E cobon
April 2008:
No. 291
Newsletter of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society
Audubon Refuge Keepers
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Howard Costa
In case you hadn't noticed, though it seems most
of you did, I was away during February and early
March. I would like to thank Bill Nicol and all of
the other board members who kept things rolling
smoothly in my absence. Before I enlighten you with
tales of my travels, I would like to thank Dr. Maria
Whitehead for her presentation on swallow-tailed
kites last month. Aside from detailing their natural
history, Dr. Whitehead pointed out how conserva-
tion efforts for a charismatic creature like the swal-
low-tailed kite can lead to the protection of entire
ecosystems. Hopefully, some of you will have the
opportunity contribute some citizen science to help
protect this magnificent bird.
So, I spent the month of February in Green Turtle
Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. The Abacos are an extensive
group of islands, large and small, in the northeastern
Bahamas, the nearest only about 350 miles southeast
of Hilton Head. I have visited ther many times in
the winter, and have always been impressed with the
birdlife. On this visit, I was surprized to learn that
the first ever North Abaco Christmas Bird Count
had been held, netting 101 species - impressive for
seven teams and only about 25 counters. Sightings
I found to be interesting included: least grebe, blue
winged teal, American Widgeon, ring necked duck,
common snipe, reddish egret, clapper rail, northern
harrier, American pipit, black-throated blue warbler,
yellow billed cuckoo, limpkin, indigo and painted
buntings. A large flat on Green Turtle Cay produced
good numbers of most of the same shorebirds that
we see in winter, including 22 piping plovers. One
of these is banded, and breeds in South Dakota.
The ground breaking efforts of this group could ul-
timately lead to an Important Bird Area designation
for these flats. Citizen science at work. I share this
with you to emphasize the interconnection between
birds, places, and birders, and to point out that ev-
eryone who participates in Audubon activities makes
meaningful contributions.
See you at the next meeting, with a friend.
APRIL Program ~ by Charlotte White
Tuesday, April 8, 2008, 7:30 pm at the Seabrook
Taldi Walter, from the National Audubon Society’s Public Policy Of-
fice, will be our April Audubon speaker. Taldi, through her multimedia
presentation, will present a slideshow featuring some of the important
natural areas and brilliant birds found in wild Alaska. From the Specta-
cled Eider and Yellow-billed Loon found in America’s Arctic to the Black
Oystercatcher and the Kittlitz’s Murrelet found on the southern coastline,
Alaska’s birdlife diversity is astounding. The presentation will explore
some of Alaska’s natural treasures set aside decades ago for the benefit of
wildlife and the American public. Many American leaders are advocating
vastly accelerating the extraction of oil, gas, and mineral deposits in this
important ecological area. Audubon seeks a balance between resource
extraction and protecting internationally critical habitat. Taldi will high-
light the imminent and compelling challenges and opportunities facing
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Tongass National Forest, Chugach
National Forest, and National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
Taldi Walter joined the National Audubon Society’s Public Policy
Office in Washington DC as the Alaska Outreach Coordinator, after the
completion of her Masters degree in Biology. In addition to the Alaskan
feature, she will also discuss what is currently happening in our National
Policy office and ask about our chapter activities and issues.
It is a special event to have a visitor from the National Audubon So-
ciety as well as such an educational program. So come Tuesday, April 8,
WITH A FRIEND, to the 7:30 p.m. program at the Seabrook, 300 Wood-
haven Drive, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
FIELD TRIPS by Bill Nicol
In April we will return to Pinckney Island to view some of
the birds returning for the summer. The trip is scheduled for
Thursday, 24 April 2008. We will meet at Pinckney Island at
8:00 and the trip will last no later than noon and will be lead by
Clem Dietze. The trip is limited to 5 cars or approximately
25 people. Bikers are welcome and will not count against the
car limit. Please contact me at 671-4721 or pennst63@aol.com if
you have any questions or wish to go.
 HHI Audubon
Board of Directors:
President
PRESERVE
Howard Costa 842-9447 That it should inhere beyond cut pines,
Vice President uprooted shrubs, a willfullness dug
Bill Nicol 671-4721
Treasurer through the soft needled floor of flatwoods,
Karen McGinty 681-8498 someone has set aside her other
Fran Baer 686-6348
Recording Secretary balance sheet and bequeathed the pond,
Steve White 837-4597 the low ground called 'pocosin' by first inhabitants
Corresponding Secretary
Polly Herron 342-6129 who knew the smooth leaves on Dahoon holly
Members‑at‑Large and in their bad time gathered gallberry,
Jim Currie 681-8525
Marianne Currie 681-8525 chainfern, fetterbush, where a bald cypress
Clem Dietze 837-2612 exposes polished knees like someone used
Barry Lowes 671-3537
Nan Lloyd 363-2092 to kneeling. Anxiety and weariness shed
Betty Walter 842-7147 in this place of longneedled pines, their
Joan Wilson 837-2874
Committee Chairpersons: cones like bristling planets above our
Adopt-A-Refuge (Pinckney) heads. The pond’s shifting green
Clem Dietze 837-2612
stain is the motion of the elastic sides of water,
Karen McGinty 681-8498
Audubon Newhall Preserve hands held in the air as if
Joan Shulman 842-9246 new in their skin; crushed scent of verdant
Bird Walks/Field Trips
Bill Nicol 671-4721 world the taste beneath tongue, our senses
Bird House Construction born in the shadows of cherry laurel and
Jim Collins 671-1240
Bird Seed Sale sassafras, the sun beating through the dust
Ed Nash 681-5725 that has left such a grayness over face and eyes.
Christmas Bird Count
Barry Lowes 671‑3537
Education This poem was written by John Allman and is in a collection of his
Betsy Pehrson 689-2243
poetry entitled "Lowcountry". Allman has published four other books
Historian
June Collins 671-1240 of poetry and has received The Helen Bulls Prize from Poetry Northwest,
Hospitality Pushcart Poetry Prize, and two National Endowment of the Arts Creative
Thea Luba 785-3214
Legislation Writing Fellowships in Poetry.
Nicola Jordan 681-5664
Membership
Thea Luba 785-3214
Newsletter Circulation
Marianne Currie 681-8525
BIRD SEED SALE SUCCESSFUL by Ed Nash
Pat Marks 689-6876
Newsletter Editor The 2008 Bird Seed money-raiser was successful with $1419 profit, a $114 increase
Joan Wilson 837-2874 over last years good total. That sum is the best in 13 years, and it nearly meets the cost
Programs
Charlotte White 837-4597 of our Audubon Adventures magazine program to our local school system. This is a
Publicity & Public Relations very nice result and it is a prime objective of our annual seed sale to be able to help
Clem Dietze 837-2612 fund this educational program. We want to deeply thank the following members and
Sales Table friends who bought 2-1/2 TONS of seed in over 300 bags and made the above income
Dorothy Gibb 686-6406
Shorebirds/Conservation possible, and to Virginia and Lyle Culter at Wild Birds for their great cooperation and
Howard Costa 842-9447 support of our Audubon Chapter:
Special Projects
Richard Shulman 842-9246 Blanche Ashad, Fran Baer, Sherman Barker, Vicky Bauman, Dianna Bennett,
Sun City Representative John Bower, Robert Black, John Faucette, Joe Fromme, Margaret Fullam, Susan Glenn,
Ken Neitzke 705-3970
Wetlands/Conservation
Hazel Guest, Elizabeth Hamilton, Annette Hausman, Nancy Hayes, Polly Herron,
Sally Krebs H: 757-2973 O: 341-4690 Dave Hicks, Jim & Betty Inman, May Leong, Wanda Leopold, Barry Lowes,
Website: www.hiltonheadaudubon.org Judy Lundin, Richard Many, Patricia Marks, Peggy Martin, B. Marhoffer, Michael Marks,
The Ecobon is a monthly publication (Sep- Mike McDonell, Karen McGinty, Mr. Michner, Ed Nash, Bill Nicol, Gail O’Kane,
tember through May) of the Hilton Head Island Jack Olden, Terry Putnam, Sandra Plodzaj, Sue Salmons, Allyn Schneider, Lynne Shira,
Audubon Society. Subscription is a benefit of
membership. Direct inquiries to P.O. Box 6185, Howard Smith, Howard Shoemaker, Doris Stoner, Sara Tiffany, Jerry Voight,
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938 or call
one of the above officers or chairpersons. Betty Walter, Miriam Waterhouse, Ed Zensinger.

Page 2 March 2008

NOTES FROM THE NEWHALL PRESERVE recent AREA bird sightings
by Joan Shulman
We will have three guided walks in the Preserve in April--all on
Saturdays at 10:00 A.M. Adults $7.00; Children under 12, Free;
Maximum per family, $14.00. For information, call 842-9246.
April 5 “The Art of Seeing Through Photographs” Program by
Bob Ovelman, an award-winning photographer whose work is
in many public and private collections. He will help participants
look at nature and the blooming spring flowers in a new way. Be
sure to bring your cameras.
April 12 and 26 “Native Plants and Unique Habitats on a Sea Is-
land” The walk on the 12th will be led by Mary Alice Walker, an
amateur naturalist and experienced docent. The one on the 26th will
be led by Betty Treen, a Master Gardener and an experienced do-
cent. Both will identify the flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees unique
to the lowcountry. They will also talk about the history of the Pre-
serve and point out the special ecological systems found there.
Thanks to the following individuals who gave of their time and
energy on the March 15th Work Day: Jack Colcolough, Marianne
and Jim Currie, Ron Howenstine, Mary Jane and Bob Major, Ar-
nold Riehm, Joan and Richard Shulman, and Nancy Turka.
Thanks to Ron Howenstine for monitoring the trails in April.
We need monitors for May, June, July, and September. To volun-
teer, call me at 842-9246.
Be sure to visit the Preserve to see the new information signs by
the pond and the pocosin. Todd Ballantine created them for us.
FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the follow-
ing slate of officers for this chapter for 2008-2009 to be voted
on at the April 8, 2008 meeting.
President - Bill Nicol
Vice-president - Ken Neitzke
Treasurer - Karen McGinty and Fran Baer
Recording Secretary - Steve White
Corresponding Secretary - Sherman Barker
Members-at-Large - Howard Costa, Jim Currie,
Marianne Currie, Clem Dietze, Barry Lowes,
Nan Lloyd, Betty Walter, Joan Wilson
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Walter, Chair
Howard Costa, Clem Dietze, Nan Lloyd.
At our March 11 evening meeting, Dr. Maria Whitehead
asked for our help in reporting Swallow-tailed Kites that you
may observe here in South Carolina or wherever you might
be. To report:
Online: www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org
Call toll free: 866-971-7474
Mail in: The Center for Birds of Prey
P.O. Box 1247, Charleston, SC 29402
April 2008 Page 3
by Jack Colcolough
It’s a great
transitional time
of the year. Our
early migrants
and summer birds
will be moving in
as we say good-
bye to our winter birds. Our Audubon Society had a fine field
trip to Parris Island ably led by Karen McGinty. We found 71
bird species highlighted by several beautiful singing Yellow-
throated Warblers, a Whimbrel and Red-breasted Mergansers.
Other good birds included: Loggerhead Shrike, American
Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs,
Semipalmated and Black-bellied Plovers, Ruddy Turnstone,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Robin and Cedar Wax-
wing. FOTY birds reported were: White-eyed and Blue-headed
Vireos, Northern Parula, Wood Duck, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
and Palm Warbler in breeding color. The unusual American
Bittern continued to be found at Whooping Crane Conservancy.
Interesting nearby reports included: an accidental Magnificant
Frigatebird in Savannah, a rare Purple Sandpiper and Lesser
Black-backed Gull at Tybee Island, unusual Sharp-tailed and
Seaside Sparrows at Fort Pulaski, a rare Green-breasted Mango
and Rufous Hummingbird and Baltimore Oriole still in Dublin,
GA and a rare Mute Swan mixed in with the Tundras at Bear
Island.
A Bald Eagle pair was observed with their large chick on
their nest in a pine on the Indigo Run Plantation golf course.
Many thanks to Richard Shulman, Doris McCullough, Karen
McGinty and Fran Baer for reporting their recent sightings.
To report a rare, unusual of FOTS bird sighting, please email:
JackColcolough@aol.com or e-mail to:BirdingFriends-sub-
scribe@yahoogroups.com to join our birding group and report
the bird. Good birding to all.
E-MAIL Reminder
Have you sent your E-mail address in to Nan?
If not, please send it to Nan
at nan@nanhiltonhead.com.
 MEETING SALE
Pearl and David McCullough, long time members of
Audubon, have donated 19 different bird items to our chapter.
These items were appraised at $625 by Camille Wish owner and
operator of Terrace Oaks Antique Mall in Charleston. At the
March meeting, these items will be available for purchase by
our members. A list of the items is as follows:
1. Cardinal Statue-made in Taiwan---$35.
2. Eastern Bluebird, Angelina Originals hand painted---$35.
3. Heron---$18.
4. Tern---$35.
5. Gorham Music Box $30. original price---$30.
6. Pelican, Wooden 1976 BEL---$24.
7. Cardinal Music Box, Advantage Collection, made in China--$24.
8. Tufted Titmouse, Lenox, made in Taiwan---$65.
9. Ducks—pair, one with broken bill---$15.
10. Cardinal by Andres 8627 w/stand---$35.
11. Hummingbird wind chimes, broken nose---$1.
12. Hummingbird, made in China---$30
13. Kentucky Warbler, Stangel Pottery, Trenton, NJ 3598---$45.
14. 2 Loons, ashtrays or soap dishes, California Pottery,
circa 1930-1940s---$$18. each
15. Hummingbird Music Box, Graphic Art Tiles,
Gardenia, CA 90248-1721---$12.
16. Cardinal ornament Marjalein, Boston”95---$10.
17. Anna’s Hummingbird, Andrea by Sadek 9614-1986 w/stand--$40.
18. Jonathan Byrne American Signature Collection,
Collectable Plate 1983 made in Taiwan 2847/15,000---$135.
Cash or checks only, please.
Raptor Rescue and Transport
“My husband Denny and I have had the opportunity on
three occasions to aid in the rescue and transport of injured
raptors (two Red-tailed hawks, one young Cooper’s hawk,
and an Osprey) from HHI and Bluffton to Awendaw. So in
late morning on March 6th, when I received a message from
Bill Nicol about an urgent need for transportation for three
injured birds, I was anxious to help.
When I called Dr. Parker’s office, they still had not found
a courier for two Red-tailed hawks and a very sick Eastern
screech owl. By late afternoon, I was able to secure the name
of a person who could meet me on Friday morning in Jack-
sonboro, a bit less than halfway to Awendaw. Early on Fri-
day morning, I picked up the three birds, each in a small dog
crate, from Ashley Fallis at the Bluffton clinic on Buck Island
Road. The birds rode rather quietly in the back of my car,
with some sounds of limited movement occasionally. In just
over an hour, I was at the meeting point (a combination truck
stop/Kangaroo Gas station/Church’s Fried Chicken on High-
way 17). I greeted my contact (Mary Braxton, a volunteer
with the International Bird of Prey Center), transferred the
crates to her vehicle, and was on my way back home - a good
morning’s work.
I was able to quickly take photos of the

Audubon Prints On-Line two hawks before they were put into
their crates that morning. I’m hope-
Fellow members, ful that release back into the wild is in
I thought you might be interested in this. The University of their future. It’s exciting to be so close
Pittsburg has put all of the Audubon plates online and you can to these magnificent creatures and to
browse through them by plate number or subject. The web feel like you may have helped them.”
address is http://digital.library.pitt.edu/a/audubon/
~ Karen McGinty
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Please Note: Current members are encouraged to use this membership form to sign up friends, relatives, and neighbors as new
members. Our Chapter benefits significantly from a “return of dues” from National if our local form is used for new memberships

National Audubon Society Chapter

Membership Form  New  1 YR. - $20  2 YRS. - $30
NEW MEMBERS ONLY  Senior  1 YR. - $15  2 YRS. - $30
 Junior  1 YR. - $15  2 YRS. - $30
Name _ ______________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________State__________ Zip_ ________________
Phone__________________________ Preferred First Name(s) ____________________________
Full Year Resident ______ Part Year Resident ______ I/We first joined Audubon in _______________
Mail a check payable to National Audubon Society U50
National Audubon Society, Chapter Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51001, Boulder, CO 80322-1001 7XCH

Page 4 April 2008

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is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds,
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PLAN YOUR VACATION WITH A TRAVEL EXPERT Beautiful Homes Deserve

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March 2008 Page 5


291 Issue #:
Hilton Head, South Carolina 29938
P.O. Box 6185
Hilton Head Island Audubon Society Organization:
Monthly Sept.-May Frequency:
April 2008 Issue Date:
Permit #39
Ecobon Title:
Hilton Head Island, SC
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938
Non Profit Organization
P. O. Box 6185
Ecobon

APRIL ~ MAY 2008 Calendar

APRIL
0
B E Q U E S T S
Thurs. Apr. 3 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm
If you wish to honor a family
Sat. Apr. 5 Newhall Walk with Bob Ovelman....................... 10:00 am member or friend with a memorial
Tues. Apr. 8 Monthly Meeting at The Seabrook...................... 7:30 pm gift, or remember the Audubon Ne-
whall Preserve or the Hilton Head
Sat. Apr. 12 Newhall Walk with Mary Alice Walker............... 10:00 am Island Audubon Society in your will,
Thurs. Apr. 24 Field Trip to Pinckney Island................................. 8:00 am your gift may be in the form of secu-
rities, cash, life insurance, real estate,
Sat. Apr. 26 Newhall Walk with Betty Treen.......................... 10:00 am
or other property.
Contact your own estate planner
MAY or our Audubon Chapter at P.O. Box
6185, Hilton Head Island, South
Thurs. May 8 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm
Carolina 29938.
Tues. May 13 Annual Picnic at Sea Pines Preserve.................... 5:30 pm
Sharing your estate with Audubon
not only reduces the taxes on your
estate but will help protect birds,
Monthly meetings of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society are regularly scheduled wildlife, and their habitat in the years
at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, in the to come.
Auditorium at the Seabrook, 300 Woodhaven Drive. Members and guests welcome!

Page 6 Printed on recycled paper April 2008