February 2007
Volume XXXIII, Issue 2
Make a Difference:
Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
February 16–19, 2007
Y es, birds matter! And your participation in
the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) matters
a great deal to the scientists who are tracking
species and their populations throughout North
America. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and
National Audubon depend upon local birders to
gather broad-based bird counts from backyards
and other locations and submit their GBBC
checklists online for rapid tally and analysis.
About the Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual
four-day event to create a mid-winter snapshot
of the numbers, kinds and distribution of birds
across the continent. You count birds for as
little or as long as you wish during the four-day
period and tally the highest number of birds of
each species that you see at any one time. Then
you fill out an online checklist at
www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ to submit your
counts.
You can track online what is being reported
from Atlanta, the state and other locations. As
the count progress you can see how this year’s
numbers compare with those from the eight
previous years. You can also submit digital
photographs for the GBBC photo contest and
gallery.
Last year a total of 51,926 checklists were
submitted, with a total tally of 6,546,606 birds of
613 species. Georgia submitted 215 checklists,
with more than 213 species reported. After the
count, Cornell and Audubon scientists will
analyze the results and post summaries
highlighting the year’s trends and findings.
How to Participate
Count the birds in your backyard, local park or
other natural area on one or all four count days.
You can count in as many different locations as
you wish, just keep separate records and fill out
a checklist for each area. Get a checklist for
ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
I N S I D E
President’s Perch ...........2
Georgia at www.birdsource.org/gbbc/, print it
out and use it to organize your tallies.
From the Exec Dir ..........3
Field Notes .....................4
Watch the birds for at least 15 minutes on each Field Trips.......................5
day that you participate. GBBC recommends
watching for a half hour or more, so that you’ll By the Way .....................5
have a good sense of what birds are in your Waterfowl Workshop........5
area.
Birdathon ........................6
How to count for GBBC: It is critical that
people count their birds in exactly the same Warbler Workshop ..........6
way so the data can be accurately tabulated. On
the day(s) that you count, watch your bird Girl Scouts .....................7
feeders or take a short walk (less than one Cerulean Warbler...........7
mile) in your neighborhood or park.
2007 Photo Contest........8
For each species of bird that you see, keep
track of the highest number of individuals that Scholarships..................9
you observe at any one time. If you record only
Classifieds ...................10
the highest number of individual birds that you
see in view at one time, you’re sure to never
Shorebird Workshop ....11
count the same bird more than once.
Use a “tally sheet” to help keep track of your Membership ................11
counts. Your tally sheet should look something
like the following:
House Finch - 3, 5, 3, 1; high count = 5 ATLANTA
Blue Jay - 1, 3, 6, 2; high count = 6
AUDUBON SOCIETY
At the end of the day, go to “Submit Your Bird
Checklist” on the GBBC web site. Fill out the Box 29189
questions about your location, local habitat and Atlanta, GA 30359
count duration. Then enter your high counts for www.atlantaaudubon.org
each species sighted on that day and location.
You can submit one checklist for each day that
you count or for each new area that you count AAS OFFICE
in. If you count on four days at one location, and Information Line
you’d submit four different checklists. If you
count on four days at two different locations 770.913.0511
each day, submit eight checklists, and so on.
So mark your calendars for February 16-19,
count the birds, submit your checklists online, GOS RARE BIRD ALERT
send in your photographs and track the results.
Each of us can make a difference! 770.493.8862
 Board of Directors
President’s Perch
2006 by Ellen Miller
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar
770.993.9579
Catharine.kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org
Officers
President Ellen Miller
404.355.8892
Planting the Seeds for Great Birding
ellen.miller@eclipsys.com
President-elect Vacant
While I was deciding what to write about in great large birding areas we have around
Treasurer David Yon this month’s Perch, a couple of events the region. Who can beat Kennesaw
404.513.9806 occurred that got me thinking. First, one Mountain on a good day in spring for seeing
yonkers13@comcast.net
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan morning as I was driving up Peachtree Road neo-tropical migrants? Anyone who read
404.298.8825
markajernigan@bellsouth.net going to work, I noticed several new GABO (Georgia Birders On-Line listserv)
Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley condominium projects going up, with trees this fall saw numerous reports of neo-
404.687.0079
atlpiaf@aol.com being cut down and open space going. tropical migrants at Henderson Park in
Directors Second, I started receiving spring plant Decatur. And how many of you have been
Conservation Clark Rushing
crushing05@gmail.com catalogs in the mail. on an Atlanta Audubon field trip to
404.373.8585
Seeing the condos going up made me think Fernbank Forest in the spring and seen
Education Marcia Klenbort
404.874.9826 about the loss of bird-friendly habitat in and several kinds of thrushes and maybe an owl
marcia.klenbort@comcast.net sitting in one of the fabulous old trees? And
Field Trips Dave Butler
around Atlanta. But as I lamented the loss
404.580.3917 of habitat, I remembered that many of my of course the Chattahoochee River has a
dabutler@co.dekalb.ga.us variety of habitats and birds.
Membership Art Hurt “life birds,” birds I saw for the first time, I
770.934.7660
artlisahurt@bellsouth.net
saw sitting on the deck of the condo where I So what does this have to do with plant
Communications live located a couple of blocks off Peachtree catalogs? Well, those got me thinking about
Georgann Schmalz Road along Peachtree Creek inside the city what we all can do to enhance our own big
706.216.5012
georgannschmalz@alltel.net of Atlanta. I saw my first Pine Siskin on a or small green spaces, and from there what
Publicity Denese Van Dyne thistle feeder, along with goldfinches in our we can do to help protect bird habitat in
404.406.9324
denesevandyne@yahoo.com backyard. My first Ruby-crowned and and around Atlanta.
Special Events Nancy Hamilton
404.874.2338
Golden-crowned Kinglets and Indigo Seeing the plant catalogs, I have fantasies of
nlhamilton@bellsouth.net Buntings were seen in our backyard. My tearing out the “non-bird friendly” sod that
Volunteers Vacant
first House Wren was picking around weeds our condo association so rigorously
At Large
Past President
that had grown up next to our deck. Around maintains and putting in native grasses that
Kelly Hopkins our condo complex we have a nice colony would provide food for the birds. Of course,
404.622.1888
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net of Song Sparrows year round, and two being realistic, I look for plantings that will
Jay Davis summers ago we had a pair of Broad- provide food and shelter for birds, to plant
404.624.4973
webtoad@earthlink.net winged Hawks that nested down the creek in our planting areas. No matter where you
Lisa Hurt from our condo. For several weeks a Broad- live, we can all make our yards more bird
770.934.7660
artlisahurt@bellsouth.net winged fledgling sat in trees right in our friendly by what we plant, by providing
Victor Williams backyard and occasionally called that water, and by using fewer pesticides and
Earthshare Representative
770.423.1012 distinctive Broad-winged call which brought other wildlife friendly practices. Remember
72064.1017@compuserve.com mom or dad around to check and make sure
--- that the birds in our area evolved along with
Website things were all right. Even in the middle of a the native plants of our area, so consider
Jim Flynn
webmaster@atlantaaudubon.org
city, there are areas where a good variety of adding natives to your yard to attract birds.
Wingbars Editor birds can be found.
Grace Trimble 404.351.0518 continued on page 10
gmtrimble@mindspring.com From these thoughts, I also remembered the
Design & Layout
Copy Preparation 770.939.2002
copyprep@mindspring.com
Proofreading
Mim Eisenberg
mim@wordcraftservices.com
Newsletter deadline is the first of
the month for material to be
published the following month.
Please submit articles as MS-Word to
gmtrimble @mindspring.com.
Email attachments, if possible.
Wingbars is the monthly newsletter of Atlanta
Audubon Society. We feature news, upcoming
events, meetings, field trips and projects. We Mission Statement:
hope you will join us. Opinions expressed are
those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect policies 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 Kuchar
February:
The Season of Love and Romance. Or, Is It?
Ah, amor! It seems that February
conjures up thoughts of romance as
Valentine’s Day fast approaches. It is,
after all, the season of love! For all our
dreams, we hope that love will last a
lifetime.
Like many others, I thought that humans
could take a cue from our feathered
friends as the perfect picture of
monogamy. Birds, of course, find mates
and stay together for life, right? Well,
wouldn’t you know it: Much to my
dismay, another bird “fact” is now
another myth. In the birding world,
monogamy is not always the preferred
choice.
Basically, there are four types of mating
systems in the birding world. First, there
is promiscuity. Six percent of all birds
fall into this category, including the
beloved hummingbird. The relationship
between birds here is indiscriminate and
usually brief. Second is polygyny, a type
of polygamy in which one male pairs
with several females. This accounts for
two percent of the bird population. Third
is polyandry. This again is a type of
polygamy, but in this case, it is one
female who pairs with several males.
This type of mating accounts for only
one percent of all birds and can be seen
in such species as the Northern Jacana
and Spotted Sandpiper.
Finally, there is monogamy, which can be
defined as a prolonged, exclusive
reproductive association with a single
member of the opposite sex. This mating
system, which more than 90 percent of
all birds practice, can be found in most
songbirds, birds of prey, ducks, geese
and so on. Interestingly, monogamy is
exceptionally rare in all other groups of
animals, for which the standard mating
February 2007
✔ olunteer
Opportunities
GET INVOLVED
IN ATLANTA
AUDUBON
system is polygyny, according to We invite you to volunteer
Cornell’s Handbook of Bird Biology. with these Atlanta Audubon
programs.
Monogamy, however, may not be as
exclusive as was once thought. Birds Monthly Programs
frequently fail to live up to our cherished We need your hospitality
assistance to bring refreshments
view that breeding pairs are faithful. to the monthly meetings.
Cheating, it seems, is not that uncommon Contact: Ellen Miller at
— and not just among males. In one now 404.355.8892
famous study, scientists sought to assess Publicity
vasectomy as a possible means of Help us get the word out
through local media about our
population control among Red-winged field trips and workshops.
Blackbirds. To their surprise, the Contact: Denese Van Dyne
researchers discovered that female 404.406.9324
blackbirds, mated to vasectomized Membership
males, were nonetheless laying eggs that Help with mailings to
membership.
hatched. Evidently, there was some Contact: Art Hurt
hanky-panky going on. 770.934.7660
Recent studies employing new Events
techniques of genetic analysis and DNA Represent Audubon at special
fingerprinting have allowed scientists to functions and displays.
Contact: Nancy Hamilton
determine whether one or both members 404.874.2338
of a pair are the parents of all of the
Education
nestlings or fledglings they are rearing. Volunteer for a variety of
This “philandering” activity is referred to educational programs. We
as extrapair copulations. provide training workshops.
Contact: Marcia Klenbort
There are, of course, perfectly 404.874.9826
reasonable evolutionary explanations for Wildlife Sanctuary
such hanky panky. Working for Atlanta Support the preservation of
Audubon Society has been incredible, greenspace in Atlanta.
Contact: Jacqueline McRae
full of many exciting opportunities and jacqueline.mcrae@comcast.net
wonderful people, but, boy, has it burst
Conservation
the bubble of some of my beloved bird Become an Armchair Activist
“facts.” But then again, the Nobel Prize- and keep updated on legislative
winning ethologist Konrad Lorenz used action both locally and nationally.
to recommend that every scientist Contact: Clark Rushing
404.373.8585
discard at least one cherished notion
every day, before breakfast. So I guess all Office and Phone
Answer the AAS hotline and
I can say is, “Pass the cornflakes!” assist visitors to our office at
the Dunwoody Nature Center
Contact: Ellen Miller
404.355.8892
Important Bird Areas Program
Help distribute information,
monitor input, network
throughout the state with
IBA participants.
Contact: Jim Wilson
770.602.1679
3
 November Field Notes
Even though we didn’t set any
new records for either the
Atlanta or Georgia areas, we
certainly came up with a very
impressive number of rare
sightings for the month. There
aren’t that many months when you can find
a Pacific Loon, Common Eider, Cave
Swallow, Nashville Warbler, Magnolia
Warbler, Black-legged Kittiwake, Vermilion
Flycatcher and many others all in the same
month in Georgia.
The Atlanta area recorded 116 species
(average 113.9) to bring the year-to-date list
to 246 (average 240.4). The Georgia area
came in with 208 species (average 200.6) to
bring that year-to-date total to 330 (average
= 324.3).
ATLANTA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS – A blue morph SNOW
GOOSE was seen at the E.L. Huie Land Application
Facility (ELHLAF) in Clayton County on 1-3 Nov.
(CL). EB had a white morph in Henry County on 2
Nov., plus a previously reported white morph in
Spalding County was still there the same day.
Interesting duck sightings at the ELHLAF included
three BLUE-WINGED TEAL through 29 Nov., a
NORTHERN PINTAIL on 14 Nov., a CANVASBACK
on 14 Nov. and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE
from 8 to 11 Nov. (CL).
EGRETS THROUGH CRANES – Three GREAT
EGRETS were late at Blalock Lake (part of the
ELHLAF) on 30 Nov. (CL). Also late was a WHITE
IBIS in Bartow County on 3 Nov. (SP). An adult
BALD EAGLE was seen along the Chattahoochee
River north of Atlanta on 4 Nov. (SZ) and on 11
Nov. (JB). Highly unusual was a third-year
GOLDEN EAGLE seen by WC at the DeKalb
Reservoir on 10 Nov. There were six separate
reports of SANDHILL CRANES from 3 Nov.
through 25 Nov., with the peak count of 350
coming from Marietta on 22 Nov. (KB).
SWALLOWS THROUGH SPARROWS – A CAVE
SWALLOW made a highly unusual appearance at
Lake Horton on 8 Nov. (EB, DM). Late warbler
sightings included a TENNESSEE WARBLER in
Cherokee County on 1 Nov. (VD), a NASHVILLE
WARBLER on the Georgia Tech campus on 14
Nov. (SB), a MAGNOLIA WARBLER on the
Georgia Tech campus on 29 Nov. (SB) and a
HOODED WARBLER along the Chattahoochee
River in Cobb County on 19 Nov. (DH). A single
LINCOLN’S SPARROW was a good find at the
4 Atlanta Audubon Society
by Terry Moorez
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area on
4 Nov. (PB, HG, TM).
GEORGIA AREA
GEESE THROUGH DUCKS – EB had great luck
with geese sightings, with two GREATER WHITE-
FRONTED GEESE at the Eufaula National Wildlife
Refuge (ENWR) on 18 Nov., 15 SNOW GEESE
along I-75 near Exit 205 on 3 Nov., a ROSS’S
GOOSE at Lake Walter F. George (LWFG) on 13
Nov. and another ROSS’S Goose at Florence
Marina on 17 Nov. The previously reported
COMMON EIDER at Brunswick was seen by a
number of observers through the entire month.
Two other COMMON EIDERS were reported by JT
from Tybee Island on 23 Nov. Two WHITE-
WINGED SCOTERS were found by MF at the Bear
Creek Reservoir in Jackson County on 7 Nov., and
they remained there for most of the month. On 26
Nov. MF also found a BLACK SCOTER at the same
place. EB and TK had a LONG-TAILED DUCK at
West Point Dam (WPD) on 19 Nov., and CL, JS,
and DV had one at Jekyll Island on 26 Nov.
LOONS THROUGH VULTURES – The previously
reported PACIFIC LOON from Plant Scherer was
still there as of 4 Nov. (JA, TJ, PJ, PHoi). Another
PACIFIC LOON was seen at LWFG on 17 Nov. by
EB. Back at Plant Scherer, a RED-NECKED GREBE
was a good find on 4 Nov. (JA, TJ, PJ, PHoi). An
EARED GREBE was a good sighting at the
Glennville Water Treatment Facility (GWTF) on 8
Nov. (JG, GW). There were a couple of reports of
AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the Brunswick
area, but those sightings were outmatched by the
150+ seen at WPD on 18 Nov. by BZ and PHow.
Four AMERICAN BITTERNS was an excellent
count at the Phinizy Swamp in the Augusta area
on 18 Nov. (LS). Two ROSEATE SPOONBILLS
were quite late at Kings Bay on 28 Nov. (fide SW).
There were several reports of TURKEY VULTURES
migrating during the month, with the high count
of 300 or so in the Athens area on 21 Nov. (AB).
CRANES THROUGH SKIMMERS – There were five
reports of SANDHILL CRANES for the month. The
highest count was 200 in Upson County on 23
Nov. (CM), and the most unusual report was of 15
in the Brunswick area on 22 Nov. (MC). DC had an
excellent count of 52 AMERICAN
OYSTERCATCHERS at Tybee Island on 5 Nov. A
late PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen at Carter’s
Lake on 2 Nov. (NS). Rare for GORDON County
were two DUNLIN on 1 Nov. (JSp). Rare gull
sightings were a FRANKLIN’S GULL at WPD on 6
Nov. (EB), six LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS at
Tybee Island on 5 Nov. (DC) and a BLACK-
LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Lake Hartwell on 11 Nov.
(JF,EH). DC reported a fine count of 400+ BLACK
SKIMMERS at Tybee Island on 5 Nov.
DOVES THROUGH SWALLOWS – One and
sometimes two WHITE-WINGED DOVES were
seen on Jekyll Island from 11 Nov. through at
least 20 Nov. (CM, MC). On Tybee Island, JS and
CL spotted two other WHITE-WINGED DOVES on
23 Nov. A female RUBY-THROATED
HUMMINGBIRD was still in Harris County on 10
Nov. (TT). The previously reported VERMILION
FLYCATCHER at the ENWR was still there on 4
Nov. (JF). A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen on
Skidaway Island on 12 Nov. (JE), and another bird
was seen on Jekyll Island on 24 Nov. (JG, JS,CL).
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS are
not commonly seen after late August, so single
birds seen on 19 Nov. at Lake Seminole (EB,TK),
at Augusta on 24 Nov. (EB) and at the Altamaha
Waterfowl Management Area (AWMA) near
Darrien on 26 Nov. (SB) were quite unusual. Other
rare swallows were a CAVE SWALLOW at the
AWMA on 26 Nov. (SB) and a BARN SWALLOW
at the Phinizy Swamp on 18 Nov. (LS).
WARBLERS THROUGH SISKINS – Late warbler
reports included a TENNESSEE WARBLER on 2
Nov. at Carter’s Lake (NS), a MAGNOLIA
WARBLER at Macon on 11 Nov. (TI, JA, PHoi), a
PRAIRIE WARBLER at Tybee Island on 25 Nov.
(RW) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at the
AWMA on 26 Nov. (SB). A late SUMMER
TANAGER was seen at Waycross on 21 Nov. by
SW. Good sparrow reports were a HENSLOW’S
SPARROW at Paulk’s Pasture on 4 Nov. (KB), a
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on 4 Nov. at the
GWTP (KB), two to three LECONTE’S SPARROWS
at the ENWR on 4 Nov. (JF et al.), two LINCOLN’S
SPARROWS near Columbus on 4 Nov. (WC) and
one LINCOLN’S SPARROW at Carter’s Lake on 8
Nov. (JSp). EM had an excellent count of 525
RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at the Phinizy Swamp on 30
Nov. One BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported from
Skidaway Island on 26 Nov. (BR), and six were
seen in the Augusta area on 24 Nov. (EB). The
only report of PINE SISKINS was a “few” in the
Rome area on 16 Nov. (AS).
CONTRIBUTORS – Jerry Amerson, Amy Barbee,
Steve Barlow, Eric Beohm, Ken Blankenship,
Patrick Brisse, Jerry Brunner, Walt Chambers,
Mike Chapman, Diana Churchill, Marjorie Clark,
Harry and Vickie DeLoach, John Ester, Jim Flynn,
Mark Freeman, John Galvani, Hugh Garret, David
Hedeen, Paul Hoinowski, Earl Horn, Liz Horsey,
Pierre Howard, Ty Ivey, Paul Johnson, Terry
Johnson, Tracy Kirkpatrick, Carol Lambert, Ed
Maiorello, Ben Moore, Darlene Moore, Pam
Moore, Peggy and Terry Moore, Charlie Muise,
Sandy Pangle, Tim Rose, Beth Roth, Nedra
Sekera, Jeff Sewell, Joshua Spence, Lois Stacey,
Ann Stewart, Ted Theus, Jim Throckmorton,
Dennis Tolsma, Dan Vickers, Russ Wigh, Gene
Wilkinson, Sheila Willis, Bob and Deb Zaremba,
and Stacy Zarpentine.
 Field Trips
Compiled by by Dave Butler
Wildlife
Sanctuaries
Chattahoochee River National right into the parking area at the National
Recreation Area -- Recreation Area.
Johnson Ferry Landing (Cobb County)
Saturday, February 24, 2007 Training for New Field Trip Leaders,
Leader: Jerry Brunner Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve
Meet in the parking lot at 8AM. Saturday, February 17, 2007
Directions: From I-285 North, take Exit 25 onto 9 to 11:30 AM
Roswell Road, U.S. Hwy. 19 north. Travel approx. 2580 Pine Bluff Road, Decatur
1 mile and take a left on Johnson Ferry Road. Call Dave Butler at 404.580.3917 for more
Travel approximately 2 miles. After you cross the information or to register for the class.
bridge at the Chattahoochee River, take the first

By The Way is a feature in Wingbars that highlights information, announcements, short updates and miscellaneous items. If you
have brief items of interest to Friends of Atlanta Audubon members, please send them to the editor. This February, think about
PROJECT PUFFIN FEDERAL DUCK STAMPS cleaning out your old
The new Project Puffin Visitor Center If you do nothing more for wildlife and
(www.projectpuffin.org/puffin-visitor- birds in 2007, at least buy a Duck Stamp.
birdhouses and putting up
center.html), located at 311 Main Street in Check out the any new ones you’ve been
downtown Rockland, Maine, opened its Georgia intending to place in your
doors officially on July 1, 2006. The long- Ornithological
anticipated center introduces people of all Society (GOS) backyard habitat. Most
ages to the amazing lives of puffins and Web site for a boxes are constructed so
other Maine seabirds. The Center celebrates neat promotion
the success of Project Puffin in bringing for the Migratory that last year’s nests can
puffins and other rare Maine seabirds back Bird Hunting and easily be removed, but do
to historic nesting islands. Here the public Conservation Stamp (along with a cool
can view puffins and holder): watch out for the
other seabirds in real www.gos.org/duckstamp/duckstamp.htm. occasional wasp nest. It’s
time through a
remarkable video system not too early to get ahead
UPCOMING EVENT
that delivers live video of your feathered friends
to the Center. Stephen Dave Mehlman, director of The Nature
Kress, director of Conservancy’s Migratory Bird Program will by readying the
Project Puffin present a program about migratory bird birdhouses now. Our birds
(www.projectpuffin.org), conservation February 6, at 6:30 PM at the
Atlanta Botanical Gardens in the Garden will soon be checking out
writes that summer 2006
was the best yet, with House Workshop Room. To reserve a space, the best sites for their
increased nesting on all contact Mimi Bittick at mbittick@tnc.org or
call 404.253.7208.
spring clutches of eggs,
three Audubon-managed islands on the
Maine coast. and you want them to be
in your own backyard
Waterfowl Workshop in Clayton County habitat.

The Clayton County Water Authority Newman Wetlands Center

will hold its annual waterfowl workshop on Saturday, February
17 at 9 AM until 12:30 PM The Authority’s E.L. Huie site is
recognized by many as one of the best inland Georgia birding
areas. More than 250 species of birds have been recorded on this
metro Atlanta site. The winter months bring many species of
waterfowl to the Huie ponds, reservoirs and wetlands.
continued on page 8

February 2007 5
 BIRDATHON 2007
Mark your calendars: Birdathon 2007 will take place between April 21 and May 6, 2007.
On March 25, 2007, Atlanta Audubon will host a pre-Birdathon cookout at Georgann Schmalz’s house, along with
an early field trip to Dawson Forest to recognize and thank those who participated in Birdathon 2006 and
previous Birdathons and to gear up for Birdathon 2007. Everyone who has participated in past Birdathons or
plans to participate this year is invited. We’ll ask some of our top performers to share tips and strategies.
Those who participated in Birdathon 2006 and their results are:
Species Money Raised
Liz Horsey 98 $2,737.50
Georgann Schmalz 161 1,111.85
Lisa Hurt 71 820.00
Ellen Miller 55 764.00
Sylvia Chandler 60 748.00
Anne McCallum 73 598.55
Jim Wilson 98 514.00
Allyson Read 28 272.00
Jackie Heyda Unknown 175.00
Babe Breasted Warblers 104 104.00
(Becky Valentine, Cheryl Kanes,
Lynda Wiggins, Nita Winn, Darlene Moore)
Judy McStravick 50 100.00

Clearly, Liz Horsey was the star of the show in terms of money raised, and
placing third in the number of species seen. Liz has come in first or second
for the past several years in money raised and is always right at the top in
terms of species seen. We are hoping that Liz will share some of her secrets
with the rest of us this year.
Thanks again to all who have participated in past Birdathons either by
Q: What species conducting a Birdathon or by being a sponsor.
recently dethroned
the Arctic Tern as
the bird with the A REMINDER ABOUT THE 2007
longest migration?
WARBLER WEEKEND WORKSHOP
See page 8 for answer
See page ___ for the answer Are you ready to sharpen those warbler
identification skills?
Here is your chance, as Atlanta Georgia mountains will be led by Georgann
Audubon Society is again pleased to on May 19 and 20.
announce the 2007 Warbler Weekend
The cost (excluding food and lodging) is
Workshop. This two-part workshop
$125 for Friends of Atlanta Audubon, $155
will be conducted by two
for assigned members and $175 for non-
outstanding experts: Giff Beaton and
members.
Georgann Schmalz.
Your payment confirms your reservation.
The 21⁄2-hour class session will be
conducted by Giff at the Dunwoody To register or get more information,
Nature Center on a Sunday contact Lisa Hurt by e-mail
afternoon in April. The exact date (artlisahurt@bellsouth.net) or phone
for this will be announced later. The (770.934.7660).
weekend field trips in the North

6 Atlanta Audubon Society

 FEDERAL AGENCY WON’T LIST DISAPPEARING
CERULEAN WARBLER AS ‘THREATENED’
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), after
stalling for six years and missing numerous
deadlines required under the Endangered
Species Act, has issued a decision not to list the
Cerulean Warbler as a threatened species. The
National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife
and regional conservation organizations that
petitioned the agency in 2000 to list the
Cerulean as threatened expressed grave
concerns over the songbird’s future without the
comprehensive protections provided by the Act.
The Cerulean Warbler population has dropped
almost 82 percent throughout its U.S. range
over the last 40 years, making it the fastest
declining warbler in the country. The rate of
decline has quickened, and the threats to its
survival, particularly from mountain removal
mining, have worsened while the groups’
petition has been pending before the FWS.
The FWS decision comes after the groups sued
the agency in February 2006 for repeatedly
violating deadline requirements under the Act.
In June, the FWS settled that case by promising
to render a final decision by November 30. The
decision was entered into the Federal Register
in early December.
“The birding community is greatly concerned
because the Cerulean has been declining
throughout its range for such a long period of
time,” said Greg Butcher, PhD, director of bird
conservation with Audubon. He said the bird
has declined an average of 6 percent per year
over the last eight years, compared to an annual
average of 4.3 percent from 1966 to 2004.
“It’s a tragedy that the Fish and Wildlife Service
won’t step up and act now, before this songbird
moves any closer toward extinction,” said D.J.
Gerken, staff attorney with the Southern
Environmental Law Center, a nonpartisan,
nonprofit organization representing the
conservation groups.
Since the petition was filed, new information
has come to light about the increasing loss and
fragmentation of the Cerulean’s eastern forest
habitat from mountaintop removal mining. This
form of surface mining is expected to increase
dramatically in the core of the Cerulean’s range,
where the bird has already suffered drastic
population declines – 80 percent in the
Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, Kentucky
and West Virginia, and 65 percent in the Ohio
Hills in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
A multi-agency environmental study of
mountaintop mining in four states (West
Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia)
predicts that between 1992 and 2012, some 1.4
million acres of forests will be lost, more than
February 2007
half due to mountaintop mining. The study
noted that this loss of habitat for forest birds
with core breeding areas in the Appalachian
coal fields has “extreme ecological significance
CORRECTION:
in that habitats required by these species for
successful breeding are limited in the eastern
GIRL SCOUT
United States.” The Partners in Flight program PROGRAM
has identified 15 songbirds with habitat in these
forests as priority species for conservation, with MARCH 3
the Cerulean as the highest priority. Ceruleans The announcement of the
will be the most affected because they favor the
special event at the
steep slopes and ridge tops targeted by
Dunwoody Nature Center
mountaintop removal. More than 70 percent of
for Girl Scouts and their
breeding Cerulean Warblers are found in the
leaders in last month’s
Ohio Hills and Cumberland Plateau regions
Wingbars announced the
targeted by mountaintop mining.
wrong time. The event will
In 2000, 28 groups throughout the East
begin at 9 AM and end at 2
petitioned the FWS to list the Cerulean as
threatened, citing the precipitous decline in PM, not noon as previously
population and the growing threats to its reported.
summer breeding habitat in higher-elevation If you can help, join other
deciduous forests, including logging, sprawl Atlanta Audubon members
development and mountaintop removal mining.
at the Dunwoody Nature
FWS biologists at one time considered the bird
Center to help
a “candidate species” and found in 2002 that the
participating Girl Scouts
groups’ petition warranted further study.
work on the requirements
However, the agency, which has continually
come under fire for ignoring its own scientists’ for their Bird Patch.
analysis in favor of politically expedient
All materials and
decisions, evaded issuing a final determination
until forced by the court. instructions (as well as
confidence, if necessary)
“The FWS decision not to list the Cerulean supplied. Contact Marcia
Warbler is just one more example of the Klenbort at 404.874.9826 or
administration’s blatant disregard for science,” e-mail: marcia.klenbort
said Caroline Kennedy, senior director of field
@comcast.net
conservation with Defenders of Wildlife. “Any
delay in taking the steps necessary to protect for more information.
the warbler and its habitat only propel the
songbird closer to extinction.”
“The Southern Appalachians form the
southernmost range for the Cerulean, one of the
songbirds most cherished by the growing
number of birders who come to the mountains
of western North Carolina,” said Bob Gale,
ecologist for the Western North Carolina
Alliance. “The federal government is shirking its
responsibility to do everything possible to keep
this bird from disappearing from our mountains
altogether.”
The conservation groups said they will continue
their efforts to protect the Cerulean Warbler,
including a possible legal challenge to the
agency decision, continued tracking and
documentation of the bird’s population,
advocating improved logging practices that do
the least damage to Cerulean habitat, and
seeking habitat protection on national forest
lands.
7
 Atlanta Audubon Society
2007 Annual Photography Contest
Got Milk? by Julie Hodder (2006 Grand Prize Winner)
Check out the AAS Web site for all the
Submission Details and Rules at:
www.atlantaaudubon.org
Key Dates:
Entries must be taken either in Calendar Year
2006 or in the period in 2007 up to March 16,
2007, the deadline for submission. All entries will
be displayed at the April AAS Speaker Series event on
Sunday the 15th. Ribbons and great prizes will be
awarded at the meeting. Participants don’t have to be
present to win. All entries will be judged prior to the
April AAS Speaker Series event.
Get Ready for the 2007 Atlanta Audubon
Society Photography Contest!
Check Out This Year’s Great Prizes:
First Prize—Birds: Stokes Talon 8 x 42 Binoculars,
retail value $179.99 (Sponsored by Eagle Optics) and two free
registrations to the 2008 Space Coast Birding Festival in Fla.
First Prize—Animals: REI Stratocruiser 27” Wheeled
Luggage Pack, retail value $230.00 (Sponsored by REI)
First Prize—Habitat: Smith & Hawken’s amazing
life-size pair of cranes rendered in steel with hand-hammered
detail, retail value $189.00 (Sponsored by Smith & Hawken)
Grand Prize: Two-night stay at the Marriott Residence Inn
Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach, Florida plus Space Coast
Outdoor Adventure Package for 2 (dinner at Dixie Crossroad
Seafood Restaurant, Airboat Tour, Kayak Tour, AND Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex passes). Also includes the
opportunity to have your photograph printed on the AAS
official picture postcard for 2007!
Criteria for judging include:
Originality ł Overall impact ł Composition ł Technique ł Presentation
Entries will be judged by category which include:
Birds (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior [i.e. perching on a fence])
Animals (all living creatures, other than birds; no man-made elements)
Habitats (flora and fauna in their natural environments, landscapes, or panoramas)
We are proud to announce that Mr. Charles Needle, well-known professional
photographer, will be our judge for the event!

Sponsored by

Waterfowl Workshop
continued from page 5
The instructors are Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell. Participants will spend
approximately one hour at the Wetlands Center in a discussion of the species,
habitat and waterfowl migration patterns. The group will then drive to the Huie
Answer: Sooty ponds and other nearby waters, as needed, for field study of these birds.
Shearwater
Space is limited and reservations are required. A non-refundable program fee of
$20 is payable by February 12. For information and reservations, call or e-mail
Carol Lambert: 770.603.5603, clambert@ccwa1.com.

8 Atlanta Audubon Society

 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
DEADLINE APPROACHING
In case you missed it in last month’s Wingbars, Atlanta
Audubon is calling for applications for the two
scholarships the organization awards each year. The
Louisa Echols Scholarship goes to one adult, and the
Edward Barnsley Scholarship is awarded to one youth.
The scholarships cover both camp fees and airfare for
one of National Audubon’s renowned summer ecology
camps.

Louisa Echols Scholarship Edward Barnsley Scholarship

The goal of the Louisa Echols
scholarship is to enable the recipient to
attend an Audubon camp to enhance his
or her knowledge of the environment
and incorporate that knowledge on the
job. The scholarship recipient can
attend an Audubon camp in either Hog
Island, Maine – Maine Audubon Society;
Pine County, Minnesota – Audubon
Center of the North Woods; or
Northwestern Wisconsin – Hunt Hill
Audubon Sanctuary and Nature Center.
The faculty of these Audubon camps
includes Audubon staff educators and
naturalists who bring years of
experience and skill in environmental
and outdoor learning.
Eligibility
✔ Be a teacher or environmental
educator in the metro Atlanta area
involved with teaching youths or adults
science, natural history or
environmental education in either a
formal school setting or a non-formal
environmental education program;
The goal of the Edward Barnsley
Scholarship is to instill in the recipient a
love, respect and a sense of stewardship
for the natural world. The scholarship
recipient will attend an Audubon youth
camp program in Hog Island, Maine.
Campers get to hike through cathedral-
like spruce-fir forests, search for
organisms in tide pools and learn about
wildlife. The curriculum is wide ranging
and includes marine biology, forest
geology, ornithology and pond life.
Eligibility
✔ Be a student in the metro Atlanta
area;
✔ Be willing to participate in three
Atlanta Audubon Society activities
during 2007;
✔ Be between 10 and 15 years old.
Applications for both scholarships are
available on the Atlanta Audubon
Website, www.atlantaaudubon.org.
Logistics

✔ Be available and willing to be
interviewed by the Atlanta Audubon
Scholarship Review Committee;
✔ Be willing to participate in three
Atlanta Audubon Society activities
during 2007;
✔ Be 18 years or older.
Applications are available on the Atlanta Audubon Web
site: www.atlantaaudubon.org.
Mail completed applications to:
Nita Wynn
2090 Bankston Circle
Snellville, GA 30078
You may also e-mail completed applications to
neat.47@att.net.
For additional information, contact Nita Wynn at
770.985.0015 or neat.47@att.net.

February 2007 9
 CLASSIFIEDS
Rates for business card size ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent
with the conservation and birding mission and agenda of Atlanta Audubon Society.
You may also design your own ad. Call for pricing.
Send ads and payment to:
Wingbars Ads Atlanta Audubon Society, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359

When You
When You Come Black Oil
To The
To TheMountains
Mountains Sunflower
Visit the best bird store
in North Georgia! 20lb Bag $7.00 always
We have fresh Cole’s with Audubon Membership Card
seed and a HUGE
array of squirrel-proof Proud Supporters of Environmentally
feeders, Bushnell optics,
hard to find hardware, Conscious Organizations in our Local
great books (including
ABA Guides), stained Community.
glass, unique gifts & the
best candles you’ve Wild Bird Centers
ever smelled!
Cumming –– 2825 S. Vickery St. 678-456-6900
Dunwoody—2472 Jett Ferry Rd 770-396-3353
Johns Creek—3630 Peachtree Pky 770-813-9476
Under the big maples in downtown Blue Ridge
611 E. Main St. • Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 258-BIRD (2473) • blueridgebirdseed.com
WWW.Wildbird.com

CANINE SHOWCASE
& WILD BIRD INC.
1874 Piedmont Ave. Suite 101-A
Atlanta, Georgia 30324
404•875•0611
We’ve moved to a bigger and better location.
We are located in Piedmont Pointe next to Einstein Bagels on
Piedmont Road. We are expanding our already great selection
of bird supplies to include:

• Swift Binoculars
• Droll Yankee Feeders
• Coveside Houses
• Garden & Yard Art

President’s Perch
continued from page 2

Plant a Wax Myrtle and see what comes to visit. And remember, Atlanta Audubon,
through its Wildlife Sanctuary Program, provides advice on making your yard as bird
friendly as possible.
On the broader level, we can become active in our local communities to make our
voices heard through activities such as Atlanta Audubon’s Armchair Activist Program
or the Greater Atlanta Greenspace Inititative to support as wide a variety of
greenspace initiatives as possible, to keep the great birding areas around Atlanta great
and in general find ways to help our cities support birds and other wildlife.
If these particular programs aren’t your “thing,” there are plenty of other programs and
ways to have an impact on your local community and surrounding areas. The
important thing is to get involved. If we all take action, however small it may seem, we
not only enhance the environment for birds and other wildlife but make our planet a
more healthy and nurturing place for people.

10
 STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE MAY
SHOREBIRD WORKSHOP
Experience a spectacular
birding event: migrating
shorebirds feasting on
horseshoe crab eggs. You
don’t have to go to Delaware
Bay to see this because this
phenomenon also occurs here
on our Georgia Coast.
Observe thousands of
migrating shorebirds like Red
Knots, Semipalmated
Sandpipers, Short-billed
Dowitchers, wading birds in
breeding plumage and more.
You can see all this if you
participate in Atlanta
Audubon’s 2007 Shorebird
Workshop. This unique field
trip is timed with the laying of
horseshoe crab eggs during
the full moon in May.
The two-part workshop will
have a class session taught by
Georgann Schmalz, AAS
resident ornithologist, on
Sunday, March 18, 2 PM to 4
PM at the Dunwoody Nature
Center, and weekend field
trips led by Brad Winn, a
wildlife biologist with DNR on
May 19 and 20. There will be a
full day of birding on
Saturday, May 19, and a half
day of birding on Sunday, May
20. The weekend will include
a boat trip to St. Catherine’s
Sound (weather permitting)
and field trips to the South
Beach on Jekyll Island and
Gould’s Inlet on St. Simon’s
Island.
Trip cost:
$125 for Friends of
Atlanta Audubon, $150 for
assigned members from
National Audubon and $175
for non-members. Trip cost
does not include food or
lodging.
Trip is limited to 15
participants.
For more information and to
register, contact Lisa Hurt by
e-mail
(artlisahurt@bellsouth.net)
or phone (770.934.7660).
Payment confirms your
registration.

Join the 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.
BENEFITS OF
If you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.
MEMBERSHIP
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org. ✔ 12 issues of
Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the National Wingbars
Audubon Society. Thus you will not receive Audubon magazine.
Newsletter

Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society ✔ Friends discounts

Make check payable to: on classes, trips
Atlanta Audubon Society
Basic Membership and special

Individual .......................................$25
Membership Director
Family ............................................$35 events
P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359
Student ..........................................$15
✔ Use of the AAS

Renewal
New Membership
Contributing Membership..........................$50
library

Supporting Membership..........................$100
Name_____________________________________

Donor Membership..................................$250 ✔A great tax
Address ___________________________________ Receive an official deduction!
Atlanta Audubon T-shirt
City___________________________ State _____
Patron Membership .................................$500
Receive a T-shirt and signed Thanks to all
Zip Code _____________ copy of Birds of Atlanta of you for your

Benefactor Membership........................$1,000 support and
E-mail ____________________________________ Receive all of the above plus a signed framed enthusiasm.
print of Charles Harper’s “Missing Migrants”
Phone ____________________________________

Please do not share this information with any other organization

Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars

February 2007 11
 AUDUBON SPEAKER SERIES
Nancy Tanner, wife of Dr. James T. Tanner
March 11, 2007, 3 PM
Pike Family Nursery Auditorium
4020 Steve Reynolds Blvd, Norcross, GA 30093
Join Atlanta Audubon on March 11 at 3 PM for some living history as we introduce Nancy Tanner, the wife of James T.
Tanner, who was given a fellowship in 1937 by the National Audubon Society to study the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and
determine its needs in order to save it from extinction. James Tanner wrote the definitive book published by Audubon in
1942, The Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Dover republished it in 1966 and again in 2003.
The last confirmed sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker was in 1944, and Nancy Tanner is the last living person to have seen five
Ivory-bills and studied them for two weeks in the field. With the latest possible evidence of Ivory-bills in Arkansas and Florida, there is
hope that Nancy will not be the final person to study these magnificent birds.
Nancy will show her husband’s close-up pictures of the Ivory-bill and a DVD on which you can see and hear the bird.
James Tanner received his PhD from Cornell University and was a professor at the University of Tennessee, where he started the first
graduate program in ecology in the country. He was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He died in 1991.
Nancy and Jim have three children and seven grandchildren. Nancy graduated from Mount Holyoke College and got her graduate degree
from Harvard University. After her children were in high school, she returned to teaching in the College of Education at the University of
Tennessee. She and Jim traveled extensively in Europe, South America, Kenya and Japan and both retired in 1979.
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NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
Atlanta Audubon Society PAID
Box 29189 • Atlanta, GA 30359
Atlanta, GA
Permit #917

Wingbars is printed on recycled paper