotrcthsfmioeultdh-PIaswllaenyd,sNIsCland, SC web page up and running in eBiqrudipSmteundty)Garnodutphe(CHluaym,mer
North Carolina. The North
Spartanburg, SC Carolina State Museum of Alabama; for travel funds) for
01G/r0a4y/s0o3n Highlands, VA NaamtuararlesSecairecnhceafsf,ilwiiatteh,whahsom I tehnedieravcoornst.inIuewdousludppaolrstoilnikmeyto
Lake Wateree thank the private contributors
Pee Dee NWR, NC created a great site at who have donated funds to
www.naturalsciences.org/
Wilmington, NC make my work possible over
nchummers/. It contains a
01/05/03 the past four years. Without you
variety ofinformation about the
NC
Southport,
species ofhummingbirds found
Charleston, SC Continuedonpage8
Page5
Trip 5 (Full-day): Mattamuskeet NWR, Swan
Field Trip Descriptions [Continued] Quarter NWR, Pungo NWR: We will bird
the western end of Mattamuskeet via the
Trip 3 (Full-day): Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Rose Bay Canal trail. After lunch, we will
Phelps: We will visit the Mattamuskeet visit Swan Quarter to look for diving
causeway, the headquarters ponds, and the ducks and Pungo to look for landbirds and
wildlife drive. Mattamuskeet, in addition
geese.
to being known for wintering waterfowl,
Trip 6 (Full-day): Croatan National Forest,
often produces wintering neotropicals
Neuse River Ferry: We will look for
such as Orange-crowned Warbler and
Blue-headed Vireo. In the afternoon we landbirds in the Croatan NF. This is an
excellent spot for Red-cockaded
will visit the fields around Lake Phelps to
Woodpecker, and other targets include
look for sparrows and possibly Short-
Bachman’s Sparrow and possibly
eared Owl.
Henslow’s. We will also look for
Trip 4 (WFeullwi-ldlayt)a:keSwthaen9Q:u3a0rAteMr-OfecrrraycofkreomFerry: wafatteerrnboiornd,swaelonwigllthteakNeeutsheeCRhieverrr.yIBnrtahnech
Swan Quarter to Ocracoke. Many diving ferry across the Neuse to Minnesott
ducks difficult to see elsewhere in the
Beach.
state, including Redhead, Long-tailed
Duck, and scoters are possible on this Trip 7 (Half-day): Pettigrew SP, Lake Phelps: We
trip, and the waters around Ocracoke are will look for wintering landbirds in
Pettigrew SP and waterfowl on Lake
among the best places in the state to find
wintering Brant. We will be parking our Phelps. Past finds have included Common
Merganser. The fields around the lake can
cars at the ferry terminal on the mainland
also produce good wintering sparrows.
and paying $1.00 per head as pedestrians
to take the ferry. After eating lunch in Trip 8 (Half-day): Aurora-Bayview Ferry, Goose
Ocracoke (bring lunch, as the few Creek State Park: We will take the 9:10
restaurants on the island may not be open ferry from Bayview across the Pamlico
in midwinter), we will take the 12:30 PM river to Aurora, looking for diving ducks
return ferry back. The crossing takes during the crossing. We will then bird
approximately 2.5 hours. Time and Goose Creek SP, looking for wintering
interest permitting, we will stop by the landbirds and rails in the woods and
Mattamuskeet causeway. marshes.
Continuedonpage 7
Carolina Bird Club Winter Meeting Registration Form
January 17-19, 2003
Name: Day Phone:
Address: Evening Phone:
City: ST: ZIP: E-mail:
Enclosedis acheck for$ for member[$101registration(s) and/or nonmember($20) reeistration(s).
Please includenamesnotlistedabove:
Thismy [our] firsttime attending aCBC meeting.
FieldTrip Choices:
Friday: Morning Afternoon All-day
Saturday: Morning Afternoon All-day
Make checks payable to Carolina Bird Club & send to: CBC, 11 WestJones Street, Raleigh NC 27601-1029
Page6
Membership News CBC Board Members
President
A Nominating Committee has been appointed to find
VanAtkins
candidates for several CBC offices that will be up for election
843-766-7000/729-0271
next May. President Van Atkins has appointed Len Pardue of
[email protected]
Asheville, NC, as committee chair; and Paula Wright of
Greenville, NC, and Steve Patterson, of Pickens, SC, as members. Vice Presidents
Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC
The committee will draft with a slate ofcandidates to put
before the membership at the May 2003 meeting, in Clemson, SC. DickBlee,Brevard,NC
DonnaBailey,Winnsboro, SC
The following positions will be up for election:
Secretary
President, Secretary, Treasurer, SC Vice President, Eastern
WNC SuePulsipher,Linden,NC
N.C. Member-at-Large, Member-at-Large and SC Member-
at-Large. President Van Atkins and SC Vice President Donna Treasurer
Bailey are ineligible for re-election. Secretary Susan Pulsipher StephenHarris,Wilmington,NC
has declined nomination for a third and final one-year term. NC Members-at-Large
Kathleen O’Grady has resigned as SC Member-at-Large; the CBC SandyCash,Durham
Executive Committee is seeking someone willing to fill out her CharlotteGoedsche,Asheville
term and stand for election in May. ENC and WNC members-at- DwayneMartin,Claremont
large Sandy Cash and Charlotte Goedsche are eligible for re- SusanCampbell,WhisperingPines
election.
SC Members-at-Large
The Executive Committee meets at each ofthe CBC weekends StevePatterson,Pickens, SC
and holds a one-day retreat during summer. The committee is
Immediate Past President
responsible for planning the weekends and for managing club
LenPardue,Asheville,NC
finances, publications and other activities.
Vice Presidents serve three-year terms and are ineligible for Editor of The Chat
BobWood, Columbia, SC
re-election. Members-at-large can serve consecutive two-year
terms. President is limited to two consecutive one-year terms. Editor CBC Newsletter
Secretary and Treasurer can serve three consecutive one-year JudyWalker,Charlotte,NC
terms.
Headquarters Secretary
Anyone with suggestions or thoughts about candidates for TullieJohnson, Raleigh, NC
CBC office should contact Len Pardue ([email protected];
The CBCNewsletterispublished
828-254-7618), John Wright ([email protected]; 252-
bimonthlyby Carolina Bird Club, Inc.,
756-5139) or Steve Patterson ([email protected]; 864-878- the ornithological society ofthe
8186). Carolinas. CBC is a nonprofitcorpora-
tion headquartered in Raleigh, NC.
Founded in 1937 the membership is
open to anyone interested inbirds,
Field Trip Descriptions [Continued] natural history and conservation.
Members are encouragedto submit
Trip 9 (Half-day): Aurora-Bayview Ferry, Chocowinity Bay: We items ofinterestto the CBC Newsletter
editor: Judy Walker, 7639 Farm Gate
will take the 3:15 ferry from Bayview to Aurora, birding Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215
the river during the crossing. We will bird our way back [email protected] Submission
along the south side ofthe river. deadlines are the 10thofJanuary,
Trip 10 (Half-day): Pactolus Catfish Ponds, VOA Site: We will NMoarvcehm,beMra.y, July, September and
visit the catfish ponds near Pactolus and then look for
VOA Submit membership applications and
Short-eared owls at the site at dusk.
change ofaddress to:
Trip 11 Half-day New Bern Quarry: We will bird the quarry CBC Headquarters Secretary
( )
near the Neuse River. This site has produced several rare 11 W. Jones St.,
Raleigh, NC27601-1029
finds in past years. Ducks, rails, and wintering shorebirds
are all usually seen, along with some lingering landbirds. CBCNewsletterisprintedon 100%recycled
paperwith60%post-consumercontent.
Page7
CBC
NonprofitOrganization
U. S. PostOffice
NC
Raleigh,
Carolina Bird Club, Inc. PermitNo. 1654
11 West Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
Welcome New Members
Hummer Update
and the graciousness ofthe Andrew & Linda Medlin
many hummingbird hosts and Salisbury, NC
hostesses, this work would
not be possible. I am indebted Lori & Gene Voth
to you all. Asheville, NC
Please keep in Touch!
So, keep a feeder up and
your eyes peeled. Better yet,
What's Inside
tell all your friends about the
fantastic phenomenon of
Winter Weekend 1
winter hummingbirds across
our state. And please let me Field Trip Descriptions 1
know ifyou see or hear of Hummer Update 2
any hummingbirds between Larry and the Wallcreeper 3
now and March 15th. CBC Dates 4
Susan Campbell
Membership News 7
[phone]
Rare Bird Alert: 704-332-BIRD Web Site: www.carolinabirdclub.org
Page8