Volume 33, Issue 3

March/April 2006 TheThe ThrasherThrasher

Richmond Audubon Society

RAS Meetings in March Survival). MAPS is a long-term, nation- ble for the cost.) Because enough food wide study to learn what affects birds' must be available for the number of and April 2006 breeding success and longevity. We attendees, reservations will not be The meetings will be held at St. Luke think Richmond Audubon's eight-year accepted after the evening before Lutheran Church, beginning at 7:00 participation in this study is citizen sci- the day of the meeting. p.m. on the third Thursday of each ence at it's best. Come learn what a Food for the pre-meeting dinners month. The church is located at the hardy group of RAS volunteers do - is provided by some of the attendees intersection of Chippenham Parkway very, very early in the morning on hot by pre-arrangement. You don’t have to and Custis Road in South Richmond. summer days - and why it's worth get- bring any food, but you are welcome The intersection is at a traffic light just ting up at 3:30 a.m. to examine birds! to share one of your favorite dishes east of the Huguenot Rd. exit. See how the overall MAPS study can with our group. It will help spread out Program for March 16: In response help professionals manage bird habi- the work required. Keep all your to requests by many of our members, tat, and help all of us understand receipts for any food you bring. The the program in March will be a panel trends in bird populations. way it works is this: those who bring discussion on backyard birding. Panel Dessert will be available after the food are reimbursed for their expenses members will include John Coe, Sue meetings. if they provide receipts (bring them to Ridd, and Jim Strawn, as well as rep- The Pre-meeting dinner for each the meeting), and those who partake resentatives from Wild Birds Unlimited meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. There pay the $5.00 fee whether or not they and Southern States, who will also is a nominal fee of $5.00. Call or email bring food. We don’t try to make a have informative displays available on me by the day before the meeting profit on the dinners. Call or email by site. After the discussion of several if you plan to be there for the dinner. the Sunday before the Thursday interesting topics, there will be a 743-1479 / [email protected]. meeting to let me know what you question and answer period. Note for those who want to come plan to provide. This allows time to Program for April 20: RAS member but are unsure you can make it: coordinate the dinner. Bon Appetit! Mary Arginteanu will present a pro- get your name on the list. Too much gram on one of our continuing conser- food is better than not enough! (If you Linda Warfield vation projects, referred to as MAPS can’t make it, you will not be responsi- Hospitality Chair (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Note: The next Thrasher you will receive will be the May / June issue. See the notices on Page 7

Bird Sightings While Paddling the James River In this issue:

President’s Message: March/April 2006 - Ellen Ackerman 2 The Varina Lions Club will hold its 14th annual Canoe-a- Learn to Conduct Bird Surveys for VA-IBAs - Aimee Weldon 2 Thon fund raiser on Sunday morning, May 14, from Proposed Removal of Bald Eagle from Endangered Species List 3 Osborne Boat Landing down river (with the tides), loop- Annual Meeting and Nominating Committee Report 3 ing around the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge for a RAS Field Trips: March - April 2006 4 take-out at Shirley Plantation. Boaters (canoers and Birdathon 2006 5 kayakers) will be paddling one of the most historic and From the Kitchen Window, March/April 2006 - John Coe 6 beautiful stretches of the James, and bird sightings, Images from a Workshop on Pacific Northwest Seabirds 6 especially birds of prey, can be numerous. At Shirley, RAS Board Members (2005-6) and Important Notices 7 adjacent to the mansion, we’ll enjoy a great barbeque The Best of Flyways and Byways - New Book by Jerry Uhlman 7 lunch and take in the magnificent vista. Proceeds from Thrasher Ad Page 7 this event will benefit the blind and hearing impaired. Welcome to New Members of RAS - Nelda Snyder 8 For details please contact RAS member Buz Snyder at Audubon Membership Form 8 804-795-1446 or at [email protected]. Page 2 The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 President’s Message: March/April 2006 What do the Polar Bear and the Bald Eagle have in does not look good so far. Efforts to impose a moratorium common other than both having white heads? Both are in on the landing of horseshoe crabs whose numbers are the news because they are being affected by habitat declining in the Chesapeake Bay and which provide food changes. Current discussion revolves around removing the for Red Knots failed in committee. There was simply not Bald Eagle from the endangered list and putting the Polar enough support for the position of the conservationists. Bear on that list. The Polar Bears are being threatened Virginia has signed on to provide funding for cleanup of the because the warming of the Arctic ocean has reduced the Chesapeake Bay but a commitment to continued funding is availability of the ice floes upon which they live. The conti- needed. Let your representatives know that you support nuity of floes constitute their hunting ground and the long-term funding for restoring the health of the Bay. warming water is creating open water between floes. The Our challenge is to continue to inform our lawmakers bears are starving. The plight of the Polar Bear may be a that conservation efforts are important. As individuals we boon for conservation efforts. The image of the cuddly must write, email, phone, fax our lawmakers at both the Polar Bear catches the imagination and sympathy of peo- state and national level and state our position on conserva- ple. tion issues. Then we must turn around and do it again, and For years the Bald Eagle was the symbol of the conser- again, and again. As organizations we must develop coher- vation movement as these birds faced extermination due to ent positions on conservation issues and encourage our the effects of DDT on their egg shells, resulting in ever- members to become active in the political arena. We decreasing hatches. Now, with the eagle population increase our effectiveness by working with established restored throughout its range, it is again under attack, this groups such as the Virginia Conservation Network and the time from people competing for the eagle’s habitat. The National Audubon Society but nothing is more important Bald Eagle’s nesting sites are often on prime wooded than individual communications with lawmakers. For those waterfront property - the same place that people want to who have been writing, phoning, emailing - thank you. For live. If the Bald Eagle is removed from the endangered list those who have yet to become involved - start now. there will be no protection for those sites, possibly leading Remember, once our natural resources are gone, they are to prolonged litigation, and may well demonstrate once gone forever. They simply don’t come back as they were. again how the loss of habitat is a major contributor to the To stay on top of conservation issues subscribe to the decline of a species. emailed Audubon Advisory at [email protected]. Please tell your Senator and Representative that you do not support efforts to gut the Endangered Species act. Ellen Ackerman The score card for conservation legislation in Virginia Learn How To Conduct Standardized Bird Surveys For The Virginia Important Bird Areas Program The Virginia Important Bird Areas Virginia IBA Program. After just one beautiful locations in northeastern and (IBA) Program is offering two spring certification workshop, you can contin- southwestern Virginia: training workshops for volunteers to ue to contribute valuable information April 22 (Earth Day!), 10am – 2pm: learn how to conduct point counts (a to the IBA Program for a lifetime. The Manassas National Battlefield Park, a standardized bird survey technique) on data you provide will be used to assess recognized IBA. potential or recognized IBAs in which areas should become IBAs, May 5 (1st day of VSO annual meet- Virginia. This simple survey technique determine which populations are in the ing), 11am – 3pm: Breaks Interstate allows us to estimate abundance of most trouble, pinpoint where we Park, a potential IBA. bird populations as well as species should direct our conservation efforts, We already have, and will continue to diversity. Understanding changes in and track the impact (positive or nega- have, many opportunities for certified bird abundance over time is very tive) of our conservation activities on volunteers to contribute to the IBA important as it allows us to track the bird populations. Program with their new skills. health of bird populations and then At each workshop participants will Registration is limited to 20, so sign up target conservation efforts where they learn: A) The value of point counts now to ensure yourself a spot! Lunch will have the greatest impact. and how we use the information to will be provided at each workshop for There is currently a great need to track bird population trends. B) How to a small fee of $12/person. acquire abundance information in use GPS units to determine and then Contact Aimee Weldon many areas that are, or have the locate survey points. C) How to con- ([email protected] or 804-752- potential to become, IBAs. You can duct point counts and then practice 5850) to register or for more informa- help with this important effort by these new skills in the field tion. becoming Point Count Certified for the The workshops will be held in two The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 Page 3

Proposed Removal of the Bald protection to the Bald Eagle, if delist- Service, Headquarters Office, 4401 N. Eagle in the Lower 48 States From ing under the ESA is found to be war- Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, the List of Endangered and ranted. To help clarify the BGEPA pro- Virginia 22203. Attn: RIN 1018–AF21. Threatened Wildlife tections provided to the Bald Eagle, Hand Delivery/Courier: Same This Thrasher article is for your infor- the Service is also soliciting public address as above. E-mail: baldea- mation and takes no position on this comments on two related draft Bald [email protected]. Include ‘‘RIN issue, but please read and decide. Eagle documents under the BGEPA 1018-AF21’’ in the subject line of the In 50 CFR Part 17, RIN 1018–AF21, that are being published simultaneous- message. Federal eRulemaking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ly with this proposed delisting rule. Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. (Service), announced the reopening of First, notice of availability and request Follow the instructions for submitting the public comment period for the pro- for public comments on draft National comments. Instructions: All submis- posal to remove the Bald Eagle from Bald Eagle Management Guidelines sions received must include the agency the List of Endangered and Threatened (Guidelines) are being published. The name and Regulatory Identification Wildlife in the lower 48 States, under Guidelines provide guidance on how to Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. the Endangered Species Act of 1973 comply with the requirements of the In Summary of Comments on the July (ESA), as amended. The proposed BGEPA by avoiding disturbance to Bald 6, 1999, Proposed Delisting Rule, 17 delisting rule for the bald eagle was Eagles under different land use scenar- issues were identified in the com- published on July 6, 1999 ios. Second, a proposed rule is being ment period after the original notice of (64 FR 36454). published to add the definition of ‘‘dis- the proposed delisting, and these The document states that “the best turb’’ to regulations at 50 CFR 22.3, issues were given responses by available scientific and commer- which implement the BGEPA. These the Fish & Wildlife Service in the cial data available indicates that two documents are published sepa- full document. the bald eagle has recovered.The rately in this part of the Federal Another important section is bald eagle population in the lower 48 Register and include additional infor- Summary of Factors Affecting the States has increased from approxi- mation about submitting comments on Species. It is important to read these mately 487 active nests in 1963, to an them.” sections of the CFR article before estimated minimum 7,066 breeding Comments must be received by arriving at conclusions. By compar- pairs today. This rule will not affect May 17, 2006 in order to ensure ing the NAS position with the state- protection provided to the species their consideration. You may submit ments made by Fish & Wildlife you under the Bald and Golden Eagle comments and other information, iden- should be able to decide whether you Protection Act (BGEPA) or the tified by RIN 1018–AF21, by any of the want to make comments. You can find Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). In following methods: Mail: Michelle the documents yourself, or send an addition, the Bald and Golden Eagle Morgan, Chief, Branch of Recovery and email to [email protected] and Protection Act will continue to provide Delisting, Endangered Species the articles will be emailed to you as Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife attachments. Annual Meeting, and Nominating Committee Report The general membership meeting in April is our Annual Meeting, when we elect our officers and committee chairs for the next fiscal year which starts in May. The nominating committee is pleased to present the following nominees for RAS officers and committee chairs. Although there are individual nominees listed for all the positions, additional nominations Position Name Start Date Present Term Status can be made from the President Ellen Ackerman Apr-05 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing floor during the Annual 1st VP Al Warfield Apr-05 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing Meeting, and there is 2nd VP Pam Dummitt Apr-04 Apr-04 - Apr-06 Re-nominated for 2nd term plenty of opportunity to Secretary Donna Brodd Apr-03 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing serve on a committee or Treasurer Sue Ridd Apr-05 Apr-05 - Apr-06 Nominated for 1st full term two. Just let any of the Past President Margaret O’Bryan Apr-05 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing Conservation John Roberts Apr-06 Nominated as Chair board members know if Legislation Nancy Ambler Apr-06 Nominated as Chair you want to serve on a Programs Sandy Wynne Apr-05 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing committee. Development Bob Wynne Apr-03 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing Field Trips Julie Kacmarcik Apr-03 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Nominated as Chair The Nominating Education John Coe Apr-03 Apr-05 - Apr-07 Continuing Committee: Cyberspace Robin Ruth Apr-01 Apr-04 - Apr-06 Continuing Margaret O’Bryan (Chair) Hospitality Linda Warfield Apr-03 Apr-04 - Apr-06 Re-nominated for 2nd term Caroline Coe Membership Lori Rutledge Apr-06 Nominated as Chair Nelda Snyder Publicity Greg Moser Apr-04 Apr-04 - Apr-06 Re-nominated for 2nd term Al Warfield Thrasher Ed. Al Warfield Apr-01 Apr-03 - Apr-05 Continuing Youth Mary Arginteanu Apr-06 Nominated as Chair Page 4 The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 Field Trips: March - April 2006 Saturday, March 4, 2006 – Dutch Call Julie at 530-3660 or Caroline at (see a Blue & White Vulcan Materials Gap Conservation Area, 276-1397. sign on the right). Turn right onto Chesterfield County: Meet Betsy Saturday, March 25, 2006 – Johnson's Road. Follow the road until Saunders at 7:30 a.m. for a favorite Pocohantas State Park, you see the stone gate entrance. Park RAS bird walk into Dutch Gap. We’ll be Chesterfield County: Join Wendy near the scale house. Meet at 8 a.m. looking for winter birds, resident Ealding for a walk and let’s look for Target bird: Rock pigeon. Questions: species, and birds on the move early some early spring migrants. Meet Call Julie @ 530-3660. for spring. And we’re always on the Wendy in the park at the CCC Museum Wednesday, April 12, 2006 – 2nd look-out for the unusual sighting. Call (Old Nature Center) at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday Walk with John Coe: A Betsy at 272-0605 for more informa- Wendy has a great ear and will be able Starbucks start to a morning of birds. tion. to home in on those new spring Trip will meet at the Starbucks on the Sunday, March 5, 2006 – Bryan arrivals. For more info contact Wendy south side of the Huguenot Bridge at 8 Park with Sue Ridd: Sunday morn- at [email protected]. a.m. and then proceed to Bandy Field ing walk at Bryan Park with Sue Ridd. Saturday, March 25, 2006 – Lewis and the University of Richmond to Sunrise is at 6:37 a.m. Meet Sue ½ Ginter Botanical Gardens: Join Faye check out the birds. Call John at 276- hour after sunrise at picnic shelter #1. Taylor-Hyder for a winter bird walk in 1397 for details and to sign up. Questions, call Sue at 270-5365. the gardens. Meet at the main Friday through Sunday, April 21- Wednesday, March 8, 2006 – 2nd entrance. A $6 admission fee is 23, 2006 – Weekend at False Cape Wednesday Walk with John Coe: A payable at the end of the trip; LGBG State Park: Wash Woods EEC Lodge new location for a 2nd Wednesday members are free. Please sign up by and Back Bay NWR: Weekend of bird- Walk, we will explore Robious Landing calling Faye at 745-5026. ing and eco-study at the Wash Woods Park on the James River near James Fridays starting March 31 through Environmental Educational Center, River High School in Chesterfield May 12, 2006 – The Wetlands False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach. County. Call John at 276-1397 for before Work (WBW): Join Mary The bus into the park will leave Little details and to sign up. Aginteanu and Larry Robinson at the Island Parking Area, Sandbridge, at 3 Sunday, March 12, 2006 – Curles Wetlands entrance on Landria Drive at p.m. on Friday and return at 1 p.m. on Neck Farm, Henrico County: An 7 a.m. Track spring arrivals before hit- Sunday. Please note that the emphasis RAS favorite birding destination in any ting the rock pile. For more informa- for this trip will be educational and season. Meet at the entrance to the tion, contact Mary at 320-0138. somewhat structured. To reserve the Wash Woods EEC lodge, a weekend farm at 6:30 a.m. and we’ll scan the Sunday, April 2, 2006 – Daylight "lesson plan" was required. Our chance fields, check the ponds, and look in savings time begins. Spring for- to study the birds and ecosystems of the wetlands and forests for birds of ward an hour. all descriptions. Call John at 276-1397 the park will begin Friday evening with Sunday, April 2, 2006 – Bryan for details and to sign up. a Naturalist/Ranger-led discussion, Park with Sue Ridd: Spring into continue with birding and observation Friday, March 17, 2006 – Daylight Savings for Sue's monthly sur- on Saturday, and conclude with a Presquile NWR Volunteer Day: vey of the park. Meet at picnic shelter Naturalist/Ranger-led hike on Sunday Presquile is RAS’s adopted National #1 @ 7:24 a.m. EDT. Questions?, call morning. Group size is limited to 20. Wildlife Refuge and we’re always Sue at 270-5365. No children or pets, please. No smok- pleased to help. So join Cyrus Brame Saturday, April 8, 2006 – Vulcan ing. Cost $55.00 per person for all fees on the island and assist him in a num- Materials, Royal Stone Quarry, to include: two nights stay at the ber of activities. Bring a lunch and Goochland County: Tour a Certified lodge, Naturalist hike and talks, bus water. For more details, call Cyrus at Wildlife Habitat and observe wildlife transportation from Little Island park 829-9020. co-existing with industry as RAS makes and some sundries. BYOB/F. For fur- Sunday, March 19, 2006 – it's 2nd annual trip out to Vulcan ther information and a copy of the Harrison Lake Paddle, Charles City Materials in Goochland County. Sue weekend events: Call or e-mail trip County: Sunset Paddle at Harrison Dudley will be our guide. We had a coordinator Brian Townsend: Lake with Julie Kacmarcik-BYOB (bring huge turn out last year and were treat- [email protected], office phone: your own boat) and meet at the put-in ed to a slide show, goodies and a very 746-5245. at 4 p.m. Wear PFD-bring water, interesting tour. Come see their Ravens Sunday, April 30, 2006 – The snacks and dress for the weather. For and what strides they have made in Great Dismal Swamp, Suffolk, more info contact Julie at 530-3660. establishing their habitat. Directions: Virginia: Meet Darrell Peterson at Monday, March 20, 2006 – The Take I-64 west to the Rockville- 5:30 a.m. at the parking lot at first day of spring!! Rejoice and con- Manakin exit (Exit 173), turn right and sider volunteering to lead a field trip. drive approximately 2 - 2 1/2 miles Continued on next page The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 Page 5

Bermuda Square in Chester at Route big numbers of neo-tropical migrants Festival: May 19-21 301 and Route 10 for our annual pil- as she does her monthly inventory of http://www.mountainlakebirding.com/r grimage to the Great Dismal Swamp. the park. Meet at Shelter #1 @ 6:38 egistration.html The target bird is the Swainson's a.m. Questions, call Sue at 270-5365. Piney Grove Preserve with Clark Warbler. Be prepared for lots of walk- Wednesday, May 10, 2006 – 2nd White for Red-cockaded ing, mosquitoes and ubiquitous bird Wednesday Walk with John Coe: Woodpeckers: Date TBD. song. No facilities; bring water, snacks, Springtime birding at 42nd Street Remember that field trips are subject and bug spray. Contact Darrell at entrance of the James River Park. The to change occasionally. Check the RAS [email protected] if you have any walk will start at 7 a.m. to catch the listserve and/or website, or call the trip questions. spring migrants. Call John at 276-1397 leader before you head out the door. All of May – RAS Birdathon 2006: for details and to sign up. Note: all phone numbers in area code Start, join or sponsor a team to sup- Looking ahead: 804 unless indicated. port local conservation efforts. See article page 5 (below). Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens: Julie Kacmarcik May 27 with Tyler Turpin. Sunday, May 7, 2006 – Bryan Park Caroline Coe with Sue Ridd: Meet Sue to rack up 2nd annual Mountain Lake Birding

Richmond Audubon Society Birdathon 2006 P.O. Box 26648 Richmond VA 23261

Spring will soon “spring forth” and with it the grand migration north of many of our favorite, colorful songbirds. We Auduboners celebrate spring and migration with our annual Birdathon. A Birdathon is a 24-hour marathon of bird watch- ing. The goal is to see as many bird species as possible in that 24-hour period and collect money to support Audubon projects. Our Richmond Audubon teams will be in the field throughout May. Anyone can participate as a sponsor, a bird- er or both! To participate as a birder in the Birdathon, you can bird on your own or create a team. To create your own team, contact other birders, choose a captain, and then contact Margaret Ebbs. Gather pledges from friends and family. Finally the fun part - bird up to 24 continuous hours on any designated Birdathon day! Send all bird lists to Margaret Ebbs or Caroline Coe (contact information below). To pledge, you can pledge an amount per species or give a flat pledge. Individual team species lists will be combined to determine a cumulative Richmond Audubon Society species total. Per species pledges will be calculated based on this grand total. Last year’s species total was 170. ($.10 per species x 170 = $17.00; $.50 per species x 170 = $85.00) Show your support of Richmond Audubon and its fight to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats, by making a pledge. Our goal this year is to beat our 2005 Birdathon mark of $3,400. With your donation we can meet or exceed this goal. Where the money goes: Your sponsorship will support conservation in Central Virginia and the birds, other wildlife and habitat they depend on. Last year, through your generosity in Birdathon donations, RAS gave $1100 to the James River Park for new signage and $2,300 for a joint Presquile NWR and Virginia Important Bird Areas habitat restoration project at Presquile NWR. Conservation in Central Virginia could use our support again. So form a Birdathon team, or make a pledge. Please join us in the celebration! Birdathon Pledge Form Name______Address ______City, State, Zip ______Telephone______E-mail ______I’ll support you with my pledge of ______per species. I am happy to pledge ______. My gift of ______is enclosed. My employer matches gifts, matching gift forms are enclosed. I will give you an additional $ ______if a team finds a ______(bird species). Make checks payable to Richmond Audubon Society. Send checks and/or pledge form to: Margaret Ebbs, 4702 Gaardahl Drive, Sandston, VA 23150 The birder/team you sponsor or RAS will be back in touch with you to collect the money pledged at the beginning of June. Questions? Contact Caroline Coe, [email protected], phone 276-1397 or Margaret Ebbs, [email protected]. THANK YOU for supporting the RAS 2006 Birdathon. Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law. Page 6 The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 From The Kitchen Window – March/April 2006 “Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the year.” Robert Frost

As winter fades into spring the pinks in the eastern sky early come early. The fading red bloom of the maples catch the glow along the tree line, and birds sing as light of dawn wakens the yard. The morning air is still chilled, and some mornings ice crystals trace the petals of newborn flowers, yet the sun is warm and the chill is soon forgotten. Springtime is special. Birds sing with inspired feeling as flowers open to the new light and green erases the bare gray stems. Springtime is change. Temperamental March marches into the fresh beauty of April, and our wish is to be a part of it – to scratch the soil, to plant our seeds, to listen to the sounds of fluffed-up birds and puffed-up frogs and toads and fresh-winged insects; to feel the warmth of the higher sun, to anticipate the harvest, to ponder change and what lies ahead. We fret uncertainty yet we anticipate the unknown. The March full moon, called the “Worm Moon” or the “Egg Moon”, occurs on the 14th. The vernal equinox happens at 1:26 p.m. EST on the 20th. April brings us daylight savings time beginning on the 2nd. Remember to spring forward an hour and don’t be late! (Interesting note: in 2007 daylight savings time will begin on the 2nd Sunday of March and end the 1st Sunday in November.) The April full moon, called the “Pink Moon” or the “Milk Moon”, occurs on the 13th, and the warblers and hummingbirds return.

John Coe

Brandt’s Geese

Northern Fulmar

Images from a recent workshop Dunlin and a Black Turnstone on Pacific Northwest Seabirds taken by Linda & Al Warfield Background: A Cloud of Snow Geese Photos by Al Warfield The Thrasher March/April 2006, Volume 33, Issue 3 Page 7

Officers and Board Members for 2005-6 Important Notices President Ellen Ackerman [email protected] 262-7040 To submit change of address or report problems, 1st Vice President Al Warfield [email protected] 677-3758 give your name, old address, new address, phone 2nd Vice President Pam Dummitt [email protected] 353-3571 number, and state your problem or intent to our Secretary Donna Brodd [email protected] 262-7040 Membership Chair (see table at left). Treasurer/Finance Sue Ridd [email protected] 270-5365 To renew or discontinue your membership, please contact National Audubon Society. See your Cyberspace Robin Ruth [email protected] 231-5949 Audubon Magazine for contact information. Development Bob Wynne [email protected] 276-5520 Thrasher Editor Al Warfield [email protected] 677-3758 Editor’s Note: Please submit articles by the Education John Coe [email protected] 276-1397 15th of the month before each issue. Julie Kacmarcik [email protected] 530-3660 Email: [email protected] Field Trips Caroline Coe [email protected] 276-1397 Surface mail: Al Warfield, The Thrasher Editor, Hospitality Linda Warfield [email protected] 743-1479 4749 Southmoor Road, Richmond VA 23234. Margaret O'Bryan [email protected] 746-5599 Conservation/Legislation John Roberts call for email address 329-0812 The Thrasher will be printed 7 times in Membership Nelda Snyder [email protected] 795-1446 2006:Jan., Feb., Mar./Apr., May/Jun, Past President Margaret O’Bryan [email protected] 746-5599 Jul./Aug., Sept./Oct, Nov./Dec. Programs* Sandy Wynne [email protected] 276-5520 Publicity Greg Moser [email protected] 358-3470 Thanks to these Thrasher Volunteers: VA Audubon Council Rep Ellen Ackerman [email protected] 262-7040 Linda Warfield: Labels & proofreading Youth Kevin Jones [email protected] 264-7157 Patrick Hickey & Jean Adams: Mailing At Large Mary Arginteanu [email protected] 320-0138 At Large Kim Harrell [email protected] 282-3419 The Thrasher is printed on recycled paper The Best of Flyways & Byways Managing Editor, recommending a birding column to cover A new book written by RAS’ own author and nature writer a pastime growing in popularity led to a meeting with Jerry Uhlman, is now available for you to enjoy. The book newspaper staff, and the rest is history: 93 columns cover- consists of a collection of Flyways & Byways columns, the ing avian behavior, conservation endeavors, astounding popular birding feature that appears in the Richmond migratory journeys and discovery of unheralded hotspots Times-Dispatch. Flyways & Byways captures the pleasure along America’s flyways and distant byways.The nearly 200 and excitement of birding in our own backyards as well as page collection of vignettes and stories is available at far-flung corners of the world. www.flyways.com or through the Richmond Audubon For seven years Jerry has written the nature and wildlife- Society, Box 26648, Richmond, VA 23261. watching column, which currently appears in the RTD Flair Ed: Having read Jerry’s book I can say that even if you Section on the third Sunday of each month. The column have read most of the columns in the RTD, you will be originated in 1998 when RTD asked readers to suggest pleased. It has lots of great stories I didn’t remember read- new topics for the newspaper. An email to Louise Seal, ing in the RTD.

The Thrasher Ad Page

………..NEEDED!!……… ADDITIONAL GUIDES For the LEWIS GINTER BIRD WALKS Please Contact Bob Sass 285-8177 / [email protected]”

The Thrasher accepts ads that are related to our mission: promotion of the enjoyment, understanding and preservation of birds, other wildlife, and habitat. To request an ad contact the editor at [email protected] or 804-743-1479. Richmond Audubon Volume 33, Issue 3 The Thrasher Society March/April Phone: (804) 257-0813 On the Web at: www.richmondaudubon.org 2006 Welcome to New Members of Richmond Audubon Society ASHLAND GOOCHLAND RICHMOND RICHMOND RICHMOND Julia Bickers Elizabeth Kirkland Mary H. Allen Ann Ellington Betty/Roger Stone CHARLES CITY MECHANICSVILLE Robert Andrews Regina R. Emerson David Stone Loretta Lynn Griffith A. D. Cale Anne C. Atkins Marco Farmer William Thorpe Family CHESTER Robert Hurley Robert W. Blake Lynn Frasher E. R. Trice Robert L. Dunn Barbara Smith Derek Braughton Steve/Beth Gillipsie Kerri Walker Ray Fleetwood MIDLOTHIAN Hilda D. Bruce Marion/Al Goethals Alfred M. Walton Louise H. Jarvis Pamela A. Ford Frank Bukovics Leila Gutowski George H. White Family D. Baxter Morris Nancy A. Powell Faye Burkwall Dr. John W. Harrison Susan Woodson CHESTERFIELD MONTPELIER Herman Carroll David/Amy Kane Sam Worley Carson Greba Coretta Evans Kelly W. Chapman Edward Lambert SANDSTON John Keesling Pat Wigfield Earl M. Cole Betty W. Loving Emily Booth GLEN ALLEN POWHATAN Janice/David Coleman J. Malmquist Family Rhina Mingee Dan Fortuna Doris/John Armstrong Debbie Craig Henry Mead Charlotte Wallace Harold Katz Gordon Rice Mary S. Crenshaw Brian Ross WILLIAMSBURG Linda G. Cuneo Anna Schmidt Fred Blystone Virginia Downing Estelle Stiebel Louise Menges

The members above joined RAS in 2006. Welcome, and please come to a meeting or field trip. Make sure to let some- one know you are new to the organization. Nelda Snyder, Membership Chair Richmond Audubon Society Non-Profit Organization P.O. Box 26648 U.S. Postage Paid Richmond, VA Richmond, VA 23261 Permit Number 603

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter Membership Application Yes, please enroll me (us) as a new member(s) of both National and Richmond Audubon Societies at the address below, at the introductory rate. Also included are subscriptions to the NAS magazine, Audubon, and the RAS newsletter, The Thrasher. (Make checks payable to National Audubon Society. And write “X53” on the check). ____Individual/Family Member(s) $20 enclosed ____Student/Senior Member $15 enclosed Name______Address______City______State______ZIP______Phone_____/______The Thrasher the newsletter of the Richmond E-mail address:______Audubon Society. Send your check and application to: Richmond Audubon Society c/o Membership Chair, Nelda Snyder The Richmond Audubon society promotes the 9900 Arrahatteck Trail enjoyment, understanding, and preservation Richmond, VA 23231-8339 of birds, other wildlife, and habitat through x53 education, advocacy, and fellowship. 7xch