NC Wildlifer Summer 2018

Photo courtesy NCSU Leopold Wildlife Club

Southeastern Wildlife Conclave

Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson & Scott Anderson Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley

NC Birding Trail #ExploreNC!

Lake Mattamuskeet

1 (June 2018) • NC CHAPTER OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY • VOLUME (33) NO.(2)

In this issue... President’s Address ...... 3 NCSU Endowment Scholarship ...... 35 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave ...... 5 Conservation Awards ...... 37 NCSU ...... 6 Member Spotlight ...... 39 WCU ...... 8 Give Back Program ...... 42 HCC ...... 10 TWS/SETWS Membership ...... 45 Hero Awards ...... 12 Newly Certified Biologists ...... 46 NC Birding Trail ...... 20 Upcoming Events ...... 47 #ExploreNC! ...... 30

Your NCTWS Executive Board

Position Officer Name Affiliation Phone Email

President Colleen Olfenbuttel NCWRC 540-239-6457 [email protected]

President-elect Josh Parris EBCI 828-359-6108 [email protected]

Past President Jeff Marcus TNC 910-585-0521 [email protected]

Secretary Aimee Rockhill WCU 828-227-3915 [email protected]

Treasurer Kacy Cook NCWRC 910-638-4887 [email protected]

At-Large Board Katie Greenberg USFS 828-667-5261 x118 [email protected]

At-Large Board Will Ricks Duke Energy 919-546-6878 [email protected]

SE Section Rep Gabriela Garrison NCWRC 910-409-7350 [email protected]

Editors: Kelly Douglass and Andrea Shipley Design: Andrea Shipley 2 Copy Editing: Steven Ball PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Colleen’s Contemplations

Happy summer fellow Wildlifers! Hope your summer is going well, despite the heat and humidity. Just as summer is a busy time for many of us due to fieldwork, your Chapter has been busy as well with new initiatives, tackling Jeff Marcus, outgoing President, passing the goat to Colleen wildlife issues, and planning Olfenbuttel, incoming President. Photo courtesy Casey Dukes. for next year’s annual meeting. In late May, we offered two new grant opportunities to members—the TWS Conference grant and the Professional Development Grant. If you missed out on applying for these grants, keep an eye out for the next Professional Development Grant, which will be advertised later this year. The winners of these first two grants will be featured in future newsletters. Our Chapter also provided comments to NCDOT regarding a proposal to widen NC 191, a highway in Asheville that bisects Sandy Bottom Preserve, from two lanes to multiple lanes. This preserve has been researched since the 1970s and is one of the most unique wetland complexes in the Southern Appalachian region, with more reptile and amphibian species than any one location in the state. NCTWS joined with 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN other organizations, including the NC Wildlife Federation, in recommending that an elevated spanned road system be built to allow wildlife passage, reduce wildlife road mortalities, reduce road flooding, and reconnect the historical floodplain between Sandy Bottom and the French Broad River. If you are aware of an issue affecting wildlife or wildlife habitats in North Carolina, I encourage you to contact Dr. Rachael Urbanek, chair of our Conservation Affairs committee ([email protected]). Lastly, our Program Committee is already working on next year’s annual meeting, which will be held in the mountains. To offer opportunities for members across the state to attend, the annual meeting rotates among the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Mountain regions. In May, we conducted a member survey about the annual meeting. Your feedback was helpful in identifying the strengths of our annual meeting, as well as offering different ideas that could be used to improve the meeting. One strength of our annual meeting is the low cost of attending. Compared to annual meetings held by other TWS state chapters, our annual meeting is not only the least expensive, but provides more member benefits, such as free workshops, free field trips, nighttime events, and free evening refreshments. That is due to the hard work of Chapter members and the Program Committee. I also want to thank all those members that responded to the survey, as it provided us with many topics for future themes, presentations, speakers, and workshops. Stay cool and safe out there, and remember that We are the Wildlife Society!

2018 Wildlife Conclave

2018 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave This year, the Louisiana State University Student Chapter of TWS hosted the TWS Southeastern Student Conclave on March 24-27 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three of our student chapters here in North Carolina attended, and all three brought home awards!

The scoring is broken down as follows:  Team Competition (30%)  Quiz Bowl (25%)  Art (15%) – landscape photography, digitally enhanced photography, non- manipulated photography, trail-cam photography, free-form, painting, drawing, poetry, field photography, wildlife calling  Physical (15%) – archery, shotgun, riflery, obstacle course, canoeing, fly casting  Intellectual Competitions (15%) – radio-telemetry, dendrology, orienteering, lab practical, essay

Our state chapters represented North Carolina very well, so please congratulate them next time you see them, and read on to find out which awards they won!

2018 Wildlife Conclave

Pictured are NCSU students who attended the 2018 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave. Photo courtesy NCSU Leopold Wildlife Club.

North Carolina State University

The 2018 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave was a very successful event for North Carolina State University (NCSU). Twenty students spent the weekend at Louisiana State University (LSU) competing in individual, quiz bowl, and team field events against other wildlife clubs from the southeast.

This year our quiz bowl team battled through the brackets to place 3rd overall, with University of Tennessee Knoxville finishing nd2 and University of Georgia finishing 1st. We placed 3rd again this year in team 6

2018 Wildlife Conclave field after competing in a wide range of events such as duck-wing identification, trap safety, and dendrology.

We had a fantastic year in individual events with the several NCSU students placing in the top three for their events. Alex Jump won 1st place in turkey calling, Noah Brewer and Sam Jolly won 1st place in canoeing, April Boggs won 1st place in riflery (this was her 4th time placing, for a total of two 1st, one 2nd, and one 3rd place!), Kyle Watkins and Trevor Walker won 1st place in radio telemetry, Moriah Boggess won 2nd place in dendrology, Sam Jolly and Moriah Boggess won 2nd place in digitally enhanced photography, and Kyle Rempe and Alea Hunsucker won 3rd place in drawing.

This year our conclave team matched last year’s success by placing 2nd overall, our students performed amazingly, missing 1st place by less than 1 point! This accomplishment wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of our students both inside and outside the classroom or without the help of our amazing professors. All our members are proud of their accomplishments and are looking forward to achieving 1st place next year!

Submitted by Kyle Watkins, Leopold Wildlife Club President.

2018 Wildlife Conclave

Pictured are WCU students who attended the 2018 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave: top row left to right – Ryan Luckadoo, Alec Yount, Wil Holshouser, AJ Bruce, Cade Roach, Chris Owen, Johnny Cromer; bottom row left to right – Clayton Scruggs, Kyle Wiggins, and Hunter Layman. Photo courtesy Aimee Rockhill, club advisor.

Western Carolina University

The Western Carolina University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society was able to take 10 students to Louisiana State University for the Southeastern Student Wildlife Conclave. The club is growing in size and this years’ fundraising efforts will hopefully allow us to bring a larger group next year. Students competed in archery, shotgun, obstacle course, pirogue race, rifle, dendrology, turkey and waterfowl calling, landscape photography, digitally enhanced photography, non-manipulated photography, and field competition.

2018 Wildlife Conclave

Overall, students performed well in individual competitions. Alec Yount took home the 2nd place trophy for turkey calling. Also, we placed 5th in rifle, 6th in dendrology, and 7th in waterfowl calling. We successfully sunk the ship in the Pirogue race! Students were thankful for the opportunity to participate in a successful herp walk and prescribed burn as well as attend educational waterfowl, telemetry, and alligator workshops.

The upcoming president, Candice Moreau, and vice-president, Alec Yount, are ready to recruit new members and ramp up fundraising in an effort to have a full team at ABAC in 2019! We are already actively planning the 2020 conclave event which will be co-hosted with Haywood Community College. We hope everyone is getting excited for conclave in the mountains!

Submitted by Aimee Rockhill, WCU student chapter advisor.

2018 Wildlife Conclave

Pictured are HCC students who attended the 2018 Southeastern Wildlife Conclave. Photo courtesy Haywood Community College.

Haywood Community College

I am writing to give you a brief report of the 2018 The Wildlife Society (TWS) Annual Conclave and to express my gratitude to you for making our trip to this year’s event possible. The TWS annual conclave provides college students with valuable hands-on training in wildlife management and conservation, as well as networking amongst students, faculty, and wildlife professionals. Activities include a range of team field competitions, quiz bowl, art and photography contests, guest speakers, and opportunities for professional development. The mini-grant we were awarded from the HCC Foundation provided the additional funding needed to help cover our lodging, registration, and meals for the trip. We left on Wednesday, March 21th, and made the lengthy drive over to Louisiana State University (LSU). We were very fortunate to be able to stay at Bogue Chitto State Park the first two nights. The first day there we spent training and going

2018 Wildlife Conclave through team drills preparing for competition. The next three days were a blur of both individual and team competitions, crawfish, zoos, swamp boat tours, along with natural resources based educational seminars. The Haywood Community College student chapter of TWS finished 5th place overall, competing against 24 other schools. HCC finished just behind the University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, and NC State University, and ABAC beating both undergraduate and graduate students from many other four-year schools and beating the only other two-year school. In the past eight years, HCC has placed in the top five spots seven times. The 19 students from HCC placed: — 5th overall in intellectual competitions (essay, poetry, radiotelemetry, dendrology, orienteering, field photography and lab practical) — 9th overall in physical competitions (rifle, shotgun, archery, obstacle course, flycasting and canoeing) — 1st overall in art competitions (drawing, painting, freeform, trail camera, digital photography, landscape photography and turkey, cervid, waterfowl and miscellaneous game calling). — 5th in team field competition (the main event of the competition) — 12th in quiz bowl

Thank you again for your generosity and support.

Wally Woods III, Ph.D Fish and Wildlife Management Technology Instructor Natural Resources Department

11 2018 HERO AWARDS

Left to right: Greg Cope, Chris Moorman, Richard Lancia , Chris Deperno, Jamie Sasser, Nils Peterson, Phil Doerr. Photo courtesy Lara Pacifici.

Dr. Richard “Dick” Lancia: a Career Defined by Service

For this service, Dick was selected as a TWS Fellow in 2004. Dick was a dedicated faculty member at NC State University and was Coordinator of the NCSU Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program for many years. He mentored over 45 graduate students and co-

12 2018 HERO AWARDS authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles focused on conserving a wide range of wildlife taxa, including wild turkey, songbirds, beaver, bobcat, and white-tailed deer. Dr. Lancia was a dedicated and conscientious teacher and was named NCSU Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor. Throughout his career, Dick taught 10 different courses in wildlife biology and management and mentored hundreds of undergraduate students.

Dick is best known by most students for his 23 years of leadership during the Fisheries and Wildlife Summer Camp. Each summer, he spent 6 weeks living at Hill Forest with students majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and Forest Management. During the long days of field study in close quarters, Dick developed a unique mentoring relationship with many students. In fact, Dick is famous for teaching the students how to tick-proof their field clothes using duct tape as well as teaching them the call of his favorite bird, an ovenbird, with the call mnemonic of “teacher…teacher…teacher”.

Despite his many accomplishments, Dick is modest and has a selfless attitude; he always puts the best interest of others first. Dick’s achievements truly were for the betterment of students, the profession, and the environment.

Awarded by Chris Moorman and Jamie Sasser.

13 2018 HERO AWARDS

Colleen Olfenbuttlel and Casey Dukes. Photo courtesy Casey Dukes.

Colleen Olfenbuttel

For her passion and dedication to wildlife management and her willingness to teach and encourage others in the wildlife field. She has become a mentor that has continued to encourage me to learn and push past expectations.

Awarded by Casey Dukes.

14 2018 HERO AWARDS

Gabriela Garrison. Photo courtesy Gabriela Garrison.

Gabriela Garrison For her dedication to pollinators by working with developers on planting native pollinator habitat at solar energy facilities. And thank you for all your support and mentorship over the last few years.

Awarded by Olivia Munzer.

15 2018 HERO AWARDS

Left to right: Ethan Smith, Christopher Moorman, Austin Mueller, Lara Pacifici, Sam Jolly, Sarah Bailey, and Moriah Boggess. Photo courtesy NCSU Leopold Wildlife Club.

Dr. Christopher Moorman and Lara Pacifici

Dr. Moorman and Dr. Pacifici are wildlife heroes for their dedication to their students inside and outside the classroom. They both spend countless hours working to provide the highest education for their students while also providing opportunities for students to gain valuable field experience.

2018 HERO AWARDS

Dr. Pacifici works tirelessly to connect students with wildlife professionals and potential employers through class trips, in-class presentations, and daily employment opportunity emails; she also sacrifices a week of her summer to give students first hand experience in the mountains of North Carolina.

Dr. Moorman pushes his students and the officers of the Wildlife Club to do their best and exceed in everything they do. He dedicates time outside the classroom taking students on bird walks and spends a week of his summer teaching habitat management practices at NCSU’s wildlife summer camp.

Both Dr. Pacifici and Dr. Moorman are valued professors and mentors who bring out the best in their students and inspire them to accomplish their goals, for these reasons the Wildlife club at NC State felt that Dr. Pacifici and Dr. Moorman were more than deserving of their hero awards.

Awarded by the student chapter officers on behalf of the NCSU Leopold Wildlife Club.

17 2018 HERO AWARDS

Rachael Urbanek. Photo courtesy Seahawk Wildlife Society.

Dr. Rachael Urbanek

Dr. Urbanek was instrumental in the formation of our student chapter and currently serves as our advisor. She has provided helpful inputs for our chapter and does what she can to ensure our success. Even prior to the formation of the UNCW student chapter, she always

18 2018 HERO AWARDS encouraged students to be involved with TWS. For the past couple of years, she has taught a class entitled Exploring a “Wild” Profession, where students prepare for, attend, and participate in the national TWS conference, learning how to network with other students and wildlife professionals, appropriate etiquette at a professional conference, and more. Her wildlife field techniques class gives many students the knowledge and tools they will need in their future wildlife careers. She constantly offers helpful advice to students desiring wildlife professions. Dr. Urbanek is a fantastic mentor, professor, advisor, and wildlife professional, making her well- deserving of this award.

Awarded by Holly Ferreira on behalf of the Seahawk Wildlife Society.

NC Birding Trail The North Carolina Birding Trail: Showcasing the Unique Beauty of our State By: Malorey Henderson and Scott Anderson

From the Southern Blue Ridge to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, North Carolina supports 466 bird species in the highest diversity of habitats on the east coast. There is no shortage of excellent birding opportunities in this state full of beautiful natural resources. To raise awareness of these diverse and spectacular places, the North Carolina Birding Trail (Trail) was born in 2007.

The Trail is a cooperative effort between NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Audubon North Carolina, NC Sea Grant, NC State Tourism Extension, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Trail is the only comprehensive resource for publicly -accessible protected natural areas; it has 320+ sites that represent a wide variety of conservation approaches, all of which are excellent places for birding and other outdoor activities. The interactive map on the website allows you to plan your

NC Birding Trail visit to an area of the state, complete with recent observations from eBird. Sites provide plenty of activity for birders and non-birders alike, including hiking, paddling, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, swimming, camping, and relaxing. Birding sites can often be a respite from busy, everyday life and hold dear memories of time spent with family and friends. Birding serves as a much-needed break for urban dwellers, allowing them to absorb nourishing doses of the great outdoors. Sites with good bird habitat are typically also good for other flora and fauna as well as the environment and the people in it. At the NC Birding Trail, we strive to support conservation efforts that benefit birds and other native wildlife. Since many rare birds are sensitive to environmental changes, managing natural areas for these wild birds helps to keep habitats at their highest quality. It is important to conserve natural areas not only for the life forms within them, but also for our own health and sanity as humans. Birding sites often offer many options for both birding and outdoor recreation. We asked some birders about their favorite sites on the NC Birding Trail and got some great insight about special, unique birding spots across the state.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

Gorges

NCBT: Coast

Greenfield Park Greenfield Park. Photo courtesy Greenfield Lake at Greenfield Park is a www.wilmington-nc.com historic millpond near downtown Wilmington which has been allowed to mature into a naturalized cypress lake roughly 250 acres in size. The grounds include colorful gardens with flowering trees and moss-draped live oaks. The footpath around the lake affords outstanding views of open water areas. This site offers a fantastic opportunity to experience nature within walking or biking distance from the city center. During the winter, many waterfowl use the lake, and migration brings Neotropical passerines to the area.

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Pocosin Lakes is a hidden winter treasure in eastern NC. Thousands of Snow Geese and Tundra Swan winter there and if you're in the right place at the right

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy Allen Boynton.

NCBT: Coast time, you might see 40-60,000 birds in the managed croplands feeding at dawn or dusk. The birds return to the lake to rest after feeding early in the morning and then can be seen leaving in large numbers during the day to forage. Winter birding is not complete until you've witnessed multiple v-shaped formations of Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson. tundra swans against a Carolina blue sky at Pocosin Lakes NWR.

Other unique coastal birding sites: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Dismal Swamp Canal Trail Holly Shelter Game Land Lake Waccamaw State Park Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (above and below). Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

NCBT: Mountains

Valle Crucis Community Park Located along the Watauga River, Valle Crucis Community Park offers a variety of habitats and is a favorite destination for local birders in the know. Migration gets things started with over 25 warbler species passing through. Spring gives way to nesting season with both Baltimore and orchard orioles, flycatchers and vireos. The open habitats and trails make this an excellent place to see birds. Weekly walks with an experienced birder makes this a great location for all birders from beginners to experienced.

Whiteside Mountain The sheer cliffs of Whiteside Mountain, rising 700 feet from the valley below, are the ideal place for nesting Peregrine Falcons. The 2.5-mile round-trip hike at Whiteside is full of breathtaking views of bald cliff faces as well as the mountains and valleys stretching for miles in the distance. Just when you think you couldn’t possibly see a Whiteside Mountain. Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

Whiteside Mountain. Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

NCBT: Mountains more beautiful view, the next overlook on the trail takes your breath away once again. In addition to plentiful raptors, many songbirds can also be found here year- round.

Other unique mountain birding sites: Craggy Gardens South Mountains State Park

Grandfather Mountain Grandfather Mountain State Park (above). Photo courtesy Kelly Cradle of Forestry in America Douglass. Stone Mountain State Park (bottom left) and Craggy Gar- dens (bottom right). Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson. Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary

NCBT: Piedmont

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve Weymouth Woods is one of the few remaining examples of the longleaf pine forests that once covered millions of acres in the Southeast. This rare habitat supports rare and interesting species including red-cockaded woodpecker, pine barrens tree frog, bog spicebush, fox squirrel, and numerous wildflowers. Roughly 4.5 miles of trails provide Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve. access to this unique habitat. Photo courtesy Nancy Williamson.

Historic Yates Mill County Park Yates Mill, located near NC State in Raleigh, offers year-round birding opportunities on short trails and boardwalks. The lake hosts many waterfowl during the winter, while plentiful songbirds can be seen especially during spring

Historic Yates Mill County Park. Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

NCBT: Piedmont migration and winter. Yates Mill is very easily accessible for residents of the Triangle, particularly Raleigh and Cary.

Other unique piedmont birding sites: Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail The Bog Garden Prairie Ridge Ecostation Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

Historic Yates Mill Pond Park (right), Prairie Ridge Ecostation (bottom left), and Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail (bottom right). Photo courtesy Malorey Henderson.

NC Birding Trail

29 #ExploreNC

Lake Mattamuskeet By Andrea Shipley Lake Mattamuskeet is a wildlife refuge for all seasons! Once a pumping station for an ultimately failed farming venture, Mattamuskeet Lodge (the Lodge) remains the ever present sentinel which overlooks Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest natural lake in the state. This natural depression, called a Carolina Bay, currently encompasses approximately 40,000 acres, but was once over double in size. The Lodge was built in 1915 and used for a myriad of events including Ducks Unlimited banquets and weddings during it’s tenure. Due to instable structural conditions, Mattamuskeet Lodge. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley. the Lodge was closed to the public in 2000. Even still, it is a beautiful structure to view, especially at sunrise when it is engulfed in the warm glow of red, pink, and purple hues. Go stand out on the foot bridge in the summer and you’re sure to see great blue heron, cormorants, barn swallows, and osprey!

30 #ExploreNC

In the late fall and Waterfowl at sunset over Wildlife Drive impoundment. Photo courtesy winter, driving down Andrea Shipley. the Wildlife Drive (map on page 33) is where it’s at. Most of the refuge’s impoundments are closed to the public November-February, so that the overwintering waterfowl can rest without disturbance. But the largest impoundment along Wildlife Drive is open year-round and is flanked on both sides by easily drivable roads. You’ll see all sorts of waterfowl and wading birds during this time of year: tundra swans, Canada geese, coots, pintails, widgeon, white ibis, great egrets, teals, redheads, canvasbacks, and mergansers, to name a few. Go into the visitor center and pick up a wildlife list booklet—a full list of species and occurrences to reference. Winter on the refuge is a wildlife photographers’ delight! It’s my favorite season there. But that’s not to say that there isn’t anything to see during the spring and summer. To the Great blue heron and turtles. Photo courtesy contrary! These hot and humid seasons bring Andrea Shipley. with them a bevy of songbirds and shore

31 #ExploreNC

birds, herpetofauna, and mammals to view. If you’re up for searching through swampy pocosin, you may be rewarded with the sight of a brightly colored pigmy rattlesnake! A short side note: poaching of herpetofauna has been an issue on the refuge and both US Fish Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley and Wildlife Service and NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) law enforcement work tirelessly during the warmer weather seasons to find would-be poachers and put a stop to their illegal activities. Keep your eyes peeled and if you suspect poaching , contact the refuge visitor center (252-926- 4021) or the NCWRC Hotline (800-662-7137). All of the boating ramps open back up on March 1, so get to fishing and crabbing during your summer visit! Or go for a paddle in one of the canals or on the lake. Bird watching is fun too, especially at the visitor center’s pollinator garden, where you can watch a multitude of ruby- White-tailed deer. Photo courtesy Andrea throated hummingbirds vie over a spot at Shipley. one of the feeders. But be prepared for the notoriously aggressive mosquitoes and biting flies of Hyde County! My advice: 1) don’t wear anything with fragrance, 2) don’t wear hair products, 3) wear loose, lightweight, long sleeve shirts, and 4) give yourself a good spray of Hyde County Cologne (aka DEET)!

32 #ExploreNC

Lake Mattamuskeet Map. Photo courtesy USFWS.

There are many trails to explore in the different areas around the lake, so be sure to pick up a refuge map in the visitor center or visit the following websites: Planning Information: https://www.fws.gov/ refuge/Mattamuskeet Species List: https:// www.fws.gov/southeast/ pdf/species-list/ mattamuskeet-national- wildlife-refuge.pdf River otters. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley.

33 #ExploreNC

I’d be remiss to not say a word about our neighboring refuge: the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes. These are the best public lands to see bears on the Albemarle Peninsula, in my opinion. Fall, spring, and summer are all fantastic times to get out at sunrise or sunset to see the largest black bears in the world as Black bear at Pungo. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley. they come out to the ample corn or bean fields for a munch! If you’re quiet and dressed in non-garishly colored clothing, you can even experience extended viewing periods. Despite what media tends to portray, black bears are very skittish and sound sensitive. If you’re respectful of their space, it can be a truly enjoyable to get up close and personal with these special animals.

Let’s not forget the massive flocks of tundra swans and snow geese! Again, sunrise and sunset are the best times of day to try and see the hurricane of snow geese. But like Mattamuskeet, Pungo closes many roads for the winter, so pay attention to posted signs while you Snow geese at Pungo. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley. #ExploreNC! 34 Endowment Scholarships

2018 NCSU Scholarship Winner

Photo courtesy Lauren Myers.

Dear NCTWS, This past summer, I had the opportunity to attend the NCSU Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Summer Camp. This six- week experience is comprised of four courses: Fisheries and Wildlife Inventory and Management, Fisheries Techniques and Management, Mountain Wildlife Ecology and Management, and Marine Fisheries. These courses aim to teach practical applications of concepts taught within the program of study. For my summer camp experience, I attended only Marine Fisheries week. This week exposed me to many new research techniques, field

35 Endowment Scholarships skills, and habitats. One of my favorite experiences would be our day visit to Croatan National Forest. I was exposed to many new habitats and ecosystems, such as saltwater estuaries, bogs, pocosins, and longleaf pine forests. We spent most of the day hiking, observing wildlife, and examining flora such as the carnivorous Venus flytrap, sundews, and pitcher plants. In addition to the visit to Croatan, we also were able to observe a sea turtle necropsy, identify many marine fish species during a deep-sea fishing trip, and learned various fish sampling techniques. After summer camp, I was able to obtain an internship with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences as a malacology (study of mollusks) collections intern. The knowledge I obtained at summer camp allowed me to better understand malacology and the various sampling and collection techniques involved. I would like to thank the NCTWS for their generous contribution to my summer camp experiences and my future career in conservation biology. Lauren Myers

The NCTWS helped establish an endowment fund at NCSU that provides one scholarship each year to an undergraduate student attending the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Summer Camp. From 2007 through 2014, the NCTWS contributed more than $10,000 to help the endowment fund reach its minimum goal of $15,000.

36 Conservation Awards

Congratulations to our NCTWS members!

Jason Allen Biologist of the Year

Awarded by the NC Bowhunter’s Association

“The purpose of these awards is to recognize the outstanding service or contribution to NCBA and bowhunting in North Carolina.” Jason Allen, NCTWS Lifetime Member #015. Photo courtesy Jason Allen.

37 Conservation Awards Kelly Douglass Forest Stewardship Program Partnership Award

Awarded by the NC Forest Service

“For significant achievements in working successfully Kelly Douglass, NCTWS Lifetime Member #001. Photo courtesy Deanna with landowners in Noble. support of the NC Forest Stewardship Program.”

“Both awards are due to the hard work and dedication of these employees. I am honored to work with both of them.” Ken Knight, Supervising Wildlife Biologist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission (Jason and Kelly’s direct supervisor).

38 JEFF’S NCTWS JUMBLED Member SpotlightJOTTINGS

Name Andrea Shipley

What you’re called: Andrea, Drea by friends

Current Position: Mammalogist, NC Wildlife Resources Commission

How long have you been with this employer? I just hit the 2-year mark in On the summit of Mt. Wheeler in Great Basin February National Park. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley.

Phone number and/or e-mail: 252.926.0266 / [email protected] or [email protected]

Education: BA in Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, MS in Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University

Where did you grow up? Central New Jersey (endless traffic!)

What other work experience do you have? A little bit of everything; I started working young and did all sorts of things to earn my keep. I mowed my neighbor’s lawns, shoveled driveways in winter, baby sat, demo and lots of painting small closets for my dad’s contracting business, worked in a lot of retail jobs, cleaned houses, performed soil ecology research at a university lab, worked in clinical research as a bioanalytical chemist, baker for Panera Bread (free baked goods!), data QC, various wildlife tech positions, wildlife biologist, and canid biologist.

39 NCTWS Member Spotlight

Why did you go into a wildlife career? I’ve always been drawn to natural areas and watching wildlife. I grew up hiking and would often go up into the mountains to hike as a kid. I was raised in an area that had lots of open space that ended up becoming housing developments and strip malls, much like the suburban sprawl that’s currently going on in the Raleigh area. Areas that I had previously enjoyed playing in, hiking around, and feeling at home in, became something inhospitable. Seeing the uptick in roadkill in these areas left a distinct impression in my mind at a young age about the value of undeveloped land and the impacts of development on wildlife. In high school biology, I discovered the wonder of ecology when our class covered the subject in a segment. It was a watershed moment for me and I knew at that point that I would likely work in ecology in some capacity.

Have you always been interested in wildlife? Definitely! I’ve always had pets and as a kid I would go in search of animals to watch or handle. My dad got me a dog because I kept bringing home stray cats and he was severely allergic so I could never keep them. Sitting around my lawn and watching birds and squirrels for hours was a favorite way to spend an afternoon. The Delaware Water Gap is one of my favorite places in the world and I loved going there as a kid because (aside from hiking) I could see bears and porcupines and deer and all sorts of wildlife that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen where I lived.

What has been the highlight of your wildlife career so far? I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have had a multitude of highlights. My last position as Canid Biologist was one long highlight reel – being able to build a project from the ground up and having the support to do so within Processing a canid during trapping activities for the AP Canid Project. Photo courtesy Andrea Shipley.

40 NCTWS Member Spotlight a collaborative process has been a dream come true. Also, handling canids is pretty cool.

What species or habitat do you know most about or work with the most? I have significantly more experience with predators than other species, though I’ve sought to diversify my experiences.

What advice would you give someone just starting out in wildlife? There’s a lot of advice that could be given to someone just starting out in wildlife, but I think perhaps one of the most important pieces I’ve been given is to simply be open minded. Wildlife management is ultimately people management and a wide variety of opinions and values exist within our society. To be effective at any wildlife job, it is important to be open minded and be willing to really hear what people who have values different from your own have to say. Be willing to incorporate those viewpoints into your own perceptions on particular issues. I think the best way to summarize this is: “a successful negotiation is one where no one party is happy.”

What are your hobbies? Photography (website: joyfulimagesbyajs.com), hiking, jewelry making, playing with my two dogs, traveling, volunteering/service work, singing.

Where is the most interesting place you have traveled? Traveling is a joy! I really enjoyed traveling through Namibia, Africa. It was interesting because the trip was part of a class and we learned a lot about African conservation. I really enjoyed speaking to folks and learning about their culture as well as seeing all the magnificent wildlife (African elephants happen to be my very favorite animals). Certainly, a bucket list trip.

TWS Give Back Program: Engaging more wildlife professionals Posted on November 23, 2016

Beginning Dec. 1, when professionals, early-career professionals and retired TWS members renew their memberships, they’ll have the opportunity to “Give Back” to the wildlife profession by gifting a six-month complimen- tary TWS membership to an active wildlife professional of their choice to in- troduce that person to the many benefits that TWS has to offer. One of many significant announcements at the TWS Annual Conference in Raleigh by TWS chief operating officer Ed Thompson, this program was arguably one the biggest, creating quite a stir and plenty of positive buzz among at- tendees.

“Members have expressed how difficult it is to put the true value of a TWS membership into words when encouraging other professionals to join,” Thompson said. “By allowing them to pass along the complete TWS experience, the Give Back program provides members with a simple way to demonstrate that value.”

Over the past two years the Society has significantly improved the benefits of TWS membership, but those who aren’t members of the parent Society likely do not know how much they are missing. During that same time peri- od, the Society’s student membership has continued to grow, but the number of professionals has remained mostly stagnant. So in order to grow and strengthen the TWS network of professionals and increase collaboration opportunities for all members, the new Give Back program specifically tar- gets individuals who are active wildlife professionals to receive these intro- ductory memberships.

Nominees, should they choose to accept their gift membership from a TWS member, will experience all the same benefits as members, including but not limited to: • The Wildlife Professional bimonthly magazine • Free online access to all TWS publications (The Journal of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Monographs, and Wildlife Society Bulletin) (effective Jan. 1, 2017) • Weekly editions of the eWildlifer newsletter, including featured TWS Talks presentations • Networking through the TWS Online Member Directory (launching in December) • Ability to join any and all working groups • Ability to pursue certification opportunities • A variety of members-only discounts, including $200 off TWS Annual Conference registration And much more!

If you renew online, you will immediately have the opportunity to nominate an active wildlife professional. If you renew through TWS’ paperless auto- matic renewal program or mail in a paper renewal form, you will receive an

email with a link that can be used to submit your nomination.

The nomination process is easy: • Provide the name and email address of the nominee. • TWS will send an email on your behalf inviting the person to accept your gift. • The nominee accepts the gift by simply providing a mailing address (to receive The Wildlife Professional magazine). • The nominee receives a welcome email with member login information. You receive an email confirming that the person has accepted your gift so that you can stay in touch and continue to encourage your nominee to join at the end of the six months.

Before your renewal date sneaks up on you, start thinking about who you can nominate. It may be a friend or colleague in your organization or agen- cy; a respected peer at a different organization; a TWS local chapter or section member who isn’t a parent society member; or anyone you believe would benefit from a TWS membership and would be a valuable addition to our network of wildlife professionals.

“If every professional, early-career professional and retired member nomi- nates an active professional for this special opportunity, nearly 7,000 people will experience TWS membership through this new program during the upcoming year,” Thompson said. “The Give Back Program is an amazing opportunity to significantly grow our membership, providing all TWS members with a wider and more diverse network for professional development and collaboration.”

Are you a member of Parent TWS? If you are not a member of The Wildlife Society, you may want to consider joining. TWS members enjoy many benefits including:

• Online access to three TWS journal publications Journal of Wildlife Management, Wildlife Society Bulletin, and Wildlife Monographs • Weekly e-Wildlifer e-newsletters • Quarterly issues of the Wildlife Professional magazine • Access to over 100 online archived talks from the most recent TWS Annual Conference • Discounts on Wiley scientific books (25%) and Johns Hopkins books (30%) • Significant discount on conference registration ($200) • Become CWB or AWB • Attend the TWS Annual Conference • Access to the TWS network directory • Access to members-only working groups • Increase the impact of your voice on important wildlife policy issues • Nominate someone for a free 6-month membership to TWS Membership dues:

• Regular membership $81 • New professional $51 • Student $41 • Retired $41 • Family $125 Don’t forget SETWS! For only $10 a year for professionals or $6/year for students, you can also become a member of the Southeastern Section of The Wildlife Society and join over 475 other professionals in the Southeast! Join online through TWS, or mail a membership application form to SETWS today.

Newly Certified Biologists!

Please join us in congratulating the following TWS members from North Carolina (some of whom are also NCTWS members) for ob- taining their certification through The Wildlife Society in 2017!

Caleb Hickman, CWB® Joshua Parris, CWB® Wilson Ricks, CWB® James Tomberlin, CWB® Christopher Inscore, AWB®

Come join us for a NCTWS Executive Board Meeting in 2018! All members are welcome to attend in person or via Skype. Our meetings usually run from 10am – 230pm, and are scheduled for the following dates: July 18, 2018 October 3, 2018 December 4, 2018 Contact Colleen Olfenbuttel at [email protected] or (540) 239-6457 for meeting details (location, agenda, Skype invitation, etc.).

46 Upcoming Events

July-August  39th Festival for the Eno—Durham, NC (July 4 and 7, 2018)  North American Congress for Conservation Biology—Toronto, Ontario (July 21-26, 2018)  American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Joint Meeting— Rochester, NY (July 8-15, 2018)  NC Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting—Asheboro, NC (August 2-3, 2018)  103rd Ecological Society of America Annual Conference—New Orleans, LA (August 5-10, 2018)  27th International Ornithological Congress & Waterbird Society Meeting— Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN (August 18-25, 2018) September-October  108th Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Meeting—Tampa, FL (September 9-12, 2018)  11th Eastern Native Grass Symposium—Erie, PA (September 17-19, 2018)  Environmental Educators of NC Annual Conference—Atlantic Beach, NC (September 27-29, 2018)

47 Upcoming Events

 NC Trappers Association Annual Convention—Smithfield, NC (September 27 -29, 2018)  2018 Society of American Foresters National Convention—Portland, OR (October 3-7, 2018)  25th The Wildlife Society Annual Conference—Cleveland, OH (October 7-11, 2018)  North Carolina State Fair—Raleigh, NC (October 11-21, 2018)  Fire in the Pines Festival—Wilmington, NC (October 13, 2018)  18th Annual NAPPC (North American Pollinator Protection Campaign) International Conference—Washington, DC (October 16-18, 2018)  Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival—Outer Banks, NC (October 16-21, 2018  72nd Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Annual Conference—Mobile, AL (October 21-24, 2018)  12th Biennial Longleaf Conference—Alexandria, LA (October 23-28, 2018) November-December  30th Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Conference—Baltimore, MD (November 13-14, 2018)  Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival—Outer Banks, NC (December 7-9, 2018)

48 Upcoming Events

 2018 Innovations in Invasive Species Management Conference—Nashville, TN (December 12-14, 2018) January-July  42nd Southeast Deer Study Group Meeting—Louisville, KY (February 17-19, 2019)  84th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference—Denver, CO (March 4-9, 2019)  18th Wildlife Damage Management Conference—Starkville, MS (March 4-7, 2019)  Citizen Science Association Conference—Raleigh, NC (March 13-17, 2019)  6th Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference—State College, PA (July 23-25, 2019)

49 Chapter Vision Statement

To guide and promote the conservation and management of wildlife resources throughout North Carolina

Do you have a research or management project you think your fellow NCTWS members would enjoy hearing about? Do you have an idea for a new item in the newsletter? Or perhaps you would like to submit an article for publication? If so, please let us know!

Feel free to email Kelly Douglass at [email protected], or the NCTWS at [email protected].

Thank you for reading!

Andrea Shipley & Kelly Douglass, NCTWS Newsletter Co-editors Visit us online: Steve Ball, NCTWS Newsletter Copy Editor nctws.org