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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 birds 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 Bird 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 Tanager, 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. Scarlet Tanager, 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.