President’s Letter John Wright

As I sit and reflect on my past experiences and those ahead of me, I can’t regret anyone of the adventures or misadventures I have taken over the years. These experiences have made me who I am today, “for better or worse,” and I can’t help but look forward to the possibilities for the future.

When asked to lead our local Audubon chapter, I challenged all of our members to do one new thing that they have not done before related to the Chapter. I have to say there are several new things I have done. I am still working on going on a field trip with the group and, hopefully, I will make that happen before the summer, despite my challenges with work schedules. I have found the responsibilities entrusted to me enjoyable and I am grateful for belonging to our chapter.

Every member of the chapter contributes to one degree or another, if only by attending the meetings and helping the executive board know what you are thinking. We are beginning the officer election process for the next term of two years. It is important that our members help guide the chapter by running for office or encouraging others to do so. The time the jobs require is manageable, especially for the rewards of making a modest difference for the chapter and community. I would like to thank the members for their support, opportunities and rewards you have allowed me to experience, and I would like to thank the current officers for their diligence and dedication.

Many of our members have diverse and creative ideas for the chapter. Although you may be wondering how to help and at what capacity, just remember, everyone can make a contribution (big or small) toward the reason you originally joined Audubon. For me it was friendship, and I am thankful for getting to know many of you. Through educational outreach, with the BirdFest, Audubon Adventures, and Junior Birders, we are teaching the conservationists of tomorrow. Conservation of our natural resources will allow us and our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren to continue to enjoy nature and birds. How many of you participate in counts sponsored by our chapter, like Christmas Bird Count, Spring Migratory Bird Count, or this month’s Great Backyard Bird Count? Participating in any of these by doing some bird-watching and nature-enjoying with like-minded people would be a contribution. And what about just enjoying the birds? Putting up feeders and monitoring the birds in your yard or on your property and reporting those is another way to help. Each one of these things is why I joined and why I will continue to contribute to this chapter and the national organization in the modest ways I can. I would encourage all members and officers who come after us to do that simple “one more thing.”

Thanks again for your trust in me over the past years.

John Wright

February Field Trip: Feeder Watch Notes Chuck Gramling

Gene and Giulia Saucier hosted yet another great window watch on February 16. First the group of 29 members, new members, and guests were treated to that never-ending table of the best food in your life as only Giulia’s kitchen can do! I know the article is supposed to be about birds and stuff, but writing this report I can only say I ate until I was too full, and kept eating! I think it is fair to say I was not the only one doing it, either! One more trip to Saucier’s home, and we might change our group name from Pine Woods Audubon to Pine Woods Food Lovers!

But the birds were there too, 25 plus species seen from inside the house and seven more in the woods (32 bird species seen in all). The birds were eating in bigger numbers than the people, an estimated number of 1,100 birds showed up at the feeders. There were Chipping Sparrows and Goldfinches in huge numbers, and many others: Juncos, Cardinals, Purple Finches and more. All this happened with rainy, dreary weather. About the time we finished around noon, the sun broke out, and Gene led Grayson, Jane, Diane, and me on a trail through their woods area. We managed to pick up the Pine and Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Ruby Crown Kinglets, Pileated and Downy Woodpeckers, Hawks, and Brown Headed Nuthatches.

Well, I can’t speak for the rest of you, but for me seeing 1000+ birds out the window while eating the best food in the world, then seeing another 7 or 8 species on a short walk, is a great day in the space of three hours time. Add to that enjoyment of seeing Audubon friends and some new faces met – well, it just doesn’t get much better! Please thank Giulia and Gene for all they put into making this day so special for us. I don’t think 25 species of birds show up at the window in three hours time without caring for those birds for a long time ahead. And without a lifetime of devotion to best forestry and environmental practices, no such day could have been possible at all.

Thanks so much, Gene & Giulia!

Bird Quiz Larry Smith

This bird is: a) a frequent feeder visitor in Hattiesburg in the winter, b) is granivorous, even feeding its nestlings regurgitated seeds, and c) migrates in the daytime. WHAT IS THE BIRD?

Answer to October Quiz

I knew right away I had a good quiz question when I read in my trusty National Geographic Birds of North America that this 9” bird (same size as Brewer’s) “is lacking any striking structural features.” Both Rusty and Brewer’s male are all black with yellow eyes. Both are noted to have a greenish gloss or sheen on the body, but the Brewer’s is said to be more glossy with blue or purple sheen on the head. Truth be known, you probably would have to resort to “looks rusty” to tell a winter Rusty from Brewer’s, the latter retaining its basically black plumage. There could be some difficulty with the immature Brewer’s, which may have buff edging and thus appear somewhat “rusty.” The winter female Rusty may be even “rustier” than the male. Real Clue: Rusty fall/winter males have rust edging on their tertials, while Brewer’s tertials are always black! (Of course, it would be nice to know where the tertials are when considering this criterion.) Rusty females will have yellow eyes, while the Brewer’s female eyes are usually brown. A really good birder would know that the Rusty’s bill is longer and more pointed compared to Brewer’s. Rusty is more likely in wooded areas, and Brewer’s in open fields. Good luck on telling the two apart based on note or song – which we seldom hear since both are winter birds here.

The real story with Rusty Blackbird, of course, is its precipitous decline, said to be more than 90% from the 1960s through the 90s. Our Petal crew was fortunate to see a flock on the Christmas Bird Count. Reviewing the MS 108^th CBC results, I found other Rusty reports only in the Moon Lake (468 birds) and Washington Co. (35) counts. First in the country was Chapel Hill, NC. Moon Lake was 2^nd highest of all counts, and we were 24^th. By the way, we are just beginning to see MISSBIRD reports of large flocks of Brewer’s Blackbirds from our friends up north (MS).

Upcoming Field Trips Chuck Gramling

Our March field trip will be to the Honey Island Wildlife Refuge on the north side of Pearl River near Picayune. We will depart from the University Mall by Roses on Saturday March 22 at 9:30 a.m. This part of the refuge is a forested area, not the boat tour. We will see a rookery of herons and egrets beside the road. We hope to see early migrants including early warblers and Swallow Tailed Kites. Bring a snack; we will eat a late but great lunch at a local favorite seafood place in Picayune with very affordable food. There will also be a butterfly count in the refuge that day conducted by our friends from the New Orleans area.

The Honey Island Refuge is a fee area. A “Wild Louisiana Stamp” must be purchased prior to entering the refuge. The price per person is $2.00 per day with date specified on permit, or $5.50 for the entire year. You can purchase your permit for our trip at Big Buck Sports across the street from where we will meet (do it ahead of trip day if you can, otherwise for folks driving to town to meet us, we will wait for you to obtain your permit so you don’t face a fine of several hundred dollars for bird watching with us in the state refuge without paying your two bucks). See this link to view pricing of various user permits and to purchase online: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/licenses/

There is no option to purchase the stamp at the refuge entrance. It must be purchased ahead of time.

It is time to plan for the April Spring Migration trip to Dauphin Island Trip, planned for the weekend of April 25-27. Lodging is already hard to find for our weekend; The Gulf Breeze Motel and Dauphin House are booked at capacity less any cancellations. It is time to get on the waiting list and also look for alternate lodging if you do not yet have reservations. Please let me know if I can help you find a suitable place to stay on or near Dauphin Island:

601-268-3849 or clgramling@comcast.net

Calendar of Events

March 6, 2008 (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.

March 6, 2008 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center. PROGRAM: TBA. Contact Program Chair Josh Hodge (601-606-3440) for information.

March 11, 2008 (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.

March 22, 2008: “Honey Island Refuge.” Contact Field Trip Coordinator Chuck Gramling (601-408-0499) for information.

March 21, 2008 (Friday): Deadline for items for December Pine Warbler to newsletter editors by email (lin.harper@usm.edu), by phone (601-545-2437), or by fax (Attn: Lin @ 601-266-6541).

April 25-27, 2008: Annual Dauphin Island, AL Spring Migration Field Trip. Make your own travel arrangements. For assistance, contact Chuck Gramling.