Aerial surveys are an effective method for counting wildlife. DNR utilizes this survey method for waterfowl, Bald Eagles, colonial waterbirds, and white-tailed deer. We occasionally search for radio-equipped black bears from the air as well. Most of this work is done from a small, fixed-wing airplane, though the deer surveys are done by helicopter.
Wildlife aerial surveys must be conducted from low altitudes so that we can see the animals. Thus, we are usually flying at altitudes of no more than 500 feet above the ground. Flying at such heights is dangerous and requires skilled pilots and aircraft in tip-top shape. The pilots and planes we have used over the years have met these requirements admirably.
Several types of aerial waterfowl surveys are conducted each year. Mid winter surveys are done to count all waterfowl species wintering in the Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries. This is an important survey for determining population sizes in Maryland and throughout the Atlantic flyway. In recent times, we have been surveying the expanding Mute Swan population from the air. Last year over 3,600 Mute Swans were counted in our state. We also look for their nests during these surveys. Since 1977, we have annually monitored the state’s nesting Bald Eagles from the air. This is the only efficient way to monitor over 300 nesting pairs of eagles throughout 20 counties in the State. We monitor Great Blue Heron colonies throughout the state by the same method. We also look for new colonies of other colonial nesting waterbirds from a small airplane. For deer, we fly night surveys using heat detecting equipment, called FLIR, to count deer in certain areas where we suspect an over abundance occurs. We do not try to estimate the total state population by this method.
Since 9-11 and now that the country is under a heightened alert for terrorist activities, wildlife aerial surveys have become more problematic or impossible to conduct in our state. Since September 11, 2001, there is now a 15-mile restricted zone around Washington, DC. Last year, small planes could obtain clearance into this area after getting the plane inspected by a law enforcement officer. This year, no small planes are allowed into this zone. In addition to this 15- mile no fly zone, there is now a series of Air Defense Zones (ADZ) around all major airports and around Washington, DC. These zones extend to 20 miles around the major airports and 30 miles around the nation’s capital. Small planes can get authorization to enter the ADZ, but only after specific flight plans have been filed and approved. Once approved into the ADZ, each plane is assigned a special tracking number and the plane is tracked by radar while in the zone. Constant communication with air traffic controllers is also now part of the process. In addition to these zones, small planes are not allowed to fly near power plants.
In Maryland, these restricted zones cover most of the western shore and parts of the Eastern Shore.
(continued on page 3, column 1)
THE MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT
Newsletter of the Maryland Ornithological Society
VOL. 23, NO. 3
The 2003 MOS Conference
Draws Near! by Mike Callahan
The 2003 Annual MOS Conference and Business Meeting will be held May 24 —26, the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend, at the William F. Bolger Center in Potomac. Please sign up now for what is looking to be a great weekend of birding and fellowship.
Kenn Kaufman, noted birder and author will be the Keynote Speaker and will also present a butterfly workshop on Saturday afternoon and will sign books following the Saturday dinner keynote speech. He is also donating items to the silent auction and raffle.
The Conference has not been held in Montgomery County for over ten years. Local Conference Coordinator Mike Bowen along with the hosting Chapters of Montgomery County, Howard County and Patuxent are sure you will enjoy the facility and the food. They have planned a busy weekend of birding, workshops and more for you. We expect fewer people will have to take off from work for the conference due to the new holiday weekend dates.
Montgomery County and the surrounding areas are packed with great birding area treasures. Field trip coordinator Linda Friedland has been hard at work organizing an extensive schedule of trips. There so many terrific birding spots in Montgomery County that the chapter recently published its Birder’s Guide to Montgomery County Maryland, and many posts on the MD OSPREY have mentioned such places too. If you are interested_in assisting trip leaders, contact Linda at linnet@erols.com Saturday afternoon workshops include the Kaufman Butterflies for Birders, and a Dragonfly workshop by Dr. Richard Orr.
This year’s Silent Auction and Raffle proceeds will go to two worthy organizations: The new Youth Birding program of the Audubon Naturalist Society and Second Chance Wildlife Center, a wildlife rehabilitation facility.
The Wildlife Authority will be the bird and nature gift/book store vendor at the Bolger Center. Expect great items and prices. If you would like to get something specifically from them please contact them at 410-465-5007 or wildlifeauthor.@aol.com
MAY /JUNE 2003
Chapter Chatter
by Martha Waugh
Harford Member is Maryland Conservationist and Environmental Educator of the Year—Dr. Dennis L. Kirkwood and Ann M. Regn (of Virginia) were named 2002 Conservationist and Environmental Educators of the Year by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). Dennis Kirkwood is a native of Harford County and a member of the Harford Chapter. He lives on and works a 140-acre family farm that he enrolled in Harford County’s Agricultural Preservation District, the first landowner in the area to permanently preserve farmland through this program. Since 1998, he has been the Supervisor of Science for Harford County Public Schools making available hands-on field experiences, often in collaboration with CBF, for approximately 15,000 county students each year. Harford County students have won Maryland’s “Envirothon” seven out of the last twelve years and they have ranked in the top five nationally three times.
Conservationist and Environmental Educators in Your County Could Get Free Tool— Talbot Chapter President Wayne Bell, assisted by colleague Martha Shaum, conducted a workshop on “Birds, Landscape, and Biodiversity” at the annual meeting of the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators in Ocean
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Contents DNR Reports 2003 Annual Conference Reminder Chapter Chatter The President’s Corner Vacancy Announcement 2003-2004 Nominations Locust Grove Bird Day Atlas News Conservation Connection
2003 Scholarship Winners
Youth Birding Camp Opportunities
Rick Blom: A Remembrance
Rick Blom Memorial Fund Announced .. 7
Pelagic Birds for Landlubbers Shade-Grown Coffee
2002 List Report
Hart-Miller Restoration Update December Board Meeting Minutes MOS Calendar, May/Aug
May Count 2003
Page 2
Nominations for 2003-2004 MOS Officers by Al Haury
For the coming year, 2003-2004, the current officers have all agreed to continue in office if re- elected. Following are the nominations that will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting for a vote by the membership.
President Paul Zucker Vice-President Janet Millenson Secretary Janet Shields Treasurer Shiras Guion
Additional nominations can be presented at the Annual Business Meeting provided that the nominee has agreed with the nomination.
THE MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT Newsletter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc.
Editor: Norman C. Saunders
Retired
MOS Webmaster: Frances C. Saunders fcsaunders@att.net
Les Eastman Retired
Calendar editor:
State Web Page: _http://www.mdbirds.org Bill Guion
8007 Martown Road Laurel, MD 20723
(301) 490-0444 (Home) guion@comcast.net
Mailing List:
Exec. Secretary: Eric Sprague
2619 Holman Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-1690 (Home)
202-566-2861 (Office)
Please send all calendar and article submissions to the President of MOS, Paul Zucker.
For information on advertising rates and dead- lines, contact the editor.
Copy deadlines for the September/October issue are:
Sep/Oct Calendar Activities: July 25
All Other Submissions: August 1
Reorganizations and Vacancies by Paul Zucker
At its March 30 meeting, the Executive Committee approved a reorganization plan for the MOS committees. Following the recommendations of the working group at the MOS planning retreat, the new plan gathers all the MOS committees into five groups. Each group will have as its coordinator one of the Society officers, but each individual committee will still have a chair and will perform its allocated tasks. The concept here is for the committees in a group to have greater communication and cooperation with each other.
The proposed groups and coordinating officers are:
Finance Group—Treasurer
Administrative Group—Secretary
Birds and Habitats Group—Past President Education Group—Vice President Communications Group—President.
Some new committees are under consideration, such as membership, development, outreach, and chapter programs. Others may have some of their functions changed or combined. The executive committee expects to have these ideas firmed up by the time of the conference and will share them with the membership there. A formal proposal will then be made to the board of directors’ meeting in June. Final approval of the necessary by-laws changes will need to take place at the 2004 conference. Although the new structure will not officially take effect until September 2004, as president I plan to appoint ad- hoc committees for the new tasks and to request the existing committees to modify their functioning according to the new plan starting this September.
In order for these plans to come to fruition and improve the functioning of MOS, we need to fill the vacant committee chairs and find new members to serve on the State committees. Out of our retreat also came recommendations for the State organization to do more directly to support the chapters and the membership. Be a part of this exciting rejuvenation of our organization! President Kennedy’s (approximate) words come to mind: Ask not what MOS can do for you, but what you can do for MOS. Our Society is only as strong and vital as you make it. It is up to all of us to pitch in according to our interests.
Please let me know (president@mdbirds.org) if you wish to discuss or consider any of the following openings:
Executive Secretary ($200 per month stipend) Yellowthroat Editor
Conference Chair (Janet Shields has volunteered to assist) Sanctuary Chair
Publicity Chair
or, if you might be interested in:
e Serving on a particular committee
e Serving as a member of one of the Groups mentioned above (participating on various committees within the group)
e Serving on one of the new committees under consideration.
Thanks.
Executive Secretary Needed by Paul Zucker
Starting this summer MOS needs to fill the post of Executive Secretary. The duties of this post involve administrative support for the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. The current stipend for this work is $200 per month. In addition, the Executive Secretary is a non-voting member of the Executive Committee. As a result, the Executive Secretary has a leadership role in the Society and participates in the discussions and decisions on many interesting and timely issues facing MOS.
For more details please look at the description of duties in the MOS Manual of Operation (on the webpage at www.mdbirds.org). If you think you might want to consider this position, please contact me, Paul Zucker, at president@mdbirds.org. I will be glad to talk with you about it and to put you in touch with some people who have held this position.
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DNR REPORTS (continued from page 1, column 1)
We just completed flying our annual eagle nesting surveys in March and one-third of all of our nest sites were within the ADZ. Though we were eventually authorized to monitor most of the nests inside the ADZ, we could not monitor 16 nests because they were within the 15-mile no fly zone or too close to power plants. This year we will not be flying colonial waterbird surveys on the western shore. No deer FLIR surveys were conducted. Our abilities to assess wildlife populations from the air are no longer routine.
You can help supplement these efforts, especially within the 15-mile no fly zone. Please report your observations of nesting Bald Eagles, colonial waterbirds, and Mute Swans in the DC area and beyond, including near power plants, to gtherres@dnr.state.md.us or call 410-260-8572. No deer reports please!
Locust Grove Bird Day Announced by Laura Rich
Get to know our feathered friends at Locust Grove Nature Center, 7777 Democracy Boulevard in Bethesda, Md. on Saturday, May 24, 2003. From 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., join a Locust Grove naturalist for family bird watching. You will learn simple techniques for observing and enjoying the birds around us. This event is FREE and for all ages, although it is strongly recommended for ages five and up. Reservations ARE required. Please call 301-299-1990 for more information.
From 10:45 a.m to 1 p.m., the good times continue at Locust Grove. Join the Friends of Locust Grove Nature Center for its first annual “Happy Bird Day!” You will be able to take guided Bluebird walks and try your hand at making a nest - it is harder then you think! You also can do other bird-related crafts and activities, and enjoy bird-related exhibits. Scales & Tales will be there to entertain and educate you. And of course, it would not be Happy Bird Day without cake! This event is FREE and open to everyone. Reservations are NOT required. For more information, please call 301-299-1990.
CHAPTER CHATTER (continued from page 2, column 3)
City in early February. The workshop was designed to help teachers and environmental educators use birds as indicators of local changes in biodiversity. In particular, Bell and Shaum introduced several great sources of authentic information — MD/DC Breeding Bird Atlas Project, North American Breeding Bird Survey, and Classroom Feederwatch — and showed the workshop participants how to access and interpret these data to explore the relationship between local biodiversity and changing land use. Through his role as Director of the Center for the Environment and Society at Washington College, Dr. Bell is making the workshop presentation, plus additional teaching resources, available to educators on a CD-ROM. To obtain a copy, email to wbell2@washcoll.edu with this information: name, mailing address, and school or organization. There is no charge.
Kent Chapter Meets the Challenge! How About Your Chapter?—The Kent Chapter of MOS (soon to be the Kent County Bird Club) has risen to the challenge put forth by the Howard County Bird Club to raise money for the Atlas Project. With a little help from their friends, they have raised $250. Thanks to the generous matching funds from Howard, this will add $500 to the Atlas Project! Peter Mann, president, says “Kent realizes that we have a special relationship to the Atlas Project, since we have the endemic Ellison Martins in our midst, but we would like to challenge all of you bigger clubs to match our donation.”
Cecil Bird Club Member Is a Published Writer—Pat Valdata, Cecil Bird Club member, wrote a short story, “House Hunting,” a tale of how wildlife, specifically a pair of Wood Ducks, prompted a human decision to choose a particular house. The online publication Amarillo Bay is in its fifth year of publishing fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. You can log on to the website at www.amarillobay.org /contents.
Birds Sing for the Tri-County Supper—At the annual March dinner, approximately 50 members and guests of the Tri-County Chapter were entertained by Jeff Gordon and his “Bird Grammy Awards”. A Victor Emmanual Nature Tours guide for 13 years, Jeff, from the Wilmington area, is fascinated by bird vocalizations and shared his passion with his audience. With his audio system, he provided examples of sounds in different “categories” such as ugliest call; biggest sounds from littlest birds; funniest call; best non-vocal performance and others. He also played simple calls, such as Henslow’s sparrow, then slowed them down to reveal an astounding complexity. Voting in the different categories added to the entertainment as did Jeff’s imitations and simulations of those birds. Guests who were not sure a sound program would interest them, are now making plans to get serious about conquering at least some resident bird songs. Another highlight of the evening was a special raffle on a painting of a Dickcissel by member Ellen Lawler. It garnered $90 toward the Breeding Bird Atlas Fund.
Montgomery’s Annual Dinner—On Friday, March 21, 80 members attended the Montgomery County Chapter’s annual social at Woodend, the Audubon Naturalist Society Headquarters in Chevy Chase. The banquet tables were artfully decorated with native plants from the area picked by Ellen Dashner. Judy McCartney designed name tags, each exhibiting a different bird species. The Guest of Honor was Lou DeMouy, honored for his years of service as Past President and Conference Chair for MOS. After dinner, Program Chair Mike Bowen had members show up to 10 slides each of birds seen on various trips in the USA and abroad.
Cecil Welcomes New Members—Luke Kenenske, Joe Styron, Lizzie Parker, Laura and Carey Belascio are new members of the Cecil Chapter. Lizzie Parker joined after seeing a field trip notice in The Cecil Whig. She joined Sean McCandless and a group on a cold, cold January field trip around Ocean City birding points. The Belascio’s are members of the Delaware Ornithological Society and have already participated in many Elkton Christmas Bird Counts. They have their own special Phoebe, a5 year old daughter.
Harford Bird Club Presents Annual Awards—The chapter newsletter Wrenderings honored the 2002 recipients of the Harford Bird Club Annual Awards. ”Birders of the Year were Macrina and Dave Seitz for their participation in club and Earth Day activities, bird banding contributions, outdoor education programs, and for gladly sharing their birding experiences with the Club. Volunteer of the Year was Jean Wheeler in gratitude for countless hours of dedication and service; cheerfully taking on any and all tasks and doing them quickly, ably, and enthusiastically. Rookie of the Year was Carol Pace, who learned about getting up before dawn, attention-to-detail, birding ethics, why three field guides aren’t enough, atlasing, and the joys of being with really good friends. The Bird of the Year was a Painted Bunting hosted by Joe and Lydia Cook.”
Look Out World (Series of Birding)—Andy Rabin reports “The Holy Order of Loggerhead Shrikes will compete again in the World Series of Birding on May 10, 2003, in Cape May, New Jersey. The team’s lineup remains unchanged since last year: Marylanders and Montgomery Chapter members Jim Green “Heron” and team captain Don “Lord High Loggerhead” Simonson, Ex-Maryland Andy “Robin” Rabin, and New Jersey native Gordon “Plover” Gover. The team will be raising funds for Pronatura Veracruz, a Mexican non-profit dedicated to promoting the conservation of migrating birds and their habitat. Those wishing to make a pledge, either “per species” or a fixed amount, can now do so online. Visit the Shrikes’ website at www.superpickle.com/shrikes.”
It’s Spring! Is that an Odonate?—Bob and Jo Solem, well-known intrepid Maryland birders, turned to the study of Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) seven years ago. (Jo is the author of that excellent reference book, Birding Howard County, Maryland, now heading toward its second printing.) With their usual enthusiasm, they began the Howard County Odonate Survey. Jo says they are fortunate that the Mid-Atlantic region has among the highest species diversity in North America. She adds,
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MAaryland/DC Breeding Bird - nF 2002
Atos a oar Project eae t 2008
The quintessence of atlasing is exploration. Yes, one can do atlas work in a favorite and familiar local patch or a well-known birding hot spot, but the ultimate atlas experience is going somewhere unrecognized by the bird-finding guides and rare bird alerts. It was a revelation to me during my first atlas project that there were birds, even good birds, in the wide open spaces on the map between my pet birding destinations.
I had four assigned blocks last year, my home block in Kent County and three in the Goldsboro quadrangle in Caroline County. On July 7 last summer the day dawned clear and less than sultry with promised highs “only” in the mid-80s. I had decided to go to the Goldsboro-CE block surrounding the small town of Henderson near the Delaware state line at the headwaters of the Choptank. I had explored the block on three previous days in June. On this day I was going to walk into the eastern part of The Nature Conservancy’s Eaton’s Pond unit of the Crescent Preserve where I had gained permission from the Conservancy to do atlas study. On prior outings I had largely confined myself to canvassing all of the roads in the block with some short walks into Conservancy property. My partner Nancy Martin and I had already located 62 species of bird in Goldsboro-CE, but I felt a long walk among the Delmarva bays, woodlands, and soy fields in the southeast corner of the block would add birds and confirmations to our field card.
I passed through Henderson on Bee Tree Road and continued southeast to the eastern edge of the block. I found the overgrown farm road and gate flanked by the familiar oak leaf Nature Conservancy signs and carefully got all four wheels off onto the grassy road shoulder next to the gate. The voices of Indigo Buntings, Carolina Wrens, cardinals, and Red-eyed Vireos spiced the air. [tucked my pant cuffs into my socks — no use making things too easy for those stealthy ticks. I then walked around the gate into the young sweet gums, maples, and Virginia pines along the wood road into the preserve. Not long after entering the shade of the trees I heard the surging sweet trill of Pine Warblers in the pines overhead (new to the block), and the rapid wiry buzz of a Worm- eating Warbler in the understory shrubbery. After
A Tale From the Field: Atlasing in Goldsboro-CE by Walter G. Ellison, Maryland/D.C. Atlas Coordinator
I became attuned to the sounds around me I noticed squawking emanating from the pines to my right not far from the dry bed of Eaton’s Pond. It was the sound of young herons demanding food. I struck off after the sound and soon spotted large flat stick nests in the pines. I had located a small Great Blue Heronry. Soon thereafter I found the lone occupied nest with two large heron chicks standing sentinel-like in it, wisps of down still clinging to their plumage. As I worked my way back through the catbriar and highbush blueberry to the road I found another sizable stick nest in a small maple. I identified it as a Green Heron nest, alas it was a nest from the 2001 nesting season, unsuitable for the UN confirmation category. I judged that in a wetter year Eaton’s Pond might host Prothonotary Warblers, but not in the bone dry summer of 2002.
As I walked along the road again I found another Delmarva bay pond with a tiny stagnant pool in a drying ring of cracked muddy loam. I spent several minutes quietly watching birds including Carolina Chickadees, wood-pewees, and a Hairy Woodpecker without seeing any nesting activity. Suddenly a fawn streaked through the opening. A minute or so later an unattended Airedale terrier burst into the clearing and stopped; nonplussed at my silent presence. I hoped this interruption helped the young deer, but I will never know as the dog broke from my stare and returned to its guilty errand. The woods started to thin and I came upon a Conservancy boundary sign sharply curled by a crude attempt to remove it. In the curl sat a sleeping gray tree frog. This seemed a perfect photo op, but [had no camera. I consulted the property map the Conservancy mailed to me and noted new parcels had been acquired beyond the boundary marked by the sign so I proceeded.
The sign marked a habitat as well as land parcel transition because I now reached the edge of the woods and followed the road around the edge of soybean fields with distant shimmering horizons. The first birds providing evidence of the transition were Rock Doves (oh well) and the omnipresent Turkey Vultures of Eastern Shore farmland. As I walked I scanned the fields and sky for field and aerial birds and worked the forest
edge on my right. In the fields I could just hear the distant “cheer-cheer, there-there, whatchacallit, whereisit” of a Vesper Sparrow and the tinkling of Horned Larks. Along the wood’s edge were Blue Grosbeaks, towhees, gnatcatchers, an Ovenbird, and lo and behold, a pretty female Black-and-white Warbler that was new for the block (as was the Vesper Sparrow).
After a long hike in the open I came upon some overgrown trails into the wood. There was no pine in these woods, indeed in a wetter year they might have been swampy. By this time birds had become less songful in the rising heat of the day requiring me to do some proactive ‘spishing’ to see what was around and to see if I could see adults with food or youngsters. Youngsters there were as I managed to stir up recently fledged Carolina Wrens and yellowthroats. I also got some great looks at Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Kentucky Warblers, and White-eyed Vireos. The latter seemed to be telling me to “Check! Ya got another tick!” The vireos were often right as I picked off a constant procession of lone star and deer ticks from my pants. Looking down at my legs helped me spot a beautiful slow box turtle stirring the grass along the path.
As the trees became taller I decided to try my Barred Owl hoot — as much to arouse cuckoos, woodpeckers and crested flycatchers as owls. I got several birds to respond to my call, although not an owl, the most surprising were the eight vultures that gathered overhead as I hooted. It was time to turn around. Back in the soy fields I added Grasshopper Sparrow, and saw a male and female Blue Grosbeak relaying food to an unseen nest. There were Laughing Gulls gliding over the fields, within safe dates but only “observed” so far from tidewater. The Bank and Tree swallows flitting by were already beyond their safe dates. The last new species for the block for the day I did not see in the flesh as I identified the distinctive three- pronged tracks of a Wild Turkey in the dirt roadway. I got back to my car at 2:30 PM footsore and thirsty. I was thankful for my slightly sun- wilted bag lunch stored under the dash, especially the boxed juice. It had been a successful outing — I added six species and four nesting confirmations
2003 Field Season Dedicated to the Memory of Rick Blom
Eirik A. T. Blom, better known as Rick to MOS members, died in mid-December of last year. Rick was a founding member of the breeding bird atlas movement in North America, and as Project Coordinator was a driving force behind the completion of Maryland and D.C.’s first atlas project from 1983 to 1987. Rick’s passing was a great loss to the current Maryland and D.C. Breeding Bird Atlas, it’s hard to imagine how many atlas records and writings we have lost. The MOS Breeding Bird Atlas Committee announces that the 2003 Field Season will be dedicated in Rick’s name. Please remember Rick when you are out atlasing this year.
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Conservation News and Notes by Maureen Harvey, MOS Conservation Chairman
MARYLAND NEWS
SUNDAY HUNTING BILL PASSES IN HOUSE. This bill (HB 679) allows deer hunting by permission on private property, on all Sundays in November (bow hunting) and the first two Sundays in December (firearms), and only in the less-populated counties. Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, the cities of Baltimore and Frederick, and the southeastern portion of Frederick County are excluded. MOS objected to the bill in written testimony to House members. Senate hearings are scheduled for press time, and we will have presented our arguments in writing to key Senators as well. By the time you read this, the bill’s fate may be decided. You may check on the internet at www.mlis.state.md.us by entering “HB 679” in the search box. The thrust of our letter, carefully reworded by our V.P. Janet Millenson from a similar letter last year, follows:
“The MOS is OPPOSED to allowing Sunday hunting in Maryland. We are not opposed to hunting itself, however. Many of our members are hunters, and we support efforts to reduce the state’s deer population. We oppose extending hunting to Sundays for the following reasons:
° Danger to birdwatchers. Maryland has a long tradition of not allowing hunting on Sundays, ensuring at least one day a week to enjoy our state’s abundant natural resources without fear for ourselves or our families. But people can’t enjoy the outdoors if they’re wotried about being accidentally shot. Because birdwatchers try to be quiet and inconspicuous, avoiding bright colors and loud noises, hunters and birdwatchers may not notice each other in time to prevent a tragedy. We wish to continue to be able to spend part of our weekends enjoying safe recreation in the outdoors year round.
° Economic impact. According to the most recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 2001 wildlife-watchers spent $1.4 billion in Maryland, compared to only $685 million by hunters. Birdwatchers patronize the state’s restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. They spend money on outdoor equipment, clothing, books and boat rentals. They bring tourist dollars to rural areas and to resorts in the off-season. Sunday hunting would cause many birdwatchers to change their weekend plans, noticeably harming Maryland businesses.
° Obstacles to scientific research. Extending
hunting to Sunday would have a devastating impact on bird counts and other seasonal field studies. Already in recent years, many Christmas Bird Counts (held mid-December to early January) have been rescheduled for Sundays to avoid the danger of conflicts with hunters. These century-old counts, sponsored by the National Audubon Society, provide
invaluable long-term data on bird population trends for wildlife managers and scientists. If hunting is allowed on Sundays, fewer bird counters will participate, compromising the quality of the database and possibly forcing some counts to be cancelled.
The MOS regrets that this bill puts us at odd with hunters, who are our allies in the battle to preserve and protect critical natural habitat in Maryland. However, we believe that it’s neither right nor necessary to mandate deer management policies by legislation. We should allow the wildlife managers at the Department of Natural Resources to continue to make such decisions. We do NOT support HB 679, and we call on you to reject any legislation that would allow Sunday hunting in Maryland.”
ALLEGANY CO. WINDMILL FARM TO BE MONITORED POST-CONSTRUCTION. The MD Public Service Commission approved U.S. Wind Force’s proposal to place up to 25 giant electricity-generating windmills atop Big Savage Mountain near Lonaconing, Allegany Co. An agreement was negotiated by DNR and bird lovers (mainly Chan Robbins and Daniel Boone) for the company to contribute $20,000 to fund a bird migration study to be conducted after the project is built. In addition, a partial shut-down of the wind turbines will be required if 100 birds or bats are killed in a 24-hour period. The Commission has yet to rule on a project proposed by Clipper Windpower to build 67 wind turbines on Backbone Mountain, Garrett Co.
NATIONAL NEWS
EPA SEEKS RULE CHANGE TO APPROVE PESTICIDE USE MORE QUICKLY. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) warned us of anew government proposal that would begin the erosion of the Endangered Species Act, the bedrock of endangered species conservation in the U.S. since 1973. Birds such as Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Piping Plovers are protected by this act, which is now under attack. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency that registers toxic pesticides. These hazardous chemicals can kill birds and other wildlife. To ensure that a pesticide will not impact endangered species and to help safeguard these rarest of animals, the EPA must currently consult with expert biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service. Now EPA wants to change the law so that they can exempt themselves from this procedure. They want to remove some of the checks and balances crucial to a fair and unbiased government. They formulated this proposal after lengthy consultations with representatives from the pesticide industry but with no input from the conservation community. The MOS signed on to a letter penned by the ABC to the EPA, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other key regulators
a
mofo
The Conservation Connection
expressing opposition to this and any other proposal that will weaken the Endangered Species Act..
EVERGLADES RESTORATION OR MORE EXPLOITATION? Just we heard the Army Corp of Engineers is a planning massive effort to restore the Florida Everglades, there’s a new threat unfolding in the form of mining. Carol Schreter, Baltimore Bird Club Conservation Chair, recommends a visit to the Natural Resource Defense Council’s website for information and an easy means to contact officials to express concerns about mining in this national treasure: www.nrdcwildplaces.org.
BIRDING CONSERVATION NEWS. Bird- related conservation news appears regularly on the on the “Birding News” page of the American Birding Association (ABA) _ website: www.americanbirding.org/news/birdnews.htm. ABA also has an electronic newsletter prepared by Paul Baicich, ABA’s Director of Conservation and Public Policy. ABA members who would like to receive this E-newsletter may contact him at pbaicich@aba.org. Excerpts follow:
FY03 WILDLIFE FUNDING. The federal FY03 budget trimmed spending on State Wildlife Grants, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Fund, the National Wildlife Refuge budget, the National Parks budget, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The final figures were not as drastically trimmed as predicted, but they were still universally disappointing. Even the highly successful North American Wetlands Conservation Fund was trimmed. FY04 is upon us and that core bird-funding issues will have to be watched.
CORRECTING SUPREME COURT’S “ISOLATED WETLAND” INTERPRETATION. The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act will seek to remedy a 2001 Supreme Court decision (the so-called SWANCC decision, or Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). That court action removed federal protection for so-called “isolated wetlands” across the United States and impacts millions upon millions of acres of wetlands. The Supreme Court decision, as interpreted by the Bush administration, said that federal officials could not rely on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - or the presence of migrating birds - as the sole factor when attempting to protect wetlands that are separated from navigable waterways or other wetlands. Essentially, the decision stripped federal protection from critical wetland habitat. Correcting legislation was presented last year in the 107th Congress by Rep. Dingell (D-MI.) stating specifically that such isolated wetlands should be protected for the benefit of migratory birds. Without support from the Bush administration, the bill died in committee. Again, proposed correcting legislation, the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act, was introduced in late February in the Senate (S. 473) and in the House (H.R. 962), cosponsored by Senators Boxer (D-CA), Feingold
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CONSERVATION CONNECTION
(continued from previous page)
(D-WI), and Jeffords (I-VT), and Representatives Boehlert (R-NY), Dingell (D-MI), Leach (R-IA), and Oberstar (D-MN). This legislative effort in both the House and Senate takes an important step forward in the effort to protect all wetlands, and it deserves the support of all bird conservationists.
AN EVOLVING DUCK STAMP? The Federal Duck Stamp Office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is engaged in an effort to renovate the almost 70-year-old Duck Stamp Program. The office is asking key partner groups and related USFWS staff to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the program to help get a better understanding of the environment in which they are operating. This is part of the process of formulating a 5-year strategic business plan. The “duck” stamp (officially called the “Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp”) needs to be modernized to catch up with bird conservation evolution. An improved stamp should cover species in addition to waterfowl, address more habitat types in the refuges, address the needs of 21st century bird conservation planning and management, and embrace a broader constituency of birders, wildlife watchers, backyard wildlife enthusiasts and eco-tourists. When the stamp was created by bird-conservation visionaries in 1934, the waterfowl species were in deep trouble. The stamp and the refuge system succeeded magnificently in helping save them. Now other species are in trouble, and their plight needs to be highlighted. The USFWS report on “Birds of Conservation Concern” included 131 species of birds that need immediate help today. Some are in wetland habitats; others are in woodlands, deserts, or grasslands. An expanded, retooled, stamp could help raise the funds to make addressing their conservation possible.
ROAD RAGE - RS 2477. The Bush Administration is now relying on portions of a long-dormant Mining Act of 1866, known as RS 2477, to allow the transformation of little-used or abandoned wagon roads, cattle paths, dogsled routes, and mining trails into roads, some of them paved. We certainly do need sensible access for birding afield, but we don’t need a spider-web pattern of Jeep and ORV trails running through vital habitats. The resuscitation of RS 2477 can seriously facilitate local right-of-way claims across federal lands, including those on national parks, national wildlife refuges, and proposed wilderness areas. Local claims are to be resolved by the
Bureau of Land Management, without giving the public an opportunity to appeal. This will hand over lands owned by the public to localities, and the consequences could be particularly hard in Alaska and the West.
Maryland Ornithological Society 2003 Scholarship Winners by Jean Fry
There were twelve well-qualified applicants or scholarships to Audubon summer workshops this year, and eight scholarships were awarded. The winners are not necessarily listed in the order of ranking. At least two or three winners who preferred Maine Field Ornithology camp had to change to a program at a later date due to so many snow days this school year.
Orville Crowder Memorial Scholarship (administered by Audubon Naturalist Society) Maine Field Ornithology
Paula J. Batzer, Charles County Teacher, Earth and Life Science, Charles County Public Schools
Chandler S. Robbins Scholarship
Natural History of the Maine Coast
Kate Schroeck, Anne Arundel County Teacher, Biology and Human Physiology, North County High School, Glen Burnie
Eleanor Robbins Scholarship
Maine Workshop for Educators
Stacie Moon, Prince George’s County Teacher, Honors Zoology and Honors Biology, North County High School, Glen Burnie
Helen Miller Memorial Scholarship
Maine Workshop for Educators
Robert W. Jones, Calvert County Park Ranger, Department of Natural Resources, Point Lookout State Park, Scotland, MD
Doris Oakley Memorial Scholarship
Maine Field Ornithology
Susan E. Payne, Baltimore Park Ranger, Kinder Farm Park, Millersville, MD
Gibson-Mendinhall Memorial Scholarship (awarded by Kent County chapter to an Eastern Shore applicant) Maine Field Ornithology Justin T. Benz, Newark, DE Director of Education, Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Easton, MD
Frances Covington-Etta Wedge Memorial Scholarship
Maine Field Ornithology
Kate Manrodt, Baltimore Weekend and Summer Naturalist, Cromwell Valley Park, Baltimore, MD
John Wortman Memorial Scholarship
Maine Workshop for Educators
Thomas M. Smith, Harford County Teacher, Third Grade, Fountain Green Elementary School, Bel Air, MD
nae ar oe ™ Fs (ie j Ne
Birding Camps for Young People by Jean Fry
The Maryland Ornithological Society is always seeking ways to involve young people in our organization. Attending a summer birding camp or workshop would certainly be an inspiration and incentive to a teenager who already has an interest in birds. There are a few state Audubon organizations as well as the American Birding Association (ABA) which offer summer workshops in ornithology for young people. Listed below is a sampling of the offerings. If you know of a teen who might be interested, please pass on this information.
Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens (ages 14- 17) June 29—July 5, Hog Island, ME, $825 Contact: Ms. Linda Ledoux, 1-888-325-5261 or camps@audubon.org
Ornithology Research (ages 14-18)
June 26—July 6, Vermont (Green Mts. And northeastern bogs), $975 (limited scholarship available), Contact: Mr. Larry Berrin, 1-877- 753-2165
Youth Ecology Adventure (ages 9-13) July 20- 25, Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, Wisconsin, $345, Contact: 1-877-777-8383
Teen Stewardship Camp (ages 14-18) July 27- August 1, Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, Wisconsin, $345, Contact: 1-877-777-8383 (This
camp will emphasize stewardship, natural resource careers, and birding.)
On the Wing: Studies in Field Ornithology (ages 12-16), June 28-July 9, Rocky Mt. Bird Observatory, Fort Collins, Colorado, $1200 from Denver, Contact: Shelly Morrell, 970-482-1707 or onthewing@rmbo.org.
Camp Chiricahua: A Summer Camp for Young Birders (ages 12-17), July 8-July 19, Camp Chiricahua, southeastern Arizona, $1575 from Tucson, Contact: info@ventbird.com
ABA provides scholarships to help young people attend summer camps, workshops, and other bird-related activities. Application information is available on the web at http:// americanbirding.org/programs/eduscho.htm or from the ABA office in Colorado Springs. Phone: 719-578-9703. Scholarship application deadline is April 18, 2003.
ABA also sponsors the ABA/Leica Young Birder of the Year Contest. This annual contest runs from April through September, but registrations will be accepted as late as June 14, 2003. The deadline for submission of completed modules (Field Notebook, Bird Illustration, Bird Essays, or Bird Photography) is October 17, 2003. Registration details can be found at <http:// americanbirding.org / programs/ygbcomp.htm>
Page 7
A Remembrance of Rick Blom by Gene Scarpulla
When I was asked to write a short article about Rick Blom, I knew that an article about his accomplishments would be pretty straightforward, but a more subjective one would give more insight into Rick the person.
It is easy to list Rick’s accomplishments. Some of these are as follows: e —_ Project Coordinator — Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia
e Co-Chief Consultant — National Geographic Society Field Guide to the Birds of North America (1st & 2nd Editions)
e Editor — Birding e Co-Editor - American Birds (Mid Atlantic Region)
e Contributing Editor — Bird Watcher’s Digest (Blom on Birds, Quick Takes, Species Profile, Book Notes)
e Researcher and Writer - The BWD Skimmer
e Researcher and Writer — Backyard Bird News
e = Major Contributor — Bird Watching for Dummies
e Adjunct Faculty — The Johns Hopkins University (continuing education bird watching courses)
It was in one of the Johns Hopkins bird watching courses that I first met Rick some 14 years ago. Little did I know that from that course we would develop a close friendship over the years. One of our first Hopkins field trips was to Conowingo Dam to observe Bald Eagles in the fall. At that time he told our class about how spectacular Conowingo could be for observing gulls in the dead of winter. My first thoughts were that this man was insane. No one in their right mind would stand at Conowingo Dam from sunrise to sunset in the dead of winter to look through a mass of 50,000 swirling gulls to attempt to pick out a rare one. The rest as they say is history. My fondest memories of Rick are of our weekly, daylong trips to Conowingo. Some days we would stay till after dark, still picking out gulls illuminated by the spotlights below the dam. After awhile it became almost second nature for us to direct each other to an unusual gull. We could almost read each other’s mind when attempting to locate the bird. Rick always delighted in finding aberrant gulls that we could not put an age or name on. It wasn’t the identification of the gull that was important; it was the discussion and analysis of why it didn’t seem to fit into any category that brought him joy.
Rick was born the son of Pat and Lee Blom. He was named Eirik after his father’s Norwegian heritage. As was their family tradition, at age 14 Rick was asked to choose the remaining parts of his name. Rick chose Eirik Adam Tecumseh Blom. He chose Adam since he was the firstborn of the four Blom sons and Tecumseh in honor of his maternal grandfather, Christopher Charles Cole. Christopher Cole did Native American surveys and knew the wife of Chief Tecumseh.
Throughout his life Rick was a voracious reader, usually reading 7 to 10 books each week. When he was 8 years old, the first book that he checked out of the non-children’s part of the library was an autobiography of the social reformer, Lincoln Stefens. At home, he always had a book in his hand. He read while he walked, as well as when he ate. According to his mother, on one occasion he accidentally got into the shower while still reading a book
Rick was an accomplished and prolific wordsmith. Routinely he would send me drafts of his Bird Watcher’s Digest articles to proofread and copyedit. Inevitably, he would use words that I had never heard of. When I would question him about the use of such an obscure word, he would tell me that it was a common word that everyone used. To which I would reply, if it is so common, why have I never seen or heard this word in 55 years. I repeatedly accused him of including obscure words in the articles just to get a rise out of me.
With Rick it was always the discussion that was important. He loved to play devil’s advocate. He would disagree with you just to engage a spirited dialogue. The topic wasn’t important; it could be highly significant or inane. Rick would expound on subjects for hours, occasionally allowing you to get a word in that he would quickly refute. I miss these discussions the most. They defined our relationship.
Rick Blom Memorial Fund Announced
Bill Thompson, Editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest, writes to us:
Bird Watcher’s Digest has created a memorial fund in Rick Blom’s name. In order to get the Blom fund activated, we need to generate $2,500 in initial donations and we have just over $2,000 at present.
My hope (and Rick’s, I believe) was that the donations would permit the fund to make a nominal award once each year to a deserving organization that is communicating worthwhile information to birders. I will work in conjunction with the Blom family to manage the fund and create the award.
I will continue to work with the Marietta Community Foundation to, [hope, create a legacy for Rick that will last well into the future.
Here is the address for the fund:
Eirik A.T. Blom Memorial Fund Marietta Community Foundation PO Box 77, Marietta, OH 45750
Ed. note: If you feel that MOS as an organization should participate in this memorial, please contact your Chapter President and Chapter Directors and ask them to bring this up at a future State MOS Board Meeting. What better way could there be to honor an individual of national stature who, at the same time, never forgot his home state.
Every Christmas, Rick would chastise me for putting Christmas music on my answering machine. Wik
He would threaten to refuse to call me until after New Years if I persisted with the Christmas music. I have just recently found out from Rick’s mother and brothers that he actually loved to sing Christmas
carols at their family gatherings. In fact Rick sang the loudest and the longest, being the only family jj.
member that could remember and sing all five verses of “Good King Wenceslas.”
Rick was a devoted father to his daughter, Jess. He always spoke of Jess’ academic accomplishments. er
When Rick was first diagnosed with cancer, one of his goals was to live long enough to see Jess graduate £,
from high school. Rick was exceedingly grateful to see Jess not only graduate from high school, but to also receive a full scholarship to the University of Delaware and graduate from there after three years.
I credit Rick for instilling a gull-watching passion in me. He is also the reason that I started doing |, bird surveys at Hart-Miller Island. For that, the Hart-Miller Island South Cell Environmental Restoration 74
Project owes a debt of gratitude to him.
Rick was a true icon in the Maryland birding community. Always outspoken, often controversial, you knew what you had when you met Rick. He never hid his thoughts or opinions.
For those of us who were lucky enough to know Rick, he will live on in our memories. Although he may be physically gone, his legacy will remain with North American birders forever.
Page 8
Sixty to one hundred miles offshore from the Delmarva Peninsula, two great oceanic “rivers,” the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current, meet and create ideal feeding grounds for some 30 species of truly pelagic birds—albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, storm-petrels, phalaropes, skuas, jaegers, gulls, terns, and alcids. These birds migrate through the offshore waters, totally sustaining themselves at sea and come to land only to nest in the Arctic or South Atlantic regions.
Getting offshore to see these fascinating birds is not easy. Walk-on fishing boats seldom go far enough offshore. Pelagic birding trips are occasionally offered from Cape May, NJ, or from Lewes, DE, but time offshore is limited on day trips, and sea conditions can make viewing difficult or cause cancellation of the trip.
Weather disturbances over the ocean sometimes offer opportunities for birders to see pelagic species from land. Sustained offshore winds—"nor’easter” storms and hurricanes—can force these birds inshore or even over land areas.
Finding these storm-blown wanderers is a matter of timing, location, and good luck. The time to be afield is during the later stages of the storm or immediately after the storm has passed. Pelagic birds driven inshore will quickly head back out to sea as soon as the unfavorable winds change. Viewing conditions during storms are
The world’s second most valuable export product, after oil, is coffee. Today, two-thirds of the world’s coffee is produced in Central America and the Caribbean. So when coffee growing methods change and threaten bird habitat, that is bad news for birds that breed in North America and winter in the tropics.
Coffee is grown in the world’s tropical rainforest regions on hillsides at 500 to 1500 meters above sea level. Coffee is one of the few large-scale commodity crops that can be grown in relative harmony with native forest. Until the 1970s, nearly all coffee was grown on multi-crop coffee plantations — in the understory of wild fig, avocado, mango, lychee, citrus fruits, nut or other trees.
The traditional method of growing coffee is now called shade-grown coffee — because an alternative called “sun-grown” or “full-sun” coffee was created. A full-sun coffee plantation looks like an orchard. The rainforest is cleared. The land is thickly planted with hedgerows of a hybrid coffee plant that produces 30 percent more coffee per bush. Full-sun coffee plantations require more agrochemicals and more maintenance. The naked slopes are vulnerable to erosion. By contrast, coffee grown in the rainforest protects freshwater resources; trees and their roots store rainwater, reduce flooding and landslides, and help recharge underground aquifers.
Ornithologists find that in full-sun coffee plantations, the number of bird species is cut by half, and the number of individual birds is cut by as much as two-thirds. According to Jeffrey A. McNeely, Chief Scientist at the World Conservation Union, “the widespread conversion
Pelagic Birding For Landlubbers by Sam Dyke
sometimes severely limited by rain and wind, while tidal flooding and or storm damage can make vantage points inaccessible (and dangerous!). By checking the wind direction, storm track, and tidal conditions, one can decide where to go during those critical hours as the storm passes. This does not always mean heading for the coast. During a September hurricane in 1960, 48 Sooty Terns circled over the rooftops of Salisbury and later that same day a Bridled Tern was seen with Sooty Terns near the Salisbury Airport, and an exhausted Leach’s Storm-Petrel was on the Wicomico River off Riverside Drive.
Unless the storm center passes over the Delmarva land area, these coastal viewing locations are usually the best:
1) The Cape May/Lewes Ferry can yield species such as Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (June- September), Parasitic Jaeger (September-October), and Razorbill January-February).
2) Cape Henlopen State Park, with several ocean and bay overlooks, is a good place to search for jaegers and rare terns.
3) The Indian River and Ocean City Inlets have strong tidal flows that provide feeding opportunities for many seabirds including storm stragglers. The viewing areas are excellent if weather conditions allow access. These inlets are
Why Buy Shade-Grown Coffee? by Carol Schreter
to sun-grown coffee is particularly troubling considering that 13 of the world’s 25 biodiversity hot spots are in coffee country.”
Since 1980, over 40 percent of the coffee area in Columbia, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean has been converted to sun coffee, with another 25 percent of the area slated for conversion. This transition to full-sun coffee was encouraged by funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID) and local governments when world coffee prices were at their highest. Now the market is flooded with coffee and coffee prices are at a 100-year low.
In 1995, Partners in Flight first publicly connected the decrease in the number of migratory birds in the Americas to the increase in sun-grown coffee. In 1998 the American Birding Association (ABA) partnered with Thanksgiving Coffee Company of California to promote and distribute “Song Bird Coffee,” verified by the ABA as shade grown. The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center now certifies and promotes a similar product called “Bird Friendly Coffee.” When shade-grown coffee is sold without formal certification, the coffee plantation may not meet the same standards, or it may not even be identified as “shade grown.”
Organic coffee marketed to health conscious consumers is grown without pesticides and fertilizers. Some organic coffees are grown in the shade, but not all. You may have to ask.
Because shade-grown coffee grows more slowly than full-sun coffee, it costs a bit more. The major players, known as “the cans” in industry lingo (selling Folgers, Maxwell House, and
good for the alcids and Black-legged Kittiwakes in winter.
4) Coastal ponds, such as Gordon’s Pond in Henlopen State Park, Silver Lake in Rehobeth, Mulberry Pond at Assawoman Wildlife Area, West Ocean City Pond, and the Rum Pointe and Eagle’s nest Golf Course ponds are attractive to Red and Red-necked Phalaropes.
5) Ocean Overlooks along Delaware’s Seashore State Park and the Assateague Island National Seashore offer additional seawatch opportunities. In May of 2000, a Yellow-nosed Albatross showed up in the Assateague surf without any apparent storm assistance.
6) Coastal Bay vantage points in Sussex and Worcester Counties are worth checking.
7) Large Ponds and Flooded Farm Fields offer resting areas for exhausted storm migrants.
8) Rivers and Chesapeake Bay Headlands like Vienna, Bivalve Harbor, and Roaring Point on the Nanticoke River, and Haine’s Point at Deal Island are good vantage points.
So, when a storm moves in, turn on the weather radio, get out the DeLorme maps, plot your strategy, and hope for good luck. At least you will not have to worry about seasickness! (ed. note: This article is reprinted from the Tri-County Bird Club Newsletter with the kind permission of the author.)
Nestle), have not yet started to pay attention because of price. But MOS is serving shade- grown coffees at MOS conventions and it is served at the National Aquarium.
What Coffee Drinkers Can Do: 1. Learn about the issue from:
Seattle Audubon Society: www.seattleaudubon.org/coffee
Rainforest Alliance: www.rainforest-alliance.org
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center: nationalzoo.si.edu/ ConservationAndScience/ Migratory Birds/ Coffee
2. Buy shade-grown coffee for your home. Convert your office to brewing only shade- grown coffee. Ask your retailer to carry it.
3. Educate friends by giving them a gift of shade-grown coffee.
Shade-Grown Coffee is sold at: Coffee Shops: Starbucks, Seattle’s Best,
Grocery Stores: Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market
Mail order small packages: American Birding Association: phone 800-634-7736
Mail order 2-5 lb. bags: Equal Exchange: www.equalexchange.com
Java Journey Coffee Roasting Co. in Baltimore: www.javajourney.com
Spoons Coffee House/Roastery in Baltimore. Call (410) 539-6751
Page 9
This marks the seventeenth year MOS has compiled state and locality list totals submitted by its members. For 2002, 74 observers submitted list totals, down 5 from last year. Of these 74, five were first-time submissions (one fewer than last year). Currently 191 observers are in the database, reflecting that not everyone submits updated list totals each year. Sixty-four observers now have list totals that are more than five years old and these totals have been removed from the compilation (though not from the database).
State Lists
Maryland Lifetime List. The big news is that Jim Stasz (Calvert) located two Maryland lifers and moved into a second-place tie with Paul O’Brien (Montgomery), with 379 species each and just one species behind leader Mark Hoffman (Carroll). Don’t get complacent, Mark, they’re breathing down your neck!
Two awards for “Most Improved List” go out this year, the first to Fred Shaffer (Anne Arundel), who added 28 species to his state life list to move up to 302, and to Dave Powell (Harford), who located 23 lifers this year across the state, improving his Maryland life list to 310 species
In the 2002 Maryland Year List category, Jim Stasz outdid everyone else in just about every category (more on this later) as he tallied 314 species this year, the only birder in the state to best that magic 300 in 2002. The bridesmaid’s spot went, once again, to Matt Hafner (Harford), who tallied 295 species for the second year in a row. Matt, you just have to break out of this rut! Two other busy birders in 2002 were Gary Smyle and Marcia Balestri, both of Frederick County. Gary tallied 279 species last year and Marcia tracked down 261 to finish fourth in the annual Maryland listings.
Ottavio Janni (Italy), though still living out of the country, remains at the top of the DC Lifetime List, with 262 species. Rob Hilton (Montgomery) added 2 to his DC total in 2002 to move to 255 and remain firmly in second place. Paul Pisano (Virginia) topped the DC Year List category with 189 species found in 2002, closely followed by John Hubbell (Montgomery) with 183 species!
The Maryland/DC Big Tick enters its second year with 15 birders now jumping into the big number category. Last year Dave Perry (Anne Arundel) led the Annual Big Tick with an impressive 3,322 birds for 2001. I made an offhand remark in last year’s report that the gauntlet had been thrown down for Jim Stasz. Well, not only did Jim take up the gauntlet, he also challenged Maryland birders to make pledges to the Breeding Bird Atlas program based on his 2002 Big Tick tally. A number of birders accepted that challenge on the condition that he saw at least 3,000 species. Well, Jim Stasz had one of the most incredible years ever in 2002, one that may never be equaled in these record books and one that cost a few of us a lot of money! Jim tallied an amazing 4,086 species and increased his Life Big Tick Total to 5,873 species, up 102 species and an average of 255 species per Maryland County. Way to go, Jim! Bob Ringler (Carroll) remains in second place, averaging 219 species per area, and third place continues to be held down by Marshall Iliff (California), who averages 211 species per area (a Big Tick of 5,060). Stasz was clearly the “Busiest Birder of 2002” but the next highest Annual Big Tick was 1,641 species tallied by Dave Powell (Harford).
MOS State and Locality List Report - 2002
by Norm Saunders
Ed note: Several list report participants noted that since the MOS Records Committee saw fit to separate the District of Columbia from Maryland, so should I, with the Big Tick list. I suppose there are arguments in both directions, but I have decided that beginning with 2003, the MD/DC Big Tick will officially become the Maryland Big Tick. If anyone has comments on this issue, please feel free to raise them with me.
Yard Lists
Remaining at the top of the Maryland Lifetime Yard List is Harry Armistead (PA), with 262 species seen at his weekend home in Talbot County. Harry mentioned that he added Olive- sided Flycatcher and Black Skimmer this past year. John Gregoire (NY) moves into second place with 218 species tallied at his Prince George’s homestead while two folks are tied for third place, Ethel Engle (Caroline) and Marshall Iliff, both with 212 yard birds. Ethel added a Red-shouldered Hawk and a pair of Common Redpolls to her yard list in 2002! Patty Craig (St. Mary’s) writes that she added Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and a flyover Long-tailed Duck to her yard list in 2002, raising it to 204 species.
In the annual Maryland Year Yard List category, Patty Craig once again leads the pack with 158 species, 5 species fewer than her 2001 tally. Norm & Fran Saunders (Montgomery) took second place with 135 species tallied at their Worcester County retreat. Rod Burley (Prince George’s) and Dave Powell each managed to see 120 species at their feeders in 2002.
The top DC Yard List goes to Ottavio Janni, with 114 species, followed by the only other DC reporter, Byron Swift, with 55 species. Norm Saunders’ Work/Other list covers three small but contiguous parks that lie between Union Station and the U.S. Capital. Over the past ten years his “other yard” list in DC has grown to 89 species.
County Listing
In the “All County” category (species seen in all 23 Maryland counties), Jim Stasz added eight new species to his “closeout” list to raise his total to 165, 73% of the species which can be so seen. Marshall Iliff remains in 2nd place with118 while Bob Ringler added 15 new species to keep his hold on third place with 113. Very few people report annual All County totals but Jim Stasz managed to see 83 species in all 23 counties in 2002.
Allegany County. It is with some sadness that we note the death this past year of Jim Paulus (Allegany), who will nonetheless continue to hold top honors with 273 county species for a long, long time to come. Ray Kiddy (Allegany) holds down second place with 236 species, while Jim Stasz moves into third place with 220 species. Stasz also reported 167 species for the year, qualifying him for highest annual list in Allegany County.
Anne Arundel County. Jim Stasz added three new species for a lifetime total of 291. For the annual honors, Rod Burley again capped the list with 209.
In Baltimore City/County, we are also saddened to note the death this past year of Rick
Blom (Harford). Rick and Jim Stasz are tied at 308 species for the top spot, followed by Bob Ringler with 301 species. For 2002, Jim Stasz also captured
top honors with 162 species in the county for the year.
Calvert County. Jim Stasz remains at the top of his home county with a life total of 295 species. During 2002, Arlene Ripley (Calvert) saw 186 species to top the annual tally, closely followed by Stasz, who saw 180 species.
In Caroline County a neck-and-neck battle is underway for the top spot. Jim Stasz added two new species to move to 241, still the top number in the county. Ethel Engle (Caroline), however, making a real contest of it, located three new species last year to jump to 240, only one behind Stasz. For the year, Jim ticked off 171 species.
Carroll County. Bob Ringler remains the top Carroll County lister with 270 species and the high Annual Tally of 188 species. Rick Blom ended his career here with 250 species and second place in the county, and Dave Harvey (Carroll) is third with 243.
In Cecil County, Marcia Watson-Whitmyre (Cecil) remains at the top of the list with 258 species. Rick Blom’s high career count was 246 species, followed closely by Jim Stasz with 245. The high for the year was seen by Parke John (Cecil), who reported 186 for 2002.
Charles County. County resident George Jett remains in first place with 253 species (two species added) and 178 seen for the year. Jim Stasz added four species to his county life list in 2002 to remain in 2nd place at 236. Newcomer Gwen Brewer (Charles) has catapulted herself onto the Charles County list for the first time, with 205 species...don’t look back guys, she might be gaining on you!
In Dorchester County, Harry Armistead remains in first place with 296 species, followed by Jim Stasz at 270. The high for the year was reported by Stasz, who saw 212 species this past year.
In Frederick County, leader Paul O’Brien added one species to remain in the lead with 258. Top annual honors go to Gary Smyle, who reported 207 species and added 67 new species to his Frederick County life list in 2002.
Garrett County. During 2002, Jim Stasz added five more species to his county life list for a total of 226. Marshall Iliff, making a strong run for the lead, added six new species but reached only 224, still two behind the charging Stasz. J.B. Churchill (WV) remains in third place in the county but now shares that spot with Bob Ringler who located two new species this year. The high for the year goes to (no surprise here) Jim Stasz, who reported 198 species in 2002.
Harford County. Rick Blom finished out his career with 284 species here, a tally that will likely stand for a good few years to come. Dave Webb (Harford) is in second with 265 species, up three from last year. The high-for-the-year honors go to Matt Hafner, who managed 200 species in 2002, nine ahead of Jim Stasz.
Howard County. Resident Jo Solem (Howard) remains the top lister in Howard, with 273, while Bonnie Ott (Howard) added one new species this year to move into sole ownership of 2nd place at 262, followed closely by Jane Coskren (Howard) at 261. Rod Burley took top 2002 honors with 206 species.
(continued at top of next page)
Page 10
2002 LIST REPORT (continued from previous page)
Kent County. Floyd Parks (Kent) still commands the top of the list with 278. Jim Stasz increased his lifetime total by fifteen to 245, and newcomer Walter Ellison (Kent) firmly asserted his presence with third-place 223 species. Walter’s 223 species also easily qualified him for the high spot in 2002.
Montgomery County. The triumvirate of O’Brien, O’Brien, and Mudd continues to
dominate the heights of the Montgomery list. Paul O’Brien added three new species this year to increase his lead over son Michael (NJ) to 290 vs. 281. Harvey Mudd (Montgomery) remains at 262 species for the number three spot. Top honors for 2002 go to Dave Powell, with 179 species, and to Jim Stasz, with 163.
In Prince George’s County, both Jim Stasz and
John Gregoire added a single new species, leaving the one-two spots unchanged from last year. Fred Shaffer (Anne Arundel), however, added 16 new species this year to pole-vault himself from 6th place to third! Annual high count reported goes to Fred Shaffer, with 210 species, but followed very closely by Rod Burley’s 208.
In Queen Anne’s County, Jim Stasz added two to his life list, edging up to 260 species. Jim also topped the 2002 tally with his report of 187 species this past year.
Saint Mary’s County. Resident birder Patty Craig (St. Mary’s) added Cave Swallow and Marbled Godwit to her county life list, closing out at 306. Hard-charging Kyle Rambo (St. Mary’s), however, added three new species and jumped into a tie with Patty for the top spot in the county. Holding down a distant third is Jim Stasz with
265 species. For the year, Patty ticked off 238 species and Kyle had 224.
In Somerset County, Jim Stasz remains at the top with 270 species. Sam Dyke (Wicomico) remained at his second-place tally of 252. The high count for the year goes once again to Jim Stasz, who saw 191 in 2002.
Talbot County. Henry Armistead (263) and Jim Stasz (252) lead the ranks of birders here. For 2002, Stasz reported 199 species, while Wayne Bell (Talbot) was second with 189 and Les Roslund (Talbot) followed, with 187 tallied in 2002.
Washington County. Jim Stasz added one species to his county life list, bringing his total to 218. High count for 2002 was tallied by Stasz, with 149 species reported.
In Wicomico County, resident Sam Dyke added one species to his county life list for a new total of 285. Don and Carol Broderick (Wicomico) continue to hold down the second and third spots. Sam Dyke reported 207 species for 2002, leading the annual list, while Don and Carol each tallied 199 for the year.
Worcester County. There were no changes to the top standings or levels in Worcester this year. The top annual list total for 2002 goes to Dave Powell, with 193, followed closely by Stan Arnold (Anne Arundel), who racked up 191 in the county for the year.
Other Lists
Peter Osenton’s (Anne Arundel) “Tree Bird List,” a list of birds seen in his 80-100 year old pin oak next to the deck of his home, jumped to 59
Hart-Miller Island South Cell Restoration Project Calendar of Events: 2003 by Gene Scarpulla
species last year, as he located Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Fox Sparrow, and Scarlet Tanager there in 2002.
Don Simonson (Montgomery) reports that he had the amazing luck to see 5 outstanding species on his 2-acre Montgomery County property this past year: Western Tanager, Philadelphia Vireo, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and Black-crowned Night-Heron. Even more remarkable, Don saw a melanistic Japanese Green Pheasant, which he elected NOT to report to the MD/DCRC.
On a more grim note, the variety of species dead from West Nile Virus seems to have taken a jump in 2002. We should all do our best to minimize mosquito breeding habitat, to protect the birds and our neighbors!
Let’s hope that 2003 blesses all of us with many wonderful natural experiences that we'll be able to share this time next year.
Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to the 2002 list report form. Good birding to all in 2003 and God bless!
[Ed.note: Only the narrative sectionof the 2002 list report appears in the newsletter in order to save money on printing costs. The full list report is available on the MOS website, www.mdbirds.org, in the Members section. Enjoy!]
Norm Saunders
MOS County List Compiler (301) 989-9035 marshhawk@att.net
Update—The Hart-Miller Island South Cell Restoration Project is steadily progressing, with the bulk of the work expected to be completed in 2003. The contract was awarded to Geo-Con construction, with Meadville Land Service as the vegetation contractor. Geo-Con demobilized for the winter since the conditions were much too wet to do any earthwork. They expect to be up and running again in April, with the initial flooding scheduled for July. The following chart shows the planned activities for the year.
January-Feb 2003:
—Completion of shop drawings
—Initial site flooding
—Dedication ceremony (tentative)
—Site drying/Site preparation July 2003: —Sign preparation —Completion of nesting island August 2003: April 2003: —Re-mobilization of construction equipment —Construction of earthwork, September 2003: watering system, & spillway November 2003: May 2003 —Physical completion of berm, watering system December 2003: June 2003: —Site preparation for initial flooding
—Preparation of restoration manual
—Upland Phragmites control (aerial spraying) —Begin mudflat monitoring
—Upland Phragmites cutting and burning —Upland grass plantings
—Complete plantings
MAY COUNT 2003: Looking for Breeders Among Migrants
Welcome to May Count 2003! Thank you for participating in this year’s count, which will take place in the MD-DC area on Saturday, May 10". The purpose of May Count is to identify and record all the bird species heard and seen in a defined territory during the course of one 24-hr period. This period has been established as the second Saturday of each May, rain or shine. The territories are the counties throughout the entire state, with each county being further divided into smaller count areas which are then assisgned to specific volunteer observers. This count is conducted by volunteers such as yourself, some who enjoys birding and spending a day outdoors. Any birding skill level is welcomed. The more volunteers, the better coverage that can be achieved.
All of the counties on the Eastern Shore are in need of additional birders to help with May Count. Some counties have as few as 3 or 4 birders to cover many miles of wonderful habitat. Please consider crossing the Bay Bridge to offer your help in those counties. Many volunteers prefer to work in their home county or favorite birding place. | suspect that once one spent a day birding in the vast warbler and shorebird habitats found on the eastern shore, that area would become a new favorite place. Please consider counting along beautiful areas like the marshlands of the Nanticoke and Choptank Rivers, the forests of the Pocomoke and Wicomico swamplands, Nassawango and Deal Island wildlife sanctuaries, and the Blackwater and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuges.
The following Report Form lists species you might expect to find in Maryland during spring migration. Some species require written details and are noted with asterisks. See the Rarity Sightings Guidelines in the report form to become familiar with the details you will need to gather when reporting such species. Please don’t hesitate to ask your county coordinator any questions you might have about any of the information being asked.
Some of the species observed at this time of year will have already begun their breeding season. Once again, we are asking birders to record data that can be used for the Breeding Bird Atlas project, a five-year effort to determine the presence and distribution of birds breeding in Maryland. This is the second year for that project (see the MOS web site for information on the atlas project.) We ask observers to spend a few extra moments watching birds to determine if they are exhibiting breeding behavior. Your county compiler will provide you with an Incidental Report Form and a list of breeding codes for determining and recording breeding behavior.
Some species will still be migrating on May 10" and others will not, so it is important to know which birds will be in their “safe dates” on May 10th. Safe dates are times when it is fairly certain that a species will have stopped migrating through MD and will have started breeding here. Those species are listed on page 4 of this form to help you know when to look for breeding behavior.
Deadline for submitting completed reports to your county coordinator is May 31, 2003. The May Count data will be compiled into a table and a report that will appear in a future issue of MD Birdlife. This report will include each specie’s total, the total of individuals observed, the number
of hours and number of miles it took to complete this day’s effort, and a list of participants. The breeding behavior data will be given to the county Atlas project coordinators so that the information can be included in the five-year report. You will be recognized for your effort in the acknowledgements sections of both projects, so be sure to provide your compiler with your name, address and phone number.
Have a wonderful day and Good Birding! Wanda Cole- Statewide Coordinator
County Coordinators
Allegany: Teresa Simons, PO Box 648, Fort Ashby, WV 26719. 304-298-4972 Anne Arundel: Dotty Mumford, 1900 Generals’s Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401, 410-849-8336 Baltimore: Debby Terry, 747 Bomont Rd, Timonium, MD 21093, 410-252-8771, gths@bcpl.net; send completed forms to: Steve Sanford, 8412 Downey Dale Dr., Randallstown, MD 21133. tanager@bcpl.net Calvert: Arlene Ripley, 3513 Smithville Rd., Dunkirk, MD 20754, 301-855-2848 or 410-257-6105, aripley@nestbox.com Caroline: Marianna Nuttle, 106 Ellerslie Ct., Denton, MD 21629, 410-479-2644 Carroll: Bob Ringler, 6272 Pinyon Pine Ct., Eldersburg, MD 21784, 410-549-6031, ringler@qis.net Cecil: Parke John, 57 Virginia Ave., Red Point Beach, North East, MD 21901, 410-287-6037 (h) or 410-506-3874 (w), pjohn@wigore.com Charles: George Wilmot, 6722 Amherst Rd., Bryans Road, MD 20616-3072, 301-375-8552, gwilmot@radix.net Dorchester: Henry ("Harry") T. Armistead, 523 E. Durham St., Philadelphia, PA 19119-1225, 215-248-4120, harryarmistead@hotmail.com Frederick: Michael Welch, 8619 Burnt Hickory Cir., Frederick, MD 21701, 301-874-5828, mdjvwelch@aol.com Garrett: Fran Pope, 503 F Street, Mt. Lake Park, MD 21550, 301-334-4908 Harford: Mark Johnson, 3204 Bryson Ct, Baldwin, MD 21013, 410-692-5978 Howard: Paul A. Zucker, 12813 Huntsman Way, Potomac, MD 20854, 301-279-7896 (H), 443-778-4971, Paul.Zucker@jhuapl.edu Kent: Walter Ellison, 23460 Clarissa Road, Chestertown, MD 21620, 410-778-9568, rossgull@crosslink.net Montgomery: Rick Sussman, 17917 Ashton Club Way, Ashton, MD 20861, 301-774-1185 (h) or 301-562-0303 (w), Warblerick@aol.com Prince George’s: Fred Fallon, 1700 Pomona Place, Bowie, MD 20716, 301-249-1518, fwfallon@earthlink.net Queen Anne's: Glen Therres, 207 Johnny Lane, Stevensville, MD 21666, 410-643-7422 St. Mary’s: Ernest Willoughby, 207 Johnny Lane, Lexington Park, MD 20653, 301-862-9631, ejwilloughby@aol.com Somerset: Charles Vaughn, 1306 Frederick Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801, 410-742-7221, essc@comcast.net Talbot: Les Coble, 9317 High Banks, Easton, MD 21601, 410-820-6165 Washington: Dave Weesner, 6618 Zittlestown Rd., Middletown, MD 21769, 301-432-7718 Wicomico: Sam Dyke, PO Box 1212, Salisbury, MD 21802, 410-742-5497 Worcester: Allen Deward, 10123 Hammond Rd., Bishopville, MD 21813, 410-352-5590, ratalb@earthlink.net District of Columbia: Peter Vankevich, 1333 E St., S.E., Washington, DC 20003, 202-547-4523 (h) or 202-707-7512 (w)
County Compilers only: Send your compilations by May 31, 2003 to Wanda Cole, May Count Coordinator, 29731 Apple Drive, Cordova, MD 21625. E-Mail reports (preferred) should be sent to: pacificsojourner@msn.com.
County: Red-throated Loon* CommonLoon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe* Eared Grebe** Northern Fulmar** Sooty Shearwater** Manx Shearwater** Wilson's Storm-Petrel** Northern Gannet* Brown Pelican* Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant* Anhinga** American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Cattle Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron night-heron sp. Glossy Ibis Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Greater White-fronted Goose** Snow Goose* Canada Goose Brant* Mute Swan Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon American Black Duck Mallard Blue-winged Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Canvasback Redhead* Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup scaup sp. Common Eider** King Eider** Harlequin Duck** Long-tailed Duck Black Scoter* Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter* scoter sp. Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Ruddy Duck Osprey Swallow-tailed Kite** Bald Eagle, adult Bald Eagle, immature Bald Eagle, unknown age Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk* Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk**
NOTE: Please record zero (0) if no birds were observed for a species.
buteo sp. Golden Eagle** eagle sp. American Kestrel Merlin* Peregrine Falcon* Chukar* Ring-necked Pheasant Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Yellow Rail** Black Rail* Clapper Rail King Rail Virginia Rail Sora Common Moorhen American Coot Sandhill Crane** Black-bellied Plover American Golden-Plover** Wilson's Plover** Semipalmated Plover Piping Plover** Killdeer American Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt* American Avocet* Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Willet Spotted Sandpiper Upland Sandpiper* Whimbrel* Long-billed Curlew** Hudsonian Godwit** Marbled Godwit** Ruddy Turnstone Red Knot* Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper** Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper* Baird's Sandpiper** Pectoral Sandpiper Purple Sandpiper** Dunlin Curlew Sandpiper** peep sp. Stilt Sandpiper* Buff-breasted Sandpiper** Ruff** Short-billed Dowitcher Long-billed Dowitcher** dowitcher sp. Common Snipe American Woodcock Wilson's Phalarope* Red-necked Phalarope* Red Phalarope** phalarope sp. Pomarine Jaeger* Parasitic Jaeger* jaeger sp. Laughing Gull Franklin's Gull*** Little Gull*** Black-headed Gull** Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Thayer's Gull*** Iceland Gull* Lesser Black-backed Gull* Glaucous Gull*
Great Black-backed Gull Sabine's Gull*** Black-legged Kittiwake** gull sp. Gull-billed Tern** Caspian Tern Royal Tern Sandwich Tern*** Roseate Tern*** Common Tern Arctic Tern*** Forster's Tern sterna sp. Least Tern Black Tern* Black Skimmer* Rock Dove Eurasian Collared-Dove*** Mourning Dove Black-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo Barn Owl Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Long-eared Owl* Short-eared Owl* Northern Saw-whet Owl* Common Nighthawk Chuck-will's-widow Whip-poor-will Chimney Swift Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird** Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker* Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Olive-sided Flycatcher” Eastern Wood-Pewee Yellow-bellied Flycatcher* Acadian Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher* Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher empidonax sp. Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Western Kingbird*** Eastern Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike* White-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo'
Yellow-throated Vireo Warbling Vireo Philadelphia Vireo* Red-eyed Vireo vireo sp. Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow crow sp. Common Raven* Horned Lark Purple Martin Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Carolina Chickadee Black-capped Chickadee chickadee sp. Tufted Titmouse
OOo,
County: Red-breasted Nuthatch” White-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Bewick's Wren** House Wren Winter Wren* Sedge Wren** Marsh Wren
wren sp. Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Gray-cheeked Thrush* Bicknell's Thrush* Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling American Pipit Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Brewster's Warbler* Lawrence's Warbler* Golden-winged Warbler Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler* Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler Chesitnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Palm Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Cerulean Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Swainson's Warbler** Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Louisiana Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler** Mourning Warbler* Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler Canada Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Western Tanager** Eastern Towhee?
Bachman's Sparrow** American Tree Sparrow** Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow** Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow**
a
Lark Bunting** Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Henslow's Sparrow*
Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow* Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow*
Seaside Sparrow
Fox Sparrow*
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow*
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow**
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak**
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting**
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting**
Dickcissel*
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird**
Rusty Blackbird*
Common Grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Shiny Cowbird*** blackbird sp.
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill**
White-winged Crossbill**
Common Redpoll**
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow
Total species Total individuals
* Need some details ** NEED FULL DETAILS!
*“““NEVER REPORTED BEFORE ' formerly Solitary Vireo
2 formerly Rufous-sided Towhee
Party Statistics
Time Start: Time Stop:
OQWLING
Hours Owling: Miles Owling: #Parties Owling: #Observers Owling:
REGULAR
Hours Foot:
Hours Car:
Hours Boat:
Hours other: ( ) Hours other: ( ) Miles Foot:
Miles Car:
Miles Boat:
Miles other:
Miles other:
#Parties Regular: #Observers Regular:
STATIONARY (eg. hawk watch point, gull count at a landfill) Hours Stationary:
FEEDER WATCHING (actual time counting only at feeders) Hours Feeder Watch:
WEATHER: Temp. Wind? %Clouds Precip.*
Pre-dawn Dawn AM Noon PV Dusk Post-dusk 3Speed and Wind Direction, i.e. SE5-10. “Heavy (as in hard downpour); Moderate (as in steady rainfall); Light (as in steady drizzle); Misty; Foggy; or Intermittent Drizzle.
COMPILED BY:
Address:
Phone:
E-Mail:
Guidelines for preparing documen- tation of rare bird sightings are in- cluded on page four of this insert.
Please enclose as many extra sheets as necessary to adequately document all speices marked with asterisks.
Rarity Sightings Guidelines
Please note: If you see a species that requires written details, please provide as much of the following information as you are able, on as many separate sheets as necessary:
1.Description of Size, Shape and Plumage
COND of W P
a. Size relative to other bird species nearby.
b. Head shape, patterns, colors; bill length, shape, color
c. Eye: color, ring, stripes
d. Plumage details: nape, back, rump, wings(upper and under), coverts, tail, throat, chin, breast, belly
e. Legs and feet: length, colors, shape.
f. Condition: signs of molt or wear. Marked, tagged or banded?
. Number of birds
. Sex and age, by plumage or behavior
. Behavior observed
. Other Birds Present (if any)
. Location (place name, county, state, habitat, etc.)
. Weather/Sky/Observation Conditions
. Observer Details (optics used, field guides consulted, experience
of observer, names of other observers present)
Alphabetical List of Participants (continue on separate sheet if necessary)
May Count Species Within Their Safe Dates
Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Black Vulture
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Bald Eagle
Northern Goshawk* Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Ringed-necked Pheasant Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Black Rail*
Clapper Rail
King Rail
Killdeer
American Woodcock Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech Owl Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl* Short-eared Owl* Northern Saw-whet Owl* Chuck-will’s-widow Whip-poor-will
Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Loggerhead Shrike* American Crow
Fish Crow
Common Raven* Horned Lark
Carolina Chickadee Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Carolina Wren Bewick’s Wren** Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Yellow-throated Warbler Pine Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Swainson’s Warbler** Louisiana Waterthrush Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Boat-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch
House Sparrow
Page 11
President: Paul Zucker
Vice President: Janet Millenson Treasurer: Shiras Guion Secretary: Janet Shields Executive Secretary: Eric Sprague
Atlas: Jane Coskren
Budget: Helene Gardel
Conference: Mike Callahan
EFM: Marcia Balestri
Investments: Martha Waugh Long-range Planning: Marcia Watson- Whitmyre
Research: Gwen Brewer
Sanctuary: Dotty Mumford Scholarships: Jean Fry
Allegany: Gwen Brewer, Barbara Gaffney Anne Arundel: Janelle Dietrich, Al Haury, Dotty Mumford,
Baltimore: Helene Gardel, John Landers, Ben Poscover, Ruth Poscover
Caroline: not represented
Carroll: not represented
Cecil: Marcia Watson-Whitmyre
Frederick: Marcia Balestri, Doug Parker, Nancy Parker, Michael Welch
Harford: Jean Fry, Larry Fry
Howard: Mary-Jo Betts, Mike Callahan, Jane Coskren, Karen Darcy, Kevin Heffernan, Kurt Schwarz, Martha Waugh
Kent: Walter Ellison
Montgomery: Sam Freiberg, Don Messersmith Patuxent: Fred Fallon
Talbot: Ed Armstrong, Shirley Bailey Tri-County: not represented
Washington: Shirley Ford, Anna Hutzell, Judy Lilga
President Paul Zucker called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. Paul thanked the Washington County Chapter members for doing such a good job with the food and also for providing such an attractive meeting place at the Mt. Aetna Camp & Retreat Center in Hagerstown.
Minutes of Previous Meeting: The minutes of the previous board meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Shiras Guion gave the Treasurer’s report.
President’s Remarks: The exciting thing that happened in November was that MOS held an all- day retreat in Howard County. With over fifty participants including members at large and board members, there was a wide spectrum of views and attitudes. It went quite well. It was found that there was an enormous commonality of feelings across the board. Marcia Watson-Whitmyre will give a complete report later today, and we will begin the process of putting together a plan of action based on recommendations that came out of the retreat.
Review of Action Items: Janet Millenson reviewed the actions items from the previous board meeting and the progress made since then:
1. We had an excellent turnout for the retreat. Chapter presidents did a good job of informing their members of the retreat date.
2. Dotty Mumford was to gather more information on the conservation easements
Minutes of the MOS Board Meeting December 7, 2002
for the Eastern Shore sanctuaries and report back to the board. Dotty was not here and could not report on this.
3. Recommendations were given for legal help with the proposed DNR contract and an attorney was hired.
4. Applications are still need to be submitted for education scholarships. The deadline is January 31st.
5. Chapter presidents announced to their membership the need to fill the positions of Sanctuary Coordinators for eastern Maryland and western Maryland.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Conservation: Maureen Harvey was not able to attend but submitted a written committee report. Paul Zucker explained that the report focuses mainly on the proposed issue of wind farms on two mountain ridges in Western Maryland. Dan Boone, Chan Robbins, and other MOS members have been actively participating in preliminary hearings to fast track this proposal and expressing MOS concerns. Chan pointed out that we know very little about the migrating songbirds. The songbirds migrate at night coming down the ridges; this is the big issue with this program. Paul attended a meeting with DNR to talk about these issues. Paul explained that the MOS position has been that the state needs to study this issue more and get the right data before deciding what permits to issue. The idea of wind farms is very attractive as a way to have nonpolluting fuel but the location of these facilities has become a real issue. The environmental community needs to make sure the environmental costs are evaluated. There is great concern that these wind farms with their tall towers could be really devastating to our migrating songbirds.
One of these companies is proposing to install an array of 24 x 425 ft. windmills on the border of Garrett and Allegany Counties. The windmill blades are 100 ft. long. This is considerably taller than the recommended height limit of 250 ft. for communications towers. Such windmills are potentially lethal for migrating birds. Paul Zucker will send letters to the Maryland Public Service Commission as official MOS comments on the proposed projects.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is considering Cerulean Warblers for the “Threatened” List and reviewing its status. They are seeking additional information from the public on the Cerulean Warbler and threats to its habitat. Maureen Harvey is going to submit a statement to USFWS and is in the process of gathering any pertinent information that we have to accompany the statement.
Education: Van Vogel sent a brief report to Paul Zucker. Van’s report stated that this fall the Education Committee held its fall “Birds and Burgers” at Turkey Point in Cecil County. Eleven teens and five adults attended. Highlights included terrific views of a hovering Peregrine and several Ospreys. Next week the committee will reconvene for its winter “Birds & Burgers” at Fisherman’s Park (Conowingo Dam) in Harford County.
In regard to youth issues, Paul Zucker announced that David Farner, who is senior naturalist at the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS), is starting a youth program of birding trips. Paul spoke with him and determined that David is very happy to get all the support and cooperation from MOS that he can get and recognizes our participation and partnership in this project. Several of our Montgomery County members have already volunteered to be involved in this program. David is a former MOS scholarship winner.
Investment: Martha Waugh reported that it is not a good time for investments and stated that this would be a good time to remind everyone that we cannot expect to enjoy large returns on our investments in the near future and perhaps even longer. MOS has an advantage over individual investors, as we do not pay taxes on our gains. But, in today’s investment world it is difficult to realize returns that will even outpace inflation.
The Investment Committee’s goals are safety, income, continuity, and transparency. Since Martha’s last report to the MOS Board, the committee has completed the sale of a number of our stocks and equities, which were literally not making any money for us. In addition, several of our bonds matured. She noted that they have replaced these stocks and bonds with equities they chose for as much safety as possible, realizing that MOS also needs to generate income to support its activities. Once again Martha reminded the board that we will not be able to realize the income for those activities that MOS has earned in the past. We want to be as fully invested as possible at all times but the current economic and market climate seems to encourage the prudent investor to wait for a better time. When that time comes, we will be able to quickly convert our money market and bond funds into more profitable equities. To encourage continuity and transparency, Martha has made available copies of the MOS position in each fund as of October 25, 2002. In addition, she gave a more detailed report on the October 25 position for each chair of a committee with a fund. This fund report includes notations on what we have bought, sold, and redeemed since the last report.
Sanctuary: Because Dotty Mumford was delayed, Paul Zucker gave the Sanctuary Committee report. In November there was a sanctuary planning meeting at Irish Grove. This was the third of the planning meetings to go over the general sanctuary policies and, in particular, items that the Partners in Flight group had recommended. Paul felt that some of these issues will be superseded by our discussion on sanctuary policy that came out of the retreat.
Doug Parker reported that there was a work party at Carey Runa week ago to combat problems caused by the heavy ice storm. Asa result of the storm, quite a few trees came down on trails. This is a cause for concern because the state mowers use these trails to get to the fields they mow for us. The work party was able to do a fair amount of work that day and was quite happy with what they were able to accomplish.
Scholarship: Jean Fry had reports from 2002 scholarship winners for board members to look over. Jean always gets glowing responses from
(continued at top of next page)
Page 12
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING (continued from previous page)
the winners. Information sheets regarding the 2003 scholarships were sent out to all chapter presidents and representatives in September and reminder letters were sent in early November. In addition, Jean sent letters to all science supervisors of all the school systems. There have not been too many responses. Marcia Balestri, as MOS liaison to EFM, will send the scholarship information to the nineteen EFM member organizations. The scholarship deadline is January 31. Last year there were sixteen applicants and ten scholarships were awarded.
Atlas: Walter Ellison reported that 644 blocks have been assigned on the computer, which is a little less than half of the blocks available. There are 456 blocks with data saved. There have been 190 species reported. The average number of species per block based on the total number of reported sightings Walter has received and the number of blocks with data entered comes to 45 species per block. He is pleased with this progress for the first year.
Jane Coskren updated the board on Atlas funding. Howard County has a challenge grant for all of the chapters for up to $1,000 a year (calendar year not fiscal year) for the five years of the atlas. This means that Howard will match total atlas money donated by the chapters up to a maximum of $1,000 each atlas year. They have received donations from Harford, Frederick, Allegany, Tri-County, which have been matched by Howard. Patuxent will be sending a donation, which will bring the donated money up to $1,000 for 2002. A $5,000 grant has been received from Maryland Costal Bays. Also, there is a $20,000 a year contract with the State of Maryland. An attorney has been hired to review this contract, paying special attention to the need for unrestricted publication of the results.
EFM: Marcia Balestri and Paul Zucker discussed how to use the amounts of EFM money coming into MOS every year. One of Marcia’s suggestions was the possibility of using it as seed money to establish a Maryland Birding Trail. A lot of states are doing this. Texas was the first state to institute their trails in 1996 and is continuing to add more trails. The goal is to cover a lot of diverse habitats. Trails bring conservation, education, recreation, and eco-tourism together in one place. They increase public awareness of natural areas. They contribute to tourism in the state and, with MOS as a sponsor, might bring revenues in to us. There are a lot of different ways to fund this and it does not necessarily come out of our pocket. There is a company, used by Texas, which handles this type of project. They will write the grants and do whatever is necessary to complete the project. Some groups have relied on their own internal resources. Some have gotten their state bureau of tourism involved. Resources need for this are funding, a coordinator to run the show, a good writer, local birders involved, and a GIS specialist.
Advantages to MOS of such a project include bringing visibility to birding as a whole and to MOS as an active organization (thereby increasing our stature and political voice within the state). We could make good use of our sanctuaries as part of such an effort. If MOS decides to take this on,
we definitely need a strategic plan, a mission statement, and a marketing plan. Then we would need to obtain funding.
Paul Zucker commented that at our June meeting the board was in favor of pursuing a birding trail for Maryland. After listening to Marcia’s presentation, Paul asked if the board wanted to go ahead with this. Because of our resource and personnel needs for the atlas, it was felt it would be difficult to take on another commitment at this time and that it might be better to table the birding trail project until the data collection portion of the atlas is completed. It was also suggested that MOS should get the organizational changes suggested at the November retreat in place, see if we can function more efficiently over the next six months, and then look at the birding trail project in nine months to ayear. Paul summed up by saying we want to do some planning and keep it in our minds without making any commitments yet, figuring any bigger commitment would be further down the road, in order not to conflict with other activities.
Conference: Mike Callahan informed the board that there had been contract problems with the Bolger Center and the contract is in the process of being renegotiated by Paul Zucker and Mike Bowen, the local conference coordinator. Paul told the board that there was a major misunderstanding with the Bolger Center resulting from the contract signed with them in May 2002. This contract has extremely high room rates (50 per cent more than Wisp) and very stiff penalties for either backing out of it or not filling as many rooms as were promised.
The Bolger Center was sorry to hear there was a misunderstanding and has been extremely eager to work with MOS to have the conference held there. Yesterday the Bolger Center representative came up with two alternate plans. One was with the same dates and one was to have it during the Memorial Day weekend. Bolger could make it a much better deal for us if it was on the Memorial Day weekend because they otherwise would be vacant during that holiday. This change of dates would give us more reasonable rates and avoid traffic problems. The Bolger facility is a magnificent facility right in the heart of Montgomery County. Other places were looked at in Montgomery County but there could be substantial penalty charges if we attempted to break the Bolger contract. There was a motion to change the conference dates to Memorial Day weekend (Saturday, Sunday, Monday on May 24 - 26) and stay with the Bolger Center. This was seconded and approved.
Long-range Planning: Marcia Watson- Whitmyre reported on the November 9" retreat, which examined some of the issues identified by the Long-planning Committee as needing input from the general membership. There were four main issues that were discussed during the day, which were:
1. What role should the sanctuaries play in the future of MOS?
2. Would a different committee structure better enable MOS to accomplish its goals?
3. How can the state MOS organization best serve the local chapters?
4. How can MOS strengthen its membership?
Six breakout groups with morning and afternoon sessions were used to examine these issues. After an hour of discussion, all participants reconvened, and a spokesperson from each breakout group presented the results of the group’s discussion.
There was general agreement among the five groups discussing the sanctuaries that the sanctuaries should be retained, that usage should be promoted through appropriate publicity, that MOS should seek to acquire more large parcels of land for sanctuaries, and that we should study the benefits of replacing the existing houses with some other type of facility that would be more user- friendly. The groups also strongly expressed the importance of using sanctuaries as a visible sign of our commitment to habitat conservation. It was felt this habitat should be used by both people and the birds.
The group discussing the MOS committee structure favored grouping the committees into clusters in order to share committee members and to communicate better on related issues. A possible grouping scheme was presented.
The groups discussing MOS service to local chapters agreed that MOS can help chapters by expanding services that would be of use to chapters (such as a speakers bureau) and by providing assistance in the form of grants and equipment. The groups noted that such services from the state organization would assist with member recruitment, so there would be a benefit to MOS as a whole, not just the chapters.
The groups focusing on strengthening the membership recognized the role that local chapters play in bringing in members, so many of the recommendations were complementary to those of the groups focusing on services to local chapters. Recurring ideas included establishment of a statewide committee on membership, and an overall need for better publicity and presentation of the MOS presence in the state.
The retreat ended with a wrap-up lead by Joe Hickey, the retreat facilitator. The wrap-up discussion led to formation of a consensus to revise the current MOS mission statement. The sense of the group was that the statement should be shortened by removing the bulleted items, leaving the existing one-sentence preface as the entire statement. The bulleted items could be preserved as a separate statement of MOS activities. In addition, participants felt that the idea of “conservation” should be added to the one- sentence mission statement.
The Executive Committee agreed to study the recommendations of the discussion groups, to select recommendations for implementation, and to appoint appropriate individuals or committees to implement the recommendations.
Paul Zucker concluded by thanking Marcia Watson-Whitmyre for organizing this very successful retreat. Paul also added that one of the things that came out of what the state organization should do and what was needed for membership was for the state organization to sponsor various statewide activities. Paul mentioned two things that we can get started on right away. One of the suggestions in the membership category was to put together a compilation of best practices to share with all the chapters. Paul asked our
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Page 13
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING (continued from previous page)
membership task force, headed by Janet Millenson, to put together this list. The second thing that came out was a lot of problems in communication between the committees and between the chapters. Paul asked Eric Sprague, who heads up our electronic media task force, to investigate the possibility of list servers to help handle this problem. The Executive Committee will deal with the bulk of the recommendations from the retreat over time. As they process them, they will be brought to the board for action.
OLD BUSINESS
Budget Requests: Helene Gardel should receive budget requests from committees by February 1%. These are used by the Budget Committee to prepare a budget to present to the board at the March meeting.
Sanctuary Coordinators: It was thought we would be able to find someone to look after our sanctuaries and pay them $200 a month. This did not work out. It was then thought someone was needed for eastern Maryland and someone for western Maryland, paying them each $100 a month. This, also, did not work out. The suggestion has been made that perhaps we should ask for a volunteer and agree to reimburse them for mileage up to the $2,400 per year. Paul Zucker wanted the board to be aware of this. The Sanctuary Committee will explore this possibility and a recommendation will be brought to the board.
NEW BUSINESS
Carey Run Sanctuary: One of the recommendations from the Partners in Flight’s report for Carey Run is that MOS contact Mr. McKenzie, owner of a block of land adjacent to our land, and see if he would be willing to trade his block for one of our Carey Run blocks that is somewhat disjointed from the rest of our sanctuary land. Barbara Gaffney, Allegany Chapter, met Mr.
McKenzie’s daughter in the course of her Grantsville community volunteer work and asked the daughter if her father would be interested in a property exchange. Mr. McKenzie called Barbara to tell her he is not interested in an exchange but would like to purchase a block of our Carey Run land. He would use the land for hunting rights and eventual timbering. Paul Zucker wanted the board to be aware of this and referred the matter to the Sanctuary Committee for study.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MOS Speakers List: Al Haury will be updating the MOS speakers list. He would appreciate the names of any people who should be added to the list. If anyone is interested in helping Al with this project, please contact him.
March Board Meeting: Paul Zucker announced that the next board meeting will be March 8, 2003, in Montgomery County at Woodend, the Audubon Naturalist Society headquarters.
NEW ACTION ITEMS
1. Chapter presidents should make people aware that Jean Fry must receive scholarship application by January 31% accompanied by a letter of recommendation by an MOS member.
2. Marcia Balestri will make EFM members aware of the MOS scholarships.
3. Chapters should be asked by their presidents to consider making a donation to the atlas to be put towards the Howard County matching grant. Also, members should be urged to make individual donations of cash as Well as time and data.
4. Chapter presidents need to announce the change in date of the conference to Memorial
Day weekend. This will also be put on the website and on Osprey.
5. Chapter presidents are reminded to distribute MOS brochures where possible. The brochures are available from Eric Sprague.
6. Paul Zucker will be sending a letter to the Maryland Public Service Commission stating the MOS position on wind farms.
7. Marcia Balestri will continue investigating a plan for Maryland birding trails.
8. Janet Millenson will be collecting chapter information on best practices and disseminating it to the membership.
9. Eric Sprague will be investigating options for an MOS list server.
10. Paul Zucker will assemble a group to discuss the MOS committee structural changes proposed at the retreat and make a recommendation to the board.
11. Committee chairmen should note that budget requests are due February 1% to Helene Gardel.
12. The sanctuary committee will make recommendations regarding paying mileage for two sanctuary volunteers (who undertake an increased role) and regarding Mr. MacKenzie’s proposals about a Carey Run land deal.
President Paul Zucker declared the meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Janet Shields, Secretary
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Wednesday, May 1
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man- made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Cancelled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833-7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410- 435-9569.
MEETING. Carroll. “In the Rainshadow of Washington & Oregon” by Jerry & Laura Tarbell. Meet 7:30 p.m. at the main campus of Carroll Community College on Rt. 32, Westminster. For more information, call Laura Tarbell at 410-857- 1109.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Huntley Meadows County Park, VA. For seniors, juniors and “in- betweens.” Seventh annual intergenerational trip to a perennially popular birding spot. Warblers, marsh birds, possible raptors. Meet 8:00 a.m. at the Nature Center parking lot off of Lockheed Boulevard. For further information, contact the leader, Luther Goldman, at 301-474-1240.
Thursday, May 2 MEETING. Frederick. Marcia Balestri will discuss “The Everglades: Birds and Conservation Issues.” Meet in the Frederick High School Music Room at 7:30 p.m.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Mariner Point Park. Walk the asphalt trails along this park bordered by the Gunpowder River. Excellent spot for migrants. Meet at the park at 7:30 a.m. Call Tom Congersky for details at 410-676-6489.
MEETING. Kent. Joint meeting with Talbot and Caroline chapters. Details TBA. For further information, contact Pat Wilson, at 410-778- 1005.
Meeting. Talbot. Breeding Bird Atlas Training Session. Program for birders in Talbot, Kent, Caroline, and Queen Anne’s Counties, offered by Talbot, Kent, and Caroline MOS Chapters Session is for volunteers who wish to participate in the MOS 5-year Breeding Bird Atlas project; MOS representatives will provide training in field methods, data recording, and record reporting. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Wildfowl Trust of North America, Horsehead Wetland Center, Grasonville.
Friday, May 3 MEETING. Anne Arundel. “Hart-Miller Island” by Gene Scarpulla. 8:00 p.m. at the DNR Conference Room, Tawes Building, corner of Taylor Avenue and Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis.
MEETING. Harford. Guest speaker will be Bob Chance. Meet at 6:15 p.m. at Churchville Presbyterian Church, MD 22 & MD 136. For further information, call 410-879-0642.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Pennyfield Lock for migrant and nesting landbirds. Meet at the end of Pennyfield Lock Road at 7 a.m. For further
MOS Activities, May-August 2003
information and reservations, contact the leaders, Cyndie Loeper at 301-530-8226 or Ann Lucy at 301-229-8810.
Saturday, May 4
FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Hart-Miller Island for migrating shorebirds. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Severna Park Park & Ride lot located in the NW corner at the intersection of Jones Station Road and Ritchie Highway. For further information, contact the leader, Kathie Lambert, at 410-867-4056.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Milford Mill Park. For migrant warblers, thrushes and other songbirds; Wilson’s Warbler possible. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the park entrance. For further information and directions, contact the leaders, Simon Calle, at 410-561-5940, or Lenny Marcus, at 410-494- 0304.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Soldiers Delight Chorus of Whip-poor-wills at dusk. Walk on level path to power line break, later back to the cars. An alternate option is to remain at the cars and listen from there, but there’s road noise from passing traffic. Meet 7:30 p.m. at the historical marker. For further information, contact the leader, Pete Webb, at 410-486-1217 or pwebb@bcpl.net.
FIELD TRIP. Carroll. Bird Walk at McKeldin. Time again to see what warblers are coming through on migration. Moderate to rough terrain. Meet 7:00 a.m. at the parking lot on the west side of Marriottsville Rd, just south of the bridge over the Patapsco River (by the railroad tracks). For more information, call trip leader Bob Ringler at 410-549-6031.
FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Warbler Watch at Marcia Balestri’s House. She has had 28 species of warblers migrate through her yard over the last 9 years— last year her first Cape May Warbler! Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Marcia’s house. For directions call Marcia at 301-473-5098 or email mebalestri@erols.com.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Harford Glen. Walk the trails in search of migratory songbirds, herons, and other local favorites at this natural oasis near Bel Air. Meet with David Seitz at 7:15 a.m. at Harford Glen. For details, call David at 410- 838-2150.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Rock Run. Another spring trip walking the trails of Susquehanna State Park in search of new arrivals. Warblers, flycatchers, and vireos are the targets. Meet at the Mill at 6 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Rick Cheicante at 410-803-2712.
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Wincopin Neck Trails. Moderate/ difficult hiking through woodland trails on some steep slopes. Migrant warblers, vireos and thrushes. Good diversity of wildflowers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the paved lot off Vollmerhausen Road. Look for the wooden fence and park sign. For further information, contact the leader, Stan Arnold, at 410-768-0155.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Little Bennett Park. Migrants and local nesters in area of varied habitats. Reservations required. For reservations
and directions, contact the leader, Sally Ann Waldschmidt, at 301-460-5841.
FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Lake Artemesia. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Lake Artemesia parking lot. For further information, contact David Mozurkewich at301-459-3375.
Sunday, May 5 FIELD TRIP. Cecil. The Seasons at Fair Hill - Spring - Birding by Ear. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Fair Hill Nature Center - Covered Bridge Parking Lot. The leader is Meta Little. For further information contact Parke John at 410-287-6037 (H) or 410-506-3874 (W).
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Rocks State Park for woodland and edge migratory songbirds within the park. Probable species include Black and White Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Blue-winged and Yellow Warblers. Tom Congersky and Mary Procell are the leaders. For more information, call Tom at 410-676-6489.
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Daniels-Warblers along the river for Worm-Eating Warbler, Scarlet Tanager. Moderate/difficult walking through the woods and along the river. Meet at the large lot on Daniel’s Road at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, John Maloney, at 301-317-4961
FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Andelot Farm, Kent County, and Chester River Field Research Station at Chino Farms, Queen Anne’s County. Andelot Farm provides an incredible diversity of habitats with species that range from Common Terns to Bald Eagles to Red-headed Woodpeckers to Prairie Warblers. Chino Farms is the site of a major Native Grassland Restoration project. We will see Grasshopper Sparrows on territory and learn about the project from the its principal investigator, students, and staff. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Acme in the Tred Avon Shopping Center in Easton. For further information, contact the leader, Wayne Bell, at 410-820-6002 or wayne.bell@washcoll.edu.
Monday, May 6 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Cylburn Self-guided Walk. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the front porch of Cylburn Mansion. For further information, call coordinator Joe Lewandowski at 410-358-7834 or ilenel@juno.com.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge& Leesylvania State Park. Third chapter trip to this gem of a refuge located within Ft. Belvoir, VA. and to nearby state park. Landbird migrants and breeders in variety of delightful habitats. Some nearby fast-food places along Rt. 1 available for lunch after the trip. For starting place and time (will be very early a.m., to avoid worst of traffic), directions to refuge and reservations, contact the leader, Mike Bowen, at 301-530-5764.
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Tuesday, May 7
MEETING. Baltimore. “ Identifying Spring Warblers by Sight and Song” Pete Webb, field trip co-ordinator, compiler of the Harbor Christmas Bird Count and the Mid-Winter Count, and field observer in the Maryland Breeding Bird Atlas Project. 7:30 p.m. at Cylburn Mansion.
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Weekday Walk at Wilde Lake for orioles, swallows, long-legged waders and woodland species. Easy walk along the lake and through the wooded trails. Meet at the boat dock at 8:00 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Bonnie Ott, at 410-461-3361.
Wednesday, May 8 FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Calvert County Hotspots, Excellent area for landbird migrants and breeders, including warblers. Reservations required. For details, reservations and directions, contact the leaders, Lydia Schindler, at 301 977- 5252, or Linda Friedland, at 301 983-2136.
Thursday, May 9
Meeting. Howard. “Random Moments in Nature” by Michael Smith, photographer. Programs are held at Longfellow Elementary School, 5470 Hesperus Drive, Columbia. Hospitality session and club bookstore at 7:30 p-m. Meeting/Program begins at 8:00 p.m. For further information contact Don Waugh at 410- 381-8841.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Patuxent River Park Drift Boat Trip. (Joint ANS trip). Peak migration time for songbirds; also marsh and waterbirds. Waterproof footwear and insect repellent advisable. Watch ANS News for directions to park. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at entrance gate to park. $4 per participant Patuxent Park program fee will be collected. For further information and reservations, contact the leader, Paul DuMont, at 703-931-8994.
MEETING. Montgomery. “Dragonfly Identification for Birders” by Richard Orr, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 7:30 p.m. at the Potomac Presbyterian Church, 10301 River Road, Potomac, MD.
Saturday, May 11 FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Little Bennett Park. Near peak migration for warblers, vireos and breeders in this varied habitat. For reservations, time and place to meet, contact the leader Gemma Radko at 301-607-4370.
Sunday, May 12 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Meyer’s Station. Migrants at a favorite nearby location. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Parole Park & Ride lot located off Harry Truman Parkway. For further information, contact the leader, George Thomas, at 410-647-5082.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Cylburn Self-guided Walk. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the front porch of Cylburn Mansion. For further information, call coordinator Joe Lewandowski at 410-358-7834 or ilenel@juno.com.
MOS Activities, May-August 2003
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Rock Run. Participate in another round of exploring Susquehanna State Park in search of migratory songbirds. Targets include orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, vireos, and various warblers. Meet at the Mill at 6:30 a.m. Contact Phil Powers for details at 410-679-4116.
Tuesday, May 14 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Lake Roland. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the footbridge in Robert E. Lee Park. Note: possible bridge construction may cause spring walks to be relocated. For further information, contact the leader, Ruth Culbertson, at 410-825-1379.
MEETING. Patuxent. “A Birding travelogue to Islands of the South Pacific” by Don Messersmith. Annual business meeting and election for PGAS. Meet at 7:30 p.m. at Watkins Park Nature Center.
Thursday, May 16 MEETING. Caroline. Program TBA. 7:30 p.m. at the Choptank Electric Cooperative on the corner of Bus 404 & Rt. 328 in Denton.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Mariner Point Park. Join in for a leisurely walk along the Gunpowder estuarine park in Joppa. Great spot for migratory songbirds. Yellow-breasted Chats, Common Yellowthroat, Blue-winged Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler are possible species. Meet Tom Congersky at 7:30 a.m. at the park.
Saturday, May 18 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Bombay Hook NWR, DE. Spring shorebird migration at its peak. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking lot of the Bay 50 Shopping Center of Rt. 50 at Mikasa. For further information, contact the leader, Bobbi Reichwein, at 410-451-2671.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Patuxent Tract. Special trip to Prince Georges County site for Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Chat and other Southern specialty birds. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Nursery Road - Hammonds Ferry Road Park & Ride at Beltway Exit 8. For further information, contact the leader, Steve Sanford, at 410-922- 5103 or by e-mail at tanager@bcpl.net.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Turkey Point Spring Migrants. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Turkey Point Parking Lot. For further information contact the leader, Marcia Whitmyre, at 410-398-0125.
FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Strawberry Hill Nature Center and Preserve in Fairfield, PA for spring migrants and other woodland wonders. Good for beginners. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Culler Lake Boathouse in Baker Park. Call Doug or Nancy Parker at 301-663-1909 for information.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Eden Mill. Join in for a brief bird banding seminar and a bird walk surrounding this stretch of Deer Creek. Targets include Prairie Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Indigo Buntings. Meet at the trailhead just past the Mill at 7 a.m. Jean Wheeler and Mark Johnson are the leaders. For more information call Jean at 410-879-7424.
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center. Habitats include forest, tidal marsh and open water. Possibility of canoeing. There is also a possibility of a visit to the Nanjemoy Creek Heronry owned by the Nature Conservancy. Walking at NCEEC is all on flat ground and there are facilities. Meet at the Park & Ride lot on MD 197 in Laurel at 7:00 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Mike Callahan, at 301-490-9318 or raptorsrule@juno.com.
FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Lake Artemesia. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Lake Artemesia parking lot. For further information, contact David Mozurkewich at301-459-3375.
FIELD TRIP. Washington. It’s time to look for watblers at Blair’s Valley. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Park & Ride on the Dept. of Motor Vehicles side of Rt. 65. Dave Weesner, 301-432-7718, may be contacted for more information.
Sunday, May 19 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Merkle Wildlife Refuge. Spring woodland and marsh birds. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Parole Park & Ride lot located off Harry Truman Parkway. For further information, contact the leader, Stephen Hult, at 410-956-3392.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Owings Mills Mall Wetland. Willow Flycatchers, Green Heron, Blue Grosbeak and Orchard Orioles are just a few of the birds that breed at the Mall’s wetland. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Macy’s lot across from Exxon station. For further information, contact the leader, Keith Eric Costley, at 410-521-5366 or oriolekec1@aol.com.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Cylburn Self-guided Walk. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the front porch of Cylburn Mansion. For further information, call coordinator Joe Lewandowski at 410-358-7834 or ilenel@juno.com.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Bombay Hook NWR. Travel to one of Delaware’s hotspots in search of migratory shorebirds, peeps, and the like. Bring funds for park entry (about $3/car). Targets include Black-necked Stilt, American Avocets, Blue Grosbeak and Wilson’s Warbler. Meet at the 155/ I-95 Park & Ride at 6:00 a.m. Call David Larkin for details at 410-569-8319.
FIELD TRIP. Howard “Hugg-Thomas WMA for . Hooded, Kentucky, Louisiana Waterthrush and Acadian Flycatchers. Short side trip to see nesting Cliff Swallows possible. Moderate to difficult walking through woodland trails and along field edges. Meet in gravel lot at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leaders, Dave and Maureen Harvey, at 410-795-3117.
FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Nassawango and Pocomoke regions, lower Eastern Shore. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Acme in the Tred Avon Shopping Center in Easton or meet group at 7:00 a.m. in parking lot of Ward Museum, Salisbury. For further information, contact the leader, Sam Dyke, at 410-742-5497.
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Page 16
Tuesday, May 21 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Lake Roland. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the footbridge in Robert E. Lee Park. Note: possible bridge construction may cause spring walks to be relocated. For further information, contact the leader, Mac Plant, at 410-532-2445.
MEETING. Kent. “Rare Birds of Maryland” by Mark Hoffman, DNR. Come see a smorgasbord of birds, all “foreigners” to our state. 7:30 p.m. at the Kent County Public Library, Chestertown. For more information, contact Gail Regester at 410-778-9367.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. New Trip To Beautiful, Rugged Green Ridge State Park, Allegheny County, MD. Target birds include ~15 species of warblers (incl. Cerulean, Hooded, lots of Worm-eating) — also Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Meet at Sidling Hill Visitor Center Parking Lot off Rte. I-68 at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Bring snacks, lunch insect repellent. Four wheel drive /pick up truck recommended. Prior arrangements to carpool via leader highly suggested. Wear sturdy boots- some hiking necessary. Limited to 10-12 people based on car pooling. For further information and reservations, contact the leader, Jim Green, at 301-208-2393.
Thursday, May 23 FIELD TRIP. Howard. Weekday Walk at Centennial. Easy walk around the lake for orioles, herons and lingering migrants. Meet at the west end lot at 8:00 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Bonnie Ott, at 410-461-3361.
Saturday, May 25 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Hugg-Thomas WMA. Joint trip with Carroll chapter to woodland habitat. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Parole Park & Ride lot located off Harry Truman Parkway. For further information, contact the leader, Al Haury, at 410-923-0881.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Delaware Bay for a wide variety of migrating shorebirds. Possible spectacular assemblage of breeding plumage Turnstones, Sanderlings, and Red Knots. Curlew Sandpiper possible. Be prepared for heat and biting insects. Minimal walking involved. Telescopes useful. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Nursery Road - Hammonds Ferry Road Park & Ride at Beltway Exit 8. Optional meeting place: Bombay Hook NWR parking lot at 9:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Scott Crabtree, at 410-945-1042.
FIELD TRIP. Carroll. Bird Walk at Hugg- Thomas WMA. A joint outing with members of the Anne Arundel County chapter of MOS. You never know what you might see. Meet 8:00 a.m. at the Hugg-Thomas parking lot on Forsythe Rd, Sykesville. For more information, contact trip leader Dave Harvey at 410-795-3117.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Shorebirds & Waders - Bombay Hook NWR. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Big Elk Mall Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot
MOS Activities, May-August 2003
Area. For further information contact the leader, Brian Moyer, at 410-306-0967 (W) or 410-378- 5307 (H).
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Western Regional Park. Moderate to difficult walking through fields and along woodland trails. Meet in the gravel lot behind library at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Kate Tufts, at 410-489-7052.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Nassawango Creek/ Elliott Island/Blackwater NWR. Nesting warblers, vireos, Summer Tanager, Black-necked Stilts, Willets, herons and egrets.. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at place to be designated by leader. Bring lunch and snacks, ‘scope, insect repellent and sunscreen. Reservations required; limited to 10 people. For further information and reservations, contact the leader, Jim Green at 301-208-2393.
Sunday, May 26 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Cylburn Self-guided Walk. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the front porch of Cylburn Mansion. For further information, call coordinator Joe Lewandowski at 410-358-7834 or ilenel@juno.com.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Nassawango Creek/ Elliott Island/Blackwater NWR. Nesting warblers, vireos, Summer Tanager, Black-necked Stilts, Willets, herons and egrets.. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at place to be designated by leader. Bring lunch and snacks, ‘scope, insect repellent and sunscreen. Reservations required; limited to 10 people. For further information and reservations, contact the leader, Jim Green at 301-208-2393.
Monday, May 27
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Hidden Valley / Upper Deer Creek. Join local resident and avian expert Dennis Kirkwood for a leisure walk in the habitats surrounding the Upper Deer Creek area. Targets are Worm-eating Warblers, Ruby- throated Hummingbirds, and Scarlet Tanagers. Meet at Hidden Valley (end of Madonna Rd.) at 7:00 a.m. Call Dennis at 410-692-5905 for questions.
Tuesday, May 28 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Lake Roland. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the footbridge in Robert E. Lee Park. Note: possible bridge construction may cause spring walks to be relocated. For further information, contact the leader, Josie Gray, at 410-922-1837.
Wednesday, May 29 MEETING. Cecil. “The Birds Who Kiss Flowers” by Ross Hawkins. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Elkton High School located in Elkton, MD. For further information, contact Rick Lee at 410-287-0415.
Friday, May 31 FIELD TRIP. Harford. Whips-n-Hoots. The annual favorite will be led again by the passionate birdwatching team of Larry and Jean Fry. Local owls and goatsuckers will be the
targets. Meet at Dublin Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. Call Larry or Jean at 410-452-8539 to confirm and for details.
Saturday, June 1 ANNUAL SPRING POTLUCK PICNIC. Anne Arundel. 4:00 p.m.
FIELD TRIP. Carroll. Grassland Tour of Carroll County. The tour of ponds was in March so now’s the time to search for birds in the grasslands. Meet 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Town Mall of Westminster in the area of Belk & the former Montgomery Ward Auto Center. For more information, call trip leader Bob Ringler at 410-549-6031.
FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Block Busting Party for the Breeding Bird Atlas led by Dave Smith. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Culler Lake Boathouse in Baker Park. For information contact Dave at 410- 549-7082.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Harford Glen. Hike around the grounds of the varied habitats of Harford Glen in search of migratory songbirds and shorebirds. Targets include Mourning Warbler, Orchard Oriole, and Red-Shouldered Hawk. Meet at the Glen at 6:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leader, Rick Cheicante at 410-803-2712.
FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Annual field trip to PWERC and picnic. Meet at the PWRC main gate 7:30 a.m. for the field trip or at 12 noon for the picnic. For further information and reservations, contact Woody Martin at 301-497-5984 (W).
Sunday, June 2 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Piney Orchard Nature Walk. Swampy woodland in recently established setting. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Parole Park & Ride lot located off Harry Truman Parkway. For further information, contact the leader, Kim Hudyma, at 410-859-8490.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Birds along the Jones Falls. Spend the morning walking along the Jones Falls on streets still lined by factories and homes from the 19th century. See the lovely Jones Falls waterfall that still hosts Black-crowned Night- heron and Wood duck families. Within sight of the TV tower are nesting Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers and other surprises. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Poly-Western High School parking lot, Falls Rd. and Cold Spring Lane, at the Falls Road entrance. For further information, contact the leader, Brian Rollfinke, at 410-542-3368, or brollfin@mail.friendsbalt.org.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Elk Neck Forest. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Elk Neck Forest Entrance Parking Lot. For further information contact the leader, Parke John, at 410-287-6037.
FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Greenbelt Metro. Meet at Beltway Plaza at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact Jack Saba_~ at jack.saba@gsfc.nasa.gov.
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Page 17
Wednesday, June 5
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man- made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Cancelled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833-7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410- 435-9569.
Thursday, June 6 MEETING. Frederick. Annual Picnic At Pinecliff Park at 6:00 p.m. Bring binoculars, a dish to share, plate, drink and utensils.
Saturday, June 8 FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Western Maryland or West Virginia. Warblers and other landbirds and breeders. Date tentative. For further information contact the leader, John Bjerke, at 301-963-8525.
Sunday, June 9 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Summer Tanager Search. Return trip to Soldier’s Delight for nesting birds, possibly including Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Blue- gray Gnatcatcher, Field Sparrow, Hooded, Prairie and Black-and-white Warblers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the historical marker. For further information and directions, contact the leader, Keith Eric Costley, at 410-521-5366 or oriolekec1@aol.com.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Hughes Hollow Butterflies, Dragonflies and more. Meet at Hughes Hollow parking lot off of River Rd. at 10:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m. All are welcome. For further information, contact the leader, Jack Schultz, at 301-869-1255.
Friday, June 14 ANNUAL CLUB PICNIC. Kent. 5:00 p.m. Place TBA. For further information, contact Pat Wilson, at 410-778-1005.
Saturday, June 15
FIELD TRIP. Allegany. Cranesville Swamp. Jon Boone will guide us through one of the most unique habitats in the area. If you’ve never been to Cranesville, treat yourself to this trip. Jon intends to visit some areas off the beaten path so bring boots at least knee high. For the less adventuresome, there is a boardwalk into the swamp where you can still appreciate many of the area’s fine features. Meet at Johnny’s Baithouse along Rt. 219 at 7:30 a.m. or at the Park & Ride at Rt. 36 in Frostburg at 6:30 a.m. to convoy to Johnny’s.
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Field Birds. Bird the fields of Carroll and/or Frederick Counties for singing and nesting Vesper, Grasshopper, Field, and possible Savannah Sparrows, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Horned Lark, Meadowlark, Willow Flycatcher, Red-headed Woodpecker. Bird half- day or bring lunch and bird the whole day. Rain
MOS Activities, May-August 2003
date: June 22. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Security Blvd Park & Ride Lot at the east end of I-70. For further information, contact the leader, Pete Webb, at 410-486-1217 or pwebb@bcpl.net.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Bethel WMA & Court House Point WMA. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Big Elk Mall Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot Area. For further information contact the leader, Leslie Fisher, at 410-658-2427.
FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Hughes Hollow /McKee- Breshers for whatever is in the marshes, woods, and along the river. Several years ago, there was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Meet at Urbana Park & Ride South Lot at 7:30 a.m. Contact Marcia Balestri at 301-473-5098 for details.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Nest Finding Trip. Join Mark Johnson and Debbie Bowers in refining nest-searching techniques. Learn how to monitor nests safely and how to add extra Atlasing techniques. Meet at Debbie Bower’s house at 900 LaGrange Rd. (off of Coen Rd.) at 7 a.m. Call Debbie for details at 410-692-9741.
Saturday, June 22 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Smith Island Ferry from Point Lookout State Park. A mini-pelagic with one of the best shots at seeing Wilson’s Storm- petrel in MD waters. Smith Island birding from golf carts will include nesting Brown Pelican, and Yellow-crowned Night-heron. Many other birds possible. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Nursery Road - Hammonds Ferry Road Park & Ride at Beltway Exit 8. Optional meeting site is 9:30 at the Smith Island Cruise dock at Point Lookout State Park. $25 ferry fee, and $10 for golf cart. For additional information, contact the leader, Scott Crabtree, at 410-945-1042.
Sunday, June 23 PICNIC. Washington. The picnic will be held at Washington Monument State Park. Use the upper parking area. Meet at Shelter No. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Bring a dish to share, your own tableware and something to drink. Call Judy Lilga, 301-432-2276, for more information.
Saturday, June 29 ANNUAL PICNIC. Carroll. At the Hoffman residence. Come for a great time no matter what the weather! 1:00 p.m. until whenever. Contact Amy Hoffman at 410-549-3598 to coordinate your potluck dish.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. The Seasons at Fair Hill - Summer. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Fair Hill Nature Center - Covered Bridge Parking Lot. For further information, contact the leader, Scott Powers, at 410-658-2368.
FIELD TRIP. Harford. Ladew Birdwalk. Birdwatch along the nature trails crafted by the horticultural artists at the Ladew Topiary Gardens. Dennis Kirkwood is the leader. Meeting time TBD. Call Dennis at 410-692-5905 to register or for questions.
FIELD TRIP. Howard. Dragonflies for the Beginner. Look for those that can be identified on the wing or through binoculars. In case of
rain, the alternate date is Sat., July 6. To confirm and get directions, call Bob or Jo Solem at 301- 725-5037.
Wednesday, July 3
FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man- made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Cancelled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833-7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410- 435-9569.
Saturday, July 13
FIELD TRIP. Allegany. Butterflies. Interest in butterflies continues to grow and July is a prime time for many species. Meet with Ray Kiddy at the Western Maryland Station in Cumberland at 9:00 a.m. You might be amazed at the beauty that flies among us if we take time to really look.
FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Cecil Shorebirds. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Big Elk Mall Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot Area. For further information contact the leader, Brian Moyer, at 410-306-0967 (W) or 410-378-5307 (H).
Saturday, July 20 FIELD TRIP. Harford. Harford Glen. Check out Harford Glen for local favorites and fledging birds. New shorebirds are a possibility. Meet at the Glen at 7:00 a.m. Contact Jon Cupp for details at 410-893-1853.
FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Delaware Coastal Areas. Joint with ANS. Meet at 7:15 a.m. at headquarters parking lot at Bombay Hook NWR, DE. Shorebirds and waterbirds; some songbirds along wood/marsh trail edges. Limited to 20- people. For further information about staying overnight in Dover and reservations, contact the leader, John Bjerke, at 301-963-8525 evenings before 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 27 FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Shorebirds & Waders - Bombay Hook NWR. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Bombay Hook NWR Headquarters. For further information contact the leader, Ellen Short, at 302-656-2856.
Saturday, August 3 FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Delaware Coastal Refuges with Mike Welch. Bring bug spray, lunch and drinks. Meet early at Urbana Park & Ride. Contact Mike Welch at 301-874-5828 if you are
going.
Wednesday, August 7 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man- made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Cancelled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort
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Page 18
MOS Activities, May-August 2003
McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833-7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410- 435-9569.
Saturday, August 10 FIELD TRIP. Cecil. The Southern Eastern Shore - Maryland. Meet at 6:00 a.m. at the Big Elk Mall Dunkin Doughnuts Parking Lot Area. The leader is Paul Bystrak. For further information contact Parke John at 410-287-6037 (H) or 410- 506-3874 (W).
Saturday, August 24 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Delaware Bay for herons, wide variety of migrating shorebirds
including avocets. Be prepared for heat and |. 3
biting insects. Minimal walking involved. Telescopes useful. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Nursery
Road - Hammonds Ferry Road Park & Ride at } Beltway Exit 8. Optional meeting place: Bombay | Hook NWR parking lot at 9:30 a.m. For further §
information, contact the leader, Pete Webb, at 410-486-1217 or pwebb@bcpl.net.
Sunday, August 25 PICNIC. Washington. Camp Harding near Clear Spring is the setting for the picnic. It will start at 4:00 p.m. Bring a dish to share, your own tableware and something to drink. Contact Judy Lilga, 301-432-2276, for directions.
CHAPTER CHATTER
(continued from page 3, column 3)
“Odonates, besides being strikingly beautiful and highly beneficial, share other similarities with birds. A few dragonflies migrate; most have distinct habitat preferences; species may wander from elsewhere producing rarities; variations in weather may impact their numbers; and there is still much to learn about their habits, life histories, and ranges.” Their beauty is exceeded only by their colorful names: Vesper Bluet, Stream Cruiser, Variable Dancer, Twin-spotted Spikertail, Carolina Saddlebags, Common Baskettail, and Dragonhunter, for example. More and more birders are taking a look at Odonates as well as birds. To help the beginner, check the Howard Bird Club’s web page, www.howardbirds.org. From the “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Howard County Checklist” heading, you can download (in Adobe Acrobat format) “Selected Howard County Odonates: a Pictorial Guide to 24 Common Odonates.” If you find a rare one in Howard County, contact Bob or Jo at 301-725-5037 or odenata@msn.com.
Cecil Birders Migrate at the Perfect Time— Chris and Crystal Starling, Chris’s parents and his brother, and Crystal’s parents flew to the Turks and Caicos Archipelago in late January, trading 15 degree chill for 80 degree Caribbean sun. They stayed at the Allegro Resort in Grace Bay on the small island of Providenciales (Provo). Birding, however, was hampered by blustery, though warm winds. They did find Bananaquit, Common Ground Dove, Bahaman Woodstar (a Provo native hummingbird), American and Caribbean Coots, Least Grebe, and White-cheeked Pintail. Chris also saw Greater Flamingo, “the most eye-catching wild birds I had ever seen.” In addition, he found old favorites, American Kestrel, Cattle Egret, Laughing Gull, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck, American Widgeon, Yellow-throated Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Northern Mockingbird, Royal Tern, Great Blue Heron, American Oystercatcher, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Killdeer, Osprey, and Black-bellied Plover. Chris used A Guide to Birds of the West Indies (Princeton’s).
Youth Bird Club Fledges—David Farmer, a Montgomery Chapter member and Senior Naturalist for the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) organized a club for young birders between the ages of 10 and 17. Fourteen young people have already signed up and, at this writing, have been on five birding trips. Any young birders who might be interested are urged to contact David for more information. Try him by email at dfarner@audubonnaturalist.org or 301-652-9188x37. Trips will begin from Woodend, the ANS headquarters in Montgomery County. Carpooling arrangements are possible for the travel to the trip destination.
Baltimore Birders Host a Fly-in From Denmark—Lars Vilhelm Hansen, a Danish birder, visited Baltimore on business for five days in early March, with two days on the week-end for birding. To prepare for his visit, he found the Baltimore Bird Club on the Internet and ordered the Chapter’s Birder’s Guide to Baltimore and Baltimore County through Joe Lewandowski. Lars also asked whether any local birders might want to show him around. Steve Stanford , Keith Costley, and Gail Frantz volunteered. In northern Baltimore, Keith “performed some magic and found a Saw-whet Owl buried very deeply within a small spruce tree,” the first American owl species for Lars. They saw a number of Red-bellied Woodpeckers plus a colorful adult Red-shouldered Hawk, both species lifers for Lars. Another lifer, a well-lit male Eastern Bluebird, “produced quite a memorable exclamation from Lars when it flew around and showed its blue color in full glory. On the second day, Lars, Gail, and Steve headed for Cambridge and Blackwater NWR, targeting Bald Eagles and waterfowl. Their first Bald Eagle “evoked another even more emphatic exclamation from Lars.” They even managed great looks at eight Wild Turkeys. All in all, the visitor added 23 species to his life list. Steve says he learned a lot about European birds and the Danish language, especially since Lars gave him a beautiful guide book in Danish. If you ever go to Denmark and want some local birding help, Lars invites you to email him at
LVH@LD.DK. Great pictures of European birds are available on the Danish website http:// www.netfugl.dk. Steve says, “If you ever have an opportunity to show a visiting foreign birder around, grab it! You should have at least as much fun as the visitor, you'll learn a lot, and you'll gain a greater appreciation of our own birds.”
Anchors Aweigh, Howard!—Bonnie Ott reports on a Howard field trip. “There is an ongoing joke that the Howard Bird club never leaves its home county. This spring we proved that idea wrong when we birded as far away from Howard as possible and still remain in the state of Maryland! A small but brave group ventured onto a boat for an early spring Pelagic trip. We assembled on the dock in the inky blackness armed with our backpacks filled with saltines, water, ginger ale, ginger snaps, dried ginger and more saltines. A favorable omen was the delightful singing of a Song Sparrow as we double checked our gear. We were given the privilege of boarding first (maybe they wanted to get us on quick before anyone chickened out)? Being the most experienced pelagic birder in our group, Nancy Magnusson immediately took up the watch on the upper deck and there she stayed for the full 13 hours of the voyage. Getting a handle on ocean birding was an experience for the rest of us. We all learned to tell ‘time’ very quickly since we soon discovered there are no landmarks at sea (except the occasional floating bottle). A call of alcid at 9:00 a.m. sent all of us scurrying across the deck to try for a glimpse. Rolling waves and rolling boat made standing upright and holding binoculars a challenge! The sights were thrilling with fin whales and common dolphins taking top billing. Of course there were birds and a group of 80 Northern Fulmars feeding on a carcass was spectacular. Atlantic Puffin and Dovekies made the trek out to the Baltimore Canyon worthwhile. Razorbills, Common and Thick-Billed Murres and Red Phalaropes bumped up our state and life lists. A tired but satisfied group stumbled off the boat that evening. The ‘peent’ of a Woodcock was a fitting end to an experience that we “land- locked” Howard countians will not soon forget.”
Page 19
Maryland’s “300 Club”
Rank Name County Life 1 Mark Hoffman Carroll 380 2 Paul O’Brien Montgomery 379 2 Jim Stasz Calvert 379 4 Michael O’Brien (NJ) 371 5 John Gregoire (NY) 365 5 Harvey Mudd Montgomery 365 5 Paul Pisano (VA) 365 8 Rick Blom Harford 360 8 Samuel Dyke Wicomico 360 10 Mary Ann Todd Montgomery 358 11 George Jett Charles 357 12 Bob Ringler Carroll 356 13 Lynn Davidson Anne Arundel 352 14 Donald Broderick Wicomico 351 15 Marshall lliff Anne Arundel 350 16 Carol Broderick Wicomico 349 17 Leo Weigant Anne Arundel 347 18 Norm Saunders Montgomery 346 19 Phil Davis Anne Arundel 345 19 Eddie Slaughter Baltimore 345 21 Jane Coskren Howard 342 21 Ottavio Janni (Italy) 342 21 Gail Mackiernan Montgomery 342 21 Fran Saunders Montgomery 342 25 Dave Harvey Carroll 336 25 Kyle Rambo St. Mary’s 336 27 Henry Armistead (PA) 335 28 Barry Cooper Montgomery 334 28 Marion Mudd Montgomery 334 30 Matt Hafner Harford 332 31 Stan Arnold Anne Arundel 328 31 Jo Solem Howard 328 33 Patty Craig St. Mary’s 327 34 Rob Hilton Montgomery 322 34 Steve Sanford Baltimore 322 36 Peter Osenton Anne Arundel 321 37 David Perry Anne Arundel 320 38 John Churchill (WV) 319 38 Shirley Geddes Baltimore 319 38 Elliot Kirschbaum Baltimore 319 38 Lola Oberman Montgomery 319 42 Tyler Bell St. Mary’s 318 43 Dotty Mumford Anne Arundel 317 44 Paul Nistico Charles 316 45 Kye Jenkins Baltimore 315 45 Charles Vaughn Wicomico 315 47 Jane Kostenko St. Mary’s 314 48 Al Haury Anne Arundel 313 48 Wade Stephen Prince George’s 313 50 Dennis Kirkwood Harford 310 50 David Powell Harford 310 50 Gail Vaughn Wicomico 310 53 Amy Hoffman Carroll 309 53 Floyd Parks Kent 309 55 Rod Burley Prince George’s 308 56 George Armistead (PA) 307 57 Nancy Magnusson Howard 306 58 David Walbeck Anne Arundel 305 59 Sue Hamilton Calvert 302 59 Fred Shaffer Anne Arundel 302 59 Michael Welch Frederick 302 62 Frank Schaff Frederick 300
Listing includes all those who have sent in their Maryland life list total within the past five years with a total equal to or in excess of 300 species. If you belong on this list, let us Know by submitting your list report for 2003.
Page 20
Well, here it is, my 50th issue! I want everyone to know that the Yellowthroat has been very much a team effort. So many people have contributed over the past decade that I could never possibly remember all of them. There are a few though that I wish to thank individually:
Harry Armistead has written some remarkable pieces for the Yellowthroat on local bird names and birding from boats. His pieces never cease to entertain and amaze me with his skill with words.
Rick Blom offered numerous articles over the years, all of them demonstrating his vast knowledge of birds, birding, and Maryland.
Phil Davis, up until last year, handled the Annual List Report, one of my favorite features in the Yellowthroat, and continues to provide timely information from the MD/DC Records Committee.
Les Eastman has been the calendar editor for the same ten years I have and I know what a tough job it can be because I did it for the three years prior to taking over the Yellowthroat.
Helen & John Ford handled the mailing of the Yellowthroat for eight years, and a big job it was.
The copy deadline for the Sep/Oct issue of the Yellowthroat is July 25 for chapter ac- tivities and August 1 for all other submis- sions.
Send calendar entries for September and October to:
MOS President
Paul Zucker
Please send all other submissions to:
MOS President Paul Zucker
So Long and See You in the Field!
I’d like to think that toting all those heavy boxes to the post office must have helped John’s golf swing, at least a little.
Maureen Harvey has been doing a good job as MOS’s Conservation Chairman and has also provided a string of columns keeping us all up to date on the tough issues.
Mark Hoffman, my predecessor as Yellowthroat Editor, gave me a yardstick to measure myself against. I hope I have lived up to your trust and your expectations, Mark.
Marshall Iliff, one of the finest young birders to come out of Maryland since Mike O’Brien, has provided a constant flow of information and analysis about birds and birding in Maryland.
Bob Ringler has done so much for the Yellowthroat over the years that I’m not sure where to begin. He’s taken on book reviews, articles, obituaries, and the responsibility for any number of features.
Ihave to include Jim Stasz here simply because he turned down my requests for articles more often than anyone else, usually with the phrase, “Get Marshall to write it.”
Thank you, all of you.
(ht
MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL
SOCIETY, INC.
Cylburn Mansion
4915 Greenspring Avenue Baltimore, MD 21290-4698
Glenn Therres has provided 49 columns on the happenings at DNR. His only miss was one that was due about the time he and his wife were in the hospital having their first child.
Martha Waugh has put together Chapter Chatter since 1996, and a wonderful job she has done rooting out obscure pieces of member info that would never otherwise have come to our attention.
The team from Tri-State Printing, Kathy Harple, Sam Wright, and Pete Wright, have been a wonderful support over the years, a group that has gone out of their way to work with me to improve the look of the Yellowthroat. Pete’s hospitality during the Annual Meeting a few years back in Hagerstown has become the stuff of legend, as have his harmonica renditions at Helen & John Ford’s house.
Most of all, of course, I thank my wife Franny for her unswerving support over the years, for all the columns and other articles she provided for the newsletter, and for tolerating my craziness.
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