The Fall Line

Ocmulgee Audubon Society

August 2007
Volume 35, Issue 07

Coming Events
Monday, August 13, 7:30 PM. Meeting at the Museum of Arts and Sciences, 4182 Forsyth Road in
Macon. Join us to hear Carolyn Johnson, Assistant Refuge Manager at Piedmont National Wildlife
Refuge speak on the impact of the pine beetle infestation on red-cockaded woodpeckers. Johnson will
also provide an update on Bachman’s sparrows at the refuge and activities at Bond Swamp NWR.
Saturday, August 18, 8:30 AM. Rolling field trip to search for shorebirds migrating far from shore. Meet
at the office of Dr. Ty Ivey, 1902 Forsyth Street, Macon. The group will carpool from there to areas that
historically offer sightings of shorebirds traveling through the central part of Georgia. The rolling field trip
may take the group as far away as Marshalville in Macon County.
NOTE: Ocmulgee Audubon Society requires that children and youth 15 years of age and younger be
accompanied by a parent or guardian on all OAS field trips.

Field Notes and Sightings

Since this is the first newsletter after our summer
break, sightings from late May and June are
included.
OAS took a field trip to Ocmulgee National
Monument on Saturday, June 16. The group
enjoyed a morning with 50 species including
Mississippi kite, yellow-throated warbler,
prothonotary warbler and painted bunting. The
group was delighted to find an active Acadian
flycatcher nest near the road.
days later they birded Piedmont NWR and found
44 species including wild turkey, whip-poor-will,
eastern kingbird, yellow-throated warbler,
Bachman’s sparrows and orchard oriole (6/9).
Paul Johnson reported Mississippi kites nesting
in his backyard in Bibb County, using the same
nest as last year (6/10). He also reported white-
breasted nuthatch (5/25), 2 blackpoll warblers
(5/19 & 5/28), and a late house wren singing
(5/28), all from Lake Wildwood.

Other sightings reported since the last newsletter
include the following:
Trey McCuen reported hearing a blackpoll warbler
in Bibb County (5/15) and he observed a little blue
heron at a small lake in western Bibb County (5/20).
Trey and his dad birded an area in Monroe County
to find wild turkey, barred owl, Acadian flycatcher,
eastern phoebe, gray catbird, field sparrow, cedar
waxwing, and yellow-breasted chat (6/3). A few
Jim Gilreath sighted an anhinga flying overhead
in Houston County (6/9) and reported hearing
northern bobwhite in the area several times in
late May and early June.
Dot Freeman from Blairsville took a bird break
during a recent journey to Florida and reported 5
Mississippi kites from Crawford County (7/11).
(Continued on page 2)

If you are a local member of Ocmulgee Audubon Society, please remember that it’s time to renew your
membership. The $25 annual fee for local membership ensures that you remain on the OAS mailing list and
helps cover costs for running the organization. Local membership runs July 1—June 30 of each year and
does not include membership in National Audubon Society. Please complete the following information and
return this form with your payment of $25 to Jerry Amerson, OAS Membership Chair, 2210 Plantation
Drive, Macon GA 31211.

Name:
Address:

City & Zip:

Email address:
_____ I prefer to receive my newsletter by email and do not need a hard copy mailed to my address.
News and Notes
A SWIFT NIGHT OUT!
Once again, for the seventh year, the
Driftwood Wildlife Association is hosting “A
Swift Night Out.” The event invites
interested folks to keep their eyes to the
skies at dusk and watch for areas where
swifts are feeding. On one night over the
weekend of August 10-12 and/or September
7-9, observe the roost starting about 30
minutes before dusk and estimate the
number of swifts that enter. When you have
your number, contact the program with your
information on the number of swifts counted,
the time (and time zone), date, location,
address, and a broad description of the site.
You can view reports from previous years or
get more information at
www.chimneyswifts.org and follow the link
for A Swift Night Out!
This site also features photographs of a
swift nest, and links to fascinating
information and videos about swifts and
martins.
Ocmulgee Audubon Society
Phone: 478-745-5174
PERMIT # 371
Macon GA
PAID
U.S. Postage
Non-Profit Organization
PROGRAM THANKS!
OAS wants to thank Mary Elfner, Georgia IBA
Coordinator for her presentation on Georgia’s Important
Bird Areas. It’s always nice to hear a reminder about the
value of our natural environments.
Field Notes and Sightings (continued from page 1)
Jim and Joan Radiker sent a report of their recent
trip to Big Bend, Texas. The trip yielded 15 life birds
for the Radikers, including black-chinned
hummingbird, varied bunting, scaled quail, gray-
breasted jay, black-tailed gnatcatcher, and Scott’s
oriole.
Ty Ivey, Jerry Amerson, Paul Hoinowski, and Ken
Clark found 8 least , 1 semiplamated, and 2 spotted
sandpipers at Cherokee Brickyards (7/21). They also
observed nesting anhinga at the site.
Terry Johnson and Ron Lee spotted a lesser
yellowlegs and black-necked stilt at Plant Scherer in
Monroe County (7/23).
Please forward your local sightings to the editor by
sending email to jaamerson@cox.net.
Rare bird reports may be made to RBA Statewide:
770-493-8862.
Board of Directors:
• President - Paul Hoinowski
478-745-5174
• President-Elect - Jim Gilreath
478-923-7151
• Treasurer - Ty Ivey
478-474-5911
• Membership – Jerry Amerson
478-746-5697
• Editor – Marie Amerson
478-746-5697
Macon GA 31211
2210 Plantation Drive
Ocmulgee Audubon Society