January 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society

AAS 2010 Conservation Focus:
The Year of Grassland Birds
ATLANTA
AUDUBON SOCIETY
4055 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
678.973.2437
www.atlantaaudubon.org
GOS RARE BIRD ALERT
770.493.8862
January 2010
Volume XXXVI, Issue 1 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
I N S I D E
New Master Birders.............2
From the Exec Dir ................3
Backyd Wildlife Sanctuary...3
Art Workshop .......................3
Field Notes - October...........4
Field Trips.............................5
Georgia Bird Atlas ................5
Spotlight Carol Vanderschaaf ...6
A Million Thanks..................6
Time Well Spent ...................6
TogetherGreen Fellowship...7
Hawk Workshop...................7
Shorebird Workshop ............8
Eyes of a Child.....................8
Woody Hickcox Artistry........9
Classifieds..........................10
Great Backyard Bird Count ...11
Membership........................11
Southern Birding Trails.........12
Since the beginning of the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) in the 1960s, grassland breeding
birds have shown some of the steepest population declines of any birds. Grassland
ecosystems are dependent on periodic disturbance for habitat maintenance, and in the
past grazing by native herbivores and fires were the agents of this disturbance. However,
the elimination of native herbivores, development of fields, widespread fire suppression,
and conversion for agriculture have greatly altered grasslands in Georgia.
Starting in 2010 Atlanta Audubon Society is introducing a new program, the “Year of…”
that will concentrate on a specific area of education or conservation work. What better
way to kick off our new project than to focus on Georgia’s grassland birds?
Activities/programs in the 2010 Year of Grassland Birds will include:
• special photo contest category in AAS’s annual photography contest
• special field trips to grassland habitats
• AAS sponsored bird-banding days
• adult workshop with field trip
• scholarship for a youngster to conduct research or do a project on grassland birds
• Speaker Series event on grassland management
• eight-page, full-color publication highlighting Georgia’s grassland birds for public
education
• creation of special education unit for Learning About Birds program for third, fourth
and fifth graders (also created in Spanish for Georgia’s Spanish speaking communities).
Make 2010 the year you learn more about Georgia’s grassland birds!
SPEAKER SERIES AND WORKSHOP: LEARNING ABOUT LICHENS!
Lecture: Thursday, Jan. 21, 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Atlanta Audubon Society Education Center at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta
Workshop: Saturday, Jan. 23, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Marietta
We will begin the New Year with a fresh new topic: Lichens.
Join us for Atlanta Audubon Society’s Speaker Series on
Jan. 21 and for an exciting and unique workshop on Jan. 23.
Malcolm Hodges, a conservation biologist for The Nature
Conservancy, and Sean Beeching, one of the best
lichenologists in the Southeast, will share the wonder of
lichens and the roles that they play in ecosystems.
Lichens, a combination of fungi, algae and cyanobacteria
cover about eight percent of the earth’s surface. Many lichen species are known to be
bioindicators of air quality just as macroinvertebrates and fish are bioindicators of
Sean (L) and Malcolm (R) studying lichens
on forest rock in Columbia County
Photographer: Linda Chafin
Continued on page 10
Board of Directors
2009
Officers
President Stacy E. Zarpentine
404.219.5869
[email protected]
President-elect Carol N. Hassell
770.945.3111
[email protected]
Treasurer
Vacant
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan
404.298.8825
[email protected]
Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley
404.687.0079
[email protected]
Directors
Conservation Dave Butler
404.580.3917
[email protected]
Education Marge Igyarto
678.398.0569
[email protected]
Field Trips Stanley Chapman
[email protected]
Membership Vacant
Communications
Barbara Tarpley
404.687.0079
[email protected]
Publicity Beth Giddens
770.792.3712
[email protected]
Volunteers Nancy Hamilton
404.874.2338
[email protected]
At Large
Jay Davis
404.624.4973
[email protected]
JoAnn Jordan
678.488.8022
[email protected]
Victor Williams
Earthshare Representative
770.423.1012
[email protected]
Staff
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar
678.973.2437
[email protected]
Education Coordinator Emily Toriani-Moura
678.973.2437
[email protected]
Administrative Coordinator Sally Davis
678.973.2437
[email protected]
Website
Jim Flynn
[email protected]
Wingbars Editor
Mary Ann Hindes 770.497.0664
[email protected]
Proofreading
Steven Phenicie
770.849.0391
[email protected]
Design & Layout
Copy Preparation 770.939.2002
[email protected]
Newsletter deadline is the first of
the month for material to be
published the following month.
Please submit articles as MS-Word to
[email protected].
E-mail attachments, if possible.
Wingbars is the official newsletter of Atlanta
Audubon Society and is published 11 times a
year. We feature news, upcoming events,
meetings, field trips and projects. We hope you
will join us. Opinions expressed are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect policies
of the Atlanta Audubon Society.
Mi ssi on Statement:
Protecting Georgia’s birds and the habitats that sustain them
through education, conservation and advocacy.
2 Atlanta Audubon Society
KEY DATES
Entries must have been photo-
graphed since January 1, 2009
and must be received by midnight
on February 22, 2010.
All entries will be displayed at the
March 21 Speaker Series event.
Ribbons and prizes will be
awarded at the meeting. All
entries will be judged prior to the
March Speaker Series event.
Our judge for the 2010 competition
is well-known photographer
Richard J. Green of Down To
Earth Portraits
Check out the Atlanta Audubon
website shortly for more
information at
www.atlantaaudubon.org
At l an t a Au du bo n S o c i e t y
2010 Annual Phot ogr aphy Cont es t
Get Those Cameras Ready!
Check Out This Year’s Great Prizes:
N First Prize—Birds in Portrait: 6.5 x 32 Raven Binoculars by Eagle Optics
N First Prize—Birds in Motion: 6.5 x 32 Raven Binoculars by Eagle Optics
N First Prize—Animals: Eagle Optics Denali 8 x 42 Roof Prism Binoculars
N First Prize—Habitat: Vortex Pro GT Tripod Kit
N First Prize—Georgia’s Grassland Birds (2010 Conservation Category)*: Atlanta Audubon
Society “Fun Pack” (includes Pajaro original field bag with AAS patch, AAS license plate, AAS
t-shirt, Peterson Field Guide’s “Eastern/Central Birding by Ear” CD set, and a copy of “Sibley’s
Birding Basics”)
N Judge’s Choice: Eagle Optics Denali Spotting Scope Package (sponsored by Eagle Optics)
N Grand Prize: **Adobe Photoshop CS4. Also includes the opportunity to have your photograph
printed on the Atlanta Audubon Society official picture postcard for 2010!
Criteria for judging include:
Ɣ Originality Ɣ Overall impact Ɣ Composition Ɣ Technique Ɣ Presentation Ɣ Difficulty
Photographs will be judged in the following categories:
Birds in Motion (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, must convey the original
dynamic motion of the bird or birds); Birds in Portrait (no man-made elements, unless natural
behavior, i.e. perching on a fence; may show nesting, stalking or roosting activity) Animals (all
living creatures, other than birds; no man-made elements); Habitat (flora and fauna in their
natural environments, landscapes or panoramas); Georgia’s Grassland Birds (see list of
eligible birds* below); and Judge’s Choice.
Sponsored by
Sandhill Cranes by 2009 Grand Prize Winner, Jo Ginn
* Birds that are eligible for entry in the “Georgia’s Grassland Birds” (2010 Conserva-
tion Category) include: Northern Bobwhite, Bobolink, Yellow-breasted Chat, Horned
Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, Dickcissel, Indigo Bunting, Sandhill Crane, Grasshopper
Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Field Sparrow, Wilson’s Snipe, Loggerhead Shrike, Prairie
Warbler, Henslow’s Sparrow, Barn Owl, Vesper Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Short-
eared Owl, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Upland Sandpiper.
** Prizes subject to change if availability issues arise.
**Adobe prize cannot be upgraded to later editions in the future.
Welcome New Master Birders
By Georgann Schmalz
It is with great pleasure that AAS welcomes the
fall class of Atlanta Audubon Society Master
Birders. This graduating class of 2010
represents the 11th class of the Master Birder
program and brings our total number of Master
Birders to 144.
Listed in order of the photograph are Lisa
Frank, Bob Braxton, Linda Liu, Kerry Robbins,
Donna Wensink, Carole Manley, Suellen
Slockbower, Sharon Butler, Emily Toriani-
Moura, Stewart R. Roberts, Jr., Mary Farr, Julie
Wallace and Alex Wallace. (Jane Seward is not
in the photo.)
Hats off to a wonderful group that supports
AAS in many ways. We are fortunate to have
their enthusiasm and talents. We look forward
to engaging them in Audubon projects and
events, enlightening them with more field trips
and seminars, and mingling with them and all of
our Master Birders.
For more information about the Master Birder
activities, check out the website at
http://masterbirder2008.wikispaces.com, and
join us for the next Master Birder workshop
that will be offered in the Fall 2010.
Fall 2009 Master Birder Class
Q: What species
recently dethroned
the Arctic Tern as
the bird with the
longest migration?
Answer: Sooty
Shearwater
See page ___ for the answer
See page 9 for answer
Which is the smallest
North American bird of
prey, and what does it
weigh?
January 2010 3
Striving to make AAS a professional and effective
organization is just one of the many tasks with which the
Board of Directors and staff of Atlanta Audubon Society are
charged. To this end, we have been very busy over the past
few months working on two important tasks: updating the
AAS by-laws and creating a new strategic plan for the years
2010 through 2012.
By-Laws Update
An organization’s by-laws are critical in laying the foundation
for how it will function. They are the written rules for
conduct. By-laws generally provide for meetings, elections of
officers and a board of directors, filling board and appointee
vacancies, specifying the types and duties of officers and
committees, assessments and other routine conduct. By-laws
are, in effect, a contract among members and must be
formally adopted and/or amended. The AAS by-laws were last
revised in 1999. At that time, the organization was run
exclusively by volunteers. Since then, many things have
changed including adding staff that impacts what should and
should not be included in our current document. We
currently have an updated draft being reviewed by the board
and hope to have an approved version in place by mid-
February.
Strategic Plan
Our strategic planning process began with drafting an
updated plan for the fiscal years 2010 through 2012 that
reflected what the board, staff and AAS members envision for
the direction of the organization. In November a group of
volunteers and board members met for a strategic planning
session to discuss the plan overview (including goals and
objectives and specific activities). The feedback from the
group was used to update the document, and we will have
another group of volunteers further refine the strategic plan
so that the final version can be voted on by the Board of
Directors at its February meeting. While we are still refining
the language of the goals, objectives and activities, here are
the six key areas of the plan:
Conservation: To be the most effective organization in the
metro Atlanta area dedicated to the conservation of bird and
wildlife habitat. The conservation program includes focusing
on Creating, Promoting and Protecting Bird-friendly Habitat
with a significant emphasis on urban greenspace.
Education: To connect metro-Atlanta residents of all ages
and ethnic and economic backgrounds with birds and
wildlife through our educational programs.
Volunteer and Member Programs: To increase the
effectiveness of AAS’s work by strengthening
volunteer/member participation.
Internal Success: To improve the leadership, effectiveness
and sustainability of the Board of Directors, committees and
staff.
Communications and Outreach: To effectively communicate
Atlanta Audubon Society’s mission in a manner that raises
the organization’s profile, attracts volunteers, and increases
program participation and financial support.
Development: To strengthen Atlanta Audubon’s position as a
leader in metro Atlanta bird and wildlife conservation and
environmental education by securing funds from individuals,
foundations, corporate and governmental sources.
These are only a few of the critical internal efforts we are
taking to continue to make our organization great—and, of
course, we ALWAYS like to hear from you about your ideas.
AAS Internal Efforts: Updating the AAS By-laws and
Creating the AAS 2010 to 2012 Strategic Plan
From the Executive Director
by Catharine Brockman Kuchar
Happy New Year!
from the
Backyard
Wildlife
Sanctuary
Program
This coming September the
Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary
Tour will be in the
Buckhead/Sandy Springs
(30342) area of Atlanta
centering around the Atlanta
Audubon Society Education
Center and the Blue Heron
Nature Preserve.
Please let us know about
sanctuaries you would like
featured and/or if you
would like to volunteer your
own yard for the tour.
Thank you for your help and
to all who have offered their
sanctuaries in other
neighborhoods. There is
always next year…
Atlanta Audubon Society Presents….
EXPLORING NATURE THROUGH ART
Drawing Workshop Series with Atlanta Artist Carol Anne Sutherland
Learning about the natural world gives us an appreciation for the value of all living things.
While photography is a fine medium for capturing meaningful images and personal
encounters with nature, drawing brings us even closer to our subject. Time, patience and
practice are required in drawing for a sequential skill-building process. Drawing is something
everyone can learn and having a highly experienced instructor like Carol Anne Sutherland can speed up the learning curve.
Carol, a graduate of Agnes Scott College, is a fine artist and art educator. She has been an instructor at the Atlanta Botanical
Garden (ABG) and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center since 1996, and she began the ABG Botanical Drawing Certificate Program in
2002. Carol spent 11 years as head of the Art Department at St. Pius X Catholic High School and 10 years practicing site-
specific art. Her areas of expertise include drawing orchids, tropical birds and botanicals, as well as portraits of children and
pets. Check out her website at http://carolannesutherland.tripod.com.
AAS is offering monthly five-hour classes from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM in February, March and April. These three workshops
have been custom-designed and represent the equivalent of a fifteen-hour community education introductory drawing class.
Basic Black & White Drawing I, II and III are meant to be taken in a sequential series. After this workshop series, we will move
forward with more Saturday workshops featuring colored pencil drawing, quick sketching techniques, field sketching and
more. Please visit our website at www.atlantaaudubon.org for specific course descriptions and materials lists.
Workshop charge: Friends of Atlanta Audubon $85 per class, $240 for all three; Non-Members: $90 per class, $255 for all
three. You may pay by credit card or send your check to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. Your payment confirms your
reservation. Registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Toriani-Moura at 678. 973.2437 or
[email protected].
4 Atlanta Audubon Society
ATLANTA AREA
PELICANS THROUGH MOORHENS – SZ had an
amazing flock of 90 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS
over the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) on 18
Oct. CL, et al., had a rare AMERICAN BITTERN at
the E.L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF) in
Clayton Co. on 17 Oct. Large numbers of TURKEY
VULTURES were seen during the month with the
peak count of 1050 coming from the CNC on 18
Oct. (SZ). Hawks were not reported in large
numbers but B&DZ had 24 BROAD-WINGED
HAWKS over Marietta on 2 Oct. and SZ had a
PEREGRINE FALCON at the CNC on 17 Oct. At the
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
(CRNRA) several observers had one or two
VIRGINIA RAILS on 17 through 18 Oct. (NF, KB, RC).
At the ELHLAF CL, et al., had an excellent count of
34 COMMON MOORHENS on 17 Oct.
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH WRENS – Rather rare for
the Atlanta area was a DUNLIN in Bartow Co. on 28
Oct. (DM, HG). Two FORSTER’S TERNS at the
Sweetwater Creek State Park on 2 Oct. was a fairly
unusual sighting (PD). HG reported a huge number
of 1000+ CHIMNEY SWIFTS at the CRNRA on 15
Oct. A rather late EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen at
Henderson Park in DeKalb Co. on 20 Oct. (PV)
There were a total of ten sightings of
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS from 1 Oct. through 22 Oct.
(m.ob.). CL, et al., had an excellent count of 340
TREE SWALLOWS at the ELHLAF on 17 Oct. Two
late NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were
seen at the CRNRA on 18 Oct. (KB, RC, NF, AM).
SEDGE WRENS and MARSH WRENS were often
reported from the CRNRA during the month with
the peak counts of five SEDGE WRENS and three
MARSH WRENS coming on 18 Oct. (m.ob.).
WARBLERS – The peak count of TENNESSEE
WARBLERS was 25 at Henderson Park on 16 Oct.
(SS). There were a total of nine reports of
NASHVILLE WARBLERS from 3 Oct. through 22 Oct.
(m.ob.). Some warbler peak counts were 10
MAGNOLIA WARBLERS at HP on 10 Oct. (DM) and
15 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS at the
CRNRA on 19 Oct. (NF et al.). A PRAIRIE WARBLER
was rather late in Newton Co. on 28 Oct. (MF).
SPARROWS – Single VESPER SPARROWS were
seen in Cobb Co. on 20 Oct. (CS) and at the CRNRA
on 25 Oct. (PMc, KM). Other interesting sparrows at
the CRNRA included a HENSLOW’S on 25 Oct.
(PMc, KM) and 29 Oct. (HG), a LINCOLN’S
SPARROW on 18 Oct. (KB, RC, NF) and WHITE-
CROWNED SPARROWS from 22 Oct. through 24
Oct. (JS, HG, KB, NF). An additional LINCOLN’S
SPARROW was seen at the Joe Kurz WMA on 8
Oct. (CM).
GEORGIA AREA
DUCKS THROUGH HAWKS – TK had an excellent
count of 60 BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS at
the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area (AWMA)
near Darien on 7 Oct. On Ossabaw Island, NF saw
one adult WHISTLING-DUCK with ten ducklings for
a first ever nesting of this species on the island. An
early male NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen at the
Bear Creek Reservoir on 8 Oct. TK reported as
many as 80 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS at
Brunswick on 27 Oct. Unusual for an inland area
were three BROWN PELICANS and six AMERICAN
WHITE PELICANS at the Walter F. George Dam on
29 Oct. (JSe, DV, DM). RH and JMcN counted a
rather impressive 1500 TURKEY VULTURES in the
Athens area on 18 Oct. RH also had a PEREGRINE
FALCON in the same general area on 16 Oct.
RAILS THROUGH TERNS – A VIRGINIA RAIL was an
unusual find near Suches on 18 Oct. (JFly). A
SOLITARY SANDPIPER was late in the Columbus
area on 24 Oct. (WC). NF had a very good count of
125 MARBLED GODWITS close to Skidaway Island
on 12 Oct. JSe reported an outstanding count of 27
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Gould’s Inlet on
12 Oct. Somewhat unusual for an inland area was
a FORSTER’S TERN at Bear Creek Res. on 18 Oct.
(JMcN, RH).
CUCKOOS THROUGH VIREOS – A rare BLACK-
BILLED CUCKOO was seen in the Athens area on 3
Oct. (EM, VL). Another rare sighting was a SHORT-
EARED OWL in the Columbus area on 24 Oct. (WC).
Rare flycatchers included a YELLOW-BELLIED
FLYCATCHER in the Athens area on 4 Oct. (JMcN et
al.), an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER in Tattnall Co.
on 19 Oct. (GA RBA – no details though) and a
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER on Jekyll Island on
8 Oct. (LT). There were a total of six sightings of
PHILADELPHIA VIREOS FROM 1 Oct. through 11
Oct. (m.ob.).
SWALLOWS THROUGH THRUSHES – There were
several reports of large numbers of TREE
SWALLOWS with the highest count of 400 coming
from Reed Bingham SP on 18 Oct. (WS). A CAVE
SWALLOW made a brief appearance in Richmond
Co. on 24 Oct. (AW, LS). Single RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES were reported from Union Co. on 18
Oct. (JFly), from the Carrollton area on 28 Oct. (ST)
and Whitfield Co. on 28 Oct. (AS). JMcN had an
impressive count of seven GRAY-CHEEKED
THRUSHES in the Athens area on 4 Oct.
WARBLERS – TT had a decent count of 16
TENNESSEE WARBLERS at the Eufaula NWR on 21
Oct. There were four separate reports of
NASHVILLE WARBLERS from 8 Oct. through 20 Oct.
(m.ob.). Peak counts of some other warblers
included 35 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS in the Athens
area on 11 Oct. (JMcN) and 25+ COMMON
YELLOWTHROATS at the Eufaula NWR on 21 Oct.
(TT).
SPARROWS THROUGH SISKINS – A CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW was a good find on Raccoon Key near
Jekyll Island on 9 Oct. (GA RBA). A rarely reported
IPSWICH SPARROW was seen on Jekyll Island on
25 Oct. (MMcS). Other rare sparrows included a
HENSLOW’S SPARROW in Houston Co. on 23 Oct.
(JFle), two GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS in Gordon
Co. on 20 Oct. (JSp), and a NELSON’S SPARROW at
Carter’s Lake on 30 Oct. (MMe). Other rare
sightings were a DICKCISSEL in Clarke Co. on 5
Oct. (B&KO), three YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS
at the AWMA on 11 Oct. (JSe, PS, CL), five
BALTIMORE ORIOLES in Tattnall Co. on 24 Oct.
(GW), and single PINE SISKINS in Clarke Co. on 9
Oct. (B&KO) and another also in Clarke Co. on 15
Oct. (RH).
CONTRIBUTORS –Alan Ashley, Steve Barlow,
Brandon Best, Ken Blankenship, Rachel Cass, Walt
Chambers, Sylvia Chandler, Stan Chapman, Mark
Davis, Phil Delestrez, Nathan Farnau, James
Fleullan, Jim Flynn, Mark Freeman, Hugh Garrett,
Richard Hall, Earl Horn, Tim Keyes, Gene Koziara,
Carol Lambert, Vanessa Lane, Ed Maioriello, Patty
McLean, Joel McNeal, Mark McShane, Max
Medley, Al Mercer, Kathy Miller, Darlene Moore,
Peggy and Terry Moore, Charlie Muise, James
Neves, Bill and Karla O’Grady, Chuck Saleeby,
Wayne Schaffner, Jeff Sewell, Chris Skelton, Steve
Slayton, Adam Smith, Joshua Spence, Lois
Stacey, Paul Sykes, Stan Tate, Ted Theus, Lydia
Thompson, Dan Vickers, Jarrod Ward, Anne Waters,
Gene Wilkinson, Bob and Deb Zaremba and Stacy
Zarpentine.
Terry Moore, 13000 Bucksport Ct., Roswell, GA
30075 – [email protected]
October Field Notes by Terry Moorez
October was a rather average
month for birding in GA. We
recorded most of the usual
species, but the numbers of
migrants seen during the month
were rather low. Only a few
sightings of good numbers of migrants were
reported.
For the month the Atlanta area had 147
species (average = 154.9) to bring the year-
to-date total to 241 (average = 241.8). The
Georgia area came in with 235 species
(average = 240.9) to bring that year-to-date
total to 324 (average = 327.4).
January 2010 5
Field Trips Compiled by Stan Chapman
Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted). We welcome
everyone from beginners to advanced birders! Please check the Atlanta Audubon
Website (www.atlantaaudubon.org) for January field trips
that may be scheduled.
Sketch by Anne McCallum
Sunday, Jan. 10, 8 AM
Constitution Lakes (DeKalb County)
Jay Davis and Joy Carter
Birding focus: Herons, ducks, hawks, geese
and kingfishers.
Directions: From Atlanta take I-20 to Exit
60A/Moreland Ave. south for approximately 5
mi. Turn left at the traffic light at South River
Industrial Blvd. (a Nalley Truck Parts sign on
corner). Turn at first right into gravel
entrance to Constitution Lakes (no sign at
entrance), go to the end of the drive to the
gravel parking lot. From I-285, south side of
loop, take Exit 53/Moreland Ave. Head north
on Moreland Ave. for 1.2 mi. Turn right on
South River Industrial Blvd. and follow
directions above.
Meet in the parking lot. There is a boardwalk
and observation deck built around the lakes.
Saturday, Jan. 23, 7:30 AM
Henry and Clayton Counties loop
including Newman Wetlands Center,
E. L. Huie Land Application Facility
(ELHLAF) and Nash Farm Battlefield
Lloyd Snyder
Birding focus: Sparrows, wetland and
woodland birds, wintering waterfowl.
Directions: From Atlanta, take I-75 S
beyond I-285 to Exit 235/US 19/41/Tara Blvd.
Drive south for 8.2 mi. to Freeman Rd. and
turn left. Newman Wetlands Center is 2.2 mi.
on the right where we will meet in the
parking lot to consolidate cars and decide on
the day’s itinerary based on Lloyd’s scouting
of the area. Birding into the afternoon hours
is planned, though many may wish to
participate for a shorter period of time.
The tentative plan is for the group to carpool
first to Nash Farm Battlefield, a Henry
County park excellent for sparrows (Field,
Savannah, Song, Swamp and Vesper with the
possibility of Leconte’s), as well as other
grassland birds and raptors. After birding the
area, the group will return to Newman that is
excellent for many wetlands and woodlands
birds and then go to the ELHLAF ponds, one
of the premier locations in the Atlanta area
for wintering waterfowl. A few of the birds to
be expected at ELHLAF include Gadwall,
Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Northern
Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Bufflehead Duck,
Hooded Merganser, American Coot, Northern
Pintail, both teal species, American Wigeon,
Pied-billed Grebe, Double-crested
Cormorant, Eastern Meadowlark, American
Pipit, Eastern Bluebirds, and Song and
Savannah Sparrows. (A Ross’s goose was
seen at this location during the AAS walk last
year.)
Saturday, Jan. 30, 8 AM
Charlie Elliott Wildlife Management
Area, Mansfield
Eddie Hatchett
Birding focus: Charlie Elliott Management
area includes fields, ponds and woodlands
and is one of the best places to find sparrows
(Field, Savannah, Song, Vesper and White-
throated). White-crowned Sparrows can
sometimes be found. It is also excellent for
the Northern Harrier and other raptors, as
well as Eastern Meadowlarks.
Directions: From Atlanta take I-20 east to
Exit 98/GA11, turn right and follow for 9.5 mi.
Turn left onto Marben Farm Road (spelled
“Marbin” in some locations) and follow the
sign to the visitors center, which is at the end
of Elliott Trail (right turn off of Marben Farm
Road). Meet in the parking lot.
If you are interested in leading a field trip and/or volunteering to help with the Field Trip Committee, have ideas of
where you would like to go and/or feedback about leaders or trips, please e-mail Stan Chapman, Field Trips
Coordinator, at [email protected].
Georgia Bird Atlas
The Breeding Bird Atlas was an eight-year (1994-2001) survey effort to map the distribution of all breeding bird species
found in the state. The data gathered can be used to track long-term changes in distribution as well as provide a baseline
for specific conservation efforts. Surveys were carried out by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff and
hundreds of volunteers and included all areas of the state from the highest mountain peaks to the coast. Many Atlanta
Audubon Society members participated in surveys, served as regional coordinators, and helped with project logistics, and
Atlanta Audubon Society also provided money to help finance the project.
Project results and other information about each of the 182 species recorded are included in a book, The Breeding Bird
Atlas of Georgia, published by The University of Georgia Press. The book includes introductory sections on the project
methodology and results, how the state’s physical environment and landscapes affect bird distribution, changes in bird
distribution since European colonization and avian conservation. The main body of the book contains species accounts,
which include text, a color photo of each bird, a color map of the species’ distribution, tables and graphs. Several AAS members contributed to the
book by providing photographs, writing species accounts or introductory sections, or by assisting with the book in other ways and two AAS members
were co-editors.
The book will be available for sale (about $45) from The University of Georgia Press in February and can be purchased at
http://www.ugapress.uga.edu/.
Todd Schneider with the Georgia DNR adds, “Atlanta Audubon was a major financial contributor to the Georgia Breeding Bird Atlas project in the
mid-1990s and many of its members including Giff Beaton, Jim Flynn, Lisa & Art Hurt, Terry Moore, Georgann Schmalz, Jim Wilson, Stacy
Zarpentine, and many others have helped with surveys, coordination, and served on committees and in other capacities.” Giff Beaton and Tim Keyes
are the co-editors.
EDI TED BY TODD M. SCHNEI DER, GI FF BEATON,
TI MOTHY S. KEYES, AND NATHAN A. KLAUS
FOREWORD BY PI ERRE HOWARD
6 Atlanta Audubon Society
Vol unt eer Corner • Vol unt eer Corner • Vol unt eer
Corner • Vol unteer Corner • Vol unteer Corner • Vol unteer
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.
Many thanks to Joy Carter, Marge Igyarto and Kit Robey for
handling our holiday banquet and auction. Joy and Kit planned the
event including lining up our location at the Five Seasons Brewing, and
Marge Igyarto organized this year’s auction. It was a tremendous amount of
work, and we are extremely grateful for all of their efforts.
Our educational workshops provide the members of our community with many exciting learning
opportunities. We want to thank Charlie Muise for conducting the Sparrow Workshop in
December and Wendy West for her dedication and hard work in again organizing this annual
workshop and field trip.
Thanks to everyone involved in this year’s Christmas Bird Count, especially Bob Zaremba. This
longest running citizen science survey provides invaluable data on the state of birds. We
appreciate everyone’s participation.
Driving by Freedom Park in Atlanta, Carol
Vanderschaaf thought how great it would be if there
were more vegetation that would attract wildlife.
Carol learned that there was neither a plan nor any
monies to create such a habitat, but Andrea Rimer, a
Freedom Park Conservancy member, suggested that
Carol develop a proposal for a native plant garden.
Carol contacted Georgann Schmalz, a Master
Gardener and a Master Birder, who referred her to
Phil Edwards, president of the DeKalb Master
Gardener Association at the time. Together they
obtained the approval of Freedom Park Conservancy,
the Freedom Park Improvement Committee and the
Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Affairs. A contract was signed with Park Pride and in
the spring of 2005 planting began on what is known
today as the Freedom Park Bird and Butterfly
Garden, a joint project of the Atlanta Audubon
Society and the DeKalb Master Gardener Association,
located at the corner of North Avenue and Candler
Park Drive in Atlanta.
The garden is not Carol’s first encounter with urban
birding. “I remember watching a Rock Pigeon
strutting on my grandmother’s roof in Passaic, New
Jersey. I was about 12 years of age and would make
up stories about the bird’s behavior.” Several years
later a friend took her to the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge
in Queens, New York. “That’s when I fell I love with
birds, entranced by their beautiful colors and
patterns.” Carol has birded off and on since she was
twenty, but probably more seriously for the last 10
years when she became a member of Gaggle. Carol
loves to bird anywhere there is water, including Clyde
Shepard Nature Preserve, Newman Wetlands Center,
E. L. Huie Land Application Facility,
Cochran Shoals Unit of the
Chattahoochee River National
Recreation Area, the Okefenokee
Wildlife Refuge and the
Georgia coast. She counts
the Belted Kingfisher,
Harlequin Ducks and all
hummingbirds among her
favorites.
A Licensed Clinical Social
Worker and resident of the
Lake Claire neighborhood in
Atlanta, Carol is retired,
having worked for many
years in the psychiatric
clinics at Grady Memorial
Hospital as well as Grady Neighborhood Clinic
and Fulton County Child Protective Services.
Now, as Coordinator for the garden, Carol recruits
volunteers, attends community meetings, schedules
work days, and does whatever needs to be done to
maintain the garden site. Increasing public
awareness is also a big part of the job. “I publicize
the garden by writing articles, maintaining a blog
(freedomparkgardenbirdandbutterfly.blogspot.com/)
and doing a quarterly e-mail update.” The garden,
with over 30 species of native plants, a bird bath and
an active bluebird box is also developing the next
generation of birders. “We’ve worked with several
student groups including the gifted classes at Mary
Lin Elementary School, Paideia School and Team
Buzz at Georgia Tech.”
Carol’s adventures in urban birding aren’t limited to
the Freedom Park Garden. In mid-November, she
went to Centennial Olympic Park to see the warblers.
“Most outstanding was the closest naked eye view of
a Blue-throated Warbler I’d ever had or hope to have
— and most exciting was the great view I got of the
Whip-poor-will someone spotted!
Carol Vanderschaaf
Photographer: Yamilet Penalba
Spotlighting... Carol Vanderschaaf
By Lynn Waldvogel
TIME
Well Spent
Acknowledging
by Barbara Tarpley
When Judy Watson with Copy
Preparation coined the phrase Time
Well Spent for the title of a column
in Wingbars wherein we
acknowledged the dedicated hours
of service by our volunteers, I
immediately liked her suggestion
and have found it to be absolutely
apropos for the Wingbars staff as we
have moved through the past two-
year cycle of publishing Atlanta
Audubon’s newsletter. Month in and
month out, I have depended on Mary
Ann Hindes and Steven Phenicie for
their expertise—in particular Mary
Ann’s grammar and wordsmith
prowess and Steven for his
journalistic know-how and eagle eye.
As many of you may already know,
Mary Ann is ending her stint as AAS
Wingbars Editor with the January
issue, and we are grateful for the
hours that she has spent in
producing a first-class publication.
Like all good volunteers, she has
many other organizations calling her
name, and she wants to continue
her travels. Additionally, Mary Ann is
a Master Birder, so I’m sure we’ll
continue to see her out in the field.
Steven is staying on board, and in
part we have his son to thank for
that. All of Wade’s extra curricular
activities will allow time for Steven to
squeeze in proofreading the
newsletter for us and entertaining us
with an occasional article.
I, too, will be stepping down as the
communications director. I want to
thank the AAS officers and board of
directors and all of our members
who have supported me in this
endeavor. My hat is off to Deb
Williams and Judy Watson at Copy
Preparation and to Jim Flynn, our
webmaster, for the backup they have
provided. Last but not least, I
especially want to acknowledge
Georgann Schmalz’s wonderful
training and her willingness to be a
ready “search engine” in my hour of
need.
Catharine Brockman Kuchar, AAS
Executive Director, is one of 40 individuals
nationwide selected as a 2009
TogetherGreen Fellow. The TogetherGreen
Fellowship offers specialized training in
conservation planning and execution, the
chance to work and share best practices
with gifted conservation professionals, and
assistance with project outreach and
evaluation. Each Fellow receives $10,000
towards a community-focused project to
engage local residents in conserving land,
water and energy, and contributing to
greater environmental health. Half of the
TogetherGreen Fellows come from within Audubon’s far-
reaching national network, and the others channel their
environmental efforts through other organizations.
A distinguished advisory committee composed of conservation
professionals and experts in environmental education,
communications, outreach and conservation planning selected
the fellowship beneficiaries from a competitive pool of highly
qualified individuals. Qualified applicants must have at least six
years of experience in conservation, environmental education,
policy or environmental issues, as demonstrated through
current and past work experience, academic studies related to
conservation, and/or volunteer work.
For her fellowship, Catharine will bring together her love of
nature with her love of art through “Restoration and
Reflections,” a program to encourage young people in
underserved communities to express themselves through
journaling or nature-inspired artwork. Activities will include
developing a curriculum on journaling/drawing for young
people, designing a nature journal, creating train-the-trainer
sessions for teachers, and conducting hands-on restoration
projects that connect their journaling work with habitat
restoration.
“Catharine is the kind of person who can make a real difference
in the health of our environment and the quality of our future,”
said National Audubon Society President John Flicker. “Each of
our TogetherGreen Fellows demonstrates exceptional
environmental understanding and commitment, combined with
tremendous potential to inspire and lead others. Together, they
represent the talented and diverse leadership the environmental
community will need to tackle the huge challenges and
opportunities confronting us now and in the years to come.”
Catharine has been affiliated with Atlanta Audubon Society
since 2006, and she shared these thoughts about her
achievement. “My love of nature is the foundation for making a
difference for the natural world and making conservation a
central focus of my work. The TogetherGreen fellowship
program is an amazing opportunity to make an impact on others
and to develop my own sense of stewardship. One big obstacle
we have today is getting more young people out from behind
their computers and into nature. You have to get out into nature
to appreciate it. I am grateful to have the opportunity to conduct
a conservation project that connects children to the
environment through art, especially for those with limited
opportunities to indulge in the joys of nature.”
More information on the TogetherGreen Fellows can be found
at: http://www.togethergreen.org/default.aspx.
AAS’s Executive Director, Catharine Brockman
Kuchar, Receives TogetherGreen Fellowship
January 2010 7
February Workshop:
Learning Hawk Identification
with Georgann Schmalz
Frustrated by hawk silhouettes floating in the sky above you? Puzzled by a mere glimpse of a raptor
speeding by? Confused by which field marks to look for on that perched bird of prey? Georgann will teach
you the basics of raptor identification plus behaviors, habitats, and enough general information that will
make hawk identification a “no brainer.”
Georgann received a master’s degree in ornithology, taught for Fernbank Science Center for 29 years, is
three-time past president of AAS, and brings a lot of information and entertainment with her wherever she
goes. A class with her is always a phenomenal learning experience—ask anyone who knows her.
Date: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Location: Atlanta Audubon Society Education Center at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve
4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta
Workshop charge: Friends of Atlanta Audubon $40; Non-members $45. You may pay by credit card or
send your check to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. Your payment confirms your reservation.
Class size is limited and registration is required. To register or for more information contact Emily Toriani-Moura
at 678.973.2437 or [email protected].
Tosohatchee Wildlife
Management Area, a very
“birdie” area and historically
home to the Timucuan Indians for
several centuries
Photographer: DeeAnn Kiesel
Catharine Kuchar using time
wisely in West Virginia
Photographer: John Brockman
8 Atlanta Audubon Society
Critters that date back
350 million years lay
their eggs on our
Georgia coast. Let’s go
watch them. Then let’s
watch as large flocks
of migrating shorebirds
feast on the eggs that
provide fuel for their
northward journey.
The annual laying of
the horseshoe crab eggs creates a spectacular birding
opportunity to observe hundreds of migrating shorebirds such
as Red Knots, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed
Dowitchers, Marbled Godwits, Ruddy Turnstones, etc., and
wading birds up close and in breeding plumage.
The two-part workshop will have a class session taught by
Georgann Schmalz, AAS’s resident ornithologist, on Sunday,
March 14, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the AAS education center and
coastal weekend field trips, led by Brad Winn and Tim Keyes,
wildlife biologists with the Georgia Department of Natural
Resources, and Lydia Thompson, a coastal naturalist. There
will be full days of birding on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday,
May 16. The weekend will include a boat trip to St. Catherines
Sound (weather permitting) and field trips to the hot spots on
Jekyll Island and Harris Neck Wildlife Refuge.
How can you take part? Sign up for the AAS 2010 Shorebird
Workshop. Workshop charge (excluding food and lodging):
Friends of Atlanta Audubon $145; NAS-assigned members $170;
Non-members $195. You may pay by credit card or send your
check to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. Your payment
confirms your reservation.
Class size is limited to 15
and registration is
required. To register or for
more information contact
Lisa Hurt at 770.934.7660 or
[email protected].
Shorebird Workshop 2010
Awesome Experience in Shorebirding
Photographer: Clay George
As those of you who know Marcia Klenbort can attest, her
passions are birds and children—and
not necessarily in that order. Marcia
always has some interesting story to
share about our younger generation
though her involvement with AAS’s
Learning About Birds program, and I
think she will agree that this inspiring
story about a fledgling birder is
worthwhile.
This summer Ellen Herbert with
Woodlands Garden was at the beach
when the featured photograph of her
seven year old granddaughter, Mya, birdwatching was snapped
by her grandfather. (You’ll have to look closely to see the
wading bird in the background.) Since Woodlands Garden is an
AAS Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary, Ellen figured we would like
to hear her bird story.
This youngster, who wants to be an ornithologist or zoologist
when she grows up, is an example of the resources Atlanta
Audubon continues to tap. She explores her world and delights
in the thrill of knowing the name of each bird that she
observes. She avidly researches new birds she spots and
explains, “When I see a bird I don’t know, I look at the bird very
closely and look for the one that’s most like it in my bird guide.
Then I remember it.” She does most of her bird watching from
the family’s kitchen window, and her bird guide is The Young
Birders Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by Bill
Thompson, III - a Peterson’s field guide.
Mya shares Marcia’s passion for birds and nature. She is
keeping a nature journal and created her own book of birds
entitled “Mya’s Bird Book” that she started a few years ago
when she was cutting pictures of birds from magazines. Since
then she has begun adding more of her own birds and confides,
“I like to draw birds a lot. I especially like to draw Robin red
breasts and Cardinals.” She says that her favorite birds are
hummingbirds and that she really would like to see a Painted
Bunting some day. She’ll be thrilled to learn that they are closer
to her than Texas. She only has to travel to the Georgia coast
for great sightings.
She also uses birds as inspiration for her stories and poetry. In
addition to writing two stories about a character named Mr.
Cardinal and the Twelve Birds of Christmas, she wrote the
following Robin Haiku for home school last year after reading a
library book called The Cuckoo’s Haiku written by Michael J.
Rosen and illustrated by Stan Fellows.
Dark red breast robin
Mother sitting in the nest
Bright blue eggs hatching
Her mom tells her favorite birding story that occurred last
spring. She and Mya were looking out the window at the birds
under their feeder when Mya remarked, “Those Dark-eyed
Juncos are going to be migrating soon. I'm gonna miss those
little guys.”
There’s no better hope for our future than this little girl with
her passion for nature and a dedicated mother and
grandmother who, like Marcia, are helping her learn about
birds.
Through the Eyes of a Child
By Barbara Tarpley
Young Birder
Photographer: Rick Neale
Marbled Godwits
Photographer: Clay Geroge
January 2010 9
Q: What species
recently dethroned
the Arctic Tern as
the bird with the
longest migration?
Answer: Sooty
Shearwater
See page ___ for the answer
The tiny Elf Owl of the
southwestern United
States and northern and
central Mexico is just
over five in. (12.7 cm.) in
length with a maximum
weight of 1.75 oz. (49.6
gms.).
Bird Artistry by Beth Giddens
2010 Warbler
Weekend Workshop
Atlanta Audubon Society is again pleased to announce the 2010 Warbler Weekend
Workshop. This will be a two-part workshop consisting of a comprehensive class
session and a weekend field trip.
The 2-1/2 hour class session will be conducted by our warbler authority, Giff Beaton,
at the AAS Education Center at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve from 3:00 PM to 5:30
PM,in late March (the date is to be determined). The weekend field trip will be led by
Theresa Hartz and Leslie Curran on May 22 and 23 in the north Georgia mountains
where it’s possible to find 20 plus species of warblers, many of which will be singing
on their breeding grounds.
Workshop charge (excluding food and lodging): Friends of Atlanta Audubon $135;
NAS-assigned members $160; Non-members $185. You may pay by credit card
or send your check to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. Your payment
confirms your reservation.
The workshop will be limited to 12 participants. To register or for more
information contact Theresa Hartz at [email protected], phone 706.579.3350
or cell 678.936.0785.
Woody Hickcox’s Postcard Paintings
By Beth Giddens
Woody Hickcox came to the art of
painting birds indirectly. In 2000 when his
father-in-law was in hospice care in
Louisiana, Woody began painting birds on
postcards, which he and his wife sent as a
pleasant and simple way to stay in touch.
An outdoorsman who had always liked
birds, his father-in-law enjoyed the
postcards and displayed them in his room.
Later in the year when Woody was
vacationing in a family cottage in Vermont
and had more time to spend, he sent
several postcards a week, receiving
gratitude in return.
“The process of painting birds gives me
great enjoyment,” says Woody. “Then you
share the paintings and other people enjoy
them too. Painting birds also helps you
learn about them, which is fun.” This
sharing has led to an engaging pastime for
Woody and a boon to many friends; he
frequently gives away high-quality prints of
his paintings, just for someone to keep,
just to enjoy. Often postcard size, the
paintings capture species via a
representational style, on a limb, in a nest,
looking at the viewer.
His largesse has led to some renown:
Woody won the 2008 Atlanta Audubon T-
shirt Contest with a painting of a Scarlet
Tanager in front of an Atlanta skyline. The
design fits AAS perfectly: local artist, local
scene, and a striking but not unusual
migratory species. In fact, Woody got the
idea for his winning entry on a bird walk
at Fernbank Science Center. The group
saw a male tanager, and its red color got
Woody thinking about how the bird would
look on a t-shirt. Like the nineteenth-
century American painter Winslow Homer,
whom he admires, Woody likes a bit of red
in a painting. Another showcase of his
work may be found on the top floor of the
Math and Science Building at Emory
University, where he teaches in the
environmental studies program. The walls
and restrooms display murals of birds and
other animals, all of Woody’s design and
execution. The nameplates on most of his
colleagues’ office doors are adorned with
personality-appropriate bird paintings as
well.
Over the years Woody has taken a couple
of classes in watercolor technique, but for
the most part he has refined his art by
regular practice. Currently, he paints only
on Tuesday evenings with a group of
friends, including other AAS members, at
the North Decatur Presbyterian Church.
He works from a photo and often begins
with a pencil outline to establish
proportions. The first thing he paints is the
eye and it’s white reflective spot, which
gives the image life. Working quickly, he
spends about 45 minutes on a painting, he
says, so that if he makes a mistake he’s not
too invested. He just starts over. In an
evening, Woody typically paints three or
four birds—a Wood Duck’s head, a White-
breasted Nuthatch on a trunk, a Red-
headed Woodpecker at work, a Carolina
Wren in profile. For the fun of it.
T-shirts featuring Woody’s Scarlet Tanager
are still available. Call the AAS office at
678.973.2437 to purchase one.
Bay-breasted Warbler
Photographer: Woody Hickox
10 Atlanta Audubon Society
CLASSIFIEDS
Rates for 2.5” x 2.5” ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent with the conservation and birding mission
of Atlanta Audubon Society. Ads may be accepted via e-mail, preferably in .pdf format. Call 678.973.2437 if you have questions.
Send payment to Wingbars Ads, Atlanta Audubon Society, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Send ads via e-mail to Catharine Kuchar at [email protected].
Bird Songs of Georgia
CD now available.
Email Georgann Schmalz at
[email protected]
or visit www.birdingadventuresinc.com
Crossrock Cabin Rentals
Phone: 1-877-376-5032
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cabinsinblueridgega.com
Blue Ridge, Georgia
North
Georgia
Premier
Vacation
Rentals
Perfect for birding in the mountains...90 minutes from Atlanta
When You Come
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Ask about the new Birder’s Guide to Fannin County!
We feature Cole’s seed,
squirrel-proof feeders
that truly are, houses,
hummingbird stuff,
great books, Audubon
optics, & hard to find
hardware. Plus – 100’s
of Ravensburger Puzzles,
Music of the Spheres
Chimes & a huge
selection of educational
toys and
games for kids!
Downtown Blue Ridge & Inside Mercier Orchards
611 E. Main St. • Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 258-BIRD (2473) • blueridgebirdseed.com
P.O. Box 921455, Norcross, GA 30010
Website: www.workshopcreations.com
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel: 770-448-5363 Fax: 770-448-5363
Affordable Housing
and Feeders for
Birds, Bats and
Butterflies
Workshop Creations, Inc.
Basic, functional and long-lasting
cedar products
Order on our website:
water quality. Lichens of the southeastern United States are not very well known, and lichenologists are still finding
new species in Georgia. There are approximately 1,500 species in the state with the possibility of many unknown
species.
How many lichens can you identify? With lichens, you never know when you might find a new species. For those
interested in diving further into identification and exploring Kennesaw Mountain, Malcolm and Sean will have a
workshop on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you and expanding our
knowledge.
Workshop charge: Friends of Atlanta Audubon $30; Non-members $35. You may pay by credit card or send your check
to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. Your payment confirms your reservation.
Class size is limited to 15 participants and registration is required. To register for the workshop only contact Emily
Toriani-Moura at 678.973.2437 or [email protected] .
SPEAKER SERIES (continued from page 1)
DON’T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN AAS
Membership in Atlanta Audubon Society runs from January through December. If you haven’t renewed your membership for 2010, be
sure to do so today! Your membershp support is critical to our work in the community.
You can pay by credit card or send your check to 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. For more information, please visit our website
at www.atlantaaudubon.org.
January 2010 11
Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Society members receive an
introductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.
Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon Society. Thus,
you will not receive Audubon magazine.
If you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org.
Join Atlanta Audubon Society
BENEFITS
OF
MEMBERSHIP
11 issues
(July/August
combined) of
Wingbars
Newsletter
Friends discounts
on classes, trips
and special events
Use of the AAS
library
A great tax
deduction!
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Atlanta Audubon Society
Membership Director
4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342
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J Basic Membership
J Individual ...........................................$25
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J Student ..............................................$15
J Contributing Membership...............................$50
J Supporting Membership...............................$100
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Receive an official Atlanta Audubon T-shirt
J Benefactor Membership............................$1,000
Receive above plus autographed copy
Birds of Atlanta
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It is Atlanta Audubon Society’s policy not to share or sell our mailing list. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us.
Renew Online!
You can renew your membership
online by visiting our website at
www.atlantaaudubon.org and
linking to the membership page.
We are excited to be able to offer
this service to you!
Great Backyard Bird Count
February 12 to 15
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website,
“Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by
knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are
dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single
scientist or team of scientists could hope to
document the complex distribution and movements
of so many species in such a short time.”
So, they need our help in making sure the birds from
Metro Atlanta and all of Georgia are well
represented in the count. It isn’t important how many
birds you see or where, but that you participate in
this important joint project.
1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days from Feb. 12 to 15.
2. Count the greatest number of each species that you see at any one time.
3. Enter your results at www. gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/input.
Go to Cornell’s Ornithology website for information, checklists and forms www.birdsource.org/gbbc/. Even the
youngsters can join in the Great Backyard Bird Count for Kids. Check it out at www.birdsource.org/gbbc/kids.
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ATLANTA
AUDUBON SOCIETY
4055 Roswell Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
678.973.2437
Office located
in Buckhead at the
Blue Heron Nature Preserve
285
75
85
400
West Paces Ferry
Blue
Heron
Nature
Preserve
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Atlanta Audubon Society is an independent, non-profit
501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax deductible to
the fullest extent allowed by law.
SOUTHERN BIRDING TRAILS
By Kenn Kaufman
A complete list of the trails can be found in Audubon Magazine published by National Audubon Society.
Linking the high points of the peninsula and the Florida
Panhandle, the Great Florida Birding Trail lives up to
its name with sheer magnitude—stretching some
2,000 miles and including almost 500 sites. With
the quality of the birding it offers be prepared
to see huge concentrations of Florida’s most
famous water birds, including flocks of
wintering teal, pintails and other ducks in the
marshes of the Panhandle, teeming colonies of
Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies on the Dry
Tortugas, and noisy treetop nesting groups of
Wood Storks at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary.
If you’re lucky, you might catch specialties like the elegant
White-crowned Pigeon, the elusive buffy-toned Mangrove
Cuckoo and the Black-whiskered Vireo—all birds of
Caribbean or tropical affinity. Droll Burrowing
Owls blink beside their burrows, and graceful
Swallow-tailed Kites swoop and circle above the
cypress stands.
This trail’s biggest star by far, the Florida Scrub-
Jay, is a striking blue bird found nowhere else in
the world. These jays have a reputation for being
practically fearless of humans, so your odds of
seeing at least one—if not a constellation’s worth—
are quite good. For more information visit
www.floridabirdingtrail.com or call the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850.488.8755.
Great Florida Birding Trail
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Volunteers Invited
Are you savvy about social networking?
Do you like networking with the community?
Do you like event planning?
Your time and talent are valuable to us Dedicate as
little as two hours a month or more.
The Publicity Committee is seeking volunteers to help
publicize events and network with the community about AAS events.
For more information, please contact JoAnn Jordan at [email protected].