PRESIDENT’S PEN
by Lynn Barber

Well, it’s almost time for our annual officer and board elections, as we wind down our chapter year before the summer. It’s been a great year so far, with much accomplished. The latest exciting news is that our chapter has applied for and received a grant from Audubon Texas for our educational program. In particular, the grant will allow us to provide more classrooms with Audubon Adventures, as well as to enhance our other educational efforts. It’s never too early to get children interested in and excited about the natural world!

For next year, many of the current board members and officers are willing to continue in their current positions, which is a great relief to me! But every year is a new year, and we’d like to have suggestions on things that we as a chapter might do next year. 
What things would you like to see our chapter doing? Is there something YOU would like to do for the chapter in the coming year? Would you consider volunteering to help out with educational efforts, perhaps talking to children or youth about birds and birding? Or maybe help out with leading or organizing field trips? Or with cleaning up at the Old State Fish Hatchery? What other ideas would you like us to consider? What new projects do you think we might take on? Please give us your input.
Finally, I have one really big question for you to end this interrogation—would you consider helping our chapter with refreshments for the coming year. Traditionally, we’ve had one chairperson, but this year we had a wonderful mother-daughter duo. They can’t continue on next year. Could you help, maybe on an occasional or sometimes basis? Maybe a couple of you could share the job to make it easier? I’d love to hear from you if you are willing to help out!

Thanks to those who provided door prizes for the March meeting
• Bobby Ryan
• Phil Craighead
• Bob Smith
• Ann Hoover
• Gail Morris
• and the “Mystery Person”

CONSERVATION REPORT
by Jim Sipiora

Data from Christmas bird counts (CBC) is a valuable source of information on bird population trends. CBC results show that Rusty Blackbirds have declined at a rate of 5.7% per year. That’s a loss of 13 million birds since the 1965-66 count season. Harris’s Sparrow is showing an annual decline of 1.8%.

The news isn’t all bad though. Hermit Thrush and Merlin both show annual increases of 2.2 and 3.3% respectively. Whooping Cranes wintering in and around Aransas National Wildlife Refuge now number 213. This is all time high since the counts began in 1938. The specie’s all time low was 16 birds in 1941. About 40 chicks were fledged from 54 nesting pairs in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park. Many of you no doubt read about the two Whoopers shot by hunters on November 6, 2004. One of the birds died but the other recovered well enough to be shipped off to join the captive breeding flock at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. The penalty for shooting a Whooping Crane is a maximum fine of $100,000 and one year in prison. Kansas is presently adapting regulations to better protect migrating whoopers.

On November 4, 2004 the first wild-born California Condor in 22 years took its first flight. The nest site is a cave near the Hopper Mountain NWR in Ventura County, California. Piping Plovers in the Great Lakes states produced 93 chicks last year from a total of 55 breeding pairs. This set a record high for both chicks and breeding pairs since the species was listed as endangered in 1985. Canada, however, is not sharing in the specie’s tentative comeback as the plovers are close to extinction in Ontario.

For those of you who can stand the taste of coffee, Starbucks will be adding 10% recycled paper to its cups. At roughly 1.5 billion—yes billion—cups per year, this move will save about 5 million pounds of tree fiber each year. Starbucks already uses the same percentage of recycled paper for its napkins, cup sleeves, and carriers. 

PRACTICAL GREEN
by D.D. Currie
What you can do in your everyday life to reduce your impact on the planet
Close the Loop...Buy Recycled!
Recycled materials are not truly recycled until we reuse them. The materials that we recycle do not truly benefit the environment until a demand is created for them. You can increase the demand by using your purchase power. Be an environmental shopper!
Most importantly, buying recycled turns waste into a useful resource for making other products and diverts waste from our landfills. So close the loop and buy recycled!
What Consumers Should Look For:
Check for the recycle symbol on the following products:
Cereal, cookie, and cracker packages
Canned foods and beverages
Detergent and cleaning supply containers
Glass containers
Shampoo and beauty products
Paper towels and bathroom tissue
Writing paper, notepads, greeting cards, and stationary
Carpeting
Tools
Plastic flower pots, trash cans, bins, and fencing
Packing boxes
Re-refined motor oil
Retread tires
Automotive batteries
Insulation in ski jackets, gloves, and sleeping bags 

Definitions of Terms on Product Packaging
Here are a few terms you may encounter on product packaging:

Pre-consumer waste: This includes the paper scraps, overruns, and misprints from the manufacturer. These fibers are reused to produce new paper. It does not include any material from household or commercial recycling programs.

Post-consumer waste: These materials have all been produced, sold consumed, and collected. Anything you recycle at home or at work is included in this category. Using these materials helps promote recycling programs by creating a market for our recyclables. In order for recycling programs to continue, we as consumers must purchase products with at least some post-consumer waste.

Recyclable: The word “recyclable” simple means that the product can be recycled. If you see this on packaging, it does not mean that the product is made of recycled materials.

ORNITHOLOGY REPORTS
by Greg Keiran

NOTEWORTHY RECORDS MID-FEBRUARY TO MID-MARCH
Hummingbird Updates
Lynn Barber, SW Fort Worth
4 March 2005 It’s been awhile since I posted on my Rufous Hummingbird, but she’s still around. After the Anna’s Hummingbird left in mid-February, the Rufous Hummingbird expanded her territory to where it had previously been (the whole yard, and who knows how far beyond), In particular, she perched on his perch to show that she really was in charge of his spot too. I’ve posted a picture of her taken last week on the page reserved for her (titled Rufous Hummingbird, August 04-March 05) on www.lynnbarber.com 
Rachel Dugas, Bedford
Still, the one adult female Rufous Hummingbird continues here in Bedford. Last year she left here on March 19 so it will be interesting to see what happens this year. The male left early January. I find it interesting how Lynn’s hummer is acting EXACTLY the same as mine after the other hummers left. She took over the male’s territory in the back yard, one which she never bothered about before. Since he left she would also sit on HIS branches almost as though to prove a point that she’s the boss once again. Her territory also expanded as I’d see her flying off to trees further off to where she could still survey her whole territory from a distance. Her main perches are still those that she’s always used, including last winter, but she definitely expanded after the male left. Interesting stuff... :-) Visit www.wingsinflight.com 

Western Grebe, 5 March: Martin Reid called to say there was a Western Grebe at Mustang Park, Benbrook Lake. It was found from the picnic area on the left road. Around 10:30. Simone, Benbrook

Crested Caracara, 21 Feb: This past Saturday morning on my way to the store, I saw a Crested Caracara perching on a tree. Several birders were present. I did not stop because I was on the main road. The location of the bird was on the SW corner of Granbury Road and Dirks Road. I did not see the bird this morning. Sophie Floyd, Fort Worth

Burrowing Owl, 21 Feb: Reported from Cement Creek Lake (D.P. in Fort Worth)

Hagerman Reports:
02/22/05: Good news the bridge on the main road is open. Come see. Today in five hours we got 69 species. Highlights were Blue Wing Teal and Canvasbacks. This is the most Canvasbacks I’ve seen at Hagerman in 20+ years of birding there. Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, plus lots of snipe. We also saw one shorebird which we couldn’t be certain if it was a snipe or dowitcher. We got a Redheaded Woodpecker, also the Pileated. A Brown Creeper and White Breasted Nuthatch. A Lark Sparrow on Hagerman Road. The purple martins are back. They came in Sunday at the southwest corner of FM 1417 and FM 120, at the woodlot. Jack Chiles has lots of martin houses up there. A mature Bald Eagle was at Goode, found by Resa. The Western Meadowlarks were singing around headquarters building. We had plenty of Robins, also they are in Texomaland and the Red River Valley. Good birding. Lee Lemmons

02/26/05: A group of six from the Fort Worth Audubon Society (Jeff and Mary Scott, John Eastman, Phil Craighead, Dell Little, D.D. Currie) participated in a field trip to Hagerman NWR. A total of 88 species were seen/heard. Highlights included: one NEOTROPIC CORMORANT; 59 CACKLING GEESE; two COMMON LOONS; two BALD EAGLES; four HERRING GULLS; two BARRED OWLS; six species OF WOODPECKERS including one HAIRY and two PILEATED WOODPECKERS; three GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS; 13 species of SPARROWS; one WESTERN MEADOWLARK; 15 PURPLE FINCHES. D. D. Currie, Arlington

03/03/05: On this very foggy morning I stopped off briefly (7:05-7:25 a.m.) at Hagerman NWR (Grayson County) on my way to a meeting in Oklahoma. My target was my “lifer” CACKLING GOOSE. I found six geese only 20-30 yards from the main road, and two of them were Cackling Geese. Three were Snow Geese (including one dark-gray sub-adult), and the other was a ROSS’S GOOSE-about the same size as the two Cackling Geese. These geese were not at all skittish, so I got great close-up looks! I did not have time to observe too many other birds, but there were at least 20+ Blue-winged Teal along with many Northern Pintails, Mallards, Northern Shovelers, and Green-winged Teal. I also saw one pair of Ring-necked Ducks and a handful of American White Pelicans. Lawrence Duhon, Lewisville

Tawakoni Reports:
02/21/05: Spring is slowly coming to north central Texas. Bluebirds are singing all around the state park at Lake Tawakoni and Wood Ducks are checking out the boxes there as well. I had my first Purple Martins at the State Park today. Also two Blue-winged Teal were found at Lake Tawakoni Rains Co. These birds are very rarely seen in winter. The flock of Rusty Blackbirds continues to be seen at the State Park and the Long-tailed Duck was still in the cove off Rains County Road 1502. The number of ducks were much lower today compared to last week. But loons and Horned Grebes were much higher. There is a Red-shouldered Hawk nest in the state park campsite 49. Snow Geese were seen northbound over the lake and a flock of scaup were migrating along the shore of the state park. A male Northern Harrier flushed a flock of Least Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs at the lake as well. 88 species listed that day. Richard Kinney, Edgewood

02/22/05: This morning I heard a White-eyed Vireo singing at Mill Creek Lake near Canton in Van Zandt County. This is earlier than these birds usually show up here. Generally, White-eyes return somewhere around March 10-13. I do, however, have a record for Feb. 19, 1999 of a White-eye in Van Zandt County. Those are the only two February records of this bird that I am aware for Van Zandt County. Also returning to these parts were Great-tailed Grackles in the Canton Wal-Mart parking lot. Richard Kinney, Edgewood

02/27/05: It was a cool, damp, overcast morning at Tawakoni today. Still many interesting birds were found including the Long-tailed Duck. Migrants continue to stream into the area or out of it. A Rough-winged Swallow was seen at the state park near the boat launch (first of the spring.) By the way, the Barn Swallows seen at Lake Tawakoni in Rains County a few days ago were the earliest ever at Tawakoni by my records. Numerous Purple Martins were seen over the lake as well. The number of Flickers and Thrashers are definitely on the increase. Pine Warblers and Chipping Sparrows dropped off this week. Over 60 Common Loons were scattered over the Lake with the majority at the state park, highlighted by one giving its yodeling call just 30 feet from shore. A sub-adult Bald Eagle was seen in the same area from just 15 feet perched in a tree. I nearly missed it because I was looking at the loons. (My own personal bias.) Over 500 Horned Grebes were seen from the public boat launch in Van Zandt County as well as a few loons. An American Crow was seen on a nest in the state park, as was the Red-shouldered Hawk. Both Tufted Titmice and Cardinals were seen gathering nest material. An Eastern Screech Owl was photographed in a Wood Duck box there too. Listed 105 species. Richard Kinney, Edgewood

TEXBIRDS
02/13/05: A group of happy birders was treated to dozens (at least) of Smith’s Longspurs as part of Eaglefest at Lake Tawakoni today (Feb. 13). At times calling Smith’s Longspurs were flying all around us. Amazingly, when they landed and we approached very carefully to within 20 feet of where they were no one could see a single bird. After much scanning of the matted grass areas in the car tracks, someone finally spotted one bird on the ground, and before it flew (along with two others that had also been right next to us) some of us got to see its beady eye in the telescope, peering at us through the grass. Other birds seen included LeConte’s and Savannah Sparrows, many Wilson’s Snipe, an adult Bald Eagle, Common Loons, and Horned Grebes. Excellent leadership was provided by Matt White. I wildly snapped some pictures of the longspurs in flight, but had no time to get a picture of one on the ground. Amazingly a couple of the flight shots turned out to show a bird that one could actually see field marks on! I’ve put a couple of the shots at the bottom of the 2005 pictures page: www.lynnbarber.com Lynn Barber, Fort. Worth 

02/19/05: I made about a half-hour drive through Village Creek Drying Beds in Fort Worth this afternoon (just before the rain started) and identified 36 species there. Most of the ponds/flats were filled with water, so waterfowl were abundant and shorebirds were absent (at least during my cursory period of observation). Here are the 11 species of waterfowl that I saw: American Wigeon, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Greater Scaup (one male, swimming next to a male Lesser for good comparisons of head shape and bill size), Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead.
I have not seen any place else in the D/FW area with this concentration and variety of waterfowl at such close range this winter. Also present was a nice Harlan’s Hawk, along with a Red-shouldered Hawk flying over with some prey in its talons, “normal” Red-tailed Hawks, and a Northern Harrier. 
A large flock (well over 100) of Bonaparte’s Gulls flew in while I was there, so it was nice to get close-up views of those dainty gulls. I saw a few passerines, but nothing out of the ordinary. This place is always worth checking out! Lawrence Duhon, Lewisville

2/21/05 This afternoon I saw two Caracaras sitting in a tree behind the Wal-mart store in Greenville. Bill Trelc, trelcjr@earthlink.net, Greenville

2/23/05: Common Loon reported from Lake Grapevine by Doug Oxford

Report your sightings to:
Greg Keiran - 9 S. Kingston Ct.
Bedford, TX 76022 
(H) 817/282-3312 - (W) 817/280-7598, gkeiran@AOL.com

THE TRAVELING BIRDER
by Lynn Barber

TRAVEL TO—All over Texas for a birding Big Year (continued)
Well, I’ve put on a lot of miles and tromped through a lot of acreage since I last reported on my Big Year travels in mid-January. When I last wrote, I’d logged 266 species for Texas for the year. That was the easy part. Those were the easy-to-get or spectacular birds. Now it’s even more miles per bird than before.

What have I been doing since mid-January? There was a trip to the coast to find wintering shorebirds such as American Avocet, American Oystercatcher, and Semipalmated Plover, plus Seaside Sparrow. Then off to Laredo to try to find the often reported Blue Bunting and White-collared Seedeaters. While the seedeaters were numerous, the bunting(s) stayed hidden while I was there, and it took a trip to San Ygnacio to see a beautiful male bunting splashing in a puddle below a dripping faucet. 
I signed up for a couple of Texas Ornithological Society trips to get specialty birds that are often hard to find by oneself. The first TOS trip was to the Granger area in late January for Mountain Plovers and Sprague’s Pipits, as well as McCown’s Longspurs. The second TOS trip was in late February to the Nacogdoches area for Bachman’s and Henslow’s Sparrows, Red-cockaded, Red-headed, and Hairy Woodpeckers, and Brown-headed Nuthatch. I recommend both trips highly!

In between the TOS trips, in late January, Simone Jenion and I finally saw a Ruddy Ground-Dove in Big Bend, as well as Black-throated and Rufous-crowned Sparrows. On the way back from the western trip, we found Sage Thrashers north of Pecos and Crissal Thrashers at Monahans Sandhills State Park.

Closer to home I did a vigil at dusk on Western Oaks Rd. to find a Woodcock, an early morning trip to Johnson Co. to see a huge flock of Rusty Blackbirds and a Golden-crowned Kinglet, and a quick trip to central Fort Worth to see the Monk Parakeet colony. Then I headed south with Simone to see Whooping Cranes at Aransas NWR, and Northern Gannets, Red Knots and Marbled Godwits in Nueces County.

I finally removed Rose-throated Becard from my Texas nemesis list, after having searched for it in vain for about 5 years, when Simone and I saw two gorgeous female becards at Sabal Palm Grove Audubon Sanctuary south of Brownville. Worth the wait! On a another trip south I stopped at Lake Buchanan to see the previously reported California Gull and Pacific Loon, on the way to my 300th bird for the year on February 5, the Roadside Hawk at San Ygnacio! The latter took a full day of waiting in the mist and rain, but another well-worth-it wait.

A hike up to the Bowl in the Guadalupes added Steller’s Jay, Mexican Chickadee and Canyon Wren to my year list, A quick Panhandle expedition in early February added Cassin’s Finch and Northern Shrike, Trips to the upper coast allowed me to add Barn Owl, Eastern Towhee, Boat-tailed Grackle, Marsh Wren, Prairie Warbler, both dowitchers, Allen’s Hummingbird, and Thayer’s Gull, and a day at Lake Tawakoni during Eaglefest brought me Smith’s Longpurs and LeConte’s Sparrows in mid-February. I zipped back to Tawakoni a couple of days later to see the just-reported Long-tailed Duck . Then a couple of trips down to the Valley to mop up things missed earlier: Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Green Parakeets, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Tropical Parula, and Great Black-backed Gull.

A brief visit from a Brown Booby to Port Aransas, and a very unexpected and lengthy visit from a Streak-backed Oriole at Brazos Bend SP spiced up late February. Finally, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve added Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, American Bittern, Green Heron, Common Tern and Stilt Sandpipers.

And I’m both looking forward eagerly to Spring migration and dreading the rush of birds that I know and hope will come. I’m sure I’ll be rushing around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off trying to be everywhere at once. Try not to stand in my path should you happen to be out there birding too in April. I’m afraid I may be even more out of control than usual this Spring. By the way, I’m at 343 species as I write this.

HIGH ISLAND FIELD TRIP
This year’s High Island Spring Migration is on the weekend of April 23-24. For those planning on going, reservations can be made at the following 

BEST WESTERN GULF COAST INN
(409)296-9292
Reservations Only - (800)528-1234

WINNIE INN AND SUITES
(409)296-2947
205 Spur 5
Winnie, TX 77665

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS
(409)296-2866
Reservations Only-(800)Holiday

Basic Itinerary: 
Saturday April 23rd:
1. Meet at Waffle House in Winnie early Saturday morning (6:00ish).
2. Saturday morning-Bird High Island. The day pass to the Houston Audubon Sanctuaries costs $5.00.
3. Eat sack lunch at High Island
4. Bird along Bolivar Peninsula heading towards Bolivar Flats.
5. Bird Bolivar Flats in the late afternoon.
6. Eat dinner at local restaurant in Winnie.

Sunday, April 24th:
1. Meet at Waffle House (6:00 A.M.)
2. Early morning (7:00 A.M.) Yellow Rail Walk led by David Sarkozi at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Bring rubber boots for this.
2. Bird Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge after Rail Walk
3. Eat sack lunch at Anahuac.
4. Head to TOS/Sabine Woods for afternoon birding.
Check the Fort Worth Audubon Society’s website (www.fwas.org) for more information about the trip.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BIRD PRESENTATIONS AND NATURE WALKS WITH KIDS
Share your appreciation of birds with our youth and experience the joy of raising
a new generation of birders. Do you have a few hours this summer to volunteer at a Girl Scout camp? Would you consider conducting nature walks or talks at an elementary school? No experience required, we will provide training. Your efforts can foster an understanding and respect in children for the natural world. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Regina Biel at 972-245-3486 or
cuckoo@mauimail.com.

BIRD WALKS SPONSORED BY WILD BIRD CENTER, HULEN
April 9 Memorial Oaks Park
Back to the Great Blue Heron rookery to catch a glimpse of the Heron nestlings. Also, look for early spring migrants.
April 30 Foster Park
A great “trap” for spring migrants. One of Fort Worth’s best kept secrets.
May 7 Botanic Gardens
Migrating Songbirds and a walk through the beautiful gardens.
May 21 Village Creek Drying Beds 
Painted Buntings! You won’t want to miss these spectacular neo-tropical migrants.
Bird Walks begin at 8:30am. Meet at the Wild Bird Center and caravan to the hot spot. Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Please phone in your reservation to 817.737.4944 at least a day in advance. All of our walks are complimentary excursions for our customers.
Wild Bird Center - Hulen
www.wildbird.com/ftw 
NW Corner of Hulen and 820 (next to Albertson’s)
Mon-Fri 10-6pm / Sat 10-5pm
(817)737-4944

FWAS ASSISTS WITH 2005 NORTH AMERICAN BIRD WATCH OPEN
Arlington’s Tierra Verde public golf course was developed in cooperation with the National Audubon Society to be ecologically “friendly” and as a haven for birds and wild life. Course rules also provide continued protection for the beautiful and sensitive habitat. FWAS members Charley Amos and Andrew Shetley joined a team of golf course personnel and other local birders in an annual survey of bird poplulations on the golf course. As a member of the Arlington Parks Board, Charley also suggested to the staff a yearly calendar to best monitor the full range of birds benefiting at all seasons from the efforts of the city and the golf course. He also recommended broadening the scope of surveys to include other beneficiaries such as butterflies and native plants. He assured the staff that FWAS members would undoubtedly help with the additional studies. Congratulations to Tierra Verde Golf Course and the city of Arlington for their environmental awareness and efforts.

WINNER OF “CHAPTER-ONLY MEMBERSHIP” DRAWING ANNOUNCED 
Bill and Jean Richerson were the lucky winners in the Chapter-only Membership prize drawing. Presented by chapter president Lynn Barber, the beautiful limited edition print of a Magnificent Hummingbird was donated by the artists, the Gentling brothers. This is the second year that the Gentlings have provided the prize for the chapter’s promotional effort. The drawing is held each year from those who have signed up as chapter-only members of the Fort Worth Audubon Society by January 1 of each year. Be sure to join for the 2005-2006 year to be eligible for next year’s prize drawing.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP DOLLARS AT WORK
During the 2004-2005 Audubon year, your local chapter has made the following investments in environmental education and protection:
National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count - $195 for costs of data compilation and study
Audubon Adventures - $1692 to provide materials for local elementary school science teachers
Birding Classes - $1019 for optics and materials for chapter-sponsored beginning birder classes.
Llano Estacado Audubon Society Prairie Festival - $160 (promoting the preservation of the intricate ecosystems of prairie land and their inhabitants).
Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - $200 to help underwrite costs of rehabilitation of injured birds and wild animals.
Regional School Science Fair - $200 for prizes for the best environmentally-oriented projects
FW Nature Center and Reserve Buffalo Boogie - $100 for education and development projects
Harpy Eagle Protection Project in Brazil - $2200 to fulfill a pledge made in previous years.