The President’s Pen

by Lynn Barber

When I was trying to decide what to write in this month’s column, I began to think about the fact that my husband as a church pastor has to write two newsletter columns each month. Infrequently, he has written a column discussing church membership. Don’t worry—I’m not going to try to get you to join our church here, but you might say that I’m going to “evangelize” about Fort Worth Audubon’s chapter-only membership.

A year ago we began our very first foray into chapter-only membership. As those of you know who attended meetings or have read our newsletter in the past couple of years, we adopted chapter-only membership for 2004 primarily in response to cutbacks in dues-sharing by National Audubon. We wanted to be able to continue to undertake local conservation and education projects, bring in outside speakers, publish a newsletter, send mailings, rent space for our meetings, and support conservation and environmental efforts of other groups. And National Audubon made it possible for chapters to do these things by providing for chapter-only membership.

Rather idealistically, we aimed for 250 chapter-only members this last year. Amazingly, we reached and then passed that goal!

Well, guess what? A year has passed, and we’re trying to do it again. But our goal for 2005 is 275! Can we do it? I don’t know. It’s clearly up to each of you. If you were a chapter-only member this last year, we hope you’ll join us again-keep up the winning streak, so to speak. In fact, we’d like to be able to depend on you to do it. And if you haven’t yet become a chapter-only member, we’d really like you to do so this next year,

I guess it’s a lot like the public radio fund-raising campaign that’s going on as I write this. You can read this newsletter, or come to chapter membership meetings, or go on chapter field trips, without being a chapter-only member. However, you can make this chapter your own and have a real sense of participating if you DO BECOME A CHAPTER-ONLY MEMBER.

Join us for our monthly meetings!

The Fort Worth Audubon Society meets the second Thursday of each month, September through May, at 7:30 PM. All meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are held at:

UNT Health Science Center
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard
Research and Education Bldg.
Everett Hall Room 100
www.hsc.unt/campusmap

Easiest entrance is from parking lots A or C off Clifton Street. Doors are west end of building, lowest level.

Next Chapter Meeting

November 11
Social Hour 6:45 PM
Meeting 7:30 PM
Speaker: Rich Kostecke,
Ft. Hood Nature Conservancy
Topic: What the Nature Conservancy is doing to promote populations of the endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos

Visit our web site, www.FWAS.org, for more information about meetings and for directions.

ORNITHOLOGY REPORT

By Greg Keiran

Noteworthy Records

Mid-September to mid-October

9/19/04: Dell and I found a Sabine’s Gull today at approximately 10:45am at Dutch Branch Park at Benbrook Lake. The gull was seen from the southern-most turnout at Dutch Branch Park flying north to south across the lake. The bird, which was observed for about five minutes, was a well-marked adult. (D.D. Currie)

Rufus Hummingbirds: Individual lingering birds still reported in SW Fort Worth and Bedford since August (Lynn Barber and Rachael Dugas).

9/24/04: Hi, All - Yesterday morning at Cement Creek Lake I actually saw three! rails in about an hour and a half! In countless visits there and at Village Creek Drying Beds I’ve seen two over the years; and one of those was a brief glimpse at a flushing bird going into cattails. Yesterday Snipe were present for the first time this fall, flushing from many grassy areas. At one point a very tiny rail, easily smaller than the Snipe, flushed immediately after the Snipe, and from almost the same spot. My first impression was it was a barely-fledged chick. It landed in sparse cattails and I could see it walking briefly, but not to ID it. Soon a juvenile Sora flushed from a grassy area and flew to the near edge of a cattail stand where it perched in the front edge of the cattails about two feet off the ground. Amazingly, there it sat for perhaps 2-1/2 to 3 minutes bobbing its head up and down as if trying to figure out what I was. Very un-rail-like from what you read! By now I had found that cheap imitations (just whistled) of Sora calls, or loud hand-claps were sometimes getting alarm squeals, and even a couple descending Sora whinny responses. I haven’t had any responses to tape playback since the spring, so I didn’t have the player with me. I thought I heard a noise in a big heap of blown down, dry cattails, so I threw three rocks in quick succession (I know, I know— but I do it anyway), and incredibly the Black Rail scurried out the right-hand side of the pile, crossed about three feet of flattened vegetation on the water and disappeared into a big stand of thick vegetation. Seen from only about 15 yards away, with sun behind over my left shoulder, this adult gave a brief but great look! Alas, even if I’d had the camera I would have had to have been pointing it at the direct spot and snapped instead of being shocked! In a fit of ridiculous optimism, I’ll be making a couple recordings of rails on the digital voice recorder I carry and playing them around the area at Cement Creek in the next few days to see if any chance exists of getting a recording of a response. Presumably this is a migrant, but if anyone wants a detailed attempt to describe the location, let me know. David P. in Fort Worth

Hagerman Reports:

10/2/04: This afternoon my sister and I found two Yellow-shafted Flickers at the Denison Dam. This is a little early for them. At least it is the earliest I have ever seen them here in 20+ yrs. I also have two Ruby-throated Hummers around. On the way home we saw four Scissor-tailed Flycatchers.

10/5/04: Today in five hours we got 60 species The Anhingas are flying around doing a little fishing. A few ducks are in: Widgeons, Shovelers, Mallards, Wood Ducks, and Blue-winged Teal. Saw White-faced Ibis and a few shorebirds: Least, Spotted, and Stilt Sandpipers; Snipe, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. There were lots of Flickers, along with White-breasted Nuthatch, and Ring-billed Gulls.

10/8/04: Today we had a Yellow-throated Vireo in our yard. It has been around most of the day. First saw it taking a bath in my bird bath (just a plastic lid). This is the first time I’ve seen this bird here on the hill. I’ve been here since 1983. My sister who lives next door saw it here in 1976 then in 1979. What a great day to be around birds. Good birding! Lee.

Tawakoni Reports:

10/1/04: A group from Prairie and Timbers Audubon (and points south and west) participated in a field trip today to Lake Tawakoni led by Richard Kinney. Highlights included (in no particular order): two Pine Siskins at Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wilson’s Snipe (one), Blue Grosbeak (one), Pileated Woodpecker (one), Nashville Warbler (one), Baltimore Oriole (one), American Avocets (three), Blue-winged Teal (four), Black-bellied Whistling Duck(one)first seen by Ross Rassmusen; later seen by the group), Baird’s Sandpiper (four+), Western Sandpiper (one+), Pectoral Sandpiper (one), Broad-winged Hawks (50+), Sandhill Cranes (heard only), American White Pelicans (two), Northern Flicker (one), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (one), Crested Caracara (two), Summer Tanager (one adult male), House Wren (one), Barn Swallow (five), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (one), Brown Thrasher (two). D. D. Currie, Arlington

TEXBIRDS:

9/13/04: Simone Jenion and I went to the so-called “Forbidden Zone” just east of Collins and just north of Green Oaks in Arlington for about three hours. Had a good warbler day with five species of warbler as highlights, along with a White-breasted Nuthatch. The list follows: Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Bell’s Vireo, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Wilson’s Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, House Finch.

Lynn Barber, Fort Worth

9/17/04: Seen this morning at Lewisville Lake Park were the following birds of note: American Avocet - one, Franklin’s Gull - five, Yellow Warbler - 20+, Wilson’s Warbler - six, Nashville Warbler - three, Tennessee Warbler - one, Pine Warbler - one, Mourning Warbler - one, Blue-headed Vireo -one, Baltimore Oriole - two. Keith Lockhart, Highland Village

9/18/04: Just had a Red-breasted Nuthatch at one of my yard feeders. I live about six miles south of Greenville. Could this be an invasion year? Bill Trelc, trelcjr@earthlink.net

10/2/04: After my last post, I’ve gone out a couple of times this afternoon, and almost always more Swainson’s Hawks passing over. About 15 minutes ago, I went out after an early supper, and at one time there were over 500 hawks, again mostly Swainson’s visible. And they kept coming over, clearly many more than a thousand. It’s been quite astounding. Most of them are just streaming by, but then there were three fairly low kettles visible at once with over 100 birds in each. A few Broad-winged Hawks, increasing numbers of Turkey Vultures. There was at least one Dark-phased Buteo, I think Red-tail, and another that was Swainson’s-shaped. Wonder where they’ll rest for the night. Lynn Barber, Fort Worth

10/3/04: Fall activity is under way out on the west end of Lake Worth, with numerous Brown Thrashers arrived and “ckak!”- ing throughout the woods. This morning the thickets are jam-packed with Mourning Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Earlier in the week there was a sparrow (FOS) on a wire, but it dived into the shrubs before I could get out the bins. Today also there is plenty of overhead movement, with a first flock of Northern Shovelers way up and headed south. Ten Franklin’s Gulls were out over the open water, and a lone Ring-Billed was seen two different times in the week. All the Chimney Swifts are finally seen to be headed southwest, rather than circling and feeding as they have been all summer. A side note: every morning I see many flocks and groups of White-winged Doves; and all are always headed west. There are either plenty of them east of here, or they wander in some sort of regular pattern. Hummingbirds are gone; looks like the resident Rufouses will belong to Lynn and Rachael again this winter. But Wood Ducks are finally in breeding color—what a sight to have them in the back yard, instead! Still no shore, with the water level being so high, but Kildeer, Snipe, and Dowitchers fly around sometimes; and all the expected egrets and herons are always here too. Lastly, what could I be mistaking for the “ZweeeEEE !! “ of Pine Siskin? I kept hearing it today, but I never got a look, and can’t convince myself that Siskin is possible yet. Cheerio! DP in Fort Worth.

10/3/04: Dell Little, and Mary and Jeff Scott and I birded at Walnut Grove Park at Lake Grapevine this morning. A total of 59 species were seen. The highlight of the morning was a large and very active group of Red-headed Woodpeckers (at least eight) of various ages that were working among several dead trees that can be seen near the entrance to Walnut Grove Park. Other highlights listed in order seen included (all in Denton Co.): Brown Thrasher - 15+, Northern Flicker - 12+, White-faced Ibis - one, Osprey - two, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet - six, Barn Swallow - 25, Cooper’s Hawk - one, Indigo Bunting - 12, Spotted Towhee - one, House Wren - six, Lincoln Sparrow - four, Nashville Warbler - six, Orange-Crowned Warbler - two, Yellow Warbler - one, Northern Rough-winged swallow - 12, American White Pelicans - 120+, Swainson’s Hawk - three. D. D. Currie, Arlington

10/8/04: Took a group out to Central Park/Fox Avenue green belt in Lewisville; Denton Co. this morning. In addition to the usual suspects, we were VERY pleased to locate two male Purple Finches. They stayed for a long while. In fact we got distracted w/ a possible Nashville [never did get looks long enough for a positive ID], a fly-through of a Belted Kingfisher and a very possible [and likely] female Black Headed Grosbeak. After all of that, one of the Purple Finches was in the same place! We had earlier seen a male House Finch so it was a good lesson of comparison for my group of beginners. The finches sure were going after that ragweed! Also way up high while watching and giving a lesson on the comparison Turkey vs Black Vultures, there were lots of Chimney Swifts. They were so high that they were not visible with the naked eye. Sue, Highland Village, a northern “burb” of Dallas, Denton Co.

10/10/04: Just looked out the back window and had a Red-breasted Nuthatch about to visit my dripper. D.D. Currie, Arlington

Email:

9/27/04: Took a swing by Mill Creek Lake (Canton City L.) Sept. 27. Saw one Red-headed Woodpecker and several migrating swallows: Barn and Roughwing. But was stunned to see over 400 Broadwings in four separate kettles southbound in just over 30 minutes. Richard Kinney

10/8/04: I had a Red-breasted Nuthatch in my yard to today at Edgewood, Van Zandt County. This could be a good year for these birds this year. Richard Kinney

10/8/04: A single Sprague’s Pipit was found in the old longspur field at Lake Tawakoni, Rains Co. at the end of Rains County Road 1475. Also in the field was a singing Savannah Sparrow and a few American Pipits. Richard Kinney.

10/10/04: Despite a heavy drizzle, several good birds were seen in Johnson Co. this morning: Peregrine Falcon (Cleburne State Park), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - good adult male Crested Caracara, Common Nighthawk. Went to three lakes in Johnson County. (Lake Alvarado, Lake Pat Cleburne, and the lake at the state park). NO ducks were observed. D. D. Currie, Arlington

Send your sighting reports to:

Greg Keiran
9 S. Kingston Ct.
Bedford, TX 76022
(H) 817.282.3312 - (W) 817.280.7598 or gkeiran@AOL.com

PRACTICALLY GREEN

What you can do in your everyday life

to reduce your impact on the environment.

by D.D. Currie

Proper Disposal of Household Hazardous Waste

In the “good old days,” a common way to get rid of your old motor oil or gasoline was to use it to kill weeds or as an ant killer. It may have effectively killed the weeds and ants, but it also contaminated the soil and possibly the groundwater if the practice continued over time. For industrial facilities and businesses, there are numerous environmental regulations controlling the management and disposal of hazardous waste, but unfortunately, there are few regulations controlling hazardous wastes generated by homeowners. We all must take the responsibility to manage and dispose of our household hazardous waste properly.

Luckily, the City of Fort Worth created the Environmental Collection Center (ECC) located at 6400 Bridge St. in Fort Worth for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste. The ECC is open Thursday and Friday from 11AM to 7PM, and Saturday from 9AM to 3PM. Phone number is: 817.871.5257. The service is FREE to residents of the following cities: Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Burleson, Colleyville, Euless, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Haltom City, Hurst, Keller, Mansfield, Newark, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Southlake, Stephenville, Trophy Club, Watauga, unincorporated Tarrant County, and Upper Trinity River Water District. You must bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license or utility bill and you may need a voucher from your particular city, but the service is FREE.

The ECC will accept the following materials: acids, aerosol cans, all batteries, antifreeze, brake fluid, craft/hobby chemicals, degreasers, drain cleaners, fertilizer, fluorescent lights, herbicides, household chemicals, motor oil, paints/stains, paint thinners, pest strips, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, photo chemicals, pool chemicals, oil filters, solvents, transmission fluid, varnishes.

The ECC cannot accept ammunition, explosives, medical waste, propane/butane cylinders, radioactive material (such as smoke detectors), tires, and waste generated by businesses.

Please ensure that all containers are labeled with the contents even if the label is handwritten. DO NOT transport chemicals in the passenger compartment of your vehicle. Put them in the trunk.

Remember the phrase “reduce, recycle, reuse” when dealing with hazardous materials.

REDUCE: Buy the smallest container of hazardous material you need. This will reduce the amount of hazardous waste that must be disposed of.

REUSE/RECYCLE: Check around to see if anyone you know can use the material you want to dispose of. Someone else reusing or recycling the material will prevent the cost and environmental impact of disposal.

CONSERVATION ISSUES

by Jim Sipiora

AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY GREEN LIST

The ABC Green List contains all the highest priority birds for conservation in the continental United States and Canada. It builds on the species assessments conducted for many years by Partners in Flight (PIF) on land birds, expanded to include species of all taxa. ABC has taken PIF standards and applied them to all taxa to produce the Green List. This is the first time that a single, consistent set of criteria has been used for all birds in order to produce a comprehensive set of priority species for conservation.

The list is divided into three broad categories. Species classified as being of the Highest Continental Concern suffer from multiple problems and include many of the birds listed under the Endangered Species Act. The second and third groups are of equivalent concern to each other, but for different reasons. Moderately Abundant Species with Declines or High Threats include birds that are still found in relatively high numbers, but are declining at an alarming rate. Species with Restricted Distributions or Low Population Size, covers species for which populations may be stable and threats apparently limited, but are limited in number or range.

The following list is of birds in each category known to occur in Tarrant County.

Highest Continental Concern:

THE TRAVELING BIRDER

By Lynn Barber

Hints for a great birding trip

Traveling on an organized birding trip with a commercial birding company can be a wonderful experience! Such trips allow you to explore and see birds in places that are not familiar to you and to have the assistance of a guide in figuring out where you are going, how to get there, and what you are seeing.

In 1992, I decided it was time to try birding outside of the United States, and I chose Costa Rica for my first trip. I didn’t know if I’d get to go on more than one such trip, so I chose a spot that seemed like a birdwatcher’s paradise. I pored over birding magazines and contacted every company that mentioned that it ran trips to Costa Rica. And then I spread out all the ads, looked at my calendar, and blindly chose a trip that sounded good. I was very lucky and it turned out to be very good, but it wasn’t because I had a clue of what to look for in birding trips. Since then, I’ve gone on over a dozen more international trips, plus quite a few in the United States, and while not an expert now, I do have a much better idea of what things are important to me.

So, after you’ve thought about where you’d like to go, I suggest that you ask the following questions about trips that are being offered and use the answers to help you select the trip that fits your requirements and preferences:

1. Is it a general natural history tour or a tour concentrating exclusively or primarily on birds? What type of trip sounds better to you?

2. Is the trip hard-core, pre-dawn to post-dusk birding/nature watching, or is there time to relax, swim, read, visit cultural attractions, shop, etc.? For most trips, it is difficult to wander off to do your own thing when the rest of the group is doing something else.

3. Are the leaders experienced and knowledgeable? Are the leaders helpful, and are they going to try to help both beginning and advanced birders, or does the company or leader primarily cater to one group or the other? Finding this out may require talking to people who have been on trips with these leaders, which isn’t always easy to do.

4. How long does the trip last? A short trip going to many different spots will spend a greater percentage of its time on the road or in the air traveling, instead of out there birding.

5. How much does the trip cost and what’s included in the cost? There is lots of variation, primarily due to the types of places visited, the types of lodging (basic or deluxe), whether or not meals and transportation to the starting point for the trip are included in the cost, etc.

6. How big is the tour group likely to be? The larger the group, the more likely the group will become spread out and that you will miss birds that others are seeing, but with a larger group the costs may be less.

7. When is the tour? Whether or not it is the rainy season or very dry, or the breeding season or not, will affect which birds are likely to be seen and whether or not they will be singing or feeding young, or silent, or gathering in flocks.

8. Where exactly does the tour go? If you’ve been able to learn something about the country or area where you want to go, and have been able to learn about birding hotspots or areas where birds that you really want to see might be found and when they might be found there, you can more easily choose a tour that goes where and when you want to go.

9. Is the trip to a popular birding destination? If so, you may need to have a Plan B, or be willing to delay your trip awhile. Birding is becoming more and more popular, and the popular trips often fill up early, and possibly have a long waiting list.

10. Does the tour company provide a list of likely birds before the trip, and are the birds you most want to see on the list? After the trip, will you receive a list of the birds seen on the trip?

11. What is the tour group’s cancellation policy? Something may happen to change your plans; will you be able to get most or all of your money back?

Usually you can get a very good idea about most of these things by reading the company’s promotional material and by talking to others who have been on their trips. The bottom line is, however, there are no guarantees. Even if you go through an intense, informed evaluation, you just increase the likelihood of choosing the type of trip that’s best for you. And part of the fun of going on a trip is the planning and thinking about all the great birds out there that you’d like to see.

Much of what the trip will be like is not predictable and is not completely controllable. The real bottom line is: birding is fun; birding some place new is really fun. Once you’ve contemplated the above questions as much as you want, just choose a trip and go on the trip. Be prepared for surprises, and be prepared to be glad you went, even if the trip turns out completely different than you’d imagined. You’ll see birds, and that, at least for me, is what it’s all about.

NOTES:

Thanks to the following donors of door prizes for the October meeting