THi TENNESSEE W\RBLER Newsletter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society December, 2014 Editor, Theresa Graham PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - FALL 2014 A big thanks to the Highland Rim chapter for hosting our recent Fall symposium at Manchester on October 3-5. It couldn’t have gone more smoothly, and the food was exceptional. We had a very interesting paper session, with four papers that were well presented by students on the following subjects: 1 - Habitat use and survival of Golden- winged Warbler fledglings in the Appalachian Mountains. 2 - Use of automated recording devices for monitoring songbirds: Can song rates be used as a measure of relative abundance? 3 - It’s not what you say, it’s when you say it: the role of context in songbird aggression. 4 - Ecological correlates of avian malaria in west Tennessee. A productive business meeting followed the paper session. The Tennessee Bird Records Committee continues to work on updating their by-laws. The results are slated to be presented at our Spring meeting next year. The Discover Birds activity books are available for teachers and others at no cost. Please contact Cyndi Routledge, our secretary, for more information. Plans for the TOS 1 00th anniversary celebration next year at Montgomery Bell State Park are well underway. The Nashville chapter has been working very hard to make this event something very special. Mark your calendars for the first weekend in May, 201 5. It was determined at our spring meeting this year that TOS will not be doing another Breeding Bird Atlas anytime soon. Instead it was agreed that we should begin running county forays during the breeding season again. These forays will add breeding status data for counties that have historically been under-surveyed. The foray would be run starting Friday evening, all day Saturday (including mini-routes similar to the breeding bird survey), and finally Sunday morning until noon. All the data collected during the weekend would then be assembled into a report to be published in our journal, The Migrant. Ideally we would like for someone living in or near the county being studied to head up the foray. Having said that, the counties being studied usually don’t have many resident birders, and that’s why they are under-studied to begin with! Organizing the foray would include finding a nearby motel for folks to stay at for the weekend. It would also help to pre-run the mini-routes to make sure they can be done in a safe and effective manner. The main requirement needed will be a person/s who would agree to do the final write-up for the journal. This need not be (but certainly could be) the same person who organizes the foray. County candidates for next year are Hickman, Wayne, and Giles counties, in west central Tennessee. If there is a county in your area that you feel needs a foray run, by all means contact me or one of the TOS officers and let us know. In order to get these forays set up and run properly, it would be most helpful if we can get 2-4 folks to serve on a “Foray Committee”. It will be essential to establish a foray protocol that will result in meaningful information for future use. This won’t be as simple as it sounds, as folks have different ideas about what information is important. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact me or one of the TOS officers. Great Birding to all. Ron Hoff, President, TOS. The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 2 TOS 2015 WINTER FUN WEEKEND TOS will have a winter birding fun weekend Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday February 6, 7, and 8, at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Hope you can join us! In addition to all the winter waterfowl viewing locations, we’ll also tour the new NWR visitor center which is filled with educational displays including an “aerial survey” of refuge waterfowl, a night sounds theater, an extensive North American waterfowl taxidermy collection, a gallery of Junior Duck Stamp winning entries, a private donation of hand carved shorebird and waterfowl decoys, and even an interactive refuge manager game. The Friends of Tennessee NWR gift shop is stocked with all the latest field guides and gadgets. The building uses green technology to help lower costs and protect the environment. Solar panels line the roof, and heating and cooling are accomplished with the help of a geothermal system which incorporates 6 miles of underground pipes filled with an antifreeze solution using the natural temperature of the ground instead of a compressor. Joan Stevens, NWR Educator, will be our hostess and guide as we explore. NWR Visitor Center: Open Monday - Saturday; 8:00 - 4:00 (you may visit Friday and/or Saturday.) 1371 Wildlife Drive, Springville, TN 38256 (731) 642-2091 Email: joan stevens@fws.aov Admission is free; donations are always welcome! Driving directions: from U.S. 79, between the town of Paris and Paris Landing State Park, turn on to Oak Grove Road South. From there it’s a 7-mile drive (follow directional signs). *** Please note: The road is new, so it may not yet appear on all GPS maps. *** • Friday evening social: state park lodge parlor room - bring your favorite hors d’oeuvre & beverage. • Saturday morning meeting time and place: to be announced • Saturday evening social: same as Friday • No formal meeting is planned. Lodging options: The state park will be our headquarters. Paris Landing State Park Inn (13 miles from TN NWR visitor center) $59. 95/night - code 5957 through December 23; free continental breakfast 6:30 a.m.; lunch plate $7.95; Friday seafood dinner buffet $15.95; Saturday barbecue $12.95; complimentary parlor room Quality Inn . 1 510 East Wood Street, Paris, (1 1 miles from TN NWR visitor center); double queen or king $67.50 through Jan 6; free hot full breakfast 6:00 a.m. Restaurant options in Paris: http://www.paristnchamber.com/business/search.php?BName=restaurants&Tvpe=Search&Opt=Bus&S ubmitl .x=-936&Submit1 .v=-57&Submit1 =Submit The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 3 TOS 100 Year Anniversary Lodging Welcome to the TOS 100 Year Anniversary at Montgomery Bell State Park April 30 - May 3, 2015!! I’d like to encourage everyone to make their reservations at the Montgomery Bell Lodge as soon as possible and to join us for a fun-filled weekend. Reservations can be made by calling Montgomery Bell State Park at 1 -800-250-8613. Remember to use the event code - #6834 - and mention TOS and/or the 100 Year Anniversary when you talk to the staff. A couple of folks were told the lodge was full, but it’s not!! It’s simply reserved for us, so use the code and you should have no problem. Exciting and entertaining activities, programs, trips, and presentations should keep us busy all week. Plus, it’s always fun catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. See you there!! Steve Routledge Note: Registration Form can be found on page 14 T FALL BIRD COUNT DATA DUE NOW L u Fall count data are due as soon as possible to allow me to get my report in to the editor of The Migrant. Besides the actual count data, please be sure to include the effort data below: 1 - Hours and miles by car, foot, and any nightbirding 2 - Number of observers and parties 3 - Any feeder watching hours & names 4 - Start and end times for the count 5 - Weather data for the count 6 - Names of all the participants 7 -Anything else about the count, i.e. record high or low numbers, extraordinary weather, all-time species total for your particular count, etc. If you do not have a local compiler, you can send the data directly to me at the address/email below. TOS appreciates your efforts to record and track our bird populations and abundance. Thanks for helping us to archive this data for future generations and researchers. Ron Hoff • TOS state bird count compiler 282 Hackworth Ln. • Clinton, TN 37716 • 865-435-4547 aves7000@bellsouth.net The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 4 Guidelines for Tennessee Ornithological Society 2015 Conservation and Research Grants The Tennessee Ornithological Society invites applications for Conservation and Research Grants to support projects that will directly or indirectly help to protect the birds of Tennessee, increase scientific knowledge or educate others about the importance of Tennessee’s birds. A total of $3,000 is available to be awarded for the grants, which may be divided among multiple recipients. Anyone with a bird-related project, including students, professionals and individual workers, may compete for a grant. The project may already be in progress at the time of application. Applicants should submit a project proposal using the form that is available on the TOS Website (www.TNBIRDS.org). Needed information includes: name, address, telephone, E-mail address, topic, problem to be addressed, objectives, expected results and significance, project location, beginning and ending dates, estimated field time, estimated total cost of project, itemized budget, funds available from other sources, how grant is to be used, experience of applicant in the project area, willingness of applicant to share results at a statewide TOS meeting and whether the work is under the guidance of a mentor or is independent. A letter of recommendation from a mentor or a knowledgeable associate is strongly encouraged. Up to $50 of a grant may be applied toward the costs of attending an appropriate scientific meeting to present results of the project. Criteria forjudging applications include: — Significance of problem addressed — Clarity of proposal — Adequacy of project design — Adequacy of experience/training — Adequacy of professional guidance — Financial need — Chance for achieving objectives — Potential benefit to the species/resource — Potential for advancing career/studies — Potential for sharing results at a future statewide TOS meeting The application and letter of recommendation should be emailed (preferably) or mailed to Michael Collins, Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112; collinsm@rhodes.edu : (901) 843-3557. The deadline for receipt of applications is February 1 . Applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decisions in early March. A check for 60 percent (60%) of the amount awarded will be mailed to the grantee(s) upon approval of award(s). The balance of each award will be paid after the project leader submits a satisfactory progress report with itemized costs and receipts to the Committee Chair, Michael Collins. All grant awards will be announced in The Tennessee Warbler. Respectfully, Michael Collins TOS Conservation and Research Funding Committee Chair The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 5 APPLICATION FOR CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH FUND GRANT Tennessee Ornithological Society Instructions: Complete and submit to Michael Collins by email (preferably) to collinsm@rhodes.edu or by mail to Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112 (901) 843-3557. Attach any additional information. Name: Email: Address: Telephone: FAX: Topic: Problem to be Addressed and Why Important: Objectives: Project Location: Beginning and Ending Dates (including prior work) Estimated Project Time (Hours): Estimated Total Cost: $ (Attach budget) Anticipated Additional Funding Sources and Amounts: How is the grant to fully or partially fund the project? How will this grant help with research or conservation of birds in Tennessee? Are you willing to present the findings at a statewide TOS meeting: Signature: Date: The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 6 Delta Wind Birds Fall Shorebird I.D. Workshop In August the Memphis Chapter TOS co-sponsored a Delta Wind Birds Fall Shorebird I.D. workshop. Forty- four birders, including 6 youth, from all over Tennessee and Mississippi participated in the popular event made possible through the hospitality of Michael Brower, Alvin Childers, and staff at Earth Complex (a.k.a. The Pits). Indoor instruction was conducted by Dr. Jason Hoeksema, University of Mississippi Ornithology Professor and Delta Wind Birds president, while field practice was led by additional Delta Wind Birders. All proceeds from the workshop benefitted habitat. Delta Wind Birds is a new non-profit which provides habitat for migrating shorebirds in the Mississippi Delta. A part of their mission includes an annual series of educational workshops and field trips www.deltawindbirds.org. A YouTube slideshow, created by member Georges McNeill, containing photos from the event can be found at DWB Shorebird Workshop . <- Tennessee and Mississippi birders gather to practice shorebird I.D. and support habitat at Delta Wind Birds workshop in Memphis. Photo by Jay Walko. These Black-bellied Whistling Ducks also nest in significant numbers at Earth Complex. Photo by Nitya Vittal Solitary Sandpiper making a brief migration stopover. Photo by Georges McNeil After nesting at Earth Complex, this Black-necked Stilt was ready to head south for winter. Photo by Mike Todd The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 7 WINTERING HUMMINGBIRDS Many of us enjoy Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during summer and fall but are not aware a hummingbird just might spend the winter in our yards. We take down their feeders during late fall because of habit or sometimes the mistaken idea that feeders will entice hummingbirds to remain and then succumb to cold weather. The real fact is that when it is time for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds to migrate, they will depart with or without your feeders. Most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are genetically programmed to migrate to the tropics by the middle of November leaving Tennessee in the first half of October. However, a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds do stay for the winter, and a growing number of several species of western hummingbirds migrate east to spend the winter in the eastern United States. We are discovering that wintering hummingbirds are not lost birds. They often demonstrate great site fidelity and spend the entire winter in one location. Some return to winter at the same home year after year and are considered family members. You should put your feeder where it can be observed and maintained easily. Partially fill your feeder with a mixture of one part table sugar to four parts water. Please do not use red food coloring. Do not use honey or artificial sweeteners because they are harmful to hummingbirds. If you have a hummingbird at your feeder between 15 November and 1 March, please contact Cyndi Routledge at routledaes@bellsouth.net in middle and west TN and/or Mark Armstrong in East Ten nessee-woodthrush@belsouth. net . Cyndi or Mark, with your permission, will make arrangements to come to your home to identify, band, and photograph your hummingbird. Cyndi Routledge and Mark Armstrong are federally licensed master bird banders who document western hummingbirds wintering in the southeastern United States as part of an ongoing study first begun with Bob and Martha Sargent. The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 8 Jw OPERATION MIGRATION 2014 - 2015 This year the migration from White River Marsh, Wisconsin to St Marks, Florida (1100 miles) was scheduled to start on September 23. The seven Whooping crane colts, raised and trained by Operation Migration (OM) personnel since May 2014, were poised to be led south by OM’s ultra light-led aircraft and ground crew. Due to the unfavorable weather the migration finally took off on October 1 0. At the time of the deadline for this publication, the migration had reached stop number 3 (of 23 total), in Columbia County, Wisconsin on October 26 (migration day 17) for 47 miles total (out of 1100 miles). This rate of progress is on par with last year. Meanwhile seven adult Whooping Cranes (class of 2013) in the Eastern Partnership flock migrated south on October 21 and were located in Greene County, Wisconsin. This year OM offered volunteers the opportunity to join the migration team, for a two week detail, to get a feel for what the migration team goes through on a daily basis. For example, Steve Schildwachter was accepted as a volunteer and drove from Florida to Wisconsin to join the migration team as part of the ground crew. Steve noted that this is how it works: Joe heads out from the camper at around 5 A.M. to check on the weather conditions while Heather sends updates to everyone. If there is even the slightest chance the cranes may fly, the rest of the crew prepare the RV’s for the move to the next location. During this same time period, pilots move the trikes to the local runway, the bird crew heads to the crane pen and the chase crew drives out in the tracking van to a location from which they can follow the birds while they fly south. The ground crew heads out with their webcam. Then everybody waits. They wait for the wind to blow at right speed and direction and be stable enough to allow the bird to surf behind the wings. They wait for the frost to melt off the wings of the trikes. They wait for the fog to lift. Not until the conditions are just right for the cranes to reach their next stop is the signal given to proceed. So far this year, the weather has not cooperated. The frustration and disappointment can be heard over the radios when the conditions are found to be unfavorable for flight that day. Then everyone is told to stand down and return to camp. Joe, Heather, Brooke, Colleen, Richard, Geoff, Joe-Ann, Walter and Steve return to base and proceed with the daily working of camp life on crane migration. They know that the conditions will, one morning, all come together and the cranes will fly south reaching their home in St. Mark’s NWR, Wakulla County, Florida. By the time you read this, many volunteers, serving for 2-week shifts, will have experienced the OM safari. Everyone reading this should go to and enjoy OM’s “In the Field - Tools of the Trade” entry of October 20, 2014 ( http://operationmiaration.org/lnTheField/2014/10/20/tools-of-the-trade/ ) where the crew members and others, while standing down due to the weather, describe how to make a crane costume puppet head. The dedication of the OM crew members and helpers set really high standards, resulting in maximum admiration for their work. The Whooping Crane chicks seem to bond well with the puppet heads. The puppet heads benefit their lives, acting similar to crane parents, by showing them how and what to eat. This year the budget for the OM safari was set at $240,000.00. So far 56% of this goal has been covered by craniacs and others through the “MileMaker” campaign. Each year it seems that, as more and more craniacs jump on board, the budget gets covered earlier in the season. That is because more and more people are realizing what a sterling job OM has undertaken to save the Whooping Crane population from near extinction. Please consider becoming a MileMaker by donating $200.00 per mile or partial mile for this migration, thereby helping in this worthy cause! Tony King • Certified Craniac • 865-988-6172 The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 9 THE PROBLEM OF LEUCISTIC SANDHILL CRANES In July of last year, researchers with the Wisconsin-based International Crane Foundation (ICF) found a dead radio-tagged Whooping Crane in a Waupaca County wheat field. The bird had been shot. Matthew Kent Larsen, 28, of New London pleaded guilty in federal court in Green Bay for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) by killing a protected species. Larsen told authorities he shot the crane because he thought it was an albino Sandhill Crane. Of course, Whooping Cranes are white and Sandhill Cranes are normally gray or reddish brown. Neither bird is legal to be hunted in Wisconsin. You can read more about this issue from the USFWS, a summary of which was released this past summer here: www.fws.aov/midwest/news/730.html While rare, white Sandhill Cranes have been described by several observers. Birds with non-eumelanin schizochorism, a genetic pigmentation condition producing a leucistic (i.e. , pale or white appearance), have been described from Saskatchewan, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and elsewhere. Some such cranes are almost totally white with a red forehead and brown wings, while others are white with only a scattering of gray feathers on their wings and back. Still other cranes have only the wings and back white. While researchers in the past have speculated that one of these leucistic Sandhill Cranes could be mistaken for a Whooping Crane, it is also possible that a Whooping Crane could be mistaken for a leucistic Sandhill Crane. In a reminder in the most recent Eastern Crane Bulletin , fall migration for cranes has begun, and the experimental and legal Sandhill Crane hunting seasons in Kentucky and Tennessee will take place at the end of the this year. It is important to know the differences between Whooping Cranes and normal and leucistic Sandhill Cranes. With the ongoing effort to establish a migratory population of Whooping Cranes in the eastern U.S. between Wisconsin and Florida now at almost 100 birds, the issue becomes even more important. In the meantime, people can learn the difference between endangered Whooping Cranes and normal Sandhill Cranes from a chart developed by the International Crane Foundation called «Large Water Birds: An Identification Guide»: www.savinacranes.org/imaaes/stories/site imaaes/conservation/whoopina crane/larae water birds 1600.jpg Article from “The Birding Community E-Bulletin” October 2014 Thirty-two Whooping Cranes Fledged on Wood Buffalo Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) officials reported today that 32 whooping crane chicks were observed during this year’s Whooping Crane Fledging Survey. Wood Buffalo personnel took to the skies during August 9-12, 2014 and completed their annual survey. During the 4 days the team counted 32 fledged young whooping cranes. http://friendsofthewildwhoopers.ora/number-whoopina-cranes-fledaed-wood-buffalo-canada/ Texas Buys Conservation Land with Oil Spill Money - Whooping Cranes to Benefit http://www.texastribune.ora/2014/08/21/texas-announces-land-conservation-purchase-bp-doll/ Steve Holmer Senior Policy Advisor American Bird Conservancy & Director, Bird Conservation Alliance 202-888-7490 sholmer@abcbirds.org The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 10 CHAPTER. NEWS KNOXVILLE CHAPTER - The 4 th annual “Wonder of Hummingbirds” festival on August 23 was bigger and better than last year with over a 10% increase in attendance and extra activities for adults and children. MarkArmstrong banded 33 hummingbirds. The “Nature Tent” was a huge success for the kids with games, painting and making bird feeders to take home. Thanks to all the many volunteers who helped with organizing the event, banding, children’s activities, leading hikes, giving talks, taking photographs and staying all day to help set up and tear down. We couldn’t do it without them. We celebrated our success at our September potluck meeting at Ijams Nature Center. At our October meeting, KTOS member Vickie Henderson gave a presentation on “The Ninety-Year History of KTOS.” Her presentation included many photographs of members from the early 1 900s. Vickie also is an artist, writer and naturalist. Currently, her art can be seen at the Whooping Crane Exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington D.C. For more information about Vickie Henderson, visit her blog htto://vickiehendersonsketchbook.bloaspot. com/ . At our October meeting we presented the J.B. Owen Award, which is an award that honors the memory of J.B. Owen, longtime TOS member known to thousands in East Tennessee through his columns in Knoxville newspapers. J.B. Owen Awards provide funds for projects that promote the welfare and conservation of birds in Tennessee. This year the award was presented to Scott Somershoe for his Golden Eagle Project. The project leads research on Golden Eagles wintering in Tennessee by tracking birds with transmitters to better understand habitat uses, movements and migration corridors. Ken McFarland, a biologist from UT, spoke to us about the 65 th annual wildflower pilgrimage that happens in the Smoky Mountains April 1 5-1 9 th . They are interested in having more bird walks and need volunteers to help lead those. If you’re interested, please email Ken at wildflower@utk.edu . Dr. Sam DeMent will present at our November 5 th meeting on his “American Kestrel Research.” He has banded more than 700 birds of prey including 500 American Kestrels and 107 Loggerhead Shrikes. Should be a very interesting evening. There were birding field trips to Rankin Bottoms, Foothills Parkway, and Heritage Center in Oak Ridge in September, and Cove Lake State Park, Brian Hann’s Farm, and Kyker Bottoms Refuge in October. The Discover Birds Program is off and running for the 2014-2015 school year with 100 students and their teachers reached in fall presentations to two home school association groups. Young Adventurers Group (YAG), an association for east Tennessee met at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge, and Blount County Home Education Association joined us at Ijams Nature Center. This was the second year Discover Birds has been presented to the Blount County group with wonderful feedback for the program. One student, now age eight, wants to be an ornithologist and recently saw his first Loggerhead Shrike through a birding telescope with assistance from volunteer Tom Howe. A parent from the YAG group said her children all want binoculars for Christmas and are so excited about the birds they see in their yard now. KTOS is ever grateful to our dedicated volunteers who give their time to help children get excited about birds. Since the fall of 2012, the program has reached nearly 1000 elementary school children through interactive bird walks and free activity books. KTOS is currently working on replacing the Purple Martin houses at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and adding bluebird boxes at Harmony Place in Blount County. KTOS lost a dear member, David Scanlon III, on October 24, 2014. He will be missed at our meetings. Karen Wilkinson, Secretary FEBRUARY 28 th DEADLINE The deadline date for the April issue of The Tennessee Warbler is February 28th. Please submit all articles, announcements, reports and items of interest by this deadline date. Submit Material To: Theresa Graham, Editor PO Box 366, Oakland TN 38060 (901)465-4263 (home) e-mail: 2araham@bellsouth.net The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 11 CHAPTER. NEWS In August the MEMPHIS CHAPTER annual picnic hosted by Knox Martin at the Mid-South Raptor Center was well attended. Our 201 4-1 5 speaker season began in September with the traditional show-and-tell photos of members’ summer birding adventures. TWRA Chief of Biodiversity Bill Reeves informed us at our October meeting of the many exciting projects underway by the agency to protect habitat and viewing opportunities and how we may be able to help. The Shelby County Traditional Fall Count was held on September 17. Compiler Dick Preston reported that fifteen observers in eight parties in the field recorded 110 species. This total was slightly below historic norms. Most unusual species: Red Knot; Canvasback; Sanderling; Ruddy Turnstone; Wilson’s Phalarope; Long-billed Dowitcher; Wood Stork and Black Tern. Biggest misses: Loggerhead Shrike; Tree Swallow; Gray Catbird; and Eastern Meadowlark. Other fall field trips were productive as well with a Merlin providing lengthy photo ops at Collierville Boardwalk and both Golden and Bald Eagles making appearances at Wapanocca NWR. Once again several members volunteered their time at the Strawberry Plains Audubon 2014 Hummingbird Festival and the Desoto Eagle Festival at Arkabutla Lake. The chapter also co-sponsored a Delta Wind Birds shorebird workshop at Earth Complex (The Pits). The highly popular event scored a win for birders and conservation alike (see article elsewhere in this issue of The Warbler.) We are pleased to be able to continue our long history of contributions to worthy conservation projects with recent donations to both the Mid-South Raptor Center and Delta Wind Birds. Eleven MTOS members enjoyed the hospitality of the Highland Rim Chapter, research presentations, and birding the exceptional habitat of May Prairie at the fall state meeting in Manchester. Thank you to all those whose hard work and dedication made this event possible. We are saddened by the death of member Tom Richey. Tom was retired from PSI, a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, an avid photographer, and photographer for Race for the Cure for 15 years. We welcome you to join us for future Memphis Chapter events. Meetings, speakers, and field trips for 2014- 2015 can be found at http://www.tnbirds.org/chapters/ Memphis/Memphis. htm Reminders will be posted on TN-Bird. Gaynell Perry, President The summer months proved to be very productive for the NASHVILLE CHAPTER TOS in many ways: NTOS is very proud of the new Chimney Swift tower erected by Joseph Prochaska and his fellow Eagle Scouts. The tower is located near the Shelby Bottoms Visitor Center. The project took the better part of four weekends and we hope will serve as a future breeding site for Chimney Swifts for seasons to come. During our October monthly meeting, Melinda Welton discussed migration patterns of Chimney Swifts and recent roosting sites discovered in metro Nashville and surrounding areas. Curiously, large towers that may have seemed ideal were not being used at all, whereas shorter square brick chimneys, many times on smaller residential structures, were oftentimes the chimneys that were used most abundantly. In addition, Susan Hollyday shared the tri-fold she plans to display in the TOS Anniversary memorabilia room that chronicles many of the historic efforts involving the banding of Chimney Swifts and Joseph then outlined the step-by- step approach of actually building the towers. With our centennial celebration on the horizon, it was exciting to bridge a very rich part of TOS history to the modern day efforts to continue the study of Chimney Swifts. I foresee NTOS becoming more integrally involved in the chimney swifts and their preservation. NTOS was also very fortunate to have programs by Dr. David Pitts and by past-TOS President Dick Preston. Dr. Pitts shared his research regarding nesting hummingbirds. His own yard has provided large numbers of nesters in the past few years, although recent totals may be starting to decline somewhat for unknown reasons. But for those birders interested in locating potential nests in their own backyards, look for nests near the end of branches that are angled slightly downward anywhere from 10-40 feet in the air. The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 12 CHAPTER. NEWS Nashville Chapter - Continued from page 1 1 You may be pleasantly surprised! Dick Preston gave a highly informative program on the culture, climate and cuisine following a recent birding trip to Ethiopia. The photos of Ethiopians and their surrounding landscape were fascinating. Although not generally considered a birding “hot-spot” it should be! NTOS also enjoyed several field trips including Shelby Bottoms, Bell’s Bend, Old Hickory Lake area and our 6 fall Radnor walks. The fall count, coordinated by Jan Shaw and compiled by Scott Block, turned out to be one of the lowest counts in the last ten years with Bald Eagle and Great Horned Owl among the missing. The Christmas count will be December 20. We are still looking for a compiler for the traditional January 1 count around Old Hickory and Percy Priest Lakes. Please contact Steve Routledge at everout@bellsouth.net if interested in helping out in this regard. Several NTOS members also enjoyed a very pleasant evening at our fall pot-luck dinner at Beaman Park. Excellent food and friendship was shared as we enjoyed the sights and sounds surrounding the back deck of Beaman including a Barred Owl calling in the forest and several Common Nighthawks migrating overhead. Almost last, TOS received a grant to purchase 12,000 (yes, 12,000!) Discover Bird Books for distribution to children and classrooms. We are receiving interest not only here in the states, but abroad, also. Currently we are down to just a little over 10,000 books, so if you have a class or a teacher who may be interested please contact Cyndi Routledge at routledaes@bellsouth.net Last, (I mean it this time) plans are continuing for our 100 Year Anniversary next spring. Look for the registration form and hotel information in this issue of The Warbler. Looking forward to seeing all of you soon! Steve Routledge, President The STEPHEN M. RUSSELL CHAPTER (Bristol Bird Club) held their annual banquet in October. Justine Cucchiara, manager of Seven Islands State Birding Park, gave a very interesting program which she called “From Cows to Cormorants.” She discussed the background to the creation of the newest state park and only state birding park. They welcome suggestions from birders about what we would like to see happen at the park. Our club expects to plan a trip to Seven Islands State Birding Park in early spring. Other recent programs included a slide program “Bird and Mammal Habitat in Trinidad and Tobago” given by BBC member John Moyle; “Identification of Hawks for Hawk Migration” given by three of our members; and “Pacific Seabirds from Boats, Ferries, Cruise Ships, and Shore” presented by guest speaker Dr. David Kirschke. These were all interesting and informative presentations. Several club members volunteered their time to conduct the Hawk Migration Count at Mendota Fire Tower in Mendota, VA. Members John Whinery and Ron Harrington coordinated the watch. The observers reported a total of 4046 Broad-winged Hawks, 11 Osprey, 16 Bald Eagles, 12 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 18 Cooper’s Hawks, 15 Red-tailed Hawks, 15 American Kestrels, 2 Merlins, 4 Peregrine Falcons, 2 unknown Accipiters, 2 unknown Buteos, 2 unknown Falcons, 3 unknown Eagles, and 2 unknown Raptors during the 2 week period that the watch was held. Several local birding field trips have been held including some which were a part of the Kingsport Fun Fest and one at Steele Creek Park as part of their Wildlife Weekend. One of the most interesting sightings on recent field trips was a Red-necked Phalarope at a local farm pond found by seven birders who had extended a morning field trip. This was only the seventh known record of the species in Northeast Tennessee. Lois Cox, President The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 13 CHAPTER. NEWS The LEE AND LOIS HERNDON CHAPTER of TOS held the 45th consecutive Fall Bird Counton Saturday, Sept. 27, with 32 observers in eight parties covering Carter County and parts of adjacent counties, including Unicoi, Washington, Sullivan and Johnson. The annual count is conducted by members of the Lee and Lois Herndon Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society, also known as the Elizabethton Bird Club. Rick Knight, long-time compiler for the count, reported a total of 128 species was found, slightly above the average of 1 25 species over the last 30 years. He noted that the all-time high on this count was 137 species in 1993. The total included 23 species of warblers, compared to an average of 22 warbler species for the last 20 years. The number of warbler species on this count has ranged from a low of 16 species to a high of 27 over the years. New for a fall count were Common Merganser, Red- necked Phalarope and Eastern Whip-poor-will, with one individual of each of these species being found. The Red-necked Phalarope represented only the seventh record for the five-county area of northeast Tennessee. New high counts were tallied for Osprey (22) and Eastern Phoebe (76). Other notable sightings included: Bald Eagle, American Woodcock, Caspian Tern, Northern Saw-whet Owl (which has been found eight of the last 10 years), Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Philadelphia Vireo, Common Raven, Marsh Wren, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Summer Tanager and Bobolink. The chapter also conducted bird walks every Saturday in October at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton. These annual walks, which are a long- standing partnership between the chapter and the park, are open to the general public. Some exceptional finds on this year’s walks included a raft of 1 04 Blue-winged Teal, a flock of 18 Great Egrets flying over the park, a female Common Merganser, Bald Eagle and several species of warblers, including Orange-crowned Warbler. Frank Ward, a long-time historian for the chapter, passed away in February of this year. Until recent years, Ward had been a very active member of the chapter and will be missed. The chapter will be selling calendars to raise funds during the upcoming holiday season. Bird photographs for the calendar are provided by many talented members of the chapter. Bryan Stevens, Newsletter Editor AHoodedWarbler@aol.com 100th Anniversary Photo I thought you might enjoy this photo for the 1 00th anniversary of TOS and possibly for your upcoming newsletter - it may help spur the call for old photos. TOS under your guidance is a remarkable organization - to have reached 1 00 years as the oldest conservation group in the state is something to be truly proud of. Sincerely, Alice Ganier Rolli (Mr. Albert F. Ganier, Sr. is my great-grandfather) Photo credit: The Tennessee State Archives. Mr. Albert F. Ganier (I) and Dr. Mayfield (r) feeding a Whistling Swan before releasing on Radnor Lake. The swan was found shot at Dale Hollow.Tennessee - Davidson County 12/23/1951 The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 14 TOS 100th Anniversary Celebration Registration Form April 30 -May 3, 2015 Name: Address: Email address: Cell Phone #: TOS Chapter: Member since what year? How many days do you plan on attending? EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION BY MARCH 31, 2015 $ for Registration at $32.00 each. (After March 31st and at the door registration will be $42.00) $ for Saturday Night Banquet Reservations at $28.00 each $ for 1 00 Year Anniversary Commemorative t-shirts at $1 5.00 each Description - Blue 100% cotton, 6 ounce t-shirt with new TOS logo on the back and 100 Year Anniversary commemoration on front left. Circle t-shirt size - Unisex - S M L XL XXL XXXL $ Total enclosed. Make check payable to NTOS. Mail registration form and check to: Susan Hollyday 211 Wauford Drive Nashville, Tennessee 37211 The Tennessee Warbler December, 2014 Page 15 Birds & Beans - ‘Bird Friendly®’ Coffee Most of the coffee sold in America today is literally killing the songbirds we love - and destroying a sustainable method of farming that supports rural communities in Latin America and keeps farm workers and their children away from toxic chemicals. The only way you can be certain that the coffee in your cup is Bird Friendly® is if the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center seal is on the bag! By buying certified shade coffee you can become part of a truly sustainable chain from seedling to cup. Be part of the solution to a better life for all and enjoy the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. OUR MISSION Make it easy for everyone in the USA to drink ‘Bird Friendly®’ Coffee - a real way to support sustainability. The Birds & Beans mission is about making it easier for everyday tasks, like your morning cup of coffee, to make a real difference in the world we live in. We want to make sure that people who enjoy coffee and care about sustainability can get great coffee that they know is good for bird conservation, family farmers and workers and the environment we all share. Our commitment to quality and service ensures that fresh roasted, great tasting ‘Birds & Beans - The Good Coffee’™ flies straight to your door and into your cup. OUR CONSERVATION PARTNERS RECOMMEND BIRDS & BEANS “Shade coffee farms like those supported by Birds & Beans are essential to the future of neotropical migrants,” says David Younkman, Vice President for Conservation at American Bird Conservancy. “There’s no easier way for people who love birds to help the environment than buying Bird-Friendly coffee.” Birds & Beans donates over 10% of our gross profits to our partners to help their important work. Quote from Kenn Kaufman “I’ve spent some time in the last few years wondering why the Good Coffee couldn’t get more traction. Of course, SMBC has the truth on their side, but their message just has not broken through. A few of us birders are passionate about the issue, but haven’t been able to communicate the importance of drinking ‘Bird Friendly’™ coffee. I’m enthusiastic about ‘Birds & Beans the good coffee’™ because I think this could be the initiative that actually connects the dots and makes something happen. And it gives me a chance to work with great people on a worthwhile project; I feel blessed to be involved.” For more information and to purchase Birds & Beans Coffee, visit their website: http ://www.birdsand beans. com/ the ^ood coffee Send corrections & Change of Address Requests To: npmcwhirter@amail.com “THE TENNESSEE WARBLER” Published by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 274 Beech Grove Rd McMinnville, TN 37110 PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID MEMPHIS, TN PERMIT NO. 238 Want to save a tree, unclutter your mailbox and save mailing expense for the Society? If you would prefer to read each edition of The Warbler online at the TOS website http://tnbirds.org/warbler.htm please drop Mac McWhirter an email at npmcwhirter@amail.com The Tennessee Warbler - December, 2014