The Night-Heron Volume R, Number 8

April 2014

Prothonotary Warbler

Photographer: Larry Gridley

How about that? It's time for the last newsletter of the

year, once again, and what a year it's been!

Great field trips, victories conserving Florida's special places, substantial growth in the Barbara Singer Memorial Felts Preserve Endowment, as well as our normal operat-ing funds, new educational successes with “Give a Child a Ride to the Wild”, more Boy Scout Merit Badges earned in Environmental Science, Photography and Bird Study, more visitors than ever at Felts Preserve and a

whole lot more.

Did I forget to mention the TV coverage of Dee Hanny

talking about Felts Preserve, or his shorebird nesting program, our participation in the Bird Res-cue Program and the fisherman education programs at the Skyway piers? How about another year of Fred Allen, as always, making sure, week in, week out that all is well at Felts Preserve, Lori Roberts putting out the best newsletters in all of Audubon, Deb Comeau and Carole Munro staying on top of all things conservation, Dick Comeau doing such a great job on the

Christmas Bird Count, Betty Sartin making sure that we're fed and happy at meetings,

LaDonne Mayberry getting notices of our events into the newspapers (we got great press a bunch of different ways this year), Amy Miller making sure that we have Greeters and Nature Walk Leaders at Felts’ Open House events, Steve Black, speaker-at-large and leader of the Jr. Audubon program, Jack (our Treasurer Stand In) and Bunny Schneider our greeters at meet-ings, Don Bansen our historian and conscience and last, because we all know how dedicated they are, Patty Petruff our Secretary and go-to gal for legal advice and Lucette Wombacher,

Treasurer Extraordinaire and Emerson Point Guru.

While we're thanking volunteers, let's give a hand to the Land Use Committee members, not al-ready mentioned; Tom Heisman and Billie and Jerry Knight! While we've got the spot light on Felts, please, please remember the work days; the last Saturday of every month. You don't have to 'Tote that Barge or Lift that Bale' to participate. We badly need people to remain in the

parking lot and direct people toward the work that needs to be done.

And then there's Ron Mayberry teaching Photography to the Boy Scouts, donating pictures for sale and prizes and putting on fabulous presentations for us and the public. Of course, Nancy Dean & team in fledging more birders in the intensive basic bird identification course, and John & Rick in their shorebird ID course. Huge thanks also to Connie Zack and all of the trip lead-ers for the year of interesting adventures which delivered birding memories while fostering

deeper friendships; each of you deserve thanks for scouting these sites & doing so much prep

work making the actual experience superior for all the participants.

We would be absolutely lost without all of our great volunteers. Thank you one and all for all

you've done this year. You are what makes Manatee Audubon such a great group!

President’s Letter… Looking Back at this Season

Welcome New Members — T his past month Manatee Audubon welcomed 4

new members into our family:

John Dupps, Ken & Nancy Franklin, and

Lois Vancacage. Happy Birding to everyone!

Thank You, Bruce!

M anatee County Audubon Society is so

blessed to receive a financial donation

from Bruce Jacobs this past month. Your gift

is greatly appreciated. Thank You!

R ich with history and filled with natural beauty, Neal Preserve will become the newest addition to

Manatee County’s publicly owned, award-winning preservation lands system on April 9. Manatee

Parks and Natural Resources will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the public on Wed., April 9 at 4 pm.

The event will include guest speakers, light refreshments, demonstrations of Native American tool use

and naturalist-guided tours of the site. Address: 1112 Manatee Avenue West

Neal Preserve Opens April 9th

More than $15.8 million invested back

in the community last year in

scholarships and grants.

Support your favorite local causes in the 2014 Giving Challenge

on May 6 & 7!

Annual Meeting

Thursday, April 17th

6:30pm—approx. 8pm

First United Methodist Church of Palmetto

330 11th Ave West, Palmetto

Installation of new officers

Celebration of our accomplishments

Recognition of key volunteers

Fellowship & food (bring a dish to share, &

your personal plate & eating utensils)

...and our Monthly Photo Contest!

April 17th Membership Meeting

Corkscrew Swamp, Ding Darling, Six Mile Slough Corkscrew Swamp Buggy

Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge

Recent Sightings Signs at Corkscrew (top), Ding

Darling, and Six Mile Slough (bottom).

T he February 22 field trip was a full of highlight for 9 birders. We visited the home of Steve Backas in

Valrico, just south of Brandon. There we saw a "real" Florida yard that was a bird sanctuary. Each of the 9 birders had from 1 to 4 life birds including a Rufus Hummingbird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (above left), White-winged Dove (above right), and Pine Siskin. We had beautiful views of a male Blue-bird (above center) and other show ups. Steve was a wonderful host, sharing with us his love of those special birds. He has a Hummingbird blog.

From Steve's, we traveled east to the beautiful Edward Medard Park outside of Plant City. There is a paved walking path and boardwalk over the lake. We saw the usual shorebirds and many Limpkins. We traveled home via SR41 and saw the family of Eagles outside Ruskin. It was the kind of day that no one was quite ready to head home. Article & images supplied by Connie Zack

Victory in Valrico… Life Birds Spotted

Marathon SW Florida Field Trip

E njoy the snapshots from the amazing weekend of birding planned

by Dick & Deb Comeau. Both Corkscrew and Ding Darling deliv-

ered with the beautiful yellow Prothonotary Warbler. In addition to the

big places, Harns Marsh delivered with several Snail Kites & a Limp-

kin. In the western section of Cape Coral, we were able to spot several Burrowing Owls. A total of 90

different species were recorded during this fun 3-day trip. (P. Warbler photo by Deb Yodock; Burrowing Owl by M. Watson)

Prothonotary

Warbler

Winning Photos —March Honors

M CAS members voted these images as their favorites

at the March monthly meeting. There was a tie for

the top spot: Billie Knight’s Purple Gallinule and Deb

Yodock’s Eastern Bluebird. The Barred Owl, also from

Billie, was a close runner-up. Congrads to everyone who

dazzled us with the beautiful bird & butterfly images!

T hanks

to Betty Sar-tin for or-

ganizing and recruit-ing folks to

bring snacks for every

meeting this birding season. And thanks

to Susan for her bird-themed

treats!

April 11-13 is the Audubon Academy

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M any of us are concerned about the impacts of the Galveston Bay oil spill on shorebirds, as this

accident has occurred just as migration ramps up and coastal breeding birds are nesting. The spill took place near the globally important Boli-var Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, a critical wintering

and stopover habitat for as many as 70,000 migratory shorebirds. The flats host congregations of Piping, Snowy and Wilson's plovers and other shorebirds,

including Long-billed Curlew and Red Knots.

Oiled birds are already being found — including a Sanderling and American White Pelicans — at Boli-var Flats. Wildlife responders currently include experts from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Texas Parks and Wildlife De-

partment, and are responding with rehabilitation, husbandry and stabilization trailers staged along the Texas City Dike, Bolivar Peninsula and the Phoenix Pollution Control Facility. Respond-ers have found 45 birds that were dead on arrival to the stabili-

zation trailers, and they are currently rehabilitating 12 birds.

Audubon is mobilizing an emergency response team to

protect the Sanctuary and help rescue oiled birds.

M arch is right around spring migration for many species of birds, and other birds are still wintering at Bolivar Flats, so tens of

thousands of birds are living at the sanctuary, which is designated a Glob-ally Significant Important Bird Area. Cleanup crews are using cannon booms to try to deter birds away from oiled beaches, and so far, oil hasn’t washed up on Bolivar Flats, but birds that have come in contact with oil in

the water or on other beaches have been landing there.

Houston Audubon Society volunteers have been tracking the oiled birds they see at Bolivar, and Jessica Jubin, development director at the Houston Audubon Society, said that the group was “definitely seeing more” oiled birds now than when they first started the day after the spill. She said volunteers cataloged 40 to 50 oiled birds at one spot at Bolivar Flats, and just one day later they counted about 100 at the same site. After another 24 hours, the number of impacted birds increased to about 140, with most birds ranging from just a few spots of oil on them to half covered in oil. It’s the shorebirds and seabirds that are most at risk of becoming oiled from the spill, Jubin said. “Like pelicans, for example, they will soar in the sky and then spot something down below and then dart right into the water, and that’s how they get so much oil on them,” she said. “They can’t distinguish whether or not the oil is there, and they don’t know how to react to it.” Mike Cox, of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has so far collected 45 oiled birds in the Galveston area, with 19 birds in rehabilitation and 26 that were found dead. Jubin said Audubon was reporting birds they saw to Texas Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but she worries about the movement of the oil. If it drifts too far south or west, it could end up in important habitat for endangered whooping cranes.

A lesser scaup is held for cleaning at a wildlife rescue site in Baytown, Texas. CREDIT: AP PHOTO/PAT SULLIVAN

Oil Spill Covers Galveston Area Shores & Birds

Prothonotary Warblers Wow Birders

T he field trip to Corkscrew Swamp and Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge inspired this month’s featured species. Those that aren’t

familiar with the golden hoods of Catholic notaries may prefer the name Golden Swamp Warbler, which evokes the bird’s habitat as

well as its color. Its loud ringing song reverberates through southern swamps and river edges during the spring and summer. The group Partners in Flight has designated the species as "Threatened and De-

clining."

The Prothonotary Warbler’s brilliant plumage features the male's golden head in contrast with his large, dark eyes, black bill, and green-ish back. Yellow extends over the belly, fading into white underneath the short tail. The wings are grayish-blue with black edges. Females have similar plumage, except with green washing over the crown.

Habitat

P rothonotary Warblers breed in wooded swamps, forested river bottoms, and the edges of lakes or ponds. They prefer stagnant or slow moving water. Trees with exist-

ing cavities or stumps that can be excavated are vital for nesting. In the winter, this species prefers man-groves and wet forests at low elevation. According to Cornell Lab of Orthithology, the Prothonotary Warbler

is only 1 of 2 warblers that build nests in cavities.

Feeding Prothonotary Warblers pick insects, spiders, and small snails from the surfaces of tree trunks, fallen logs, and the ground. Males tend to search for food higher in the can-opy, but both sexes explore tangles and the water's edge. On their wintering grounds, Prothonotary Warblers sup-plement their diet with nectar and fruit.

Reproduction

M ale Prothonotary Warblers arrive early to establish territories, using vigorous song, and chasing and

fighting behavior. Males adorn false nests with moss and sometimes build a cup. The purpose of these "dummy" nests is not clear, but the male displays in front of all of them. After females arrive a few days later, both sexes display and form pairs for the season. Most often, the birds use abandoned woodpecker holes, but will occasionally dig their own cavities in soft wood, 3 to 10 feet above the water. Prothonotary

Warblers also use artificial cavities, including nest boxes, old cartons, cans, and jars.

Female Prothonotary Warblers complete the nest, line it with fine plant materials, and lay 3 -7 whitish eggs with brown spots. After approximately 12 days of incubation by the female, the young emerge naked and helpless. Both parents tend the young. Fledglings leave the nest after 10 days and can swim short dis-tances by flapping their wings. The parents separate the fledglings into two groups and each parent feeds one group for up to 30 days. Independent juveniles gather in small flocks and tend to remain fairly close to their natal territory.

Migration

P rothonotary Warblers migrate early, both to and from their breeding grounds, and probably fly directly over the Gulf of Mexico. These warblers migrate mostly at night, in small single-species flocks. They

may migrate short distances within their wintering range to avoid dry conditions. They overwinter in man-

groves in northern So. America & along Caribbean coast. (Occasionally seen in southern US during winter.)

Spring migration in this species begins in mid-March, with arrivals on the Gulf Coast and at the more south-erly breeding areas. The species winter in both Middle American and the Caribbean, so its arrival in the

southeast is across a broad front and not along a more particular migratory path. .

By Deb Yodock

Wednesday, April 2

3:00pm — Shamrock/Venice Rookery -- Amy Miller, 758-7478, febbelle@verizon.net

Saturday, April 5

8:00am — Matthew Press, Mabry Carlton Reserve Venice, 408 390-2004 dpress@yahoo.com 8:00am — Open House Felts Preserve- 729-2222 9am -3pm– Native Plant Sale & MCAS info table @ Sweetbay Nursery, 10824 Erie Rd., Parrish.

Tuesday, April 8

8:30am — Emerson Point Bird Walk, Lucette Wombacher

Wednesday, April 9

5:30pm — Audubon Board of Directors

Fri-Sun, April 11—13

3pm Fri—1pm Sun. — Audubon Assembly

Wednesday, April 16

7:30am — Bird ID Beach Walk, Rick Greenspun (birddoggie1@gmail.com), John Ginaven, 284-2055

Thursday, April 17

6:30pm — Annual Meeting, Potluck Dinner, Installation of Officers

Saturday, April 19

9:00am — Jr Audubon, Steve Black 376-0110

Saturday, April 26

7:30am — Fort Desoto, Billie & Jerry Knight, 592-7622 billielknight@yahoo.com 8:00am — Work Day, Felt's Preserve 729-2222

Saturday, May 3

10:00am —Butterfly walk, Felts Preserve, Fred Alan 941-448-0445 / carcat22@aol.com

CONTACTS — Manatee Chapter Board meetings

are on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30 in

the main Manatee County Library building.

CHAPTER OFFICERS 2013-2014

President — Jim Stephenson 301-466-1973

Vice Pres — Deb Comeau 752-1835 Secretary — Patty Petruff 747-1789

Treasurer — Lucette Wombacher 776-8424

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Bansen 794-0255 Steve Black 376-0110

Dick Comeau 752-1835 Dee Hanny 745-1553

LaDonne Mayberry 795-4685

Amy Miller 758-7478

Lori Roberts 404-941-4365 Jack Schneider 792-1794

Connie Zack 758-2929

PHOTO CREDITS:

Cover: Prothonotary Warbler. Photographer: Larry Gridley.

INJURED BIRD HELP:

Call 778-6324 for what to do. Someone will call you back.

Manatee County Audubon Society

P.O. Box 14550, Bradenton, FL 34280

Ph: 941-729-2222 www.ManateeAudubon.org

Manatee County Audubon Society is a chapter of National Audubon Society Inc.

2013-2014 STANDING COMMITTEES

Beach Nesting Bird Stewardship …….. Dee Hanny 745-1553 Christmas Bird Count ……………….. Dick Comeau 752-1835

Conservation ………………………… Open 729-2222 Education …………………………….. Deb Comeau 752-1835

Field Trips ……………………………. Connie Zack 758-2929 Felts Audubon Preserve …………….. Tom Heitzman 737-3169 Felts Open House …………………… Amy Miller 758-7478

Historian …………………………… Don Bansen 794-0255 Hospitality ………………………….. Betty Sartin 747-0908

Junior Audubon ……………………. Steve Black 376-0110 Membership …………………………. Lucette Wombacher 776-8424

Newsletter Editor …………………… Lori Roberts 404-941-4365 Newsletter Mailings …………………. Betty Benishek 254-7662

Programs …………………………….. Jim Stephenson 301-466-1973 Publicity ……………………………… LaDonne Mayberry 795-4685

Strategic Alliances ……………………. Lori Roberts 404-941-4365 Webmaster ………………………….. Collaborative 343-8267

April & Early May — Bird Walks & More