Date: 4/19/26 3:43 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I've had hummers for a couple weeks in Carrboro, NC., but did have a first EVER today!: As I was carrying a freshly-filled feeder to its balcony-hanger a male flew right to it while still in my hands and began feeding 6 inches from my face (first hovering then sitting on feeder). Either he was VERY thirsty, or, very blind and didn't even see me.
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.....
On Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 06:26:25 PM EDT, Don Stuart (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
FWIW, same here in Davidson…..foy bird yesterday, female, following 2025 season when male(s) only appeared,late and rarely.
Don Stuart
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 17, 2026, at 9:16 AM, Dwayne Martin <carolinabirds...> wrote:
Yep, happened to me this week. Only one I've seen at home and it was a female.
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
<redxbill...>
On Fri, Apr 17, 2026 at 9:09 AM Lee Weber <carolinabirds...> wrote:
For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else had this happened?
Lee Weber in Charlotte
Date: 4/18/26 2:50 pm From: Michael Clark <mdc...> Subject: Off topic: Citizen Science Program Needs Your Help Observing the Weather!
Sorry for the off-topic post, but I thought that our local naturalists are probably interested in weather/climate science. CoCoRaHS is a citizen science group that collects precipitation data across the country which informs weather forecasting models. I’ve been participating for a few years and have found the time commitment minimal - I take my daily reading as I leave for my morning dog walk. Please consider helping out with this project.
Citizen Science Program Needs Your Help Observing the Weather!
Have you ever wondered how much rain fell during a recent thunderstorm? How about snowfall during a winter storm? If so, an important volunteer weather observing program needs your help!
The [Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network](http://www.cocorahs.org/), or CoCoRaHS, is looking for new volunteers across North Carolina. The grassroots effort is part of a growing national network of home-based and amateur weather spotters with a goal of providing a high density precipitation network across the country.
CoCoRaHS came about as a result of a devastating flash flood that hit Fort Collins, Colorado, in July 1997. A local severe thunderstorm dumped over a foot of rain in several hours while other portions of the city had only modest rainfall. The ensuing flash flood caught many by surprise and caused $200 million in damages. CoCoRaHS was born in 1998 with the intent of doing a better job of mapping and reporting intense storms. As more volunteers participated, rain, hail, and snow maps were produced for every storm showing fascinating local patterns that were of great interest to scientists and the public. Recently, drought reporting has also become an important observation within the CoCoRaHS program across the nation. In fact, drought observations from CoCoRaHS are now being included in the [National Integrated Drought Information System](https://www.drought.gov/).
North Carolina became the twenty-first state to join the CoCoRaHS program in 2007, and by 2010, the CoCoRaHS network had reached all 50 states with nearly 10,000 daily observations. Through CoCoRaHS, thousands of volunteers, young and old, document the size, intensity, duration and patterns of rain, hail, and snow by taking simple measurements in their own backyards.
Volunteers may obtain an official rain gauge through the CoCoRaHS website ([http://www.cocorahs.org/](https://cocorahs.org/)) for about $42 plus shipping. Besides the need for an official 4 inch plastic rain gauge, volunteers are asked to review simple training modules online and submit their reports using the CoCoRaHS website or phone app. The process takes only five minutes a day, but the impact to the community is tenfold: by providing high quality, accurate measurements, the observers are able to supplement existing networks and provide useful data to scientists, resource managers, decision makers and others.
“CoCoRaHS observers provided valuable data for both Hurricanes Florence and Helene,” said Sean Heuser, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator and Manager of the NC ECONet at the State Climate Office of NC. “For these high intensity events, whether they are tropical systems or afternoon thunderstorms, CoCoRaHS observers are able to fill in gaps and provide a clearer picture of where we see precipitation maximums. We also use CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring reports to determine weekly drought conditions across the state and give recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor authors.”
"Monitoring weather and climate conditions in North Carolina is no easy feat," said Heather Aldridge, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator." CoCoRaHS volunteers help by painting a better picture of precipitation patterns across North Carolina, filling in data gaps where there are no nearby stations. Reporting rain, hail, snow, and drought conditions is a fun activity for all ages!"
“An additional benefit of the program for the National Weather Service is the ability to receive timely reports of significant weather such as hail, intense rainfall, or localized flooding from CoCoRaHS observers that can assist meteorologists in issuing life-saving warnings for severe thunderstorms,” says David Glenn, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator and meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City.
How does one become a CoCoRaHS observer? Go to the [CoCoRaHS website](https://cocorahs.org/) and click on the “Join CoCoRaHS” emblem on the upper right side of the website. After registering, take the simple online training, order your 4 inch rain gauge and start reporting!
“We are in need of new observers across the entire state. "We would like to emphasize rural and coastal locations, and areas of higher terrain across the mountains,” added Glenn.
Date: 4/18/26 7:24 am From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: YC Night Herons (Chapel Hill)
the Yellow-crowned Night Herons are back in the woods adjacent to Ephesus Park tennis/pickleball courts, Chapel Hill (where they nest each spring) -- only laid eyes on 2 but could hear several others calling back-and-forth from area; suspect they are in the courting/nestbuilding phase of activities. -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.....
Date: 4/17/26 6:16 am From: Dwayne Martin (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yep, happened to me this week. Only one I've seen at home and it was a
female.
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
<redxbill...>
On Fri, Apr 17, 2026 at 9:09 AM Lee Weber <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on
> Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else
> had this happened?
> Lee Weber in Charlotte
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 4/17/26 6:09 am From: Lee Weber (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else had this happened?
Lee Weber in Charlotte
Date: 4/8/26 9:39 am From: Robert Lewis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 2026 Durham Spring Bird Count
Hello,
This year the Durham Count will be on April 26, Sunday. I have privately contacted the folks who did it last year. If anyone else is interested, please let me know.
Date: 4/6/26 12:18 pm From: Edmund LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re Flocking behavior and Boids
I was surprised that the linked 2019 article on flocking behavior didn’t
mention Boids, the landmark artificial life program from 1986 that
demonstrates just how simple flocking behavior can be, though it looks so
complex. The bird-oids are programmed to 1) be attracted to others nearby,
2) not get dangerously close, and 3) fly in the same direction as the
others nearby. The program is easy to find on-line, and it’s fun to watch
the randomly moving bird-like objects gradually form a cohesive flock on
the screen. I’d recommend looking in the library of programs in NetLogo, a
free computer simulation website, for that and other fascinating computer
simulations (e.g., grass-sheep-wolf, traffic jams, forest fires).
Here’s the introduction from Wikipedia:
*“Boids* is an artificial life program, developed by Craig Reynolds in
1986, which simulates the flocking behaviour of birds, and related group
motion. His paper on this topic was published in 1987 in the proceedings of
the ACM SIGGRAPH conference.[1] The name "boid" corresponds to a shortened
version of "bird-oid object", which refers to a bird-like object, as well
as referencing the stereotypical New York pronunciation of 'bird' as /ˈbəɪd/
.[2][3] Reynolds' boid model is one example of a larger general concept,
for which many other variations have been developed since.”
Edmund LeGrand
Fauquier Co., VA
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Clark <mdc...>
To: "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2026 21:26:48 +0000
Subject: Bird flocking behavior paper
Interesting paper on how birds make decisions in flocking behavior.
Date: 4/3/26 1:00 pm From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
The Barn Owl boxes put up in the Triangle Area (NC) never got used. Alas,
not a single owl. The boxes were donated to NCWRC and put up in various
other parts of the state. One (I think) was put up in the Alligator River
National Wildlife Refuge and has been used by Barn Owls for several years.
I have not heard about the others.
Norm
On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 3:53 PM Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle
> region some years back... any chance any of those are still up-and-running?
>
> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
>
>
> On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via
> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those
> who may be interested.
>
>
>
> Barn Owl Live Cam | NC Wildlife
> <https://www.ncwildlife.gov/outdoors/barn-owl-live-cam> >
>
>
> Derb Carter
>
Date: 4/3/26 12:53 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle region some years back... any chance any of those are still up-and-running?
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those who may be interested.
I'm in Asheville this week, and my uncle recently saw a bald eagle for the very first time and has since become obsessed with seeing one again. We're very near Lake Julian, and I know there are eBird reports of bald eagles there from the past few days. Does anyone who's more familiar with the area know where exactly at Lake Julian they're likely to be seen, or have any tips (time of day, etc.) to improve our odds of finding one?
Date: 3/30/26 7:44 pm From: \Brian O'Shea\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Prairie Ridge (Raleigh) to be closed for one year starting Wednesday, 1 April
I just received word today that the NC Museum of Natural Sciences' Prairie Ridge Ecostation will be closed to the public for one year, starting Wednesday, to accommodate construction of a new education center on the site. This is a popular birding and recreation spot, so I'm trying to get the word out as quickly as I can. Prairie Ridge will continue to host a small number of pre-registered groups, as well as staff and collaborators engaged in research activities, in addition to their regular onsite staff. So, for those using eBird, you may continue to see lists posted from there, but the site will be officially off-limits to the public through 31 March 2027. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (and no, this is not an early April Fools joke!).
Date: 3/30/26 6:21 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Re: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
Dear All-- again,
It was instantly brought to my attention that I gave incorrect dates for our weekend. I guess I was a bit overexcited for the gathering: correct dates are Thursday, April 24th- Sunday, April 26th ( a week later).
Apologies! Hoping more folks can join us!
Susan
________________________________
From: Susan Campbell <susan...>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2026 8:53 PM
To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
All,
It is not too late to make plans to join our local Carolina Bird Club for the seasonal Spring Meeting weekend! There are bird trips and evening bird programs planned from Friday morning though Sunday midday. Come join the fun searching for colorful spring migrants and make new birding friends!!
We will be gathering in Columbia, SC from April 17th-19th for bird trips, programs and socializing. For Early Registration information and more go to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/ before 5pm Sunday, April 5th.
Our host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn (Airport). Special group rate is available through Friday, April 10th. To make a reservation, follow the link to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions-- or have issues with the links above.
Susan Campbell
Acting CBC Executive Headquarters Secretary
Date: 3/30/26 5:54 pm From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Carolina Bird Club Spring Meeting
All,
It is not too late to make plans to join our local Carolina Bird Club for the seasonal Spring Meeting weekend! There are bird trips and evening bird programs planned from Friday morning though Sunday midday. Come join the fun searching for colorful spring migrants and make new birding friends!!
We will be gathering in Columbia, SC from April 17th-19th for bird trips, programs and socializing. For Early Registration information and more go to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/ before 5pm Sunday, April 5th.
Our host hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn (Airport). Special group rate is available through Friday, April 10th. To make a reservation, follow the link to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/register/
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions-- or have issues with the links above.
Susan Campbell
Acting CBC Executive Headquarters Secretary
Date: 3/30/26 7:54 am From: Derek Aldrich (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: [gcbirdclub] Advice on window feeders?
initially I used one that used suction cups until a squirrel figured out
how to get to it, it was 6 feet off the ground up a window. Replaced with
one that uses adhesive to hold the frame and it works much better. The tray
itself comes out to empty and refill.
Derek Aldrich
Greenville, SC
On Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 9:16 AM Sophie Cox via groups.io <sophiatcox=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi, all!
>
> Someone recently asked me for advice on window bird feeders. I have one I
> love (back home in SC), but I think he might be looking for a smaller one.
> Here's what Adam (CC'd here) sent me:
>
> "I recently thought it would be awesome to install a bird feeder on my
> apartment window so I can see birds while I work at my desk. I'm wondering
> if anyone has advice on good window bird feeders, as I've never bought
> a bird feeder before. Some requirements:
>
> - It will attach to a glass window with suction cups
> - I plan to use black sunflower seeds, targeting common songbirds
> (chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, etc)
> - It doesn't need to be large since I will refill it daily (gets me to
> go outside!)
> - It should be clear since it will be above me and I want to see the
> birds clearly
> - It's rainy/windy here in State College, so it should have a roof and
> drainage holes
> - Since I'm using sunflower seeds that will make a mess, there needs
> to be an easy way to dump out the seed shells without detaching the suction
> cups. Ideally the feeder can be detached without detaching the suction cups
> so I can also easily clean it
>
> I'm currently looking at something like this:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Suction-Drainage-Detachable-DY-SKTY/dp/B09ZL4WL7P/ref=sr_1_5 > <https://www.amazon.com/Transparent-Suction-Drainage-Detachable-DY-SKTY/dp/B09ZL4WL7P/ref=sr_1_5> >
> Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated!"
>
> Thanks, all!
> Sophie Cox
> _._,_._,_
> ------------------------------
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> You receive all messages sent to this group.
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>
Date: 3/30/26 6:17 am From: Sophia Cox (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Advice on window feeders?
Hi, all!
Someone recently asked me for advice on window bird feeders. I have one I
love (back home in SC), but I think he might be looking for a smaller one.
Here's what Adam (CC'd here) sent me:
"I recently thought it would be awesome to install a bird feeder on my
apartment window so I can see birds while I work at my desk. I'm wondering
if anyone has advice on good window bird feeders, as I've never bought
a bird feeder before. Some requirements:
- It will attach to a glass window with suction cups
- I plan to use black sunflower seeds, targeting common songbirds
(chickadee, nuthatch, titmouse, etc)
- It doesn't need to be large since I will refill it daily (gets me to
go outside!)
- It should be clear since it will be above me and I want to see the
birds clearly
- It's rainy/windy here in State College, so it should have a roof and
drainage holes
- Since I'm using sunflower seeds that will make a mess, there needs to
be an easy way to dump out the seed shells without detaching the suction
cups. Ideally the feeder can be detached without detaching the suction cups
so I can also easily clean it
Date: 3/28/26 10:55 am From: Frank Hamilton (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: FOY Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
One landed on the feeder outside my kitchen window and will be included in my last FeederWatch count of the season. Frank Hamilton Charleston, SC (West Ashely)
Date: 3/27/26 7:08 am From: <badgerboy...> Subject: Eagle Nest at Scottville, Ashe Co.
Thanks to the alert reporting of Joe Johnson of the New River Conservancy, we have confirmed that Eagles are nesting on the New River near Scottville, either on or very close to State Park property.
There was at least one chick in the nest yesterday, which stuck its head up very briefly, and also squirted a waste stream up and out of the nest, while I was watching for a couple hours last evening.
My records include no previous confirmed nesting reports for Eagles on the New River in NC, so this is pretty exciting to finally confirm. We are hoping they successfully fledge the chicks, and I'll keep you posted if there's any more info.
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.html P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new 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.
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.html P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new 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: 3/26/26 11:50 am From: Rick Wright (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: shorebird app
A new shorebird identification resource, available at no cost for computers
and telephones, is at
https://www.birdobserver.org/Better-Birding/New-England-Shorebird-Guide .
The title notwithstanding, the guide covers essentially all of the
shorebird species seen in the Carolinas, too.
All,
I asked for advice & received lots of good info from various listserv members about planning a trip to Antarctica. I have now taken 2 trips to that area (our ship had engine problems after arriving in South Georgia last fall, so we had to return to port & miss Antarctica. In exchange, we had a “free” trip (not including air travel) to Antarctica alone, completed March 4th. Based on this, the birds are much better in the Falklands & South Georgia. More numerous, more variety. The penguin colonies were also bigger. However, the one view we had of Chinstrap penguins in the fall was so far away most people didn’t even see them. We only saw 3, however, on our “Uncharted Islands of the Deep South” Feb/Mar Oceanwide cruise.
We did manage to get good sightings of at least 6 Emperor penguins. And an EBird reviewer assures me that almost all of the skuas south of the Antarctic Circle are either South Polar or hybrids.
The gentoo penguin colonies in Antarctica were pretty hilarious. The King penguin colonies in S Georgia had a lot of action. The Rockhoppers & Magellanic in the Falklands were mainly sitting on eggs or chicks. Between both trips, we saw all the penguins. There were more whales on the southern trip. We saw 6 types of albatross, more variety on the northern trip. No prions at all on the southern trip. Sorry to take up others time, but I can’t remember who I promised to provide feedback to.
Warmly,
Sheryl
Date: 3/26/26 11:30 am From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (16 Mar 2026) Hummingbird Alert & Tadpole Saga Continues
The hummers are coming and our time-honored map suggests when to have your feeder up to get the first Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Installment #34 of “This Week At Hilton Pond North” is bird-centric, with images and info about Northern Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Pine Siskins—plus Wild Turkey videos. There’s an update on our huge colony of Wood Frog tadpoles, plus banding data and some interesting returns of migratory American Goldfinches. View the map and photo essay at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260316.htm P.S. At the end there's also a link to our new 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: 3/25/26 5:13 pm From: David Johnson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Spotting Scope, Tripod for sale
I am selling a three-year old, angled Razor HD Vortex (27-60 x 85) scope with an Arca-Swiss foot, and a Manfrotto 055 PRO 3 carbon tripod with a Manfrotto MHX PRO -2W head. It has never been used outdoors and only used several times indoors observing winter sea birds at Kitty hawk. If interested, please contact me at <lizadog...><mailto:<lizadog...>.
Date: 3/23/26 5:03 am From: Ricky Davis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Annual call for Breeding Bird Survey Observers
Hi Folks
This is the annual call/plea for people wanting to get involved with running a Breeding Bird Survey! Please go to the website http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs to learn about what is involved with running one of these surveys. Basically each survey entails running it once a year during the breeding season, generally between late May through June. Coastal routes are best run earlier than mountains routes. Once done, enter the results online, and you are all done. Very little time expenditure involved! Currently there are 11 Routes vacant in the state, mostly in the outer Coastal Plain. So if you are interested, please contact me, and we will get things started!
