JANUARY, 2003 Mobile Bay

AudubonA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL AUDUBON Society SOCIETY SINCE 1971

VOLUME XXII NO. 1 Contents

Board of Directors ...... 2 Happy New Cold Day on Delta ...... 2 Year Plurality of ...... 2

Artic Drilling ...... 3

About Cradles ...... 4

Bird Treat Takes Wing ...... 5

Remembering the Ivory- billed ...... 6

The Highlands of Scotland ..7

Calendar...... 8

New Members ...... 9

Sogbird Challenges ...... 10

Weeks Bay Field Trip ...... 11

1 Board of Directors A Cold Day on A Plurality of 2002 the Delta Birds John Borom, Ph.D., President P O Box 432 990-0423 (B) by Celeste Hinds By Celeste Hinds Fairhope, AL 36533 928-5219 (H) In spite of liquid blue skies and Over the years men have Elizabeth Williams, Vice President; rd Birdathon and School Film Prog. very little wind, November 23 was coined a host of special terms to 3616 Pepper Ridge Drive describe birds in groups. Here M7obile, AL 36693 643-725 a frigid day on the Delta Explorer. Heavy coats and warm hats helped are some that survive the English Bill Jones, Treasurer 742 S Mobile Street to keep the 45 hearty souls warm as language. I copied some of these F6airhope, AL 36532 928-897 we left the Blakeley Docks and from an old National Geographic Eleanor Livaudais, Secretary and added others as I came across P O Box 492 meandered up the Mobile Tensaw P7oint Clear, AL 36564 928-896 River Delta looking for Osprey and them in different publications. Ottilie Halstead, Membership Kites. The big birds were smarter 33 Paddock Drive F7airhope, AL 36532 928-953 than the Audubon members. They A siege of Herons A gaggle of Geese (on the Delane Small, Editor stayed out of sight, perhaps 1 Fiesta Drive 460-2400 (B) hunkered down in low vegetation. ground) Spanish Fort, AL 36527 626-9700 (H) A few Great Egrets, Cormo- A skein of Geese (in flight) Edwina Mullins, Publicity 4606 N Sunset Drive rants, Little Snowy Egrets and A herd of , Cranes or M5obile, AL 36608 344-117 plenty of Forester and Caspian Curlews Than Morris, Audubon Adventures Terns were spotted. One Northern A badelyng of 2695 Ponce de Leon Court G6ulf Shores, AL 36542 540-775 Harrier flew low over the marshes. A sord (or sute) of

John Porter, Ph.D., Dauphin Island Laughing Gulls lived up their name A spring of Teal Audubon Sanctuary and laughed at the shivering A company of Widgeon P O Box 848 D0auphin Island, AL 36528 861-212 . A cast of

Elizabeth French, Ph.D., Field Captain Robert Estices steered A bevy of Quail Trips A covey of Partridges 36 Ridgewood Drive the Delta Explorer along interesting C1hickasaw, AL 36611 452-112 shorelines and pointed out histori- A muster of Peacocks Roger Clay, Field Trips cal sites. He said Osprey nests atop A nye of Pheasants P O Box 247 626-5474 (B) Daphne, AL 36526 928-9047 (H) power structures were badly A brood of Chickens A covert of Garland Sims, Special Projects damaged by Tropical Storm Isidore 101 Laurel Street in September. A congregation of Plovers F2airhope, AL 36532 928-677 Resident botanists, Keith A of Lapwings Melvin Long, Field Trips P O Box 86 Carter and Melvin Long, looked for A wisp of Snipe F2oley, AL 36536 943-839 exotic wetland . Noted birder, A fall of Woodcock Minnie Nonkes, Field Trips Minnie Nonkes, identified Golden A bazaar of Murres 102 Homestead Village Apt 22 F6airhope, AL 36532 928-029 Crowned Kinglets in the brushy A flight of Doves or Swallows

Celeste Hinds area before we left the dock. A murmuration of Starlings 11321 Marshall Lane In spite of temps in the 40’s An exaltation of Larks F6airhope, AL 35532 928-652 Audubon members and guests A watch of Nightingales EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS enjoyed a full morning on the Delta A chattering of Choughs Myrt Jones, Past President P O Box 850611 Explorer. By the time the picnic got A host of Sparrows M9obile, AL 36685 625-225 underway, coats were shed and Keith Carter lunch was enjoyed in the sunshine. I clip and paste this list in 7362 Tara Drive N M6obile, AL 36619 666-250 After lunch Audubon President my field guides. Comes in

Nancy Hora John Borom led some of the group handy for impressing new 416 LaBorde on a tour of the nature center under birders. M4obile, AL 36609 342-682 construction in the northern end of Edith McClinton 170 N Lafayette Street the park. M8obile, AL 36604 432-489 All in all, a fine day. Brrrrr!!!

2 Artic Drilling Back in the News

From The Audubon Advisory, October 4, 2002 (Vol. 2002, Issue 20)

In the coming days, a House-Senate intact ecosystem, with all its native help reduce our reliance on oil from Conference Committee is expected to birdlife. Millions of birds nest, migrate the Middle East, while others are make a decision on drilling in the through, or spend the winter in the using the possible war with Iraq to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Last Refuge. Their migrations take them to heighten the pro-drilling rhetoric. year, the US House of each of the 50 states, and they cross These claims are baseless. Here are Representatives passed a provision great oceans and follow distant the facts: to open the Arctic National Wildlife coastlines to reach the lands and Experts agree that drilling for oil in the Refuge to oil and gas drilling. This waters of six continents. Keeping this Arctic Refuge will do little or nothing provision was included as a part of Refuge intact is critical for the to reduce US dependence on foreign the overall House energy bill. In survival of these birds. The Refuge oil, nor will it address America’s long- April, the Senate voted to keep the also provides important habitat for term energy needs. There is only a 6- drilling provisions out of its version the Porcupine Caribou Herd, polar month supply of oil, and even oil of the energy bill. As the two energy bears, musk ox, wolves, grizzly bears industry officials admit that oil bills differ, a Conference Committee and other wildlife. wouldn’t be available for 10 years. comprised of members of both the It comes as no surprise that pro- Even with the most optimistic Senate and House will make the final drilling special interests are using estimates of Arctic Refuge oil added decision. And now, six months later, their political influence and power to to the oil fields off our coasts and they appear ready to do so! pressure Conference Committee everywhere else in the US, we still Conference Committee members need members to open the Refuge to have only 3 to 4% of the world’s oil to be reminded that the Arctic drilling. They erroneously claim that reserves. National Wildlife Refuge, including its opening the Refuge to oil drilling will coastal plain—where they look to drill—has extraordinary value as an

3 For the New Birder – About Bird Cradles By Celeste Hinds

Keeping the warm may oak, and built of down, be a challenge for early spring fiber, oak catkins; bound together nesters. April can be cool and with silk, spider web and wet and parent birds must sit covered with bits of lichen and on the eggs for long periods of plant down. time, without food or water. Last year a Carolina Wren, According to “Birdscope” Thoryothorus ludovicianus, raised its News and Views from Sapsucker brood behind the shampoo in our Woods of Cornell Lab of Orni- outdoor shower. After the nest- thology, ambient temperatures lings had fledged I removed the may also play a role in deter- nest and saw that its interior was mining the clutch size and white as snow. Upon further determining how hard birds examination I saw that the clever must work to keep the eggs at wren had lined its cradle with fine proper temperature. white fur from our cat that was Mourning Doves, Zenaida brushed daily. The wads of fur fell macoura, must be architecturally onto the grass where the wren challenged for their nest con- retrieved and made good use of it. struction leaves much to be I always put lint from the desired. A pair built their dryer outside on twigs for easy use flimsy nest above our patio and of Northern Mockingbirds, the eggs could be seen from Mimus polyglottos. Once a Mock- below. The first little breeze ingbird was seen pulling strings blew the cradle right off the from a dirty mop! limb. Their second nest sur- Peterson Field Guides “Eastern vived and hatched three babies Birds’ Nests” is a good source for Bird nests are not bird homes. that promptly fell out on to the learning more about nests and Nests are cradles, nothing more...I ground. I put them in dense nesting habits. like to think of them as maternity brush nearby and hoped the wards. parent birds would come to When birds sit on eggs, they are their rescue. Although poor not simply relaxing. They are nesters, Doves prosper and seem regulating the temperature of the to grow in number each year. clutch. If too hot, the parent bird Someone brought me the may need to cool the eggs by nest of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, shading or moistening them. Some Polioptila caurela, and it is a birds make frequent trips to bird- work of art. Not only is it baths or watering places to soak lovely to look at, it is sturdy and their belly , then return to glued to the limb on which it the nest to cool the eggs. Some sat. This work of a master species cool the eggs by waving craftsman (or craftsbird, if you their wings. will) was saddled to a small horizontal branch of a water

4 superhighway running from Central diseases such as West Nile virus Bird Treaty and Latin America to the Artic. have taken serious tolls on avian Each year millions of neotropical populations. Takes Wing birds, geese and other waterfowl, Of the 836 migratory species From Houston Chronicle representing hundreds of species, protected under federal law, wildlife © Dina Cappiello pass through the area en route to experts estimate one-quarter to be For migrating birds, cities can warmer weather as the seasons in trouble. Of these, 78 are be a pit stop. Mirrored change. Some stay and nest here, endangered and 14 are listed as skyscrapers create the illusion of an others just pause for refueling. threatened on the federal endan- endless sky to the wary travelers— While some of the projects in gered species list. More than 250 then, whack. Telephone wires and the new treaty could potentially lure species pass through Houston each electrical lines can catch even the more birds to the area—by planting year, according to the estimates. swiftest of wings and the landing vegetation in a number of local parks “We sit in a place where the birds strip of manicured lawns is and building bird houses and have been coming through for nothing more than giant dinner feeders—others will enhance re- eons,” said Ron Jones, a wildlife plates for hungry cats. searchers’ understanding of the biologist with the U.S. Fish and But the trip might be eased a migration. Wildlife Service in Houston. bit for the millions of birds that The projects will be done by One of the groups that applied pass through Houston each season. August 2004 and include: for funding wants to use the money In an agreement signed this fall ·Installation of 20 microphones for research. The South Texas between the city and the U.S. Fish on schools and telephone company Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers and Wildlife Service, Houston buildings to record migratory bird of America, a group of Southwest- became the fourth metropolis in calls at night and to count popula- ern Bell Co. employees and retirees, the country to agree to actively tions. plans to erect microphones on protect migratory birds. National ·Replacement of invasive species buildings around the city to record and local dignitaries will officially with native shrubs and trees in Little the calls of migrant birds at night. announce the signing early next Thicket, Hermann, Memorial, and The recordings will be fed into a year. Under the two-year pact, E.R. and Ann Taylor Parks. computer to determine the species known as an Urban Conservation ·Development of educational from the sound. “For some years, Treaty for Migratory Birds, several materials. we have only been doing radar local educational and environmen- ·Construction of an interpreta- tracking at night,” said Gary tal groups will match $160,000 in tive trail and bird houses and feeders Woods, a member of the group. federal and corporate dollars to along the White Oak Bayou. “That only tells us the approximate provide more bird-friendly habitat “The scope of these projects will number of birds, it tells us nothing and better monitor annual migra- add to the quality of life here in about the species.” tions. Houston,” said Roksan Okan-Vick, New Orleans, Chicago and “Houston is in a strategically director of the city’s Parks and Philadelphia are the other three very important location. Anything Recreation Department, which is cities that signed treaties since the we do good for birds here benefits matching the $80,000 provided by project began in 1999. Portland is literally all of ,” the federal government largely expected to endorse a treaty in said Peter Stangel, regional director through in-kind services. spring 2003. And four other cities for the National Fish and Wildlife Like many major cities, have applied, said Julie St. Louis, Foundation. The nonprofit, a Houston’s bird habitat has slowly national coordinator for the pro- funding arm of the service, do- been eaten away by development gram. In Chicago, one of the nated $80,000 to the treaty. Half and sprawl. The native plants that initiatives called for dimming of that money was donated by birds have adapted to for shelter and disorienting lights on skyscrapers. Houston-based Conoco Phillips, food have been taken over by exotic (Houston will not follow suit). an oil and gas company. shrubs. Domestic animals—most “The program is flexible,” St. Louis When it comes to bird traffic, notably the cat—have become bird said. “We expect the number of Houston is a major rest stop on a predators. And pesticides and cities to increase.”

5 Remembering the Ivory-billed Woodpecker by John Borom

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker on both the upper and lower However, it has not been officially (Campephilus principalis portions of the inner flight declared extinct. The story of the principalis) is or was one of the feathers. The bill is an ivory Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a vivid rarest and largest in color. symbol of a conservation failure of the world. The genus comes from Its former range was in the 20th Century America. the combination of two Greek southeastern United States, By 1900, millions of acres of words campa (a caterpillar) and including all of the Southeast virgin pine, cypress and hardwood philos (loving). The species name north of southeastern North still existed in the Southeast. For is Latin meaning “principal,” Carolina, west to Missouri, and a variety of reasons, those who had referring to the earlier belief that southwest through Oklahoma opportunities to do so failed to caterpillars were the primary food and Texas. The subspecies in save even a single tract of this of this species. Cuba is Campephilus principalis primary forest. A severe popula- Adults are about 20 inches in bairdi. tion decline occurred between length, mostly black, with a red The habitat where this 1885 and 1900, along with crest on the male. The female has species once occurred was mature logging activity. Hunting by no red on the head. A large white old-growth forest and cypress collectors for museums hastened stripe runs from behind the eye swamps. Its diet consisted the decline of the species. and down the neck on both sides mostly of wood-boring The last confirmed sighting of of the head. When the bird is at such as beetle larvae, but it also an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in rest, large white patches are ate other insects, fruits and seeds. Alabama was in 1907. By 1938, visible near the ends of the wings. It is or was the only woodpecker the U.S. population had been While it is flying, white is visible in the United States able to pry reduced to only about 22 indi- unloosened bark off trees. It viduals. Despite the National more commonly fed on insects in Audubon Society’s suggestions trees that had recently died, or that the Singer Preserve in Louisi- dying portions of live trees. ana be selectively logged, leaving The known breeding oc- old trees for woodpeckers, the last curred from January to April and great virgin bottomland swamp on required snags in mature old- the whole North American growth forest for nesting. Nests continent was logged out in 1943. ranged from 15 to 70 feet in One tree that was felled contained height and the female laid from an Ivory-billed Woodpecker nest two to five glossy white eggs. and eggs. A lone female lingered Both adults incubated for ap- about that year. proximately 20 days. The male The last confirmed sighting in incubated at night and the female Florida was in the Apalachicola incubated during the day. The Swamp in 1950. However, an young fledged within 35 days of unconfirmed sighting of a bird in hatching. The male did most of Gulf Hammock was reported in the brooding and nest sanitation. 1963. In 1961 and 1963 uncon- A breeding pair required about firmed reports came from the three square miles of forest. Santee Swamp in South Carolina. According to the U.S. Fish The last confirmed sightings in and Wildlife Service, the species Texas were in Big Thicket in is thought to be extirpated from 1960, 1961 and 1966. In Cuba, the wild in North America. mixed hardwood forests were

6 slashed away not only for lumber seum of Natural Science. distinctive display drum of the but also to make way for the sugar From late January through genus Campephilus. Sadly, industry. The last confirmed mid-March, 2002, acoustic analysis proved that the sounds sighting was in Cuba in 1987. recording units (ARU’s), devel- were distant gun shots that only Since then, there have been oped by the Cornell Lab’s team of sounded to ears like unconfirmed reports that the bioacoustics engineers, recorded drumming on a hollow snag. Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been sounds, natural and otherwise, Researchers do not consider the seen or heard in the U.S. In from 12 different positions results of this winter’s work to be 1999, a LSU forestry student throughout the forests of the conclusive as to the presence or reported that he had seen a pair in Pearl River drainage. The ARUs absence of the species in the Pearl the 35,000- acre Pearl River had been deployed by researchers River forests and investigations Wildlife Management Area while following rugged hikes through will continue. turkey hunting in April. His bayous, brambles, and mud. The real importance of saving perfectly described sighting led to Analysis of more than 4,000 such things as Ivory-billed Wood- renewed efforts to find the species, hours of digital data have shown peckers is not so much that we including a series of cooperative no indication of the species’ need them as that we need to save expeditions conducted by the presence. them. It is time we recognize Cornell Laboratory of Ornithol- At one point, two different where the threat comes from: not ogy, Zeiss Sports Optics, the research teams independently from our enemies but from Louisiana Natural Heritage heard loud double raps that ourselves. Program, Department of Wildlife sounded suspiciously like the and Fisheries and the LSU Mu-

As a trained field naturalist, The Highlands Tom takes us to the wilder parts of Scotland—the highlands. Here of Scotland we’ll see the beautiful Loch Ness, We are indeed fortunate that visit Hadrian’s Wall, watch a Tom Sterling will be with us sheep dog trial, visit a weaver, a again during Film Week, January pottery and Balmorals Castle, the 13-17. During this week, Tom royal family’s autumn residence. will be showing the film, The When we visit the Highland Highlands of Scotland, to Wildlife Park, Scotland’s only students in 10 public and private drive-through wild animal park, schools. He will also show the we’ll see red deer, arctic fox and film Monday, January 13 at the much more. High in the Government Street Baptist Cairngorm Mountains we’ll see Church and Thursday, January the native reindeer. Touring the 16 at 7:30 pm at Faulkner north and west coast, our trip Community College. will conclude with some of Tom has taken a fresh look at Scotland’s most magnificent an old and revered land. The mountain scenery. casual visitor tends to see neat This is a trip to Scotland and tidy coastal villages, the large you’ll not want to miss. Join us at cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and one the night showings—Mon- Inverness; castles, bagpipes and day, January 13 in Mobile and thousands of sheep. We’ll see all Thursday, January 16 in of this and much, much more. Fairhope.

7 Calendar January 13 General Meeting--Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge update 7:30 pm Centennial Hall, Faulkner State Community College, Fairhope Speaker: Allyne Askins, Reserve Manager

February 11 General Meeting–National Audubon Conservation Issues and Legislative Priorities Speaker: Emily Byram, Grassroots Coordinator, NAS, Washington, DC Government Street Baptist Church, 3401 Government Blvd. (Intersection of Highway 90 and I-65) March Flocks of graceful White Ibis (Eudocimus albus ) are feeding in estuarine marshes. Resembling plant stems, Gulf pipefish (Syngnathus scovelli) are abundant in estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation.

11 Board Meeting. 6:30 p.m. General Meeting. “The Galapagos Islands” presented by Bill and Becky Jones. Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend. 12 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—To Fly or Not to Fly” by . Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided. 19 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—The Mastery of Flight” by David Attenborough. Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided. 26 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—The Insatiable Appetite” by David Attenborough. Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided. April When flocks of Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) grace slightly damp, weedy fields, the world seems a brighter place. Young spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) are abundant in estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation.

2 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—Meat Eaters” by David Attenborough. Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided. 5-19 Hummer Bird Study Group—Spring Banding at Fort Morgan, AL. A flood of neotropical migrants in their finest breeding plumage! Don’t miss it. For more information call Bob Sargent 205-681-2888. 8 Board Meeting. 6:30 p.m. General Meeting. “Alabama’s Land Trust Program—Forever Wild” presented by John Borom. Government Street Baptist Church in Mobile. 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend. 9 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—Fishing for a Living” by David Attenborough. Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided 10-13 The Great Louisiana Bird Fest, an event of the Northlake Nature Center, Mandeville, Louisiana. For more information log on to: www.northlakenature.org/BirdFest2003

8 16 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—Signals and Songs” by David Attenborough. Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided. 18-20 Alabama Ornithological Society spring meeting at Dauphin Island, 6:00 a.m. Friday until noon Sunday. For more information call Dr. John Porter 861-2120. 23 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—Finding Partners” by David Attenborough. Where: Faulkner State Community College Fairhope Campus, Centennial Hall. 10:00 a.m. No charge. Refreshments provided.

30 Film Series. “The Life of Birds—The Demands of the ” by David May Beautiful Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) are nesting in shrub-covered wetlands. Young Pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) are abundant in estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation.

3 Kid’s Fishing Fun Day. Safe Harbor R.V. Park. 8:00 a.m.-l:30p.m. A project of the Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation and ADCNR.

13 Board Meeting. 6:30 p.m. General Meeting. “The Natural History of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta” presented by Eric Soehren, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division. 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend.

New Members Welcome to the Mobile Bay Audubon Society, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society. We thank you for your support. A few facts about our chapter: Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Tues- day from September thru May at 7:30 PM alternately in Fairhope and Mo- bile (See calendar for details of pro- grams and locations.) A door prize is offered at each meeting. Programs of Daphne interest are planned for each meeting Mrs. John C. Horn and field trips are scheduled regularly. Mr. & Mrs. R. Woods We are a non-profit organization–all Fairhope donations are tax deductible. A list Nancy Miller of officers is listed in the newsletter; Jule Moon feel free to call any of them for infor- Gulf Shores mation. Join us as often as you can– Judy Hocutt we want to get to know you. Lillian Ottilie Halstead, Membership Chairman M. Baxter

9 Songbird Challenges by John Borom

The fact that hundreds of Other resting stops—forests, millions of tiny neotropical (New grasslands, old fields and pitcher World) songbirds, many weighing plant bogs have become parti- no more than a few pennies each, tioned by development into small make a grueling journey between plots, places where predators are a two continents twice a year is one major menace. of nature’s greatest marvels. The Fragmentation can be urge to fly north in spring and devastating to songbirds. Study south in fall is most likely trig- after study shows that the birds gered by changing day lengths. have trouble raising their young For weeks before they depart, the in small blocks of woods sur- songbirds gorge on food, building rounded by clear cuts, farmland up fat reserves for the demanding and suburbs, as compared with flight. Some warblers may get large forest tracts. Fragmentation 200 miles of flying at peak creates places where predators efficiency from stored energy in such as house cats, snakes, one gram of fat. raccoons and opossums are They leave , Latin virtually funneled into nesting America and the Caribbean after The millions of songbirds that sites. the sets, fly at night when do continue their journey rest for a The U.S. Environmental temperatures are cooler and day or so, and consume hordes of Protection Agency estimates that predators are not as prevalent, and insects, spiders, and fruits and there are more than 100 million continue up to 20 hours nonstop seeds to rebuild their fat. Then, domestic and feral cats nation- over more than 600 miles of the flying only at night, they make a wide. Clawed or declawed, well- Gulf. They navigate using the series of four to six hour flights, fed or hungry, bell or no bell, all location of the setting sun, the each spanning 50 miles or so. cats that spend time outside will moon and other natural light, the These flights are punctuated by hunt and kill wildlife including pattern of the stars, topographic stopovers that last from a few hours birds. Nationwide the number of features, and the ’s geomag- to a few days. songbirds killed by cats is cer- netic field. That such tiny living As the songbirds move north- tainly in the hundreds of mil- fluffs of colorful feathers can travel ward, they often follow river lions. such great distances against many corridors, where dense foliage offers Human-made structures odds is among the reasons humans protection against daytime preda- are an increasing hazard to are so entranced by wild song- tors and abundant food. Many migratory songbirds. It is birds. choose Alabama for their nesting estimated that 100 million birds Their goal is to make a rest place. Others will fly as far north are killed each year by collisions stop in the first line of extensive as the Canadian tundra to nest. with buildings and skyscrapers. forest on the mainland, perhaps Stopover areas are vitally important Many millions more are killed by 20 to 30 miles inland. Untold for migrating songbirds. Unfortu- towers, such as those erected for numbers never make it that far. nately, they are disappearing at cell phones. A study released by Some simply run out of fuel from alarming rates. the American Bird Conservancy fighting head winds, and they fall Coastal wild places vital to released last summer says the into the Gulf. Others may songbirds are now prime real grim toll runs as high as 40 struggle until they see the first estate. Critical habitat is giving million birds annually. Presently, sliver of land along the coast way to vacation resorts, malls, there are over 1400 towers in where there is any woodland and houses and other development. Alabama. The number continues simply plop down. 10 to increase. The more towers, the sighted, along with Cormorants, more dead birds. Other problems Laughing Gulls, Caspian Terns, confronting migrating songbirds Week’s Bay Foresters Terns and Brown Peli- include collisions with automo- cans. Trees along the banks held a biles, pollution and nest parasit- Field Trip Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, ism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. By Celeste Hinds , Red-Winged Black- In the fall, they make birds and Red-Bellied Woodpeck- their return trip to the tropics. Audubon member Cindy ers. Someone thought they saw a From Mexico to Colombia, many McDonald missed the boat, but Bald but I didn’t see it. songbirds winter in coffee planta- she was determined not to be left Although we did not find an tions, where coffee bushes have behind. She hailed a fisherman abundance of birds we enjoyed traditionally been grown under a and begged a ride out to catch up the water and the foliage. Seeing shady canopy of native forest trees. with the Estaurine Queen making mailboxes where mail is delivered Unfortunately, this habitat is way out of Week’s Bay down to by boat to homes along the disappearing as plantations the Magnolia River. Magnolia River was new to some intensify and replant with higher It was a cool crisp morning on of the passengers. It was fun to yielding, sun-tolerant coffee October 19 and we enjoyed a slow observe the remote brackish areas varieties that do not require shade. boat ride on smooth waters. Eric along the river and learn that a The result is that songbirds must Brunden was captain for the few very pristine areas still exist in search even harder to find suitable morning and Sarah Johnston was beautiful Baldwin County. wintering territory. first mate. Eric is Research Thanks to John Borom for In recent years, spring has Technician at Weeks Bay Reserve arranging this trip. He was grown noticeably quieter and fall and Sarah’s position is GIS (geo- otherwise engaged and but we skies more still. Dozens of graphic information systems). managed to have a good time Alabama’s most colorful, sweet- The boat had a full comple- without him. Thanks to Eric sounding songbirds are in serious ment as we searched for water fowl Brunden and Sarah Johnston for trouble. along the banks. Osprey were keeping us safe.

11 Mobile Bay Audubon Wants You! Join Us Today! Every membership supports Audubon’s vital efforts to protect birds, wildlife and natural habitats. As a member, you’ll become an important part of our dynamic chapter and receive a host of benefits including: ♦ A 1-year subscription (6 bi-monthly issues) of our chapter newsletter. ♦ Automatic membership in National Audubon Society, and a 1-year subscription (4 issues, one per quarter) of Audubon, its award-winning magazine; ♦ Admission to Audubon Centers across the country ♦ A 10% discount on products at select Audubon Nature Stores, and more!

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“The United States invented the national park. Have we so lost our way a century later that we are prepared to sacrifice a one-of-a- kind wilderness for a shot at a small and temporary supply of oil? Similarly, are we so desperate for a fast buck that other natural

treasures in Alaska are for sale to the highest bidder?” Jimmy Carter, Los Angeles Times, 1 December 1990

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