President's
Message
John Wright
With April just around the corner, we are getting geared up for our
annual Bird Fest. This is the event where we create community
awareness of the natural world and our organization. With spring,
bird migration and Easter all part of this upcoming month, I am
reminded of the importance birds play in the symbolism of the
season. The Easter egg brings about renewal and hope for a fresh
start, and the rebirth of plants from their slumber is just a reminder
of what is possible.
Bird Fest is also a fixture of our organization. People in the
community now regularly attend this festival to learn about and renew
their connection with the natural world we live in. We are
planning to raise awareness of the event to reach even more
people. This year Marsha Newman, our Zoo Educator, and members of
USM Greek community will be assisting in the event. We are also
contacting other environmental groups to share information about
improving the world around us and thus improving the environment for
birds and wildlife everywhere.
I look forward to updating everyone at the April meeting, but please
feel free to contact Liz, Cile or me if you have ideas. I hope
this time of year also brings a little spring into your step and a
renewal for the world we live in.
Kind regards, John
Bird Fest, April 22nd
Cile Waite
Once again, the Pine Woods Audubon Chapter will join with the
Hattiesburg Zoo to celebrate the natural world, particularly birds, on
Earth Day: April 22nd, from 1-3 p.m.
Plans for Bird Fest will be finalized at our April meeting. We
still need volunteers to help with registration, the Audubon
information table, and general facilitation of guests.
To volunteer or to get additional information, contact Liz (264-9545)
or Cile (264-7925).
Bird Quiz
Larry Smith
The April bird quiz will be an AUDIO!!!! Bring your
ears!!
Answer to March Quiz:
Spring migration for the Yellow-throated Warbler is very early;
migrants may show up in Florida as soon as late February and on the MS
coastal plain by the second week in March. Yellow-breasted Chat is
later, arriving on the Gulf Coast mainly in mid-April. Wilson’s Warbler
is one of the later migrants, moving northward overland mainly through
Texas. You’d be lucky to see one of these at all on the Dauphin Island
spring migration trip, and almost certainly not before mid-April.
Interestingly, a few Wilson’s winter in southern Louisiana, and I
actually saw one on a field trip to Venice, LA in early February.
A handy reference for migrant arrivals and departures is Judy Toups’
Guide to Birding Coastal Mississippi. Chapter 6 has a bar graph showing
the probability of occurrence of birds on the MS coast throughout the
year, followed by a list of “oh sure you did” rarities and accidentals.
April Field Trip
Chuck Gramling
Our annual Spring Migration Field Trip to Dauphin Island, AL, will be
Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 with some of us early birds
heading down Thursday. This is the trip most of us
birdwatchers dream of all year long. Everyone is welcome to
make the trip to hunt for migrant birds in their bright spring
colors. This trip is all about seeing birds that one weekend you
probably won’t see for the rest of the year, if ever! The
mulberry trees should be ripe with berries and the orioles, tanagers,
and other fruit-loving birds. We are hoping for a typical
group listing of 20 to 30 species of warblers along with all a hundred
other kinds of birds.
I have to say I love this place. Over the years I would say I
have seen more species of warblers, vireos, and other migrant birds on
Dauphin Island than everywhere else combined. Well, maybe I
don’t go to many other places, but it is well known that the potential
to see a lot of different birds is about as good as it gets on Dauphin
Island.
For those who have never been, Dauphin Island is a small island (about
¾ mile by 10 miles) connected to land by a bridge usually
adorned with a welcoming committee of pelicans, gulls, and
cormorants. It is not so overdeveloped with those places to eat
and shop found in most every town USA. I will say there are great
places to eat there, as well as a medium size grocery store. It
is a great place to go and just relax for a few days, watch some birds,
and discover something good to eat! We do this trip “on your own”
and our only ‘whole group’ activity is our sunset Saturday species
compilation, usually held at Sarah’s room at the Gulf Breeze
Motel. Don’t let ‘on your own’ keep you from making the
trip. Many of us regulars will be happy to go around with you and
get you familiar with all the spots to check for birds.
In terms of lodging, we will be competing with the annual spring sail
boat race that weekend. Handy phone numbers (also found in our
yearbook) for accommodations, include the Gulf Breeze/Harbor Lights
motel (800) 286-0296, Dauphin House (251) 861-3514, and for campers the
Camp Grounds (251) 861-3607. Although there are no guarantees, we
hope there will be birds. Come join us there. Just seeing one
special first-time spring migrant bird seen could make it worth your
whole effort and hook you on Dauphin Island in spring bird migration
for life!
For More Info: Chuck Gramling 601-268-3859 (or email
clgramling@comcast.net)
March Field Trip
Report: Haven or Heaven?
Lin Harper
Those of us who are regulars at the Audubon meetings have been hearing
about “the Camp” from Grayson and Jane Rayborn for the last year or
two, as they purchased and then settled into their ‘retirement
haven.’ Now when I think of “camp,” I’m not thinking of what we
found when the Rayborns hosted us this past Saturday! We found
them comfortably ensconced in a lovely homeplace with a screened porch,
deck, and patio only about 10 feet from the edge of the Pascagoula
River. Grayson told me they regularly sit on their deck for
breakfast and coffee, watching birds like Swallow-tailed Kites and
Ospreys fishing in the wide, deep waters. Ah, this was looking
pretty much like “heaven” to me!
And what can I say about the shrimp (the size of tiny lobsters), the
corn, potatoes, mushrooms, & sausage (ahhhh, love that crab boil!),
and the deserts (banana pudding, blueberry cake, lemon cookies, and
stuff I didn’t get to!)? I guess it’s enough to say that the food
was as outstanding as the setting!
After we all stuffed our bellies till we could barely waddle, the boats
showed up. The Rayborns’ wonderful neighbors showed up to escort
anyone who wanted to go out onto the river to look for kites, warblers,
wading birds, and any other wildlife that could be seen.
While the boats ran in “shifts” to accommodate all the riders, some of
us ran up the road to the Audubon Center to see the Bald Eagles’ nest
and babies. Those who went got treated to good views of the nest,
the babies, and at least one adult Eagle. As Ron and I were
leaving to head out to Mobile, a truck pulled up to the Audubon Center
and unloaded a baby alligator that someone had caught while out
fishing. They were bringing it in to see what they should do with
it and if it could be released near the center. You never know
what you’re going to see when you’re out looking at birds!
So – thank you, thank you, thank you,
Grayson and Jane, and please pass on our gratitude to your two
boat-steering, story-telling neighbors who helped to make the day
really memorable for us all!
Bird
News Around Mississippi
Larry Smith
Some of the more interesting birds reported in recent weeks on MISSBIRD
include: Western Meadowlark (February, Lee County, identified by song),
Rough-legged Hawk (March, Grenada County), Golden Eagle (March, Hancock
Co.), Lesser Black-backed Gull (February, Bay St. Louis), American
Woodcock (February, Hancock Co.), and Rock Wren (Enid Lake, seen by
several folks through the winter).
An Alabama birder saw an adult Golden Eagle at Pickwick Reservoir in
February, and on the same trip saw 4 adult and 3 immature Bald Eagles
on the MS side of the lake. Ned Boyajian, who reported the March Golden
Eagle, had also seen an adult Golden Eagle in Pearl River Co. in
January.
I had no sooner finished reading a magazine article lamenting the
serious decline of Rusty Blackbird when reports of unusual numbers of
these birds began to pop up on MISSBIRD, both in the Starkville area
and on the coast. I have not heard of any reports of Rusty in this area.
Chapter
Calendar of Events
April 5, 2007 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Board Meeting,
6:15 p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center. The Public is
invited to attend. Contact any Board Member or officer for more
information or to add something to the Agenda.
April 5, 2007 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Chapter Meeting, 7
p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center. PROGRAM: "Louisiana’s
Important Bird Areas (IBAs)" by Melanie Driscoll.
Contact Program Chair Josh Hodge (601-606-3440) for information.
April 10, 2007 (Tuesday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Birding Committee
Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the Keg & Barrel Restaurant. Contact
Ron Blackwell (601-543-0091) for information.
April 27, 28, & 29, 2007 (Fri-Sat-Sun): Pine Woods Audubon Society
Field Trip to Dauphin Island, AL. Please make reservations on your
own. Contact Field Trip Coordinator Chuck Gramling (601-408-0499)
for information.
Mark Your
Calendars!
PWA & Hattiesburg Zoo Bird
Fest
April 22nd (Sunday, 1-3 p.m.)
at Kamper Park
Contact Cile Waite
(601-264-7925) for information.