TI{E FLYER

Volume 20, Number 7 August 1996

AUGUST FIELD TRIP have disappeared from the nests as we watch them do a little fishing. The around the yard Ruth Beck will lead a field trip to Craney Island are about through raising young, as the Gold- on Saturday, August As usual, lTth we will meet finches are the last to finish. I still hear the young in the CW Visitors Center parking lot at 7:15 AM making noise as the adults teach them the rules of and leave promptly at 7'.30. Look for a gathering staying alive. In my yard, with two dogs, that can in lot over the right side the as the to of building be quite a challenge. At least this year our you enter. younger dog didn't leel the need to bring us any For readers who are not already familiar with it, presents of the feathered kind. Hopefully, the Craney Island is a small island made up of hummingbird activity will pick up some as they material dredged from the James and Elizabeth prepare for their long journey. Rivers The offPortsmouth. US Army Corps of As the summer draws to an end Club activity Engineers operates and maintains it. The iocai level begins to rise. In August there will be a field people who manage Craney were given 1996 the trip to Craney Island to see what is passing Virginia Society Ornithology's of award for their through in the shore bird category. For those of continued support for conservation and us who have a mental block against shore bird protection habitats. of wildlife identification, this is an excellent trip to get good The island offers both mud flats and sandy looks at these confusing birds. In September our beaches, plus fresh and brackish waters for monthly meetings begin again the third Wednes- waders and migratory shore birds-particularly day of the month and the monthly field trips are Least Terns and Piping Plovers. Visitors can look always on the following Saturday. I have missed forward to seeing a varied mix of shore birds, seeing everyone and look forward to getting perhaps even a Phalarope if we're lucky. started again. It's hot there this time of year! If you come, be Enjoy what is left of this summer. Be sure to take sure to wear a hat and bring some mosquito note of birds sighted on any trips taken. We look repellent. Bring water and a mid-day snack too. forward to hearing about members' adventures We probably won't get back to Williamsburg 'til during the summer months to places that may IPM have produced some exciting birds. I look for- ward to seeing everyone at Craney or in Septem- ber at our first regular meetingin the fall PRESIDENT'S CORNER Happy Birding-Lee Schuster I hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing summer. It is hard to believe the days are getting shorter and the shore birds have already started migrating. I SUPERBOWL OF BIRDING have watched the progress of many Osprey nests Three club members, Bill Williarns, Tom Armour as we sail the York River and most of the young and Brian Tabor are going to take part in the 2nd Annual Superbowl of Birding competition in ANNUAL PICNIC September. This team won last year's Super Our annual summer picnic, held on June 8, was Bowl, finding l0l species of birds on Virginia's great Many members attended Eastern Shore in just six hours. another success. and brought lots of food for a delicious pot luck The competition, which covers the whole Del- supper. A big thanks goes out to Ruth and marva Peninsula, pits teams of birders from all Sherwin Beck for opening their beautiful home to over the area against each other for fun and us, and to Emily Sharrett and Jeanne Armour for excitement. [t also raises money for KESTREL, organizing the event. Although the birds were not Virginia's non-profit bird observatory. KESTREL very visible, we knew of their presence by song. uses the funds for educational and research And watching Sherwin feed hot dogs to a wary purposes related to migrating birds. Bill and Brian old fox who comes into their yard for a meal are both KESTREL board members. The team every day was an added treat. The fox had to out- must find sponsors to pledge money, either as a maneuver some racoons who were moving in on flat donation or on a per bird basis. If you would the action too. This picnic is an event not to be like to be a team sponsor for the competition or if missed! If you were unable to attend this year, you please would like a KESTREL brochure, make it a point to come next time. contact Bill at 229-6095 or 154 Lakewood Drive, Williamsburg, or Brian at 253-1 181 or 103 Exeter Court, Williamsburg. GRANT RECIPIENT The club received several grant proposals again FEEDER }YASH RESULTS this year. After an evaluation the selection com- mittee chose to award this year's Bird Club grant The club joined with Wild Birds and Unlimited of $500 to David Whalen. His research project, is Ambassador Cleaners in our first bird feeder titled "Breeding Ecology of Barn Owls In Upland wash Saturday, June 8. It was a fundraiser for the Versus Marsh Habitats in Virginia." David has grant is a bird club's that awarded annually to previously worked on a study of Saw-whet Owl William & Mary student doing local bird research. migration on the Eastern Shore. Congratulations From l0 to 2 that day eight people took apart to David-we wish him good luck in his research feeders that were brought in by the public, then project. The club looks forward to hearing the soaked, scrubbed, steam cleaned and finally results of the work later in the year. reassembled them. Most were returned to the owners in better shape than when they arrived. Some were returned with a few extra parts they NEW MEMBERS didn't come with, but none went home with less. Welcome to all these new members: The group cleaned about forty feeders and raised $106 for the grant. Special thank you's go to Camilla Buchanan, lYild Bircls Unlimited for all their hard work in Debra & Camilla Hill hosting and organizing the day, and to George 196 The Maine Olrogge and his steam cleaning company, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Antbassodor Cleaning, for providing the equip- ment and personnel. Thanks also to the club Renee Flinchum member volunteers who donated their time that 132 Old Carriage Way Saturday to help out. Williamsburg, VA 23188 By the way, proceeds to the club from our Bruce, Wendy, Daniel ntembers' purchases at Wild Birds Unlimited, & Aaron Keener January to May this year, amount to another 104 Trolls Path $206 80! These two additions to our treasury go Williamsburg, VA 23188 a long way towards funding this year's grant. Cherie Doverspike Northern Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, 109 West Links Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird, Scarlet , Red- Williamsburg, VA 23 188 headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Marsh Wren. (At College Creek) King Rail, Clapper Rail and Spotted Sandpiper. FIELD NOTES FOR IUNE & IULY Ferry/Ch ippokes/Ilog Island The real excitement for these months was the Great Egret, Bald Eagle, Caspian Tern, Royal chance to see some extremely rare visitors Tern, Tern, brought to the James River by Hurricane Beulah. Tern, Common Tern, Least Sandwich Yellow Legs, Lesser Legs, Tom Armour, Bill Williams and Brian Tabor took Greater Yellow Semi- palmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, White- advantage ofthe opportunity and enjoyed seeing these birds: Wilson's Storm Petrel, Sooty Tern, rumped Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Long-billed Dowitcher, Bobolink, Black Tern, Sandwich Tern and White Pelican. Dowicher, (Chippokes) No previous record of the Wilson's Petrel, only Blue Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole. Great Egret, Green Heron, Wood Thrush, White- one previous record of the Sooty and Sandwich Yellow-throated Parula Terns, nine previous sightings of the White eyed Vireo, Vireo, Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Indigo Pelican, and the Black Tern is listed as an Ovenbird, "unusual summer visitor." Bunting, Orchard Oriole. As of August 6, the Pelican has been seen on and York State Park off for the past month at Hog Island. Why, oh Royal Tern, Red-headed Woodpecker, Acadian why didn't we think of following up on the Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-throated hurricane activity? Must head for Hog Island and Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, the rivers after the next one. , Summer Tanager. Many of the birds sighted in June were also seen Miscellaneous and Neighborhoods in July but it is rather interesting to see the list of Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Queens Lake). those which dropped out (and far easier than Red-shouldered Hawk, Yellow-throated Vireo, making too complete and largely repetitive Prothonotary Warbler (Hickory Signpost Road). reports), we'll start with the list seen in June Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Summer which did not repeat in July: Cattle Egret (Gospel Tanager, Scarlet Tanager (Kingswood). Farm), Cooper's Hawk (Kingswood), Kestrel Contributors to this month's composite report (Camp Peary), Wild Turkey (Camp Peary), King are: Joy Archer, Tom Armour, Juel Duke, Joe & Rail (College Creek), Frank-lin's Gull (Ferry Grace Doyle, Bill Sheehan, Bill Snyder, Richard Landing), Prairie Warbler (Camp Peary, Stanley, Brian Taber, and Bill Williams. Could Chippokes, Colonial Parkway), Prothonotary you have added to this report? Next month call Warbler (Chippokes, Jolly Pond, Kingsmill, Bill Sheehan to add your sightings, 220-2I22, Hickory Signpost Road), Louisiana Waterthrush but please notice that we don't report the (Chip-pokes, Hickory Signpost, Jolly Pond), common resident birds nor the very common Yellow-breasted Chat (Jamestown Farms, Hog visitors. You can also get help Bill in Island, Jamestown Road), Grasshopper Sparrow from identifying species you can see it but can't (Drumonds Field.) if figure outwhat it is! And July reports from our usual haunts: Jamestown Is./Colonial Pkwy./James River A FE\M SPRING LISTS TO REPORT Wilson's Storm Petrel, Forster's Tern, Sooty Tern, Black Tern, Royal Tern, Least Tern, by Bill Holcombe Common Tern, Black Skimmer, Great Egret, I know that more than six birders kept lists of Green Heron, Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red- their March, April and May sightings but there's tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Acadian no way to report what did not come in. However, Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Wood Thrush, I am so proud of exceeding my goal of 150 White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, sightings that I refuse to skip the report- Tom Armour saw 175 and noted two unusually Dickcissel. She also had a wonderful bird to finish early ones, "March 3, Osprey and Laughing Gulls with when she listed a Prothonotary Warbler on at Kingsmill." I thought his Dunlin, March 5 and May 27, her last entry. the Meadowlark on March I were pretty good For those of us who do this it makes March, April too, but Tom didn't bother noting those. But I bet and May very special months of the year. I hope that he won't forget the Gold Eagle over the that next year there are more of us listing and that James on April 29 anytime soon. I do get all of the cards back. Martha Briggs reported 57 species and included some nice comment. "Heard the Whip-poor-will on a warm April night-he doesn't whip if it's BIRD OF THE MONTH chilly. Turkeys are staying in the woods this year. by BILL HOLCOMBE Hear them but have seen only two. Hoping the mothers bring the poults into the field when Yellow-billed Cuckoo they're larger." In our part of the world we hear this bird from Bill Holcombe: While I truly am proud of my 153 late spring until late summer but rarely lay eyes Virginia sightings, the truth is that I would not on it. And that is too bad as this summer visitor is have made that total without the May 5 trip to a very handsome bird. The bird is a lovely soft Craney Island with Ruth Beck and Tom Armour, brown from its yellow bill, over the top of the and the May 5 Spring Bird Count on Hog Island head and down the back, while the underside is a with Brian Taber. Those two trips netted nine bright, clear white. Wings in flight show chestnut- new life list birds and 33 on my spring count. Best reddish patches. The underside of the long tail is new bird was the Prothonotary Warbler at Chip- black with large, bright ovals of white, linked pokes Swamp on a glorious, bright April22 down both sides. Fortunately, when you are lucky morning. Moral of the story is get out on the enough to spot one of these birds it will most Christmas and Spring Bird Counts and go to likely be in a tree top. You will be looking at this Craney with Ruth Beck and you'll see a heck of a clear, unique marking on the underside of the tail, lot of birds. which makes the identification positive. Bill Sheehan reported 163 sightings with a note, Bill Sheehan's records indicate that the Yellow- "Total 163 without Rockdoves, Starlings and billed Cuckoo has an early arrival date of April 23 House Sparrows. Those are non-birds." (None of and a last sighting of Octob er 24. During a lot of Bill's opinions are "luke warm.") But Bill saw a that time and especially in the warmer months you lot of great birds, including sharing that Golden can hear the song which John Terres describes as Eagle with his birding partner, Tom Armour. And "kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk-keow-keow- we shared together the Redpoll in Juel Duke's keow," somehow sounding as though producing back yard on March 18. Bill also saw all of the that long string ol"kuk's" was exhausting and at vireos and l9 warblers. the end the bird ran out of steam. So the calls trail off. The sound is usually coming from dense Bill Williams broke the 200 mark again with217 foliage at the tops of trees where this bird finds birds. Bill saw all of the ducks except Greater its favorite food, caterpillars. While the flat, Scaup and the Eiders. And all of the warblers poorly-made nests are low, only 3 to l0 feet off except Palm, Swainson's, Connecticut, and the ground, it is very difficult to spot either the Mourning. But then you can't miss too many nest or the cuckoo's frequent feeding trips. About birds on the VSO card and still report over 200 12 inches long with a 16-inch wing span, this is sightings. Bill wins our spring listing event, so not a small bird. It is the original "stealth" flyer. sometime when the moon is in the right phase at a Bird Club meeting we will carry him three times The female usually lays three to four pale blue- around Millington Hall on our shoulders! green eggs at 2 to 3-day intervals. Eggs hatch after about l4 days. After another 7 to 9 days the Marilyn Ziegler saw I l7 birds including 1 1 chicks habitually start to climb about the nesting ducks, 4 vireos, 1l warblers, and she and Tom bush or tree. They continue this until they take Armour are the only participants to see the flight in about another two weeks. While not I have time between birds to think about other nearly the nesting predators like Cowbirds, things. My world is circumscribed but I have an Cuckoos will occasionally lay their eggs in the active mind. The mind is such a help-ah, 8:30 a nests of Black-billed Cuckoos and even more Tufted Titmouse bottom right. Then comes 9 AM rarely in nests of other birds. This family trait may and l0 AM and nothing comes until l0:30 AM have something to do with the fact that these when a Red-bellied Woodpecker hangs upside birds rarely suffer from nest preditation by other down and throws my seeds all over the place. birds like the Cowbird. Then a Blue Jay comes. He screams. Then he "Quiet," Trivia bits: flight speed 22 mph; other names screams again. I say. He pays no atten- jumps include "Kow-Kow," "Rain Dove," and "Storm tion, to my left bottom, falls offand tries Crow; the bird has two toes facing forward and again. Succeeds. Picks at my middle. Another Jay. two back rather than the usual three forward and Another scream. Another day. Getting tired of one back. this minute-by-minute report. This bird is a summer resident over most of the When I'm thinking between birds I think of what United States, with the exception of Minnesota a good contribution I make to this world feeding and the Dakotas, and winters in South America as and protecting little birds, because they must be far south as Uruguay and Argentina. It has also recognized for the good that they do. And wandered to western . It is commonly cherished for their beauty, their song, and their heard throughout Williamsburg and surrounding marking of the changing seasons. And I like to counties all summer long. No one has advice on think of some of the special visitors-the Evening where you may see this summer tourist although Grosbeaks are maybe my most special. But I'm several of us have spotted it at Jamestown Island also especially pleased when the Pine Warbler during mid-spring searches. If you see what comes by, but my heart really belongs to my appears to be an extra long-tailed bird soaring regulars. I also must confess that I don't like all gracefully between treetops, you may be seeing birds. I particularly dislike Starlings. I know, I our August bird of the month. know, they are so inciustrious, so successfui, so sure of themselves, but-dammit, there is a limit. Information sources include Peterson's Field Think of the lovely Bluebird picked and screamed Guide to Eastern Birds, The Audubon Sociely out of his home by the outrageous Starling. If I Encyclopedia of North American Birds John by could do something, I don't know what, I Terres Williamsburg Records and the Bird Club certainly would. Good intentions? Pooooh! Good kept by Bill Sheehan. for what? Yes, my free meals are welfare. Some say welfare HELP by Lew Hoppes will eventually drive us all up "Lazy Bones Ally." People, "maybe." Birds "No.!" There are some I am a bird feeder-rather tall, with six holes and who pooh-pooh the idea of bird feeders, me for six little perches. The birds come and pick at my instance, having thoughts looking out on the stuffing of sunflower seeds, millet and other little world. But I do something real. While sometimes round things. I find it very interesting as I never I feel rather vacant-empty is a better word. If know who is coming next. There are times, of you fill me up and keep me full, remember that course, when nobody comes and I feel lonely and you are feeding yourself when you feed your neglected. I am going to log a typical day. Does it loved ones. They are your loved ones, you know. sound interesting? I hope so because, well, here How could it be otherwise? All of these little goes. Chickadees, Finches, Sparrows, Juncos, Titmice Sunday, July '96, 8.01 AM. Goldfinch comes to and Wrens-they are so real, so earnest, working top perch-pick, pick, pick. 8:03 another one to so hard to be alive. the top perch. 8:06 both leave. 8:10 Chickadee darts in, picks and dashes off. 8:15 three Chick- adees dart off almost before they've had time to *+* dart in.