E cobon
January 2009:
No. 297
Newsletter of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society
Audubon Refuge Keepers
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE january Program
By Bill Nicol
In last month’s ECOBON, Ed
Nash had an article on our Annual
Bird Seed Sale starting on January
2, 2009. He also has an article in
this month’s issue. As he said, the
proceeds from this sale support the
purchase of Audubon Adventures
which are used by our local schools as
part of their environmental education
program. The Audubon Adventures
Program shows how the birds fit in
the environment and how our con-
duct can impact their survival. We
are all aware of the various attacks
on the environment through out the
country and the world. Educating our
children on the importance of the en-
vironment and the impact of the most
dangerous animal, man, can have on
either harming or protecting it is very
important. The more resources we
have, the more students we can reach
and the better educated they will be.
Please do what you can.
The annual Christmas Bird count
was on December 13, 2009 and by all
reports was a success. Kudos to all
who participated. Barry Lowes will
have a complete report in the Febru-
ary ECOBON.
Joan and I wish you and yours a
healthy and prosperous New Year.
See you at the meeting and bring a
friend.
by Charlotte White
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7:30 p.m. at the Seabrook
Human Impacts on Wildlife in the Lowcountry
Our speaker for this first program of the new year is a veterinarian, Al Segars,
who grew up in Hartsville, SC (NW of Florence near I-95.) The presentation will
highlight how we as humans impact wildlife both directly and indirectly here in
the Lowcountry. While highlighting these issues, the program will also address
how we as individuals can minimize that impact on the animals, plants and ecosys-
tems. The topic of what can be done for injured wildlife will also be discussed.
Al Segars went to Clemson undergrad, then to the University of Georgia to
veterinary school, and then back to Hartsville to practice mixed animal medicine
(large and small animals) for 14 years. He moved with his family to Beaufort in
1996 and is now working for SC Department of Natural Resources as a Veterinar-
ian and Stewardship Coordinator. In this job as a veterinarian, he deals with such
aquatic animal health issues as sea turtles and shrimp. In his stewardship responsi-
bilities for the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS),
he works with the community to instill an appreciation of and encourage efforts to
protect the magnificent ecosystem we all enjoy. The NERRS web site (http://www.
dnr.sc.gov/marine/NERR/about.html) shows a remarkable amount of activity in
education, research and resource management.
I asked Al what he particularly felt strongly about in his work and here is his
answer: “We have a window of time in which we can make a difference for our
kids and generations to come by making appropriate decisions now. Most people
would like to do the right thing; many just don’t know what or how. We want to
be sure they have the information to make good decisions for our Lowcountry
ecosystem.”
To learn more about this veterinarian’s big picture on human impact on wild-
life in the Lowcountry, come to this meeting on Tuesday, January 13, WITH A
FRIEND, at 7:30 p.m. at the Seabrook, 300 Woodhaven Drive, Hilton Head Island,
South Carolina.
FIELD TRIPS by Kay Hodnett
In January our field trip will be to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. The
trip will be on January 27. We will meet in the Laurel Hill parking lot at 8 AM.
(use Google if you need directions) Our guide will be Jack Colcolough.
If you are interested in going please contact Kay Hodnett at 342-7485 or
olivhod2@aol.com. If you contact by email please include “Audubon” or “bird” in
the subject line so I will be sure to open the email. Please include your telephone
number if you want to be notified of a weather cancellation.
The next Ecobon issue will contain a schedule for field trips for February, March,
and April.
 HHI Audubon Reflections on missing Christmas Bird Count 2008
Board of Directors:
President by Clem Dietze
Bill Nicol 671-4721
Vice President Christmas Count Day has always been one of my favorite days of
Ken Neitzke 705-3970
Treasurer the year. I look forward to it with great anticipation. In my 13 years
Karen McGinty 681-8498 on Hilton Head, I have trod the golf courses of Moss Creek before
Fran Baer 686-6348
Recording Secretary the players arrive, spent several exciting waterborne years on Howard
Steve White 837-4597
Corresponding Secretary
Costa’s Skimmer tracking Seaside Sparrows in hidden creeks and
Sherman Barker 342-6596 landing on deserted beaches teeming with many species of shorebirds,
Members‑at‑Large
Howard Costa 842-9447 and for the past 3 years Captained the Pinckney NWR team.
Jim Currie 681-8525
Marianne Currie 681-8525 This year on December 13, I am writing at my desk instead of
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Barry Lowes 671-3537 being out where I belong thanks to a ruptured spinal disc, and it sad-
Nan Lloyd 363-2092
Betty Walter 842-7147 dens me.
Joan Wilson 837-2874
Committee Chairpersons: In an essay in the current issue of Cornell’s “Living Bird” the
Adopt-A-Refuge (Pinckney) author, desperate to get rid of distinctions between “birder” and
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Karen McGinty 681-8498 “birdwatcher”, describes himself as an Aviphile or lover of birds.
Audubon Newhall Preserve The word was first coined by Roger Tory Peterson and as yet has not
Joan Shulman 842-9246
Bird Walks/Field Trips made it to the dictionary. I count myself one, as I am sure do many
Kay Hodnett 342-7485 of you. The word encompasses all dimensions of our pursuit from
Bird House Construction
Jim Collins 671-1240 listing to watching behavior, feeding, nesting and fledging, and just
Bird Seed Sale
Ed Nash 681-5725 plain enjoying these feathered gems of creation.
Christmas Bird Count
Barry Lowes 671‑3537 There are joys and sorrows on count day, but both are important
Education and memorable. The joys are finding large numbers of our familiar
Mary Jane Major 342-5804
Historian wintering species, the excitement engendered by sighting occasional
OPEN wanderers, or the find of a true rarity for the area such as the Ross’s
Hospitality
Thea Luba 785-3214 Goose discovered on December 12 and photographically documented
Legislation
Kay Hodnett 342-7485 by our Colleton River team. The sorrows are not finding those nor-
Membership mally wintering species in number or even singles of commonly
Thea Luba 785-3214
Newsletter Circulation expected species.
Marianne Currie 681-8525
Both, however, constitute extremely important Citizen Science
Newsletter Editor
Joan Wilson 837-2874 statistics the entire country monitors at this time of year. Have migra-
Programs tion patterns changed? Are some species on the road to endangerment
Charlotte White 837-4597
Publicity & Public Relations or even extirpation? What is going on with Global Warming, habitat
Clem Dietze 837-2612 change and loss, or Avian Flu?
Sales Table
OPEN 686-6406
Shorebirds/Conservation
Then there is the sheer camaraderie of birding with friends, and
Howard Costa 842-9447 the day never seems long enough as we hope to capture as much as
Special Projects
Richard Shulman 842-9246 possible regardless of the weather.
Sun City Representative
Kevin Cahill 705-3570 So, I am sad that I was not with those of you who counted. If you
Wetlands/Conservation have not done a Christmas Count before you don’t know what you are
Sally Krebs H: 757-2973 O: 341-4690
Website: www.hiltonheadaudubon.org missing. Volunteer next year. As for me, Lord willing, this Aviphile
The Ecobon is a monthly publication (September through May) of will be back out with you. At least the medicos tell me I will be well
the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society. Subscription is a benefit
of membership. Direct inquiries to P.O. Box 6185, Hilton Head rid of this problem by Spring Migration.
Island, South Carolina 29938 or call one of the above officers
or chairpersons.

Page 2 January 2009

NOTES FROM THE NEWHALL PRESERVE
by Joan Shulman
Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s make appreciation
of nature and its wonders a priority in 2009.
Thank you to Susan and Kelly Murphy for monitoring
the trails in the Preserve in December.
As 2009 opens, I thought I would share a few quotes
from our 2008 visitors’ comment book. Those who write
in the book are from many states and a number of foreign
countries. Most just write the date of the visit, their names,
and where they are from. Some list the wildlife they saw-
-the most frequently mentioned animal is the turtle. The
pond has many resident yellow-bellied sliders.
Some comments are very short: “Beautiful, Thanks”
(Ohio), “Nice--we like the plant labels,” “A Real Treat”
(Ohio). Others are a bit longer: “Ahh! Peace! Calm--A
gem--keep up the good work!” (Ontario)
“No gators Hooray! Tons of turtles, butterflies, dragon
flies. One Huge Bee.” (Utah) “Thank you for giving us
a sense of what the island was like before development.”
(Brooklyn) “We had a lovely walk. The 5-year-old was
particularly impressed . . .” (Oregon) “ The best place on
Hilton Head for me! A naturalist’s delight.” (no name or
place)
Geocaching seems to be a common activity in the Pre-
serve. Several visitors mentioned searching for the cached
items.
Here is my plea for 2009: We would like to have more
members on the Newhall Committee. Wouldn’t you like
to help us take care of the Preserve to make sure it contin-
ues to exist for future generations? Call me at 842-9246
for details. Black, Dave Lovett, M. Murphy, Dianne Faucette,
~ Photo above courtesy of Fran Baer
January 2009 Page 3
recent AREA bird sightings
by Jack Colcolough
Winter birding is in full swing and we have just
completed another successful annual Christmas Bird
Count on December 13.
A few early highlights of birds sighted in our CBC
were: Snow Goose, Eared Grebe, out-of-season Sum-
mer Tanager, Rusty Blackbird, a flock of ~15,000 Red-
winged Blackbirds, Bald Eagle on its nest in Indigo
Run, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch and
Red-headed Woodpecker. Barry Lowes, our CBC co-
ordinator and his team will report the entire findings of
this CBC in next month’s Ecobon. Unusual sightings
in the nearby areas in the last month included: Snow
Bunting on Harbor Island, blue phase Snow Goose and
White Pelican on Skidaway Island, Red Crossbill in
Shipyard Plantation (first ever heard of on HHI), Red-
dish Egret at Fish Haul Creek and Purple Sandpiper
at Tybee Island.
Other good winter arrivals were: Dark-eyed Junco,
several Hummingbirds to be identified, Black Scoter,
Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Orange-
crowned & Prairie Warblers, America Bittern, Lesser
& Greater Black-backed Gulls, Wilson’s and Piping
Plovers, Seaside & Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows
and Barred Owl. Also an out-of-season Orchard Oriole
was reported.
Thanks to those reporting these sightings: Barry
Lowes, Carlos Chacon, Richard Shulman, Doris Mc-
Cullough, Fran Baer, Kay Hodnett, Dottie Bass, Peter
Zachmann, Roger Johnson, Dorothy Timmons, Pat
several visitors, et al.
To report a rare, uncommon or first of the year
(FOTY) bird sighting in our area, e-mail: jackcolco-
lough@aol.com, call 689-3455 or send a blank e-mail
to: BirdingFriends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to
join the group and report your sighting.
E-MAIL Reminder
Have you sent your E-mail address in to Nan?
If not, please send it to Nan
at nan@nanhiltonhead.com.
 BIRD SEED SALE STARTS JANUARY 2
by Ed Nash

Winter Our annual Bird Seed Sale fund raiser starts Janu-
ary 2, 2009 with a new emphasis. We need to raise a
Hummingbird little more money to fully fund the Audubon Adven-
tures magazine for the middle schools. We want to
Update #1 ask more Audubon members to participate, as “Many
hands make light work” and just as surely, “Many buy-
Hi everyone, ers make more profits”. Our sales have been good and
It’s time for winter hummingbird banding again. our profits nice, but we have had 50 to 70 buyers of
Last season was cut short when I came down with about 325 bags from a membership of about 550. We
want to encourage every member to buy a bag or two!
pneumonia in early February. This season I’d like
This could increase sales to 500 bags or even more, al-
to make up for lost time. I’m already getting re-
lowing everyone who feed their birds to directly sup-
ports of hummingbirds, including possible Ru- port this middle school nature study program. Our seed
fous, Allen’s, and Calliope Hummingbirds back from Wild Birds Unlimited in Indigo Park are always
for their second or third winter. high quality and fresh. You should buy them now (you
I’ll be banding along the South Carolina coast must use the enclosed Audubon Order Form for us to
during November, with a trip to the Columbia and get the credit) and then pick up your seeds from the store
whenever needed during the year. No big storage space
Augusta areas in early December. Please let me
needed at your home. The seeds are available in 5#
know if you’ve got hum-
and 20# bags, and are
mers, including Ruby- available in 10 variet-
throated, coming to your ies to match your bird
feeders. Even if you are feeding needs.
only seeing them occasion-
ally, please contact me. I’d THANK YOU for
love to come band your your support of this
birds. Audubon Charter.
Thanks, Doreen

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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 January 2009

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is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds,
other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity
and the earth's biological diversity.

Festival Centre at Indigo Park Feeders, Nest Boxes,

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always 10% discount storewide!
We Bring People And Nature Together®
Visit us at www.wbu.com J-2 Village at Wexford • Hilton Head Island • 785-4311

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January 2009 Page 5


297 Issue #:
Hilton Head, South Carolina 29938
P.O. Box 6185
Hilton Head Island Audubon Society Organization:
Monthly Sept.-May Frequency:
January 2009 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

JANUARY ~ FEBRUARY 2009 Calendar

0
JAnuary B E Q U E S T S
Thurs. Jan. 8 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm If you wish to honor a family
member or friend with a memorial
Tues. Jan. 13 Monthly Meeting at the Seabrook . .................... 7:30 pm
gift, or remember the Audubon Ne-
Tues. Jan. 27 Field Trip to Savannah NWR .............................. 8:00 am whall Preserve or the Hilton Head
Island Audubon Society in your will,
your gift may be in the form of secu-
rities, cash, life insurance, real estate,
FEBRuary or other property.

Thurs. Feb. 5 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm Contact your own estate planner
or our Audubon Chapter at P.O. Box
Tues. Feb. 9 Monthly Meeting at the Seabrook . .................... 7:30 pm 6185, Hilton Head Island, South
Carolina 29938.
Sharing your estate with Audubon
not only reduces the taxes on your
estate but will help protect birds,
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 January 2009