October 2008 Volume XXXIV, Issue 9 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS — TALES FROM AUDUBON CAMPS INSIDE Hog Island Field Ornithology June 22 to 28 President’s Perch...............2 By Mary Nevil From the Exec Dir..............3 Expectations were high as the Osprey III drew away from the mainland dock to make the short trip across AAS Legacy Club................3 Muscongus Bay to Hog Island. I was joining 36 other participants in the Field Ornithology program of the Maine Field Notes.........................4 Audubon Society for a week on the beautiful Maine coast. Geltner Sanctuary .............4 Our days and evenings at camp were packed with field trips, instructions/demonstrations, and fascinating evening lectures given by our instructors. One of the highlights for me was the opportunity to meet Scott Field Trips...........................5 Weidensaul, whose books Return to Wild America and Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding I Classes and Workshops ....5 had recently read. Throughout the week, Scott joined our field trips as a leader, led a hummingbird banding demonstration, and chatted with us about recent controversies and news in the birding world. One morning Spotlight Alison Huff..........6 Scott and Peter Vickery (Maine birder and co-author of Conserving Grassland Birds) led a field trip to Time Well Spent.............6-7 Medomak, a walk through meadows and around a pond that was mapped out by Roger Tory Peterson and Allan A Million Thanks................6 D. Cruickshank during the first Hog Island camp in 1936. It was thrilling to walk in their footsteps and spot many of the same species they had seen and heard more than 70 years ago. Volunteer Report ...............7 Later in the week, we took a 40-minute boat ride to Eastern Egg Rock to see the results of the Puffin and Tern T-Shirt Design Contest.......7 Restoration Project and then spent the afternoon exploring the natural history of the privately owned Harbor Maine Camp Experience....8 Island. After hearing a lecture one evening by Dr. Stephen W. Kress (founder of the Project Puffin) on the restoration of puffins and terns, I realized that this would be an ideal project to introduce to the third graders at Backyard Sanctuary ..........9 my school. Knowing that their reading book contains a story on Icelandic puffins, I’m making plans to integrate Rare Glimpse ......................9 Project Puffin into their language arts program. Calendar Designer...........10 As a teacher, I felt especially privileged to meet and enjoy the 13 teens who were participating in the Coastal Classifieds.......................10 Maine Bird Studies and joined us for daily meals and evening lectures. Coming from as far away as California, these incredible young people brought enthusiasm and expertise to the camp experience, especially when the Senior Birding..................11 older folks’ energy was flagging. The first evening, as we all introduced ourselves, I discovered that more than Membership....................11 half the adults and youth attending Hog Island during that session had received scholarships from their local Audubon chapter or state ornithological society: a Wanted-Coordinator ........12 group of educators from nature centers in Maryland, a teen who volunteers at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, a science teacher from West Virginia, and ATLANTA Alex Caille from Atlanta. Among them, I was proud to represent the Atlanta Audubon Society and wish to thank AAS and its education committee for this time of learning and renewal. AUDUBON SOCIETY Please see page 8 for Alex Caille’s journal describing his trip to Maine. Box 29189 Alex was also an AAS scholarship participant. Atlanta Audubon is very Mary Nevil and Alex Caille in Maine proud to have been represented by these two fine individuals. Photographer: Unknown Atlanta, GA 30359 Don’t Forget: www.atlantaaudubon.org Introduction to Birding Optics Seminar and Open House Saturday, October 4 — Chattahoochee Nature Center AAS OFFICE Free Event 10 AM to 11 AM Presentation and 11 AM to 3:30 PM Open House Eagle Optics will feature an hour-long presentation—Introduction to Birding Optics. You will learn and Information Line about binoculars and spotting scopes, including how to use them, what to look for when making your selection and what works best for you. Afterwards, Eagle Optics will have a display of spotting scopes, 770.913.0511 binoculars, tripods, digiscoping and camera adapters. This is an excellent opportunity to directly compare the best of what’s currently available in birding optics. You may even make a purchase right GOS RARE BIRD ALERT there at the event and AAS will benefit by receiving part of the sales proceeds. Please join us for this great opportunity! 770.493.8862 President’s Perch by Ellen Miller Board of Directors 2008 Executive Director Catharine Kuchar 770.993.9579 [email protected] Officers Legacy Club—An Exciting New Program President Ellen Miller 404.355.8892 [email protected] for Atlanta Audubon Society President-elect Allyson Read 404.510.8281 I wanted to use my column in Wingbars this month You have probably seen information in Wingbars [email protected] to announce a program that can go a long way about this financial planning tool, and very shortly Treasurer Deanna Helie towards ensuring that birds of the Atlanta area and you will begin seeing an informational brochure 770.457.4403 [email protected] Georgia in general will have a strong voice working that Rachel McMurray has helped us put together. Recording Secy Mark Jernigan on their behalf for generations to come. I want to Our goal is to assist members in designing estate 404.298.8825 personally thank those who have worked so plans that will provide financial strength to Atlanta [email protected] Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley diligently and persistently to bring the new Legacy Audubon Society as well as tax benefits for the 404.687.0079 Club of Atlanta Audubon Society to fruition. benefactors. [email protected] When I first joined the Board of Atlanta Audubon Probably the most exciting part of this for me is Society several years ago, one of our members, Art that although the actual charter will not be finalized Directors Conservation Kelly Hopkins Hurt, suggested a legacy club as something to until late next year, there are already four 404.622.1888 consider putting in place. At the time no one in the participating members! Anyone participating at the [email protected] group knew what it would take to set up such a time the charter is finalized will be considered Education Marge Igyarto 678.398.0569 program. In all honesty from what we were told at charter members with their names included in the [email protected] the beginning, it seemed a bit daunting. Now after charter in perpetuity. So a huge thank you from me Field Trips Dave Butler more than a year of hard work by a number of and from the birds to all involved in making this 404.580.3917 [email protected] people, the Legacy Club is a reality. In addition to program a reality and to those who have chosen or Membership Darlene Moore Art and, of course, our exceptional Executive will choose to participate! 404.633.9361 Director, Catharine Kuchar, we’ve had the help and Good Birding! [email protected] support of Panos Kanes, Rachel McMurray and Communications For more information contact: Barbara Tarpley others. 404.687.0079 [email protected] [email protected] Publicity Vacant Volunteers Nancy Hamilton 404.874.2338 [email protected] At Large SILENT AUCTION Jay Davis 404.624.4973 ITEMS NEEDED [email protected] Victor Williams You can make our annual auction a big success. Please donate goods or Earthshare Representative 770.423.1012 services such as birding “stuff,” art with a nature flair, weekend getaways, [email protected] --- landscape design for birding, wonderful bird books, bird guide services, Website etc. Your treasures may be the perfect gift for a fellow birder. Jim Flynn What bird species is notWhat a Q: [email protected] MARK YOUR CALENDAR Contact person: Nancy Hamilton lark, but ratherdethroned a recently Wingbars Editor DECEMBER, 2008 Mary Ann Hindes 770.497.0664 [email protected] member of the family [email protected] as Tern Arctic the Design & Layout Support AAS Icteridae along with Copy Preparation 770.939.2002 the with bird the [email protected] blackbirds and orioles? Proofreading migration? longest Steven Phenicie 770.849.0391 [email protected] Newsletter deadline is the first of Seeanswer pagethe 10 for for___ answerpage See the month for material to be published the following month. Please submit articles as MS-Word to [email protected]. Email attachments, if possible. Wingbars is the official newsletter of Atlanta Audubon Society and is published 11 times a year. We feature news, upcoming events, Sooty Answer: meetings, field trips and projects. We hope you Shearwater will join us. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies Mission Statement: of the Atlanta Audubon Society. To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them. 2 Atlanta Audubon Society From the Executive Director by Catharine Brockman Kuchar Atlanta Audubon Society Fall is a Big Time for Birding and a Legacy Big Time for AAS in 2008 Atlanta Audubon Society is in full swing this fall also actively seeking matching funds for this with many great things happening. There was no grant. Club rest for the weary this summer (a traditionally • We have formalized the creation of our new slow time for birders and for AAS), and now that Join us as a charter member Atlanta Audubon Society Legacy Club, which of the AAS Legacy Club by fall migration has kicked into gear, AAS is getting will provide supporters with unique ways to including Atlanta Audubon in high gear as well.