THE YELLOWHAMMER VOLUME 38, NO. 2 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ALABAMA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY SUMMER 2018 ...to foster a greater knowledge of birds and to promote conservation of all natural resources F O U N D E D 1 9 5 2 3 N HIS SSUE 8 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE IN THIS ISSUE AOS BOARD MEETING MINUTES by Harry Dean by Jean Folsom 7 5 AOS SPRING MEETING 10 AOS SPRING MEETING SPRING MEETING COMPILATION ON THE RoaD AGAIN AOS SPRING MEETING REPORT DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK by Greg Harber & Ken Hare Cover: Clapper Rail by Col. Bob Reed by Col. Bob Reed 2 THE YELLOWHAMMER SUMMER 2018 ALABAMA ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 1325, DAUPHIN ISLAND, AL 36528-1325 OFFICERS PRESIDENT........................................................Harry Dean VICE PRESIDENT..............................................Geoff Hill TREASURER......................................................Joan Dixon SECRETARY........................................................Jean Folsom IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT...................Anne G. Miller REGIONAL DIRECTORS EDITORS TENNESSEE VALLEY...............Damien Simbeck, Ken Ward ALABAMA BIRDLIFE.......................................Tom Haggerty MOUNTAIN REGION.........Alison Glascock, Stan Hamilton THE YELLOWHAMMER.............................Robert Reed COASTAL PLAIN...........................Annabel Markle, Don Self ALABAMA BIRD RECORDS.............................Greg Jackson GULF COAST .......................................................Mike Wilson NORTHWEST FLORIDA BIRD RECORDS....Bob Duncan NORTHWEST FLORIDA..................................Lucy Duncan AOS ARCHIVES CURATOR...........................Scot Duncan COMMITTEES CONSERVATION ALABAMA BIRDLIFE Greg Harber Tom Haggerty Scot Duncan, Damien Simbeck THE YELLOWHAMMER MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT Robert Reed Larry Gardella Robin McDonald Stan Hamilton, Floyd Sherrod, Mike Wilson CENSUSING Greg Jackson SLIDES Bob Duncan, Geoff Hill, Tom Haggerty Steve McConnell, Eric Soehren, Bill Summerour BIRD RECORDS Steve McConnell, Secretary EDUCATION Ben Garmon, Dwight Cooley, Shirley Farrell Andrew Haffenden, Jim Holmes, Carol Alford, Stan and Dana Hamilton, Steve McConnell, John Trent, Don Self Jake Walker PUBLIC RELATIONS FIELD TRIPS Anne G. Miller Andrew Haffenden Annabel Markle, Ken Hare DAN C. HOLLIMAN RESEARCH COMMITTEE SOCIAL MEDIA Greg Harber Carrie Threadgill Scot Duncan, Catherine Rideout, Eric Soehren ONLINE SERVICES MEETINGS Kathy Hicks Kathryn Palmore Jeannie McCollum, Chris Price Susan Barrow, Priscilla Tubbs SUMMER 2018 THE YELLOWHAMMER 3 UMMER BIRDING IN ALABAMA? and sharing bird lists and for tracking and It is not something I nor- analyzing data for a particular location or S mally do with any regular- area. Rare bird sightings and photographs ity. Our local birding club, can now be included as well. After return- the North Alabama Birdwatcher’s Society ing home, Facebook postings might have (NABS), has no scheduled meetings dur- been updated. Facebook offers a great ing the summer. Neither does AOS. After way to spread news although it is not as all, the “good birds” have already passed timely as a phone call. Birding Alabama through during the spring migration. is one Facebook page where many people And it is hot, and there are vacations and post photos of birds and discuss sight- other things in the way. Well it may be PRESIDENT’S ings. Finally, the sighting might have been hot, but have all the “good birds” left? documented in an ALbirds post. Not necessarily. Depending on your area, MESSAGE The issue with all of these methods is there are many opportunities for reward- B y HARRY DEAN that not everyone is on personal calling ing birding trips. In North Alabama, for lists, eBird, Facebook, or ALbirds. So, how example, Kentucky Warblers, Hooded do you find out about what is going on in Warblers, and Broad-winged Hawks have nested, raised Alabama? Well, you could ask people to call you if they see a their young, and conducted flight training on the mountain rare bird. If you don’t have an eBird account, sign up for one in Monte Santo State Park. Other areas of the state have and learn how to use it. I think this is a good idea regardless. their specialties as well. It is just a matter of researching Sign up on Facebook and join the Birding Alabama page (as the summer residents in your area. Later in the summer, well as the AOS page). You could sign up for the method shorebirds will begin to pass through. I wondered how currently sponsored by AOS, the Yahoo group list, “ALbirds.” many eBird checklists are submitted during the summer For the time being, ALbirds is where we (I hate to say “of- months. I couldn’t find an easy way to figure that out, but ficially”) should expect to see items of interest and sightings I would think not nearly as many as other seasons. It is for Alabama birders. I have noticed a dramatic drop in AL- interesting that there are spring, fall and winter meetings birds postings over the last several years. I haven’t done the and various counts during those months as well. But there research, but I understand the same issue is affecting TNbirds are no summer meetings or counts. I am not advocating a and MSbirds. Perhaps these listservs are being overtaken by summer meeting, but lately I have heard some discussion other forms of social media. Maybe it is time to examine about getting a summer count started (again). If you have our process, but, to close this topic, I would just ask that you ideas about this, send me an email. It could be fun but it include ALbirds when you attempt to get the word out about will be hot! that fantastic bird find. Earlier this year, several interesting birds were seen in The AOS 2018 spring meeting has come and gone. The Alabama. A female Ruff and a Wurdemann’s Heron were birds during the meeting weekend were better this spring located at Penny Bottoms in the Wheeler National Wildlife than in the recent past. Several people did note that it seemed Refuge. About that same time, a Cinnamon Teal and a Blue- like we missed the peak again as the weeks prior to the meet- winged/Cinnamon Teal hybrid were found on the Point ing were great. This meeting was really “interesting” for us in Mallard golf course in Decatur. There was also the famous terms of logistics. As you know, we had to move the location yellow Cardinal in the Birmingham area. So, how did the about three weeks out and we are attempting to make sure word get out about these great birds? Well, there were several we are not in the same situation again. What is important possible ways. Initially, the cell phone was probably used to to note is that we had a great team working to find a new call people. This word of mouth is quick and effective but location. If I try to mention individuals, I will surely miss only for a limited audience. Perhaps eBird was being used someone. I would like to note, however, the work of Dena to document sightings. eBird is a great tool for documenting McKee and others on Dauphin Island to help secure the Isle 4 THE YELLOWHAMMER SUMMER 2018 Dauphine Supper Club for our meeting. Thank you. The up and the cleanup. It is not complicated; it just takes some reality is that our options for meeting locations on the island time on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. If you are very limited. I would like to thank our speaker, Dr. Mark see this as something you would like to support, please get Woodrey, for an interesting and thought provoking discus- in touch with Kathryn. The AOS Board agreed at the spring sion of the Gulf of Mexico Avian Monitoring System. I would meeting to continue the AOS photography contest for the also like to extend a big welcome to all of our new members. third year. Winners will be announced at the Fall meeting. I hope to see all of you at future meetings. Thanks to all of For this to happen, I need a volunteer to lead this effort. The you who attended this meeting and continue to support AOS task would involve soliciting judges, prizes and gathering with your time and contributions. This volunteer organiza- entries. If you are interested in either of these opportunities tion cannot be successful without volunteers. or possibly another area where you would like to contribute, On the subject of volunteers, we really do need people please let me know. We are looking for volunteers and do not to serve on the meetings committee with Kathryn Palmore. have the option of “voluntold.” Please check the website for Three or four folks are needed to help with the meeting set updates. Good birding! Management, and Ohio State University. His PhD at the In Memorium University of Michigan was in comparative education. Tom was a veteran of the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany dur- HOMAS (TOMMY) RALPH PRatt SR., age 87 of Prattville, ing the Korean War. From 1962–1965, he worked for the T Alabama, passed away on April 24, 2018. He was born U.S. Information Agency’s Binational Center in Vientiane, August 24, 1930, in Aliceville, Alabama, to Joel Ralph and Laos, where he met his wife, Monica. They married in 1966 Kathryn McClelland Pratt. Tommy grew up in Aliceville, and together had three daughters. In 1974 Tom joined graduated from Marion Military Institute in 1948, and the faculty in UAH’s College of Education, teaching and Mississippi State University in 1952. Thomas R. Pratt was supervising teachers for 26 years before he retired in 1999. preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary Wetherbee Tom was an avid birder and conservationist, as well as a Pratt, his parents, his son, Thomas Ralph Pratt Jr. along lifelong student of the humanities. He was a founder and with his daughter, Missy Pratt Aita. former president of the North Alabama Birdwatchers Society He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Pratt Clark, and was also passionate about local and national politics.