The Pine Warbler

March 2007 Online Text Version

Vol. XXX11, Issue 7


President's Message by John Wright

It’s been a busy few weeks for the chapter.  Marsha Newman, our new zoo educational curator, has met with the BirdFest committee to discuss this year’s events and possibly growing the event.  We have started to make arrangements for the scheduling interviews for the media.  We hope for a big turn out this year on Earthday, April 22nd.  If you are not currently scheduled to help out with this event, consider giving us a hand.

Josh and I attended a Chapter Leaders’ retreat at Lake Tiak O’Khata where we discussed last year’s Strategic Plan for State activities and goal-setting for this year.  Those notes and plans will be available at our next meeting and we will give you an overview update. 

We were asked what goals we wanted for the chapter, and, after much discussion with Josh, and taking in what we already do, we wanted to focus on three areas.  These areas are similar for most chapters.  Josh wanted to work with the Desoto National Forest to get that area to be a designated an Important Bird Area (IBA).  Secondly, we wanted to identify and develop a model urban garden that attracts wildlife and can be used as an educational resource for the community.  Finally, with education being a main focus of many, we discussed working with the zoo’s education program to set up a youth bird watching course.  I believe that all of these goals are doable and simply grow what we already do.

The chapter leaders also want to assist the Gulf Coast chapter with Least Tern habitat-education-research efforts as the conservational project for the state.  A small grant from National Audubon will be set aside to help fund that.  We hope to start developing a plan soon for members across the state to make a difference there.

I know and believe our chapter can do these tasks, but this brings the up the financial side of the chapter.  We have discussed a few options at the meetings to raise funds to support our efforts and being able to make contributions to our goals.  So if you are a creative person with an idea or two, please offer your ideas and assistance to make your chapter one of the strongest in the state.  With that also in mind, we may do a raffle or item auction at the next meeting to start the ball rolling. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting to help us with our fundraising.

Kind regards, John


Bird Quiz by Larry Smith

Our late, cold winter notwithstanding, spring is just around the corner. It is time to turn our attention to Migrating Warblers.

Which of the following 3 migrants are you most likely to see in Mississippi in early or mid-March: Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, or Yellow-throated Warbler?

Answer to February Quiz

Since I made a special effort to ask an extraordinarily easy quiz question last month, we were rewarded by having to go to only the third name drawn for the correct answer. Congratulations to Cecil Chambliss for correctly identify-ing the House Sparrow as the only one of the group not a “true sparrow.”

It may be more appropriate to refer to the two groups in question as “new world” (family name Emberizidae) and “old world” (Passeridae) sparrows. Passeridae are more closely related to weavers, finches, and pipits than to Emberizids. The reason old world sparrows are here, of course, is they were introduced. Even though they are actually in decline in this country, the House Sparrow is considered the most ubiquitous avian species in the world (Sibley).

Of course, I did try to make it a little challenging by listing Emberizids with names not including “sparrow” and in 3 cases birds that are not commonly found in this area. Nonetheless, you may be interested to know that both Smith’s Longspur and Snow Bunting are on the MS checklist, as casual and accidental, respectively. You would be far more likely to see a longspur by going a little north and west of here, but I had to go clean to Churchill, MB to see my first Snow Bunting. The real hooker, of course, was the Yellow-faced Grasquit. This bird is listed in the sparrow section of some but not all field guides and is a tropical species that has been reported in Florida and Texas. A really good birder would have known all of this.


February Field Trip Report by Chuck Gramling

Gene and Giulia Saucier surely deserve a medal for hosting the February Window Watch for the third year in a row!  Some 22 lucky members and guests were treated to a belly-pleasing food-fest (thanks to Guila and Jane Rayborn!) and to birds, birds, and more birds!  Thanks to the chill weather, the good food, and good company indoors, few of us went outside to walk around this year, but we didn’t feel we missed a thing.

If the food was good, the Sauciers’ caring for birds and wildlife is on an equal plane.  Hundreds of birds rotated in flocks at the feeders, and anyone who has feeders knows that such gathering of birds is the result of constant attention and lots of seed and feed.  Our morning of seeing so many and such a variety of birds is the work of years to achieve.  Over 25 species were seen at the window feeders: Juncos were out in dozens; hundreds of Goldfinches and Chipping Sparrows also hit the feeders.  We saw Geese, Ducks, Vultures, Herons, Yellow-rumped warblers, Robins, Bluebirds, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Phoebes, Red Bellied & Downy woodpeckers, White Throated & Song sparrows, Robins, Wild Turkeys, and a mystery Hawk.  Gene and Giulia deserve a special award for taking care of the birds, making their place a paradise for birds and wildlife, and just being such great host and leaders in our community.  Pinewoods Audubon says,
“Thank You Very Much!”


March Field Trip Announcement by Chuck Gramling

On Saturday, March 24, Grayson & Jane Rayborn have graciously agreed to host Pine Woods Audubon members and guests at their place on the lower Pascagoula River near Moss Point for lunch and a close-up look at the marsh and river. The Pascagoula River system and marshes near the gulf is one of the most unique ecological treasures we have in Mississippi or North America.  If you only do one field trip this year, this is the one to do!

We will head out from the University Mall parking lot in Hattiesburg at 8:30 a.m., making a couple of short birding stops along the way down at the Lower Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area and the cooling ponds for the power plant on Hwy 63 for ducks, water fowl, & hopefully a Swallow Tailed Kite or two.  Around noon we will reach the Rayborn place just a little north of Moss Point for a great lunch (Thank you, Grayson!) at their waterfront house.  After lunch, we will have two boats available to go out into the marshes.  We will have an optional short driving trip to Moss Point to check out the nesting Bald Eagles and other close-by bird spots after lunch. 

An approximate head count is needed in order to plan for lunch. Please indicate at our March Audubon Meeting if you plan to attend (or just call me: 268-3859). My cell phone number is 601-408-0499, and the Rayborns’ number is 228-369-9507.  Join us on this trip -- you are more than welcome! Great trip, boat ride, good food, great folks, beautiful birds, and all on the Pascagoula River -- what else can I say?  Come with us!

Driving directions will be available at next meeting and on the PWA website (http://home.comcast.net/~blackwellr/).


Calendar of Upcoming Events

March 1, 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.

March 1, 2007 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center.  PROGRAM: "Swallowtailed Kites" by Jennifer Coulson.  Contact Program Chair Josh Hodge (601-606-3440) for information.

March 6, 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.

March 24, 2007 (Saturday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Field Trip to the Rayborns’ Haven on the Pascagoula.  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.