The Pine Warbler

Letter from the President                                                                                             John Wright

It’s Fall -- that time of the year when we start to migrate back to meeting with one another, learning and seeing new things.  We have already had our first meeting and saw a few new faces this year.  We hope to see your friendly face at the October meeting!  Please bring a friend to enjoy the good company, wonderful refreshments, and interesting speakers and topics we have this year.
 
As your president, I have started the ball rolling on the Junior Birder Program, and we need volunteers to assist in this project.  There are two key components.  One is recruiting: getting the word out to schools and youth groups about the program.  Secondly, we will meet the second Saturday of the month to at the zoo around 9:00 a.m. and show the junior birders how to look for birds, identify birds and attract birds.  Please choose one of the components to volunteer some time in.  We need you for the program to be successful!
 
I think this is really something the chapter can do to encourage a younger demographic in our environmental and conservational efforts.  This chapter has great passion for reaching out and making a difference, and this would be one more thing to do to prove that point. If you are interested in this project please contact me at the zoo, or our next meeting.  I am looking forward to seeing more familiar faces and more new ones as well.
                           

October Program                                                                                                         Josh Hodge

Dr. Mark Peterson will be our guest speaker at the October meeting. He will speak on The Cumulative Impacts on Walter Anderson's Beloved Coastal Environments. I encourage everyone to invite their friends with an interest in art, as well as nature. This presentation might make them more aware of the damage we are doing to our environment.

Bird Quiz                                                                                                                     Larry Smith

 
Answer to September Quiz
 I had in mind the Blue-winged Teal, which is usually the earliest fall migratory waterfowl that I notice. I think I have seen them as early as late August, but since for a small population the breeding range overlaps the northern Gulf wintering range, I can’t be sure these were on their way. According to NG, the Blue-winged Teal is the most abundant duck in the prairie pothole region of the northern Great Plains. The wintering range extends from southern gulf and western states (small numbers) to South America, some going as far as Chile. Relative to other waterfowl, the Blue-winged is a late spring and early fall migrant. The Blue-winged arrive in coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas early to mid-August, and in coastal Louisiana, numbers peak first 2 wk of October (BNA).
 
National Geographic Complete Birds of North American, ed. Jonathan Alderer, 2006, Birds of North America Online

Membership                                                                                                               Larry Morgan

Please look at your mailing label on this issue of your newsletter.  If you see a date below the city,  that is the date your membership is set to expire (No date?  Don’t worry, you’re paid up!). We want and need your support in our organization!  Don’t let it lapse!  You can join the National Audubon Society, the Pine Woods Chapter only, or both, but please, please continue to lend us your support!  And encourage a friend or two to follow your lead and join, too!  We’ve got a great “thank you” gift for first-time members!  Thank you.

September Field Trip Notes                                                                                   Chuck Gramling

Saturday September 8, Pinewoods Members Josh Hodge, Diane Lafferty, Larry & Linda Smith, Martha Baty, Ron Blackwell, Liz Wolfe, and Chuck Gramling headed just south of town to check out the Armed Forces Museum.  It is a great place to go see.  You can learn more history in two hours just meandering around than I may have learned in my whole life.  The museum conveys our American Soldiers’ role in the freedom of both Nation and Mississippi.  If you have not been, go – it’ll make you want to come out waving our flag a little stronger!  Seriously, this trip is recommended for almost any group (civic, church, any group, family) -- kids to old folks will love it.  The Museum is accessible for those with disabilities and free for all as well!  If you missed our trip, take time to stop there. 

Well as fate had it, Larry and Larry got hungry first and were off to the Louisiana Sisters’ Restaurant before most of us got out of the Museum.  This is a really great restaurant at the South Gate of Camp Shelby on Hwy 49.  The food is as authentic as it gets to New Orleans, very reasonably priced, and just a neat café atmosphere that makes you feel like you are in the French Quarter.  I call it the closest to N’awlins we have around here. 

Ron, Diane, Liz, and Josh headed on to chase birds after lunch but were largely unsuccessful at seeing any; Diane said she had more birds in her yard than they saw that whole afternoon! But they reported seeing some beautiful butterflies and Ron reported that he needed the practice because . . . migration is upon us!

Hospitality                                                                                  Emily Nelson

Thanks to everyone who volunteered at the September meeting to provide some light refreshments for future meetings, but there are still a few blanks on the schedule.  While I have a few “old stand-bys” that I can call on at the last minute, we would appreciate volunteers taking on a night or partnering with someone who has already claimed a date. The more people who help with a night, the less trouble (and cost) it is for everyone! Please remember that simple food is great -- we don't have to be elaborate or prepare a full meal – unless you just want to!

Oct. 4     Liz Wolfe & Cile Waite
Nov.1   
Dec. 6    Rosalind Gunn
Jan. 3     Larry Morgan
Feb. 7    Sarah & Latrelle Bush
Mar. 6   
April 3   Louanne Fossler
May 8    THE BANQUET – location TBA

To volunteer to assist with refreshments, please contact Emily Nelson by phone (601-264-7030) or email (emily.nelson@usm.edu).

September Program Notes                                                                                      Josh Hodge

At our September meeting, Diane Lafferty entertained us with a program featuring many fabulous photos of local butterflies and their caterpillars. I doubt anyone left the meeting without a greater appreciation for those “scrumptious” butterflies.  Thanks, Diane!

October Field Trip Plans Laid -- Confusing Warblers, Confused Birders       Chuck Gramling

It’s that time again --  time to sharpen our skills on identifying those confusing fall warblers, little brown jobs, and other migrating birds that don’t look like the picture in the books.  You will find some with us on Dauphin Island the weekend of October 5-7.  Maybe it is no surprise that our fall list total is typically a little shorter than our spring totals there; in fall, species of migrant birds tend to look less distinct than in spring mating plumage. Some Houdini warblers even transform into confusing little brown or yellow birds, quite different from their breeding colors.  Gosh, the colors of birds can be as confusing as it can be helpful!  Dauphin Island has been a key place for migrant birds for thousands of years, so come explore it with us, and learn your “confusing fall warblers.” We will all sharpen our skills and find good food and company there. If you have never made this trip, make it -- one night or three, come join us.   Relevant phone numbers include Gulf Breeze Motel (800-286-0296), Dauphin House (251-861-2514), and Island Campgrounds (251-861-3607/2742). Come join us in the hunt for these wonderful birds of fall on Dauphin Island.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

October 4, 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.

October 4, 2007 (Thursday): Pine Woods Audubon Society Chapter Meeting, 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg Zoo Education Center.  PROGRAM: The Cumulative Impacts on Walter Anderson's Beloved Coastal Environments (Dr. Mark Peterson).  Contact Program Chair Josh Hodge (601-606-3440) for information.

October 5-6-7, 2007: Dauphin Island, AL: “Confusing Fall Warblers.” Contact Field Trip Coordinator Chuck Gramling (601-408-0499) for information.

October 9, 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.

October 15, 2007 (Wednesday): Deadline for items for October Pine Warbler to newsletter editors by email (lin.harper@usm.edu), by phone (601-545-2437), or by fax (Attn: Lin @ 601-266-6541).