The Pine Warbler

February 2009

Volume XXXIV, Issue 6


President's Letter by John Wright

Happy New Year to one and all.  I hope the year ahead brings about many new rewards and challenges to all.  As the calendar year changes and this new year begins, I have also noticed many new things ahead for our chapter.  I have recently seen several new members at our last meeting and also others who introduced themselves on the list serve.  It is great to see the new faces and what I hope will bring about the sharing of new ideas, contributions, stories and energy to our organization. 

With the New Year one typically makes new resolutions and the challenges that come with keeping them.  This is why I usually don't make one.  However, I will continue to try and do something new, as the opportunities present themselves.  So to all members who have shared ideas, I hope that we can accomplish those that we can and tackle the ones that we need to work on a little more. 

As we take the time to welcome and introduce ourselves to the new members, I hope that we are all reminded how great it is to get new people involved in our group.  That has been one of my fondest experiences with leading our chapter.  The members are also a great group to explore the natural surroundings that we enjoy in Southern Mississippi and imparting their knowledge to others.  I hope that you will take the opportunity to get involved (new and old members) in many of our regular and hopefully new events, to continue growing our organization and welcoming more new faces.

February Program Preview by Chuck Gramling

Pine Woods Audubon invites members and the public to the Thursday February 5 program at 7:00 PM by Dr. Jodie Jawor on Northern Cardinals.  The cardinal is a bird we all recognize and see almost everyday.   Join us to learn more of Dr Jawor’s knowledge and research on the biology and behavior of the Northern Cardinals.  Dr. Jawor is a member of the USM Department of Biological Sciences facility, specializing in Avian Biology and Endocrinology.  Come join us and discover more of one our favorite birds, the Northern Cardinal.

Pine Woods Audubon meets at the Education Building, Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park.  Meetings are free, and light refreshments are served.  The public and members are cordially invited to attend.

Bird Quiz by Larry Smith

Of all the North American sandpipers, only a single solitary species regularly nests in trees. Name this bird and you win LOTS OF POINTS!!!

Pine Woods Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count Report 

by Larry Smith,Count Coordinator

The January 3 CBC in Hattiesburg was conducted enthusiastically by a total of 14 field participants in 5 parties and 3 feeder counters. Weather conditions – humid, warm, overcast, and over 1” of rain – contributed to another tally low in species and total birds. It might be said that we were lucky to find 81 species and 6262 total birds, since the light was poor in the morning and very little birding was done in the rainy afternoon. Highlights (my opinion) were Buff-bellied Hummingbird (thank you Diane Lafferty!), no fewer than 5 Bald Eagles, American Pipit, Wilson’s Snipe, and both Brewer’s and Rusty Blackbirds. Waterfowl were low in species and numbers, and sparrows were abysmally low. Raptors were low although we did manage to see Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Cooper’s, Sharpshinned Hawks and A. Kestrel.  NO Hairy Woodpecker, NO OWLS! A lousy 3 Brown Thrashers! Only two species of warbler, Yellow-rumped and Pine, and those in low numbers. Although there were two pockets of Pine Siskins and a single Purple Finch, no Red- or White-breasted Nuthatches were recorded.

Tune in to National Audubon’s website (under Citizen Science, CBC) for complete details on ours and other CBCs as they are completed.

February Field Trip by Grayson & Jane Rayborn

The Great Back Yard Bird Count:  Window Watch

Jane and I are looking forward to seeing all of you February 14 for the window watch.  We hope the birds will come too! We will expect you at 9 AM, but anyone that wants to walk the five acres is welcome to come earlier.  Driving around the lakes at Lake Serene should be productive as well.

The Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event (February 13-14-15-16) that engages bird watchers of all ages and all experience levels in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
How to Participate
1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 13–16, 2009. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. Submit more than one checklist per day if you count in multiple locations on that day, i.e., your backyard, the local park, walking around your neighborhood, etc.
2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. Take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.
3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page (http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/). You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" beginning on the first day of the count (February 13, 2009). It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1, 2009.  OR, you can contact Lin or Ron Blackwell (601-545-2437) or Diane Lafferty (601-264-9654) and give us your checklist verbally (we will enter data into website).  OR, you can print the checklist, fill it out, and mail it to Lin (544 W. 4th Street, Hattiesburg, MS  39401).  However, you do it, your data will get into the online system and you’ll be part of a national citizen science project!

Calendar of Events

February 5, 2009 (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.

February 5, 2009 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center.  PROGRAM: Winter Hummingbirds (James Bell).  Contact Program Chair Chuck Gramling (601-408-0499) for information.

February 7, 2009 (Saturday): Gulf Coast Audubon Society–Greenwood Island, Pascagoula.  Don McKee (251-238-2473) or Sharon Milligan (228-861-1622) will lead the group through this previously off-limits property.  Meet at the Hardee’s Restaurant on Highway 63 (exit 69 off I-10).

February 10, 2009 (Tuesday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Birding Committee Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at the Keg & Barrel Restaurant.  Contact Ron Blackwell (601-545-2437) for information.

February 14, 2009 (Saturday): Great Backyard Bird Count Window Watch, hosted by Grayson & Jane Rayborn from 9 a.m. till Noon. 

February 28, 2009 (Saturday): Gulf Coast Audubon Society–Ashe Nursery/Fruitland Park. Although this is a project of Gulf Coast Audubon, Piney Woodsers will join them at Ashe Nursery in the not-too-early morning.  Meet in the Roses Parking lot at 8:00 to depart with the group.  Call Ronnie Blackwell (601-545-2437) for details.