Birmingham Audubon is once again offering two summer field trips in search of kites and storks. If you have never witnessed the spectacle of Mississippi and swallow-tailed kites feeding on the wing, you are missing one of the most spectacular aerial shows on earth. Kites are regular late summer visitors to the Tombigbee and Alabama River systems in the upper coastal plain. Their acrobatic maneuvers while catching insects in flight is truly a sight to behold. And speaking of eating, another bonus on these outings is the food, Chef Lee’s in Autaugaville and the Pie Lab in Greensboro or perhaps the Faunsdale Bar and Grill in Faunsdale, will be our destinations for lunch.We also hope to see wood storks on these outings. Wood storks, whose numbers fluctuate from year to year, have to be one of the home-liest creatures you will ever see, but in the air their striking black and white forms are beautiful sights indeed. You won’t want to miss these field trips so mark your calendars now and get prepared for the summer heat!Here are the details of both trips:SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2013 TRIP: We will head to the Pratt-ville/Autaugaville area as we have in previous years. These are wide ranging species, but I feel confident we will observe them at some point during our trip. Plus, the areas east of Autaugaville have been good locations to look for painted buntings and lark sparrows in the past, so we will focus our birding efforts here in the morning.Our departure point remains the same: the McDonalds on US. 31 in Hoover located at 1731 Montgomery Highway 35244 across from the Galleria. Plan to depart at 7 a.m. and caravan to our destination from there. We will have lunch at Chef Lee’s in Autaugaville to take a break from the heat which we will likely experience.After lunch, for those who wish to continue their summer adventure, we will drive to the south side of the Alabama River, to the overlook at Holy Ground Battlefield Park. We are

likely make a couple stops along the way. The picturesque “ghost town” at Robinson’s Switch Road will be worth a short visit as well, so bring your cameras!If the necessary arrangements can be made, we will visit a heron rookery in Pine Level, south of Montgomery off US Hwy 231, at the end of the day. We will have dinner at Red’s Little

School House Restaurant in Grady at 5:30 p.m. and then depart for the rookery from there. If you participate in this optional side trip, please expect a very long day in the field as we plan to be at the rookery until sunset. The return trip to Birmingham from Pine Level is about a two-hour drive.SATURDAY, AUGUST 3RD TRIP: The ever-pop-ular Galleria McDonalds, located at 1731 Mont-gomery Highway 35244 (US 31) across from the Galleria, will serve as our departure point for this trip as well. Plan to leave at 7 a.m. again. We will caravan west on Interstate 59/20 to exit #97 and head south on Alabama 5 to the Center-ville/Brent area where we will take a rest stop before continuing to Lakeland Farms and the

catfish ponds south of Greensboro. We will have lunch either at the Faunsdale Bar and Grill in Faunsdale, or at the Pie Lab in Greensboro, depending on where arrangements can be made in advance to accommodate a group of our size. A stop at Perry Lakes Park to watch herons and egrets returning to their roost at day’s end is a likely bet too.Last year, we were able to make arrangements to visit the State Cattle Ranch after lunch, and the trip leader will attempt to obtain access again this year. We will know more about final trip plans closer to the date of the trip, so please check Birmingham Audubon’s website or our Facebook page for the latest details. Please consult with the trip leader if you have any additional questions.Remember, these trips will be daylong affairs so plan accord-ingly and bring plenty of drinks and snacks in addition to a full tank of gas, insect repellent, rain gear, and appropriate summer attire.

Summer Field Trips… Kites, Wood Storks and More!

Volume LXV, Number 8 May 2013

Saturday, July 27, 2013 Saturday, August 3, 2013 (Autaugaville & Prattville) (Lakeland Farms & Greensboro area)

Trip Leader for both of these trips: Greg Harber, 251-2133 or gharber@mindspring.com

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June Field TripSaturday, June 22, 2013 • Paint Rock River, Larkin Fork and Jackson County, AL

JUNE FIELD TRIP

Back by popular demand, the June field trip will be to scenic Jackson County in northeast Alabama where we will spend the morning birding at a couple of sites along the Larkin Fork of the Paint Rock River. One of the target birds for the trip will be cerulean warblers, which breed in the area, along with the usual species common to a forested, riparian zone habitat.Following a picnic lunch in the field, we will head slightly east to the Skyline Wildlife Management Area, where we will con-tinue searching for species typical of the habitat found there. Certainly indigo buntings will be plentiful. There are several other birding options in Jackson County we can explore, as time and weather permit. If the day is sunny and warm we may also enjoy lots of butterfly sightings, so bring butterfly field guides if you own them.TRAVEL PLANS: (Note the earlier than usual departure time). Depart at 6:30 a.m. from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens parking lot. We’ll carpool and caravan north on Alabama79 (Tallapoosa Street) through Guntersville to the town of Gurley, located on U.S. 72 east of Huntsville. We then reconvene about 8:30 a.m. at the Hardee’s Restaurant in Gurley (5975 Highway 72 East Gurley, AL 35748). Those wishing to meet us directly at the Hardee’s are welcome to do so, but an

advance notice to the trip leader would be appreciated. Once we’ve had a short rest break, we’ll depart for our first birding stop located almost to the state line up CR 65.This trip is one of the more distant trips Birmingham Audubon takes so plan accordingly and bring plenty of drinks and snacks in addition to your picnic lunch, a full tank of gas, insect repellent, rain gear, and appropriate sum-mer attire.

Hidden below the leaf litter there is a part of the natural world that is composed of living things so small that they cannot be seen with the unaided eye. The beauty of these organisms will be revealed to you in this program as Ellen McLaughlin takes us on a guided tour of the underworld! Microscopes showcasing live specimens will supplement Ellen’s photographs. Join us for our final seminar in this year’s Audubon Teaches Nature series and sneak a peak at the world beneath your feet!Ellen McLaughlin is retired from the Biology Department at Samford University and for the past several years has served as the Vice President for Programs for Birmingham Audubon and as the chairman of Sessions Sanctuary committee. She has also served on the faculty at the Audubon Mountain Workshop.Come a little early if you wish, as there will almost assuredly be a good selection of birds at the feeders to help you pass the time while you wait for the program to start. Refreshments will be served in the Observation Room at the Alabama Wild-life Center beginning at 1:30 p.m. Then, when it is time for the program to start we’ll walk to the adjacent Interpretive Center. Be sure to bring your binoculars for a bird/nature walk after the program.

Au

dubon

Teaches Nature

SOIL CRITTERSIt’s a Tiny World under the Microscope!

Sunday, May 19, 2013, 2 p.m.Ellen McLaughlin, Guest SpeakerOak Mountain Interpretive Center,

Oak Mountain State Park

TRIP LEADER: Greg Harber, 251-2133 or gharber@mindspring.com

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Birmingham Audubon will be visiting several sites on the West Alabama Birding Trail in Bibb County on our May field trip. These sites include the Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glade Preserve, Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, and West Blocton Coke Ovens Park.

The Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glade Preserve is a 480 acre preserve owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy, while the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2002 to protect a seven mile stretch of the Cahaba River. Both locations offer a variety of bird life includ-ing warblers, vireos, waders, flycatchers and woodpeckers.

West Blocton Coke Ovens Park, opened in 1996, was cre-ated to preserve the 467 beehive block coke ovens built by the Cahaba Coal Company in the late 1800s. The park is equipped with an elevated boardwalk that allows visitors a top view of the ovens and an eye-level look at birds. Warblers, vireos, woodpeckers and other woodland species may be found throughout the Park.We will depart at 7 a.m. from the McDonald's Restaurant on U.S. 31 (across from the Galleria). Address: 1731 Montgom-ery Hwy, Hoover, AL 35244. Please park in the lot across

That perfect month! No more freezes. No more cold weather. The trees are leafed out in full, flowers blooming everywhere, and birds are singing all around us. What more could one ask for?Our year-round birds are finishing up with their first brood. You may still hear the begging, insistent calls from the young mockingbirds, brown thrashers, and towhees, Car-dinals are probably beginning a second nesting. Our cav-ity nesters, chickadees, tufted titmice, white-breasted and brown-headed nuthatches usually raise only one brood, but may try a second time if the first is unsuccessful. The Carolina wren may nest in a bird box, in a hanging fern basket, in a wreath on the door or a shelf in the garage. They have been known to raise three broods! That mama looks pretty bedraggled when you see her in August at the feeder. The Eastern bluebird is another that may raise three broods during a season. We feel lucky to have any of these "home town" birds nesting in our yards.All those winter sojourners are back for nesting time. Having them singing near by does make for excitement. We will frequent their habitats to hear and see them. What a precarious time it is for birds. When migrants return, they must establish a territory and sing the hours away to stake their claim. Their songs also advertise for a mate. You wonder how they find each other. Nature's ways are unfathomable to our finite minds. May the mystery remain!

Field Trip to Bibb County May 4th, 2013

from McDonald's and consider car pooling. Bring along your binoculars, camera, water and snacks. For additional information on our destinations, please visit the following websites:Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve: www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/alabama/placesweprotect/kathy-stiles-freeland-bibb-county-glades-preserve.xmlwww.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/bibb-glades/Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge: www.fws.gov/cahabariver/www.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/cahaba-river-nation-al-wildlife-refuge/West Blocton Coke Ovens: www.cokeovenspark.comwww.alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/west-blocton-coke-ov-ens-park/For further information and questions, please contact Susan Barrow 205-942-8667 (home) or 205-253-8667 (cell) or Maureen Shaffer 205-822-8728 (home) or 205-222-2662 (cell).

The early migrants which include the blue-gray gnat-catcher, Louisiana water thrush, the three vireos (yel-low-throated, white-eyed and red-eyed), wood thrush, indigo bunting and some of the warblers (yellow-throated, black and white, Kentucky, hooded, and common yellow throat) have likely found a mate and are enjoying court-ship period prior to nest building.May brings us the chance to listen to so many new bird songs. The rollicking notes of an orchid oriole will get your attention. How about that clown, the great crested fly-catcher? His "wheeps” and "querks" make you laugh, but those same notes will gain him a mate! We will settle for the bright red Summer tanager singing his pleasing song to his golden mate. Or may you be privileged to live near some woods and hear the flute-like notes of the wood thrush whose song is balm for any soul.May is the perfect month. Enjoy these 31 days. They come only once a year. Shall we ask for more?Harriett Wright 4 / 18 / 01

“Song on May Morning”

Hail, bounteous May! that dost inspire

Mirth, and youth, and warm desire;

Woods and groves are of thy dressing;

Hill and dale dost boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song,

And welcome thee and wish thee long.

–John Milton (1608-1674)

May—the perfect month!

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Bird Journaling

UP, UP AND AWAY!

Have you ever just watched a bird? What did that bird do? Did it hop, walk, scratch the ground, or climb a tree? Did you record your observations? One of the best ways to learn about and understand birds is to keep a bird journal. As you watch the bird, write notes and draw pictures of your observa-tions. When you begin writing in your bird journal, it may feel awk-ward. You may even question if you are doing it correctly. There is no right or wrong way to write a journal. You just need to pick up a pencil and start.

The more you observe the birds, the more details you will observe in the birds.

What bird observations will you make this sum-mer? Send your favorite journal pages to Kids

Corner.

Birmingham Audubon SocietyAttn: Kids Corner

P.O. Box 314Birmingham, AL 35201

1.You need a journal. You can use any notebook or download a bird journal template at http://www.birminghamaudubon.org/images/Other_Uploded_Files/Bird_Journal.pdf. 2.Find a place to sit where you can watch the birds. This can be at a window in your house, on the porch or patio, or sitting under a tree. The closer you are to the birds and their environ-ments the more details you can observe.3.Sketch pictures of the birds you observe. You can sketch the whole bird or just parts of the bird. Maybe the head was turned in an unusual way, or a tail was fanned, wings raised, tongue sticking out.4.Add notes about the birds:a.Where is the bird in the habitat? Is it on the ground, in a shrub or in a tree?b.What is the bird doing? Is it searching for food, building a nest, chasing intruders, or courting a mate?c.What behaviors does the bird demonstrate? Is it spreading its wings as it walks, hopping and scratching, fanning the tail, or flying and landing in the same spot?d.What species is the bird?e.Can you tell the bird’s age (mature, immature, or fledgling) or its sex?5.Don’t forget to add the date and location of your observa-tion.

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On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, one of my neighbors knocked on my door. "Don't you have connections with Audubon?”" she asked. She told me that she had a baby hawk cornered in her yard. It had been hopping through her neighbor's yard, and some kids were throwing rocks at it. She quickly scolded the children and herded the bird between two houses and a large chain-link fence.

"Baby hawk," I thought, "I can handle that." I got my heavy gloves, a long sleeved sweat-shirt, and a box that

was 12 1/2” inches deep and followed her back to her house. When I saw the bird, I realized it was no baby. At about 14 inches, it stood taller than the depth of my box, and its feath-ers were puffed up to make it look more threatening. When I approached, it flared its wings. When I saw the talons and the beak of this fully-grown large hawk, I knew this rescue was way beyond my ability.After a few phone calls, I reached Greg Harber. He graciously agreed to come and help capture the bird for transport to the Alabama Wildlife Center. While we waited for Greg to arrive, I just stood and watched this beautiful hawk. It must have been exhausted because it let us stand about six to eight feet away from it. We kept a flashlight on the hawk, which somehow seemed to calm it, but if it heard a noise in the bushes or if we moved toward it, the hawk would flare those wings to look large and threatening. Its beak was yellow with a black tip. Its chest had lots of white and the undersides of its wings were mostly white. Its eyes were a beautiful golden--I was mesmer-ized by those beautiful eyes. Its face was mostly white; and brown feathers covered its head. It had a band on its right leg. Greg arrived and identified our hawk as a red-tailed, prob-ably a female due to its size. Greg went right to work as he took a blanket and approached the hawk, which, of course did not want to have anything to do with him. Our job was to try to keep the flashlight beams on the bird, as trying to blanket a hawk in the dark is very hard. Greg did a great job; he moved slowly and precisely and got the blanket over the bird. She, however, did not want to go quietly. At one point, the hawk's right foot came out from under the blanket, and its talons grabbed the chain link fence behind her. Greg very carefully took his gloved hand and began to pry the talons off the fence one by one. The next thing I saw was the bird on its back with talons extended toward Greg and beak open as if to say, "You don't want to mess with me." With patient effort, Greg was able to get the bird in an appropriate-sized box which was provided by my neighbor. Greg took her to the wildlife center on Thursday. On Friday, I received an update. She, as it was confirmed that she was a female, was patient number R-245. She had a broken bone, the ulna, in her wing. She was given fluids on Thursday, and on Friday she ate a mouse by herself. She was scheduled to see the vet on Monday.

Rescue by Carolyn Roberson

That Saturday, Greg told me that he had discovered via the Internet that our hawk had been banded as a nestling on May 23, 2011 in Elk Grove, Wisconsin. Our bird was only a year and a half old, but had traveled quite some distance. On February 17, 2013, I was at the wildlife center attending the Audubon Teaches Nature lecture, and I asked about patient R-245. The staff told me that she was in the flight cage, and they allowed me go and see her. Her wing had healed satisfactorily, and she was on her way to recovery. It was determined that she had been shot with a pellet gun. The plans were to release her back into the wild once she was flying well. Saturday, April 6, 2013 was that special day. Our hawk was ready to return to the wild, and Limestone Park in Alabaster was selected as the ideal habitat for her release. Greg and I met at the Wildlife Center. In the treatment area, we were allowed to feel where her bone had healed. The bone on the uninjured left wing was smooth; while the bone that had been broken had a small bump on it which would not affect her flight. It was a thrill to be able to touch a wild hawk! They got her into a box and we proceeded to the release site, accom-panied by several students who were in a birding class Greg had taught earlier that day.At the release site, Greg took the hawk by the feet and cra-dled her against his body, enabling him to show her to the class and point out typical red-tailed hawk features including the nictitating membrane and her rusty-red tail feathers. She was patient being held, but I noted that she was quite aware of her new surroundings. I imagined her thinking, "I'm out in the open again and I can fly!" When she felt she had been polite long enough, she kind of pushed against Greg's hand, and as he released his grip she took flight. She soared across the field to a stand of trees-- her first open air flight in over four months! She was now free - a young hawk at home in the wild. We watched her for a while as she flew from tree to tree. We then noted that another red-tailed hawk came by to say "hello" and investigate the newcomer. The two sat in the same tree for a while, and then the resident hawk flew off.It is such a wonderful experience to see a bird you helped rescue get well and return to the wild. I will always have in my mind the picture of those powerful wings lifting her out of Greg's hands, and taking her aloft to the open sky where she belongs. Thanks to my caring neighbors, Greg's expertise in bird rescue technique and to the medical efforts of the Ala-bama Wildlife Center, this beautiful young hawk has a good chance at a long happy life in the wild.

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Birmingham Audubon’s mini-grant program provides schools in the Greater Birmingham Area opportunities to enhance the experiences of their students through projects, programs and trips that focus on birds. Ms. Angela Shorter and Ms. Marcia Segers, kindergarten teachers from Paine Primary School in Trussville, Alabama, have applied for and been given several grants to do just that and have been nationally recognized for their efforts. These two teachers joined forces and created a bird sanctuary for their students. Over the past three years, they have added bird feeders, native trees and a native bird and butterfly garden to the sanctuary. The love and passion for birds displayed by Ms. Shorter and Ms. Segers is conta-gious, and it shows in their students as they enthusiastically present their bird reports to class.Recently, I had the opportunity to visit these two classes and see what all the excitement was about. The children each picked a bird on which to present a report. These reports included a drawing of the subject bird with detailed field marks, as well as information about what kind of nest their bird made, how many eggs were laid and the egg color. The students also told one or two fun facts about their bird such as its favorite food, where it lived or what sound it made. The presentations of these reports were delivered in front of the class with the presenting student wearing a microphone. The teacher recorded a video of each student’s presentation. The classmates then had an opportunity to ask questions about the discussed bird and review the information that was given.The students are responsible for keeping the feeders filled, and every student in these two classes gets to participate. They keep journals of the birds seen, and they note some of the bird behaviors which they observe. All of this was made possible by two teachers’ desire to share the wonderful world of birds with their students. What is even more exhilarating is that these teachers believed that learning about birds was not restricted by the age of their students. Enthusiasm to learn about birds was contagious even in the kindergarten setting.The story doesn’t end there. The mini-grants that were awarded to these two teachers, Ms. Shorter ad Ms. Segers, opened up other opportunities. The local Big Lots store wanted to support their efforts, so they donated all the seed for the bird sanctuary needed for the entire school year! Their program is so successful that the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) selected these two educators to give a presentation highlighting their bird curriculum at a recent conference in San Antonio, Texas. There they will share their experience with others and tell about the impact that this project has had on their students. These two teachers did not let opportunity pass by them. They had a vision, applied for a mini-grant from Birmingham Audubon and spent time nurtur-ing the love of birds in their classrooms. Don’t think this spirit is contagious? Look at the examples of the parents who took their children’s homework assignment and helped them come up with 3-D bird models and paper sculptures that are now proudly displayed in their classrooms. The students and parents did more than just draw pictures of birds; they took the art aspect of the report to a higher level.Birmingham Audubon has grants available for the 2013-2014 school year. To learn more about the mini-grant program and to download an application, please visit us at www.birming-hamaudubon.org/grantscholar/minigrantprog . The opportuni-ties are endless.

Birmingham Audubon’s Mini Grant Program

Please submit sightings for September Flicker Flashes at least five days before the August 1, 2013 deadline to:

Ann Miller: 520 Yorkshire Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209annmiller520@aol.coms

Sightings: February 2 through March 28 2013

This has been an outstanding year for yellow-rumped war-blers. They appear to be particularly fond of Martha Sargent’s “Suet for the Birds.” In fact, I have had as many as fifteen at a time at my suet feeders as has Harriett Wright.Ken Wills and Don Sizemore have installed a barn owl nesting box at Limestone Park in Alabaster. It will be interesting to see how soon it has some occupants. OTHER SIGHTINGS WERE:2/4 Ring-billed Gull (300), European Starlings and blackbirds (5000!): Logan Martin Lake (RC).3/2 American White Pelican (200), Gadwall (19): Logan Martin Lake (RC).3/3 Bald Eagle (immature), Bonaparte’s Gull ( 10): Logan Martin Lake (RC).3/3 Redhead (male and female), Limestone Park, Alabaster Great Horned Owl perched on a Great Blue Heron nest among a heron rookery: Tupelo swamp near Limestone Park; (Birmingham Audubon field trip).3/5 Barred Owl, Northern Flicker (3): Aldridge Gardens, Hoover (T DeV).3/10 Osprey: Paradise Lake, near Hoover. This bird has been sighted at this location consistently since October 2012. (PF).3/11 Wood Duck (male and female): Near a creek, Hwy 78 (DS,MS).3/16 A nesting pair of Black-crowned Night Herons, Fish Crow: East Lake Park (MS,KF).3/27 Greater Yellowlegs (6): Sunbelt Sod Farm, Shelby Co. (AC,HW).3/28 Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Red-winged Blackbird, Swamp Sparrow: Railroad Park (GH).

CONTRIBUTORS: Alice Christenson, Ross Cohen, Todd DeVore, Paul Franklin, Kathy Freeland, Greg Harber, Ann Miller, Martha Sargent, Maureen Shaffer, Donna Shook, Meagan Shook, Don Size-more, Ken Wills, Harriett Wright

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Membership Application

Birmingham Audubon Society* • New Members and Renewals $20.00 • Seniors (62 or better) $15.00 • Full-time Students $15.00

Please make check payable to: Birmingham Audubon Society

Send application and check to:Birmingham Audubon Society • 200 19th Street North • Birmingham, AL 35203-3117

NAME:

ADDRESS:

CITY STATE ZIP

PHONE: ( ) EMAIL:

I want to opt-out receiving a printed copy of Flicker Flashes

My check for $ is enclosed.

Phone: (205) 714-8227Birmingham Audubon Society C2ZA0000Z

Birmingham Audubon Society is tax exempt under 501(c) of the Inernal Revenue Code

*2 EASY WAYS To Become a Member of Birmingham Audubon Society:

Join Birmingham Audubon Society without National Audubon Society affiliation. This chapter only membership provides you access to all chapter activities and benefits including the chapter newsletter, Flicker Flashes. All dues stay in Birmingham to support local activities. You will Not receive the National Audubon magazine.

And/OrJoin National Audubon Society directly through the National Audubon website www.audubon.org. Birmingham Audubon Society serves as a local chapter of the National Audubon Society. Joining National Audubon Society also provides you a membership to Bir-mingham Aududbon Society and access to all chapter activities and benefits. You will receive the National Audubon magazine. Your dues support the work of National Audubon Society and a small percentage of your dues are returned to the Birmingham Audubon Society for local efforts.

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Cut Along Dotted Line

Birmingham Audubon gratefully acknowledges the following gifts and memorial donations:

Bobbie Jean Bailey made a gift to the Annual Fund in memory of her husband, Russell Bailey.Stan Roth made a gift to the Annual Fund honoring Greg Harber.Thank you to each of our Annual Fund donors for your generosity and support of our programs.

Copies of Flicker Flashes can be viewed and downloaded from the BAS website: www.birminghamaudubon.org

Upcoming Events & Happenings

4 Half Day Field Trip, South Cahaba National Wildlife Refuge9-12 Audubon Mountain Workshop, Mentone19 Audubon Teaches Nature, “Soil Critters~It’s a Tiny World under the Microscope!” Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, 2 p.m.

Summer 2013

June 22 Paint Rock River Field Trip 6:30 a.m. departureJuly 27 Autaugaville/Prattville Field Trip 7 a.m. departureAug. 3 Greensboro/Lakeland Farms Field Trip 7 a.m. departure

MAY 2013

Flicker Flashes is published eight time s a year bythe Birmingham Audubon Society.Editor: Ty Keith (205) 602-8037Graphic Design: Jenny Dixon