May, 2008 Paul Koehler, Editor, pkoehler@audubon.org
Volume 37, No. 3
MAY MEETING: Augusta-Aiken Audubon will hold its bi-monthly meeting on Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. The meeting location is the North Augusta Community Center, located at 495 Brookside Ave. in North Augusta, SC. The public is invited to all meetings, programs, and field trips sponsored by Augusta-Aiken Audubon.
PROGRAM: “Feathered Gems of Peru”— presented by Chuck Braun, A-AAS chapter member and world traveler. This program will combine Chuck’s inimitable story-telling along with breath-taking images taken by a professional photographer who accompanied Chuck’s group on this 2007 trip centered around Manu, Peru. This is a “don’t miss” program! Bring a friend with you!
Augusta-Aiken Audubon's field trips are open at no charge to all chapter members and the public. We encourage everyone to come out and join us! Some tips to make the trips more comfortable: bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and drinking water. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended as is having raingear nearby. Morning trips during the winter usually begin at 9 a.m. and end around noon; warmer weather trips generally begin at 8 a.m. and end around 11 a.m. If you have questions about a field trip, please contact the listed field trip leader.
MAY 24, SATURDAY—Field trip to Silver Bluff Audubon Center & Sanctuary to look and listen for Bachman’s Sparrows and other summer nesters. The Bald Eagle fledglings at Silver Bluff should be seen as well. Meet at the Wood Stork foraging ponds at 8 a.m. Anne Waters (706-793-2788) is the leader.
MAY 31, SATURDAY—Field trip to Lover’s Lane and the brickyard ponds. The varied habitat on this popular field trip destination always produces good bird and other wildlife sightings. Meet Anne Waters at 8 a.m. at Popeyes at the corner of Gordon Hwy and Walton Way.
JUNE 14, SATURDAY—Field trip to Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. During summer this is one of the best places to find Painted Buntings, one of our most spectacular birds! Meet Anne Waters at 8 a.m. at the Phinizy parking lot.
JULY 19, SATURDAY—North American Butterfly Count. This all-day count is an effort to find as many butterflies as possible in a 15-mile diameter circle, including both sides of the Savannah River. Meet Lois Stacey (803-215-1594) at 9 a.m. at the Phinizy Swamp parking lot, or meet Paul Koehler (803-471-0291) at 9 a.m. at the Silver Bluff Audubon visitor center.
AUGUST 16, SATURDAY—Field trip to Phinizy Swamp, where we will look for shorebirds, waders and post-breeding migrants. Meet Anne Waters at 8 a.m. in the Phinizy parking lot. We will bird until 10 a.m.
AUGUST 17, SUNDAY EVENING—Field trip to Silver Bluff Audubon to see Wood Storks and other wading birds. Meet Paul Koehler at 7 p.m. at the stork ponds.
AUGUST 30, SATURDAY—Orangeburg Sod Farms. The sod farms are a good place to find migrating shorebirds such as Upland Sandpiper. Meet Anne Waters at 9 a.m. at the Burger King on Hwy 301 on the east side of Orangeburg.
March 15, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park. 63 bird species were tallied, including 7 duck species, 5 sparrow species, and nesting Ospreys & Pileated Woodpeckers. 2 American Bitterns also were heard. Other wildlife included and 8-10’ alligator(!), 3 snake species and 5 species of early butterflies: Sleepy Orange, Pearl Crescent, Clouded Sulfur, Falcate Orangetip, and Common Checkered Skippers.
April 5, Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve. Wildflowers were the focus of this trip, which didn't’ disappoint. Seen in bloom were Jack-in-the-Pulpits, Nodding & Yellow Trillium, Shooting Stars, May apples, Dutchman’s Britches, Toothwort, Pussytoes, Springbeauty, & Buckeye.
April 26, Lee & Roger Dane’s property. This trip to “Edisto Farm” produced, as always, excellent sightings of spring migrants and resident species. In between morning & afternoon showers, 11 people saw Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Wood Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, 3 vireo species, Wood Duck, Osprey, & 41 other species!
The field portion of the Birdathon was conducted April 24 & 25 at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Horse Creek Water Treatment facility, Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary and Edisto Farm. Highlights from the 110 species found included several beautiful male Painted Buntings, Bachman’s Sparrow,, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-crowned Night Herons, and a Northern Harrier. The Birdathon is an annual fundraiser conducted by A-AAS to support the education and conservation programs at Silver Bluff. Please consider making a contribution to the Birdathon—you can send a check, made payable to “Audubon” to A-AAS treasurer Gerald May at 1435 Ashwood Drive, Evans, GA 30809. For additional information call the Birdathon coordinator, Paul Koehler, at 803-471-0291.
Birders of all skill levels are needed for the North American Spring Migration Count scheduled for MAY 10. Meet at the Silver Bluff Audubon stork ponds at 7:30 a.m. This is a 24-hour count, and we will have lunch (BYO) at the Silver Bluff visitor center at 1 p.m. and have a mid-day countdown. Backyard birders (must be in Aiken County) are needed as well. For more information, or to call in bird tallies, call Paul Koehler at 803-471-0291.
Many, many thanks to Lois Stacey, who has led Augusta-Aiken Audubon during the past two years. The chapter has thrived under her leadership. Thank you, too, to our other officers : Ken, Nancy, & Gerald! Please attend the May meeting to vote on the new slate of officers which offers: Gene Zielinski—Pres.; Ken Badke—Vice Pres.; Nancy Demko—Secretary; Gerald May—Treasurer.
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Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society 4213 Spruce Lane Martinez, GA 30907 Marylyn McLeod—Membership A-AAS Web Site: http://augustaaikenaudubon.org/
Georgia Rare Bird Alert: 770-493-8862
Carolina (No. & So.) Rare Bird Alert: 704-332-2473
A-AAS Elected Officers 2006-07
President: Lois Stacey, 803-215-1594
Vice-President: Ken Badke, 706-855-1955
Secretary: Nancy Demko, 803-648-7973
Treasurer: Gerald May, 706-860-3249
HOUSE FINCH (Gene Howard)