thrasher - richmond audubon
TRANSCRIPT
ThrashertheNewsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1
In this IssueEverything but the Ducks 1President’s Message 2RAS Programs 3Everything but Ducks Photos 4Photo Gallery 5January/February Field Trips 6From the Kitchen Window 7Book Review - Invention of Nature 7RAS Officers 8
Everything but the Ducks - Lewis Barnett
Every winter, Richmond and the surrounding areaplay host to a number of species of waterfowl inaddition to the more familiar ducks. In any givenwinter, you may find various grebes, Common Loons,and most definitely Double-crested Cormorants onour lakes and rivers. These are all aquatic birds thattend toward long necks and short tails. They winteron open water and dive for their food, which consistsof small aquatic animals and fish. While loons andgrebes are grouped together in most field guides,recent genetic research has shown that they are notparticularly closely related. With the exception of thecormorant, when these birds arrive in our area, theycan present some identification difficulty, as they allare in non-breeding plumage and consequently arenot displaying their namesake characteristics.
Pied-billed GrebeProbably the cutest and most familiar of the grebes,these are technically year-round resident in our area,but evidence of breeding here is fairly limited. Theyare named for the bi-colored bill they sport duringbreeding season, but this has faded by winter. Theyare still fairly distinctive as a compact diver with arelatively short, sturdy bill. These grebes can be foundon most bodies of water around town.
Horned GrebeSlightly larger than their Pied-billed cousins, HornedGrebes in non-breeding plumage have a black cap andclean white cheek, dark gray back and paler flanks.Their bills are somewhat more delicate than the bill ofthe Pied-billed. This species is more common closer tothe coast, but a few specimens typically find their waywestward to the Richmond area each winter. SwiftCreek Reservoir and the river downtown are the bestplaces to find them.
Red-necked GrebeLargest of our three possible grebes is the Red-necked. Larger, longer-billed and longer-necked than
Horned, the plumage is similar overall, exceptthat the cheek is gray with a distinctive whitecrescent. This species is irruptive, so we can gofrom good numbers in one winter to totalabsence the next. In irruptive years, they can befound on nearly any body of water in our area,but generally larger bodies are better bets.
Common LoonDespite their name, Common Loons are anuncommon visitor to our area. A few areusually found each winter near the city,especially on the tidal James toward Hopewell.
Common Loon in non-breeding plumage ©Lewis Barnett
Continued on page 2
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1
Richmond Audubon Society
The Richmond Audubon Societypromotes the enjoyment,understanding,and preservationof birds, other wildlife, andhabitat through education,advocacy, and fellowship.
Important Notices
RAS membership meetings are on the3rd Thursday of the month except June,July, August and December. Meetings areat 7:00 PM, and are held at St. LukeLutheran Church at Custis Road andChippenham Parkway unless notified.
RAS Board meetings are held on the 2ndThursday on alternate months starting inJanuary (except June and August). In July,the Board has its annual strategic planningretreat. RAS members are welcome toattend board meetings, but let the Presidentor Secretary know due to spaceconsiderations. Meeting locations vary;contact the President or Secretary forlocation details.
Richmond Audubon Society is also achapter of the Virginia Society ofOrnithology and the VirginiaConservation Network.
Richmond Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 26648Richmond, VA 23261
804-601-4917www.RichmondAudubon.org
Richmond Audubon Society is aregistered nonprofit 501 (C) (3)charitable organization. Donations aretax deductible.
Thanks to these Thrasher Volunteers:
Lewis Barnett, Louise Reza: Proofreading.Gail and Mario Grasso: Mailing List.Ben Griffon: Web Posting.
Publication ScheduleThe Thrasher is issued six times a year.Please submit articles [email protected] no laterthan the 10th of the month before eachissue. Deadline for the next issue isFebruary 10.
the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
members from time to time toreach out to lawmakers insupport of or opposition tospecific measures. I wouldencourage all of our members tosign up for alerts from VCN onimportant legislative issues bygoing to this link.
Let’s make 2016 a great year forthe outdoors! Happy New Year!Happy New Year! It is hard to
believe 2016 is here already. Ihope your New Year’sresolutions include spending asmuch time as possible outdoorsenjoying the beauty of ournatural world.
I would encourage you to add aresolution to be an advocate forthat natural world, as well. TheRichmond Audubon Society is amember of the VirginiaConservation Network (VCN),which is a coalition ofenvironmental organizationsdedicated to lobbying and publicpolicy efforts relating toconservation and environmentalissues. I had the opportunity toattend VCN’s recent GeneralAssembly Preview Day on behalfof RAS and learned more aboutthe efforts VCN will take duringthe upcoming General Assemblysession promoting clean andrenewable energy sources,maintaining healthy waters, andfocusing on environmentallyfriendly development andprotection of strategic landresources in Virginia. You canlearn more about thoseinitiatives here:http://www.vcnva.org
During the General Assemblysession, VCN calls on its
President’s Message - VirginiaConservation Network - Eileen Geller
Loons are much larger than anyof the grebes we are likely tosee. Mostly grayish-brown innon-breeding plumage, a whitethroat and eye-arcs aresomewhat prominent featuresfor this loon.
Double-crested CormorantIn our area, this species hasgone from a reportable rarity inthe 1970's to a near-nuisancebird today. The most prominentfeature of this low-slung, darkdiver is a wickedly hookedyellow bill. Young birds, withtheir pale throats and bellies,can be a bit confusing without agood look at the bill. They canbe found nearly anywhere thereis water, but often congregate inthe hundreds on the rocks ofthe Falls of the James. This isthe only one of these speciesyou will see perching in trees.
Eared GrebeIn non-breeding plumage, darkcheek instead of the white cheekof the Horned Grebe. Althoughrare in Eastern US, the RASField Trip to Craney Island lastFall, found one.
Everything but the DucksContinued from page 1
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the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1
Thursday, January 21, 2016:Find Your Inner Advocate
RAS welcomes Connie Mahan, Director,Grassroots Outreach, National Audubon Society
We all know how to advocate for the things wewant, from our birthday wish list to negotiationswith friends and family. Yet many Audubonchapters and chapter leaders are uncomfortablewith advocating for bird conservation and habitatprotection. Advocacy is part of Audubon’s earlyrich history and it’s easier than you think. We’llexplore what it really means to be an advocate forthe environment and how you can make evensmall efforts count in the big picture. Learnabout what to expect in the coming year at boththe state and national level. Hear more abouthow we are taking a new look at the AudubonNetwork. That includes our collective role asadvocates for birds and wildlife, as well as thekinds of investments National Audubon Societycould make to build capacity to be more effectivewhen it comes to advocating for the things wehold most dear — be it at the local, state ornational level.
We meet at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757Chippenham Pkwy, Richmond. The programbegins at 7:00 pm, with coffee, cookies andconversation before hand starting at 6:30 pm.
January Program
Thursday, February 18, 2016:The Christmas Bird Count
From December 14 through January 5 each year,tens of thousands of volunteers throughout theAmericas take part in an adventure that hasbecome a family tradition among generations.Families and students, birders and scientists,armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklistsgo out on an annual mission - often before dawn.For 116 years, the desire to both make adifference and to experience the beauty of naturehas driven dedicated people to go out and countbirds on the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC).
Please join RAS's Arun Bose to learn moreabout the Christmas Bird Count. Since 2005,Arun has served as the compiler of the HopewellCBC, the count circle begun by Fred Scott andRAS in the 1960's.
Learn more about the history of Christmas BirdCounts, the Hopewell count and what makesthem so fun to participate in.
We meet at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757Chippenham Pkwy, Richmond. The programbegins at 7:00 pm, with coffee, cookies andconversation before hand starting at 6:30 pm.
February Program
Please contact me with suggestions for 2016!RAS Program Chair, Caroline Coe,804.276.1397 or [email protected]
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the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon SocietyJANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1
©Naseem Reza
Everything but the Ducks
©Naseem Reza ©Jerry UhlmanRed-necked Grebe in non-breeding plumageat Swift Creek Reservoir
Pied-billed Grebe in breeding plumage atThe Wetlands, JRP - note bi-colored bill
Pied-billed Grebe in non-breeding (nbr)plumage at Mid-lothian Mines Park
©Naseem Reza
Above Left - Horned Grebe at Swift Creek Reservoir. Typical winter look. Center - Horned Grebe at Swift Creek Reservoir, molting towardsbreeding plumage. Right - Horned Grebe in breeding plumage and normally seen North by North-West of the Great Lakes unless your name isRob Sabatini who shot this at Dutch Gap , Chesterfield County during spring migration.
©Naseem Reza©Naseem Reza
©Rob Sabatini
Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumagein Montana
JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
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Common Loon in breeding plumage atByrd Park, Richmond, a relatively raresighting.
Common Loon in non-breedingplumage at Kiptopeke State Park, VA
Double-crested Cormorant at RichmondPipeline
©St
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Bar
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Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com
Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com
Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com
Double-crested Cormorant atRichmond Pipeline
Bob Schamerhorn-www.iPhotoBirds.com
©Steve BaranoffEared Grebe in non-breeding plumage in Mountain View, CARed-breasted Sapsucker in Napa, CA
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1
These are all the RAS tripsthat have been submitted asof the publication date. Checkthe RAS listserv
(if you don’t subscribe the archives are atwww.freelists.org/archive/va-richmond-general/) orthe RAS website for any late breaking newsabout field trips (www.richmondaudubon.org/ActivFieldTrip.html.)
the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
January 3rd, SundayBryan Park with John Fones:Start time: 7:55 am (½ hour after sunrise)Meeting location: Shelter 1, Joseph Bryan ParkBrief description: Join John Fones for our regularearly morning bird walk in Bryan Park. See what birdshave made the Northside their home for the winter.For more information, contact John [email protected].
January 9th, SaturdayDutch Gap with Lewis BarnettStart time: 8:00 am.Meet Lewis at 8:00 am at the entrance to HenricusHistorical Park/Dutch Gap Conservation area.Explore this great birding spot to see what winter birdsare around. You never know what will turn up atDutch Gap. For more information, contact Lewis [email protected].
January 16th, Saturday 7:00-10:00 amJames River Winter Count with Richmond Audubon.Help Richmond Audubon Society inventory the birdspecies of the James River Parks system. It will befollowed by a count count compilation and lightbrunch at an RAS member's home. All skill levels arewelcome. For more information about participating inthis long running count, contact Julie Kacmarcik [email protected].
January 23rd, SaturdayDeep Run Park with Lewis BarnettStart time: 9:00 am.Deep Run Park is located in the West End of HenricoCounty. This under birded park offers walking trails ina mature forest and around a pair of small ponds.Within an area with large scale residentialdevelopment, this park offers valuable habitat to thearea’s birds. Join Lewis to discover who’s calling thissuburban park home for the winter. Deep Run Park’saddress is 9900 Ridgefield Parkway, near its junctionwith Gaskins Rd. Meet at the first parking lot on the
right at 9:00 am. Contact Lewis for more informationat [email protected].
January 31st, SundayThe Floodwall with Ellison OrcuttStart time: 9:00 am.Join Ellison to explore the floodwall in downtownRichmond. Winter gulls and waterfowl will be thefocus but the James River always produces a varietyof birds. Meet Ellison at 9:00 am at the Hull St. lot,just south of the Mayo Bridge at the intersection ofHull and 1st St. For more information contact Ellisonat [email protected].
February 7th, SundayBryan Park with Diane Jadlowski:Start time: 7:38 am (½ hour after sunrise)Meeting location: Shelter 1, Joseph Bryan ParkDescription: See January 3rd walk.For more information, contact Diane [email protected].
February 13th, SaturdayLewis Ginter Botanical Gardens with Tyler TurpinSee the birds of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Meetin the rotunda of the visitor center at 8:00 A.M. Costwill be $6-8.00 for non-Ginter members, finisharound 9:30 - 9:45 am. This trip will be part of theGreat Backyard Bird Count. If you'd like, you can joinhim to count at Brown's Island, Pony Pasture andHuguenot Flatwater afterward. Contact Tyler Turpinat (804) 317- 9478 or email [email protected] sign up.
February 13, SaturdayJames River NWR. with Lewis BarnettThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and RichmondAudubon join forces for this annual survey ofwintering birds in a remarkable habitat bordered byPowell’s Creek and the James River. Meet at therefuge information kiosk, 4550 Flowerdew HundredRoad, Hopewell, VA, at 7:30 am. Contact Lewis [email protected] for details.
February 28th Sunday, start time: 8:00 am.Powhatan State Park with Wendy EaldingJoin Wendy Ealding to explore Powhatan State Park.One of Virginia’s newest State Park, Powhatanfeatures a mix mature forest and open fields alongwith trails along the James River. Meet Wendy at thepark’s playground parking lot at 8:00 am. Theregular car fee applies to enter the State Park but noadditional fee will be charged for the walk. For moreinformation contact Wendy at [email protected] address: 4616 Powhatan State Park Rd.,Powhatan, VA 23139.
Field Trips - Ellison Orcutt
JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
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From the Kitchen Window - John Coe“A winter garden in an alder swamp,Where conies now come out to sun and romp,As near a paradise as it can beAnd not melt snow or start a dormant tree.
It lifts existence on a plane of snowOne level higher than the earth below,One level nearer heaven overhead,And last year's berries shining scarlet red.
It lifts a gaunt luxuriating beastWhere he can stretch and hold his highest featOn some wild apple tree's young tender bark,What well may prove the year's high girdle mark.
So near to paradise all pairing ends:Here loveless birds now flock as winter friends,Content with bud-inspecting. They presumeTo say which buds are leaf and which are bloom”.
Excerpted from Robert Frost
From the Kitchen Window we all wish you a fun NewYear.John and Caroline Coe, Tommy Titmouse, WindyWren, Cheeky Chickadee, Carla Cardinal, PhineasFinch, Jenny Junco, Sparky Sparrow, NyetyNuthatch, Woody Woodpecker, Billy Blue Jay,Fanny Flicker, Danny Dove, Rufous Towhee….andSammy-buck Squirrel
The full moon in January occurs on the 23rd and isnamed the wolf moon. Winter arrives in theNorthern Hemisphere of Mars.
The Full Moon in February on the 22nd is namedthe snow moon or the hunger moon.The ground hog checks for his shadow on February2nd.
From the Editor
The Invention of Nature
Alexander von Humboldt’sNew World
By Andrea Wulf
Hardcover - 473 pagesAlfred A. Knopf $30.00
Reviewed by Naseem Reza
In spite of the enigmatic title and the cryptic bookcover (that is an Andean Condor-top left), AndreaWulf expertly ties the documentedaccomplishments of an eminent scientist,Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) and theinfluence his published works had on others.
Charles Darwin’s 5 year around-the-world voyagewas inspired by Personal Narrative in whichHumboldt documents his expedition to theWestern Hemisphere and all seven volumes wereon board the cramped quarters of the HMSBeagle.
Henry David Thoreau’s Walden was heavilyinfluenced by his reading of Humboldt’s Viewsof Nature.
John Muir was so enamored of Humboldt thathe wanted to duplicate Humboldt’s expeditionto South America and with that in mind, heheaded South on foot from Indianapolis toFlorida where he contracted malaria forcing himto abandon his quest. Instead Muir went toCalifornia and we all know how that ended up.
Next time you see a county, a town, a park oreven an ocean current named Humboldt, youwill recognize the source of its name.
I am not surprised that the NY Times has it asone of the 10 Best books of 2015. A morecomprehensive book review can be seen athttp://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/books/review/the-invention-of-nature-by-andrea-wulf.html
After reading Andrea Wulf’s biography ofAlexander von Humboldt, I was struck bythe fact that on his way back to Europe fromSouth America in 1804, Humboldt stoppedby to see President Thomas Jefferson andfuture President James Madison who in alater speech repeated Humboldt’s warningson deforestation and the negative effect oflarge scale tobacco cultivation on Virginia’sfertile soil.
Richmond Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 26648Richmond, VA 23261www.RichmondAudubon.org
Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidRichmond, VA
Permit Number 3022
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETYChapter Membership Application
Yes, please enroll me (us) as a newmember(s) of both National andRichmond Audubon Societies at theaddress below, at the introductoryrate. A subscription to the NASmagazine, Audubon is included.□ Individual/Family Member(s) $20enclosed□ Student/Senior Member $15 enclosedName___________________________Address _________________________City ____________________________State___ ZIP _____________________Phone __________________________E-mail __________________________Make check payable to National AudubonSociety and write “C0ZX530Z”on thecheck. Send your check and application to:Richmond Audubon Society,P.O. Box 26648, Richmond, VA 23261C0ZX530Z
JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2016 VOLUME 43, ISSUE 1 the Thrasher, Newsletter of the Richmond Audubon Society
Officers / Committee Chairs for 2015-2016President Eileen Geller [email protected] 804-747-5143
1st Vice President Ellison Orcutt [email protected] 804-339-6976
2nd Vice President Ben Saunders [email protected] 804-272-0605
Bird-A-Thon Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898
Conservation Mary Elfner [email protected]
Cyberspace Ben Griffon [email protected] 804-767-0131
Development Jack Esworthy [email protected] 630- 940-9698
Education Joyce Caldwell [email protected] 804-560-3444
Field Trips Ellison Orcutt [email protected] 804-339-6976
Hospitality Vacant
IBA/VAC Rep Vacant
Legislation Vacant
Membership Mario and Gail Grasso [email protected] 804-379-2001
Past President Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898
Programs Caroline Coe [email protected] 804-276-1397
Publicity Diane Jadlowski [email protected] 702-308-1953
Secretary Vacant
Thrasher Editor Naseem Reza [email protected] 804-272-1145
Treasurer/Finance Lewis Barnett [email protected] 804-320-7898
Youth Robin Ruth (interim) [email protected] 804-231-5949