October 2009

Volume XXXV, Issue 9 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

SPEAKER SERIES I N S I D E
Interesting Statistics............2
Living Peacefully with Native Wildlife GA Youth Birding Club..........3
Thursday, October 8, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM Annual Appeal......................3
Pajaro Field Bag...................3
What do you do when you find an abandoned located in the Arabia Mountain National
baby bird in your yard or an injured opossum Heritage Area, which is just a short distance Legacy Club .........................3
on the side of the road? Please join us for the from downtown Atlanta. Go to Field Notes - July.................4
first speaker series to be held at our new wwww.awareone.org for more information. Field Trips.............................5
office and education center at the Blue Heron After working on the Zoo Atlanta gorilla
Nature Preserve. Spotlight P&S Volunteers........6
project, Michael volunteered at the Olympic
The speaker will be Michael Wildlife Rescue Project in Olympia, A Million Thanks..................6
Ellis, founder and director of Washington. After the program On Conservation...................7
the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue grew and gained recognition under Birding Worksops.................7
Effort (AWARE), and the his leadership, Michael moved on
Camp TALON ........................8
location is 4055 Roswell Road. to direct the California Wildlife
Traveling south from I-285, our Center, one of the largest wildlife Master Birder Workshop......8
office is just beyond the Blue rehabilitation centers in the Saving Birds from Windows..9
Heron Nature Preserve country. After caring for thousands
Week that Was .....................9
community garden. Look for of reptiles and exotic birds, he
our driveway on the left that helped to design and construct a Classifieds..........................10
has a sign for the Little Da Vinci living museum of native and exotic Oconee Rivers Field Trips ..10
School. (Pike’s Nursery is wildlife. Michael then followed his
Birds in Decline....................11
further south on the right.) A roots and returned to Atlanta to
volunteer will greet you at the Michael and Sockets found AWARE, one of the few Membership........................11
entrance to our building and Photographer: Alex Johnson accredited wildlife rehabilitation Southern Birding Trails.........12
direct you to our location on the centers.
second floor. Michael will speak with us about caring for
AWARE is a non-profit, volunteer-based
organization that is dedicated to rehabilitating
injured, sick and abandoned birds as well as
other wildlife, and he will address the actions
ATLANTA
sick and orphaned wildlife as well as we must take to be more responsible
AUDUBON SOCIETY

4
educating the public about living peacefully stewards of wild animals and their
with and protecting wild animals. AWARE is environment. 4055 Roswell Road
Check out this Website Atlanta, GA 30342
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center has a website that provides four-
letter codes for bird species, e.g., Belted Kingfisher is BEKI
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/sname.htm
678.973.2437
www.atlantaaudubon.org
The Atlanta Audubon Society is presently selecting a nominating
committee for the year 2010 and 2011. If you are interested in
participating in the selection process to find replacements for the open
board positions, we could use your expertise. There will be several
GOS RARE BIRD ALERT
vacancies including the communications director, volunteer director
and treasurer, and we need help in finding folks to fill these posts.
770.493.8862
 Board of Directors
2009
Interesting Statistics
Provided by Stacy Zarpentine
Officers
President Stacy E. Zarpentine Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis, Addendum to the 2006
404.219.5869
nuthatch3@aol.com National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Report 2006-4
President-elect Carol N. Hassell
770.945.3111 By Erin Carver of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
chassell@mindspring.com
Treasurer
Thanks to Kevin Breault of Brentwood, Tennessee (tn-bird-bounce@freelists.org) for bringing this
Vacant post to our attention. Kimberly Smith distilled the statistics from the report and posted them to the
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan discussion list for Arkansas Birders (ARBIRD). The entire report may be viewed:
404.298.8825
markajernigan@bellsouth.net http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/birding_natsurvey06.pdf.
Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley
404.687.0079 – In 2006, the year of the study sample, 47.7 million people (age 16 or more) in the U.S. were
atlpiaf@aol.com considered to be birders (21% of the population), 20 million of which were birding away from
Directors home. If you are skeptical, the publication says, “The survey uses a conservative definition. To
Conservation Dave Butler
404.580.3917 be counted as a birder, an individual must have either taken a trip one mile or more from
dabutler700@comcast.net
home for the primary purpose of observing birds and/or closely observed or tried to identify
Education Marge Igyarto
678.398.0569 birds around their home.” How about broadly conservative?
igyar@earthlink.net
Field Trips Stanley Chapman
– The average age of birders was 50, with 40% of all birders age 55 or older. 27% of those 55 or
stancha@aol.com older were considered birders. Only 15.6% of birders were less than 35 years old. The graying
Membership Darlene Moore of birding? Will there be birding 30 years from now, or will it become extinct like egg and bug
404.633.9361
djmoore67@bellsouth.net collecting?
Communications
Barbara Tarpley – 30% of birding households have incomes of $75,000 or more.
404.687.0079
atlpiaf@aol.com -- 37.3% of birders have college education or higher, and 28% of those with college backgrounds
Publicity Beth Giddens are birders.
770.792.3712
beth.giddens@att.net – 54% of birders are female.
Volunteers Nancy Hamilton
404.874.2338 – 88% of birders are white, 3.4% are black, where the black population in the U.S. is about 13 to
nlhamilton@bellsouth.net 14%.
At Large
– People are more likely to bird if they reside outside Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA): 27%
Jay Davis
404.624.4973 of the people outside these MSAs are birders, compared to 17% in MSAs consisting of 1
webtoad@earthlink.net million or more people.
JoAnn Jordan
678.488.8022 – TENNESSEE ranks eighth in the U.S. with 31% of the populations involved in birding
jordan.joann@gmail.com
activities, first in the South. The next highest ranking state is Arkansas at thirteenth with
Victor Williams
Earthshare Representative Kentucky ranked fourteenth.
770.423.1012
72064.1017@compuserve.com – Where do these birders go? The most popular states are Wyoming, Hawaii, Vermont, Montana
Staff and New Mexico. Among other things regarding this study, this indicates that ABA birders are
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar
770.993.9579
not a representative subset of all birders. States with the least out-of-state birding
Catharine.kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org participation were Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Rhode Island.
Education Coordinator Emily Toriani-Moura
404.661.6613 – From 2001 to 2006 there has been a statistically significant eight percent increase in the
AtlantaaudubonED@gmail.com number of birders birding away from home.
Administrative Coordinator Sally Davis
770.216.9680 – In 2006, birders spent about $12 billion on trips and $24 billion on birding equipment (if direct,
salaw19@comcast.net
indirect and other effects of these expenditures are included, the total output is $82 billion).
Website

4
Jim Flynn These expenditures created 671,000 jobs with an average of $41,000 per person/year. Federal
webmaster@atlantaaudubon.org taxes were $4 billion and State $6 billion.
Wingbars Editor
Mary Ann Hindes 770.497.0664
mhindes@bellsouth.net
Proofreading
Steven Phenicie Check
770.849.0391
swlphenicie@bellsouth.net
Design & Layout
Out ...
the new EarthShare Georgia
Copy Preparation 770.939.2002 website at www.earthsharega.org
incoming@copyprep.com
that has been recently revamped and
Newsletter deadline is the first of
the month for material to be
includes a lot of great information.
published the following month. Atlanta Audubon Society is a member
Please submit articles as MS-Word to of EarthShare Georgia.
mhindes@bellsouth.net.
E-mail attachments, if possible.
Wingbars is the official newsletter of Atlanta
Audubon Society and is published 11 times a
year. We feature news, upcoming events,
Mission Statement:
meetings, field trips and projects. We hope you
will join us. Opinions expressed are those of the
To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to
authors and do not necessarily reflect policies
of the Atlanta Audubon Society. conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.
2 Atlanta Audubon Society
 Georgia Youth Birding Club now Forming
Atlanta Audubon Society is working with other organizations around the state to form a Georgia
Youth Birding Club for young people from ages 11 to 18. The club will provide young people with
opportunities to enjoy birding programs and events as well as do research and experience service-
learning training. If you are interested in joining and/or finding out more information, please
contact AAS’s education coordinator, Emily Toriani-Moura, at AtlantaAudubonED@gmail.com. Atlanta
Audubon
Society
Don’t Forget to Help Us during
Our Annual Appeal—Your Gift Matters!
Legacy
By now you should have received a letter from AAS asking you to give to this year’s annual appeal.
Besides your membership contribution, our annual appeal is the only other time in the year that
Atlanta Audubon Society asks for your financial support. We recognize that we are in tough times,
Club
but we want you to know that your gift really matters and is greatly needed and appreciated. Our Join us as a charter member
annual appeal supports AAS’s education efforts in our community. We are planning many wonderful of the AAS Legacy Club by
programs and services in education including adult workshops and the creation of new including Atlanta Audubon
materials/programs for the underserved minority communities. We hope that you will be able to in your bequests.
support our work in the community. Support our work in the community. Your gift matters and
Your gift to Atlanta Audubon
your support is critical.
Society ensures our long-term
ability to manage the
resources necessary to
preserve and protect metro
Available Now and For a Limited Time!! Atlanta’s birds and the
ecosystems that support them.
Atlanta Audubon Society’s Special Pajaro Original Field Bag While cash donations are the
most popular form of support,
We are pleased to present this field bag—with a special AAS patch sewn onto the flap by the folks a variety of options exist,
from charitable gift annuities
at Pajaro. It is perfect for any birder, naturalist or hiker and a great way to show off your support and more.
for Atlanta Audubon Society.
Question: Should I have
The Original Pajaro Field Bag is perfect for carrying binoculars, field guides, travel books, compact a Last Will and
Testament?
camera, maps, checklists and so much more. The always-handy field bag is equipped with easy-to-
use pockets: full-size pocket in back of field bag holds trail maps, etc; secret pocket inside flap seals Answer: Absolutely. It is
with Velcro; main pocket holds large binoculars or field guides; front pocket is ideal for field simple and inexpensive
and will avoid probate
guides, notepads or trail map; and zippered, expandable front pocket holds compact binoculars or court administration
small camera or film. costs in the distribution
Order your field bag today! of your assets. While you
can use the available
It makes an amazing gift and is a great way to support our organization. proprietary forms, we
recommend you have an
estate attorney draw up
Price: $34.95 each one for you. Contact the
Legacy Club for
information.
Available in green/black and as a waist pack or
shoulder bag with belt loop For more information
contact Art Hurt at
Call the AAS office at 678-973-2437 artlisahurt@bellsouth.net.

to place your order (credit cards accepted).

Should be available for pick-up in approximately 3-4 weeks.
Each field bag comes with We will order the bags in groups and the manufacturer will sew
this special AAS patch on the patches and ship them back to us.

Octoer 2009 3
 July Field Notes
The month of July was actually
pretty good as we either came
close to our averages or we
bettered them in at least one
category. And, there were enough
rare sightings that it kept people
busy chasing them down.
The Atlanta area recorded 121 species
(average = 115.6) to bring the year-to-date
total to 224 (average = 221.7). The Georgia
area had 180 species (average = 180.8) to
bring that year-to-date total to 311 (average =
311.7).
ATLANTA AREA
DUCKS THROUGH KITES – Rather
unusual for this time of year was a pair
of GADWALL seen at the Panola
Mountain State Park on 25 July (CM)
and a female GADWALL at the E.L.
Huie Land Application Facility
(ELHLAF) in Clayton Co. on 15 July
(CL). Two female HOODED
MERGANSERS were a good
observation at the ELHLAF on 16-27
July (CL). Rare wader sightings
included two LEAST BITTERNS at the
Euharlee Swamp near Cartersville on
19 July (GS, et al.), a CATTLE EGRET
in Bartow Co. on 19 July (GS, et al.),
three CATTLE EGRETS at the ELHLAF
on 15-20 July (CL), a BLACK-
CROWNED NIGHT-HERON at the
ELHLAF in Clayton Co. (CL) and a
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT–HERON
at the Mercer Wetlands on 5 July (HG),
four WHITE IBIS at the ELHLAF on 16-
20 July (CL) and two WHITE IBIS at the
Which
shorebird has the
longest bill?
Q: What species
recently dethroned
the Arctic Tern as
the bird with the
longest migration?
See
Seepage ___ for
page the answer
8 for answer
4 Atlanta Audubon Society
Answer: Sooty
Shearwater
by Terry Moorez
Little Mulberry Park in Gwinnett Co. on
11 July (PMcL). Two MISSISSIPPI
KITES were an unusual sighting for the
Newman Wetlands of the ELHLAF on
27 July (CL).
SANDPIPERS THROUGH DICKCISSEL
– Rare shorebirds included an
UPLAND SANDPIPER in Bartow Co.
on 17 July (JSe, KB, NF), a WILLET at
the ELHLAF on 29 July (CL), a RUDDY
TURNSTONE in Bartow Co. on 31 July
(KB, RC), a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER in
Bartow Co. on 24 July (BL, JSe), 11
STILT SANDPIPERS in Bartow Co. on
29 July (MMcS), 13 STILT
SANDPIPERS at the ELHLAF on 29
July (CL) and a LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER at the ELHLAF on 30 July
(CL). Good warbler sightings (all from
Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield) were a BLACK-THROATED
GREEN WARBLER on 21 July (KB, NF),
ten CERULEAN WARBLERS on 26 July
(GB, B&DZ), and an AMERICAN
REDSTART on 21 July (KB, NF).
Reports of DICKCISSELS came from
Newton Co. and Bartow Co. during the
month (m.ob.).
GEORGIA AREA
DUCKS THROUGH STORKS – A
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK
was a good find in the Albany area on
6 July (AA). A breeding plumage
COMMON LOON was seen at the Bear
Creek Reservoir on 3 July (fide MMcS).
A BROWN PELICAN was seen at the
Walter F. George Dam on 26 and 27
July (WS). As many as five WHITE IBIS
were seen at the Arrowhead Fish
Hatchery on 18 July (AS). Three
GLOSSY IBIS were reported from
Sumter Co. on 3 July (CR) and another
three were seen in Dooly Co. on 25
July (JF). Two ROSEATE SPOONBILLS
were seen near the town of Cobb on
12 July (CR) and a single ROSEATE
SPOONBILL was seen in the
Bainbridge area on 26 July (LL). Two
WOOD STORKS were found in
McDuffie Co. on 11 July (ET).
KITES THROUGH SANDPIPERS – A
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was rather
unusual in the Athens area on 21 July
(JMc). TK did an aerial survey looking
for SWALLOW-TAILED KITE roosts and
came up with a count of 155 birds on
21 July. JMc had a count of eight
MISSISSIPPI KITES in Clarke Co. on
10 July. A BLACK-NECKED STILT was
seen in Baker Co. on 28 and 31 July
(WS). Five UPLAND SANDPIPERS
were found at Marshallville on 12 and
19 July (WS, DaM) and a single bird
was seen in Sumter Co. on 18 July
(P&MH). A WHITE-RUMPED
SANDPIPER was quite a good find at
Cumberland Island on 4 July (TR).
TERNS THROUGH SISKINS – During
the month of July, BW made the
following tern counts from the dredge
island off the north end of Jekyll
Island: GULL-BILLED TERN – 60 pairs,
ROYAL TERN – 100 pairs, LEAST
TERN – 150 pairs and BLACK
SKIMMER – 200 pairs. There were
many BLACK TERN reports with the
highest count being 24 in Baker Co. on
31 July (WS). An excellent find was a
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER in
Clarke Co. on 9 July (ET). A late report
of nesting BLACK-THROATED GREEN
WARBLERS on the Pine Mountain
Ridge in Harris Co. was made on 2
June by WC. This is the southernmost
nesting location for GA. There were
several reports of small numbers of
DICKCISSELS around the state during
the month (m.ob.). Quite unusual was
the report of a PINE SISKIN in Clarke
Co. on 11 July (B&KO).
CONTRIBUTORS – Alan Ashley, Giff
Beaton, Ken Blankenship, Patrick
Brisse, Rachel Cass, Walt Chambers,
Marion Dobbs, Nathan Farnau, Jim
Flynn, Hugh Garrett, Phil and Myra
Hardy, Gene Keferl, Tim Keyes, Carol
Lambert, Bill Lotz, Larry Lynch, Patty
McLean, Joel McNeal, Mark McShane,
Ruth Mead, Kathy Miller, Darlene
Moore, Peggy and Terry Moore, Charlie
Muise, Bill and Karla O’Grady, Clive
Rainey, Tim Rose, Georgann Schmalz,
Jeff Sewell, Wayne Schaffner, Steve
Slayton, Johsua Spence, Ann Stewart,
Eugenia Thompson, Lydia Thompson,
Brad Winn and Bob and Deb Zaremba.
Terry Moore, 13000 Bucksport Ct., Roswell,
GA 30075 – tsmoore@bellsouth.net
 Field Trips Compiled by Stan Chapman

Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted). We welcome
everyone from beginners to advanced birders! Please check the Atlanta Audubon
Website (www.atlantaaudubon.org) for October field trips
Sketch by Anne McCallum
that may be scheduled.

If you are interested in leading a field trip and/or volunteering to help with the Field Trip Committee, have ideas of
where you would like to go and/or feedback about leaders or trips, please e-mail Stan Chapman, Field Trips
Coordinator, at stancha@aol.com.
Saturday, October 3, 8 AM the parking lot immediately on right. Traveling I Scott Blvd. After about 4 mi., go through the
Piedmont Park (City of Atlanta) Sponsored by 285 E, continue east at the exit to the second major intersection with Clairemont Ave. and then
the Piedmont Park Conservancy and AAS traffic light, then turn left (north) and cross the take a right at the third St. onto Coventry Rd.
George King bridge over I-285 and continue through the traffic From Coventry, turn left at the first traffic light
Meet at the Piedmont Park Conservancy light on the other side onto Interstate North onto Heaton Park Dr., where you will see the
Community Room, Piedmont Ave. and 12th St. Pkwy., then continue with instructions above. Science Center 0.1 mi. ahead. From downtown
Children accompanied by a parent are invited. Atlanta/Peachtree St., take Ponce de Leon Ave
Birding focus: This trip is an excellent way for Wednesdays, October 7, 14 and 21, 8 AM east toward Decatur for 4.2 mi., turn left onto
beginners to learn about early fall migrants found Henderson Park, Tucker, DeKalb County Artwood Rd., and go 0.2 mi. and turn right onto
in the forest and adjacent pond. Hugh Garrett Heaton Park Drive. The Science Center is 0.1 mi.
Directions: From south of Atlanta: Take I-75/85 Meet in the parking lot (see below). ahead.
N to Exit 249B/Pine St. Go straight on Pine St., Birding focus: Henderson Park has a lake, some
crossing Peachtree St. Turn left on Piedmont Ave. marshy areas and woods. October walks allow a Sunday, October 11, 8 AM
Travel about 1.0 mi. to 12th St. From northwest birder to observe the transition from fall Gordon McWilliams
of Atlanta: Take I-75 S. to Exit 250/16th St. Go migration to winter birds. Saturday, October 24, 8 AM
straight, crossing 14th St. Follow the signs to Directions: Take I-75/85 N from downtown Jeff Sewell and Carol Lambert
10th St. Turn left on 10th St. Travel 0.5 mi. to Atlanta to I-85 N to Exit 96, Newman Wetlands Center and E.L. Huie Land
Piedmont Ave. Go left and travel about 1.0 mi. to Northcrest/Pleasantdale Rd. After traveling a Application Facility, Clayton County
12th St. From northeast of downtown: Take I-85 short distance on the access road, turn right onto Meet in the parking lot at the Wetland Center,
S to Exit 84/17th St. Continue straight, crossing Pleasantdale Rd., which becomes Tucker 2755 Freeman Road, Hampton.
14th St. Follow directions above. From MARTA Norcross Rd. and then Chamblee Tucker Rd. Birding focus: The Newman Wetlands Center has
Arts Center station, walk south 1.5 mi. to 14th (CTR), heading south. Keep going straight on a boardwalk through the wetlands adjacent to
St., turn left (east) and walk two blocks to CTR south and do not make a right turn onto forest habitat. E.L. Huie is one of the best spots
Piedmont Ave., then turn right and walk south CTR going west. Do not turn onto Livsey Drive, in the Atlanta area for waterfowl, many of which
two blocks to 12th St. but rather turn right onto Livsey Road, which is should have arrived in time for these two trips.
2.9 mi. from the intersection of I-85 access and Directions: From I-75 S, take Exit 235/Tara Blvd.,
Saturday, October 3, 7:45 AM Pleasantdale (a small brown sign for Henderson go south 8.2 mi. and turn left on Freeman Rd.
Al Mercer and Herb Wollner Park is at the turn). Follow Livsey Rd. until it From I-75 N, take Exit 221/Jonesboro Rd.), go
Saturday, October 24, 8 AM ends and turn left into the park. Pass a parking west 6.3 miles to Freeman Rd. From I-675, merge
Ken Blankenship lot on the left and just past the soccer field, turn into I-75 S., and take Exit 221 as above. Follow
October 31, 8 AM into the parking lot on the right, 0.3 mi. from the Freeman Rd. to the Wetland Center. For more
Joel Hitt park entrance. complete directions, go to
Cochran Shoals Unit of Chattahoochee NRA www.atlantaaudubon.org.
Meet at the parking lot of the Interstate North Saturday, October 10, 8 AM
Parkway entrance to Cochran Shoals. There is a Fernbank Forest at Fernbank Science Center, Sunday, October 25, 8 AM
$3 parking fee (or annual pass) at this site. Bring Atlanta, DeKalb County Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area,
waterproof footwear for walking on wet grass. Chris Showalter Atlanta Tract, Dawsonville, Dawson County
Birding focus: Cochran Shoals has a diverse Meet at the parking lot near the observatory Georgann Schmalz
habitat of river, fields and forest that is very dome on the north side of the Science Center. Meet at the wetlands just inside the entrance
attractive to many species of migrant birds. It is Fernbank Science Center is not at the same gate.
one of the best places in Atlanta to see Red- location as Fernbank Museum on Clifton Rd. The Birding focus: Dawson Forest has a diverse
headed Woodpeckers, Great Blue Herons, and forest is closed to the public except for those on habitat of fields, woods and wetlands, and it is an
many uncommon birds have been found here the Atlanta Audubon field trip for the first two excellent location for hawks, sparrows and
during October including the Clay-colored hours of the walk. woodpeckers.
Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lincoln’s Birding focus: Fernbank has an extensive forest Directions: From I-285 Atlanta: Go north on GA
Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren and the Bald in an in-town location and paved paths through 400 for 36.6 mi. Turn left on Dawson Forest Rd. at
Eagle. For detailed descriptions, see Ken the woods. It is excellent for woodland birds and the North Georgia Premium Outlet, which is 6.6
Blankenship’s website www.wingsoverga.com/ is one of the best locations in the area to see mi. past Hwy. 369. (Hwy. 369 is the first traffic
CobbCountyBirdingSites.html#CochranShoals. thrushes and Pileated Woodpeckers. light on GA 400.) Drive 3.9 mi. along Dawson
Directions: From I-75/85: take I-285 to Exit Directions: From I-285 N or S on the east side of Forest Rd. to GA 9 and continue for another 1.5
22/Northside/Powers Ferry Rd. Traveling I-285 W, Atlanta, take Exit 39A/Highway 78/Stone Mtn. mi. to the gate into Dawson Forest WMA.
turn right at the first traffic light onto Interstate Freeway, west toward Decatur, which merges
North Pkwy. Stay on this road as it curves west with Lawrenceville Highway/US 29) and passes Additional field trips (Oconee Rivers Audubon
through an intersection and crosses the river to North DeKalb Mall, after which it changes to Society) continued on page 10.

September 2009 5
Volunteer Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer
Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer
Spotlighting... Peel & Stick Volunteers
By Barbara Tarpley
To borrow a line from David John’s tenure, we filled up twenty or so mail bags that he took to the
Kuechenmeister, the peel & Crown Road facility in East Point.
stick (P&S) volunteers are in Peel & Stick is a different task today with Wingbars being mailed to
our volunteer spotlight for the only Friends of Atlanta Audubon. At the outset, the newsletter was
October 2009 edition of sent to all National Audubon Society members with Metropolitan
Wingbars. Until the advent of Atlanta ZIP codes, which ranged at times up to 8,000. Before we lined
the computer and more up the actual task, our corresponding secretaries (Karen Osborne, Pat
recently the Web, Atlanta Sully, Raquel Sabogal and others) with help from AAS members
Audubon Society totally relied (Virginia Dunbar, Susan Callaway, Sara Sherberger, Diane LaHaise, et
on a group of AAS volunteers al.) sorted the labels by ZIP codes that had to be kept together once
to bridge the gap between the affixed to the newsletter. With our often overzealous and new recruits,
August 2009 P&S Volunteers publication of our newsletter this became a challenge until they learned the ropes from pros like
Photographer: Victor Williams and our members. Even now Virginia Dunbar who probably won the award for doing the most the
with our new technology, fastest—a skill she learned in a former job.
month in and month out we owe a debt to these unsung heroes who
handle peeling off labels and sticking them on the fresh-off-the-press Last, but not least, our appreciation goes to Steve Ehly, Jane Brann,
issues of Wingbars. Jim Wilson, Ellen Miller and others who coordinated this huge task
over the years. While the latter group were perhaps more fortunate to
As a reader of the newsletter you may think that the task is pretty have a pre-established venue (our AAS office), Steve, Jim and Jane
simple, but there’s far more to it than you perceive when you consider were masters in finding generous members who were not only willing
the entire project and the organization it takes to successfully pull it to host us in their homes, but had the space to accommodate the
off every month. After the issue is printed and delivered and the labels assembly line of volunteers along with the many boxes, mail bags and
affixed, the publication has to be taken to the Bulk Mail Postal Facility supplies. This enjoyable experience provides the opportunity to get to
for posting. As any of us who have done that will loudly attest, at times know other AAS members and to learn how and where to bird from
that is no easy feat unless you have Georgann Schmalz’s winning ways some of the experienced birders.
with the postal employees who help you work through the maze of red
tape, bureaucracy, etc. Presently, this task falls to one of our staff While I would have liked to acknowledge every P&S volunteer who
members, Sally Davis, and we owe her big time for adding this devoted their time through the years, the lists represents only the
responsibility to coordinating the P&S activities for us every month. names of those with whom I am familiar and/or heard about in my
association with P&S and membership. To the dedicated board
Prior to the luxury of having a staff member to help, the drive to Boggs members who were always there to lend a helping hand and to those I
Road fell to various volunteers who quickly came to realize the debt have overlooked because of the time crunch, please accept our thanks
we owe to John Cox for having done this for so many years. During for a job well done.
Coordinators Stan Chapman Ann Miller Jane & Tom Blaisdell Jackie Heyda Margaret Roach
Steve Ehly Fran & Steve D’andrea Linda & Romy Myszka Melinda Bronson Sally Hodges Raquel Sabogal
Jane Brann Virginia Dunbar Hilrie Quin Judy Candler Marge Igyarto Ruth Sanford
Jim Wilson Pat Fincher Liz & Linc Roberts Katherine Caperton Linda Jones Sue Sharpe
Ellen Miller Brookie Gallagher Cynthia Ring Catherine Capps Russ Judd Sara Sherberger
Veronica & Charles Gail Russell Anita Chilcutt Parjit Kaur Samantha Smith
Hosts Gunter Tony Scardaci John Cox Margaret Kavannaugh Terry Soules
(and Volunteers) Lisa & Art Hurt Peter Schantz David Criner Judy Kennedy Pat Sully
Joan Ana-Leo Mark Jernigan Georgann Schmalz Leslie Curran Marcia Klenbort Leslie Tacik
Anselm Atkins & Nannette Johnson Jeannie Wright Terri Davis Laura Kososki Barbara Tarpley
Margaret Cavanaugh Alice & Tim Keyes The Wyands Martha & Dave Decker Julie Lee David Thomas
Anne Beerman-Lawson Diane LaHaise Annabel & Bill Steve Dennis Kate MacQuen Carl Tyler
Annette Burdges Lolly Lederberg Nannette Dooley Gordon McWilliams Mary Ann Vernocy
Susan Callaway Didi & Bob Manns Volunteers Susan Eubanks Kathy Morrison Victor Williams
Sylvia Chandler Frank Matthews Cindy Affolder Scott Forman Karen Osborne
Ginny & Frank Sylvia Banks Marilyn Harris Brenda Prather
McCamey Mark Beebe Lucinda Headrick Marcia & Joe Pugh
Ellery McClintock Maria Birdseye Lynn Hennelly Carol Reed

A Million Thanks!
A million thanks to Jackie Heyda and Lolly Lederberg for donating many wonderful books to our library in the
new education office. We are very excited about having the books, and they are much appreciated.
Thanks to Jim Bloom for putting on a very special program in the Stone Mountain area for AAS. We approached Jim
with very short notice, and he stepped right up to help us out. Thanks, Jim!
Many thanks to Jared Fischer for all the help he has given to the Georgia IBA Program. Before he moved to Maryland,
Jared created our brochure as well as the map featured on the Georgia IBA web page, and he worked hard to improve and update Georgia’s
eBird database.
6 Atlanta Audubon Society
 On Conservation
By Dave Butler
One of the more interesting
(and disturbing) books
related to natural history
that I’ve read is Hope Is
The Thing With Feathers by Christopher
Cokinos. The book chronicles the extinction of
the Carolina Parakeet, the Heath Hen, the
Passenger Pigeon, the Labrador Duck, the
Great Auk, and the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
(reportedly rediscovered recently in isolated
pockets of the country). It is a moving tale of
waste, greed and butchery of six magnificent
species of birds for the sake of sport. Without
positive action soon, Mr. Cokinos may have to
write a sequel to his book describing the
extinction of dozens of other species that once
were common North American birds.
The Ivory Gull, a snow-white bird found only in
Arctic regions, has declined by as much as 85%
since the early 1980s. Once estimated at 2,450
breeding pairs, only 500 or fewer are known to
exist today. The Ivory Gull lives as far from
human activity as possible, yet it is still
negatively affected. Ninety thousand Yellow-
billed Magpies, a species endemic to California,
have succumbed to West Nile virus in two
years. This represents nearly half the
population of the species. Continued studies
indicate that another half of the population may
die this year. As an example of the ecological
effects of the loss of a species, with the decline
of these birds the oak forests that are renewed
by the magpies burying acorns for the winter
are at risk.
A victim of the pet trade, the Yellow-headed
Parrot is popular because of its bright colors
and ability to “speak.” Native to Belize,
Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, the wild
population of this species dropped from 70,000
birds in the mid-1970s to an estimated 2,000
today.
Ecologists estimate that six to fourteen percent
of the world’s birds are likely to be driven to
extinction by 2100, and many of the ecological
functions they perform will be lost as well.
Some of the declining common birds (from the
National Audubon Society) are:
• Northern Bobwhite – down 82%
• Evening Grosbeak – down 78%
• Eastern Meadowlark – down 72%
• Field Sparrow – down 68%
• Whip-poor-will – down 57%
Octoer 2009
Atlanta Audubon Society’s Birds Matter!
publication offers the following: “Did you know
that birds contribute to the diversity of plant
life through pollination and seed dispersal? Or
that birds control insect outbreaks and create
important nesting cavities for other species? Or AAS Fall 2009
that they help rid the world of disease through Sparrows Workshop
scavenger “clean-up” services? Birds help shape
Instructor:
our culture, provide important economic
benefits, and serve as important indicators for Charlie Muise
scientists about the state of the environment.”
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology DATE: Saturday, December 5
TIME: 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM
website, an estimated 127 million Yellow-
PLACE: AAS Education Center
rumped Warblers breed each summer in the
boreal forests of North America. Assuming that
FIELD Saturday,
each bird eats roughly 35% of its body weight TRIP: December 12, 8:00 AM
per day in insects, this one species is Panola State Park
consuming well over a million pounds of COST: $55
insects per day during the spring and summer. Friends of AAS
That is what one species does to control $80
harmful insect populations. NAS-assigned
There are signs of change in the battle to save members
habitat for birds and other wildlife. The $105 non-members
Canadian government announced in July that RESERVATION: E-mail
55 million acres of boreal forest in Ontario wendygrw@mindspring.com
would be placed off-limits to development,
FOR MORE INFO:
protecting habitat for hundreds of millions of
www.atlantaaudubon.org or
breeding songbirds and waterfowl. President
678.973.2437
Obama revoked a Bush administration change
to the Endangered Species Act that made it
optional, instead of mandatory, for federal
agencies to consult with independent scientists
before taking actions that could affect listed
species. The Nature Conservancy helped to
broker a deal between the United States and
Costa Rica that forgives $26 million in debt for
a promise to use the monies for selected
conservation programs in Costa Rica, a country
rich in biodiversity that provides winter habitat
for millions of North American songbirds as AAS 2010
well as species endemic to Central America.
Despite these positive steps, many bird species
Florida Birding
continue to decline around the globe and much Weekend
more needs to be done. The loss of any species January 15 to 17 Merritt Island
is tragic. Please read Hope Is The Thing With National Wildlife Refuge
Feathers if you get the chance. I was so The trip is filled, but if you
impressed with this book that I’ll even lend you would like to be on a wait list,
my copy. contact
artlisahurt@bellsouth.net or call
Sources 404.934.7660.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology website
The National Audubon Society magazine
The Nature Conservancy website
Atlanta Audubon Society website
7
 Camp TALON Soars
By Bob Sargent
Early in 2008, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division,
the Atlanta Audubon Society, and the Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) first kicked
around the notion of teaming up to create a summer birding camp for teenagers, Teen
Adventures Learning about Ornithology and Nature (Camp TALON). Our first planning
meeting was held at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center on January 7, and it was clear from the
beginning that everyone involved had the same vision: create a camp curriculum that
introduced young birders to the world of professional ornithology, especially research and
habitat management. We didn’t want this to be all about making students super birders;
instead, we wanted to recruit future biologists and science teachers to the team, educate
voters-to-be, and give these young people some of the tools needed to teach their friends
Peter Range Banding Male Painted Bunting at the conservation message. Oh, and along the way we planned to have a great time birding
Harris Neck NWR like crazy.
Photographer: Catharine Kuchar
In June, the camp successfully fledged at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simons Island. For
six days, six chaperones took turns guiding 10 eager teens up and down the Georgia coast by bus birding and biology
instruction. The formula for each day looked like this: get an early start, visit a refuge or management area until noon, go back
to St. Simons Island for a break, head off to bird watch at a nearby beach for two hours in the late afternoon, break for dinner,
and then conclude the day with a couple of hours of instruction in the classroom.
Monday morning, June 15, started at Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge with Peter Range holding up a recently mist-netted
male Painted Bunting before the eyes of 10 astonished and now fully-awake teens, as he demonstrated how to age, sex,
measure and band a bird. If that didn’t turn them on to birds, nothing would. Of course, the other way to view this was that this
was only day one, and how were we going to top this? We needn’t have worried. The field trips and the birds couldn’t have
been better. The students were treated to an up-close encounter with an absolutely throbbing Wood Stork rookery, the dazzling
sight of flocks of Roseate Spoonbills, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, and White and Glossy Ibis swirling over an Altamaha
marsh, a peek into an active Red-cockaded Woodpecker nest and an opportunity to hold a Bachman’s Sparrow at Ft. Stewart, a
full day shore-birding and seine net fishing on Little St. Simons Island, and so much birding on Jekyll Island and at Gould’s Inlet
that, believe it or not, even the students were weary (in a happy way) by Thursday night.
Thanks to a collective teaching effort by Tim Keyes, Dan Vickers and Bob Sargent, the evenings were filled with programs
about the ecological value of birds, how to learn songs, bird photography and censusing birds. To add some additional spice to
the classes and to get the competitive juices flowing, we challenged the students every night to identify at least six birds by
sight or sound and awarded points for each correct identification. By the end of the week, two students—Luke Theodorou and
Mac McCall—were tied for the lead, leading to a head-to-head competition eventually won by Luke. For his efforts, Luke
received a copy of Birdwatcher, a biography of Roger Tory Peterson. Other prizes, including field guides and binoculars, were
awarded to students for a variety of accomplishments.
Camp TALON has not only successfully fledged, it has soared. Of course, it’s hard to mess something like this up when you’ve
got the Georgia coast and all its jewels as your playground, along with supporting resources of DNR, AAS, GOS and TERN. But
the success of this camp is primarily attributable to the organizational gifts of Julie Duncan, Mary Terry, Catharine Kuchar and
Walt Lane, and the immeasurable skills of the biologists and birding professionals who gave hours of their time to teach the
Q: What
teens: species
Dot Bambach, Larry Carlile, Brooks Good, Stacia Hendricks, Mary Moffat, Peter Range and Brad Winn. Thank you, all.
recently
And the teens dethroned
of Camp TALON will see you again next year.
thewas
AAS Arcticproud Tern as with GOS to provide scholarships to several of the campers.
to work
the bird with the
longest migration? Atlanta Audubon Society
See page ___ for the answer
2009 Master Birder Program
INSTRUCTORS: Georgann Schmalz and Co-Instructors
DATES: October 13 to November 19
DAYS: Each Tuesday and Thursday
Answer: Long-billed
curlew with aSooty
bill up to
FIELD TRIPS: Each Saturday Oct. 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14
8.75 in. (22.2 cm.)
Answer:
Shearwater
TIME: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
PLACE: AAS EDUCATION CENTER, 4055 ROSWELL ROAD
COST: $210 Friends of Atlanta Audubon; $240 non-members
RESERVATION: E-mail georgannschmalz@windstream.net or call 404.245.7273.
APPLICATION: www.atlantaaudubon.org
The Master Birder Program is an introductory course in ornithology designed to provide participants with bird identification skills
and a general knowledge of birds including their life histories and habitat requirements. There are eleven classes and five Saturday
field trips that the participants are expected to attend. After graduation, master birders are expected to annually complete
volunteer service for Atlanta Audubon Society.
8 Atlanta Audubon Society
 SAVING BIRD LIVES FROM WINDOWS
by Daniel Klem, Jr., Acopian Center for Ornithology, Department of Biology,
Muhlenberg College, Pennsylvania
It is claimed and there is an extensive body of evidence documenting that billions
of birds are killing themselves each year by flying into clear and reflective
windows worldwide. Stopping or meaningfully reducing this unwanted and
unintended carnage is both a practical and moral obligation. Two recently
published scientific studies in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (March and June
2009) further describe and address preventing this source of human-associated
avian mortality; for specific species and bird populations in general, a source of
mortality that is thought to be exceeded in importance only by habitat destruction.
The March 2009 article identified architectural and landscape risk factors based on
monitoring bird-window strikes over the fall 2006 and spring 2007 migratory
periods in New York City. As common sense would dictate, the features associated
with the greatest risk for fatal strikes were the proportionate amount of glass to
other building materials, and vegetated ground cover near offending panes. The
more windows the greater risk, and the presence of attracting vegetation near
windows increased the density of birds near glass. The density of birds near
windows has repeatedly been known to be best predictor of the number of
recorded collision victims at any one site. By systematically monitoring the death
toll in a specific community, 1.3 fatalities per hectare (2.5 acres) were recorded for
an urban area consisting of one to four story commercial and residential buildings.
Using this space as an urban standard and extrapolating to all urban areas in North
America north of Mexico, 34,322,861 annual bird kills are estimated to occur
during just four months that encompass the fall and spring migratory periods. Even
more alarming is evidence from previous studies that indicate that far more birds
are killed throughout North America during the non-breeding season when
countless numbers of birds are attracted to feeders near windows. Several
research papers have documented that a perched bird as little as a meter (a bit
over 3 ft) away from a window can build up enough momentum to kill itself
striking the unyielding glass surface. Although seemingly and intuitively
contradictory, placing bird feeders within three feet of a window saves bird lives
This was “the week that was … For The Birds!”
By Claire Hayes, Executive Director Dunwoody Nature Center (AAS’s former home)
In late June, Dunwoody Nature Center (DNC) welcomed 17
campers for a week dedicated to learning about birds and
their habitats. Most of the campers came from the
Brookhaven Boys and Girls Club, thanks to the generosity of
Atlanta Audubon Society. In addition to their scholarships,
AAS enriched the camp experience with the
“Learning About Birds” box of supplies donated
to the DNC several years ago.
Campers commented on the best parts of the
week:
- My favorite thing was [we] created cool bird
nests and when we learned about bird
adaptations. Colorful Birding Camper
Photographer: Jackie Flowers,
- I had so much fun … I met new friends. I liked DNC Educator
our very own binoculars from Audubon Society. enjoyment and understanding of birds and to conserve and
- Bird camp was a Blast. My favorite thing we did was create restore the ecosystems that support them. DNC thanks AAS
a cool bird nest that we got to eat, and studied the Brown for its consistent support of our summer camps and the
Thrasher. Brookhaven Boys and Girls Club.
Teacher Jackie Flowers recalls some of the most successful
camp activities: “Making bird masks (see photo!), using
Octoer 2009
because birds alight on the feeder; even those few that leave the feeder and
glance against the nearby pane are unharmed because they do not build up
enough force to sustain injury.
The second study principally reports on the relevance of using ultraviolet (UV)
signals to alert birds to windows. New exterior films with UV-reflecting and UV-
absorption areas were found to be effective in preventing bird strikes. However,
this film is currently not commercially available. Also tested and found to be
effective preventive measures were windows uniformly covered with: (1) 0.32 cm
(0.13 in) dots 0.32 cm apart, (2) CollidEscape one-way viewing exterior film, and (3)
multiple opaque and translucent decals of various shapes such that they are
separated by 10 cm (4 in) or less in vertical columns or 5 cm (2 in) or less in
horizontal rows. Before a product was available for testing, external UV films had
often been considered the most hopeful elegant solution to deter bird-window
strikes because birds see UV and we humans do not. Retrofitting existing windows
and adding UV patterns as coatings to sheet glass used in new construction is still
in the future. Film companies and glass manufacturers need to be convinced that
investing in these bird-safe products is justified for business and ethical reasons.
Visit ACO@muhlenberg.edu for copies of these articles and to obtain forms to offer
individual bird strike events. The following are the formal citations of the described
publications.
Klem, Daniel Jr., Christopher J. Farmer, Nicole Delacretaz, Yigal Gelb, and Peter G.
Saenger. 2009. Architectural and landscape risk factors associated with bird-glass
collisions in an urban environment. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 121(1):126-
134.
Klem, Daniel Jr. 2009. Preventing bird-window collisions. The Wilson Journal of
Ornithology 121(2):314-321.
binocs, wandering the trails and creek looking for birds,
and—the biggest hit—edible birds’ nests. Chocolate is always
the biggest hit!” Boys and Girls Club director Bobby Dunn
tells us that every summer, club members vie to be chosen
for the Nature Center week. An extra “perk” is the
opportunity for club members to return to DNC
the afternoon our butterflies arrive for the
Butterfly Festival. Once the tent is assembled
and filled with nectar-bearing plants, these
lucky kids help release the butterflies into the
tent.
The Nature Center mission—to preserve and
improve as a natural classroom for
environmental education—neatly complements
the Atlanta Audubon mission—to promote the
NB—we do miss having the AAS office here. Please don’t be
strangers. We are always happy to have you drop by.
9
 CLASSIFIEDS
Rates for 2.5” x 2.5” ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent with the conservation and birding mission
of Atlanta Audubon Society. Ads may be accepted via e-mail, preferably in .pdf format. Call 678.973.2437 if you have questions.
Send payment to Wingbars Ads, Atlanta Audubon Society, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Send ads via e-mail to Catharine Kuchar at Catharine.Kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org.

When You Come

To The Mountains -
Ask about the new Birder’s Guide to Fannin County!
We feature Cole’s seed,
squirrel-proof feeders
that truly are, houses,
Bird Songs of Georgia
hummingbird stuff,
great books, Audubon
CD now available.
optics, & hard to find
hardware. Plus – 100’s
Email Georgann Schmalz at
of Ravensburger Puzzles,
Music of the Spheres georgannschmalz@alltel.net or visit
Chimes & a huge
selection of educational www.birdingadventuresinc.com
toys and
games for kids!

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Oconee Rivers Field Trips

The Atlanta Audubon Society cooperates with our friends at Oconee Rivers Audubon Society by publicizing and inviting attendance at each
other’s trips. For more information about the Oconee Rivers field trips, please go to www.oconeeriversaudubon.org/upcoming.html/#walks.

Saturday, October 3, 8 AM Saturday, October 10, 8 AM

Sandy Creek Park, Athens
Meet in the parking lot of the park
Birding focus: Autumn birds along a lake and woodland trails.
Directions: From I-85 N from Atlanta, take Exit 106 (GA 316 E to Athens).
After approximately 40 mi., turn right onto GA Rte. 10/Loop/S. Athens
Perimeter Hwy., heading west/north, take exit for US 441 and turn left on US
441. After about 5 mi., look for sign on the right for Sandy Creek Park and
take a right on Bob Holman Rd. for 1⁄2 mi. The park will be on your right. Take
a left around the loop, go over the dam, and continue on the road until it ends
at the parking lot.
Whitehall Forest of University of Georgia, Athens
Meet at the forest entrance at the corner of South Milledge Ave. and
Whitehall Rd.
Birding focus: Located at the confluence of the North Oconee and Little
Oconee Rivers, it is an excellent forest and river habitat.
Directions: From I-85 N from Atlanta, take Exit 106/GA 316 E to Athens.
After approximately 40 mi., take the ramp onto US 29 N for 4.3 miles. Take
Exit 6/Milledge Ave./State Hwy. 15 N, 0.3 mi. Turn right on South Milledge Ave
for 1.8 mi. ending at a T-junction with East Whitehall Rd. Go straight through
the intersection into Whitehall Forest. Drive until you see a gate blocking
access and wait there for the trip leader to arrive. Whitehall Forest is part of
the University of Georgia and is closed to the public.

10 Atlanta Audubon Society

 Georgia’s Common Birds in Decline
Ruffed Grouse
Over the past 40 years, the Ruffed Grouse
population has declined 54% in Georgia.
The Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, is a crow-
sized bird displaying a variety of brown, gray and
black colors that keep it well camouflaged in its
woodland home. Males and females look alike, yet
the male displays one of the most unusual
territorial behaviors of all of Georgia’s birds. To
Ruffed Grouse
attract a mate, the male perches himself up on a
Artist: Anne McCallum
fallen log or stump, fans his tail, raises the ruffs
on its neck and beats his wings against the air to
create a very low drumming sound that begins slowly and grows in
speed until it eventually dies off. The male perches himself high
enough off the ground—around 10 inches—for the female to be able
to see him, but under dense enough coverage to avoid being seen by
predators. The male is highly territorial and can be highly aggressive
defending his turf. There are reports of Ruffed Grouse even pecking
bikers and hikers to shoo them away.
Because the Ruffed Grouse is mostly found walking on the forest
floor, its diet includes leaves and twigs in the winter and seeds and
berries in the summer. They will also eat insects, invertebrates and
amphibians.
TIME
The nests of the Ruffed Grouse are usually found on the ground at
Well Spent
the base of a tree. After mating occurs, males and females no
longer interact or work together to incubate the nine to fourteen
eggs that will usually be laid. The female does the remaining work.
This species can be found throughout much of the forested areas of
the northern United States and Canada. The Georgia Blue Ridge
Mountains provide the southern most part of its range. Their
population has slowly been declining. The Ruffed Grouse prefers early
successional forests, as opposed to old-growth forests. Successional
forests are those that have recently been created by some type of
disturbance like a fire or storm, with smaller trees and shrubs. With
a 54% decline in population in Georgia over the past 40 years, it will
be important to manage forest areas to include the creation and
maintenance of early successional forest for this species.
Source: Declining common bird findings based on National Audubon Society’s
“Common Birds in Decline: A State of the Birds Report,” with additional figures
from the Georgia DNR.

Join Atlanta Audubon Society

Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Society members receive an
introductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.
Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon Society. Thus, Now Available!
you will not receive Audubon magazine. You can now renew your
membership online. Just visit
If you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below. our Web site at
www.atlantaaudubon.org
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342. and go to the membership page to
join via the Web. We are excited
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org. to be able to offer this new
service to you!
Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society
o Make check payable to: o Basic Membership
Atlanta Audubon Society o Individual ...........................................$25
Membership Director o Family................................................$35
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o Renewal o New Membership
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o Patron Membership......................................$500 Newsletter
4 Friends discounts
Address ___________________________________ Receive an official Atlanta Audubon T-shirt
City____________________ State ___ Zip ______ o Benefactor Membership............................$1,000 on classes, trips
E-mail ____________________________________ Receive above plus autographed copy
and special events
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Phone_____________________________________ o Interested in volunteering with AAS
o Please send me information on planned giving opportunities through Atlanta Audubon Society’s Legacy Club library
o Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars
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It is Atlanta Audubon Society’s policy not to share or sell our mailing list. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us.
deduction!

Octoer 2009 11
 SOUTHERN BIRDING TRAILS
By Kenn Kaufman
A complete list of the trails can be found in Audubon Magazine published by National Audubon Society.

North Carolina Birding Trail

Natural features divide North Carolina neatly into thirds
with mountains in the west, the coastal plain in the
east, and the Piedmont Plateau in between. Two
sections of a statewide birding trail are finished,
and the third, the mountain regions, is
scheduled to be ready for business by the
summer of 2009*. Travel this trio of trails for a
cross section of some of the best birding on
the continent. The coastal plain features the
long sweep of the Outer Banks, where the
Wright brothers made their first flight and where
huge flocks of migratory shorebirds still gather in
spring and fall. Waterfowl also abound, and wintering
flocks of Tundra Swans provide for spectacular winter trips.
In the upper coastal plain and the Piedmont’s tranquil pine
forests, there are parties of Brown-headed Nuthatches
chattering and clambering about the branches like
little wind-up toys. Scarlet Tanagers and rose-red
Summer Tanagers sing from the woods, while
Indigo Buntings and Yellow-breasted Chats add
spots of color in the brushy edges. The western
peaks have a Canadian flavor with Dark-eyed
Juncos and Blackburnian Warblers singing from
the spruces, a world away from the coast’s
subtropical feeling. For more information;
www.ncbirdingtrail.org or call the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission at 866.945.3746.
*As of this summer, all three trails are finished.

285
ATLANTA
AUDUBON SOCIETY

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lvd
400

lB
nd
OFFICE
Roswell Road

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Blue
Heron
Nature
Preserve
at Blue Heron Nature Preserve
Volunteers needed for 4055 Roswell Road
Holiday Party and Silent Auction 75
85
Atlanta, GA 30342
We need volunteers to assist with our Holiday Party and the
West
Paces
Ferry 678.973.2437
Silent Auction.
Piedmon

East
Send all mail for
Road

Paces
The auction is an important fundraiser for Atlanta Audubon
t Ro

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ad

Society, so help us make it another successful event, and we

AAS to:
Peac

need a Co-coordinator.

If interested, e-mail aasinfo@atlantaaudubon.org. 4055 Roswell Road

Atlanta, GA 30342

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ORGANIZATION
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED U.S. POSTAGE
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P.O. Box 29189 • Atlanta, GA 30359
Atlanta Audubon Society is an independent, non-profit
Atlanta, GA
501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax deductible to Permit #917
the fullest extent allowed by law.

Wingbars is printed on recycled paper