Date: 7/10/26 2:26 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: a dark day for endangered birds and animals
60 years ago when I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed teenager, and the world was my oyster, my grandfather would read the newspaper each day and proclaim "the world is going to hell in a handbasket!"... and I would think to myself I will NEVER become the negative, cynical person he'd turned into with age. I was wrong! My country and the world look to be such sad, sorry places for the foreseeable term, and it's almost baffling how we ever let it get to this point :((Good luck on the legal challenges....
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC....
On Friday, July 10, 2026 at 03:43:40 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
Since its enactment 53 years ago, the Endangered Species Act has protected the habitat of endangered birds and other animals from destruction that would harm the animals dependent on that habitat for survival. Protection of habitat for endangered animals is based on both the science that these species need the habitat to survive and avoid extinction, and that congress enacted the law not only to prevent extinction but also restore the ecosystems species need to recover. Protection of habitat under the Act has undoubtedly prevented the extinction of numerous species and enabled an increasing number to recover from the risk of extinction. Habitat loss is the primary factor for listing 76 of the 79 bird species currently endangered or threatened in the US.
Protections of essential habitat for endangered animals have stood for over fifty years under Republican and Democratic Presidents and Republican and Democratic Congresses. Thirty years ago, the US Supreme Court upheld the longstanding rules of the Fish and Wildlife Service protecting the habitat of endangered animals under the Endangered Species Act. But today, the lawless Trump Administration announced the repeal the rule providing protection to habitat for endangered animals. and that it will beginning next week no longer protect the habitat these species need to survive. It is a very dark day for endangered birds and animals. There will be legal challenges. Of the many – and there are many – horrendous things the Trump Administration has done to destroy our environment and natural resources this has to be one of the worst.
Date: 7/10/26 2:17 pm From: Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: RE: a dark day for endangered birds and animals
The repeal of habitat protection for endangered birds and animals was proposed for public comment over a year ago. There were over 220,000 comments with over 90% opposed. But the oil industry supports it and that is all that really matters to the Trump Administration if you read their announcement today. Endangered species habitat is no longer protected because “it burdens business.” The most laughable statement in the release is from the Fish and Wildlife Service Director who says the “Trump administration is committed to protecting wildlife using gold standard science.”
Yes, there will be immediate legal challenges.
Derb Carter
From: sheryl mcnair <sammcnair...>
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2026 4:42 PM
To: Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...>
Cc: Derb Carter <dcarter...>; <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: a dark day for endangered birds and animals
Does anyone know if Sierra Club or someone like that is appealing this change?
Warmly,
Sheryl
On Jul 10, 2026, at 4:03 PM, Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
Just so that folks have something more official to read, here is the official commentary from the Center for Biological Diversity, dated today, July 10:
On Fri, Jul 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM Derb Carter <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
Since its enactment 53 years ago, the Endangered Species Act has protected the habitat of endangered birds and other animals from destruction that would harm the animals dependent on that habitat for survival. Protection of habitat for endangered animals is based on both the science that these species need the habitat to survive and avoid extinction, and that congress enacted the law not only to prevent extinction but also restore the ecosystems species need to recover. Protection of habitat under the Act has undoubtedly prevented the extinction of numerous species and enabled an increasing number to recover from the risk of extinction. Habitat loss is the primary factor for listing 76 of the 79 bird species currently endangered or threatened in the US.
Protections of essential habitat for endangered animals have stood for over fifty years under Republican and Democratic Presidents and Republican and Democratic Congresses. Thirty years ago, the US Supreme Court upheld the longstanding rules of the Fish and Wildlife Service protecting the habitat of endangered animals under the Endangered Species Act. But today, the lawless Trump Administration announced the repeal the rule providing protection to habitat for endangered animals. and that it will beginning next week no longer protect the habitat these species need to survive. It is a very dark day for endangered birds and animals. There will be legal challenges. Of the many – and there are many – horrendous things the Trump Administration has done to destroy our environment and natural resources this has to be one of the worst.
Date: 7/10/26 1:03 pm From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: a dark day for endangered birds and animals
Just so that folks have something more official to read, here is the
official commentary from the Center for Biological Diversity, dated today,
July 10:
On Fri, Jul 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM Derb Carter <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Since its enactment 53 years ago, the Endangered Species Act has protected
> the habitat of endangered birds and other animals from destruction that
> would harm the animals dependent on that habitat for survival. Protection
> of habitat for endangered animals is based on both the science that these
> species need the habitat to survive and avoid extinction, and that congress
> enacted the law not only to prevent extinction but also restore the
> ecosystems species need to recover. Protection of habitat under the Act has
> undoubtedly prevented the extinction of numerous species and enabled an
> increasing number to recover from the risk of extinction. Habitat loss is
> the primary factor for listing 76 of the 79 bird species currently
> endangered or threatened in the US.
>
>
>
> Protections of essential habitat for endangered animals have stood for
> over fifty years under Republican and Democratic Presidents and Republican
> and Democratic Congresses. Thirty years ago, the US Supreme Court upheld
> the longstanding rules of the Fish and Wildlife Service protecting the
> habitat of endangered animals under the Endangered Species Act. But today,
> the lawless Trump Administration announced the repeal the rule providing
> protection to habitat for endangered animals. and that it will beginning
> next week no longer protect the habitat these species need to survive. It
> is a very dark day for endangered birds and animals. There will be legal
> challenges. Of the many – and there are many – horrendous things the Trump
> Administration has done to destroy our environment and natural resources
> this has to be one of the worst.
>
>
>
> Derb Carter
>
>
>
Date: 7/10/26 12:43 pm From: Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: a dark day for endangered birds and animals
Since its enactment 53 years ago, the Endangered Species Act has protected the habitat of endangered birds and other animals from destruction that would harm the animals dependent on that habitat for survival. Protection of habitat for endangered animals is based on both the science that these species need the habitat to survive and avoid extinction, and that congress enacted the law not only to prevent extinction but also restore the ecosystems species need to recover. Protection of habitat under the Act has undoubtedly prevented the extinction of numerous species and enabled an increasing number to recover from the risk of extinction. Habitat loss is the primary factor for listing 76 of the 79 bird species currently endangered or threatened in the US.
Protections of essential habitat for endangered animals have stood for over fifty years under Republican and Democratic Presidents and Republican and Democratic Congresses. Thirty years ago, the US Supreme Court upheld the longstanding rules of the Fish and Wildlife Service protecting the habitat of endangered animals under the Endangered Species Act. But today, the lawless Trump Administration announced the repeal the rule providing protection to habitat for endangered animals. and that it will beginning next week no longer protect the habitat these species need to survive. It is a very dark day for endangered birds and animals. There will be legal challenges. Of the many - and there are many - horrendous things the Trump Administration has done to destroy our environment and natural resources this has to be one of the worst.
Date: 7/7/26 9:52 am From: Patricia Tice (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: no plastic feeders
I second that! They have paid for themselves with money saved from
squirrel damage and appetites!
Patty Tice
Raleigh
On Tue, Jul 7, 2026, 10:13 AM James Hancock <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> After using many different squirrel proof feeders that didn’t work, I
> started using the squirrel buster models from Brome.
> I ordered online. They’re almost entirely metal with a few plastic parts
> inside the shroud. I’ve used Brome feeders exclusively for 4 years now, and
> the feeders are still in great shape.
> I have 6 of them—sunflower/thistle, and peanut
> I’ve never had a squirrel get satisfaction from one of these feeders, and
> it’s hilarious watching them try.
> Brome often has sales on their website.
> Skip Hancock
> Coinjock NC
>
Date: 7/7/26 8:08 am From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (16 Jun 2026) Bears? Yes, We Have Bears. Lots!
Thanks to trail cams and personal observations we concluded “This Week at Hilton Pond North” we’re hosting at least EIGHT American Black Bears on our 35-acre property! These big furry mammals are out and about day and night, as described in our latest photo essay #41 at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260616.html . We include information about our first fledgling hummingbird of the season (right on time!) and a Worm-eating Warbler, plus our usual bird banding tallies. After reading, check out our podcast, too.
Date: 7/7/26 7:12 am From: James Hancock (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: no plastic feeders
After using many different squirrel proof feeders that didn’t work, I started using the squirrel buster models from Brome.
I ordered online. They’re almost entirely metal with a few plastic parts inside the shroud. I’ve used Brome feeders exclusively for 4 years now, and the feeders are still in great shape.
I have 6 of them—sunflower/thistle, and peanut
I’ve never had a squirrel get satisfaction from one of these feeders, and it’s hilarious watching them try.
Brome often has sales on their website.
Skip Hancock
Coinjock NC
Date: 7/6/26 9:27 am From: Sophia Cox (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Tube Feeder with NO wood, plastic, or aluminum?
While it does use plastic, I am in love with the Squirrel Busters tube
feeders (both the large and small model). After years of watching squirrels
infiltrate and/or destroy nearly every other feeder I ever tried, we've now
been using this brand for years and in all that time the squirrels have
never once destroyed any of the parts or accessed the seed. Also, I'm
pretty sure the brand has a lifetime warranty: I called them once after our
smaller feeder became crooked, causing seed to get stuck such that the
birds couldn't access it from the ports, and they sent a replacement, no
questions asked.
On Mon, Jul 6, 2026 at 12:16 PM <badgerboy...> wrote:
> Having trouble getting information on actual materials used in the
> construction of bird feeders. None of the websites seem to include any
> detailed descriptions of the materials. What I really want is a tube
> feeder made ONLY of stainless steel and/or glass. In other words ZERO
> plastic, polycarbonate, mesh, wood, aluminum, etc. Also NO springs or
> other gismos that always break quickly. Because the squirrels and
> weather destroy plastic, wood, and aluminum pretty quick. I don't want
> to keep the squirrels off it, just prevent them from destroying it.
> Being in Boone, NC, there are no bird stores nearby that have models to
> examine in stock.
>
> Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of such a feeder? All info
> appreciated.
>
> Guy (McGrane, Boone NC)
>
>
Date: 7/6/26 9:16 am From: <badgerboy...> Subject: Tube Feeder with NO wood, plastic, or aluminum?
Having trouble getting information on actual materials used in the construction of bird feeders. None of the websites seem to include any detailed descriptions of the materials. What I really want is a tube feeder made ONLY of stainless steel and/or glass. In other words ZERO plastic, polycarbonate, mesh, wood, aluminum, etc. Also NO springs or other gismos that always break quickly. Because the squirrels and weather destroy plastic, wood, and aluminum pretty quick. I don't want to keep the squirrels off it, just prevent them from destroying it. Being in Boone, NC, there are no bird stores nearby that have models to examine in stock.
Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of such a feeder? All info appreciated.
Date: 6/30/26 7:06 pm From: Anita Huffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Hilton Pond north (6 May 2026) A Quintet of Warblers—Plus a Hummingbird Flower
net
On Mon, 25 May, 2026 at 7:43 AM, "<hilton...>" <carolinabirds...> wrote:
To: 00—carolinabirds
For a birder (or bird bander) hardly anything is more enjoyable than spotting the first warblers of a new spring season. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” we showcase five of these colorful creatures (an unusual Blue-winged Warbler shown here), plus a couple of other migrants. There’s an account of a much-overlooked native hummingbird flower you might plant, with our usual lists of all birds banded or recaptured during the period. To view photo essay #38, just click on https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260506.html.
(After reading, please check out our latest podcast.)
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 6/26/26 9:43 am From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (1-15 Jun 2026) Eastern Box Turtle: Mayapple's Designated Driver 🐦
Mayapple is a favorite native wildflower across the eastern U.S.; parts are highly toxic but its seeds are disseminated by box turtles. “This Week At Hilton Pond North” (Lansing NC) we discuss this complex relationship and talk about birds we’ve recently banded or recaptured, including Eastern Wood-Pewees and Gray Catbirds and returns of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 6/24/26 12:07 pm From: Kent Fiala (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin being giant data hog, but "data and documents" files not accessible - advice?
It used to be that Merlin automatically saved every recording. People who didn't realize that thus ended up with massive amounts of recording data on their phone. And if Merlin ever lost track of those files for some reason, then you'd have a situation like Betsy had. Several months ago a change was made so that now Merlin NEVER saves a recording unless you specifically tap the "Save" button after you stop the recording. This has caused some people to lose recordings that they expected to keep, until they caught onto the "Press save" thing, but at least you don't unwittingly have such a buildup of recordings.
The above is definitely true for Android. It seems like I've heard contradictory statements about whether iPhone is the same.
Kent Fiala
On 6/24/2026 1:14 PM, Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote: > Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. If anyone is > wondering, I uninstalled Merlin and re-installed it. That freed up a > massive amount of storage. It was the consensus response too. > > One of the many helpful people who responded wrote "Deleting packs and > old recordings should clear them entirely but I think there’s a bug > where sometimes it only removes it from the user interface but doesn’t > clear the data from the app itself, so a hard restart is needed." > That seems like it happened with my app. It's been years since I've > been able to retrieve a recording once made. I can only replay them if > I am still actively using the session when the recording was made (or > if I think to save them as an audio file outside of Merlin which can > be done but which I rarely do). After that, they become unavailable > and don't load when I go to My Sound Recordings. Apparently they may > have been still in there, just unseen, and there must have been > hundreds, all using storage. > > Anyway, issue resolved - Happy birding > Betsy Kane > Washington, N.C. > > On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 10:09 PM Betsy Kane <oldurbanist...> wrote: > > Merlin is soaking up 200G of storage on my phone, of which most is > "data and documents". Only a very small fraction is the app > itself, per my phone's memory usage data. > > I go into Merlin to see my data and documents. Click on Sound > Recordings -- nothing comes up. (This isn't new -- I haven't been > able to access any sound recordings in Merlin in years) > > I would like to delete my "data and documents" for Merlin since I > can't access them anyway and really need the 200G of storage for > other things, like the operating system. > > This is on an iPhone. > > (I don't think it's a bunch of bird packs because I have already > offloaded the ones I'm not using. Only the Southeast pack shows > anyway) > > Appreciate any advice on how to shed 200 Gigs. > > Betsy Kane > Washington, N.C. >
Date: 6/24/26 10:14 am From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin being giant data hog, but "data and documents" files not accessible - advice?
Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. If anyone is wondering, I
uninstalled Merlin and re-installed it. That freed up a massive amount of
storage. It was the consensus response too.
One of the many helpful people who responded wrote "Deleting packs and old
recordings should clear them entirely but I think there’s a bug where
sometimes it only removes it from the user interface but doesn’t clear the
data from the app itself, so a hard restart is needed."
That seems like it happened with my app. It's been years since I've been
able to retrieve a recording once made. I can only replay them if I am
still actively using the session when the recording was made (or if I think
to save them as an audio file outside of Merlin which can be done but which
I rarely do). After that, they become unavailable and don't load when I go
to My Sound Recordings. Apparently they may have been still in there,
just unseen, and there must have been hundreds, all using storage.
Anyway, issue resolved - Happy birding
Betsy Kane
Washington, N.C.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 10:09 PM Betsy Kane <oldurbanist...> wrote:
> Merlin is soaking up 200G of storage on my phone, of which most is "data
> and documents". Only a very small fraction is the app itself, per my
> phone's memory usage data.
>
> I go into Merlin to see my data and documents. Click on Sound Recordings
> -- nothing comes up. (This isn't new -- I haven't been able to access any
> sound recordings in Merlin in years)
>
> I would like to delete my "data and documents" for Merlin since I can't
> access them anyway and really need the 200G of storage for other things,
> like the operating system.
>
> This is on an iPhone.
>
> (I don't think it's a bunch of bird packs because I have already offloaded
> the ones I'm not using. Only the Southeast pack shows anyway)
>
> Appreciate any advice on how to shed 200 Gigs.
>
> Betsy Kane
> Washington, N.C.
>
Date: 6/23/26 6:19 pm From: Steve Patterson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin being giant data hog, but "data and documents" files not accessible - advice?
Betsy, my Merlin app doesn't a lot of storage, but a few days ago it suddenly changed from English to Russian (or some Cyrillic language. Unable to find a way to to fix it, I had to uninstall the app and reobtain it.
Steve PattersonHilton Head Island, SC
On Monday, June 22, 2026 at 10:09:24 PM EDT, Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
Merlin is soaking up 200G of storage on my phone, of which most is "data and documents". Only a very small fraction is the app itself, per my phone's memory usage data.
I go into Merlin to see my data and documents. Click on Sound Recordings -- nothing comes up. (This isn't new -- I haven't been able to access any sound recordings in Merlin in years)
I would like to delete my "data and documents" for Merlin since I can't access them anyway and really need the 200G of storage for other things, like the operating system.
This is on an iPhone.
(I don't think it's a bunch of bird packs because I have already offloaded the ones I'm not using. Only the Southeast pack shows anyway)
Appreciate any advice on how to shed 200 Gigs.
Betsy KaneWashington, N.C.
Date: 6/23/26 3:33 am From: Robert McLean (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Merlin being giant data hog, but "data and documents" files not accessible - advice?
Hi Betsy,
Just a possible suggestion:
Remove the app altogether. If given the option click YES to remove all data. It is probably corrupt. Install it again. (I would wait a couple of days before installing although that’s probably not necessary)
Good birding!
Taylor McLean
Baltimore, MD
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 22, 2026, at 10:09 PM, Betsy Kane <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> Merlin is soaking up 200G of storage on my phone, of which most is "data and documents". Only a very small fraction is the app itself, per my phone's memory usage data.
>
> I go into Merlin to see my data and documents. Click on Sound Recordings -- nothing comes up. (This isn't new -- I haven't been able to access any sound recordings in Merlin in years)
>
> I would like to delete my "data and documents" for Merlin since I can't access them anyway and really need the 200G of storage for other things, like the operating system.
>
> This is on an iPhone.
>
> (I don't think it's a bunch of bird packs because I have already offloaded the ones I'm not using. Only the Southeast pack shows anyway)
>
> Appreciate any advice on how to shed 200 Gigs.
>
> Betsy Kane
> Washington, N.C.
Date: 6/22/26 7:09 pm From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Merlin being giant data hog, but "data and documents" files not accessible - advice?
Merlin is soaking up 200G of storage on my phone, of which most is "data and documents". Only a very small fraction is the app itself, per my phone's memory usage data.
I go into Merlin to see my data and documents. Click on Sound Recordings -- nothing comes up. (This isn't new -- I haven't been able to access any sound recordings in Merlin in years)
I would like to delete my "data and documents" for Merlin since I can't access them anyway and really need the 200G of storage for other things, like the operating system.
This is on an iPhone.
(I don't think it's a bunch of bird packs because I have already offloaded the ones I'm not using. Only the Southeast pack shows anyway)
Date: 6/18/26 4:54 pm From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (22 May 2026) Bears, Coyotes, and Ravens: Trail Cam Videos Galore
Grab your popcorn and check out the latest “This Week at Hilton Pond North” for our second annual collection of exciting trail cam video snippets—everything from Black Bears and Coyotes to White-tailed Deer fawns and Red-tailed Hawks.
We also include our current bird banding results and a link to our informative “Deep Dive” audio podcast.
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project”
℅ Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 6/18/26 10:03 am From: Alan Meijer (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Are Swallow-tailed Kites dependable near Wilmington NC?
I'll be passing through the Wilmington area in the next few days and was wondering if there are spots where one can dependably find Swallow-tailed Kites, perhaps with a bit of waiting, of course. Or is it a completely lucky and random event to find one? I thought they nested near Wilmington in Brunswick Co.
On 6/15/2026 11:59 AM, "Herbert, Teri Lynn" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote: > > Cleaning out and found a Dec. 2016 newsletter – is there an > archive for CBC? Or would anyone like it: advertises the 80^th > anniversary of CBC and the Jan winter meeting… > > Teri Lynn >
Date: 6/15/26 9:00 am From: \Herbert, Teri Lynn\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: CBC Newsletter Dec 2016
Cleaning out and found a Dec. 2016 newsletter – is there an archive for CBC? Or would anyone like it: advertises the 80th anniversary of CBC and the Jan winter meeting…
Teri Lynn
Date: 6/15/26 7:37 am From: James Hancock (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: sunflower seeds
Linda Foster,
Where do you find a 120lb bag of sunflower seed in Moyock?
Since I go through there all the time, and use LOTS of sunflower seed, it would be somewhere for me to check out.
Thanks,
Skip Hancock
Coinjock
Date: 6/15/26 6:12 am From: Chris Williams (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Quick release plates
I have seen the same issue. Each brand really only works with itself
usually.
I love Really Right Stuff brackets, plates and heads. I bought 20 years ago
and they still work perfectly. But I cried when I paid.
Chris
On Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 3:33 PM Christopher Hill <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
>
>
> > Joe Donahue <joe_donahue...> wrote:
>
> > I would call B&H and talk to them about your issues. Maybe even get in a
> bulk discount.
>
> I already did. Their answer was basically that I'm right. Quoting [re:
> Gitzo]: "the only plate that's compatible is the plate that comes with the
> head. "
>
> I'm hoping the C'birds hive mind has more.
>
> CH
> still in Conway, SC
Date: 6/14/26 12:33 pm From: Christopher Hill (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Quick release plates
> Joe Donahue <joe_donahue...> wrote:
> I would call B&H and talk to them about your issues. Maybe even get in a bulk discount.
I already did. Their answer was basically that I'm right. Quoting [re: Gitzo]: "the only plate that's compatible is the plate that comes with the head. "
Date: 6/14/26 11:02 am From: Joe Donahue (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Quick release plates
I would call B&H and talk to them about your issues. Maybe even get in a bulk discount.
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Sunday, June 14, 2026, 1:42 PM, Christopher Hill (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
OK, Carolinabirds listserv, let's see if you've still got the juice. Though I'm not 100% sure I'm here for answers, might mostly be here to broadcast my complaints.
I (well, the school I teach at) have two large telephoto lens cameras and four spotting scopes. I teach ornithology, which is why I have so many scopes. I am constantly moving scopes back and forth from tripods to window mounts, so quick release swapping is essential.
For decades I have used the manfrotto rectangular quick release system, but those were getting cranky and modern tripod heads seem to use the Arca-Swiss type quick release plates. So, prompted by a drop onto asphalt of a nice Kowa scope when the manfrotto quick release wasn't as secure as I thought, I decided to upgrade/update the whole flock to the Arca-Swiss standard. It will cost a pretty penny, but what the heck, every few decades one (my institution, that is) can afford it.
Now to my complaint: This new cross-manufacturer Arca-Swiss standard is not a standard! While approximating the same shape, the Arca-swiss compatible Oben brand clamp is about 0.3mm too big to firmly hold the Arca Swiss compatible Gitzo plate, which therefore slides around in it. WTF, manufacturers?? Why adopt the new standard if you're still going to have bespoke, manufacturer-specific takes on it? It's frustrating because there is a window mount that meets my needs perfectly for $80 (Oben) but if I have to have everything from the same manufacturer then I'll probably have to return that and fork over $400 (Gitzo) instead.
And to be honest, the Arca-Swiss idea kind of sucks anyway (doesn't snap in, you have to tighten a screw to get it to hold, so not as quick as a quick release should be).
Yeah, I guess I was mostly complaining but among all the scope users out there, if you have found a favorite quick release solution, please feel free to comment about it because I'm still in the middle of figuring out what I'm getting.
Chris Hill,Conway, SC
Date: 6/14/26 10:42 am From: Christopher Hill (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Quick release plates
OK, Carolinabirds listserv, let's see if you've still got the juice. Though I'm not 100% sure I'm here for answers, might mostly be here to broadcast my complaints.
I (well, the school I teach at) have two large telephoto lens cameras and four spotting scopes. I teach ornithology, which is why I have so many scopes. I am constantly moving scopes back and forth from tripods to window mounts, so quick release swapping is essential.
For decades I have used the manfrotto rectangular quick release system, but those were getting cranky and modern tripod heads seem to use the Arca-Swiss type quick release plates. So, prompted by a drop onto asphalt of a nice Kowa scope when the manfrotto quick release wasn't as secure as I thought, I decided to upgrade/update the whole flock to the Arca-Swiss standard. It will cost a pretty penny, but what the heck, every few decades one (my institution, that is) can afford it.
Now to my complaint: This new cross-manufacturer Arca-Swiss standard is not a standard! While approximating the same shape, the Arca-swiss compatible Oben brand clamp is about 0.3mm too big to firmly hold the Arca Swiss compatible Gitzo plate, which therefore slides around in it. WTF, manufacturers?? Why adopt the new standard if you're still going to have bespoke, manufacturer-specific takes on it? It's frustrating because there is a window mount that meets my needs perfectly for $80 (Oben) but if I have to have everything from the same manufacturer then I'll probably have to return that and fork over $400 (Gitzo) instead.
And to be honest, the Arca-Swiss idea kind of sucks anyway (doesn't snap in, you have to tighten a screw to get it to hold, so not as quick as a quick release should be).
Yeah, I guess I was mostly complaining but among all the scope users out there, if you have found a favorite quick release solution, please feel free to comment about it because I'm still in the middle of figuring out what I'm getting.
Date: 6/14/26 10:18 am From: Linda Foster (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Black Oil Sunflower price drop
I buy 120 pounds from them at a time in Moyock NC.
*Linda C Foster*
On Sun, Jun 14, 2026 at 1:11 PM Jeremy Wrenn <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> To make a utilitarian use of listserve, I bought 40lbs of black oil
> sunflower seed from my local Tractor Supply for $21.99 today. Thought that
> was a pretty good price, and I've always found it to be good quality. The
> birds have never had issue with it.
>
> I can't guarantee that your local beach has the same price, but I sure
> enjoyed spending about $12 less for the bag than normal.
>
> Is the price dropping everywhere or did I just come across an anomaly
> today?
>
> --Jeremy Wrenn
> Wake Forest, NC
>
Date: 6/14/26 10:11 am From: Jeremy Wrenn (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Black Oil Sunflower price drop
To make a utilitarian use of listserve, I bought 40lbs of black oil sunflower seed from my local Tractor Supply for $21.99 today. Thought that was a pretty good price, and I've always found it to be good quality. The birds have never had issue with it.
I can't guarantee that your local beach has the same price, but I sure enjoyed spending about $12 less for the bag than normal.
Is the price dropping everywhere or did I just come across an anomaly today?
Date: 6/14/26 9:41 am From: Scot Quaranda (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Listserve still serves
I don’t use GroupMe either and would love to know about the Mountains of North Carolina!
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Katie Slawitschek <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Sunday, 14 June 2026 10:33:33
To: James Hancock <jamespiano...>; <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: Listserve still serves
Can someone share what the RBA group is on GroupMe? Or any other relevant GroupMe bird groups. Im in SC
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of James Hancock <carolinabirds...>
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 8:13 AM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Listserve still serves
Carolina birds should now be less about rarities (groupme and ebird fulfill this) and more about the joy of birding. Talking about the FOS birds, what you saw on a trip, unusual behaviors ( I love hearing about them).
Those are the posts I read now😀
Skip Hancock
Coinjock NC
Date: 6/14/26 7:33 am From: Katie Slawitschek (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Listserve still serves
Can someone share what the RBA group is on GroupMe? Or any other relevant GroupMe bird groups. Im in SC
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of James Hancock <carolinabirds...>
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 8:13 AM
To: <carolinabirds...> <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Listserve still serves
Carolina birds should now be less about rarities (groupme and ebird fulfill this) and more about the joy of birding. Talking about the FOS birds, what you saw on a trip, unusual behaviors ( I love hearing about them).
Those are the posts I read now😀
Skip Hancock
Coinjock NC
Date: 6/14/26 6:26 am From: Kent Fiala (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Garganey and the Demise of the Listserve
Remembrance of the time */before Carolinabirds/*. I posted this on Facebook several years ago.
I was out at Ebenezer Point this morning, and my mind turned back to Dec 10, 1994, when I was there to see what was then a Marbled Murrelet, later Long-billed Murrelet (the only lifer I've ever gotten on my birthday!). And I got to thinking, how did we ever bird back then? How did people find out about this bird? How did I find out about it? Eventually I think I've recovered a memory that I was tipped off by a personal email from Will Cook. All of the people who saw it must have benefited by such direct personal contacts.
The bird was discovered by Ricky Davis on the 9th, and four people whom he contacted got out to see it. The next day (10th) over 30 people were reported to have seen it, and a few more got in on the single brief sighting on the 11th.
I think this was just about on the cusp of the time when lots of people were getting on the Internet. Probably a lot of birders did not have email yet. I believe that I personally had not yet heard of the World Wide Web. Carolinabirds was two years in the future. Widespread use of mobile internet was around a decade and a half in the future. I think most people did not even have cell phones. It was also a number of years before you could check distances on Google maps, or navigate with GPS.
The Carolina Bird Club was running a Rare Bird Alert recorded message (maintained by Taylor Piephoff and transcribed by me for a national rare bird alert listserv) that you could call and listen to, but I don't know how many people called every day. If there was an update on the 9th or 10th, I missed transcribing it; I got a Dec 11th transcript out after the last sighting of the bird.
Date: 6/14/26 6:11 am From: Kent Fiala (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Garganey and the Demise of the Listserve
I took a day off from work to chase the mango, one of I believe only two times I ever did that. We found the mango immediately upon arrival, so then I thought, now what do I do with this whole day? So I went to see a Vermilion Flycatcher in Goldsboro that was also being talked about on Carolinabirds.
Kent Fiala
On 6/12/2026 11:54 PM, Steve Shultz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote: > The mango was amazing. After this record there was a pattern of > vagrancy even up to the Midwest. It has not been repeated however. > This was probably the most incredible bird ever seen in NC. Honored > to have seen it. > > Steve Shultz > > >> On Jun 12, 2026, at 8:42 PM, Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote: >> >> >> re: the Green-breasted Mango: Yeah, that was a spectacular find, but >> (and merely my speculation) I never believed it got here under its >> own power -- I once worked for a company that dealt with large cargo >> trucks hauling tropical plants from south to north -- birds flew into >> and out of those trucks pretty regularly... I imagine the Mango >> entered such a hauler way south somewhere (and got trapped) and when >> the truck arrived in say Charlotte(?), and the back gate opened, out >> it flew! FWIW. >> >> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC. >> >> >> On Friday, June 12, 2026 at 08:22:51 PM EDT, Sandy Cash (via >> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote: >> >> >> I’m late to this discussion, but the Green-breasted Mango we had over >> 25 years ago in Concord is my favorite nationally rare species we’ve >> had in NC. At least one of the major field guides makes a passing >> reference to that specific bird. >> >> -Sandy >> >> Sandy Cash >> Carrboro, NC, USA >> >> On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 1:58 PM Steve Shultz <carolinabirds...> >> wrote: >> >> The booby was an amazing inland bird! >> >> From an ABA perspective, they are fairly easy since they breed in >> Hawaii. I choose not to count Hawaii birds on my ABA list, but >> others do, and the rules allow. Otherwise, there have been about >> a hundred accepted continental records for that species. >> >> The bluetail is an amazing record too! … but my post was about >> nationally rare birds found in NC 😉 >> >> Steve Shultz >> >> >> > On Jun 10, 2026, at 1:06 PM, Robert Lewis <rfermat...> >> wrote: >> > >> > Steve Shultz wrote: >> > >> >> But back to the Garganey. There is one being seen at Pea >> Island in Dare County (found by Audrey Whitlock.) It’s an amazing >> find. This is perhaps the rarest chasable bird to grace North >> Carolina in a decade. Most “rare birds” aren’t. They are locally >> rare, slightly late, slightly early, or uncommon. This duck is >> rare. It is continentally rare. Virtually no one in NC has seen >> one in NC, and few have seen one in the United States, especially >> an alternate plumaged drake. It’s a big deal*. >> > >> > No doubt it's a great record. But I don't think it is quite as >> rare as Steve suggests. There are about 100 records in North >> America outside of Alaska, and 80 in Alaska. Furthermore, a >> pattern is beginning to appear of the bird appearing in the East >> in late May - early June. Now, Red-flanked Bluetail -- that's RARE! >> > >> > Personally, I still think the Red-footed Booby of a few years >> ago in Wake County is truly amazing. There are only two inland >> records in North America. (The other was in Alabama.) And yes, >> it was chaseable. I chased it! So did dozens of others. >> > >> > Bob Lewis >> > Durham NC >>
Date: 6/14/26 5:13 am From: James Hancock (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Listserve still serves
Carolina birds should now be less about rarities (groupme and ebird fulfill this) and more about the joy of birding. Talking about the FOS birds, what you saw on a trip, unusual behaviors ( I love hearing about them).
Those are the posts I read now😀
Skip Hancock
Coinjock NC
Date: 6/13/26 12:32 pm From: Sandy Cash (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Garganey and the Demise of the Listserve
Weirdly enough, there *are* still a couple of key holdouts against the
GroupMe hegemony - the LRGV RBA is still on WhatsApp, and SE AZ (maybe all
of AZ) uses…Discord.
-Sandy
Sandy Cash
Carrboro, NC, USA
On Sat, Jun 13, 2026 at 9:21 AM "Len (null)" <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> I remember driving up from Greenville, SC. There were about a dozen other
> birders there. We saw the mango immediately. It was Nov 24, 2000.
>
> Len Kopka
>
> On Jun 13, 2026, at 6:33 AM, Dennis Forsythe <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>
> All
>
> Ed Blitch and I drove up from Charleston to see the Mango. We saw it as
> soon as we arrived and after more viewing we drove home arriving at 6PM. A
> great bird and a spectacular day with my late friend Ed. Blitch 3 .
>
> Dennis
>
> On Fri, Jun 12, 2026 at 11:55 PM Steve Shultz <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> The mango was amazing. After this record there was a pattern of vagrancy
>> even up to the Midwest. It has not been repeated however. This was probably
>> the most incredible bird ever seen in NC. Honored
>> to have seen it.
>>
>> Steve Shultz
>>
>>
>> On Jun 12, 2026, at 8:42 PM, Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> re: the Green-breasted Mango: Yeah, that was a spectacular find, but (and
>> merely my speculation) I never believed it got here under its own power --
>> I once worked for a company that dealt with large cargo trucks hauling
>> tropical plants from south to north -- birds flew into and out of those
>> trucks pretty regularly... I imagine the Mango entered such a hauler way
>> south somewhere (and got trapped) and when the truck arrived in say
>> Charlotte(?), and the back gate opened, out it flew! FWIW.
>>
>> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
>>
>>
>> On Friday, June 12, 2026 at 08:22:51 PM EDT, Sandy Cash (via
>> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I’m late to this discussion, but the Green-breasted Mango we had over 25
>> years ago in Concord is my favorite nationally rare species we’ve had in
>> NC. At least one of the major field guides makes a passing reference to
>> that specific bird.
>>
>> -Sandy
>>
>> Sandy Cash
>> Carrboro, NC, USA
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 1:58 PM Steve Shultz <carolinabirds...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> The booby was an amazing inland bird!
>>
>> From an ABA perspective, they are fairly easy since they breed in Hawaii.
>> I choose not to count Hawaii birds on my ABA list, but others do, and the
>> rules allow. Otherwise, there have been about a hundred accepted
>> continental records for that species.
>>
>> The bluetail is an amazing record too! … but my post was about nationally
>> rare birds found in NC 😉
>>
>> Steve Shultz
>>
>>
>> > On Jun 10, 2026, at 1:06 PM, Robert Lewis <rfermat...> wrote:
>> >
>> > Steve Shultz wrote:
>> >
>> >> But back to the Garganey. There is one being seen at Pea Island in
>> Dare County (found by Audrey Whitlock.) It’s an amazing find. This is
>> perhaps the rarest chasable bird to grace North Carolina in a decade. Most
>> “rare birds” aren’t. They are locally rare, slightly late, slightly early,
>> or uncommon. This duck is rare. It is continentally rare. Virtually no one
>> in NC has seen one in NC, and few have seen one in the United States,
>> especially an alternate plumaged drake. It’s a big deal*.
>> >
>> > No doubt it's a great record. But I don't think it is quite as rare as
>> Steve suggests. There are about 100 records in North America outside of
>> Alaska, and 80 in Alaska. Furthermore, a pattern is beginning to appear of
>> the bird appearing in the East in late May - early June. Now, Red-flanked
>> Bluetail -- that's RARE!
>> >
>> > Personally, I still think the Red-footed Booby of a few years ago in
>> Wake County is truly amazing. There are only two inland records in North
>> America. (The other was in Alabama.) And yes, it was chaseable. I chased
>> it! So did dozens of others.
>> >
>> > Bob Lewis
>> > Durham NC
>>
>>
>
> --
> Dennis M Forsythe PhD
> Emeritus Professor of Biology
> The Citadel
> Charleston, SC
> 843-708-1605 cell
>
Date: 6/13/26 3:33 am From: Dennis Forsythe (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Garganey and the Demise of the Listserve
All
Ed Blitch and I drove up from Charleston to see the Mango. We saw it as
soon as we arrived and after more viewing we drove home arriving at 6PM. A
great bird and a spectacular day with my late friend Ed. Blitch 3 .
Dennis
On Fri, Jun 12, 2026 at 11:55 PM Steve Shultz <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> The mango was amazing. After this record there was a pattern of vagrancy
> even up to the Midwest. It has not been repeated however. This was probably
> the most incredible bird ever seen in NC. Honored
> to have seen it.
>
> Steve Shultz
>
>
> On Jun 12, 2026, at 8:42 PM, Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> re: the Green-breasted Mango: Yeah, that was a spectacular find, but (and
> merely my speculation) I never believed it got here under its own power --
> I once worked for a company that dealt with large cargo trucks hauling
> tropical plants from south to north -- birds flew into and out of those
> trucks pretty regularly... I imagine the Mango entered such a hauler way
> south somewhere (and got trapped) and when the truck arrived in say
> Charlotte(?), and the back gate opened, out it flew! FWIW.
>
> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
>
>
> On Friday, June 12, 2026 at 08:22:51 PM EDT, Sandy Cash (via carolinabirds
> Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> I’m late to this discussion, but the Green-breasted Mango we had over 25
> years ago in Concord is my favorite nationally rare species we’ve had in
> NC. At least one of the major field guides makes a passing reference to
> that specific bird.
>
> -Sandy
>
> Sandy Cash
> Carrboro, NC, USA
>
> On Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 1:58 PM Steve Shultz <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
> The booby was an amazing inland bird!
>
> From an ABA perspective, they are fairly easy since they breed in Hawaii.
> I choose not to count Hawaii birds on my ABA list, but others do, and the
> rules allow. Otherwise, there have been about a hundred accepted
> continental records for that species.
>
> The bluetail is an amazing record too! … but my post was about nationally
> rare birds found in NC 😉
>
> Steve Shultz
>
>
> > On Jun 10, 2026, at 1:06 PM, Robert Lewis <rfermat...> wrote:
> >
> > Steve Shultz wrote:
> >
> >> But back to the Garganey. There is one being seen at Pea Island in Dare
> County (found by Audrey Whitlock.) It’s an amazing find. This is perhaps
> the rarest chasable bird to grace North Carolina in a decade. Most “rare
> birds” aren’t. They are locally rare, slightly late, slightly early, or
> uncommon. This duck is rare. It is continentally rare. Virtually no one in
> NC has seen one in NC, and few have seen one in the United States,
> especially an alternate plumaged drake. It’s a big deal*.
> >
> > No doubt it's a great record. But I don't think it is quite as rare as
> Steve suggests. There are about 100 records in North America outside of
> Alaska, and 80 in Alaska. Furthermore, a pattern is beginning to appear of
> the bird appearing in the East in late May - early June. Now, Red-flanked
> Bluetail -- that's RARE!
> >
> > Personally, I still think the Red-footed Booby of a few years ago in
> Wake County is truly amazing. There are only two inland records in North
> America. (The other was in Alabama.) And yes, it was chaseable. I chased
> it! So did dozens of others.
> >
> > Bob Lewis
> > Durham NC
>
>
--
Dennis M Forsythe PhD
Emeritus Professor of Biology
The Citadel
Charleston, SC
843-708-1605 cell
