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for members of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., ornithological society of the Carolinas
Volume 37 Summer 1991 Number 2

New Officers Elected at Spring Meeting

(left to right) John Wright, Simon Thompson, Dominick D'Oslilio, Teddy Shuler,

Peter Worthington and Lex Glover

A brief but important part of every
Carolina Bird Club spring meeting is the
annual business meeting. The main
business is usually the election of officers
which has a significant impact on the
future of the Club.

Elected at the 1991 meeting were: John
Wright, Greenville, NC, President;
Simon Thompson, Tryon, NC,
Secretary; Heathy Walker, Charlotte,
NC, Treasurer; Peter Worthington,
Greenville, SC, Vice-President for SC;
Frances Needham, Wilmington, NC,
Member-at- Large for Eastern NC;
Dominick D'Ostilio, Hickory, NC,
Member-at-Large for Western NC; Teddy
Shuler, Salem, SC, Member-ai-Large for
SC.

The winter meeting in February had
been blessed with brighi sunshine and
balmy weather so it was not surprising
that the spring meeting had more than its
share of rain and fog.

However, Lex Clover, Peter
Worthington and Robin Carter had
made preparations for an excellent program
in an area of SC which has a variety of
hireling opportunities available nearby.

After being greeted by that cheerful
registration table crew of John and
Libba Watson and Marcia Pryor,
members had the opportunity to get better
acquainted with a social hour which gave
way to a brief introduction of the Saturday
field trips. It was beginning to rain as
sign-ups were completed.

It was still raining when field trip
leaders met their groups at the appointed
gathering places. Undaunted they headed
out for:

* Sassafras Mountain with Robin
Carter

♦Townville with Steve Cox & Bob
Wood

♦Raven Cliff Falls & Caesar's Head
State Park with Irvin Pitts

♦Burns Farm with Peter
Worthington

♦Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve
with Dennis Forsythe

♦Ashmore Tract Heritage Trust Preserve
with Lex Glover

♦Oil Camp Creek with Kevin
Calhoon

♦Jones Gap State Park with Simon
Thom pson

♦US 276 Overlooks & Caesar's Head
SP with Evelyn Dabbs

The afternoon field trips featured a
wildflower walk at Jones Gap State Park
with Stan Hutto.

In spile of rain and early morning fog a
respectable count of 141 species plus a
possible Canary-winged Parrot (escape)
was reached by the Saturday evening
count-down. The parrot was seen by
Dennis and Donna Forsythe who also
recorded a Golden Eagle which may have
originated from a Georgia hacking project.

Jim Sorrow, Wildlife Biologist with
the Nongame & Heritage Trust Section of
the SC Wildlife & Marine Resources
Department provided a very interesting
program on the reintroduction of the
Peregrine Falcon in South Carolina. The
Lake Jocassee site is the only active
release project in the Southeast this year.

The Wright Man for the Job

The nominating committee was having
difficulty filling the post of president.
Someone exclaimed "we must find the
right person for the job!" John Wright
thought they were calling his name and
the next thing he knew he was elected
president of the Carolina Bird Club.

John, his wife Paula, and son Nathan
(18) live in Greenville, NC where John
and Paula teach in the Pitt County
schools. John received his BS in wildlife
biology from NC State University and his
MEd in Science Education from East
Carolina University. He has provided the
Newsletter with the following message to
CBC members:

"The son of a Methodist minister I spent
my childhood in several small towns in
eastern North Carolina. I became
interested in birds at an early age, but
knowing no one else with similar
interests, I limited my bird study to

Spring Meeting Check List

Com. Loon, Pied-billed Grebe, Double-
crested Cormorant, American Bittern,

Great Blue Heron, Green-backed Heron,
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Canada
Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged
Teal, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture,
Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-
shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk,
Red-tailed Hawk, Golden Eagle, Am.
Kestrel, Ruffed Grouse, N. Bobwhite,
Semipalmated Plover, Killdeer, Greater
Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlcgs, Solitary
Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, sandpiper,
sp.. Least Sandpiper, Pectorial Sandpiper,
Com. Snipe, Bonaparte's Gull, Ring-billed
Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Com.
Barn-Owl, E. Screech-Owl, Barred Owl,
Chuck- will's-widow, Whip-poor-will,
Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Red-
headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy
Woodpecker, N. Flicker, Pilcatcd
Woodpecker, E. Wood Pewee, Acadian
Flycatcher, E. Phoebe, Great Crested
Flycatcher, E. Kingbird, Horned Lark,
Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, N. Rough-
winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff
Swallow, Barn Swallow, Blue Jay, Am.
Crow, Fish Crow, Com. Raven, Carolina
Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-
breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch,
Carolina Wren, House Wren, Sedge

becoming familiar with all the local birds
I could find without binoculars, for I had
none. My high school sweetheart had the
good sense (I think) to buy binoculars for
me. That very day 1 rushed out and with
optical aid found three life birds. Of
course, 1 married my sweetheart. Over the
years we've gone through several pairs of
binoculars and a couple of scopes, also.

"While a student at NC Slate in
Raleigh, 1 joined the Carolina Bird Club
and got to know many of its members.
But, it was during an absence of several
years from the Carolinas that I really
began to appreciate the wonderfully diverse
organization which is the Carolina Bird
Club. 1 suppose that absence does make
the heart grow fonder. 1 hope that during
my lime as president I can in some small
way help to nurture all the good things
that our club is and does, and help to plan
for its future well-being."

Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray
Gnatcatchcr, E. Bluebird, Veery,
Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood
Thrush, Am. Robin, Gray Catbird, N.
Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar
Waxwing, Loggerhead Shrike, Eur.
Starling, White-eyed Vireo, Solitary
Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, vireo, sp.,
Red-eyed Vireo, N. Parula, Yellow
Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cape
May Warbler, Black-throated Blue
Warbler, Yellow-rumpcd Warbler, Black-
throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian
Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine
Warbler, Prarie Warbler, Palm Warbler,
Blackpoll Warbler, Cerulean Warbler,
Black-and-white Warbler, Amcr. Redstart,
Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson's
Warbler, Ovcnbird, N. Waterthrush,
Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler,
Com. Yellowthroat, Hooded Warbler,
Yellow-breasted Chat, Summer Tanager,
Scarlet Tanager, N. Cardinal, Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting,
Dickcissel, Rufus-sided Towhee, Chipping
Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Song
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated
Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Bobolink, Red-
winged Blackbird, E. Meadowlark,
Common Crackle, Brown-headed Cowbird,
Orchard Oriole, House Finch, Am.
Goldfinch, House Sparrow. Total 141
species.

Pelagic Trip
Feature of Fall
Meeting

A special feature of the CBC winter
meeting at Nags Head, NC will be a
pelagic birding trip Saturday, September
28 on the charter boat Country Girl. This
fast, modern boat is docked at Pirate's
Cove Marina about one mile from our
headquarters hotel. Ricky Davis and
one other experienced birder will be
leading this trip which will concentrate on
the productive waters of the Gulf Stream.
Cost of the trip is $70.

Since this should be a very popular field
trip, early reservations are recommended.
Only 21 spaces are available, and they
will be filled on a first-come, first-served
basis. However, CBC president John
Wright has suggested that those birders
who have already made several pelagic
trips allow first timers an opportunity to
sign up in this initial reservation period.
An update on space available will be
carried in the fall issue of the Newsletter
along with more details about the
meeting.

A reservation form for space on the
pelagic trip is provided in the Newsletter.
Please enclose a separate check for the
reservation fee so that it can be returned if
no space is available. Call Ricky Davis
at (919) 443-0276 in the evenings with
any questions about this trip.

Remember that September is still "in
season" on the outer banks of North
Carolina. Staff at the Best Western
Armada Resort Hotel has advised the
Newsletter that although the reservation
deadline is September 10 for our
September 27-29 meeting; reservations
should be made no later than mid August.

A form is provided in the Newsletter to
make your reservations by mail. A
deposit is required, or you may call in
your reservation with a credit card
guarantee. The room rate is $50.00 per
night for 1-4 occupants. A 72 hour
notice of cancellation is required for a
refund of deposit.

While making your hotel reservations
don't forget to send in your meeting
registration form to CBC headquarters.
You will save a dollar over registration at
the meeting and greatly help our volunteer
registration crew.

The Traveling Birdwatcher

Revolutionary

by Dennis M.

BRITISH MUSEUIV
(NATURAL HISTORY)

Honeymoon -6 apr 1992

Forsvthe TASED

ruibyme v

1

Editor's Note: What do real birders do
when they get married? They go on a
birding trip, of course. Donna Clark and
Dennis Forsythe were married March 24,
1990. The following is an account of
their wedding, birding trip.

Late on the night of 22 July 1990, after
a long BIWI flight from Miami via
Antigua and Barbados, Donna and I arrived
at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Were were in
Trinidad on a Caligo Bird Tour and were
excited as this was our first experience in
the Neotropics. We were quickly
transported from Port-of-Spain to the Asa
Wright Centre in the Arima Valley where
we were given a brief orientation and
shown our first bird by flashlight, a Blue-
crowned Motmot!

At dawn the next morning, we were
standing on the veranda of the plantation
house, drinking coffee grown on the
plantation and looking in amazement at a
host of tropical birds. In a short time we
had seen over sixty species including
Squirrel Cuckoo, Channel-billed Toucan,
Great Antshrike, Bearded Bellbird,
Bananaquit, Yellow Oriole, Blue-grey
Tanager, and Crested Oropcndola. Among
the most interesting birds were the variety
of hummingbirds including the striking
Tufted Coquette.

Over the next several days we visited a
number of sites such as Blanchisseuse
Road, Arinopo Agricultural Experimental

Station, Marizasta Beach, the Mellon
Patch— a subsistence rice growing area, and
the Coroni Swamp and saw over 130 bird
species. The most unusual were two
visitors from South America: the Orange-
breasted Falcon and the Chestnut-bellied
Heron. All-in-all we were having an
exciting time, but things were to get even
more exciting.

Late on the evening of 27 July, as we
were returning to the Asa Wright Centre
from watching hundreds of Scarlet Ibis
coming to roost in the Coroni Swamp, we
noticed lines of cars jammed into gas
stations getting gas. We asked our guides
what was going on and they calmly said
that a group of terrorists had captured the
police and TV stations and were holding
parliament hostage in Port-of-Spain!
Everything was in confusion. We could
gel little reliable new as there was a news
black-out. A curfew from 6 p.m. to 6
a.m. was in force. The airport was closed
and there were no international flights.

The next day, despite the confusion, we
went on our regularly scheduled field trip
to the unique Aripo Savannah. Besides the
Fork-tailed Palm Swift, the highlight of
this trip was seeing a Ferruginous Pygmy
Owl. The owl was special because of all
our missed attempts at seeing it in South
Texas and because we had heard but not
seen it all over Trinidad. It was also
special because Donna had dreamed the
night before that she would see this owl,
and we did.

On the 29th, we drove to the Port-of-
Spain airport and took the 15 minute
flight to Tobago; arriving with little delay
at the Kariwak Village. Unfortunately,
that night the government extended the
curfew from 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. -
12 noon. This meant we could not go on
our all day trip to Little Tobago Island,
and we would miss seeing the Red-billed
Tropicbird. Over the next few days we
were forced to spend most of our time at
the Kariwak Village watching the Carib
Grackles and Bananaquits eating sugar out
of the sugar bowls. We did manage to
take several short trips to nearby estates
and marshes. Our Tobago guide, A.
James, was able to show us several of the
Tobago specials such as the Blue-backed
Manakin and Scrub Greenlet, a type of
vireo. Mr. James had a unique technique
of showing people birds. He always
carried an umbrella and when pointing out
a bird would do so by having you sight
down the umbrella in the bird's direction.

On 1 August the airport reopened.

After a mad dash to the airport and much
pushing and shoving, we were able to get
a flight to Trinidad and then an
international flight back to Miami.

Despite all, we arrive back in Charleston
only a day behind schedule. Even with
the disruptions, we had a wonderful time
and saw about 200 bird species. We
would even like to return to Trinidad,
perhaps combining a trip to Venezuela.

Travel Opportunities for Birders

Amazon Jungle Paradise

The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center
is sponsoring a trip July 20-27 to the
Amazon rainforest of Peru led by CBC
Secretary, Simon R. B. Thompson.
Almost 500 species of Birds have been
seen at Explorama Lodge and Exploranapo
Camps where the group will stay in
thatched buildings or more primitive
accomodations.

The deadline for application was June 3,
but if you need to build your life list in a
hurry, contact Simon at (704) 859-9021
to determine last minute space
availability. Cost of the tour from Miami
is SI, 175 per person including all meals,
airport transfers, land and river
transportation and expertly guided
excursions.

Thief River Falls

The Chamber of Commerce of Thief
River Falls, Minnesota has prepared an
informative brochure for birders on birding
opportunities in northwest Minnesota.
Eleven out of the 25 species on ABA's
most wanted list are seen on a regular
basis in this area, including Great Gray
Owl, Gyrfalcon, Boreal Owl, Yellow Owl,
and Snowy Owl. For your copy write;
Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 514,
Thief River Falls, MN 56701.

Bird Bander's
Notebook

by Dottie Foy

(Editor's Note: Dottie Foy is well known
for her work banding hummingbirds. In
this article she shares information about
other species with particular emphasis on
their longevity.)

Purple Finch

Purple Finches ( Carpondacus purpureus)
are common winter residents in the
Carolinas. From mid November to mid
April they can be found at feeders in
residential areas and in deciduous and
mixed woods eating wild seed, berries, etc.
The earliest day of arrival (in my
immediate area) is November 1 1 with a
departure date of anywhere between March
15 and April 10 depending on a "front" to
move them north to their breeding areas.
This species is widespread across the
northern U.S. and Canada from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. It is 5 1/2 " to 6
1/2 " long, wingspread 9 1/4 " to 10 1/2
", and is the stale bird of New Hampshire.

Between January 1985 and February
1991, my husband and I banded 1 ,157 of
this species at our banding station in
Oriental, NC. Sixty-one (5%) returned to
the original site of banding. Out of this
number thirty-eight (62%) had a known
age of at least three to seven years. The
breakdown of this group is as follows:

No.

18

12

3

3

2

Age % of Total

3 yr 47

4 yr 31

5 yr 8

6 yr 8

7 yr 5

My two oldest Finches have an age of at
least seven years. One, a male banded as
After Second Year (AS Y) on 2-20-84,
returned 3-1 1-88. The other, a male
banded as ASY on 3-1 1-83 relumed 12-20-
87. Neither bird has returned since these
two encounters.

The age record (according to the Bird
Banding Office) up to 1985 is an AHY
(any year after year of birth) male banded

in Philadelphia, PA on 24-56 and found
dead in Williamsburg 3-23-66. It was 1 1
years and 9 months old.

We have not banded or had enough birds
to return to construct a stable life table.

Our most interesting Purple Finch was
one trapped on the morning of 3-8-91. It
wore a U.S. Fish & Wildlife band on its
left leg. As is the custom, I immediately
checked and recorded the band number
before putting it in a holding cage.
Imagine my surprise when recording the
number I found it was not my band!
Banders usually get their own banded
birds returning in subsequent years, but
this finch was banded by someone else
somewhere in the U.S. or Canada. To
date I've not had a response from the
banding office as to the particulars on this
bird.

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch ( Carduelis
tristis) is most abundant in winter, but it
can be found in all sections of the
Carolinas throughout the year. It
becomes locally absent toward the coast
in summer. Winter flocks visit feeders in
residential areas as well as fields with
weeds.

Last year, for the first time, we had a
male and female slay and nest somewhere
in the vicinity. The nest was never
found, but the female was observed
carrying nesting material by this writer.

Between January 1985 and the end of
February 1991 we banded 268. Two of
this number returned to the original site
of banding. One, banded 3-22-85 as a
AHY-F, returned 2-17-87 as an ATY-F.
The other, banded 2-7-88 as an AHY-F,
returned 1-23-90.

We had three birds that came back (each
once) within a one to four week time
span. Two of these were second year
males and one was an AHY female. Even
though Amer. Goldfinches are here in
fairly large numbers during the winter
months, banding numbers arc low
because they are both trap and net shy! It
appears that they travel with the Purple
Finches to and from feeding stations, and
up until the last day before the Purple
Finch leaves to go north, the goldfinch is
with them. At this writing (May 20,
1991) they have not been seen associating
with any other species They can and do
hold their own when the E. Bluebirds

become obnoxious and take over all out
nest boxes and feeders between now and
September. I do not allow the bluebird to
nest on our property any more!

This year I have a banded ASY-M, a
banded AHY-F and a second year male
frequenting our feeder. The second year
male is always with one or the other or
both of the other two birds. It never
comes alone to the feeder. Is this a "nest
helper" goldfinch?-it appears so. We
know this occurs in other species, but I've
not been able to find any reference to it in
any of the scientific journals. I would
appreciate hearing from someone who can
give me more information on the "nest
helper" goldfinch.

Their feeding cycle has changed since the
finches moved out. Now they frequent the
feeders at least every three to three and a
half hours starting at 6 a.m. and last
appearing around 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Chipping Sparrow

The Chipping Sparrow (Carpodacus
purpureus) presents an interesting study
since it is supposed to nest in my area.

I've never found such a nest in the last ten
years I've lived here. Even though the list
given to me in 1984 by Geraldine Cox
(now deceased) from Merrit states this
species does indeednest here and "can be
found any month of the year"; I have not
found this to be the case. We have banded
only two during the breeding season, one
in 1989 and one in 1990. I do not see
them again until December, Jananuary,
February and March when their numbers
increase dramatically.

Between January, 1985 and February,
1991 my husband and I banded 265
"Chippys" at our banding station in
Oriental, NC. Forty-six (17%) returned to
the original site of banding. Of these 46,
22 ((48%) had known ages of between
three to six years. The breakdown of this

group is as follows:

No.

Age

% of Total

8

3 yr

17

10

4 yr

22

1

5 yr

2

3

6 yr

7

The age record, up to 1985, is an AHY-
U banded in Beachton, GA in the spring of
1929 and shot March 8, 1938 in the same
(continued on page 6)

Backyard Birding

with

Frances J. Nelson

(June 7, 1991) After
all my talk about our
proposed camping at
the spring meeting ,
we were unable to
attend. I trust those
who attended had a

productive weekend.

My students would
have preferred it if I
had gone, but exams
were scheduled for
that Saturday. I
assure you that
birding would have been much more
exciting, but rules are rules.

I received a couple of nice letters from
Dave Abraham, who lives in West
I i Columbia, SC, and he had several bird
stories to relate, he experimented with the
Marvel Meal recipe and has had titmice,
Carolina Wrens, Red-bellied Woodpeckers,
and Mockingbirds feeding on it regularly,
with a chickadee once in a while. The
wrens on our place don't seem interested
in the marvel meal, while the chickadees
eat it frequently, and we haven't seen our
one mockingbird near it either.

Mr. Abraham also built two nuthatch
houses and had just finished putting one
up when a Brown-headed Nuthatch landed
on the vine about two feet from his head
aas if thanking him for the box. The little
birds did nest in the box, and the
Abrahams have been entertained watching
the nuthatches go back and forth with
loaded beaks. The other box, however,
remained empty. Mr. Abraham did watch
a pair of brownies check it out, but after
several minutes of close examination
(they both went inside and pecked around),
they evidently decided to go somewhere
else. At least he’s had one pair to watch.
We finally saw one of these birds on our
property this spring. I would love to have
some stay around for awhile, because they
do seem to be relatively unafraid of
people, but so far we've had to be content
with the one passing through.

Besides the Brown-headed Nuthatch, we
also added Black and White Warblers (not
to be confused with Niki our black and
white wobbler), Prothonotary Warblers,
and a Common Nighthawk to our property
list. On April 25th, we heard a Whip-
poor-will and a Chuck-will's Widow call,
so we were able to compare the two. That
was a first for me. I'm sure I had heard the
widows before, but I never realized that it
was a different bird. In my ignorance, I
thought it was a weird Whip-poor-will.

The Louisiana Waterthrush began calling
April 1, which seems earlier than last year,
and two hummers showed up April 7.

One hummer went to one of the old
feeding stations, but die feeder wasn't up
yet. The second one buzzed up and down
the front screen door, as if to tell us that
they were back and hungry. I saw them
occasionally, but they stayed away from
the feeders until last week. Now we have
trouble keeping the feeders full. I suppose
flowers were plentiful enough through
April and May. We were a little
concerned, but now we are happily
watching their antics.

Most of the juncoes left in March, but a
few stayed around into April. Suddenly,
the lew were gone except one who finally
took off April 12. I thought maybe he had
decided to stay south for the summer, but I
guess he finally figured that this summer
heat was not for him.

On Saturday, April 27, CJ and I awoke
to the song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
He stayed about a week, just like last year,
and then was gone. Perhaps one of these
springs, he'll find a mate and nest here.

His cousin, the Blue Grosebeak, arrived
the same morning and has remained with
us. We see him early in the morning and
late in the evening feeding on the back
deck right outside our bathroom window.
We haven't seen the female yet, but last
year she didn’t start feeding in our yard
until later in the season, so we counting
on her for later.

I don't know if the mild winter and early
spring are to blame, but our yard is
different this year. We have fewer
goldfinches and many more cowbirds. I
asked before, but I'll do it again: how do
we get rid of and discourage cowbirds? As
far as 1 am concerned, they have absolutely
no redeeming qualiiics-even the hawks
seem to avoid them. So what can we do?
Are cowbirds edible? Perhaps one of these
days when I have some free time, I'll
devise a recipe for Cowbird Stew.

Anybody interested?

1 he rest ol the news pertains to
somewhere other than a backyard. Last
weekend CJ and I went for our first sailing
trip on the Chesapeake Bay. We saw
more than a few Osprey, and we watched
one feeding two young ones as we drifted
by the nest. Early Sunday morning we
saw an Osprey flying with a fish clasped
in its feet, so we assumed the bird was
carrying breakfast to its young. Not so.
The Osprey kept circling and calling. We
figured it must have been some kind of
mating ritual, but we had already seen
nesting birds. Later in the afternoon, we
saw a repeat performance on the opposite
side of the bay. It was an interesting
display to watch, and we were fortunate to
see it twice in one day.

CJ watched bluebirds evict sparrows
from a nesting box where he works at
Research Triangel Park. Bluebirds had
nested there earlier, and after the babies
fledged, the sparrows tried to move in.

The bluebirds won, the sparrows left, and
the box is again serving its true purpose.
And since my true purpose is to get this
column to the Editor before his deadline, I
shall stop for this newsletter. I would
still like to include other’s stories here, so
please send your birding news to me at
1006 Dogwood Hill Lane, Wake Forest,

NC 27889.

Mockingbird | Challenge

I would like to ^ challenge all

other Northern Mockingbirds in North and
South Carolina. The bird that lives in our
small garden in Tryon has mastered the
songs of 19 different species, aside from
its own, of course. These are the
following: E. Wood Pewee, E. Phoebe,
Wood Thrush, Summer Tanager, Brown
Thrasher, N. Cardinal, Grey Catbird, Red-
bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Carolina
Wren, Amer. Robin, Tufted Titmouse,
Killdeer, White-breasted Nuthatch, N.
Flicker, N. Oriole, Brown-headed
Nuthatch, Rufous-sided Towhee, and E.
Bluebird.

Calling all Mockingbirds in the
Carolinas. Beat this!

"That Mocker in Tryon"

(alias Simon R. B. Thompson)

Magazines for Birders

by Clyde Smith

Nowhere is the increasing popularity of
birding as an avocation more evident than
in the proliferation of magazines for
birders in the past five years. If you
haven't already loaded up on subscriptions,
the following descriptive listing in
alphabetical order is intended as a guide to
help you make a selection.

American Birds, The Magazine of Record
and Discovery, has undergone a total
overhaul. Beginning with the first issue
of 1991 (Vol. 44, No. 5), a
metamorphosis, which had been
noticeable for some time in the increased
use of color photographs and articles of
popular appeal, is now complete. Always
the must-have magazine for serious birders
with its Seasonal Reports and Christmas
Bird Count issue, American Birds has
taken the steps necessary to broaden its
scope and audience. In its new editorial
focus there is the intention to put birds in
a worldwide context with a desire to take a
leading role in the environmental
movement, particularly as it relates to
birds and the protection of threatened and
endangered bird species. It is a handsome
publication and numbers many of the
superstars of birding among its columnist
and regular contributors. There are
frequent articles on the fine points of bird
identification. If your interests go beyond
the birds in your backyard or the number
on your life list, this may be the one for
you. Published five times a year by
National Audubon Society. U.S.
subscriptions are S27.50 per year.
American Birds, 950 Third Avenue, New
York, NY 10022.

Bird Watcher's Digest has been one of the
most popular magazines for birders for a
number of years. As it's name implies, it
draws on other publications for the bulk
of its material. Heavily oriented to the
backyard birder in the beginning, its scope
has broadened to include the general birder.
Published bimonthly with U.S.
subscriptions SI 5 per year. Bird
Watcher's Digest, Box 1 10, Marietta, OH
45750.

Birder's World, The Magazine Exploring
Wild Birds and Birding, is a quality

publication now in its fifth year. The
color photography is sharp and superbly
reproduced, and believe it or not, each
issue has a centerfold (well, almost). In
addition to excellent birding hot spot
guides, which are a common feature of all
birder's magazines, this publication has
some distinctive regular features. A very
popular feature in each issue is "Birding
Briefs" which contains the latest news on
birds and birding. Also of interest to avid
birders is the "Rare Bird Report" which
summarizes the previous two months
records of rare birds sightings reported in
the ABA newsletter, Winging It.

Regular features which are unique to this
magazine are "Birds and Art," an article on
an artist or art exhibit whose subject is
birds. This is followed by "Bird Art
Calendar," a two month listing of wildlife
art exhibits across Lhe United Stales.
Published bimonthly by Birder's World,
Inc., 720 E. 8th Street, Holland, MI
49423. U.S. subscriptions are S25 per
year.

The Living Bird Quarterly is published in
January, April, July and October by the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, a
nonprofit, membership organization for
the study, appreciation and conservation of
living birds. Although in the past this
publication has largely appealed to
academic types because of its reporting on
the research of the Laboratory, there has
been an attempt to broaden its appeal to
other birders. A recent issue included
articles on "Landscaping for Birds" and
"Totem Bird Carvings of the Pacific
Northwest" as well as an essay by Aldo
Leopold. Subscription is by a S30 per
year membership in the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker
Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.

WildBird, Your Guide to Birding at Its
Best, is similar in size and content to
Birder's World and is also in its fifth year
of publication. However, its monthly
publication schedule and similar
subscription price causes it to suffer
slightly in a quality of presentation
comparison. Excellent birding hot spot
guides are reminiscent of National
Geographic Traveler "Travel Wise"

features with information on
accommodations. This magazine will
especially appeal to the backyard birder
with lots of bird feeding advertising and
articles of interest to them and to the
beginning field birder with its growing
emphasis on material of an instructional
nature. An annual photo contest draws
entries of excellent quality. Published
monthly by Fancy Publications, Inc.,
Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 483, Mt.
Morris, IL 61054-8044. U.S.
subscriptions are S21.97 per year.

Chipping Sparrow

(continued from page 4)
town, same state, nine years and nine
months later. This record comes from the
Fish & Wildlife computers in Laurel,

MD. Unfortunately we have not banded
enough of this species to construct a
stable life table.

Our most interesting encounter with
this species started on the day of banding
2-8-89. Two "Chippys" were the only
birds in my trap at 6:00a.m. They were
banded and released. I was surprised, when
at 6:00 p.m., upon closing my banding
activities I again found these same two
birds in the same trap! Both were
encountered together on 2-17-91, two
years and nine days later in the same trap
in the same backyard-the Foy's! On 2-
19=91 and 2-27-91 they were encountered
still together in the same trap, same
backyard! It is unusual that a bander gets
two birds first thing in the morning and
the same two birds last thing at night, but
to have them return to the same banding
site still together over two years later is
unheard oil

Membership Application and Order Form

Name Address

City State Zip Tel. ( ) ( )

(home) (business)

ENTER/RENEW MEMBERSHIP AS INDICATED SEND MATERIALS INDICATED

Individual ($12) Life ($200) CBC Cloth arm patch $1.50 ea., $1.25 ea. in quantity

Family ($15) Patron ($50) CBC Decals (water type) 75c ea., 50c ea. in quantity

Student ($ 6) Daily Checklists 10/$ 1.00, 25/$ 1.25, 50/S2.50, 75/S3.75

Affiliate Club (SI 5) 100/S5.00

Library/Institution ($15) Make check payable to Carolina Bird Club, Inc. and mail to PO Box 27647, Raleigh, NC 27611

Best Western Armada Reservation Form

Carolina Bird Club

Winter Meeting, September 27-29, 1991

Name Address

City State Zip

Rooms (1-4 occupants) $50.00 plus tax.

Please reserve room(s) at $50.00 per night. My check for the first night’s lodging is enclosed. I will arrive

and depart .

Mail with deposit to Best Western Armada, PO Box 307, Nags Head, NC 27959 or call (919) 441-6315 before September 10 .

Registration Form

CBC Winter Meeting, September 27-29, 1991

Name(s).

Address

(list each name for name tags)
City

State Zip.

Enclosed is my check in the amount of $ for member registrations at $4 each and nonmember registrations

at $5 each. Registration at meeting will be S5 for members and S6 for nonmembers.

'■Mail with check to Carolina Bird Club, Inc., PO Box 27647, Raleigh, NC 27611

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

i i i i i i i i i

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i t i i i i i i i

i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i

i i i i i i i i i i i i i • i i i i i i i i i i i i i • i

Pelagic Trip Reservation Form

Saturday, September 28, 1991

'Name. Address

City ___ State Zip Telephone ( )

Enclosed is my check in the amount of S to reserve place(s) at $70 each for the CBC Winter Meeting Pelagic Trip.

Please make a separate check payable to Carolina Bird Club, Inc. for pelagic trip reservations and mail to PO Box 27647,
Raleigh, NC 27611

— Welcome New Members

Russell Burns, Jr.

Laurens, SC

Nancy Byer

Asheville, NC

Jose' Escobar

Charleston, SC

M/M Don Gerties, Jr.

Asheville, NC

Janet Gretzler & family

Clemson, SC

Tullie H. Johnson of Cary, NC has
been named by the Executive Committee
as Headquarters Secretary of the Carolina
Bird Club. She succeeds Laura Becker
who resigned to devote more time to her
family.

Tullie is a native of Chcrryville, NC.
She received a B.S. in biology from High
Point College and a M.Ed. in science
education from the University of
Pittsburgh. Her varied career has included
teaching school in Oxford, NC; working
in an university research lab; being a
mother/housewife and filling many
volunteer jobs. At present she is working
part-time as a school program assistant at

Bill Henderson & family

Kernersville, NC

Joyce (). Holloman

Hickory, NC

Dr. Gordon Howard

Clemson, SC

M/M William F. LeGrand

Shelby, NC

Dean & Claudia Pelczar

Raleigh, NC

the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences.

In addition to keeping up with husband
A1 and son Jeff, a rising high school
sophmorc, Tullie is interested in
gardening, hiking, cooking, working with
the local boy scout troop and playing
bridge. Currently she is busy helping Jeff
get ready for a three week student
exchange trip to Russia. His group of
students from Lhc Triangle and Triad
regions of North Carolina will visit five
Russian cities and participate in a youth
camp.

CBC welcomes Tullie to this key
position .

Debbie Scruggs

Bailey, NC

Ann Shahid

Charleston, SC

Pearl J. Smith

Garner, NC

Brian & Kate Willcutts

Asheville, Nc

Deceased

★ * *

George Andrew Dorsey

Rome, GA

Mrs. David S. Hunter

St. Petersburg, FL

Donald A. Lacoss

Hilton Head Island, SC

Mrs. William J. Tays

Greensboro, NC

CBC Rare Bird Alert
(704) 332-BIRD

New Headquarters Secretary Appointed

CBC Newsletter is published quarterly by Carolina Bird Club, Inc., the ornithological society of the Carolinas, with
headquarters at Raleigh, NC. CBC is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 1937, with membership open to anyone interested in
birds, natural history and conservation. Members arc encouraged to submit items of interest to CBC Newsletter, Clyde Smith,
Editor, 2615 Wells Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608.

CAROLINA BIRD CLUB, INC.

CB@

Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Post Office
Permit No. 1654
Raleigh, NC 27611

P.O. BOX 27647, RALEIGH, NC 2761 1