September 2002

WINGBEAT
Cullman Audubon Society
PO Box 1444
Cullman, AL 35056

Francene Van Sambeek, Editor Volume 7, Issue 1

PRESIDENT’S ROOST
Members and Friends,
The Cullman Audubon Society will kick off the 2002-2003 year on September
10, at the St. Bernard Prep School (see the map in this newsletter.) As in past years, WELCOME
we meet at 7:00PM, the second Tuesday of each month (from September through May.) BACK
In addition to routine chapter business, we have a program on some aspect of conserva-
tion or related subject (see the program schedule on page three of this newsletter.)
We also have at least one scheduled field trip per month. Most are either local or Inside this issue:
within an hour or so. But one is a weekend trip to Dauphin Island (fall bird migration.)
We always have great fun at these.
For those of you who attended regularly this past year or have attended in past October Speaker and 2
Field Trip
years and are returning, WELCOME BACK. To those of you who would like to become
involved in this exciting and dynamic organization, I would like to personally invite you, 2002-2003 Field Trips 3
your family, and friends to attend our September meeting. I think you will find us a
very diverse, congenial, and informal group of individuals, united in our love and con-
2002-2003 Program List 3
cern of our natural resources. Within this newsletter you will find activities, programs,
and field trips we have planned for the upcoming year. Please come and joins us.
Meeting Map 4
David Pylant, President

YOUR RESPONSE NEEDED Birding Classes for Kids 5

This mailing is going out to our old mailing list and a new updated list we re-
cently received from the National Audubon Society. Maybe you have not heard from Forever Wild 5
us before. We are trying to communicate with all members and friends within our as- License Plates
signed area. Or maybe you do not wish to receive mail from us. In order to reduce
Ever Want To Know... 6
mailing costs, we would like to mail our post cards and occasional news letters to only
those who are interested in receiving them. A post card is enclosed on page four to
allow you to express your wishes to us. Please complete the post card expressing Coming attractions
your mailing preference and return it to the above address. Or come to the Septem- • September 10: Meeting 7 PM.
ber 10th meeting and turn your card in then. Or email francene@mindspring.com Speaker: Adam Snyder
with your wishes. We would appreciate your assistance in this matter.
• September 15: Falkville Out-
ing 7 AM

SEPTEMBER 10, 2002: Adam Snyder, Alabama Rivers Alliance • October 8: Meeting 7 PM.
Adam Snyder, with the Alabama Rivers Alliance, will be our guest speaker Speaker: Barbara Maples
on Tuesday, September 10th at 7 PM. Directional signs will guide first time visitors to
• October 25-27: Dauphin Is-
the meeting site.
land Trip
Mr. Snyder is the Watershed Leadership Director for the Alliance, headquar-
tered in Birmingham, a statewide non-profit group working to protect and promote
clean and healthy waters in Alabama. In his position, Adam works to build, unite and
support more than 70 grassroots groups throughout the state who are working to pro-
tect their local river or stream.
 2002-2003 Officers/
Committee Chairs
OFFICERS: SEPTEMBER FIELD TRIP:
President: David Pylant
(W) 352-8242 403 9th St SE Falkville Birding with Jimmy Wells
(H) 734-5716 Cullman, AL 35055
dpylant@corrcomm.net Sunday, September 15, at 7:00 we will
meet at the Lacon Stuckey’s/Texaco and go on
Immediate Past President: Vince Meleski
(W) 974-6166 121 County Road 1415
one of Jimmy’s favorite birding tours. We will
(H) 739-4589 Cullman AL 35058 tour the Falkville area looking for birds. We
vmeleski@mindspring.com should see Sparrows, Dickcissels (if they have
Vice-President: Jerry Jacob not migrated), barred owls, and fall migrants.
(H) 734-6775 251 County Road 1401
j8jacob@yahoo.com Cullman, AL 35058

Secretary/Treasurer: Sandy Smith

(W) 737-5243 2621 Gum Pond Road
(H) 796-9069 Baileyton, AL 35019
smsmith@corrcomm.net OCTOBER FIELD TRIP:
Membership:
(W) 737-2259
Rachel Moody
204 Golf Course Road
Dauphin Island, Alabama
(H) 734-1852 Cullman, AL 35055 Friday, October 25, we will meet in the St. Ber-
COMMITTEE CHAIRS: nard’s parking lot and depart for Dauphin Island. We
Conservation: Henry Beeler have reservations at the Gulf Breeze Motel 1512 Cadil-
(W) 739-0455 900 Shady Lane lac Ave in Dauphin Island. We will return Sunday af-
(H) 739-3438 Cullman, AL 35055
hmbeeler@corrcomm.net ternoon.
This should be a great opportunity for seeing a
Program: Jerry Jacob
734-6775 251 County Road 1401
wide variety of birds – shorebirds, wetland birds, the
j8jacob@yahoo.com Cullman, AL 35058 end of the fall migration, and the winter residents of
the area. We will visit the airport, Pelican Point, the
Education: Vince Meleski
974-6166 121 County Road 1415 Shell Mounds, the Audubon Sanctuary, possibly
739-4589 Cullman AL 35058 Bayou La Batre, and other locations.
vmeleski@mindspring.com This is some of the best birding in Alabama.
Field Trip: Vince Meleski To make a reservation contact Vince Meleski at 256-
974-6166 121 County Road 1415 739-4589. Rooms with 2 double beds are $49.00 per
739-4589 Cullman AL 35058 night. There is no need to contact the motel as we
vmeleski@mindspring.com
have a block of rooms.
Publicity: Marcia Jacob
734-6775 251 County Road 1401
j8jacob@yahoo.com Cullman, AL 35058

Electronic communications: Jimmy Wells OCTOBER SPEAKER: Barbara Maples

734-3892 210 County Road 469 Barbara Maples representing Wild Alabama will
739-0933 Cullman, AL 35058
wellsjimmy@hotmail.com
be our guest speaker. The meeting will be Tuesday, October
8, at 7:00 PM in the auditorium of the Old Science Building,
Newsletter: Francene Van Sambeek St. Bernard Prep School. Just follow the “Audubon” signs.
(W) 352-8036 266 County Road 699
(H) 775-6407 Cullman, AL 35055
francene@mindspring.com
Newsletter Deadlines: Please submit articles, pho-
Christmas Bird Count: Jimmy Wells
734-3892 210 County Road 469 tos, etc by the 20th of the odd numbered months for
739-0933 Cullman, AL 35058 publication in the next newsletter. Send to Francene
wellsjimmy@hotmail.com
Van Sambeek at the address or email listed to the left.

Page 2 WINGBEAT
 2002/2003 CULLMAN AUDUBON SOCIETY PROGRAMS. By Jerry Jacob
The Cullman Audubon Society is planning a busy year of activities that will begin in September
2002. Through a combination of guest speakers and field trips the local chapter of the National Audubon
Society is emphasizing the environment and what citizens at the local level can do to have a positive im-
pact.
According to Chapter President, David Pylant, “our group has been an active group ever since our
founding more than 6 years ago. We have always been interested in enjoying what nature has provided for
us.” “We feel like we can help raise the awareness of our environment and how individuals can affect it
positively,” Pylant said. “If we can influence just one more person to respect what has been so graciously
provided to us, that person will hopefully influence someone else. It becomes a snowball effect.”
The following speakers have been arranged for this year’s schedule:
Meeting Date Speaker Representing
September 10 Adam Snyder Alabama River Alliance
October 8 Barbara Maples Wild Alabama
November 12 Bob Sargent Hummer/Bird Study Group
December 10 Member Social
January 14 Tom Brindley North Alabama Birders
February 11 Greg Harber Alabama Ornithological Society
March 11 Dwight Cooley Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge
April 8 Keith Hudson Alabama Division of Wildlife
Meetings are open to the general public; children must be accompanied by an adult. For more infor-
mation, contact David Pylant at 734-5716 or publicity chair Marcia Jacob at 734-6775.

CULLMAN AUDUBON SOCIETY 2002-2003 FIELD TRIPS. By Vince Meleski

The Audubon Field trips are open to all participants. Each month we will an-
nounce the meeting location of the field trips. Please refer to your newsletter or
monthly postcard for specific information.

DATE DAY TIME DESTINATION

SEPT 15 SUN 7:00AM FALKVILLE BIRDING (MORGAN COUNTY)
OCT 25-27 FSS 9:00AM DAUPHIN ISLAND
NOV16 SAT 7:00AM BIRDING CULLMAN COUNTY HOT SPOTS: SMITH LAKE
& SPORTSMAN LAKE
DEC 15 SUN 6:300AM CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (CULLMAN)
JAN 18 SAT 7:00AM BALD EAGLES AT LAKE GUNTERSVILLE STATE PARK
FEB 16 SUN 7:00AM WHEELER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (DECATUR)
MAR 15 SAT 7:00AM KEY CAVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE (FLORENCE)
APRIL 14 SUN 7:00AM MONTE SANO BIRDING TRIP (HUNTSVILLE)
MAY 18 SAT 6:30AM CANOE DOWN THE CAHABA RIVER (SHELBY COUNTY)

Membership is not required to participate in field trips. Children must be accompanied

by an adult.

Volume 7, Issue 1 Page 3

 PLEASE RETURN THIS
POSTCARD. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

Audubon Membership Audubon Meeting

Want to try out an Audubon Membership?
Times and Location
A Cullman Audubon Society membership costs
only $10 and will entitle you to receive all news- Audubon meets every second Tues-
letters and meeting notifications for the coming day, 7:00 PM at auditorium of the
School Building (the old Science
year. (If you are already a member of the Na-
Building ) at St Bernard Prep School.
tional Audubon Society, you are automatically a Look for the “Audubon” Signs when
Cullman member.) Invite a friend to join and you get on the school campus.
have fun learning about nature!

ST. BERNARD PREP SCHOOL

Cullman Highway 278 East Holly Pond

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Auditorium, Old Science Building

Page 4 WINGBEAT
 SUMMER CLASSES
FOR CHILDREN
Cullman Audubon Society
put on a 6 week class, “Backyard
Birding for Children”, at the
Peinhardt Living History Museum
this summer. Pat Peinhardt pro-
posed the program to get children
outdoors and interested in birding.
The Museum provided advertising
in The Cullman Times and a place
to meet. Audubon provided the
program.
The program had 2 hour ses-
sions each Friday for 6 weeks in
June and July. Thirty-nine children
signed up for the class. At the end
of the six weeks there were about a
dozen confirmed birders still at-
tending. They all had binoculars
and field guides. Each week there
were reports on the birds they had
seen during the previous week.
The format included a half-
hour of class time and an hour and
a half birding each week. For four
weeks the class birded the
Peinhardt Farm. Field trips were
made to Sportsman Lake and Eddie
Peinhardt’s farm. Since most of the
birding was in the Cullman West
block for the Alabama Breeding
Bird Atlas, the class submitted their
sightings to the Breeding Bird Atlas
where they will hopefully be recog-
nized in the publication.
Pat Peinhardt, Carolyn
Peinhardt, David Pylant, Jerry
Jacob, and Vince Meleski were in-
volved in presenting the program.
The results were successful since
we now have several new young
birders. Hopefully we will see
some of them at Audubon meetings
this Year.
Volume 7, Issue 1
Forever Wild License Plates
The Forever Wild Land Trust was created by a constitu-
tional amendment in 1992 with the approval of 83% of the vot-
ers. It is part of the Ala. Department of Conservation, and ex-
ist only to buy and preserve lands as nature preserves, recrea-
tion areas, wildlife management areas and additions to state
parks. Since 1992 Forever Wild has purchased 85,000 acres of
land to be preserved.
The Forever Wild Board of Directors has approved a dis-
tinctive license plate to be marketed by Friends of Forever
Wild to secure additional funds for land preservation.
Before the license plates will be issued, 1000 vehicles
must be registered with the Motor Vehicle Division, and $50.00
must be paid by or for the vehicle(s) owners and a purchase
form completed at the court house in the county where the
vehicle is registered. The Friends of Forever Wild will pay the
$50.00 fee and complete the required form for those wanting
to participate. The Motor Vehicle Division will not issue the
tag until we register 1000 vehicles. Those wishing to partici-
pate will need to complete a power of attorney form (ONLY
FOR FW LICENSE PLATES) to allow a 2nd party to go to the des-
ignated court house, pay the $50.00, and fill out the form.
This does not obligate the signee in any way. After the 1000
threshold is met, the individual can get their new tag at the
next renewal, wait until another renewal date, or just keep
the tag they presently have.
Why is Friends of Forever Wild spending $50,000 and
performing so much work to get the tags to market? We can
take that original $50,000 and leverage it into millions of dol-
lars for Forever Wild to use to buy land to be preserved by this
generation and generations to come. Each of the 1st 1,000 ve-
hicles registered will result in the Forever Wild Land Trust re-
ceiving thousands of dollars in the coming years for land pres-
ervation.
This is the best opportunity you will ever have to
make a huge contribution to the environmental quality of
Alabama, and, it’s free, and requires such a small effort on
your part.
Page 5
Cullman Audubon Society
PO Box 1444
Cullman, AL 35056
Our State Bird.
Submitted by Jerry Jacob.
The wings of flickers
catch the eye like flickering light
as they fly and they hammer at
trees like carpenters. Either of
these characteristics could be the
origin of their common name.
Flick or fleck meant “a light
blow,” and the collo-
quial name for the
yellow-shafted
flicker is the yellow-
hammer, used by the Alabama
legislature when it designated the
flicker as its state bird. The yel-
low-shafted flicker is Colaptes
auratus, from the Greek kolaptes,
“chisel,” and the Latin aurates,
“golden.”
100 Birds and How They Got Their
Names, by Diana Wells, Algonquin
Books of Chapel Hill, 2002.
Famous Visitor. Submitted by Jerry Jacob.
Cullman County was host to a famous visitor in the not
too distant past, a bird that was not supposed to be found any
further north than North Florida, the Limpkin. The limpkin’s
cry has a quality of unutterable sadness, as though the bird is
wailing in despair at the desolation of its watery surroundings.
Florida Indians called it the “crying bird.” William Bartram,
traveling to Florida in 1776, called it Tantalus, after the criminal
king of Lydia who served the gods a stew of his own son and
was punished by having to stand for eternity in waist-deep wa-
ter, with succulent fruit just out of reach above and water reced-
ing whenever he bent to drink.
Like King Tantalus, limpkins often stand in water,
searching for their favorite food, the large, greenish apple snail,
but they also eat other water and land creatures. They bend
down underwater to take the snails and, with an asymmetrical
bill, curved conveniently to the right to match the shell’s con-
tours, they neatly extricate the occupant, leaving the shells in
heaps where they feed. Ornithologists watching limpkins feed
say they sometimes hold their prey for a bit, as if pausing to re-
flect before enjoying a meal. Their common name “limpkin”
refers to the way they walk, seeming to favor one leg.
100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, by Diana Wells, Algonquin
Books of Chapel Hill, 2002.