Date: 12/13/18 6:40 am From: 'Simbeck, Damien J' <djsimbeck...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] AOS Winter meeting - Wheeler Boat trip
I thought I would send out details about the Winter Meeting boat trip so everyone wouldn't have to email me individually with questions. The trip will leave the state park marina at 7:00 Saturday morning and will last approximately 6 hours (marina is located just down the hill from the lodge). We will head downriver to Wheeler Dam, lock through to Wilson Reservoir, then head toward Hog Island (The Point). After viewing the many ducks there, we will return to Wheeler Dam and chum the gulls below the dam. We will then lock back through the dam and chum the gulls above the dam. If time allows, we will also cruise upriver toward Rogersville and Elk River. The trip will cost $55.00 per person, payable to AOS during Friday evening registration (does not include gratuity for Captain Steve). It will also be nice if each participant can bring 2-3 loaves of bread to chum the gulls...the more the merrier.
Everyone will need to bring lunch/snacks/drinks for the day, but try to limit the size of your lunch box/cooler. We must have 14 people registered by January 20. Maximum load for a birding trip is 20 people, first come, first served (the boat actually holds 24, but we limit it to 20 so we will have more room to move around bird watching). Captain Steve will make any necessary last-minute calls if weather is an issue (primarily high winds). The boat is covered, in case of rain, and he can have an onboard heater, in case of very cold conditions (Note: Dress for 10-15 degrees less than actual temperature). There is a marine toilet on board and we will stop at the boat ramp below Wheeler Dam if folks want to use the restroom there.
To get your name on the list, send me an email (tnbarredowl@aol) before January 20. Again, you will pay AOS during registration January 25.
Date: 12/12/18 7:29 pm From: Ken Hare <kmhare46...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] AOS winter meeting features endangered species expert, field trips
Dr. Conor P. McGowan, a research biologist whose work involves endangered shorebirds, will be the featured speaker at the winter meeting of the Alabama Ornithological Society Jan. 25-27 at Joe Wheeler State Park. The meeting also will feature birding field trips to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and Key Cave NWR, as well as a boating field trip on Wilson Lake. McGowan is the Acting Unit Leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. His work focuses on decision support science in endangered species conservation. AOS welcomes new members. Dues are modest, and membership provides the opportunity to hear leading experts in ornithology and to take part in birding field trips with some of the best birders in the nation. For information on AOS membership and to register for the winter meeting, go to: www.aosbirds.org
Date: 12/6/18 7:41 am From: 'Simbeck, Damien J' <djsimbeck...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Wings of Winter Festival
The registration deadline for the second annual Wings of Winter birding festival is fast approaching. The festival, based out of Paris, TN, features field trips to Cross Creeks NWR, Tennessee NWR (Britton Ford, Big Sandy and Duck River units), Camden Dewatering Unit WMA, Johnsonville State Park, Paris Landing State Park, Kentucky Dam Village State Park, Kentucky Dam, Land Between the Lakes, Fort Donelson and Fort Heiman NMP, and TVA's Harmon Creek Management Unit. This year, a cruise aboard the CQ Princess will be available on Friday afternoon for up-close looks at waterfowl, gulls, pelicans, loons and grebes near the mouth of Big Sandy River (a known hotspot for rare water birds in Tennessee). Guest speakers for the weekend include Joel Greenburg (Passenger Pigeon author) and Richard Crossley (photographer and field guide author). The guest speakers will also be assisting with the field trips, so this is a great opportunity to bird with them.
Registration has been extended until December 31, but many field trips are almost full. If you want to enjoy a weekend of great birding and great talks about birds, get registered as soon as possible. Festival dates are January 18-20 (the week before the AOS winter meeting at Joe Wheeler State Park); back to back birding adventures!
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Date: 11/24/18 8:03 am From: Bob Reed <bobreed1987...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: Re: [ALBIRDS] Christmas Bird Counts in Alabama
Our former president, Ken Ward, did a bunch of work to put this together.
I know, because I've done it before. Thank you, both Kens, for the work
and the sharing.
Bob Reed
Colonel, US Army, Retired
334 283 5886 Home
334 207 0985 Mobile
On Fri, Nov 23, 2018, 13:57 Ken Hare <kmhare46...> [albirds] <
<albirds-noreply...> wrote:
>
>
>
> If you would like to take part in one of 11 Audubon Christmas Bird Counts
> in Alabama, information is available on the Alabama Ornithological Society
> website. The CBC is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the
> world. For more than a hundred years, people have gathered on one day
> between Dec. 14-Jan. 5 to identify and count birds. In the process, they
> created a pool of bird data that is a valuable source of information on the
> status and distribution of early winter bird populations. Parties of
> birders are assigned to different parts of a count circle, 15 miles in
> diameter, to identify and count all birds seen or heard. There are
> currently 11 active count circles in Alabama and more than 2000 nationwide.
> (Thanks to Ken Ward for compiling this information.) For scheduling and how
> to participate, go to: https://www.aosbirds.org/2018-christmas-counts/ > Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
Date: 11/23/18 3:35 pm From: Ken Hare <kmhare46...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Snow Goose in Montgomery County
If anyone would like to see a Snow Goose in Montgomery County, my granddaughter and I just saw a dark morph (colloquially a Blue Goose) in a field across from the entrance to The Waters. Addie, 6, actually saw it first. We drove out to check a report of a Black Scoter on Lake Cameron, but no luck there. Dozens of Ruddy Ducks and 18 Buffleheads on the lake, however, but the light was too bad to ID dozen of ducks at the far side of the lake. I did scope what appeared to be a scoter by shape, but too far for a positive identification in such poor light. A highlight for Addie was a Bald Eagle over the lake. Ken Hare
Sent from my iPhone
------------------------------------ Posted by: Ken Hare <kmhare46...> ------------------------------------
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: <albirds...> Subscribe: <albirds-subscribe...> List owner: <albirds-owner...> AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/
This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. ------------------------------------
Date: 11/23/18 11:57 am From: Ken Hare <kmhare46...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Christmas Bird Counts in Alabama
If you would like to take part in one of 11 Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in Alabama, information is available on the Alabama Ornithological Society website. The CBC is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world. For more than a hundred years, people have gathered on one day between Dec. 14-Jan. 5 to identify and count birds. In the process, they created a pool of bird data that is a valuable source of information on the status and distribution of early winter bird populations. Parties of birders are assigned to different parts of a count circle, 15 miles in diameter, to identify and count all birds seen or heard. There are currently 11 active count circles in Alabama and more than 2000 nationwide. (Thanks to Ken Ward for compiling this information.) For scheduling and how to participate, go to: https://www.aosbirds.org/2018-christmas-counts/ Sent from my iPhone
Date: 11/21/18 12:53 pm From: 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' <robertaduncan...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Impressive number of winter visitors
Hi all,
For two days now, winter visitors have been in or flying over our neighborhood in Gulf Breeze. In the morning between sunrise and about 9 a.m., Goldfinches and Robins can be seen in multiple flocks of about 20 -50 birds flying west over the 'hood' and out over Pensacola Bay. Some are so high we can only see them in binos. We are inundated with Goldfinches, the most Lucy and I have ever seen here. They seem to be everywhere, even at the shopping center about 2 mi east. Some have stopped to feed, appearing everywhere there is short grass or seeds in trees. We have had more Phoebes than usual as well, not to mention Red-breasted Nuthatches continually at our feeders. Waxwings showed up for the first time today. Rare for our yard, a Junco appeared yesterday and today. A very late Red-eyed Vireo briefly stopped by yesterday. It has been a strange fall migration, rather disappointing species and numbers-wise but all these birds almost make up for it.
Lucy and I made a weekend trip to St. Marks NWR and had a great time, tallying 107 birds but duck numbers this early were dismal. The impoundments have high water and much of the freshwater aquatic vegetation has been killed as well as much of the vegetation on the impoundment peripheries. Fortunately, few large trees were down on the main refuge, basically several oaks just south of the restroom near Picnic Pond. From the amount and type of debris that is still entangled in the roadside vegetation, it's obvious that storm tides worked well inland. It's amazing to realize how much work has been done to clean up and to start repairs near lighthouse pond.
From about 30 - 40 mi east of Bristol on the Appalachicola R. and west through Blountstown, the forests and pine plantations have been badly damaged including the river bottom forest. Lots of blue roofs (tarps) in Bristol and Blountstown, and that's about 30 - 40 mi inland from the coast. From the highway, it appeared that newer homes and buildings fared much better than older ones. The blue roofs were reminiscent of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties after H. Ivan in 2004, as were the huge piles and piles of beautiful downed hardwoods cut and piled roadside. It was encouraging to see that some of the pines are being harvested. It was woefully obvious to see where the hurricane's eye passed over just by seeing which way the remaining trees were leaning. I imagine that the sound of chainsaws is music to the residents' ears, and luckily there were road crews for miles and miles cutting and piling the debris.
Date: 11/21/18 11:10 am From: <gm72125...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Anyone want a Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker?
Just found a freshly deceased juvenile-plumaged Red-headed Woodpecker. No visible sign of injury. No red plumage at all. It is in very good condition. I'm in the phone book, if anyone is permitted to collect it, you are welcome to it, I'm in the phone directory and telephone number is easy to find online. Sorry it was this species. Perhaps it succombed to the cold or starved. Seems rather late for one so young. 1pm Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. -Ken Archambault, Homewood, AL
Date: 11/21/18 3:21 am From: 'Kenneth Ward' <phinken...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] mistake on leader info for Pensacola CBC
Hi All, I made a mistake The count leader for the Pensacola CBC on December 15, 2018 is Daniel Strangeland, contact information <http://dpstang71hotmail.com> dpstang71hotmail.com, 850-686-3502.
My apologies, especially to Bill and Daniel. I had heard from Mr. Bremser of the change and had the new information, totally on me.
Date: 11/20/18 8:08 pm From: 'Kenneth Ward' <phinken...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] list of Audubon Christmas Bird Counts for Alabama and nearby areas in TN, GA and FL, 2018-19
Hi All,
I have included below (hope it's readable; if not check out the version on the AOS website) a 2018-19 list of CBCs with dates, a contact person and other pertinent information. Hope you'll consider participating, if you are able; these counts seem to be getting more and more short-handed from year-to-year. For most, there is a good deal of flexibility as to how you participate (how long you stay out, whether or not you go to compilation, what time you meet a party), to encourage more participation (consult with count leader on this to find out what's feasible). You don't have to be a seasoned birder to participate - the more eyes the better, and good photographic skills can be very useful too for documenting rarities and such. Worth mentioning too that they are a lot of fun :).
Hope you'll consider participating, and please spread the word :). A version of this list (with some more detail, including an overview of CBCs) can also be found on the Alabama Ornithological Society website at www.aosbirds.org <http://www.aosbirds.org>
Counters meet at Culpepper Real Estate (601 7th Ave SW, Cullman, AL 35055, close to the Post Office) to assign areas to be covered. This count is frequently short-handed, so we hope some of you will consider helping out. Those who want to help for part of the day (morning or afternoon) can also participate. We will re-meet for compilation at 5:00 pm at Karma's Coffee House (103 1st Ave NE, Cullman, AL 35055).
7. Tuscaloosa, AL - December 16, 2018, David Arnold (205-792-0653)
8. Choctawatchee Bay FL - December 17, 2018, Alan Knothe (850-208-1780, <birdman6419...> <mailto:<birdman6419...> ; email is best)
9. Eufaula NWR (ALEU), Eufaula, AL - December 18, 2018, Mason Jarrett (<beltedkingfisher2000...> <mailto:<beltedkingfisher2000...> )
10. Buffalo River, Lawrenceburg, TN - December 18, 2018, Damien Simbeck (256-856-3079; <tnbarredowl...> <mailto:<tnbarredowl...> )
11. Birmingham, AL - December 22, 2018, Paul Franklin (<phfranklin36...> <mailto:<phfranklin36...> ; 205-542-7647)
Compilation will begin at 5:30 pm at the Birmingham Audubon Society office, 3720 4th Ave S, second floor (park and enter at the rear of the building).
12. Guntersville, AL - December 26, 2018, Linda Reynolds (256-582-2970, <rreynolds...> <mailto:<rreynolds...> )
We have 8 parties and the area covers a lot of lakeshore as well as upland and woodland terrain. We usually start around 7 am and conclude with a supper compilation around 5 pm at the Guntersville Library. See NABS schedule at www.northalbirding.com <http://www.northalbirding.com> for more information
I am hoping to begin a new Christmas Bird Count here in North Alabama, centered near Wheeler Dam. Per National Audubon Society recommendations, we will make a dry run this year, then officially start the count next year. The count will be conducted on January 2 each year. In years when January 2 falls on a Sunday, the count will be conducted on Monday, January 3. The circle will be centered near the mouth of Big Nance Creek below Wheeler Dam. It covers the Tennessee River from the mouth of the Elk River to Fourmile Creek/Lime Kiln Hollow. On the north side of the river, the circle will include Rogersville, Joe Wheeler State Park, First and Second Creeks, Elgin Crossroads, Center Star and areas west to near Brooks High School (Killen). On the south side, it will include the mouth of Spring Creek, Red Bank Marsh, Wheeler Dam, Town Creek Marsh, The Point and The Sinks. I currently have 5 confirmed party leaders. I need at least 6, though 8 would be preferred. I will also need participants to join those leaders. If you would like to assist, let me know as soon as possible
16. Columbus, GA (ALEU) - January 3, 2019, Mason Jarrett (706-992-8864; <beltedkingfisher2000...> <mailto:<beltedkingfisher2000...> )
Date: 11/19/18 7:31 am From: 'Simbeck, Damien J' <djsimbeck...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] New CBC at Wheeler Dam - Help needed
I am hoping to begin a new Christmas Bird Count here in North Alabama, centered near Wheeler Dam. Per National Audubon Society recommendations, we will make a dry run this year, then officially start the count next year. The count will be conducted on January 2 each year. In years when January 2 falls on a Sunday, the count will be conducted on Monday, January 3. The circle will be centered near the mouth of Big Nance Creek below Wheeler Dam. It covers the Tennessee River from the mouth of the Elk River to Fourmile Creek/Lime Kiln Hollow. On the north side of the river, the circle will include Rogersville, Joe Wheeler State Park, First and Second Creeks, Elgin Crossroads, Center Star and areas west to near Brooks High School (Killen). On the south side, it will include the mouth of Spring Creek, Red Bank Marsh, Wheeler Dam, Town Creek Marsh, The Point and The Sinks. I currently have 5 confirmed party leaders. I need at least 6, though 8 would be preferred. I will also need participants to join those leaders. If you would like to assist, let me know as soon as possible (<tnbarredowl...><mailto:<tnbarredowl...>).
Date: 11/18/18 8:27 am From: 'Andrew Haffenden' <andrew...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: RE: [ALBIRDS] Good birding today
Similarly a 40+ species day, with 42 recorded on a walk along Pelican yesterday morning with Katie Barnes, Collin Stempien and another 14 people joining in on the bird identification walk. Yep, 14 mostly newer birders coming out to learn about shorebirds, terns and gulls, many for the 2nd or 3rd time. Highlights of the walk were over 60 Black Scoters, 7 Surf Scoters, and 5 Red Knots. 15 Green-winged Teal and around 40 Bufflehead added to the duck presence, and many Horned grebes had also just arrived. So the ducks are also reflecting the northern invasion this year a- the carpark birds including a flock of some 40 Goldfinches. In the carpark area an additional 8 or 10 or so species were recorded, including a beautiful dark-backed Peregrine Falcon, not the usual tundra form we see, for a 50+ morning in just one major habitat, beach.
Cheers
Andrew Haffenden
From: <albirds...> <albirds...> On Behalf Of 'Lucy and Bob Duncan' <robertaduncan...> [albirds] Sent: Friday, November 16, 2018 8:34 PM To: <nflbirds...>; <albirds...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] Good birding today
Hi all,
Although the front reached the coast by yesterday morning and the skies finally cleared, birds had not reached the coast, at least not in Gulf Breeze, probably due to precipitation and cloudiness to our north. Winds were strong NW yesterday but birds had not come down. Today was a different matter, as clear skies last night and N winds, though greatly diminished, allowed birds to fly south. Chipping and Savannah Sparrows arrived overnight along with some late Neotropical migrants. A trip to Shoreline Park here in Gulf Breeze yielded Lucy and me a Summer Tanager and Blue Grosbeak along with a flock of Chipping Sparrows.
Here in our "hood" we tallied 44 species, including a Bay-breasted Warbler, 2 Indigo Buntings, and an Ash-throated Flycatcher, plus Chipping and Savanah Spar rows, Red-breasted Nuthatches, a very large flock of goldfinches and a Golden-crowned Kinglet. Not a bad day and somewhat unexpected. Who knows what tomorrow will bring!
Date: 11/15/18 7:02 am From: 'Kenneth Ward' <phinken...> [albirds] <albirds-noreply...> Subject: [ALBIRDS] need information on Fort Morgan CBC
Hi All,
I am compiling a list of Christmas Counts for Alabama and other nearby areas in FL, TN, GA and MS. I plan to have information out (contact person, date of count, other pertinent information, as needed) by sometime over the weekend. As far as I know, I am only missing information for the Tuscaloosa and Fort Morgan CBCs. I have been in contact with the Tuscaloosa count leader, but have not been able to get any information on the Fort Morgan count, if there is one this year. If any of you have information on that count or know someone who might, please let me know. This list will be spread around in a variety of ways and it can be helpful in locating others who would like to help out with these counts, most of which have had declining participation over the past several years. Also, if you know of new counts planned this year in our area, please let me know.
