june 2010 wingbars newsletter atlanta audubon society
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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ATLANTAAUDUBON SOCIE4055 Roswell Roa
Atlanta, GA 3034
678.973.2437www.atlantaaudubon.o
GOS RARE BIRD ALE
770.493.8862
JUNE 2010
Volume XXXVI, Issue 6 ATLANTA AUDUBON SOCIETY
I N S I D EOil in the Gulf ..................
From the Exec Dir...........
Time for Hummingbirds..
Field Notes - March........
Field Trips........................
A Million Thanks.............
Volunteer Opportunities.
Echols Scholarship Winn
Earth Day Kids Fest........
Spotting Scopes.............
Sculpting Workshop .......
Classifieds.......................
Future of AAS......................
Membership....................
Bird Brainer.....................
Becoming a Better Birder Now!Saturday, July 24, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AMYou can spend countless hours in patient observation
You can spend endless hours on your own trying to untangle the endlessinformation
oryou can spend three hours with ornithologist Georgann Schmalz,learning to Become a Better Birder!
Becoming a Better Birder covers aspects of birding that a novice birderusually needs to learn by experience in the field and often does not.Participants will spend time learning good techniques of birding in the fieldsuch as understanding which part of the tree a particular bird prefers to
forage or how to pick up as many visual cues as possible while a bird flits inand out of the foliage.
Class instruction will also include choosing good optics, books and sound devices. Participants will notonly develop good identification skills under Georganns expert guidance but will also experience thesatisfaction that better birding can yield.
This class is a must for any new birder who feels somewhat overwhelmed by the birding skills of moreadvanced birders!
AAS Education and Conservation Office4055 Roswell Road , Atlanta, GA 30342$35 Friends of AAS/ $45 Non-members welcome
Registration required. Please register for this class by visiting www.atlantaaudubon.org anddownloading the Registration Form for All Workshops document.
Georgann Schmalz
Introduction to BirdPhotography
August 21, 1:00-5:00 PMAugust 22, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Learn how to use your SLR camera to capturecreative bird photographs, and begin your journeyto become the nature photographer that youvealways wanted to be!
During this eight-hour workshop, you will receivephotographic instruction from Georgias first IBA
Learn to shoot Roseate Spoonbills like the pros!
Photographer: Bill Stripling,
courtesy of the National Audubon Society
Basics ofColored PencilSaturday, July 17,10:00 AM-3:00 PM
Have you ever wanted to try your hand atrecreating some of Audubons vivid birddepictions with colored pencils? Drawing withcolored pencils requires a different approachthan with black and white. Let Atlanta artistCarol Sutherland lead you through anotherfabulous drawing workshop!
Carols experience and qualifications areapparent in the quality instruction that she
Summer Learning and Fun at AAS
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
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Board of Directors2010
OFFICERSPresident Carol Hassell
President-elect Vacant
Co-TreasurersEllen Miller
Tom Painter404.524.8833
Recording Secy Mark [email protected]
DIRECTORSConservation Dave Butler
Education Vacant
Field Trips Stanley [email protected]
Communications Vacant
Public Relations Beth Giddens770.792.3712
JoAnn Jordan678.488.8022
Volunteers Vacant
AT LARGE
Jay Davis404.624.4973
Pam Higginbotham770.939.3592
Harriette Hoyt770.650.8501
David Kuechenmeister404.822.8089
Victor WilliamsEarthshare Representative
STAFF
Executive Director Catharine Kuchar678.973.2437
Education Coordinator Emily Toriani-Moura678.973.2437
Administrative Coordinator Sally Davis678.973.2437
WebsiteJim Flynn
Wingbars ManagerDiane Hawkins-Cox
Wingbars EditorSusan Milne404.502.5496
ProofreadingSteven Phenicie
Design & LayoutCopy Preparation 770.939.2002
Newsletter deadline is the first of the monthfor material to be published
the following month.Please submit articles as MS-Word to
[email protected] attachments, if possible.
Wingbars is the official newsletter of AtlantaAudubon Society and is published 11 times a
year. We feature news, upcoming events,meetings, field trips and projects.We hope youwill join us. Opinions expressed are those of theauthors and do not necessarily reflect policies
of the Atlanta Audubon Society.
Mission Statement:
Protecting Georgias birds and the habitats that sustain them
through education, conservation and advocacy.
2 Atlanta Audubon Soci
Oil in the Gulf -- What You Can DAtlanta Audubon has been receiving a lot of calls and emails about the oil rig disaster in the Gulf of
Mexico. To learn how you can help, and for information on how the oil is affecting birds, go to the
National Audubon Society website, www.audubon.org. National Audubon is working on the problem an
has issued the following:
National Audubon Action Alert
The tragic oil platform explosion off Louisianas Gulf coast is rapidly becoming an environmental disaster.
The loss of 11 oil workers may be just the beginning of this tragedy as millions of gallons of oil head for land,
putting birds, wildlife and the coastal environment in grave danger.
Audubon staff across the country are marshalling resources and personnel to respond to the looming disaster.
Audubon Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi staff and chapters are working to prepare for impacts to birds, wildlif
and important habitat as the spill makes its way toward land.
Audubon is coordinating volunteer efforts and you can help! From cleaning oiled birds to counting birds to picking
up trash on beaches before the oil hits - there are many things that you can do to help. If you are interested in
volunteering, please go to www.audubon.org and click on the How You Can Help link. National Audubon will get
back to you soon with more details.
While every hand is needed and welcome, its vital that volunteers offer their help through coordinated efforts lik
this so that the greatest good can be focused where it is needed the most. Please avoid going to affected areas ohandling wildlife until you are part of coordinated responses. Even well-intentioned people can inadvertently
interfere with important recovery efforts. Other sensitive areas with nesting birds that may not be impacted by th
spill will not welcome random volunteers, however good the intention.
Audubon has our people on the ground and is working with state and federal agencies leading the response - we
can help find the best volunteer job for you.
Additionally, Audubon is working with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology to recruit citizen scientists to help
document bird distribution at Gulf coast sites, and the effects of the oil spill.
We encourage birders along the Gulf coast to record their observations of birds and submit this information to
www.ebird.org, a real-time, online checklist program. This vital documentation of the location and abundance of
birds will help us identify high priority areas for protection and restoration as the oil comes ashore. Documenting
site use by birds as the situation evolves will also help Audubon and Cornell scientists assess the effects of this son Gulf coast habitat. This is critical to providing a sound foundation for restoration and long-term protection.
The eBird team is developing tools that will allow us to feed live data from birders into educational material on th
spill.
Your efforts can make an important contribution. Please help!
Note: Be sure that your observation activities pose no danger to
nesting birds and other wildlife, or to yourself. Please do not
disturb birds or damage habitat when surveying birds. It is critical
that birders stay out of nesting areas for plovers, shorebirds,
terns, wading birds and other colonial nesters. Counting them
from a distance can still provide valuable information on the
importance of these sections of the Gulf coast. And for your own
protection, leave the area at once if you smell or see oil.
For the initiative protocol and directions on signing up for ebird,
go to: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/survey-gulf-coast-birds.
Snowy Egret and Laughing Gull are just two of the many bspecies at risk from the oil leak in the Gulf.
Photographer: Bill Stripling,
courtesy of the National Audubon Society
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From the Executive Directorby Catharine Brockman Kuchar
Experiencing the Joy of Nature Through Art and Journaling
Experiencing the joy of nature can happen in many different ways. We enjoy our feathered friends when we go on a fieltrip, take a walk in the woods, or simply look out our back window. The art of journaling can be an important part of thexperience. According to Clare Walker Leslie, Nature journaling is the regular recording of observations, perceptions,
and feelings about the natural world around you.
Throughout history, humans have used journals as a way to record what they were observing, from navigating the worldto reflecting on the wonders of nature they witnessed around them. Explorers Lewis and Clark, naturalists John Muirand John James Audubon, writer Beatrix Potter and others have used the journal as an important tool. It can recordones surroundings, thoughts, feelings, and events while providing an important record of a particular place and timeand using scientific observations.
I am proud to be working with TogetherGreen on my fellowship project to connect children to nature throughjournaling. The goal of my project is to inspire kids to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature, while at the same time
having a positive direct impact on conservation. So far we have designed special journals and pencils for students. In addition, I have created acurriculum for teachers and a student guide. The journals will be given free to teachers who want to integrate the program into their classroomsor after-school programs.
Students will learn how nature journals have been used throughout history by explorers, scientists, pilots, and writers. They will learn basiccreative techniques for nature journaling with exercises and activities that can be done both indoors and outdoors. They can use these skills todevelop their ability to focus, observe, record and reflect on what they experience in the natural world. It will not only help to build their ownobservational and artistic abilities, but also help them to experience the world around them in a different way.
We are currently piloting the program with various groups, including three after-school programs on the BeltLine (a good tie into our BeltLineproject from 2009) and various events such as Dunwoody Nature Center camp. We recently ran the program at the Youth Birding Competition atCharlie Elliott Wildlife Center where over 50 children participated and had a great time!
We are also making connections across the country and internationally with the program. I am working with another TogetherGreen fellow tomplement the program into her fellowship work in Montana. In addition, I am working to have a program with students in Russia. We are
delighted to be able to offer this exciting program and to help children experience nature in a new and special way.
Sketch by Catharine Kuchar
A TIME FOR HUMMINGBIRDSAn Essay by Jo Ellen Wilburn
MAY 5, 2010 -- It was a week like no other. The pollen count was obscene and her medication
wheezing was caught in bureaucracy and hadnt been mailed, let alone arrived. She had let her suppof checks fall to none, search as she did among 15 red boxes of duplicates from 05. Checks took twweeks to replace, in this high tech age of instant everything. Waiting was not her long suit. Apparenforgetting to order was.
The broker was supposed to be sending her IRA withdrawal, a sizable check to complete a transactwith the car dealer who called twice a day. The dealer was prompt. He would have been perfectly willto send her home in that shiny new car and hold the check she might write until there was actual
money behind it.It had rained hard three days straight. The hummingbird feeder was clean and filled, but the Ruby-
throats had not been seen. At first wasps emptied it! They were also somehow arriving regularly in her bathroom, and buzzing her head inthe den at the computer. Thank goodness for earth friendly bug spray.
The world was covered in green. Azaleas had been in full glory before the rain, but the petals were a lovely carpet now. The other bird feedwas busy, the rabbit had reappeared, the chipmunks were darting in panic across the patio. Squirrels were plentiful. Hawks were nestingnearby. Overriding the smaller frustrations, family members were seriously ill and news was grim. Although blessed by spring it was hard love the earth in all its splendor.
She opened a door at dusk to inhale the fresh, washed air. At 8 oclock, with dusk descending, they arrived. The female was feeding. Themale was flying. For 30 minutes in dim light she sat with binoculars at the closest setting and enjoyed Ms. Hummingbird feasting. The Gwas full of oil, the weather had been stormy, but here they were again. There is a time for all things, and the time of the hummingbirds hareturned.
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ATLANTA AREA
DUCKS CL had a nice count of 250 GADWALLSat the E.L. Huie Land Application Facility (ELHLAF)in Clayton Co. on 4 March. Two CANVASBACKSwere seen at Lake Varner in Newton Co. on 1March (MMcS). JFly counted 142 REDHEADS atLake Lanier on 1 March for an excellent count.SM had 46 REDHEADS at Peachtree City Lake on4 March. Five WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, firstreported on 19 Feb. at Lake Varner, were seen aslate as 13 March by JN.
GREBES THROUGH OSPREY An EARED GREBEwas a good spot at Lake Varner on 13 March(JN). An early CATTLE EGRET was found at theELHLAF on 24 March (CL). Single YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen at theMercer Wetlands on 24 March (BB), at theChattahoochee River National Recreation Area(CRNRA) also on 24 March (CB) and at the BigCreek Greenway on 27 March (GB). A
pair of nest building OSPREYS was takingadvantage of a cell phone tower in eastern CobbCo. on 15 March (TC).
SANDHILL CRANES There were a total of tenreports of SANDHILL CRANES totaling about 5200birds.The peak count came from Bartow Co. withapproximately 4000 birds. Most of the flockswere seen between 1 March and 9 March withthe latest report coming from North Fulton Co. on22 March (PP).
PLOVERS THROUGH ORIOLES A BLACK-BELLIEDPLOVER was a rare find at the ELHLAF on 22March (JH).AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS werefound in excellent numbers in Bartow Co. with 35on 21 March (KB), 50 on 22 March (HG) and 34
on 23 March (PMcL). KO was the fortunateobserver of an adult and three young AMERICANWOODCOCKS on 7 March along the CRNRA. ACLIFF SWALLOW was early in Rockdale Co. on 14March (NF, KB). KB found 50+ BREWERSBLACKBIRDS in Bartow Co. on 21 March.ABALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen in the Morningside
area on 26 March (EB). It was first seen in thatarea on 24 Dec.
GEORGIA AREA
GEESE THROUGH GROUSE A ROSSS GOOSEwas found in the Milledgeville area on 6 March(J&MA). The TUNDRA SWAN previously reportedfrom Floyd Co. was seen there at least until 7March (RC). Two COMMON EIDERS previouslyreported from Sea Island were still there as of 22March (LH, BF).The last date for a female WHITE-WINGED SCOTER at Piedmont NWR was 26March (JSe, HG). MM and JSp had good numbers
of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS at Carters Lakewith a peak count of 37 on 18 March. Also in theCarters Lake area on 18 March were a RUFFEDGROUSE (JSp) and an EARED GREBE (MM).
PELICANS THROUGH CRANES TK had 22AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the Brunswickarea on 1 March. Interesting birds at the Walter F.George Dam were a BROWN PELICAN on 6 March(JFly) and a GREAT CORMORANT at least until 15March (RoB). There were four reports ofSANDHILL CRANES totaling about 400 birds. Thelast report was of 82 at Carters Lake on 23March (JSp). JSp also had two WHOOPING
CRANES in Gordon Co. on 23 March.The locationof the birds was kept secret and as far as weknow the birds left safely.
PLOVERS THROUGH GULLS There were anumber of reports of AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS from the Albany area, Dougherty Co.and Gordon Co.The peak count was 47 inDougherty Co. on 26 March (DMo). There were agood number of AMERICAN AVOCETS reportedfrom the Jekyll Island and Brunswick areas withthe peak count of 150 coming from Jekyll Islandon 24 March (TK). A STILT SANDPIPER was agood find at the Altamaha WMA near Darien on14 March (CL, JSe). BS obtained photos of ayoung ICELAND GULL on Jekyll Island on 5 Marchfor a very rare sighting.
DOVES THROUGH WARBLERS A WHITE-WINGEDDOVE was reported from the Darien area on 6March (DV). Three SHORT-EARED OWLS wereseen at the Cobb Owl Fields on 7 March (JSp).The last report of the RUBY-THROATEDHUMMINGBIRD in Valdosta was 25 March(J&KSw). A GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER wasrather early at Darien on 24 March (DC). RaB
reported several RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHEFannin Co. on 1 March. The previously reporteNASHVILLE WARBLER at Augusta was again seon 6 March (LS et al.).The last date for the
Valdosta VIRGINIAS WARBLER was 24 March(J&KSw). Interesting warbler sightings includeOVENBIRD at Reed Bingham State Park on 21
March (WS) and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT oJekyll Island on 17 March (LT).
SPARROWS WS had an outstanding count ofBACHMANS SPARROWS at theChickasawhatchee WMA on 20 March. In the
Albany area the previously reported HENSLOWand LE CONTES SPARROW were last seen onabout 22 March (AA). JFle reported a very nicecount of 30 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS inLaurens Co. on 13 March.
TANAGERS THROUGH ORIOLES An earlySCARLET TANAGER was reported from Gilmer
on 21 March (NS, MG).A WESTERN TANAGER seen in the Athens area on 20 and 27 March (MN). An INDIGO BUNTING joined a male PAINTBUNTING at a Glennville feeder on 15 March(GW). A male PAINTED BUNTING which was fiseen in the Savannah area in Dec. was joineda female on 22 March (SB).A YELLOW-HEADEBLACKBIRD was seen in the Brunswick area o13 March (BLa).The best counts of BREWERSBLACKBIRDS were 60 in Laurens Co. on 13March (JFle) and 22 in Jefferson Co. on 27 Ma(JFly). Three BALTIMORE ORIOLES were seen the Savannah Area on 20 March (SB).
CONTRIBUTORS Jerry and Marie Amerson, AAshley, Greg Bailey, Sandy Beasley,Tom BlakeKen Blankenship, Bill Boyd, Charlie Bostwick,Bowles, Ray Brown, Roy Brown, Renee CarletoDoris Cohrs,Tom Crews. Leslie Curran, MelvinDees, David Erickson, Nathan Farnau, Bill FlataJames Fleullan, Jim Flynn,Terry Forbes, DanFurbish, Hugh Garrett, Mary Gauge, Jim HannaBruce Horn, Earl Horn, Liz Horsey, Tim Keyes,Krause, Carol Lambert, Bill Laws, Bill Lotz, RutMarley, Hal Massie, Angie Maxted, Patty McLeMark McShane, Max Medley, Mary Meyer, SteMitchell, Darlene Moore, Peggy and Terry Moo
James Neves, Mark Nipper, Karen Osborne, PaPinyan, Wayne Schaffner, Beverley Schneider,Nedra Sekera, Jeff Sewell, Joshua Spence, SySpotts, Lois Stacey, John and Kate Swiderski,Lydia Thompson, Terry Valentine, Dan Vickers,Gene Wilkinson, and Stacy Zarpentine.
Terry Moore, 13000 Bucksport Ct., Roswell, GA
30075 [email protected]
March Field Notes by Terry Moorez
March was another rather
lackluster month for birding in
Georgia. There were some
carryover sightings from Feb. but by
and large there were few new
sightings with the exception of
large numbers of AMERICAN GOLDEN-
PLOVERS seen at various locations throughout
the state.
The Atlanta area reported 130 species
(average = 123.9) to bring the year-to-date
total to 149 (average = 142.4). The Georgia
area came in with 222 species (average =
205.8) to bring that year-to-date list to 250
(average = 239.6).
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Field Trips Compiled by Stan Chapman
Field trips are open to the public and free (unless otherwise noted). We welcomeeveryone from beginners to advanced birders! Please check the Atlanta Audubon
Website (www.atlantaaudubon.org) for additional June field tripsthat may be scheduled.
Sketch by Anne McCallum
Saturday, June 5, 7:30 AM
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge,
near Juliette, GA
Lloyd Pappy Snyder
cell phone 678-256-4463)
Meet at 7:30 AM at the park and boat ramp offuliette Road in Juliette.
Birding Focus: Nesting species, including Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher,Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, OrchardOriole, and Bachmans Sparrow, among many
others.Notes and Directions: Bring insect repellentand protection against ticks and chiggers andwear waterproof footwear. This trip will run wellnto the afternoon hours, so bring water andnacks.Directions from Atlanta:Go on I-75outh and take exit #186 (Juliette Road). Turn left
at the end of the exit ramp and follow JulietteRoad for 9.2 miles. Shortly after crossing theailroad tracks in Juliette, turn right into the park
and boat ramp JUST BEFORE you reach the riverbridge. The group will assemble and look forbirds in this park before carpooling to nearbyPiedmont National Wildlife Refuge at
approximately 7:45 AM.
Saturday, June 5, 8 AM
Piedmont Park, midtown AtlantaGeorge King
Meet at the Piedmont Park Conservancy building,corner of Piedmont Ave. and 12th St.Birding Focus: Migrants and permanentesidents.
Notes and Directions: This trip is especially
good for beginners, children and families, whoare invited on all AAS trips. A few extra pairs ofbinoculars will be available to borrow.Directions:From south of Atlanta, take I-75-85north to Pine St. (exit 249B). Go straight on Pine,cross Peachtree St. and then turn left ontoPiedmont Ave. Travel about one mile to 12th St.From northwest of Atlanta, take I-75 south toExit 250 and follow the signs to 10th Street. Turnleft onto 10th and follow it 1/2 mile to Piedmont
Ave. Turn left onto Piedmont, and follow it for 1/2
mile to 12th St.From northeast of Atlanta, takeI-85 south to Exit 84, and follow the signs to 10thStreet. Turn left onto 10th, and then follow thedirections above.From MARTA, get off at the
Arts Center station, walk south to 14th St.,turn left (east) and walk two blocks to Piedmont
Ave., and then turn right and walk two blocks to12th St.
Sunday, June 6, 8 AM
Brasstown Bald near Hiawassee,
Towns County
Bill Blakeslee
Meet at parking lot for park and visitors center.
Birding focus: Brasstown Bald is the highestpoint in Georgia and has some breeding birdshard to find in lower-elevation areas, includingthe Common Raven, Ruffed Grouse, Winter Wren,
Veery, and Canada Warbler. If the group is lucky,it will see several of these. Other species quiteregular there at this time of the year include theChestnut-sided and Black-throated-Blue Warblersand Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, among others.Note and Directions:A $5.00 per vehicle state
park fee applies.Directions from Atlanta: TGA-400 north from the north side of I-285, unends at US-19 in Dahlonega. Follow US-19/12north for approximately 30 miles until you coto GA-180 east. Turn right and follow 180 formiles until you get to GA-180 spur to BrasstoBald, which is on your left. Follow 180-spur two to three miles until your reach the parkiarea for the mountain.
Saturday, June 12, 8 AM
Dawson Forest Wildlife Management areAtlanta tract, DawsonvilleRuth Marley
Meet at the parking lot on the right just past main entrance gate.Birding Focus: Dawson Forest encompassearea of fields, wetlands and woodlands alongcreeks, with target specialty birds includingKentucky, Prairie, and Blue-winged WarblersYellow-breasted Chat, Field Sparrow and IndBunting.Directions:From Atlanta, take GA 400 nort36.6 miles from the north side of I-285.Turn lto Dawson Forest Road at the North Georgia
Premium Outlet, which is 6.6 miles past High369. (Hwy. 369 is at the first stop light along 4Drive 3.9 miles along Dawson Forest Road to9 to the stop sign, and continue straight foranother 1.5 miles to the gate into Dawson FoPast the gate, go past the power cut to the firturn on your right. The large parking lot is onright. The group will meet at the entrance tohorse park area at the far end of the parking
If you would like to lead a field trip, volunteer to help with the Field Trip Committee, contribute ideas for places to go, or give feedback about
leaders or trips, please e-mail Stan Chapman, Field Trips Coordinator, at [email protected].
Note: For up-to-date information about field trips, go to the AAS website, atlantaaudubon.org. It is wise to check this website to make sure no
changes have occurred in the schedule of trips. Most months, some trips are added after this newsletter is published. There hardly ever arecancellations, but any would be announced on the website. All trips are open to the public. No reservations are necessary and the public is
invited. The only fees that apply are those charged for entrance to any venue.
2010 Backyard
Wildlife Sanctuary Tour
Saturday, the 11th of September
We are planning an incredible tour centered in Buckhead, at and around
our education center and offices at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Look
for more information in upcoming editions ofWingbars and get ready to
read about the surprises we have in store for this years tour.
Volunteers: We need you! If you are interested in volunteering for this years
tour, please contact Jacqueline McRae at [email protected].
Question:
WhichAmericanwoodpeckermigrates
thefarthest?
See page 6 for answer
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Volunteer Corner Volunteer Corner VolunteCorner Volunteer Corner Volunteer Corner Volunte
A Million
Thanks!Atlanta Audubon Society is
an amazing organization
because of its volunteers! As
always, we extend our
unending gratitude to ALL
of our volunteers, but we
would like to send a special
thank you to the following
individuals this month.
Many thanks to Kit Robeyfor presenting a specialprogram about birds at the
Trinity School.
Ellen Miller contributes to
AAS in many ways from
sitting on our Board ofDirectors to helping out atthe recent Youth BirdingCompetition at a special
AAS journaling session forstudents. Thanks, Ellen, for
everything you do!
Cynthia Bohannon-Brown
has been doing a wonderful
ob organizing our festivalsthis spring. Cynthia, thanks
for helping with this veryimportant job!
olunteer OpportunitiesWe Need You!Can You Help With Any of These Important Volunteer Opportunities?
Holiday Banquet Host Committee NeededIt is that time of year again to plan the 2010 AAS Holiday Banquet and Silent Auction in December. We nechairperson, or co-chairs (this could be a couple), to help host our event. In addition, we need othercommittee members who can help with planning, event execution, securing silent auction items, decoratietc. Please help us make our holiday banquet a reality. We would like to secure at least 7-8 committeemembers and 1-2 chairs to help host this event. We will not be able to hold the event this year without acommittee in place. If you are interested, please contact [email protected].
Coordinator to help us publicize AAS events and programs (The Squawk)The Squawk is a new quarterly tri-fold brochure to publicize our events. We are looking for a volunteer,once the brochures are printed, to count out sets of copies for our volunteers around town who distributpieces. The volunteer will work with our core of about 15 volunteers to arrange for them to pick up thebrochures and get them to the various bird stores, etc. This is a quarterly job and would involve about 2-
hours per quarter. If interested, contact Catharine Kuchar at [email protected] or EmToriani-Moura at [email protected].
Volunteer Recognition CoordinatorAAS really appreciates each and every volunteer. We would like to put into place a Volunteer RecognitionProgram to acknowledge all the amazing volunteers who make AASs work possible in the community. Wneed to be able to publicly recognize their contributions to our work. To make this possible, we need avolunteer who will take on this project. The volunteer would work with staff to create a plan and then worexecute the ideas. This is a one-year volunteer position and would require about four hours a month ofservice and can easily be done from home. If you are interested, please [email protected].
Speakers NeededWe get many requests from garden clubs, schools and other groups to speak to them about birds andwildlife and we really need some volunteers to help at these events. We are planning to hold a trainingsession for our new speakers and we are creating ready-to-use presentations for our volunteers. Ourspeakers really enjoy getting out in the community and spreading the word about Atlanta Audubon Societand our feathered friends. If interested, contact Victor Williams at [email protected].
We Need You to Make Next Years
AAS Photo Contest Possible!
Photo Contest Committee
Members (and Chairperson)
NeededAre you interested in photography? Do you enjoy AASs yearly photo contestevent held in the spring? Would you like to help us continue this 31-year tradition?If so, please sign up to be on our Photo Contest Committee forming now. We needsomeone to be our Chairperson for the eventoverseeing the committee itselfalong with committee members. We are looking for individuals who can givetechnical assistance (judging, organizing and managing the photos themselves),help with publicity (writing Wingbars articles, etc.), help with event planning, and soon. Without a chairperson and committee in place by September of this year, wewill be unable to hold next years photo contest event.
Answer:The eastern race ofYellow-belliedSapsuckermigrates to the WestIndies and south tocentral Panama.
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Meet This Years Louisa Echols Scholarship Recipient!Each year the Louisa Echols Scholarship is awarded to a young adult who will attend an Audubon camin order to enrich his/her knowledge of birds and their natural ecosystems. Through a partnership with
the Georgia Ornithological Society, Atlanta Audubon Society will send University of Georgia (UGA)senior, Katie Moore, to the 2010 Maine Audubon Hog Island Field Ornithology camp.
Katie is from Wrightsville, Georgia, and is a student in UGAs Warnell School of Natural Resources. Un
Dr. Bob Coopers advisement, Katie is working on a senior research project which studies the responseWhip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows to increased levels of urbanization. This promising ornitholo
has always had an interest in birds, and these two nightjars in particular. One of Katies top priorities a
birder is to share interest and awareness of birds with others, as she has been able to do throughparticipation in several outreach programs. While at camp, she hopes to learn more about ornithologic
field work so that she may become more qualified for intense study of birds in the future.
Katie, we congratulate you for your desire to learn and we encourage your future ornithologicalendeavors. We cant wait to read your report on your camp experience in the September issue of
Wingbars!
Scholarship recipient Katie Moore
On Saturday, April 17, Chattahoochee Nature Center celebrated the conclusion of Environmental Education Week with its Eighth
Annual Earth Day Kids Fest. It was billed as a day of fun, learning and celebrating and it lived up to that promise for numerouschildren and adults in attendance. Acting as the events official greeter, the superhero, Captain Planet, promoted homegrown food
production through his very own Learning Garden.
This years Kids Fest showcased CNCs new LEED-certified Green Discovery Center. This earth-friendly facility contains a theater, nteractive exhibit hall, and a nature store. Inside the Chattahoochee River Resource Gallery, visitors experienced a watershed
environment through hands-on activities that stressed water conservation.
On the grounds of the nature center, patrons participated in numerous activities that supportedenvironmental stewardship. On Beaver Pond, some daring guests tried canoeing for the very first time
and had the chance to observe the festivities from the water. Professional football player Ovie Mughelliguided children through the Recycle Relay constructed from used tires and other recycled materials.
Billy Jonas improvisational band motivated many would-be musicians with its collection of instrumentscreated from discarded objects while the live animal presentations held other visitors attention.
Many non-profit organizations supported the CNC this year. The Girl Scouts of America were well-represented at this event, as was the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Atlanta AudubonMaster Birders Marilyn Harris and Mary Kelly helped families identify native birds through recorded
birdcalls and photos. The creation of backyard sanctuaries appeared to be on the minds of manyattendees. Luckily, the CNCs nearby native plant sale provided the flora needed to attract both native
and migratory birds.
After the days events were over, University of Georgias Insect Zoo took the top prize as the Best in Fest.As the attendees favorite event, UGA won a $500 prize and bragging rights. The events coordinator, Nikki
Parker, shared that close to 1,500 people visited Chattahoochee Nature Center for this annual festival.From the sound of things, informed visitors and our awesome planet truly were this years biggestwinners.
For additional CNC Earth Day Kids Fest photos visit http://cbbstudios.smugmug.com/Ecoevents.
Festivals in Review: CNCs Earth Day Kids Festby Cynthia Bohannon-Brown, AAS Festivals Coordinator
Captain Planet at the CNCs Eart
Day festivities
Photographer: Cynthia Bohanno
Brown
To see the photographs in this issue of Wingbars in their
original glorious color, go to www.atlantaaudubon.org
and click on Our Most Recent Newsletter.
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
8/128 Atlanta Audubon Socie
From an insert in the March-April 2010
issue of Audubon magazine
Bird-worthy binoculars are the single
indispensable birdwatching tool. If you
dont already own a pair, read The
Audubon Guide to Binoculars
(November-December 2009 of
Audubon) and get yourself properly
equipped to get in the game. As a
serious member of the birding tribe, you
will, sooner or later, want a spotting telescope and tripod. The
higher magnification and stability will allow you to see field
marks and fine details of distant birds that you cannot distinguish
with your binoculars. Choosing the right model is more
complicated than choosing binoculars, because there are more
choices of style, size, and eyepiece. You should know what to
look for and be aware of the trade-offs before pulling the trigger.Since a spotting scope is a major investment, and since you will
probably buy only one (okay, maybe twothree at the outside)
in your lifetime, you will really want to get it right. Although this
guide includes a few recommendations, it is not a comprehensive
buying guide. Our goal is to help you make an informed choice.
Choosing the right scope can be a complicated process, with
plenty of optionsand pitfalls. But make the right choice and
youll reap the rewards for years.
Playing the Angles
Your first decision will be
whether to purchase a scope
with a straight body (with the
eyepiece in a straight line with
the objective, i.e., the lens at the
tubes fat end) or one with an
angled body (with the eyepiece offset at a 45-degree angle). I
strongly recommend that you opt for the latter, because the
angled variety is, in many situations, easier to use and more
convenient to share. (Keep in mind that while binoculars are not
for sharing, spotting scopes definitely are.) You can set an angled
scope at a comfortable height for the shortest person in your
group and it will still accommodate the tallest. Angled scopes
allow you to aim skyward at a bird in a tree, soaring hawks, the
mountains of the moon, or the rings of Saturn. They have an
adjustment that lets you rotate the scope body to position the
eyepiece to the side or bottom. This feature enables you to raise
your scopes height and rotate the body to look down a hillside or
to look over high vegetation. If you do most of your viewing from
a blind or a car, you will prefer a straight scope, but angled is best
in most situations.
Sizing Up the OptionsMost manufacturers offer scopes in at least two sizes. The mo
popular small ones have objective lenses ranging from 60-65m
in diameter. The bigger typically have 80-85mm objective lens
Smaller scopes are lighter, more compact, and easier to carry
scopes admit more light and provide a marginally superior imin the dim light of sunrise and sunset. Their increased brightn
and resolution are most evident when using a zoom eyepiece
high magnification and in digiscoping (using a digital camera
take photographs through your spotting scope). Big scopes ar
bulkier and heavier than small scopes and may need a heavier
tripod to be properly supported. The weight difference is
negligible in the newest magnesium-bodied scopes offered by
some makers, but the large models from other makers can
outweigh their little brothers by up to a pound and a half. Sinc
you could be carrying your scope for several miles at a time,
consider the weight difference when making a decision. Four
years ago I sold my 80mm scope and aluminum tripod, whichtogether weighed 1212pounds, and bought a new 65mm comp
scope with a carbon fiber tripoda combination that weighs
at just over 6 pounds. The difference may not sound like a lot
my wife swears that trading down has made me a much nicer
person. If you are planning to use yours primarily for viewing
rather than digiscoping, a small scope will give you all the
brightness and detail you will need for 95 percent or more of
your birding. But if you plan to do a lot of digiscoping, I sugge
an 80-85mm model. A big scope will yield better photos, and t
larger aperture will allow your camera to select a faster shutte
speed.
Glass ActMany models advertise low dispersion
glass, which is designated (depending on
the manufacturer) as ED, APO, HD, EDG,
or FL in the model name. Low dispersion
glass is designed to correct certain
optical flaws inherent in a normal lens.
A normal lens disperses light along its
optical path, resulting in a failure to bring
all the wavelengths to a common focus
which, in turn, can cause a type of distortion known as
chromatic aberration. CA is most apparent when looking at
high-contrast object at high magnification. It appears as a ha
(magenta on one side and cyan on the other) at the objects ed
and is particularly irritating when looking at dark birds agains
bright background (or the converse). Chromatic aberration is
more pronounced in telescopes than in binoculars because of
telescopes longer focal length. Lenses made from low dispers
glass are designed to eliminate CA and the annoying halo. Suc
glass increases color saturation, contrast, and brightness. The
difference can be extremely subtle and difficult to discern in
The Audubon Guide to Spotting ScopesBy Wayne Mones
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
9/12June 2010 9
normal light at magnification up to 30x, but it can be very
apparent in low light and at magnification of 40x and higher.
When these lenses were first introduced they were considerably
more expensive to make than normal ones, so buyers were
aced with a dilemma: Is it a good idea to spend, perhaps, an
additional $500 to correct a fault that isnt apparent in most
viewing conditions? In recent years the price gap has closed to
he point where some makers of alpha-class scopes have stopped
elling non-ED models altogether. So what should you buy?suggest the most product you can afford, even if it means
tretching your budget a bit. You will amortize the extra cost over
he scopes long, useful life; more important, you will never regret
purchasing one that is too good. If you are interested in
digiscoping, an ED scope is essential, because chromatic
aberration is far more noticeable in photographs than it is to your
eye. CA will ruin your otherwise good photographs, especially
when theyre enlarged to 11x14 inches or more. If you cannot
afford an ED scope, consider a 30x fixed power eyepiece rather
han a zoom, because chromatic aberration will be far less
apparent at lower magnifications and youll also save some
money.
Eye on the EyepieceOnce upon a time all scope makers sold
the scope body and eyepiece separately.
The zoom eyepiece has since become so
popular that many makers now bundle all
their scopes with one. These eyepieces
(typically offering 2060x magnification)
are popular because they are convenient
allowing you to find a bird in the wider field at low magnificat
and then zoom in for more detail. There are, however, some
manufacturers that still sell scopes and eyepieces separately,
giving you a choice between zoom and fixed power wide-angl
models. The best zoom eyepieces are true optical marvels, but
they are not as bright and have a narrower field of view than t
best fixed power models. They are also considerably more
expensive. I believe that high magnification is less important t
most people realize. Keep in mind that exceeding 40x is often marginal value in field conditions because the effects of
atmospheric impurities and rising hot air currents (heat
shimmer) are more apparent in a highly magnified image and
because all images degrade at high magnification. I use a 30x
fixed power wide-angle eyepiece because I prefer the image it
offers to the one offered by a zoom. Beginners often prefer fix
power eyepieces because it is easier to find birds with the sco
than with zoom eyepieces. (Nevertheless, I confess to
occasionally wishing for a wee bit more oomph.) A fixed pow
wide-angle eyepiece is a better choice for digiscoping because
is brighter and causes less vignetting (fading at the photos ed
than a zoom. The scope makers that bundle their products witzoom eyepieces typically sell a fixed power wide-angle eyepie
as an accessory. You may, in fact, want botha zoom for that
once-in-a-lifetime trip where its all about making a once-in-a-
lifetime ID, and a fixed power wide-angle for the most satisfyi
images in most birding situations and for digiscoping.
For a downloadable PDF of this spotting scope guide, along w
a few recommendations of specific scopes, go to
www.audubonmagazine.org and search for spotting scopes.
Coordinator, Jim Wilson. Jim has published several books,ncluding the beautifully illustrated Common Birds of Atlanta, and
has been an avid birder and photographer for years. Long-timeAAS member and conservation activist Carl Tyler will also discussetting up your backyard as a bird sanctuary for photography.
im will cover topics such as lighting, exposure, depth of field,cene composition, accessory equipment, focusing, background
and photo editing via computer software. Youll learn about photoblinds and how to capture the image that best depicts the naturef your subject. The workshop will include both in-class and in-
he-field instruction.$50 Friends of AAS/$75 Non-members welcomeAAS Education and Conservation Office4055 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30342
Registration is required. Please visit www.atlantaaudubon.org todownload a registration form. We look forward to seeing you inlass!
provides. AAS members participated in her Black and White Drawiworkshop series and produced art they did not imagine that they ccreate. Look for some of their work and comments in the next issuWingbars.
Learning basic techniques for colored pencil can enrich your drawexperience. Soft buttery wax Prisma color pencils can produce brivibrant color (like acrylic or oil), or they can look light and airy if yuse a more sketchy approach. The class begins with some colorexercises in fundamental skill building, then progresses to drawingsmall leaf. The major focus will be a
small color rich image of a bird drawnwith a layering technique. Join us for aday of fun and discovery!
$75 Friends of AAS/$100 Non-members welcomeAAS Education and ConservationOffice4055 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30342
Registration is required. Please visitwww.atlantaaudubon.org to download aregistration form. We look forward toseeing you in class!
Summer Learning and Fun at AASBird Photography (continued from page 1) Colored Pencil(continued from page 1)
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
10/1210 Atlanta Audubon Socie
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 email, preferably in .pdf format. Call 678.973.2437 if you have questions.Send payment to WingbarsAds, Atlanta Audubon Society, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
Send ads via email to Catharine Kuchar at [email protected].
Just what you need toidentify more birds: thbest songs, photos andrange mapson an iPodor iPhone.
en ou omeTo The Mountains -
Ask about the new Birders Guide to Fannin County!We feature Coles seed,squirrel-proof feedersthat truly are, houses,hummingbird stuff,great books, Audubonoptics, & hard to findhardware. Plus 100sof Ravensburger Puzzles,Music of the SpheresChimes & a hugeselection of educationaltoys andgames for kids!
Downtown Blue Ridge & Inside Mercier Orchards
611 E. Main St. Blue Ridge, GA 30513(706) 258-BIRD (2473) blueridgebirdseed.com
P.O. Box 921455, Norcross, GA 30010
Website: www.workshopcreations.comE-Mail: [email protected]: 770-448-5363 Fax: 770-448-5363
Affordable Housing
and Feeders for
Birds, Bats and
Butterflies
Workshop Creations, Inc.
Basic, functional and long-lasting
cedar products
Order on our website:
Bird Songs of GeorgiaCD now available.
Email Georgann Schmalz atgeorgannschmalz@windstreamor visit www.birdingadventuresinc
Would You Like to
Save Trees?
And save AAS tim
and money in the
process?
If so, you can opt
out of receiving youmonthly newsletter mail and instead rea
Wingbars online.Just send us a message at
[email protected] well do the rest. Thecurrent issue is posted at
www.atlantaaudubon.org at tbeginning of the month.
Discover Your Inner MichelangeloSat., June 19 10 AM to 2 PM
Would you like to learn more about the travels of thegreat naturalist and explorer, William Bartram?
Would you like to learn how to sculpt a bird out of clay?
Then this workshop is for you! Chris Wilson, a wildlife sculptor, will not
only talk about his meditations on and inspiration from his ancestor,
William Bartram, he will also lead you through the process of creating
your own original piece of art. Chris has won over 100 first place awardsand 82 Best in Show awards for his sculptures. He has taught art classes
at Kennesaw State University (KSU), created over 100 sculptures in
public and private collections, and recently finished a commission for
Midnight Watch, a monumental size bronze owl
statue on the KSU campus. Dont miss this one-
of-a-kind opportunity to sculpt a clay bird with
such a talented instructor!
Charge: $85 Friends of AAS/$105 Non members
Location: AAS Education Office at the
Blue Heron Nature Preserve4055 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30342
Space is limited and registration is required.
Complete and send in the Workshop Registration
form on our homepage, www.atlantaaudubon.org,
to register. Contact Emily Toriani-Moura at
678.973.2437 for questions
Chris Wilsons Wilson Wildlife Sculpture web site:
http://wilsonwildlifesculpture.com/index.htmlWilliam Bartram and
Midnight Watch
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
11/12June 2010 11
Wingbars is mailed only to Friends of Atlanta Audubon. All new National Audubon Society members receive an
ntroductory 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,
you will not receiveAudubon magazine.
f you are not a Friend of AAS, please take this opportunity to fill out and return the form below.
Atlanta Audubon Society Membership Director, 4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342.
You can also join online: www.atlantaaudubon.org.
Join Atlanta Audubon Society
BENEFITSOF
MEMBERSHI 11 issues
(July/Augustcombined) of
WingbarsNewsletter
Friends discounton classes, tripsand special even
Use of the AASlibrary
Agreattaxdeduction!
J Make check payable to:Atlanta Audubon SocietyMembership Director4055 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30342
J Please charge my credit card:
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_______________________________ _________Card Number Expiration Date
J Renewal J New Membership
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J Basic Membership
J Individual ...........................................$25
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J Contributing Membership ...............................$50
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J Patron Membership......................................$500
Receive an official Atlanta Audubon T-shirt
J Benefactor Membership............................$1,000
Receive above plus autographed copy
Birds of Atlanta
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J Please send me information on planned giving opportunities through Atlanta Audubon Societys Legacy Club
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It is Atlanta Audubon Societys policy not to share or sell our mailing list. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to us.
Renew Online!
You can renew your memberonline by visiting our websitewww.atlantaaudubon.org a
linkingto the membership p
We are excited to be able to o
this service to you!
Simply go towww.atlantaaudubon.oand click onJoin/Renew AAS Onlin
(located under the log
Some important advances go unnoticed. The
development of the Atlanta Audubon Society may be
one. Everyone knows that we have an Executive
Director for the first time in the history of AAS. In
addition, four staff members now support Atlanta
Audubons adventures and undertakings. Perhaps
most important to our future is our new Mission
Statement. Our new Mission Statement lets
everyone know that we are focused on birds, but
added emphasis is given to habitat. In addition, thestatement has three action elements
conservation, education, and advocacy.
What does this mean for the Societys future? Our
chapter of Audubon may be large compared to
others in Georgia, but it is still relatively small and
relies strongly on volunteers. Think about what you
can do to further our mission.
CONSERVATION: Concern for habitat drives thework that Charlie Muise coordinates in our
mportant Bird Areas program. Charlie leads AAS by
nvolving us in bird banding. Keep an eye out for the
projects he asks us to help with. Dave Butler
energizes our efforts in Conservation. He has
excellent ideas about ways each of us can prevent
cats from increasing the decline of our bird
population. (See Daves article, Coyotes, Cats, &
Cardinals on page eight in the May issue of
Wingbars.) Now that AAS is launching a long-range
planning effort, let us know your ideas on how to
focus AAS conservation programs in the coming
years.
EDUCATION:Our education programs are strong.However, their future directions need further
discussion. AAS needs help thinking about what
groups in our communities can benefit from AAS
education efforts. Can you think of a way to include
more teens, college students, and other adults? Can
we offer Master Birder classes as part of scholastic
and college programs? Are we doing all we can
with electronic media to bring education about birds
into Atlantas homes? What should our Task Force
for Long Range Planning think about for the future?
ADVOCACY: And what should we do aboutadvocacy? Does our mission statement require that
we establish a Board position for that important
new element of our future efforts? Should we work
with county and state legislators to advocate fo
environment in Georgia that is friendlier to bird
Does AAS need to monitor legislation to protect
habitat for our states birds? Do we need to kee
Georgias representatives in Washington, D.C. b
informed about bird populations and habitat
changes?
The Board committed AAS to develop a long-ra
plan. How should that shape the future of Atlan
Audubon? Education is one area of established
strength, as is the conduct of regular field trips
metro Atlanta. Our adventures in the field now
beyond Atlanta to include Merritt Island NWF in
Florida, and international trips to Panama and
Colombia. But where should we be by 2020, or
2030, or at mid-century? What will distinguish
Atlanta Audubon from other birding, conservati
and advocacy groups? That question will take y
to answer in full. The time to begin seeking th
answer and choosing the pathway is now.
Everyone can make a contribution! Step up no
help to plan for the future of AAS. Contact Carl
ATLANTA AUDUBON IN 2010: THE FUTURE IS NOW!By Carl Tyler
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8/9/2019 June 2010 Wingbars Newsletter Atlanta Audubon Society
12/12
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P A I D
Atlanta,GA
Permit #917
Atlanta Audubon Society4055 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30342
Atlanta Audubon Society is an independent, non-profit
501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax deductible to
the fullest extent allowed by law.
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Wingbarsis printed on recycled paper
Bird BrainersOil spills, climate change, deforestation -- after all the bad naturenews of late, sometimes we just need a little something to make ussmile. So Wingbars is hoping to bring you an occasional feature --Bird Brainers. Wed like readers to send us photos theyve takenof birds or anything else from the natural world that cry out for agood cutline. Then, when you see the photos in Wingbars, sharpenyour funny bone and send us your ideas for captions. Well print thebest ones. If your photo and/or idea is chosen, youll win ourundying gratitude for helping us brighten our readers day. And yourname will be immortalized in print and on the Internet!
Well get you started. Heres a screen grab from the barn owl nestbox we told you about in the May issue of Wingbars. What mightthis owlet be saying? Send ideas to Diane Hawkins-Cox [email protected].