Preferences

September PWWS Meeting Cancelled

Our September 16th, meeting has been cancelled due to the outbreak of Corona Virus. The October meeting is pending until we get more information on the COVID 19 status for our area.

I hope this newsletter finds everyone in good health, staying safe, using good hygiene practices and social distancing. We are in the midst of uncertain and uncharted times right now. Until the County and lifts the ban on gathering in groups, we will hold off on having our Piney Woods Wildlife Society meetings.

Please keep an eye on our web site, this newsletter and our Facebook site for information on whether we will be able meet in October.

To each and everyone of you, take care and continue staying safe.

Membership Dues

What a Deal!

Piney Woods Wildlife Society members: Have we got a deal for you! Because of the Covid19 problems this year your board has decided that if you paid your dues this year 2020, your 2021 dues will be waived. If you have not paid for this year please do so, so that you may take advantage of this great deal. If you do not know if you paid, please send an email to our treasurer Jim Lacey at [email protected] so he can check for you.

Please stay safe and we really look forward to when we may meet again in person.

Kathy Coward President

Spring Creek Christmas Bird Count

By Claire Moore CBC: Save the Date

Yes, it's that time of the year again! Please put the date of the Spring Creek Christmas Bird Count on your calendars and plan on helping out this year. This year, the count will happen on Saturday, December 19th. Additionally, we will have the count down dinner at 5:30 p.m. at El Imperial Mexican Restaurant located at 18525 Kuykendahl in Spring.

The CBC will abide by all the social distancing, sanitizing and mask protocols that are suggested by Harris County. And if it is a cold day, the masks might even help keep us warmer!

We need both folks to help in the field searching for birds and also feeder watchers (if you live inside the count circle). If you can help in either capacity, please email Claire Moore at [email protected] and let her know that you are interested in helping. Purple Martin Migration Madness Watch Party

Sunday, September 13th, at 7:30 p.m. By Claire Moore Each fall, purple martins all over the eastern U.S. gather in huge roosts in the evenings to spend the night in the safety of numbers. They probably do this because they are very social birds & also because these large roosts provide protection from predators.

The purple martins from our region have used several different locations in the Houston area over the past years, but they always seem to pick a place with oak trees and with bright street lights. Their latest roosting spot is the Fountains Shopping Center in Stafford in the oak trees in front of Old Navy located at 12634 Fountain Lake Circle. The roost starts building in numbers in July with numbers peaking at hundreds of thousands of birds – the latest estimate is 300,000 purple martins! The evening roost continues through mid-September until the purple martins decide that it is time to head south to spend their winter in Brazil.

Each evening in July, August and early September, the purple martins start gathering in the general area of their roost. Then, when it gets closer to dusk, they start swirling around moving in closer to the oak trees that they have picked as their group roost. After 30 or 45 minutes, they all come to rest shoulder-to- shoulder on the branches of the oak trees and settle in for the night.

The Houston Audubon Society sponsors several Purple Martin Watch Parties in July, August and September. The last watch party for 2020 is on Sunday, September 13th, meeting up in the parking lot of the Old Navy at 7:30 p.m. at 12634 Fountain Lake Circle. Get the latest information in this watch party at https://houstonaudubon.org/programs/all-age-groups/purple-martins.html and click on “Purple Martin Watch Parties” on the right side of the web page. It’s a great spectacle and worth a trip down to Stafford.

If you’d like to arrive early for more interesting bird activity, it is recommended to arrive around 6 p.m. in the parking lot at the east end of the lake located in Gordon Fountain Lake Park (12003 Breezy Meadow Drive). The purple martins swoop down low on the lake to get a drink of water before going into the roost for the night. At about 7:30 p.m., you should move over to the parking lot of Old Navy at 12634 Fountain Lake Circle to watch the martins swirl into the oak trees there for the evening.

Purple Martins - Photo by Hugh Wedgeworth

HEART HAPPENINGS

By Carole Allen Leatherback Sea Turtle

On August 29, one green sea turtle nest was located on the Texas coast on North Padre Island at Padre Island National Seashore.

On August 25, upon hatchling emergence we discovered that a clutch initially identified as loggerhead was actually green turtle, so the number of nests by species and area have been adjusted below.

Total numbers of nests found this year, by species and area, have been updated below.

KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE So far this year, 262 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

0 Bolivar Peninsula

1 Galveston Island 1 Brazoria County, N. of Surfside

6 Surfside Beach

0 Quintana Beach

1 Bryan Beach

0 Brazoria County, N. of Sargent Beach

0 Sargent Beach

1 Matagorda Peninsula

0 Matagorda Island

18 San Jose Island

13 Mustang Island

143 North Padre Island, including 136 at Padre Island National Seashore

72 South Padre Island

6 Boca Chica Beach

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE So far this year, 4 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast, including (north to south in state):

1 Brazoria County, North of Surfside

3 North Padre Island, including 3 at Padre Island National Seashore

GREEN TURTLE So far this year, 34 nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast, including (north to south in state):

1 Mustang Island

26 North Padre Island, including 25 at Padre Island National Seashore

7 South Padre Island

(THIS SETS A NEW RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF GREEN TURTLE NESTS DOCUMENTED IN TEXAS IN A YEAR.

Texas Nest Update

Even though the Kemp’s ridley nesting season is over, there is a huge controversy at the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) involving Dr. Donna Shaver who is the director of the Sea Turtle Recovery Program. She has turned “whistleblower” by filing a federal complaint against PINS Superintendent Eric Brunnemann’s review of her department which is calling for 30-percent cuts. (Information from Channel 3, Corpus Christi.

“Dr. Shaver had to turn to a group that gives legal representation to federal employees. On her behalf, the organization filed a legal complaint under the Federal Information Quality Act demanding that the review be retracted due to the many misleading findings, inaccuracies and actions that violate laws, as well as National Park Service's policy. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has existed for 25 plus years and defends federal employees like Dr. Shaver.

"The review would sharply curtail the program," Jeff Ruch with PEER said. "It would confine rescue of sea turtles to park boundaries. It would cut back on research, and it would limit the public releases of hatchlings to just one week of the year, which doesn’t make any sense at all. It would cut back on the beach patrol’s and all of these recommendations violate, in some instances, the Endangered Species Act."

Ruch added that he’s not only fighting to have the review overturned, but he is also hoping to have the money returned to the Sea Turtle Program that the park director supposedly redirected.

"It was fully funded until a couple of weeks ago when the park superintendent took $300,000 out of it," Ruch said. "He needs to give that money back so we can make the sure that the money that Dr. Shaver raised is used on sea turtles not on other things." The National Park Service is given 60 days to respond.

Updates regarding nesting are also posted at the Padre Island National Seashore website: www.nps.gov/pais

Shared by Sue & Bill Miller: Leatherback Turtles, Tobago video:Turtles video: https://youtu.be/IBINDXlo_yE

Sea Turtle

A BIRD THAT SAYS ITS NAME

By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center Whippoorwill - Photo by Cheryl Conley

A BIRD THAT SAYS ITS NAME By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center

A few years ago, when I took my dog out for her last potty of the night, I heard the most beautiful bird singing. Just a few seconds later, another bird responded with the same beautiful song. I had no idea what species it was but after some research I learned it was a whippoorwill. The whippoorwill actually got its name because of its song—three syllables with emphasis on the first and last syllables.

Whippoorwills are nocturnal. They feed exclusively on and start foraging 30 minutes after sunset and continue until it’s too dark to see. They continue their foraging at first light and stop just before sunrise. If the moon is bright, they may hunt all night. They have large mouths and can swallow insects up to 2 inches long.

The most interesting fact about the whippoorwill is that they don’t build a nest. The female will lay her eggs on the ground and cover with dead leaves or debris. Often times she’ll find a spot on the north or northeast side of a shrub or plant so she’s shaded during the heat of the day. Mom is responsible for incubating the eggs during the day and both Mom and Dad share the duty at night. Amazingly, whippoorwills time their breeding patterns to coincide with the lunar cycles so that the eggs hatch when there is at least a half moon. It is believed that the extra light helps in caring for her young. Within 24 hours of hatching, the baby birds instinctively move apart. The parents will also push the babies to keep them apart. It is thought that this is done to make it harder for predators to see them. The male stands guard over the nest and will hiss and spread his wings if he thinks there is a predator nearby. Another tactic used to protect the young is he will fake an injury away from the babies to draw attention away from them. While he draws the predator away from the young, the babies scatter and freeze.

At about 8 days, the down-covered babies molt and the female leaves them in the care of the male. If conditions are right, the female will often find a spot nearby and lay 2 more eggs.

TWRC Wildlife Center cares for injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife brought to us by the public. Due to the Corona Virus, we’ve had to alter our admission procedures. If you find an needing help, please call us. We will advise you on how to care for the animal until you can bring it to us: 713.468.8972 In Memoriam: Debbie Layer IF YOU COULD SAY ONE WORD ABOUT DEBBIE LAYER? "PASSION!"

Our friend, founding member of Heartwood Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist and friend of Jones State Forest, volunteer Debbie Layer passed away on June 7th losing her battle against brain cancer. She was also a volunteer at Kleb Woods Preserve and Nature Center.

Debbie was a passionate and enthusiastic volunteer, photographer, gardener, nature lover, expert birder, lifelong learner and conservation educator.

When asked for help with children or adult programs or projects, Debbie was first to sign-up and to help! She contributed thousands of volunteer hours.

Over 15 years, Debbie was one of our resident expert birding guides, helped establish the award winning and certified state forest pollinator and wildscape gardens and USDA Children’s Forest 2011 recognition, a Red-cockaded woodpecker champion, started “Decorating with Nature” holiday event at state forest, Texas Wildlife and Woodland Expo, Birding 101 for youth and adults, 2016 drought inventory on state forest, TFS Texas Tree Tenders, Texas Master Naturalist X-treme intern class and so many more endeavors.

Debbie will be deeply missed, but her memory and spirit will live on in every bird chirp, tree, and flower bloom.

-- John Warner, Director of Jones State Forest

Photos by Bill Miller

August 3, 2020 · A drinking tears out of a crocodile's eye. There's got to be a metaphor in there somewhere. — Pantanal - Mato Grosso Do Sul - Brasil - Photo by Bill Miller

Queen Emerging video - By Bill Miller: https://l.facebook.com/ Mexican Jay - Big Bend National Park - Photo by Bill Miller

Scarlet-headed Blackbird - Brazil - Photo by Bill Miller July 11, 2020 - Least Bittern a hard bird to see. This one looks like it just got out of the shower. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge - Photo by Bill Miller

Queen caterpillar at The South 0.40. July 28, 2020 Houston, TX · A pair of Queens! Back on July 10 I was bringing in some milkweed to feed Monarch caterpillars and found these tiny Queen caterpillars on the leaves. Today they emerged. Photo by Bill Miller Queen - Danaus gilippus - Photo by Bill Miller

Queen - Danaus gilippus - Photo by Bill Miller August 2, 2020 at The South 0.40. Houston, TX · So now we're rearing a Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes. We saw the mom lay an egg on a Meyer Lemon tree, so snagged that branch and brought it in. It's a spectacular butterfly, maybe the most beautiful one that breeds in our yard. But the caterpillar....ew. - Photo by Bill Miller August 2, 2020 - Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes - Photo by Bill Miller

August 2, 2020 - Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes caterpillar - Photo by Bill Miller August 19, 2020 - Chicks dig coffee, (trip to Cuba) - Photo by Bill Miller

August 14, 2020 - Twins, purple water lilies Houston, TX at the South 0.40 - Photo by Bill Miller August 13, 2020 Blue Passion Vine - Photo by Bill Miller

Photos by Randy Scott Sunset - August 26, 2020 - One thing we love about our new home are the sunsets. This is our Hurricane Sunset. While Louisiana is getting prepared for a disaster, we enjoy the out band of rain and sunshine. - Photo by Randy Scott August 11, 2020 - Redwinged Blackbird - Photo by Randy Scott Photo by Randy Scott August 23, 2020 - Lately, we have had several species of in our yard. The Zinnias provide nectar that the birds and the butterflies love. This is a Gulf Fritillary.- Agraulis vanillae - Photo by Randy Scott June 15, 2020 - Racoons - Photo by Randy Scott

Photo by Sandy Crystal June 14, 2020 - Male Northern Cardinal Munching on Black Nightshade Berries! Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal May 17, 2020 · When the light is just right, the iridescence of European Starling's feathers is stunning! Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal May 17, 2020 · More Suet NOW!!! European Starling feedme with parent. Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal May 17, 2020 · Cuteness Overload! Tufted Titmouse recent fledge. Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal Red-bellied Woodpecker - Photo by Sandy Crystal June 1, 2020 · House Finch Gulping Down Red Salvia Seeds. (Note to self: do not accidentally mow down or weed wack this plant!) Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal June 12, 2020 · Male Spicebush Swallowtail - Papilio troilus - nectaring on Buttonbush. Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal June 12 · Female Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes - nectaring on Tall Verbena. Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal June 12, 2020 · Female Large Orange Sulphur - Phoebis agarithe - (white form)--perhaps a stray up from south Texas?! Not frequently seen in the garden; last one spotted was in September of 2016. Backyard Clear Lake City (Houston) Texas - Photo by Sandy Crystal

Photos by Cat Traylor Ruddy Daggerwing - petreus - caterpillar - Photo by Cat Traylor

Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus - caterpillar - Photo by Cat Traylor Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus - caterpillar - Photo by Cat Traylor

Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus - caterpillar - Photo by Cat Traylor Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus - Photo by Cat Traylor Ruddy Daggerwing - Marpesia petreus - Photo by Cat Traylor Julia Heliconian - Dryas iulia - Photo by Cat Traylor Female Oriole - Photo by Cat Traylor

Photo by Diane Wedgeworth Gray tree frog on our house - Photo by Diane Wedgeworth

Photos by Paul Gregg

April 21, 2020 - 8 Mile Road and Sportsman Road - Galveston Willet - Photo by Paul Gregg

Hello, co-members of the “Isolation Society”,

Carol and I took an afternoon drive down to Galveston with the intent to go to Laffite’s Cove and see what birds were there. We DID get there, but decided to drive down Mile 8 Road and Sportsman Road to see what might be there. We were rewarded with the enclosed “sightings” as well as some I chose not to post. The Short-Billed Dowitcher was among other birds, mostly who were resting with their bills and parts of their head not exposed to the camera. The Willet was at the edge of the road and did not seem nervous at all at the couple who were driving slowly down the road with a photographer almost hanging out the window to get the shot. The Common Nighthawk was on a fencepost, trying to catch some sleep before taking flight at nightfall. Fenceposts seem to be one of their chosen places to roost after a night of catching insects. The Eastern Meadowlark put on a show of singing out while on a post. The White—faced Ibis was a hard target to photograph as it foraged among the marshy grass. The Tri-Colored Heron was near the road, flew away and landed on a branch and began preening. I enjoyed the wing being held up as it preened under its belly. The stars of the 8 Mile Road were the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher adult and youngster. Though backlighted, I think the photos were acceptable. We surely got a kick out of the youngster seeming to bother the parent and it was evident the parent had enough of harassment by the young one. I’d like to take a drive down 8 Mile Road on a morning when they are facing the sun. Stay tuned for our visit to Laffite’s Cove.

Enjoy! Paul Gregg, SMSGT, USAF (Ret.)

Common Nighthawk - Photo by Paul Gregg

Eastern Meadowlark - Photo by Paul Gregg Sissor-tailed Flycatcher - Photo by Paul Gregg

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Photo by Paul Gregg Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Photo by Paul Gregg

Short-billed Dowitcher - Photo by Paul Gregg Tri-colored Heron - Photo by Paul Gregg

White-faced Ibis - Photo by Paul Gregg

Photos by Paul Gregg

Thirsty Visitor Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by Paul Gregg

Thu, Jul 16 at 7:42 AM

Hello, fellow mask wearers!

What a spring! What a summer! What a mess! -- Not to worry, though. On the 13th of July, I was in the study working with computer techs on a problem with my computer. Carol brought a note to me that said: "Pileated Woodpecker on the bird bath!" She grabbed my camera and took some photos of this beautiful female getting a drink of water. Though the camera settings had been set for a faster shutter speed and all the attached were taken at ISO 3200, I’m glad I had Topaz Noise Reduction and Sharpening in the computer!

Paul Gregg, SMSGT, USAF (Ret.) Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by Paul Gregg

Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by Paul Gregg Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by Paul Gregg

Pileated Woodpecker - Photo by Paul Gregg

Photos by Paul Gregg

When the fish aren't biting ...... the photographer grabs his camera!

Sanderling - Photo by Paul Gregg

Greetings fellow mask wearers!

My fishing buddy, George and I were surf fishing between San Luis Pass and Surfside prior to the arrival of the weather system that was headed to Corpus Christi. The day was beautiful, scattered clouds in a blue sky, and it was a perfect day for surf fishing. EXCEPT about the only fish biting were little hardhead catfish about 10 inches long! Tired of losing my shrimp to the bait stealers, I sat in my folding chair and just enjoyed the view.

Then a couple willets and some numbers of sanderlings as well as other birds kept going up and down the beach, seeking food. I got my camera from the truck and got a few photos of the activity. Though other birds went by, I wasn't able to capture in photographs as many as I might have. The Sanderlings were following their hyperactive, frenetic paths along the edge of the surf. Once in a while they would stop for a heartbeat and get something. The Willet was fascinating to watch. It would walk up to the seaweed and pick up a clump, drop it, and look for food. Also, one dropped a clump of seaweed at its feet, then patted its feet rapidly at the edge of the surf as if to jostle something out of the sand. I believe the gull image is a laughing gull in non-breeding plumage.

George had put his crab trap out and when he retrieved it, there were some 6 female blue crabs and only one keeper male blue crab. He dumped them out and we escorted them back to the surf. One or two of the crabs were really posing for photos for me.

Paul Gregg, SMSGT, USAF (Ret.)

Willet - Photo by Paul Gregg

Willet - Photo by Paul Gregg Blue Crab - Photo by Paul Gregg

Laughing Gull non-breeding - Photo by Paul Gregg Sanderling - Photo by Paul Gregg

Photos by Paul Gregg

Howdy!

One would think that isolation’s effect would cause me to get photos and narrative out sooner. Truth be told, the day after visiting my favorite place to bird this time of year, I took Carol down to my 2nd favorite location, Laffite’s Cove, on Galveston Island. Those photos may be processed and shared by the end of this week. Anyway, this one is made up of warblers only and #2 from last week will be a combination of “others” and possibly a 3rd, if you don’t mind. Once again, this time of year I usually send out a few more than usual. Give me until the end of May and my e-mails will be sparse until the fall (maybe).

The worm-eating warbler showed up in a couple places, as did the black-and- white. Hooded warblers, male, female, and immature were present in the woods. A black-throated green warbler welcomed me not 30 yards into the area and later became a show-off at some willow trees. The Kentucky warbler was a visitor at the water drip and I didn’t see any of them anywhere else in the area. The prothonotary warbler played hide and seek with me where the willow trees were. The warbler “best in show” for me were the blue-winged warblers, of which a couple males showed off nicely. Though I personally only saw 7 different warblers that day, I think some 22 were seen, with the day before I got there I believe the report was 28 different warblers were observed BY ONE PERSON! (Wish I had been there.)

Enjoy,

Paul Gregg, SMSGT, USAF (Ret.)

Worm-eating Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg

Black and White Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg Black-throated Green Warbler

Blue-winged Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg Blue-winged Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg

Hooded Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg Hooded Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg

Kentucky Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg Pronthonotary Warbler - Photo by Paul Gregg

Movie Recommendation by Paul Gregg Tue, Aug 18 at 9:08 PM

Greetings, fellow isolationists! Well, maybe we should just say, “homebodies”. This e-mail is a departure from my email with photos, but if you can watch the movie, made in 2015, I think you will see my point. Nature and story lovers will become captivated watching this one.

Carol and I just watched this movie, streaming free on Amazon Prime Video -- it's may be available on Netflix or YouTube. Beautifully filmed in the Italian, Austrian, and Swiss alps, many as well as eagle scenes, a corny but bearable story plot. You will be captivated by the filming, footage, story, and of course golden eagles.

My friend, John Armitage sent me the information and with nothing else on the tube to watch, we are SO glad we brought this story up. We think you will like it.

See the trailer: https://www.bing.com/videos Photos by Paul Gregg

Squirrel - Photo taken by Paul Gregg

What to do during isolation

Feed Mama squirrel! She is evidently feeding babies because her belly shows evidence she has been nursing. She comes to our back door, looks in, and lets us know she needs some goodies. We have a good variety of nuts to give her and she takes them from my hand and has been returning to the concrete block to lie down, hold the nut and proceed to get the shell off and eat it. Then the action is repeated until she takes a nut up over the house to go bury it somewhere. When not feeding babies, she sometimes shows up to get fed almost every day. But lately she's been pretty demanding.

Enjoy! Paul and Carol

(Note: We are not quarantined because we thankfully don't have COVID-19. We are calling our situation isolation, but not total isolation. We can go to the grocery and get gas when needed. I am allowed to work at my part time job at Wild Birds Unlimited, but we are only giving curb service and some deliveries to residences.)

Photos by Jim Snyder July 15, 2020 - I found this baby mockingbird on the stairwell at work today. The adults are a pain but the babies are pretty cute! Emerald Forest, College Station, Texas - Photo by Jim Snyder

June 6, 2020 - Working in the yard today in the Texas heat (95 with a real feel of 105). Denise and I harvested tomatoes, yard long beans, garlic, blackberries and peaches. We also got to see yard butterfly #81: a Lyside Sulphur. Sulphur at Emerald Forest, College Station, Texas.- Photo by Jim Snyder Orange Barred Sulphur at Emerald Forest, College Station, Texas. - Photo by Jim Snyder

June 25, 2020 - Just released 3 Brazilian Skipper butterflies from the rearing cage into the yard. Skipper emerged today at Emerald Forest, College Station, Texas.- Photo by Jim Snyder April 26, 2020 - Clematis at Emerald Forest, College Station, Texas.- Photo by Jim Snyder

2020 Board of Directors

President, Kathy Coward First VP, Diane Wedgeworth, Editor Second VP, Claire Moore, Webmaster Third VP, Carlos Hernandez, Programs Secretary, Carole Barr Treasurer, Jim Lacey Director, Farrar Stockton Director, Debbie Wilson Director, Maryanne DiBiase Carole Allen, HEART Committee Chair

Please join us! PWWS web site is www.pineywoodswildlifesociety.org

PWWS Facebook site is at https://www.facebook.com/Piney-Woods-Wildlife- Society-125891867423250/

The Pine Warbler is published monthly, September through May, by the Piney Woods Wildlife Society, Inc.

For membership information write to us at P.O. Box 189, Spring, Texas 77383- 0189. Annual Dues :$15.00 per household.

Please submit any articles you'd like considered for the PWWS Newsletter. The Pine Warbler, to our President, Kathy Coward, [email protected] or Diane Wedgeworth, Editor, [email protected]

Please send all new address changes and any corrections to [email protected] (Claire Moore) and add PWWS to the subject line. Thank you.

©2020 Piney Woods Wildlife Society | 709 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring TX 77353

Web Version Subscribe Forward Unsubscribe