Well this past month has been quite eventful for the Chapter. Three
major developments have occurred since our March meeting. First Ron,
Josh and myself attended the annual MS Audubon Chapter Retreat in Canton.
Some basic business was done and we are hoping to get a grant from the state
to allow some less fortunate children in the area to attend the ZooÕs
summer camp. The summer camp will incorporate some birding techniques
and hopefully get a few more kids involved with looking at birds and the
natural world around Hattiesburg. This grant will pay for a large portion
of their fees for the camp, but we wanted the participants to show some commitment
to the program as well.
Also at the retreat, we attended the Important Bird Area (IBA) survey
workshop. This survey will be conducted by our members in the both
the Desoto and Chickasawhay NFs. It involves laying out sections of
land (a grid pattern), identifying & counting birds we see as we walk
these segments. Each segment is to be counted 3 times a year during
particular times of the year. This activity will greatly improve our knowledge
of what is happening to the bird population over time and allow us to assess
how management of the land effects birds.
Also recently, the chapter signed paperwork as benefactor of Sarah Gillespie.
Sarah was a long time member of our chapter and revered by our chapter.
I wonÕt pretend to have known her, other than the importance she had
for our members to place a bench on Shell Mound in Dauphin Island, AL, her
favorite place to view the birds during migration. This chapter and
our goals must have meant a lot to her and we are grateful. She left
the chapter $20,000. At this time the board is reviewing options on the best
use of the money. Upon receipt of the money we wish to tuck away much
of the sum as an endowment for the long term benefit of the chapter and its
endeavors, but we also feel the need to utilize some of it for a community
conservation/birding endeavor. We hope that some of you, who may have
known her better than I, may contribute your ideas that would best reflect
SarahÕs interest and generosity.
Finally from the retreat, I would like to mention our strong membership.
At the retreat other chapters were astounded that our membership is up about
5% to 250 members. Along with an increase in general membership, I
have noticed that attendance at our monthly chapter meetings has also
increased. I would like to thank everyone for making this chapter one
of the stronger chapters in the state. It is through your endeavors
that we can continue to make a difference in our community.
And, lastly, it's Spring! Get out there and look at some birds.
Go on a field trip if you haven't been going. Think about the DIAL trip, scheduled
for the last weekend in April. Enjoy all the natural world that's waiting
out your back door
Which of the nine owls on the Checklist of Birds of
Mississippi is not a "typical" owl, and what about it is not typical?
The Barn Owl belongs to one of two families in the order Strigiformes, being
set aside ("atypical") in the family Tytonidae from all the other (MS) owls
whooo, being very typical, are naturally in the family Strigidae! The Barn
is one of the most widespread of all owls and, indeed, is among the most
widely distributed of all land birds, being found on all continents except
Antartica. They have a narrow skull and a distinctly heart shaped face with
prominent facial discs, which makes their eyes appear small. Their legs are
longish and are feathered. But the real key, which you should not miss if
you see one, is a serrated or pectinate third claw. By the way, you may notice
that the Barn as well as other owls can rotate their outer toe backwards,
something which hawks are insanely jealous about because they can't do it.
Josh, Lin & I turned out for the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society
field trip to the Twelve Oaks Land Trust Preserve in Ocean Springs, MS on
Saturday morning, March 14. Both sites are lovely examples of the oak
woods the coast is famous for, and the Shearwater Property also provided
another cultural treasure as we toured briefly the Walter Anderson showroom,
newly refurbished and outfitted. Although the list is not vast (28 total
species), it was a great morning of birding and fellowship. The following
list was compiled on eBird by Mark Woodrey: