January 2009

Volume XXXV, Issue 1 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY

SPEAKER SERIES with Ted Reissing I N S I D E

Saving the World’s Critically Perch..................................2
Shorebird Workshop ..........3
Endangered Birds AAS Legacy Club................3
3 PM, Sunday, January 11, 2009 Warbler Workshop .............3
Island Ford Unit of Chattahoochee River Field Notes.........................4
National Recreational Area Field Trips...........................5
Southern Birding Trails ......5
Spotlight Wendy Weathers .6
Panel of Judges Selects New Volunteer Opps..................6
Atlanta Audubon T-shirt Design A Million Thanks................6
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker ...7
We are pleased to announce the winner of our first Atlanta Audubon Master Birder Grads ..........8
T-shirt design contest. Memorial Gifts ...................8
Woody Hickcox of Decatur, Georgia, submitted the winning entry, a
Sullivan Memoriam............9
watercolor of a Scarlet Tanager with the Atlanta skyline in the
background. Congratulations, Woody! The design will be used on our new 2009 Photo Contest ............9
official AAS T-shirt, which should be available for sale in mid-January.
Classifieds.......................10
Judging was based on creativity, overall design and representation of AAS’s mission to promote the
enjoyment and understanding of birds and to conserve and restore the ecosystems that support GA’s Declining Birds ........11
them. Membership....................11
We want to thank each of the AAS members who submitted their artwork. There were some great Great Backyard Bird Count..12
entries. Many thanks also to our judges: Giff Beaton, Tom Howick, Steve Phenicie, Barbara Tarpley
and Donna Wensink.
Look for more information about how you can purchase this special AAS T-shirt.
ATLANTA
H a p p y N ew Y ea r
AUDUBON SOCIETY
Box 29189
The Atlanta Audubon Society’s board and staff wish you good tidings in 2009.
We will have some very exciting news for you in the next issue of Wingbars, and we are beginning
Atlanta, GA 30359
the new year with more of our successful Speaker Series presentations — Ted Reissing in January www.atlantaaudubon.org
and Charlie Muise in February. Ted and wife Kay have traveled extensively, so his program will offer
us an opportunity to travel outside of our geographic area and see the bigger picture of birds in
crisis. Charlie’s presentation will be about the natural history of the fascinating (and some say cute)
Burrowing Owl from his field work in the high desert of Idaho, so put February 22 on your calendar.
AAS OFFICE
As always, we are very grateful to you, our members, for your loyal support. Our Fall Appeal and
membership campaign are off to a running start, and we will share those results with you in the near
and Information Line
future.
In 2008 our country and AAS made history. With the help of many volunteers, our accomplishments
770.913.0511
were many, but the work for the programs we put in place will continue. Thus, we welcome your
continued commitment and ideas as we go forward.
GOS RARE BIRD ALERT
The Board and Staff of Atlanta Audubon Society

770.493.8862
 Perch
Board of Directors
2009 As we begin the New Year, with it is bound to be some changes. For Atlanta Audubon
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar
Society, it brings to a close another term of office by two of our Board members – Ellen
770.993.9579 Miller, our president, and Kelly Hopkins, our conservation chair.
Catharine.kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org

Officers As the old adage goes, time flies when you are having fun! Decidedly, Ellen and Kelly
President Vacant managed to make the jobs fun for themselves, and they helped us enjoy our involvement as
President-elect Vacant
Treasurer Deanna Helie
well. But interspersed in the flurry of activities, there was hard work, physical as well as
770.457.4403 mental. Ellen and Kelly helped Atlanta Audubon Society move forward in its mission. Since
aas_finance@yahoo.com
Recording Secy Mark Jernigan
it would take more space than this article allots to cite their many accomplishments, we
404.298.8825 hope instead each of you will remember certain events or programs in which you
markajernigan@bellsouth.net
Corresponding Secy Barbara Tarpley participated and thank them individually for their efforts. The AAS membership appreciates
404.687.0079 the progress we have made under their leadership, and we look forward to their
atlpiaf@aol.com
commitment in other areas. We know from their past endeavors that their presence will not
Directors go unnoticed simply because they have stepped out of the limelight of a board position.
Conservation Dave Butler
404.580.3917 As we go to press, we are looking for a volunteer to replace Ellen Miller, as well as a
dabutler@comcast.net
replacement for the president elect position that was vacated by Allyson Read. We want to
Education Marge Igyarto
678.398.0569 take this opportunity to thank Allyson for the informative Speakers Series programs she
igyar@earthlink.net
scheduled, as well as the other behind-the-scenes work that the position required. We are
Field Trips Vacant
Membership Darlene Moore
disappointed that she is unable to step forward as the 2009-2010 president.
404.633.9361
djmoore67@bellsouth.net We are pleased that Dave Butler will be taking over the reins of conservation director from
Communications Kelly Hopkins. Dave is employed with the DeKalb County Office of Parks Bond and
Barbara Tarpley
404.687.0079 Greenspace and is uniquely positioned to promote our conservation efforts in 2009-2010.
atlpiaf@aol.com
Dave has been leading field trips for three years, and we know that many of you have
Publicity Vacant
Volunteers Nancy Hamilton
enjoyed the outings that he has arranged with our dedicated field trip leaders.
404.874.2338
nlhamilton@bellsouth.net
At Large
Jay Davis
404.624.4973
webtoad@earthlink.net Matching
Victor Williams Contributions
Earthshare Representative
770.423.1012 Through
72064.1017@compuserve.com
---
Volunteering
Website
Jim Flynn Will Your Employer Make A Contribution for
webmaster@atlantaaudubon.org Your Volunteer Hours to AAS?
Wingbars Editor Employer matching for your volunteer efforts is another
Mary Ann Hindes 770.497.0664 important way you can support Atlanta Audubon Society
mhindes@bellsouth.net
and make a significant statement about how you value
Proofreading what we do in the community.
Steven Phenicie
770.849.0391 Hundreds of companies in and around Atlanta also
swlphenicie@bellsouth.net realize the importance of giving back to the community
Design & Layout and are getting involved by matching their employees’
Copy Preparation 770.939.2002 volunteer hours with a cash donation.
incoming@copyprep.com
Newsletter deadline is the first of Participating in your employer’s matching program is a
the month for material to be simple process. Check with your human resources
published the following month. department about forms and procedures and send your
Please submit articles as MS-Word to information to: Matching Gifts Coordinator, Atlanta
mhindes@bellsouth.net.
E-mail attachments, if possible. Audubon Society, Box 29189, Atlanta, Georgia 30359.
We’ll do the rest.
Wingbars is the official newsletter of Atlanta
Audubon Society and is published 11 times a Your support ensures that our work in the
year. We feature news, upcoming events,
community continues today and
meetings, field trips and projects. We hope you
flourishes tomorrow.
will join us. Opinions expressed are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect policies
of the Atlanta Audubon Society.
Mission Statement:
To promote the enjoyment and understanding of birds and to
conserve and restore the ecosystems that support them.

2 Atlanta Audubon Society

 SHOREBIRD WORKSHOP 2009
QUESTION: Where can you watch critters that date back
350 million years lay their eggs and then watch a great
stampede of birds feasting on the eggs? Atlanta
ANSWER: Right on our Georgia coast. Audubon
Experience a spectacular birding event: migrating
Society
shorebirds fueling up for their trip to the Arctic. Observe
hundreds of migrating shorebirds including Red Knots,
Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers,
Legacy
Shorebirds feeding on Horseshoe crab eggs on
Georgia Coast
Photographer: Clay George
Marbled Godwits, Ruddy Turnstones, and wading birds, up
close and in breeding plumage. You can see all this if you
participate in AAS’s 2009 Shorebird Workshop. This unique
Club
field trip is timed with the laying of horseshoe crab eggs Join us as a charter member
during the full moon in May. of the AAS Legacy Club by
The two-part workshop will have a class session on including Atlanta Audubon
in your bequests.
Sunday, March 8, 2 PM to 4 PM, taught by Georgann
Schmalz, AAS’s resident ornithologist, at the Blue Heron Your gift to Atlanta Audubon
Nature Preserve and coastal weekend field trips on May 9 Society ensures our long-term
and 10 led by Brad Winn, a wildlife biologist with the DNR, ability to manage the
Shorebirds in flight and Lydia Thompson, a coastal naturalist. There will be a resources necessary to
Photographer: Clay George full day of birding on Saturday, May 9, and half day of preserve and protect metro
birding on Sunday, May 10. The weekend will include a boat Atlanta’s birds and the
ecosystems that support them.
trip to St. Catherines Sound (weather permitting) and field trips to the South Beach on Jekyll While cash donations are the
Island and Gould’s Inlet on St. Simons Island. most popular form of support,
The cost (excluding food and lodging) is $135 for Friends of Atlanta Audubon; $160 for NAS- a variety of options exist,
assigned members; and $185 for non-members. Your payment confirms your reservation. This from charitable gift annuities
and more.
trip will be limited to 15 participants
To register or get more information, contact Lisa Hurt: e-mail: artlisahurt@bellsouth.net; Question: What is the
phone: 770.934.7660. advantage of giving a life
insurance policy to the
Atlanta Audubon
Society?

Answer: A simple way to

2009 WARBLER WEEKEND make a substantial
WORKSHOP charitable contribution
is to give an existing life
insurance policy to
Atlanta Audubon Society
Atlanta Audubon Society is again pleased to announce the when it is no longer
needed for your family’s
2009 Warbler Weekend Workshop. This will be a two-part protection. Another way
workshop consisting of a comprehensive class session and is to purchase a new
a weekend field trip. The 2-1/2 hour class session on policy, naming Atlanta
Sunday, April 5, from 3 to 5:30 PM, will be conducted by our Audubon Society as the
Hooded Warbler
Photographer: Giff Beaton warbler authority, Giff Beaton, at the Blue Heron Nature owner and beneficiary.
We can help members,
Preserve. The weekend field trips on May 16 and 17 will be
who would like to
led by Leslie Curran and Theresa Hartz in the north Georgia contribute to AAS in this
mountains where it’s possible to find 20+ species of way, by designing a
warblers, many of which will be singing on their breeding special program.
grounds.
For more information
The cost (excluding food and lodging) is $135 for Friends of contact Art Hurt at
Atlanta Audubon; $160 for NAS-assigned members; and artlisahurt@bellsouth.net.
$185 for non-members. Your payment confirms your
reservation. This trip will be limited to 12 participants.
Canada Warbler To register or get more information, contact Lisa Hurt. E-
Photographer: Giff Beaton mail: artlisahurt@bellsouth.net; phone: 770.934.7660

January 2009 3
 October Field Notes
October wasn’t that bad of a
month with a pretty good
numbers of migrants, especially
at Henderson Park in DeKalb Co.
Rare sparrows were found along the
Chattahoochee River and good
numbers of some of the rarer migrants such as
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Philadelphia
Vireos were reported.
The Atlanta area hit 165 species for the month
(average = 153.5) to bring that year-to-date
total to 251 (average = 239.8). The Georgia
area came in with 224 species (average =
239.4) which brings the year-to-date total to
334 which is better than the average of 326.6.
ATLANTA AREA
GEESE THROUGH PLOVERS – A GREATER WHITE-
FRONTED GOOSE was a rare find at the E. L.
Huie Land Application Facility in Clayton Co. on 1
Oct. (PF). Rare for the Atlanta area were single
AMERICAN BITTERNS at the Chattahoochee
River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) on 4
Oct. (ChL) and at Henderson Park (HP) in DeKalb
Co. on 13 Oct. (JSe, et al.). Four WOOD STORKS
were still at the Reeve’s Wetlands near
Stockbridge on 1 Oct. (PR). SZ recorded an
excellent count of 878 TURKEY VULTURES flying
over the Chattahoochee Nature Center on 18
Oct. Extremely rare was a sighting of an adult
NORTHERN GOSHAWK at the CRNRA on 22 Oct.
(CS). Unfortunately the bird could not be
relocated even though other birders were on
location within just a few minutes of the initial
sighting. Single PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen
in the Stockbridge area on 1 Oct. (PR), in
downtown Atlanta on 9 Oct. (JMa), and at Little
Mulberry Park (LMP) in Gwinnett Co. on 18 Oct.
(BrB). A SORA was a good sighting at the CRNRA
on 5 Oct. (KB et al.). The only rare shorebird was
a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER at Lake Acworth on 1
Oct. (CS).
CUCKOOS THROUGH VIREOS – A BLACK-BILLED
CUCKOO was quite a good spot in Fulton Co. at
the Chattahoochee River on 19 Oct. (PH). BL
reported that a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD that
appeared at his house on 10 Oct. of last year
made its first appearance this year on 7 Oct.
Three YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS were
reported from the CRNRA on 1 Oct. (StC, SyC)
4 Atlanta Audubon Society
by Terry Moorez
and single birds were seen at the CRNRA on 4
Oct. (KB et al.) and at HP on 5 Oct. (HG et al.). A
LEAST FLYCATCHER was reported from the
CRNRA on 3 Oct. by CS. There were a total of 13
reports of PHILADELPHIA VIREOS ranging from 2
Oct. through 18 Oct. Most of the reports came
from the CRNRA and HP. A late NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was seen at HP on 5
Oct. (HG et al.). Small numbers of SEDGE and
MARSH WRENS were reported from the CRNRA
“Sparrow Fields” from 1 Oct. through 18 Oct.
(m.ob.) plus a few birds were also seen at HP
(m.ob.).
WARBLERS – The hottest spot for warbler
migration was at HP. The peak count of
TENNESSEE WARBLERS came from HP with 112
on 5 Oct. (HG et al.). There were a total of 12
reports of NASHVILLE WARBLERS mostly coming
from the CRNRA and HP from 1 Oct. through 21
Oct. The peak count was four on 4 Oct. at HP
(PB et al.). The peak count of MAGNOLIA
WARBLERS was 46 at LMP on 13 Oct. (LThe).
PALM WARBLERS peaked at HP with 36 on 13
Oct. (JSe). Downtown Atlanta provided the high
count of AMERICAN REDSTARTS with 20+ on 9
Oct. (JMa). Rare warblers at HP were a
CONNECTICUT WARBLER on 3 Oct. (TH) and an
immature MOURNING WARBLER on 5 and 6 Oct.
(JSe et al. and CK). HG et al. had a good count of
14 HOODED WARBLERS at HP on 5 Oct. and JMi
had a female WILSON’S WARBLER at HP also on
5 Oct.
SPARROWS THROUGH DICKCISSELS – The
“Sparrow Fields” at the CRNRA played host to a
number of rare sparrows with a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW on 19 Oct. (PMc et al.), a
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW on 18 and 19 Oct. (KB
et al., JG) and HENSLOW’S SPARROWS from 18
Oct. through 25 Oct. (m.ob.). The peak count
was three on 21 Oct. (StC et al.). There were six
reports of LINCOLN’S SPARROWS from 2 Oct.
(CaL, JSe), through 25 Oct. (PMc). Two
DICKCISSELS were found at the CRNRA on 19
Oct. (StC) and were relocated on 21 Oct. by StC,
et al.).
GEORGIA AREA
SCOTERS THROUGH VIREOS – WC had good
finds in SW GA with a SURF SCOTER at West
Point Dam (WPD) on 29 Oct. and a BROWN
PELICAN at the Walter F. George Dam on 7 Oct.
RM had a good count of 64 WOOD STORKS plus
an AMERICAN AVOCET at the Phinizy Swamp in
the Augusta area on 1 Oct. Very exciting hawk
reports were an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK at
the Eufaula NWR (ENWR) on 21 Oct. (WC) and a
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK in Gordon Co. on 29 Oct.
(JSp). There were a few reports of SANDHILL
CRANES moving through the state, but no large
numbers were reported. An adult LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL was reported from the
WPD on 8 Oct. by WC. A possible LONG-EARED
OWL was heard in the Macon area on 27 Oct.
(TMc). A possible ALDER FLYCATCHER was seen
at WPD on 6 Oct. by EB. A BELL’S VIREO was
banded at Jekyll Island on 5 Oct. by CP, et al.
There were four reports of PHILADELPHIA
VIREOS from 2 Oct. through 13 Oct. with the
peak count of three coming on 2 Oct. at
Standing Boy WMA (WC).
SWALLOWS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS – A CAVE
SWALLOW was a good report from the Altamaha
Waterfowl Management Area near Darien on 30
Oct. (JGa). A WINTER WREN was early at the
ENWR on 7 Oct. (WC). There were four reports of
NASHVILLE WARBLERS from 6 Oct. through 20
Oct. (m.ob.). WC had a good count of 44
COMMON YELLOWTHROATS at the ENWR on 7
Oct. A rather rare WILSON’S WARBLER was seen
in Jackson Co. on 5 Oct. (JF). Some rare
sparrow reports included a CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW at Carter’s Lake on 10 Oct. (MM), a
HENSLOW’S SPARROW in Catoosa Co. on 7 Oct.
(DH), a LINCOLN’S SPARROW at Oxbow
Meadows in the Columbus area on 11 and 27
Oct. (WC), and nine WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROWS in Gordon Co. on 20 Oct. (JSp).
Three BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS were a rather
rare find in Gordon Co. on 20 Oct. (JSp).
CONTRIBUTORS – Eric Beohm, Brandon Best,
Ken Blankenship, Bob Braxton, Patrick Brisse,
Walt Chambers, Stan Chapman, Sylvia Chandler,
Leslie Curran, Nathan Farnau, Jim Flynn, Pete
Followhill, John Galvani, Hugh Garrett, Johnnie
Green, Teresa Hartz, Jackie Heyda, David Hollie,
Pierre Howard, Lisa Hurt, Cheryl Kanes, Carol
Lambert, Chris Lambrecht, Bill Lotz, Jeff
Madsen, Trey Mccuen, Patty McLean, Ruth
Mead, Max Medley, Jenny Michaels, Peggy and
Terry Moore, Chris Pitman, Paul Raney, Chuck
Saleeby, Jeff Sewell, Adam Smith, Joshua
Spence, Ted Theus, Luke Theodorou, Stacy
Zarpentine and Gene Zielinski.
Terry Moore, 13000 Bucksport Court, Roswell,
GA 30075 tsmoore@bellsouth.net
 Field Trips Compiled by Dave Butler

The Wilson’s Snipe

Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise
Q: What species
is a member of
noted). We welcome everyone from beginners to advanced
recently dethroned
what family: Duck,
birders! Please check the Atlanta Audubon website
the Arctic Tern as

Grouse, Plover or
(www.atlantaaudubon.org) for January field trips
Sketch by Anne McCallum that may be scheduled. the bird with the

Sandpiper?

4
longest migration?
Saturday, Jan. 3 north to Pine St. (Exit 249B). Go straight on Pine,
Piedmont Park (City of Atlanta) crossing Peachtree St. Turn left on Piedmont Ave. Seelast
See page page
___ forfor
the answer
answer
Sponsored by the Piedmont Park Conservancy and Travel about 1 mi. to 12th St. From northwest of
AAS Atlanta, take I-75 south to 16th St. (Exit 250). Go
Novices and children are invited. We bring binoculars straight, crossing 14th St. Follow the signs to 10th St.
for those who want to borrow them. Turn left on 10th. Travel 1/2 mi. to Piedmont. Turn left
on Piedmont to 12th St. Due to street closings, Answer: Sooty
Marilyn Harris Shearwater
Birding focus: Residents including 10th and 14th St. Exits from I-75 S., consider
Directions: These directions may vary. Check update exiting at Northside Drive. From northeast of
on website. downtown, take I-85 south to 17th St. (Exit 84).
The Piedmont Park Conservancy Community Room is Continue straight, crossing 14th St. Follow directions Check Out
located at the corner of Piedmont Ave. and 12th St. above.
This Website
From south of Atlanta, take the I-75/85 connector

http://www.aou.org/checklist/ind
ex.php3. The Checklist of North
American Birds by the American
SOUTHERN Ornithologists’ Union (A.O.U.)
lists 2,048 bird species with
BIRDING TRAILS scientific and English names
from the A.O.U. North Check-list
By Kenn Kaufman Area. If you need to check for a
desired scientific name, this site
For the next few months, Wingbars will present information on a number of works well — just use the find
birding trails in the southern United States. A complete list of the trails can be command, usually under the edit
found in Audubon Magazine published by the National Audubon Society. menu in most browsers, to locate
a particular bird in the list.

The geographic area covered

Great Florida Birding Trail
Linking the high points of the peninsula and
the Florida Panhandle, the Great Florida
Birding Trail lives up to its name with
sheer magnitude — stretching some
2,000 miles and including almost
500 sites — and with the quality
of the birding it offers. Be
prepared to see huge
concentrations of Florida’s most
famous water birds, including
flocks of wintering teal, pintails,
and other ducks in the marshes of
the Panhandle, teeming colonies of Sooty
Terns and Brown Noddies on the Dry
Tortugas, and noisy treetop nesting groups of
Wood Storks at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary. If you’re lucky, you might catch
specialties, too, like the elegant White-
crowned Pigeon, the elusive buffy-toned
Mangrove Cuckoo, and the Black-whiskered
Vireo, all birds of Caribbean or tropical
affinities. Droll Burrowing Owls blink
beside their burrows, and graceful
Swallow-tailed Kites swoop and
circle above the cypress stands.
This trail’s biggest star by far,
the Florida Scrub-Jay, is a
striking blue bird found nowhere
else in the world. These jays have
a reputation for being practically
fearless of humans, so your odds of
seeing at least one — if not a constellation’s
worth — are quite good. For more
information: call the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission at 850.488.8755 or
visit www.floridabirdingtrail.com.
includes North and Central
America from the North Pole to
the boundary of Panama and
Colombia, including the adjacent
islands under the jurisdiction of
the included nations; the
Hawaiian Islands; Clipperton
Island; Bermuda; The West
Indies, including the Bahama
Islands, the Greater Antilles, and
the Leeward and Windward
Islands in the Lesser Antilles
(ending with Grenada); and
Swan, Providencia, and San
Andrés Islands in the western
Caribbean.

January 2009 5
4
Volunteer Corner • Volunteer Corner
Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer Corner • Volunteer
olunteer
Opportunities
Compiled by Carol Hassell
Photo Contest Help
We desperately need help with an
important job for this year’s photo
contest — setting up a Paypal account
for AAS. We would like to have a way
for our photo contest participants to
pay for their entries with Paypal. Are
you a techie who could help with this
job? If so, contact Catharine Kuchar,
Catharine.Kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org
What YOU can do to help the
Georgia Important Bird Areas
program!
The Georgia IBA Coordinator, Charlie
Muise, needs one or more persons
with talent and interest in creating
posters and/or other display items.
He’ll be making presentations at
various venues in the coming months
and needs visual material — a
portable presentation system that can
be changed from time to time and
eventually a permanent display. We
will cover the cost of materials, but of
course we will also happily accept in-
kind donations.
Armchair Activists Coordinator
Are you interested in public policy and
protecting bird-friendly habitat? Do you
like to mobilize people around critical
issues? Do you like to use the Internet
to communicate? Armchair Activists
are a critical component of our
grassroots program, and we need a
coordinator. The coordinator will
research critical issues that affect
birds and send summary information
to the Armchair Activists listserv on
what action to take, e.g., sending
letters to congressman, calling
senators, etc. While this is an ongoing
role, there is more activity in the
beginning of the year when the
legislature is in session. If you have
about five hours per month that you
can volunteer, contact Kelly Hopkins at
hopkins_kelly@bellsouth.net or
404.660.3166.
Audubon Adventures
Coordinator
A coordinator is needed to contact
metro area teachers to solicit requests
for National Audubon Society-created
quarterly newsletters designed for use
in elementary classrooms. During the
school year or at its end, you would
need to follow up to see how the
materials were used. All supplies and
instructions are provided. Contact
Marcia Klenbort,
marcia.klenbort@comcast.net.
6 Atlanta Audubon Society
• Volunteer
Spotlighting... Wendy Weathers
By Mary Ann Hindes
Our volunteer in the spotlight this month was Wendy has been birding for about 10 years and
formerly the “spotlighter.” Wendy Weathers has has recently purchased a home in Norcross. She
been writing the monthly column spotlighting looks forward to putting out feeders and seeing
AAS volunteers for Wingbars since July 2007. what birds she can attract. As for her favorite
While growing up in the Atlanta suburbs, Wendy bird — she thinks Eastern Bluebirds are
was inquisitive and wanted to know the names strikingly beautiful and fell in love with the solid
of the birds that visited her family’s backyard. white doves in Sevilla, Spain. Remembering her
She attributes her interest in birding to her encounter with the white doves in Spain, Wendy
told an amusing story: “I mentioned the white
parents who always put out bird feeders. They
now have a pond in their backyard and continue doves in Spain. While in high school and on my
to get all types of birds from hummers, first trip to Spain, my classmates and I were
woodpeckers, owls, hawks, finches, cardinals, sitting outside at a café observing the flocks of
chickadees and titmice to water fowl such as pigeons. As we were leaving, my friend realized
mallards and geese. Their special friend is a one had pooped on her shoulder. It’s a funny
Great Blue Heron, nicknamed Big Bird by the memory now. I’m glad it wasn’t me, though!” An
former owners of the home. Her favorite place old wives’ tale says if bird droppings land on
your head, it is a sign of good luck. We certainly
to bird is still her parents’ backyard in Norcross.
Wendy commented, “their neighborhood backs wish Wendy good luck with her new home and
up to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, but hope lots of birds come to her feeders.
amazingly they get a variety of wildlife — not Wendy is an insurance adjuster for a third party
just the birds, but coyotes, fox and deer.” administrator and handles
Wendy passed along some of her favorite liability claims for Coca-
birding stories. “When I was in eighth grade, my Cola Enterprises, Inc. AAS
family took a vacation to Jamaica. We went to appreciates her time and
hard work as a
see the ‘Bird Lady’ in the mountains outside of
Montego Bay. My Dad got to feed a contributing writer for
hummingbird. It perched on his finger as he fed Wingbars. Her
replacement, starting with
it sugar-water from a Jack Daniels mini-bottle.
Along that line, my Dad raised mealworms one the February issue, will be
year to feed the bluebirds. We also had a Lynn Waldvogel and David
phoebe that would eat the worms out of Kuechenmeister. Wendy Weathers
Photographer: Connie Weathers
our hands. That is a special
feeling.”
A Million Thanks!
Atlanta Audubon Society is an amazing organization because of its
volunteers. As always, we extend our gratitude to ALL of our
volunteers, but would like to send a special thank you to the following
individuals this month.
As we kick off 2009, we must thank Barbara Tarpley, Mary Ann Hindes
and Steven Phenicie for doing a sensational job of pulling together Wingbars
each month over the past year. The newsletter is a tremendous amount of work, and we are so
incredibly grateful to them. We are extremely proud of Wingbars and believe it is a wonderful
member newsletter. Our publication would not be possible without their volunteer efforts.
Many thanks go to Art Hurt and Panos Kanes for their work on our new Legacy Club. Art has
been the driving force behind its establishment, and Panos has provided us with critical legal
advice. Besides getting the Legacy Club up and going, Art has helped with the design of our new
Legacy Club brochure and with writing the monthly Legacy Club column in Wingbars.
For many years, Atlanta Audubon Society has been lucky to have terrific volunteer, Mark
Jernigan. Month after month, Mark has diligently prepared the minutes of our board meetings. It
is tedious and necessary work and is greatly appreciated. We are extremely grateful to Mark for
doing a tremendous job.
 In Search of the Elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Brock Hutchins emerging from thicket
Photographer: David Cree
Brock Hutchins listening for a Kent Call
Photographer: David Cree
When we saw the notice about Dr.
Geoffrey Hill of Auburn University being
in Macon in November to discuss the
search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in
the Florida panhandle, it reminded us
that Atlanta Audubon Society member
David Cree accompanied Dr. Hill’s
research team last January, so we asked
him to relate his experience for
Wingbars.
After a 10 minute conversation with
Bobby Harrison here in Atlanta in January
2006 at a bird store supply convention, I
decided to go to Arkansas to look for the
Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Bobby even
drew me a map showing exactly where he
first sighted the bird. Plus he gave me all
sorts of tips on how to “bird” this bird.
Over the next year or so I did my best to
see if I could find someone to travel with
me to Arkansas on this search for the
“Grail Bird.” No success. It was then that I
learned of “the other guys” — a team
from Auburn University led by
ornithologist, Geoffrey Hill, who along
with Tyler Hicks and Brian Rolek, had
observed an Ivory-billed Woodpecker
while kayaking the western side of the
Choctawatchee River north of Panama
City, Florida, on May 21, 2005. Since that
time, there have been over 20 reported
sightings.
January 2009
By David Cree
My goal was then to go to Florida. I
thought — a lot less publicity surrounding
this discovery means fewer birders in the
swamps, plus maybe they would allow me
to be trained as a volunteer and actually
work with them in their search. That logic
motivated me enough to actually pick up
the phone and call Dr. Hill at Auburn. I
was pleasantly surprised by his affable
manner and excitement over the fact that
I was a bird photographer with
professional grade equipment. Dr. Hill
instructed me to get in touch with Brian
Rolek, the coordinator of the Auburn
research team. Brian was happy to learn
of my birding and photographic ability,
which led him to accept my request to be
a volunteer for a week with his team. I
also advised him that my good birding
friend, Brock Hutchins, also of Atlanta
Audubon, would accompany me with
amplified directional sound listening
equipment with a recorder. That clinched
it! So, we scheduled a week in January
2008 to meet at the Swamp HQ of the
search team along the Choctawatchee
River.
Upon our Sunday PM arrival at the cabin,
no one was there. They were all out in the
field. However, folks soon began to slowly
arrive and, eventually, Brian. We
exchanged pleasantries and then began
the serious business of orientation. Brian
covered all the nuances of entering and
exiting kayaks. How to paddle, water
safety, use of the mandatory compass and
the GPS unit — items at the top of the list
of what we learned. Quite frankly, the
swamps in this area are VERY dangerous,
and it is VERY easy to get lost. Many
have! Also, rubber boots are a must, but
waders are even better. Next, we went
over maps and grids of areas that Brian
wanted us to search. Careful attention to
bark scalings and large tree cavities were
to be noted and marked with the GPS. Of
course, any visuals of an Ivory-bill were to
be duly reported and radioed in ASAP! We
also had to fill out daily reports.
We were greeted with 33 degree weather
our first morning in the assigned search
area. It was FREEZING!!! Not fun for
kayaking around in the swamps. The very
first thing I observed about Ivory-billed
territory was its remoteness and the
incredibly dense forest that exists in these
swamps. After less than 10 minutes off
the launch area at Tilly’s Landing, one
could not tell where one had been. Even
in a somewhat protected area like Lost
Lake — because of the recent heavy rains
— the current was swift and controlling
one’s direction was difficult. Branches
and logs were everywhere in the water —
plus the trees themselves made even
kayaking difficult. Without Brock’s ability
with the GPS unit, we would have easily
gotten lost. I will admit, there were a few
occasions when I truly did panic as I lost
sight of Brock in the dense forest and was
having trouble even establishing sound
contact with him. This is NOT the kind of
birding for the weak or faint of heart. It
was truly a great adventure, but not one I
would recommend for the casual birder.
Each day was a new learning experience
whether we were walking on dry land or
kayaking the wetlands. The drill was the
same: listening and waiting, looking and
praying!! Camera and binoculars at the
ready in an instant! Each evening we
would return to the Swamp HQ. The
researchers were always very busy. For
countless hours, they would sift through
thousands of time-lapsed photos gathered
each day from their strategically placed
tree mounted cameras. Or, they would
listen to all the recorders also tree
mounted throughout the target search
areas. It was fascinating watching and
learning all that is involved in this
scientific effort to obtain conclusive
evidence of the existence of the Ivory-
billed Woodpecker. My greatest
disappointment was, of course, that we
neither heard nor saw THE BIRD!
By a stroke of good fortune, one day I ran
into Mike Collins (rocket scientist
mathematician) down on one of the
creeks. He has seen an IBWP as close as
25 feet. His search reports and videos are
on his website at www.fishcrow.com.
Mike’s documentation is meticulous. His
knowledge extraordinary! Take a look.
Dr. Hill, Brian and the search team are
preparing another assault on the
Choctawatchee River again this month.
Once again, they will diligently work to
obtain that one photo to offer to the
world the irrefutable proof that the Lord
God Bird is among us!!!” It would be
awesome if it was mine.
7
 Another Master Birder Class Graduation
Welcome to the 15 new graduates of the
fall 2008 Master Birder Program.

Thanks to the vision of Georgann Schmalz, former

three-term AAS president, education chair and
communications director, and help from instructors
Lisa Hurt, Diane LaCole, Tim Keyes and others, Atlanta
Audubon’s innovative Master Birder program thrives.
Atlanta Audubon now boasts over 130 Master Birders
since the beginning of this great program in 2002.
Fall 2008 Class Master Birders
(L to R): Beckie Hawkins, Diane LaCole (instructor), Tim Keyes (instructor), Stuart Arey,
Stanley Tate, Joey Giunta, David Kuchenmeister, Lora Tate, Harriette Hoyt, Varda Lobanov,
Mary Bachner, Kristy Dunbar,Linda Wagner, Terri Lindsay, Lynn Waldvogel, Diane Schellack,
Asami Kawahara, instructors (on floor) Georgann Schmalz and Lisa Hurt
Photographer: Art Hurt

Memorial Gifts
Last spring, the Atlanta Audubon Society established a memorial fund in honor of Dr. Joseph Greenberg, and we have continued to
receive contributions throughout the year from birders who are grateful for the influence Joe had in their lives — Bill Blakeslee,
Gail Russell, Jeannie Wright and others. We are also grateful for a donation from Sylvia Chandler, a dear friend of Ginny and Frank
McCamey. Sylvia was unable to participate in this year’s Birdathon, but she still turned to one of her loyal sponsors, Jeffrey
Blankenship, and more than matched his contribution, earmarking it in memory of Frank.
Below is the obituary of another friend of Atlanta Audubon, Robert Sullivan. His family has honored his regard for the
environmental endeavors of Atlanta Audubon Society and Audubon of Florida by requesting donations in lieu of flowers. Bob has
been remembered by his colleagues at Kovak and Company, McKenney’s Mechanical Contractors and Engineers and Emory’s
Department of Human Genetics, as well as other friends. We are very appreciative and extend our sincere condolences to wife
Mary and son Owen.

Nearly half of the

In Memoriam
migratory songbird
Robert T. (Bob) Sullivan, age 54, died October 30, 2008. Bob started
species in America
birdwatching at the age of 14. He was one of the legions of people
are declining. Help us
initiated into the pleasures of birdwatching through a local chapter of
reverse this trend.
the Audubon Society — in his case, the Orange Audubon Society of
Central Florida. He went on to get a biology degree from Rollins College
(Winter Park, Florida) and a M.S. from the University of Florida-
Gainesville in Entomology and Nematology. He coordinated the
Econlockhatchee Christmas Bird Count in Central Florida for several
years and worked on the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas before moving to
Robert Sullivan in the Big Bend the Atlanta area in 1993. After moving to Georgia, he also worked on
Country, Texas the Georgia Breeding Bird Atlas project. In addition to pursuing his
Photographer: Mary Sullivan lifelong interest in birds and natural history, he collected data on crane
flies and their behavior for over 25 years. At the time of his death, he
provided technical support for the Human Genetics Department at Emory University. He is
survived by his wife Mary and son Owen. A memorial service was held on November 10th at
VISIT
the Unitarian Church in Roswell, Georgia. Memorial donations may be made to the Atlanta
www.actforsongbirds.org
Audubon Society, P. O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359 or to the Audubon of Florida, 444
and Act for Songbirds Brickell Ave., Suite 850, Miami, FL, 33131, Attn: Vicky Johnston.
TODAY!!
8 Atlanta Audubon Society
 Let the Competition
Begin...
Atlanta Audubon Society
2009 Annual Photography Contest
Check Out This Year’s Categories and Fantastic New Prizes:
x First Prize—Birds in Portrait: 8 x 42 Raptor Binoculars by Eagle Optics; retail value $149.00 (sponsored by
Eagle Optics)
x First Prize—Birds in Motion: Adobe Photoshop CS4; retail value $699.00*
x First Prize—Animals: Florida Space Coast Outdoor Adventure Package for 2; retail value over $300 (last year
this prize included two complimentary registrations to the 2009 Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival; gift
certificate to Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant; airboat ride; kayak tour of Merritt Island; admission to the
Kennedy Space Center and a gift certificate to Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach)
x First Prize—Habitat: Smith & Hawken’s life-size pair of cranes rendered in steel with hand-hammered detail; retail
value $189.00 (sponsored by Smith & Hawken)
x Georgia Youth: birdJam Maker East and the Stokes CDs East; retail value $100 (sponsored by birdJam)
x Judge’s Choice: $250 cash prize
x Grand Prize: Adobe Creative Suite 4 Design Premium (includes products like inDesign, Photoshop Extended,
Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, etc.); retail value $1,799.00.* Also includes the opportunity to have
your photograph printed on the Atlanta Audubon Society official picture postcard for 2009!

Criteria for judging include:

Ɣ Originality Ɣ Overall impact Ɣ Composition Ɣ Technique Ɣ Presentation Ɣ Difficulty

Photographs will be judged in the following categories:

Birds in Motion (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, must convey the original dynamic motion of the bird
or birds ); Birds in Portrait (no man-made elements, unless natural behavior, i.e. perching on a fence, may show
nesting, stalking, or roosting activity) Animals (all living creatures, other than birds; no man-made elements); Habitat
(flora and fauna in their natural environments, landscapes or panoramas); Georgia Youth (18 and under Georgia
residents in any category above); and Judge’s Choice.

Submission Details and Rules:

x Please visit Atlanta Audubon’s Web site for rules and more details: www.atlantaaudubon.org

KEY DATES
Entries must have been photographed since January 1, 2008 and must be received by midnight on Feb. 23, 2009.
All entries will be displayed at the Speaker Series event to be held on the weekend of March 21-22. Ribbons and
great prizes will be awarded at the event. All entries will be judged prior to the Speaker Series event.
Check Out the Atlanta Audubon Web Site Soon for More Information at
www.atlantaaudubon.org

Prizes subject to change if availability issues arise.

Adobe prizes cannot be upgraded to later editions in the future.

January 2009 9
 CLASSIFIEDS
Rates for 2.5” x 2.5” ads are $20/month or $45/quarter. Ads must be consistent with the conservation and birding mission of Atlanta
Audubon Society. Ads may be accepted via e-mail, preferably in .pdf format. Call 770.913.0511 if you have questions. Send payment to
Wingbars Ads, Atlanta Audubon Society, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359.
Send ads via e-mail to Catharine Kuchar at Catharine.Kuchar@atlantaaudubon.org.

When You Come

To The Mountains -
Ask about the new Birder’s Guide to Fannin County!
We feature Cole’s seed,
squirrel-proof feeders Bird Songs of Georgia
that truly are, houses,
hummingbird stuff, CD now available.
great books, Audubon
optics, & hard to find Email Georgann Schmalz at
hardware. Plus – 100’s
of Ravensburger Puzzles, georgannschmalz@alltel.net or visit
Music of the Spheres
Chimes & a huge www.birdingadventuresinc.com
selection of educational
toys and
games for kids!

Downtown Blue Ridge & Inside Mercier Orchards

611 E. Main St. • Blue Ridge, GA 30513
(706) 258-BIRD (2473) • blueridgebirdseed.com

Affordable Housing ®

and Feeders for EAGLE OPTICS

Birds, Bats and OPTIC OUTFIT TER S ™
Butterflies
YOUR SOURCE FOR A FULL LINE OF
Basic, functional and long-lasting BINOCULARS AND SPOTTING SCOPES
cedar products FROM ALL MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

Workshop Creations, Inc.

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Order on our website:
Website: www.workshopcreations.com
E-Mail: sales@workshopcreations.com
Tel: 770-448-5363 Fax: 770-448-5363 800-289-1132
P.O. Box 921455, Norcross, GA 30010 www.eagleoptics.com

Securing the Future for Metro-Atlanta’s Birds

If you haven’t had a chance to make a donation to support Atlanta Audubon Society’s conservation efforts, now is the time! Join others as
your contribution will reap dividends for years to come towards creating, promoting and preserving bird-friendly habitat.

Ë Yes! I would like to support Atlanta Audubon Society with a contribution.

Donation amount enclosed: $_______________ Ë Check enclosed (Please make check payable to Atlanta
Audubon Society)
Donors giving $250 or more receive a one-year “Individual”
Supporting Membership in Atlanta Audubon Society. Ë Visa Ë MasterCard Ë AMEX Ë Discover Ë Diners Club
Credit Card #________________________________________
2008 Annual Fund Donor Categories:
Bald Eagle ($1,000 or more) Exp. Date (MM/YY) __________________
Great Blue Heron ($500-$900)
Signature ___________________________________________
Red-headed Woodpecker ($250-$499)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak ($100-$249) Card Verification No.* _______
White-throated Sparrow ($50-$99)
Supporter ($1-$49) Ë Mr. Ë Ms. Ë Mrs. Ë Dr. Ë Other _________________
Name _____________________________________________
Ë I would like to receive more information on Atlanta Audubon
Society’s new Legacy Club program on planned giving. A new Address ____________________________________________
brochure outlining the details of the club is now available. City _______________________________________________

Ë I do not wish to have my donation recognized in the newsletter, State ________________________ Zip ____________
Wingbars. Phone ___________________________
Mail this form to Atlanta Audubon Society, E-mail Address ______________________________________
Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359. Your gift is tax deductible as provided by law.

We thank you for your generous support!

10 Atlanta Audubon Society

 Georgia’s Common Birds in Decline
Eastern Meadowlark
The Eastern Meadowlark has declined 82%
in Georgia over the past 40 years. Between
1966 and 2005, the bird’s population
declined at a rate of 4.2% per year in
Georgia.
The Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, is
a stunning bird with a brown back and a bright
yellow breast with a black V-shaped marking.
Males and females look alike, and the bird is
approximately the size of a robin. It is
Eastern Meadowlark distinguished from its western counterpart,
Photographer: Giff Beaton the Western Meadowlark, almost exclusively by
its melodic song and location.
Common in spring and summer in grasslands, meadows and prairies,
the Eastern Meadowlark is often seen on the ground or singing from a
fence post or other prominent perch. It breeds from March to August
in Georgia and creates an elaborate ground nest, woven out of grass
and often well hidden in thick vegetation. The meadowlark is
sometimes the victim of the Brown-headed Cowbird, whose parasitic
behavior includes laying its eggs in other species’ nests.
The Eastern Meadowlark’s diet consists mostly of insects, including
crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars and grubs. It captures its prey
using a technique called “gaping” where it probes into matted grass
with a closed bill and then spreads it open, exposing the vegetation and
the awaiting insects.
It appears to prefer managed fields and farmlands with more grass
and fewer woody stems. Grazed and mowed sites tend to provide
better habitat than less frequently disturbed “old fields” with taller
vegetation. These sites may attract meadowlarks to nest, but the
nests are often unsuccessful because harvesting and mowing can
destroy the eggs or young before fledging occurs. In Georgia, Eastern
Meadowlarks can be found throughout much of the state with the
exception of the metro-Atlanta area and heavily forested areas like
northeast Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp and adjacent areas.
Source: : Declining common bird findings based on National Audubon Society’s
“Common Birds in Decline: A State of the Birds Report,” with additional figures
from the Georgia DNR.

Join Atlanta Audubon Society

Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Society members receive an
introductory copy and can continue to receive this newsletter by becoming a Friends of Atlanta Audubon member.
Enrollment as a Friend of Atlanta Audubon does not include membership in the National Audubon Society. Thus, Now Available!
you will not receive Audubon magazine. You can now renew your
membership online. Just visit
If you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below. our Web site at
www.atlantaaudubon.org
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359. and go to the membership page to
join via the Web. We are excited
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org. to be able to offer this new
service to you!
Friends of Atlanta Audubon Society
o Make check payable to: o Basic Membership
Atlanta Audubon Society o Individual ...........................................$25
Membership Director o Family................................................$35
BENEFITS
P.O. Box 29189, Atlanta, GA 30359 o Student..............................................$15 OF
o Please charge my credit card:
o Contributing Membership...............................$50 MEMBERSHIP
4 11 issues
o Amex o Diners Club o Discover o MasterCard o VISA

o Supporting Membership...............................$100
_______________________________ _________
Card Number Expiration Date (July/August
o Renewal o New Membership
o Donor Membership ......................................$250 combined) of
Name _____________________________________ Wingbars
o Patron Membership......................................$500 Newsletter
4 Friends discounts
Address ___________________________________ Receive an official Atlanta Audubon T-shirt
City____________________ State ___ Zip ______ o Benefactor Membership............................$1,000 on classes, trips
E-mail ____________________________________ Receive above plus autographed copy
and special events
4 Use of the AAS
Birds of Atlanta
Phone_____________________________________ o Interested in volunteering with AAS
o Please send me information on planned giving opportunities through Atlanta Audubon Society’s Legacy Club library
o Do not acknowledge my gift in Wingbars
4A great tax
It is Atlanta Audubon Society’s policy not to share or sell our mailing list. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us.
deduction!

January 2009 11
 GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!
1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days
of the count, February 13 to 16. You can count for longer than that if you
wish. Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like — one day, two
days or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each day. You can also submit
Q: onWhat
more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations species
that day.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals ofrecently dethroned
each species that
the Arctic Tern as
you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your
the bird with the
http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you’re
longest migration?
likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number or
each species you see on this checklist.
See page ___ for the answer
3. When you’re finished, enter your results through
gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/input. You’ll see a button marked

Answer:
Submit Your Bird Checklist on the website home

Sandpiper
page beginning on the first day of the count
(Scholopacidae)
Answer: Sooty
(February 13). It will remain active until the deadline Shearwater
for data submission on March 1.

ATLANTA
The recently formed Georgia AUDUBON
Nature Photography
Association will hold its OFFICE
first annual meeting at at Dunwoody Nature Center
5343 Roberts Drive
7 PM on January 17 at the Dunwoody, GA 30338
Chattahoochee Nature Center, featuring
keynote speaker Charles Glatzer, owner and host of 770.913.0511
Shoot the Light Instructional Photographic Send all mail for
Workshops. For more information, go to AAS to:
www.gnpa.org. PO Box 29189
Atlanta, GA 30359

NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
Atlanta Audubon Society PAID
Box 29189 • Atlanta, GA 30359
Atlanta Audubon Society is an independent, non-profit
Atlanta, GA
501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax deductible to Permit #917
the fullest extent allowed by law.

Wingbars is printed on recycled paper