San Antonio Audubon Society AUDUBON NEWS A Conservation and Birding Club since 1954

Volume 65, Number 5 September/October 2019

ALDER AND WILLOW FLYCATCHERS Inside this issue: By Mike Scully Field Trips 2 The Genus Empidonax, as presently defined, comprises So similar are Alder and 14 species of drab flycatchers, 11 of which breed in at Willow Flycatchers in ap- New Members 3 least some part of the United States. All are complete pearance that visual identi- Monthly Meetings 4 migrants, with most entirely departing North America in fication, even with birds the fall. The niche these flycatchers occupy is that of a held in the hand, can be Annual Dinner in Oct. 5 small- to medium-sized flycatcher of forested or brushy problematic. The two spe- areas. The birds typically perch on a twig or branch amid cies are, however, readily SAAS Info 6 vegetation in the canopy or understory, then set out on identified by their calls, short sallies to take insects in flight or glean them from famously the buzzy “fee- Membership Form 7 vegetation while hovering. The breeding ranges of our bee-oo” song of the Alder Empidonax species cumulatively cover most of North versus the sharper “fitz-bew!” of the Willow. The Alder America from the Arctic treeline south. One or more spe- Flycatcher occupies a more northern breeding range cies occur in most locations, with the exception of parts extending across the Canadian Northwoods south to the of the desert Southwest and Great Plains. Among our 11 Great Lakes Region and across our northeastern states. species, sometimes subtle differences in size and The Willow Flycatcher is absent from most of Canada; two eastern subspecies collectively occur on the Great Plains through the Dakotas and the Midwest and across our eastern states south to the Appalachians. Three western subspecies collectively breed in the mountain states from British Columbia south through Oregon and Idaho, and south again through Arizona and New Mexico.

Alder and Willow Flycatchers are among the last migrants to pass through our area in the spring. Presumably, their particular foraging niche requires that a relative abundance of arthropod prey and foliage be present before breeding is possible. Both species prefer Alder Flycatcher edge habitats, often near water. The Alder, in particular, By Cephas (CC BY-SA 3.0) often nests in woody shrubs growing from shallow water. proportion occur, notably with respect to bill dimensions Widespread as suitable habitat would seem to be across and wing length. The physical attributes of each particu- the boreal forests of Canada, for reasons unknown, the lar species presumably better adapt that species to the Alder Flycatcher appears to be scarce across most of its specific habitat it prefers. breeding range. In areas of sympatry, Adler Flycatchers occupy wetter areas. Where conflicts occur, the more Many Empidonax flycatchers are notoriously difficult to aggressive Willow Flycatcher typically displaces its con- identify. The characteristics we find helpful in this regard gener. In contrast to the generally scarce Alder Flycatch- are the isolating mechanisms apparently employed by er, Willow Flycatcher populations in the Eastern United the species themselves—their calls, ranges and habitat States can reach locally high densities. However, the preferences. Nowhere is this more true than in the case Southwestern Willow Flycatcher subspecies (E. traillii of the Alder (Empidonax alnorum) and Willow (E. traillii) extimus), limited to desert watercourses, has been Flycatchers. These two species were once considered to be the same species, the Traill’s Flycatcher. (Continued on p. 3)

SAN ANTONIO AUDUBON CALENDAR: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Please call the trip leaders if you have questions. sanctuary in Cibolo. Take I-35 north toward Austin. Last-minute changes to field trips will be posted at Take Exit 176, Wiederstein Road. Turn right onto saaudubon.org, www.facebook.com/saaudubon/ or Wiederstein at the overpass. Turn left at the next sent by email via SATXBirds. Please arrive early. road, Old Wiederstein Road. After you pass Dean Road, the Schaezler property begins on the right. Thursday, September 5, 8:00 AM Medina River Natural Area Tuesday, September 24, 8:00 AM Meet leader Bob Doe (210/508-2729) in the park HQ Crescent Bend Nature Park parking lot at 15890 Highway 16 South. The entrance Meet Sandi Wheeler ([email protected]) is about 4 miles south of Loop 410 South. Bring water in the parking lot of the park. From San Antonio, and snacks. take I-10 east to the FM 1518 exit and go north toward Schertz. Look for a brown park sign at Saturday, September 7, 8:00 AM Schafer Road. Turn right and go 3 miles to the park. Universal City Veterans Park Entrance on left before Cibolo Creek. Bring water. Meet leader Christian Fernandez (210/415-0843 or [email protected]) in the parking lot at 758 Thursday, September 26, 8:00 AM East Aviation Blvd. in Universal City. The park is on Walker Ranch Park, 12603 West Ave. Cibolo Creek. Contact Christian for directions. Meet leaders Damien & Nancy Martinez (210/744- 9330) in the parking lot. From Wurzbach Parkway, Saturday, September 14, 8:00 AM exit West Ave. Turn south and drive two blocks, turn SAAS Beginners’ Bird Walk right into parking lot. Meet leader Georgina Schwartz (210/342-2073) at the Judson Nature Trails, 246 Viesca Street. From Friday, October 4, 8:00 AM the 5900 block of Broadway, turn west on Ogden Eisenhower Park, 19399 NW Military Hwy Street and drive to the stop sign at Greeley Street. Meet Dodge and Lorna Engleman (210/415-1038) at You’ll see a sign to Judson Nature Trails. Turn left, the water fountain in the park. Bring water and go one block and turn right on Viesca, then into park- snacks. See trail map. ing lot on left. We have binoculars to lend.

Thursday, October 10, 8:00 AM Tuesday, September 17, 8:00 AM Devil’s Sinkhole State Natural Area Tobin Park Join us for a guided tour to a natural area that is only Meet leader Mariann Golden (210/415-4661) at Tobin open by appointment. Please email Christian Fernan- Park on Ira Lee Road and Austin Highway. The dez at [email protected] for RSVP and info. entrance is only accessible from Austin Highway and Space is limited. $10 fee/person. Located in Edwards Ira Lee. From the north on Austin Hwy, turn immedi- County, a 2+ hour drive from San Antonio. ately right after crossing Salado Creek Bridge, turn left on Ira Lee, enter park on right. From south on Austin Highway, turn left before crossing the Salado Saturday, October 12, 8:00 AM Creek bridge and continue on Ira Lee to the park SAAS Beginners’ Bird Walk entrance. Please bring water, snacks and bug spray. Meet leader Barbara Sykes (210/573-0535) at the Judson Nature Trails parking lot. See directions for Saturday, September 21, 7:30 AM —Note early start time Sept. 14 walk. Wiedenfeld Ranch Meet Georgina Schwartz (210/342-2073) at the I-10 Tuesday, October 22, 8:00 AM exit to Welfare and FM 289 in Kendall County. We Tobin Park will caravan from there to Sue Wiedenfeld’s ranch. See info for September 17 walk. Bring lunch and water. We will have access to her creek and feeders. Friday, October 25, 8:00 AM Crownridge Canyon Plants & Birds Sunday, September 22, 8:00 AM Meet Patty Leslie Pasztor (210/837-0577 or Warbler Woods, 19349 Old Wiederstein [email protected] at the park, 7222 Luskey Blvd. Meet Sandi Wheeler at Don and Susan Schaezler’s (continued on p. 3)

2 San Antonio Audubon News

Alder and Willow Flycatchers continued from page 1 SAAS FIELD TRIPS OCTOBER subject to widespread habitat destruction and at- tendant cowbird parasitism and is currently classified (Continued from p. 2) as an Endangered Species. Bring water and snacks. We'll explore this City of SA park looking and listening for birds, as well as identi- In both species, the female alone constructs the nest. fying some Hill Country plants. In contrast to the neat woven cups characteristic of Willow Flycatchers, Alder Flycatcher nests are more Sunday, October 27, 8:00 AM loosely woven and generally placed closer to the Crescent Bend Nature Park ground or water. Unusual among Empids, male Alder Meet leader Christian Fernandez 210/415-0843 or Flycatchers share incubation duties with their mates. [email protected]) in the park. See Sept. 24 In both species, both parents feed the young. field trip for directions.

Saturday, November 2, 8:00 AM Rancho Blanco Space is limited for this trip to a private ranch in Northwest Bexar County. Email Christian Fernandez at [email protected] for info.

PELAGIC CRUISE AUGUST 2020 Join SAAS on a cruise, Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC, August 22-26, 2020 onboard the Golden Princess. If interested, make reservations with Princess Cruises directly at Princess.com or 800-774-6237. We recommend making at least a de- posit early, because the ship is nearly full already. Contact Bob Doe for more info: [email protected]. Willow Flycatcher by Kelly Colgan Azar Flickr Creative Commons WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Subsequent to breeding, songbirds begin a post- Mary & Walter Baker Kitty Hamilton breeding molt (termed the “prebasic molt”), where 1251 Conifer Cove Lane 9106 Brightwater some or all of the plumage is replaced. Molting has Webster, NY 14580 San Antonio, TX 78254 been described as being even more metabolically 585/943-4670 210/647-0769 challenging to a bird than is breeding. Adult Alder and Willow Flycatchers migrate south before this prebasic Tom & Mary Bridges Fred Loxsom molt is well underway and pass back through our area P. O. Box 479 203 Pike Road beginning in August. Juvenile Willow Flycatchers Portland, TX 78374 San Antonio, TX 78209 appear to molt before migration, passing through our 361/877-2228 860/455-3422 area later in the season. The situation with respect to juvenile Alder Flycatchers is uncertain. As is usual Petra Claflin Elaine Pope among Neotropical migrants, the more northerly 1431 Canyon Edge 29215 Oakview Ridge breeding Alder Flycatcher undergoes a longer migra- San Antonio, TX 78248 Fair Oaks Ranch, TX tion, wintering in South America proper. The Willow 713/304-8228 78015 Flycatcher winters from Mexico south to Venezuela 830/755-8005 and Colombia. Betty & Randy Ewing 8214 Brixton Rogelio Ruiz San Antonio, TX 78254 466 N. Crisp Street SAAS Benefits When you Shop with 210/639-7942 Uvalde, TX 78801 830/486-4069 Smile.Amazon.com Eres Gomez SAAS receives a contribution from Smile.Amazon.com 10393 White Bonnet St. every time you shop at the online retailer. Simply San Antonio, TX 78240 register at Smile.Amazon.com and designate SAAS as 210/557-7815 your non-profit of choice.

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SAAS/BAS MEETINGS CALENDAR

Thursday, September 5 ● 7:00 PM

San Antonio Zoo Education Center

Penguins at SeaWorld San Antonio: Social, Piscivorous, and Tuxedo Clad By Lloyd R. Tyndall, SeaWorld San Antonio

Discover what it is like to work with and care for the amazing penguins at SeaWorld San Antonio. Lloyd Tyndall, aviculturist and penguin care expert, will talk about the species of penguins at the water park and the daily care of a large diverse colony ranging from chicks to adults.

Lloyd’s talk will also highlight working with the birds, including using embryonic ectoderm development (EED), feeding, nesting season, guest interaction tours with the penguins and last but not least, play time with the penguins!

As some of the most recognizable and beloved birds in the world, they even have their own holiday: World Penguin Day, celebrated every year on April 25. Lloyd has been working with animals for the past 20 years. After serving in the Armed Forces, he obtained a degree in Animal Science and started working in animal clinics, learning a great deal about the medical side of working with animals. Lloyd then moved on to educational work at the Houston Zoo, where he learned how to relay conservation messages to guests.

In time, Lloyd became involved with the San Diego Zoo Propagation Center for Endangered Birds and learned many important hand-rearing techniques for a variety of bird species.

In 2002, Lloyd started as a full time Avicul- turist at SeaWorld San Antonio, working with over 100 different species of birds and reptiles for the zoological department. During his time with SeaWorld, Lloyd has traveled to many places around the world, including the Galapagos Islands, for con- servation projects and transporting animals to new zoos/aquariums around the world. The only thing more adorable than a penguin is a

baby penguin. From left to right: Rockhopper, He has been involved in the training of Ani- Chinstrap, and Gentoo Penguin chicks. mal Ambassadors for SeaWorld along with helping out the other animal areas of the park. Lloyd helped start a Penguin Interaction Program at SeaWorld San Antonio in 2010, which is very popular to this day.

Nobody doesn’t like a penguin!

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BUY YOUR TICKETS! 2019 AUDUBON ANNUAL DINNER

Thursday, October 3, 2019 ● 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM San Antonio Zoo Beastro Our Audubon Annual Dinner speaker will be West Virginia-based author and conservation- ist Katie Fallon, co-founder of the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, a nonprofit research, education and rehabilitation center for injured birds. Katie is a member of the In- ternational Association of Avian Trainers and Educators and has glove-trained a wide varie- ty of raptor species. Katie will speak about one of her favor- ite birds, a species she profiled in her book Vulture: The Private Life of an Unloved Bird, which will be available for sale ($20 cash or check) and sign- ing after the program. Turkey Vultures are the most widely distributed and abundant scavenging birds of prey on the planet—found from central Canada to the southern tip of Argentina and almost everywhere in between. Katie follows a year in the life of a typical North American Turkey Vulture and examines all aspects of the bird’s natural history. Tickets are $35 per person for dinner and the program. Buy your tickets at the September 5 meeting or by mail. Your check must be received by Sept. 27. Mail checks to: San Antonio Audubon Society, 5150 Broadway, #257, San Antonio, TX 78209. Make checks payable to SAAS ($35/person) and include your choice of entrée (Meat Lasagna or Vegetarian/Zucchini Lasagna or Gluten-free Ratatouille) and your email address so you can receive admission instructions the week of the dinner. Please include the names of all those attending. GUESTS ARE WELCOME!

The dinner menu includes: • Choice of: Meat Lasagna or Zucchini Lasagna (Vegetarian) or Ratatouille (Gluten-free) • Italian Green Beans • Caesar Salad • Texas Toast Garlic Bread • Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce • Bowl of Mixed fruit (pineapple, strawberries, and grapes) • Fresh Brewed Iced Tea and Water

Cash Bar from 5:00 to 7:30 PM includes: Conserveza (Freetail Beer supporting Zoo Conservation initiatives), light beer, red and white wine, margaritas

September/October 2019 5

LOCAL BIRDING LOCATIONS SAAS-Y NOTES

MITCHELL LAKE AUDUBON CENTER BRING YOUR USED BOOKS TO SEPT. 5 MEETING The SAAS semi-annual used book sale will be held at 10750 Pleasanton Road the November 7 meeting. Please bring your used San Antonio, TX 78221 books to Georgina Schwartz at the Sept. 5 meeting or Visit http://mitchelllake.audubon.org or email call her at 210/342-2073. [email protected] or call 210/628-1639

SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN WHO HAS STEPPED UP FOR SAAS THIS YEAR? 555 Funston, San Antonio, TX 78209 Nominations are open for the 2019 SAAS Honoree of Visit www.sabot.org or call 210/207-3250 the Year. Please submit names to any Board member by Oct. 21. The board will vote on the nominees at the GOVERNMENT CANYON October 24 board meeting. 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX 78254 Visit www.friendsofgc.org or call 210/688-9055 SAAS Board of Directors Meeting Judson Nature Trails Trailhouse CIBOLO NATURE CENTER 140 City Park Rd., Boerne, TX 78006 Thursday ● September 26 ● 6:00 PM Visit www.cibolo.org or call 830/249-4614 Thursday ● October 24 ● 6:00 PM All are invited. Contact Mariann Golden for more info: [email protected] MITCHELL LAKE MONTHLY BIRDING TOURS San Antonio Audubon Society Pre-register online at MLAC website 5150 Broadway #257 1st Sunday: Sept. 1 & Oct. 6, 8:00 AM San Antonio TX 78209-5710 2nd Sunday: Sept. 8 & Oct. 13, 8:00 AM [email protected] 2nd Tuesday: Sept. 10 & Oct. 8, 8:00 AM www.saaudubon.org 3rd Sunday: Sept. 15 & Oct. 20, 8:00 AM 4th Sunday: Sept. 22 & Oct. 27 , 8:00 AM 4th Saturday (Beginning Birders Tour): Sept. 28 & Officers Oct. 26, 8:00 AM Mariann Golden, President $8 for non-members; Free for members Georgina Schwartz, Vice President Visit http://mitchelllake.audubon.org or email Mariana Outlaw, Secretary [email protected] or 210/628-1639 Robin Stevens, Treasurer

Directors at Large Lorna Engleman SAAS Membership Christian Fernandez The SAAS newsletter is sent by email only to all Christine Turnbull members who have provided an email address. You will also receive a membership renewal notice by Committee Chairs email. We no longer mail a printed membership di- Bird Records rectory to everyone, but a PDF copy is available by Dodge [email protected] email from the membership secretary at Education/Outreach [email protected] Patsy Inglet------—[email protected] Field Trips SAN ANTONIO AUDUBON NEWS Christian Fernandez----—[email protected] Editor: Lora Reynolds Historian, Betty Walters Contributing Editor: Georgina Schwartz Membership Newsletter Distribution: Tom Inglet Database, Tom [email protected] The newsletter is published bimonthly. Send submissions to Judson Nature Trails [email protected]. Permission is granted to other nonprofit Barbara Sykes———————[email protected] groups to reprint articles, unless otherwise noted. Reprints must Publicity, Shirley Bartels—————[email protected] refer to the originating issue and give credit to San Antonio Audubon News and the specific author. Newsletter, Lora [email protected] Website, Christine [email protected] Copyright © 2019 by the San Antonio Audubon Society.

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SAAS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Birders Needed for Help with skills in birding in hour-long segments throughout Scout Program the day, covering a variety of topics. The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council Adventures For A Second Century Program, uses If you have an interest in volunteering in this outdoor education facilities at the McGimsey family Bird Study Merit Badge Course, or with the Scout Park in Castle Hills. The group has worked quarterly bird counts at the McGimsey Scout Park toward creating community collaboration with and/or the Mays Family Scout Ranch, please SAAS in regularly scheduled quarterly bird counts contact Ed Rogers, SAAS Member and Scouting to establish a birding list for scouting youth and volunteer, at [email protected]. their families and to become part of the national eBird database.

Specific to the council’s interest in birding is the Seeking SAAS Board Members opportunity to engage SAAS members as youth for 2020 education program counselors who might be in- volved in periodic birding seminars and especially SAAS President Mariann Golden and Treasurer the annual staging of a Bird Robin Stevens will be completing their terms at Study merit badge course to be the end of this year. If you would like to volunteer held December 26-28 during to join the SAAS Board of Directors and help fill the council’s Winter Extrava- vacancies, please let Mariann Golden know ganza. This will be a full-day ([email protected]) by September 26. merit badge course, with ample Board elections will be held at the November 7 opportunity for birders like you general meeting. to provide their experience and

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