May 2008 Ecobon Newsletter Hilton Head Island Audubon Society

8/9/2019 May 2008 Ecobon Newsletter Hilton Head Island Audubon Society

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EcobonNewsletter of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society

Audubon Refuge Keepers

MAY ProgrAMTuesday, May 13, 2008, 5:30 pm

IT'S PICNIC TIME AGAIN!

When: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 5:30 pm

Where: Fish Island Picnic Pavilion in Sea Pines Forest Preserve (UseOceanGate)

Cost: $5.00

For reservations please sign up by calling Bill Nicol at 671-4721 or pennst63@

aol.com.

Menu: Chicken- fried and rotisserie, plus the great side dishes, salads and des

serts brought by those who attend. (See below)

Paper goods and tableware are provided as are water and soft drinks. Thos

with last names beginning with A-M please bring a side dish or salad.

N-Z, please bring a dessert. These should each serve six to eight people an

bring along serving utensils. Hope to see everyone there!

May 2008:

No. 292

PrESIDEnT'S MESSAgEBy Howard Costa

Here we are, my last presidents

message. I must say, it is with a great

deal of satisfaction that I have arrived at

this point. Im sure the past presidents

would agree, the position is a lot of hard

work, but it is good work. We have ac-complished much - great programs, great

eld trips, meaningful special projects,

and Newhall looking better than ever.

I feel the club is on excellent footing

to continue fullling our mission in the

future, and this gives me the greatest

satisfaction. I have said repeatedly that

Audubon is about birds rst, conservation

second, but perhaps most importantly, it is

about our members. We really have a stel-

lar group, both on the board and amongst

our general membership. I appreciate theparticipation and contributions from all

of you. It has been a great pleasure to be

your president. Thank you for what you

have given Audubon and me.

I would also like to thank Taldi Walter

for the excellent program on Alaska last

month, and to remind you of her message.

Our national forest, parks, and refuges be-

long to all of us, and therefore our voices

regarding their use are equally relevant,

regardless of which state they may lie in.It does make a difference to let your voice

be heard.

Good luck to Bill Nicol, our new

president, and to all of the other ofcers

and board members - may they have great

success. See you at the picnic, with a

friend, and have a great summer ~

Howard

FIELD TrIPSby Bill Nicol

TherewillbenotbeascheduledeldtripinMay,sincewehavethepicni

inSeaPinesForestPreserve;however, therewillbe opportunitiesfor som

birdingbeforeandafterthepicnicifyouwish.Wewillhaveaspottingscope

available.

SinceIammovinguptopresidentof thelocalAudubonChapter,Imus

giveupmyjobasBirdWalks/FieldTripCoordinator.Wedoneedsomeonet

takeoverthisjob.WetrytohaveatleastoneovernighttripduringtheAudubon

meetingseasonandatleastonedaytripduringthemonthswedonothavean

overnighttrip.Ifyoucanhelpinoureldtripeffortorhaveanyquestionsabou

whatisrequiredpleasegivemeacallat671-4721.

HELPIng THE bIrDS ManyofyouknowthatveterinarianDr.BenjaminParkerofBlufftontreat

injuredbirds.Onoccasionhisofcehasarequirementtotransportinjured

birds,mostlyraptors,totheRaptorCenterinCharleston.Theinjuredbirdsare

securedintransportationcontainersthatwilltinmostcars.TheRaptorCenter

peoplewillusuallymeetyouhalfway.Ifyoucanhelpinthetransportationef

fort,pleasecallAshleyFallisinDr.Parkersofceat757-1112andhaveherpu

youonthelistofpeopletocallwhentheyhaveaninjuredbirdtransportation

requirement.


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May2008 Page3

rEcEnT ArEA bIrD SIgHTIngSby Jack Colcolough

E-MAIL Reminder

Have you sent your E-mail address in to Nan?

If not, please send it to Nan

at [email protected].

Spring has come in with a bang and many of our birders

have enthusiastically reported their First-Of-The-Year

(FOTY) birds. Migrating and summer birds continue to ar-

rive in our area while the winter birds continue to depart.

Two late sightings of rare Sandhill Cranes were reported.These are the rst ever spotted on HHI to my knowledge.

Several other sightings of this bird were reported this winter

in the nearby Palm Key/Knowles Island area.

A rare female Ruff (Reeve) was found in public SC wet-

lands near the Savannah Spoils Site. Two additional Ruffs

have since been reported in SC.

Other interesting sightings were: a rare Swainsons Thrush

at the Sea Pines Forrest Preserve, a rare Calliope Hum-

mingbird near Savannah, GA, an early uncommon Purple

Gallinule at the Savannah NWR, an uncommon American

Bittern at HHPs Whooping Crane Conservancy and a Swal-low-tailed Kite.

Three Bald Eagle sightings were reported on island.

Newly edged eaglets accompanied adults on two of the

nds.

Many uncommon FOTY birds were found including

Magnolia & Prairie Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Sedge

Wren, Purple Finch, Baltimore Oriole, Loggerhead Shrike,

Caspian Tern, Red Knot and Merlin.

Other good FOTY birds were: beautiful Prothonotary

Warbler, Northern Parula, Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-

crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Cattle Egret, Red-eyedVireo, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Painted & Indigo Buntings,

Chuck-wills-widow, Eastern Kingfbird and Red-breasted

Merganser.

Thanks to all those reporting these sightings: Miriam

Waterhouse, Barry Lowes, Howard Costa, Doris Stoner,

Peter Zachmann, Dianne Faucette, Doris McCullough, Fran

Baer, Denny Baer, Richard Shulman, Hank Swift, Dottie

Bass,and Roger/Shelia Johnson.

To report a rare, uncommon or FOTY bird sighting e-mail:

[email protected], call 290-1508 or send a blank e-mailto: [email protected] to join the

group and report the bird. Good Birding To All!

noTES FroM THE nEWHALL PrESErVEby Joan Shulman

The variety and lushness of the spring owers in the Preserve

are a new gift each year. The fetterbush blossoms seemed to me

to be especially abundant. You missed a special experience if you

did not take time for a walk in the Preserve in April.

Thanks to Mike Jukofsky (MAJ Enterprise), we no longer havelarge puddles in the parking lot after a rain. Mike scraped the

surface and lled in low spots with gravel--all gratis.

Thanks also to Mary Alice Walker for creating and placing

the identication signs near the plants, shrubs, and trees in the

Preserve. Many visitors comment that the signs are greatly ap-

preciated.

We need Trail Monitors for May, June, July, and September. If

you can help out, please call me at 842-9246.

While looking over the Visitors Comment Book from the rst

part of 2008, I noted a few comments to share.

January 1 This place will forever live in my memory.

R.M. of Chicago

January 8 This island is full of beautiful places; one after

another. A &A L. of Far Rockaway, NJ

January 24 The forest scape here is as beautiful as the

oceanside to our eyes. Thanks to the donors and

volunteers who made it possible.

J & J W. from near Ottawa, Canada

PErMAnEnT ProTEcTIon ForTHE ArcTIc coASTAL PLAIn

Called Americas Serengeti for its tremendous bi-

ological productivity and diversity, the coastal plain of

the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most

intact and untouched ecosystems in America. The ref-

uge is home to 42 mammal species, including the more

than 120,000 head Porcupine caribou herd; 36 species

of sh; and over 160 species of birds. Many of these

birds migrate to the coastal plain from all fty statesand from six continents to feed and reproduce, taking

full advantage of the burst of biological growth which

blossoms here in the long days of the Arctic summer.

There is currently legislation in both chambers of

Congress that would permanently protect the coastal

plain as wilderness. Please urge your senators and

your representative to grant the Arctic Refuge perma-

nent protection once and for all.


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7XCH

PLEASENOTE:Currentmembersareencouragedtousethismembershipformtosignupfriends,relatives,andneighborsasnewmembers.OurChapterbenetssignicantlyfromareturnofduesfromNationalifourlocalformisusedfornewmemberships

NatioNal auDuBoN SoCiety ChapterMEMbErSHIP ForM new 1 Yr. - $20 2 YrS. - $30

nEW MEMbErS onLY Sei 1 Yr. - $15 2 YrS. - $30

Jui 1 Yr. - $15 2 YrS. - $30

Name ______________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________

City ___________________________________________State__________ Zip ________________

Phone__________________________ Preferred First Name(s) ___________________________

Full Year Resident ______ Part Year Resident ______ I/We rst joined Audubon in _______________

Mail a check payable to NAtIoNAl AuduboN SocIety

National Audubon Society, Chapter Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51001, Boulder, CO 80322-1001

WHEn bIrDS MIgrATEIndividual birds are relatively sedentary during two periods

each year, at nesting time and in winter.. Each species, or group

of species, migrates at a particular time of the year and some at

a particular time of the day. Others are more irregular in their

migratory behavior. Red Crossbills, for example, are erratic

wanderers and will settle down and breed any month of the year

when and where an adequate supply of conifer seeds is avail-

able. Students of migration know that birds generally travel

in waves, the magnitude of which varies with populations, spe-

cies, weather and time of year. Characteristically, one will ob-

serve a few early individuals come into an area followed by a

much larger volume of migrants. This peak will then gradu-

ally taper off to a few lingering stragglers. In the northern part

of the United States there are two general migration waves..

The rst one in early spring consists of hardy birds, including

many of our common seed eaters like the nches, sparrows and

others. The second wave occurs about a month later and con-

sists primarily of insect-eating birds such as ycatchers, vireos,and warblers. Because most birds are creatures of daylight, it

seems remarkable that many should select the night for extend-

ed travel. Smaller birds such as rails, shorebirds, ycatchers,

orioles, most of the sparrows, the warblers, vireos and thrushe

are typical nocturnal migrants. Observations made with tele

scopes focused on the full moon have shown processions o

birds, and one observer estimated their passage over his area a

the rate of 9,000 per hour.

Night travel is probably best for the majority of birds chiefly from the standpoint of feeding. Digestion is very rapid i

birds, and yet the stomach of birds killed during the day almos

always contains food. If the smaller migrants were to mak

protracted ights by day, they would arrive at their destination

at nightfall almost exhausted. By traveling at night, they ca

pause at sunrise and devote the entire period of daylight to feed

ing and resting. Although most of our smaller birds make thei

longest ights at night, observation shows travel is continued to

some extent by day. During the latter half of a migratory seaso

birds may show evidence of an overpowering drive to hasten to

their breeding grounds. Sometimes they travel hurriedly, an

while their ights may be short, they can cover an appreciabl

distance in the course of a day.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

GOOD LOCAL BIRDING!

Hi Birders, Just happen to be at a place yesterday where there is a rookery. It is located off the road to The Westin Resort (to th

right at the Port Royal Village road to a small lagoon in Ocean Palms on the left) and has been there 3-4 years. There are severa

hundred birds there including Tricolored Herons, Anhingas, Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets and many White Ibises. Quit

a sight to behold in late afternoon where they roost for the night! There is a larger rookery at the entrance to The Cypress nea

the western entrance to Hilton Head Plantation with many of the same birds. Indigo Run also has a small rookery near their gol

course club houses at the entrance to Berwick Green to the right. It also contains several Black-crowned Night Herons. The BalEagles and their newly edged chick can also be seen (if they are around) by parking at the end of this street and walking to gol

hole #10 to view the nest in a tall pine there. Good Birding, Jack C., HHI, SC


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May2008 Page5

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always 10% discount storewide!

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FEATURING A CASUAL

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LOCALS FAVORITETUESDAY - WINE NIGHT

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THURSDAY - LIVE MUSIC

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Associate Broker(843) [email protected] Island Realty

When it comes to Hilton

Head Island ~ Shes a Natural

HiltonHeadIslandAuduonSocietyboardMemersince94President03-05

HerItAge ANIMAlHoSPItAl, In.

Rebecca Latham, DVM

130 Arrow Road, Suite 101

Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

842-8331

Mon. - Fri. 8am - 6pm Sat. 8am - 12 noon

v Isan Pak's Veterinarian of the Year

OUR MISSIONis to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds,

other wildlife, and their habitats for the benet of humanity

and the earth's biological diversity.


6/6Page6 Printedonrecycledpaper May2008

Ecobon P.o.bx6185

HiltHeadIslad,Suthcarlia29938

Title:Ecobon

ssueDate:May2008

Frequency:MonthlySept.-May

Organization:HiltonHeadIslandAudubonSociety

P.O.Box6185

HiltonHead,SouthCarolina29938

ssue#:292

nPrftoraizatiU.S.PoSTAgE

PAIDHiltHeadIslad,Sc

Permit#39

MAY ~ SEPTEMbEr 2008 caleda

MAY

Thurs. May 8 board Meetingat the Seabrook ......................... 2:00 pm

Tues. May 13 Annual Picnic at Sea Pines Preserve ...................5:30 pm

H a v e a H a pp y Su mme r!

8SEPTEMbErThurs. Sept. 9 Monthly Meetingat the Seabrook ..................... 7:30 pm

b E Q U E S T S

If you wish to honor a family

member or friend with a memorial

gift, or remember the Audubon Ne-

whall Preserve or the Hilton Head

Island Audubon Society in your will,

your gift may be in the form of secu-

rities, cash, life insurance, real estate,

or other property.

Contact your own estate planner

or our Audubon Chapter at P.O. Box

6185, Hilton Head Island, South

Carolina 29938.

Sharing your estate with Audubon

not only reduces the taxes on your

estate but will help protect birds,

wildlife, and their habitat in the years

to come.

0

Monthly meetings of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society are regularly scheduled

at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, in the

Auditorium at the Seabrook, 300 Woodhaven Drive. Members and guests welcome!

May 2008 Ecobon Newsletter Hilton Head Island Audubon Society

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