Volume LX, Number 4 January 2008 Audubon Teaches Nature Raptors Up Close ~ An Intimate Look at Alabama’s Hawks Presented by Anne G. Miller Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. The Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park Anne is the founder and Executive Director of as Anne discusses this most interesting group of The Alabama Wildlife Center. Located in the heart of birds. Oak Mountain State Park, the Center’s educational Additionally, don’t forget that the January field mission is to arouse awareness and concern for Ala- trip to Lake Guntersville will include a trip to the Hawk bama’s native wildlife and the problems they face be- Farm near the Guntersville dam. This location is cause of the rapid spread of human activity. As a probably the best place in Alabama in the winter to direct result of her extensive work in rehabilitating watch for rare hawk species. Two years ago two wildlife with the intent of returning them to the wild Rough-legged Hawks were observed at the farm Anne has gained a wealth of knowledge about her during the BAS field trip to this site. More importantly, favorite group of animals: raptors! it provides a limited opportunity to access this private property that is Several species of hawks otherwise off-limits. Read the field are found in Alabama throughout trip details elsewhere in this news the year, and winter is an ideal letter and make your plans now to time to observe them. Buteos, join us on January 19th. accipiters, falcons and eagles - we have them all. Our buteos Remember, the Alabama consist primarily of Red- Wildlife Center will serve cookies shouldered and Red-tailed and punch in the Observation Hawks, with Red-tails being Room before the seminar. And the most common hawk in door prizes will be awarded too, but Alabama in the winter season. you must register and be present in Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned order to win. Hawks are the most likely accipiters one might see in Our next seminar in the series: Alabama any time of the year, but Northern Goshawks aren’t February 3: completely out of the realm of Amazing Migrations ~ a Look at the possibilities. Peregrine Falcons Migratory Routes of select Alabama or Merlins are both uncommon Birds, presented by Dr. Jim Brown and our most likely eagle is the Bald Eagle but and Greg Harber, Guest Speakers Golden Eagles are occasionally seen too. But how to tell one from the other? Rounded Come early for fellowship and refreshments in the or pointed wings? Broad vs. narrow, or short vs. long Observation Room at The Center! tail? Soaring, flapping or gliding, or a combination of all three? Don’t be confused; come learn for yourself SoSo for the Record Sightings - September 29 through November 24, 2007 Howard Horne (Mobile) has posted an alert to Alabama birders about the possibility of “encountering some great birds that have been seen north of us this fall season.” In particular, various RBAs have reported sightings of Northern Saw-wet Owl, Northern Shrike, and Townsend’s Solitaire. Northern Saw-wet Owl has already been banded in Alabama 21 November at the Walls of Jericho Forever Wild tract by Eric Soehren and John Trent. So, it behooves us all to be vigilant. Also, though not as rare, many more Red-breasted Nuthatches than usual have been reported this fall. Other sightings were: 9/22 Caspian Tern (2); “Probably off course, tropical depression” (SD). 9/29 Philadelphia Vireo; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Ruffner Mountain Nature Center (SD). 10/3-8 Red-eyed Vireo (window kill); “A lesson for my grandsons about huge numbers of birds killed each year from colli- sions with buildings and cell-phone towers,” Gray Catbird; “First in eight years. This bird is of special interest to me be- cause of declining numbers on the Farm. Was at one time a common nester,” Ovenbird; “For five days, a first for the Farm, and a treasure,” Rose-breasted Grosbeak; “Drinking from dripping sprinkler,” Cusick Farm, Leeds (GC,RC,CA,JA). 10/13 Snow Goose (both morphs); Great Egret; Peregrine Falcon; “Scattering everything,” Sanderling; Stilt Sandpiper; Bonaparte’s Gull (early Tn Valley); Blue-headed Vireo; Red-breasted Nuthatch; Orange-Crowned Warbler; Decatur area. Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot (many of both); Laughing (1) and Ring-billed Gulls; Forster’s Tern; Gun- tersville (GJ,DJ). 10/14 “Needing a Sparrow fix.” Savannah, Song, Lincoln’s (2), Swamp Sparrows; Sedge and Marsh Wrens; “Nice to see the wrens and the Lincoln’s Sparrows. They are birds I do not see very often in the Birmingham area” Saginaw Swamp, Shelby Co (GJ). 10/18 Wood Duck (over 100 in two locations, high for Mountain Region); Logan Martin Lake (RH,PD). 10/27 California (1ad,1, 3rd year !!!) and Lesser Black-backed Gulls; Guntersville (SMcC,GJ). 10/28 Purple Finch (6+); Clay (BS,MS). 11/2 Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); Pine Siskin (small flock); Clay (BS,MS). 11/20 Black-legged Kittiwake; Bear Lake mudflats, Colbert Co (DS). 11/23 Rufous Hummingbird ; Vestavia, Huffman, and Steele (BS,MS). 11/24 Ground Dove (3) !!; Tanyard Road, Shelby Co (GH). Contributors: Cole Alexander Patrick Dawson Howard Horne Joseph Alexander Scot Duncan Greg and Debi Jackson George Cusick Greg Harber Steve McConnell Richard Cusick Russell Hatfield Bob and Martha Sargent Please submit sightings for February FF at least five days before the January first deadline to Ann Miller, 520 Yorkshire Drive, Birmingham Al, 35209. January Monthly Meeting Rwanda, Land of A Thousand Hills Presented by Dick Mills Thursday, January 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Birmingham Zoo Auditorium Notorious for the gruesome genocide that occurred tion in 2003. The Volcanoes National Park, home to there in 1994, Rwanda, the "land of a thousand hills," the rare mountain gorilla, reopened in July 1999 and is now a reasonably safe and increasingly popular travelers can once again visit these gentle giants, travel destination. The country's main attraction, the made famous by Dian Fossey. mountain gorillas, have miraculously survived - even thrived - despite a devastating civil war that brought Dick Mills the President / Owner of World Dis- poachers, settlers and rebel soldiers into their rugged covery Safaris, Inc. Birmingham, Alabama visited park refuge. Between April and July 1994 an ethni- Rwanda in October of 2007. His program will focus, cally motivated genocide, during which nearly 1 million both on the wildlife of this beautiful country and on the Rwandans were methodically hunted down and mur- programs the people of Rwanda have made to insure dered by Hutu extremists took place, while the inter- their survival. national community watched but refused to intervene. Attend and enjoy this program Since then, however, this central African country has embarked on a program of positive Please come early at 6:45 to socialize and enjoy change and gradual reconciliation. Local as well as some refreshments. Guests are welcome. international tribunals have dealt with the perpetrators of the genocide. The country held its first elections in 1999, paving the way for the unveiling of a new de- Hans Paul mocratic constitution and a peaceful presidential elec- VP Programs John Findlay Bluebird Trail 15,525 Bluebirds have fledged from the trail Perhaps you would like to become since its beginning! Imagine! And a volunteer to check several boxes this last year 480 Bluebirds fledged coming year? The boxes are already in from the trail! place and need to be checked about once every 10 days from March through There are many rewards July. Our Bluebirds nest as many as from monitoring Bluebird boxes three times during the nesting season. during the nesting season. Some females are so trusting I had to lift Patsy Scott (Mrs. Mark) is the her from the eggs to count them; John Findlay trail chairman whom you she did not leave the box! One should call to be a volunteer. Her phone volunteer had the exciting experi- is 995-5502. Patsy would provide you ence of watching a baby hatch out the instructions and routine for checking of its shell! Unlike most birds, the boxes. Bluebirds are very accepting of "homo sapiens" and like to nest near human habitation. Harriett Wright (Findlay) The Birmingham Audubon Society would like to thank the following for their recent memorial gifts: In memory of Percy Lee Thigpen from Maureen Shaffer Friends of Edward Patrick Roden, Jr. of Pratt City, AL have selected Birmingham Audubon Society as the recipient of the proceeds from their annual golf tournament held in memory of Mr. Roden. January Half-day Field Trip January 5, 2008 Shades Creek Birding Spots This month's half-day field trip is to two loca- with sparrows and woodpeckers. Depending on re- tions on Shades Creek. We will start in Homewood cent weather the ground may be mushy in some of exploring the lagoon between Shades Creek and Wild- these areas, so dress appropriately with suitable foot- wood Shopping Center. Owls, raptors, and a variety wear. of ducks and wintering passerines have been seen here. Travel plans: meet at Wildwood Shopping Center on Lakeshore Parkway in front of Office Depot After we have explored this area, and depend- at 7:00 am. For more information contact our trip ing on what birds were seen, we can optionally visit leader Hans Paul (807-7357) or the Freshwater Land Trust Shades Creek Restoration [email protected]. Project site off of Morgan Road. This area is teeming January Field Trip Saturday, January 19, 2008 Lake Guntersville & Environs Please join us Saturday, January 19, for an At 12:45 PM, we will prepare to visit the all-day trip to view wintering waterfowl and raptors in nearby Hawk Farm to view hawks and eagles.