E cobon
February 2009:
No. 298
Newsletter of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society
Audubon Refuge Keepers
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE FEBRuary Program
By Bill Nicol
If you did not attend the January 13
meeting, you missed an excellent program
by Al Segars of the SC Department of
Natural Resources on Human Impacts on
Wildlife in the Lowcountry. Some of the
presentation was disturbing but pointed
out how we humans impact wildlife both
directly and indirectly. He also described
some of the ways the various organizations
in SC are trying to minimize the human
impact. Al briefly described the efforts
DNR makes to help injured wildlife.
There are several veterinarians who will
provide care for injured animals but they
must be taken to them. We do not have
many people who are sufficiently trained
to safely catch these injured animals and
get them to the vets. Al has agreed to
provide a training session for any of our
members who want to know more about
rescuing injured animals. If you wish to
attend this session, please contact me.
Our annual bird seed sale is now under-
way. If you can’t or don’t feed birds for
whatever reason, you may make a dona-
tion to the HHI Audubon Society for the
Education Program.
Finally, we are in difficult economic
times and many of our local businesses are
struggling. We are all encouraged to sup-
port our local businesses and I especially
encourage you to support the businesses
that support this newsletter by taking out
ads every year. Many of them have been
supporting our organization for years and
it is now time for us to help them out.
by Charlotte White
Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 7:30 p.m. at the Seabrook
The Waddell Mariculture Center and the Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve
Our local jewels for ecosystem research and education
David Harter, our February speaker, participates in many community organizations
and services. He is president of HHI Sport fishing Club, VP and projects director for
the HH Reef Foundation , board member of the South Carolina Wildlife Foundation, a
licensed Coast Guard captain, board chair of Friends of the River and serves on even
more ecosystems organizations. He has been a Hilton Head resident for 29 years. Dave
also currently writes the fishing column for the Bluffton Today newspaper.
Dave will talk at our Audubon meeting about the Waddell Mariculture Center and
the Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve.
He suggests that if we google aerial maps of the area, we can better appreciate the over
1,000 acres of the Victoria Bluff Preserve, right here in our community.
To learn more about these two great local ecosystem jewels, come to the Audubon
meeting on Tuesday, February 10, WITH A FRIEND, at 7:30 p.m. at the Seabrook, 300
Woodhaven Drive, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
FIELD TRIPS by Kay Hodnett
On February 12 we will take a field trip to Bear Island, a wildlife management area
northeast of Beaufort off Highway 17 toward Charleston. The staff at Bear Island can
accommodate a maximum of 25 people in our group, so sign up early—by calling Kay
Hodnett at 342-7485 or emailing to olivhod2@aol.com. (Please include the word “bird”
or “Audubon” in the subject line of the email.)
We will probably see large flocks of tundra swan, who will begin to leave later in
February. To increase our chances of seeing these magnificent birds, we need to arrive
early—by 9 AM. We will meet in the parking lot of Moss Creek Village to arrange car
pools and will leave from there at 7 AM sharp. Directions are available online at dnr.
sc.gov (click on managed lands and go from there). I will try to bring directions to Moss
Creek Village for drivers.
There is no charge for the Bear Island trip. Bear Island staffers will give us a two-hour
guided wagon tour. This is an open-air ride sort of like a hayride, so dress appropriately
(brr), and take a boat cushion and blanket if you like. Bring binoculars (no scopes are
allowed on the wagon ride).
After the tour we can do some more birding on our own. There are covered picnic
tables so bring a bag lunch. There are restroom facilities on the premises. We should get
back to Moss Creek by 3 PM. Overall, despite the early takeoff, this should be a good
trip for those unable to walk long distances (as well as for those hardy souls who choose
to extend their time by birding in nearby Donnelly wildlife management area.)
On March 12 we will take a trip to the International Center for Birds of Prey, less than
15 miles north of Charleston. We will meet for this trip at the Moss Creek Village
parking lot, form car pools, and depart at 7:30 AM, expecting to return to Moss Creek
by 4:30 PM. There is no limit on the number who can participate. The cost per person
will be $10 or $12 depending on how many sign up. Fuller information about this
trip will appear in the March Ecobon, but mark your calendars now for March 12th.
 HHI Audubon ECOBON PROFILE by Betty Walter
Board of Directors:
President
Bill Nicol 671-4721 Kenny Neitzke
Vice President
Ken Neitzke 705-3970 Proud son of northern Wisconsin,
Treasurer our Vice President and his wife, Jean,
Karen McGinty 681-8498 now spend six months at Sun City and six
Fran Baer 686-6348
Recording Secretary months at Eagle River near the important
Steve White 837-4597 birding area (IBA) at Deer Skin River.
Corresponding Secretary
Sherman Barker 342-6596 It's a 1500 mile drive they take twice a
Members‑at‑Large year enabling them to see many beautiful
Howard Costa 842-9447 and historic sights along the way.
Jim Currie 681-8525
Marianne Currie 681-8525 Before retirement, Kenny was in
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Barry Lowes 671-3537 the plumbing industry as Department
Nan Lloyd 363-2092 manager and estimator and Jean was a director of nursing for 25 years. But this wasn't
Betty Walter 842-7147
Joan Wilson 837-2874 all. As parents of 3 children, they were super active - Ken's Boy Scout leadership for
Committee Chairpersons: instance and Jean's involvement with an adult day care center caring for Alzheimer's
Adopt-A-Refuge (Pinckney) patients. This led to Kenny's giving many talks in is community about how to be a
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Karen McGinty 681-8498 caregiver. You can see that Kenny is strong on community volunteer efforts - he calls
Audubon Newhall Preserve it "giving back". That's why he also gave talks on construction/ onsite safety - his goal
Joan Shulman 842-9246 to prevent accidents - to make a difference.
Bird Walks/Field Trips
Kay Hodnett 342-7485 This also explains his tremendous interest in the Backyard Bird Count Project.
Bird House Construction
Jim Collins 671-1240 The programs on birds in the schools can make a difference in the lives and outlook of
Bird Seed Sale these children and eventually in the lives of the birds.
Ed Nash 681-5725
Christmas Bird Count Kenny is a member of the Sun City Bird Club, as well as our own chapter, but
Barry Lowes 671‑3537 years before in Wisconsin was keenly interested in helping out the birds. He was for
Education instance a herder of trumpeter swans for a Wisconsin bird banding project. I felt at the
Mary Jane Major 342-5804
Historian end of our interview there was much more to know about this man of many interests
Betsy Pehrson 689-2243 than could go in this small article, particularly about his goal of helping handicapped
Hospitality children. We are certainly sure he will "make a difference" in our community.
Thea Luba 785-3214
Legislation
Kay Hodnett 342-7485
Membership BIRD SEED SALE UPDATE by Ed Nash
Thea Luba 785-3214
Newsletter Circulation The initial sales to mid-January are encouraging, with
Marianne Currie 681-8525 10 buyers ordering 53 bags totaling 1000 pounds! The

Newsletter Editor
purchases ranged from 1 to 14 bags, which is very help-
Joan Wilson 837-2874 ful as “every bag really counts.” Our Audubon Adven-
Programs tures Program with the local school system coordinated
Charlotte White 837-4597
Publicity & Public Relations
by Mary Jane Major, our Education Committee Chair-
Clem Dietze 837-2612 man, continues to grow. She reports that there are 36
Sales Table teachers of 3rd thru 6th grade pupils, using this program
OPEN 686-6406
Shorebirds/Conservation
of nature study workbooks. The 41 classes (some teachers have more than 1
Howard Costa 842-9447 class, with 1 teacher having 4 classes) hove about 1034 students this year. Our
Special Projects current bird seed sales will go to fund the program next fall. Our target is to fully
Richard Shulman 842-9246
Sun City Representative
fund this effort, and we ask that every member or friend of Audubon to “buy a
Kevin Cahill 705-3570 bag or two or more.”
Wetlands/Conservation
Sally Krebs H: 757-2973 O: 341-4690 If anyone doesn’t feed any birds, but still would like to offer support, we would
Website: www.hiltonheadaudubon.org welcome any donation. Please make the check out to HHI Audubon, and note
The Ecobon is a monthly publication (September through May) of
“Aud Adventure Program (or AAP) in the check memo line. Mail it to Ed Nash, 27
the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society. Subscription is a benefit
of membership. Direct inquiries to P.O. Box 6185, Hilton Head
Scarborough Head, HHI 29928 and it will be added to this fund raiser account.
Island, South Carolina 29938 or call one of the above officers
or chairpersons. Thanks again to everyone for your support of this local educational program.

Page 2 February 2009

NOTES FROM THE NEWHALL PRESERVE
by Joan Shulman
After the January cold spell, I am sure we are all looking for
signs of warmer weather to come. One of the earliest blooming
trees in our area is the Red Maple (Acer /rubrum/). The most
prominent one in the Preserve is to the right of the pond deck. It
is a common tree in our area, showing its red blossoms as early as
January. The red maple is easily visible along most of our road-
ways. After the blossoms come the winged fruits (also red, but
sometimes yellow).
Richard Porcher, an authority on South Carolina plants, writes
that the “Red maple is one of the pioneer trees in aquatic succes-
sion in abandoned rice fields and can establish itself in recently
cleared, upland sites. . . . [It] is often planted as a shade tree; the
wood is used for a variety of products and maple syrup can be
made from the sap, although the sap contains less sugar than the
sugar maple.”
Another late winter plant with colorful blossoms is the Yellow
Jessamine (Gelsemium /sempervirens, /the state flower of South
Carolina. It is a woody vine commonly found in the coastal plain
and the piedmont, often along roadsides. All parts of the vine and
the fragrant flowers are poisonous if ingested but not to the touch.
There is a yellow jessamine vine behind the bench at the pocosin
in the Preserve. The flowering vine can be spotted all along Pal-
metto Bay Road to the Cross Island bridge.
Thank you to Thea Luba and her grandchildren for monitoring
the trails in the Preserve in January.
BIRD EDUCATION CONFERENCE
The Council for Environmental Education, Flying WILD,
and the Bird Education Network (BEN) will soon be hosting
/Bird Conservation through Education: A National Gathering in
Jekyll Island, Georgia.
This week-long conference, held from February 22 – 26,
2009, will bring together leaders from government agencies,
conservation organizations, zoos, non-profits, and more to pro-
vide a unique opportunity for educators and bird professionals
to network and exchange ideas about best practices for educat-
ing the public about bird conservation.
Conference goals include:
· Professional development opportunities
· Further the expansion of a national campaign to
develop birdeducation best practices
· Promote the inclusion of diverse audiences within
bird education
· Elevating bird education as a key component in the
“No Child Left Inside” movement
February 2009 Page 3
recent AREA bird sightings
by Jack Colcolough
We have completed another successful CBC finding
respectable 153 bird species (covered separately) and are
entering 2009 hoping for a better year birdwise and oth-
erwise. All of our common winter ducks, shorebirds and
songbirds have arrived in the area.
The monthly highlights for sightings were all rare finds
in our area and included: Greater White-fronted Goose,
Black-bellied Whistling Duck and Blue Phase Snow Goose
at Savannah NWR, Long-tailed Duck in Savannah, Purple
Sandpiper and Lesser Black-backed Gull at Tybee Island
and Black-chinned Hummingbird at Skidaway Island.
Other rare sightings reported were: Reddish Egret, Vir-
ginia Rail And White-crowned Sparrow.
Uncommon birds found included: Wilson’s Plover,
Purple Finch, Orange-crowned Warbler, Greater Scaup,
Red-throated Loon, Northern Gannet, Piping Plover, Mer-
lin, Peregrine Falcon, Rusty Blackbird and Golden-crowned
Kinglet.
Other good finds reported included: Horned Grebe,
Greater Black-backed Gull, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Bonaparte’s Gull and Red-headed Woodpecker.
An apparent “overwintering” female Painted Bunting is
visiting a bird bath in Moss Creek. Also several overwinter-
ing Ruby-throated Hummers were reported. Bald Eagles
c
were reported seen at four sites.
Thanks to all whom contributed to these sightings: Karen
McGinty, Doris Stoner, Dottie Bass,
John Crenshaw, Dave & Carole Lovett,
Doris McCullough, Russ Wigh, Peter
Zachmann, Royce Hough, Fran Baer,
several visitors, et al.
To report a rare, uncommon or
first-of-the-year (FOTY) or season
bird sighting in our area, please e-mail jackcolcolough@
aol.com, call 689-3455 or send a blank e-mail to: birding-
friends@yahoogroups.com to join the birding 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.
 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT REPORT ~ NOW 2008 AND THEN 1978
165 PARTICIPANTS SPECIES: 153 NUMBER OF BIRDS: +/- 30,000
Considering the decline in the number of birds, world-wide, we had a fine day and thanks to all of you who came out to give “a
day” for the birds. We achieved some impressive results. While we are not in competition with anyone, our count will rank high
among the other 1800+ Counts which occurred from Alaska to Hawaii. Many observers brought cameras this year and helped to
corroborate ‘rare’ species for the Count.
If you read the chart, setting out the results for the last 10 years, you will note that while we continue to dig out more than 150
species each year, it is growing increasingly difficult to find many birds of each species.
Your efforts in this Citizen Science Project each year, together with all the other 1800+ Counts, portrays an important picture of the
status of the birds: where they are, where they aren’t and how they are faring in spite of the myriad of factors working against them.
In this same issue you will see an aging copy of the Packet’s report of
the 1978 Bird Count 30 years ago. The names of the participants are no-
table as those who worked throughout their lives, to preserve and protect
the birds and the natural beauty of Hilton Head Island. They turned over
the Bird Count to me in 1983. It’s time for another change! Who would
like to take over this important Chapter activity?
Mark your calendar now for December 19, 2009. Special recogni-
tion should be given to the Area Captains, some of whom have given
leadership for more than 15 years. Without their efforts and leader-
ship, the CBC could not happen. Next time you see them say “Thank
you. What can I do to help?” Marianne and Jim Currie, Peg Mar-
tin, Richard and Joan Shulman, Patty Benz, Kelly and Susan Murphy,
Ed Nash, Mary Jane and Bob Majors, Jack Colcolough, Clem Dietze,
Doris Stoner, Jim and Judy Grove, Jane Hester, Lois Lewis, Charlie
Bales, Eleanor Lehmann, Joan Wilson. A special thanks to Nan Lloyd
for the many hours she spends over the months to computerize and
compile the final results.
Remember to feed and WATER the birds. Get out into your garden
and beyond. Enjoy the birds. Good sightings in the New Year.
BARRY LOWES

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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 February 2009

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298 Issue #:
Hilton Head, South Carolina 29938
P.O. Box 6185
Hilton Head Island Audubon Society Organization:
Monthly Sept.-May Frequency:
February 2009 Issue Date:
Permit #39
Title: Ecobon
Hilton Head Island, SC
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938
Non Profit Organization
P. O. Box 6185
Ecobon

FEBRUARY ~ MARCH 2009 Calendar

0
FEBRuary B E Q U E S T S
Thurs. Feb. 5 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm If you wish to honor a family
member or friend with a memorial
Tues. Feb. 10 Monthly Meeting at the Seabrook . .................... 7:30 pm
gift, or remember the Audubon Ne-
Thurs. Feb. 12 Field Trip to Bear Island........................................ 7:00 am whall Preserve or the Hilton Head
Island Audubon Society in your will,
your gift may be in the form of secu-
march rities, cash, life insurance, real estate,
Thurs. Mar. 5 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm or other property.

Tues. Mar. 10 Monthly Meeting at the Seabrook . .................... 7:30 pm Contact your own estate planner
or our Audubon Chapter at P.O. Box
Thurs. Mar. 12 Field Trip to Internat'l Center for Birds of Prey.... 7:00 am 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 February 2009