the Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society

ThrasherSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 Virginia’s - Naseem Reza Vireos are small with It breeds in Virginia in suitable habitat which is heavier beaks that help separate large tracts of deciduous or mixed forests. them from wood warblers. Of the 15 species of vireos found in Blue-headed , as many as 6 can Breeds in western parts of Virginia but can be be seen in Virginia either as seen in the Richmond area during migration. It breeding birds or during Spring has a blue gray hood, distinctive white or Fall migration. Vireos are ‘spectacles’ and two white wing bars. found only in the Western Hemisphere. They do not come Red-eyed Vireo to feeders but will approach a ©Naseem Reza Despite having the widest breeding range of bath especially one with North American vireos, this species breeds only running water. in the western parts of the Commonwealth. It has gray wings that lack wing bars and a matching gray tail. Its song is the most distinctive feature Red-eyed Vireo of this rather plain looking vireo. Listen to it at In Eastern deciduous forests, this is the most http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_ common vireo. Found throughout Virginia and the Vireo/sounds Richmond area, it sings incessantly but is seldom seen because it prefers to sing and feed in the canopy. Its red iris is is distinctive but hard to see without Uncommon migrant, can be seen in Virginia binoculars or spotting scope. Check out its familiar during Fall migration. It has black eye-line, song at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red- yellow under parts and breeds mostly in Canada. eyed_Vireo/sounds and see if you can hear it in your Presumably named after the city because it was yard or at a local park. discovered in. White-eyed Vireo Another common bird found all over Virginia including the Richmond area during summer. Its song is loud and distinctive as is its white iris. This In this Issue species stays near the ground in thick underbrush in Virginia’s Vireos 1 rural settings but can also be seen at local parks. It President’s Message 2 wears yellow ‘spectacles’ and has two white wing bars. Presquile National Wildlife Refuge 2 You can listen to its song at September/October Programs 3 http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White- Vireo Photos 4 eyed_Vireo/sounds Photo Gallery 5 September/October Field Trips 6 Yellow-throated Vireo From the Kitchen Window 7 With a bright yellow throat and chest and matching Bald Eagle nest 7 yellow ‘spectacles’, this vireo is the most colorful one RAS Officers 8 in the family. It also has two white wing bars. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society President’s Message - At the National Richmond Audubon Society

The Richmond Audubon Society Convention - Eileen Geller promotes the enjoyment, also able to participate in discus- understanding,and preservation of birds, other wildlife, and sions relating to the National habitat through education, Audubon Society’s strategic plan advocacy, and fellowship. for the coming decade. Work is ongoing on that project with a Important Notices goal of having a final plan ready RAS membership meetings are on the in early 2016. The National orga- 3rd Thursday of the month except June, nization has been working on July, August and December. Meetings are some interesting, exciting proj- at 7:00 PM, and are held at St. Luke ects, and I’m excited to see what Lutheran Church at Custis Road and the future holds. Chippenham Parkway unless notified. Birders from all over the country RAS Board meetings are held on the 2nd recently converged on Virginia Go to page 5 for photo Thursday on alternate months starting in for the National Audubon Soci- January (except June and August). In July, ety’s Convention. Hundreds of the Board has its annual strategic planning chapter leaders and Audubon retreat. RAS members are welcome to staffers from all over the country attend board meetings, but let the President (and the world) were in atten- Presquile or Secretary know due to space dance in Leesburg, Virginia. The considerations. Meeting locations vary; National Richmond Audubon Society had contact the President or Secretary for location details. a great showing—Lewis Barnett, Wildlife Refuge John Coe, Caroline Coe, and I Richmond Audubon Society is also a were all able to attend. We at- chapter of the Virginia Society of tended seminars to learn how we Field Day on September 26, 2015 Ornithology and the Virginia 7:00 am – 3:00 pm. Pre- Conservation Network. can improve our chapter, which we are very excited to put to use registration required. Richmond Audubon Society in the coming months. We also P.O. Box 26648 Visit the 1329-acre island to Richmond, VA 23261 had great opportunities to chat with other chapter leaders and engage in nature-related (804) 257-0813 learn about all the exciting things activities. Sponsored by the US www.RichmondAudubon.org happening nationwide. That was Fish and Wildlife Service and Richmond Audubon Society is a my favorite part of the conven- their partners. Enjoy pontoon registered non­profit 501 (C) (3) tion—hearing from others sitting boat rides, observe wildlife, charitable organization. Donations are on boards just like ours about participate in nature hikes and tax deductible. projects that have worked and kid's programs. Registration Thanks to these Thrasher Volunteers: that these other groups have information can be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/p Lewis Barnett, Louise Reza: Proofreading. found beneficial for their Gail and Mario Grasso: Mailing List. members. I came away with a resquile/ Ben Griffon: Web Posting. number of great ideas, and I look forward to seeing if any of those might work well here in Rich- mond.

Publication Schedule Lewis and I also got a chance to The Thrasher is issued six times a year. meet with David Yarnold, the Please submit articles to President of the National Audu- [email protected] no later bon Society, and ask questions than the 10th of the month before each issue. Deadline for the next issue is about the future of the organiza- Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com October 10. tion and our role in it. We were -2- the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5

September Program October Program

September 17, 2015 October 15, 2015

Audubon meetings start out with a bang this Our October program will be a presentation September! Chris Ludwig, chief Biologist at about the American Kestrel Nesting Box Project, the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, will given by Patti Reum of Highland County and present: Birds and adventure in Northern Dan Bieker of Albemarle County. Both Patti and Ecuador - Andes to the Amazon basin. Dan are board members of the VSO and serve on the Conservation Committee. Over 1600 species of birds are known from Ecuador, a tiny South American country smaller The kestrel has shown population decreases due than the state of Arizona. This travel log to loss of habitat, loss of nesting cavities, and use chronicles Chris’ trip, along with his wife Jolie, of pesticides on agricultural fields. The Project’s and will provide a photographic tour of northern goal is to provide nesting boxes in suitable habitat Ecuador with accounts of antpittas, cotingas, where kestrels are found throughout Virginia. jacamars, and other exotic warm and cold- Come learn about the project and about the blooded creatures of this incredibly bio-diverse habitat and biology of this fascinating and region. Please join us and learn more! valuable species. Also hear about the monitoring program just started this year to keep track of the Join us at 6:30 pm for pre-meeting coffee, nesting success of kestrels using our boxes. cookies and conversations. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm. We meet at St. Luke Lutheran Church Join us at 6:30 pm for pre-meeting coffee, on Chippenham Parkway at Custis Road. See you cookies and conversations. The meeting starts at there. 7:00 pm. We meet at St. Luke Lutheran Church on Chippenham Parkway at Custis Road. See you there.

Chris and Jolie Ludwig, at Amazon Basin, Ecuador

The Kestrel Strike Force Team (L to R): Mary Ames, David White, Patti Reum and Dan Bieker

Looking forward, mark your calendar for our November 19, 2015 Pot Luck Dinner and member photo-sharing night. This event continues to have the best food in town and is attracting more and more of us to share a picture or 2 and a story with each other. Details will be in the November Thrasher.

Caroline Coe, Program Chair

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Red-eyed Vireo at Reedy Creek ©Steve Baranoff White-eyed Vireo at Dutch Gap ©Steve Baranoff

Yellow-throated Vireo at Powhatan WMA Blue-headed Vireo at Bedford County, VA ©Naseem Reza Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com

Warbling vireo at Richmond Pipeline Philadelphia Vireo at Chambers Island, WI ©Naseem Reza Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com

-4- the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5

L to R - Eileen Geller, John Coe, David Yarnold, Caroline Coe Grillmeisters John Coe, Lewis Barnett and Al Warfield and Lewis Barnett

RAS Picnickers at Nelda Snyder’s Zebra Swallowtail at the RAS Annual picnic at Nelda Snyder’s

Caspian Tern leading American White Pelican Box Turtle cooling off at a bird bath ©Naseem Reza ©Naseem Reza

-5- SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society October 4th, Sunday Field Trips - Ellison Orcutt Bryan Park with Ellison Orcutt: Start time: ½ hour after sunrise These are all the RAS trips Meeting location: Shelter 1, Joseph Bryan Park that have been submitted as Join Ellison for early morning birding in Bryan Park. For more information, email Ellison at of the publication date. Check [email protected]. the RAS listserv (if you don’t subscribe the archives are at October 14th, Wednesday www.freelists.org/archive/va-richmond-general/) or Hollywood Cemetery with the Coes. the RAS website for any late breaking news Start time: TBD about field trips (www.richmondaudubon.org/ Join John and Caroline Coe at Hollywood Cemetery in the Oregon Hill neighborhood to explore this Richmond ActivFieldTrip.html.) landmark. The cemetery is known for its wealth of history and spectacular views of the James. Join John to see the September 6th, Sunday abundance of bird life this property is not so well known Bryan Park with Sue Ridd: for. Meet them at the entrance, which is located at 4125 Start time: ½ hour after sunrise. Cherry St. Richmond, VA. For the start time and more Meeting location: Shelter 1, Joseph Bryan Park details, contact John at (804) 276-1397. Join Sue Ridd for an early morning of fall migration birding in Bryan Park. October 17th, Saturday For more information, call Sue at 270-5365. Dutch Gap with Lewis Barnett Start time: 8 :00 am September 13th, Sunday , Start time: 7:30 am Meet Lewis at 8:00 am at the entrance to Henricus nd 42 St. with Jack Esworthy Historical Park/Dutch Gap Conservation area. By October, Join Jack Esworthy to explore one of Richmond’s best most neotropical migrants have come through but there locations for enjoying the fall migration. Meet should be stragglers and by this time there’s a chance early Jack at the 42nd St lot off of Riverside Dr. For more waterfowl migrants will be arriving. You never know what information contact Jack at might turn up! For more information, contact [email protected]. [email protected].

September 19th, Saturday October 24th Saturday Dutch Gap with Lewis Barnett Huguenot Flatwater with Tyler Turpin Meet Lewis at 8:00 am at the entrance to Henricus Start time: 8:00 am Historical Park/Dutch Gap Conservation area. Dutch Gap Meet Tyler at 8:00 am at the old bridge abutment along features a wide variety of habitats and great views of the the Huguenot Flatwater on the James River. This section James River. For more information, contact of Richmond’s James River Park System features a lengthy [email protected]. trail along the river. This is located off of Riverside Dr. at its intersection with Huguenot Rd. For more information September 26th, Saturday contact Tyler at (804) 317- Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens with Tyler Turpin 9478 or [email protected]. See the birds of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Meet in the rotunda of the visitor center at 8:00 am. Cost will be $7.00 October 24th, Saturday, Start time: 7:30 am for non-Ginter members, finish around 9:30 - 9:45 am. Lower Eastern Shore with Ellison Orcutt Contact: Tyler Turpin at (804) 317- 9478 or Join Ellison for a day of birding the hotspots of the email [email protected] to sign up. If 4 persons southern tip of the Eastern Shore. This area features some have not signed up by 8:00 pm on Wednesday the week of of the best birding in Virginia. Possible stops along the the trip, the trip will be canceled. birding circuit include Island 1 of the CBBT, Kiptopeke State Park hawk watch, the county landfill, Oyster harbor, October 3rd, Saturday , Start time: 9:00 am Sunset Beach and Eastern Shore NWR. Meet by 7:30 am Birds and with Paul Bedell at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel on US 13 Join Paul for a morning of birding and insecting at Robious in Virginia Beach. Immediately before entering the toll Landing Park in Chesterfield County. This walk will not only there is a parking lot on the right where we will meet and emphasize the bird life of the park but take time to seek out coordinate carpooling. This is an all day trip that should some of the invertebrate life. Paul is an expert naturalist be completed before 5:00 pm and participants are who will introduce you to things like the late season welcome to depart when they please. Pack drinks, snacks dragonflies and butterflies that inhabit the James River and a lunch. Please contact Ellison with questions and a system. The park is located behind James River High courtesy RSVP at [email protected]. School off of Robious Rd in Chesterfield. Meet Paul at the boat landing parking lot at 9:00 am. For more information contact him at [email protected]. -6- the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 From the Kitchen Window - John Coe

“The greater the efforts we make to fathom the The joy of birds and palette of colors on designer secrets of the birds, the more our knowledge feathers, unique displays of fun and flight… a joy to expands, the clearer becomes our realization that our ears and eyes, and a true challenge to our human the secrets of the birds will remain mysteries of minds on how the tiny hummingbird can solve the nature as long as she abounds with the miracles of mystery of migration…. a true wonder of nature. life.” Hans Dossenbach Summer turning into fall. The September full moon, A hummingbird floats effortlessly, or so it seems, the Harvest Moon, is September 27th. It is the Bloody among tangles of the cardinal vines. Droplets of water Harvest Super Moon – the moon especially close to form on the leaves from the morning cloud and offer earth at the moment of full (perigee). The autumnal a drink on the wing. Soon the hummingbird will begin equinox occurs at 2:21 am on the 23rd. And there’s a her journey south. total eclipse on the equinox – the sun rises and sets due east and due west. Other birds from our yard, the White-eyed and Red- eyed Vireos, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Acadian The October full moon, the Hunters Moon is October Flycatchers and the Great-crested Flycatcher, the 27th. October – view the predawn sky – in the east Chimney Swifts – birds that joined our resident birds the crescent moon with Venus and Jupiter and Mars here to raise their young and enjoy our bugs and th th treats, will begin the magic of migration. line up in the constellation Leo on the 8 and 9 .

Searching for an Eagle’s Nest - Naseem Reza I learned from a reliable source that there were two nest and its two inhabitants. The adult birds were active Bald Eagle nests on the Wisconsin island we not at the nest (presumably gone fishing). We call home in the summer months. So it was just a managed good looks at one of the two eaglets but its matter of time that my wife Lou and I found sibling did not want to be photographed and hid someone who knew where the nest was. Our friend itself in the very large nest of sticks. agreed to take us to the site of a tall pine as long as we took our pictures of the nestlings from an After taking some pictures we once again braved the appropriate distance. He also warned us that the lush growth of poison ivy and rushed back to our path through the woods had heavy underbrush and cottage and hot showers. laced with poison ivy. That was an understatement. So was it worth the risk just to see a couple of birds? The poison ivy that surrounded us was at least three We think so but perhaps only because we did not go feet high and avoiding contact was impossible. through the misery of poison ivy infection thanks to Nevertheless we marched on and finally reached a the timely showers. spot where we had a distant but clear view of the From the Editor

The end of summer is always a somewhat sad event but then again the start of fall brings back our winter guests and migrating birds that flow through RVA to their wintering grounds in the South. We have a couple of exciting programs lined up for September and October and I hope to see you there. Naseem Reza

Bald Eagle nestling -7- Richmond Audubon Society Non-Profit Organization P.O. Box 26648 U.S. Postage Paid Richmond, VA 23261 Richmond, VA www.RichmondAudubon.org Permit Number 3022

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY Chapter Membership Application Yes, please enroll me (us) as a new member(s) of both National and Richmond Audubon Societies at the address below, at the introductory rate. A subscription to the NAS magazine, Audubon is included. □ Individual/Family Member(s) $20 enclosed □ Student/Senior Member $15 enclosed Name______Address ______City ______State___ ZIP ______Phone ______E-mail ______Make check payable to National Audubon Society and write “C0ZX530Z”on the check. Send your check and application to: Richmond Audubon Society, P.O. Box 26648, Richmond, VA 23261 C0ZX530Z

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2015 VOLUME 42, ISSUE 5 the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society Officers / Committee Chairs for 2015-2016 President Eileen Geller [email protected] 804-747-5143 1st Vice President Ellison Orcutt [email protected] 804-339-6976 2nd Vice President Ben Saunders [email protected] 804-272-0605 Bird-A-Thon Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898 Conservation Vacant Cyberspace Ben Griffon [email protected] 804-767-0131 Development Jack Esworthy [email protected] 630- 940-9698 Education Joyce Caldwell [email protected] 804-560-3444 Field Trips Ellison Orcutt [email protected] 804-339-6976 Hospitality Vacant IBA/VAC Rep Vacant Legislation Vacant Membership Mario and Gail Grasso [email protected] 804-379-2001 Past President Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898 Programs Caroline Coe [email protected] 804-276-1397 Publicity Diane Jadlowski [email protected] 702-308-1953 Secretary Sue Ridd [email protected] 804-270-5365 Thrasher Editor Naseem Reza [email protected] 804-272-1145 Treasurer/Finance Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898 Youth Robin Ruth (interim) [email protected] 804-231-5949