for members of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., ornithological society of the Carolinas

Volume 39 July/August 1993 Number 4

Fall Meeting Update

Friday field trips and
guided ” birding on your
own” featured.

Eastern North Carolina Members at
Large, Paula Wright and Ricky
Davis have announced the following
schedule of field trips for the CBC fall
meeting on the NC Outer Banks:

I Friday. September 24
7:00 a.m. Half-day trip. Early departure
for land bird migrants, followed by
'‘all-purpose" birding at Pea Island
NWR.

1:00 p.m. Half-day trip. Will bird
Oregon Inlet and then Pea Island
NWR.

Saturday. September 25

All of the area's birding hotspots will
be covered. Plans are being made to
provide for birding on your own with
expert guides [positioned at designated
locations, as well as other organized
trips. Details of field trip offerings
will be available for early arrivals at
the Comfort Inn's registration desk as
will as being included in the
registration packet.

Sunday. September 26
Organized trips to look for
interesting birds found on Saturilay.

A field trip is planned for offshore
pelagic birding in the Gulf Stream on
Saturday, September 25, and
possibly again on Sunday, September 26
(note correction in dates from May/June
Newsletter).

Typical birds to be expected include
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Audubon's and
Cory's Shearwater, and Black-capped
Petrel. Migrant probabilities include
jaegers, skua, terns, phalaropes, anti
perhaps some of the rarer shearwaters and
storm-petrels. There is also the chance to
see one or more species of whales.

The boat holds about 20 birders and
departs from the Pirate's Cove Marina,
only a mile or two from our motel. These
trips are offered by Michael Tove
(919) 460-0338. They are full-day
trips ami are a great opportunity at the
modest price of $80. Call Mike for
details. Payment will be made to him.
Call early to reserve space.

Headquarters for the meeting will be
the Comfort Inn Oceanfront at Nags Head.
Tins is the same meeting site which we
have used beforfe, but it has recently been
renovated internally and renamed. The rate
for up to four persons per room is $50.00
plus tax. Reservation deadline is
September 10. 1993. Please use the
form provided in the Newsletter or call toll
free 1-800-334-3302.

Directions to Hotel; From Manteo
continue on US 64/264 across the
causeway to Nags Head. Upon reaching

Tide Chart

for Oregon

Inlet

(approximate times)

Date

• AM

High

PM

AM Low

PM

9/23

5:30

6:00

12:00N

9/24

6:30

7:00

12:30

1:00

9/25

7:30

8:00

1:30

2:00

9/26

8:30

8:30

2:00

3:00

the Outer Banks do not veer left onto US
158 Bypass but instead proceed straight
across the intersection with NC 12.
Continue straight ahead 1/10 mile to the
beach dunes. Turn right. The Comfort
Inn is the large six story hotel just ahead.

For information on ferry schedules call
(919)928-3841 for Ocracoke departures
and (9 1 9) 225-355 1 for Cedar Island
departures.

The Saturday evening program will
feature Steve Dinsmore, a gifted young
ornithologist and birder, who has spent
the last year studying the migrations and
populations of Sanderlings on the Outer
Banks. His work is part of a National
Park Service project involving N.C. State
University and UNC-Wilmington.

Steve's topic will be "Factors Affecting
Reproduction and Migration of Water
Birds on North Carolina Barrier Islands."
He will report on project findings
concerning the Piping Plover and
colonial water birds as well as the
Sanderling. His program will include
slides of a great variety of coastal birds,
including some outstanding rarities.

INSIDE

From the President

2

Backyard Birding

3

Wayne Society

4

Summer Field Trips

5

New Members

8

From the President

A "State of the Club" Message

by Lex Glover

I would like to take this opportunity to
thank you for electing me your club
president. I plan to continue the hard
work and success of presidents before me.
Of course, the president is only one
member of the Executive Board and his
success is due to the team work of all the
board members. I am pleased to continue
working with the board and look forward
to our accomplishments.

On behalf of the club, I want to
thank Pat Wilkison and Simon
Thompson for an excellent spring
meeting in Lake Lure, NC. This
meeting set a new record for attendance
at a spring meeting.

For those of you that were not at the
spring meeting, out-going president,

John Wright, reported on some of
the board's activities during the past
couple of years. I will mention a few
of these below.

In recent years we have begun CBC
field trips. These one or two-day trips
around the Carolinas offer a wider range
of additional field trip opportunities to
supplement our seasonal meetings.

From what I have heard, the success of
these field trips is largely due to the
limited number of participants, the
locations, and of course, the target
birds. John Wright (NC) and I (SC) are
coordinators for this project. If anyone
is interested in leading afield trip in the
future, please contact us. The field
trips are not limited to the Carolinas.
Earlier this year we went international
with a successful trip to La Selva Lodge
in Ecuador.

Spring Counts are being published
again. The 1992 counts are in The Chat,
Spring 1993, Vol. 57, No. 2. Although
there were only thirteen localities
reporting, with the return to publication
we hope that there will be a renewed
interest and more reports will be submitted
in the future. The board has also decided
to encourage participation in the North
American Migration Day Count. Former
CBC president, Robin M. Carter, is
count coordinator for the Carolinas.

Future spring meeting dates are being
planned to avoid conflict with the Spring

Counts and NAMD Counts.

We are working bn a CBC sponsored
bird-sighting bulletin board at key birding
areas around the Carolinas. This will give
the club some exposure by supplying
information on the club, and will serve as
a place to report rare/unusual birds within
the area. We hope to make the initial
installation at Huntington Beach State
Park in SC soon.

The club now has its own T-shirt
available. It features a color version of the
Yellow-breasted Chat from the cover of
The Chat along with the CBC logo and
the words Carolina Bird Club. Pam
Odear and Herb Hendrickson took the
lead in this project and did a great job.

The shirts were first offered for sale at the
spring meeting, and if you failed to get
yours, they will also be available at the
fall meeting in Nags Head, NC.

The CBC Newsletter has increased to
six issues per year. Clyde Smith,
Editor, saw the need to communicate with
the club members more often and keep
them informed of club events such as the
new field trips. He has expanded the
features/articles which are both informative

and entertaining.

The CBC Awards Committee has been
formed under the guidance of John Wright
and Herb Hendrickson, Editor of The
Chat. The intent is to encourage
ornithological studies in the Carolinas by
rewarding students for published
information about any aspect of the birds
in the Carolinas. The funds used for these
awards are generated by the royalties from
Birds of the Carolinas made available
by the authors, Eloise F. Potter,
James F. Parnell, and Robert P.
Teulings. Applications and
information may be obtained from
committee chair, Peter
Worthington, 716 N. Almond Drive,
Simpsonville, SC 29681.

Having been challenged to become
involved in conservation efforts, the
board has also formed a Conservation
Committee. Chaired by Teddy
Shuler, SC Member-at-Large, the
committee will report, as a regular
feature in the newsletter, on issues
relevant to CBC interests and supply
information for members wishing to
respond. As Teddy stated, "If we as
CBC members expect to continue
enjoying oUr birding pursuits, we had
better do what we can to be sure that
there are birds to pursue."

As 1 stated at the spring meeting, 1
would very much like to hear any
suggestions or ideas you may have
about the club. I look forward to the year
ahead as your president. Hope to see you
at the fall meeting in Nags Head, NC.
Good Birding! PO Box 117, Lugoff, SC
29078. Tel (803) 438-1703.

Mark Your Calendars

Future CBC meetings are scheduler! for:

Winter

Litchfield, SC-Jan. 28-30, 1994

Spring

Kanuga Conference Center
Hendersonville, NC-May 20-22, 1994

Tonya Spires of Hemingway, SC, models the new

CBC T-shirt.

July 7— Unfortunately we haven't been
home for much backyard birding lately.

We went to Oklahoma to visit CJ's family
and were disappointed in the low number
of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. We did see
several Loggerhead Shrikes and watched
two harass a huge snake which was trying
to get to the shrikes' nest.

Shortly after our return we left for
Buffalo, NY, where CJ attended a meeting.
We took a side trip to Ithaca to visit the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. There
we saw cowbirds, grackles,' Red-winged
Blackbirds and one cardinal. CJ spotted a
Northern oriole, but I was Watering the
Black and White Wobbler and missed it.

At home our birds have been less active
than usual— perhaps it’s the heat. We had
three male Indigo Buntings visiting the
backyard regularly in June, but we haven't
seen them in the past few days. We have
fewer goldfinches than two weeks ago.

We also have fewer House Finches. We
had to go back to year-round suet because
the House Finches were cleaning out the
summer suet daily. The Red-bellied and
Downy Woodpeckers took a few days to
get used to the new suet, but now they
seem to be back to normal.

The delight of the yard this summer has
been Summer Tanagers. We first saw the
bright-red male on May 14 hovering at the
cap-top marv el meal feeder. He'd grab a
beakful anti fly to a branch and eat. He did
this several times anti then a strange bird

Feed wild birds, anti you never know
shat new species will drop by for a
handout! Such was the case on
April 1 when a pigeon ttx)k up residence
in an outside storage area. He was so
weak that 1 was able to capture him anti
read "AU 92, AR PU, 24356" on his -
aluminum leg band.

Apparently he's a racing pigeon that .
became exhausted on his way to his home
roost. After a week of gorging tin com
anti sunflower seeds-courtesy of my wife,
June-he departed, presumably to go home.
But to our amazement and disappointment
(his droppings were very messy!) he
reappeared tin the evening of April 10
when he ate ravenously. The next
morning he departed again, only to repeat
the performance on April 1 7 anti 1 8.
Question: why does he keeping coming
here rather than returning to his home
rtxist?

Domestic pigeons are descended from

Backyard Birding

with Frances J. Nelson

appeared and perched tin the cap-top feeder
and nibbled away. The tanager sat nearby
taking lessons.

We finally identified the strange bird as
a first-year male Summer Tanager. He
had the markings of a tanager, but he was
covered with a soft red blush. Because tif
the redness, we ruled out the female.

At any rate, the old male never has
learned to sit tin the feeder, but the young
one visits daily. The old male also shows
up each day, but he continues to hover,
till his beak, and sit on a branch to eat.
One day the whole family was out there—
old male, young male, and a female. The
two males sat in the tree while the female
ate marvel meal. Was this guard duty?
She tilled up, flew off, and the young
male began to eat. The old male flew
down every few minutes for his snack.

Even with the regular visits, the
tanagers remain shy. I have not been able
to photograph any of them. I sneak up to
the door with camera in hand, and they fly
off. I suppose one of these days I'll have
to build a tanager blind or else give- up the

Whose Pigeon is
This?

by Albert E. Conway

R<x:k Doves ( Colombo livid ), natives of
Europe and Asia. In the wild, they nest in
cavities in cliffs and on ledges beneath
overhanging rocks.

The Rock Dove is believed to have been
the first bird domesticated by man. As
early as 4500 B.C., it was raised for its
meat. Later, because of its ability to
return to its home roost, it was used by
the Gfeeks and Romans to carry messages.
It is said that pigeons carried messages to
Rome of the progress of Caesar's conquest
of Gaul.

After Napoleon's defeat at the battle of
Waterloo in 1815, dispatches to London
were carried by messengers who traveled

idea of pictures.

Elsewhere in the yard, we have found the
feather remains of four or five doves. We
figured we must have a hawk nearby, and
lately we've been seeing a Red-shouldered
flying low across the pond. If we could
just train him to ztxmi in on cowbirds, we
would be happy, but he seems to have a
penchant for doves.

Our two bluebird pairs are each working
on their third batch of eggs. The first
group numbered nine, the second eight,
and now we have a total of nine eggs.
Needless to say, we do have bluebirds.

Speaking of bluebirds, 1 received a letter
from Joe Vlontanarella and Judy
Schattner who live in Cary, NC. They
have had bluebirds at their suet anti peanut
butter. This is the first year that has
happened, and now they are ready to put
up bluebird boxes. They also wanted to
assure the Carolina Bird Club that "yes, .
backyard birds do, after all, exist in North
Carolina." We are not as lucky as the
Cary folks. We have never seen bluebirds'
at any of our feeders— not even the
"bluebird feeder." Maybe we -have more
bugs for the bluebirds to eat; I'm sure we
have more mosquitoes and deer flies.

As central North Carolinians slap biting
insects and endure the heat, humidity, and
lack of rain, 1 would appreciate hearing
tales from other backyard birders: 101)6
Dogwood Hill Lane, Wake Forest, NC
275H7.

on horseback and by sailing vessel. But
carrier pigeons carried the news to London
in a matter of hours, reaching London four
days ahead of the human messengers!

All birds seem to possess the ability to
return to a specific location. White-
throated Sparrows and juncos which I band
during the winter migrate north to nest.
But, when winter approaches, *they are
back again.

How do birds navigate? Scientists have
advanced many theories, none completely
satisfactory. One scientist thought birds
could keep their bearings in mind while
being transported to the point of release.
He placed starlings in a cage on a record
player turntable and spun them around at
78 r.p.tn. while they were being taken to
the release point. Their homing ability
was not affected.

The position of the sun in the sky
appears to play a role, but birds can

(continued back page)

New Program Recognizes Serious

Bird Watchers

A new program called the Arthur T.
Wayne Society has been launched by
the SC Wildlife and Marine Resources
Department to recognize individuals who
have spent a lifetime gaining a knowledge
of South Carolina's natural history
through the study of birds.

Membership in the Wayne Society is
open to all state residents and nonresidents
who have identified at least 200 species of
birds within the boundaries and offshore
waters of South Carolina,

About 390 species of birds are
recognized as occurring within the state,
limiting membership to those individuals
who have recorded at least half of the
state's resident and migratory bird species.

"Bird watching has become one of the
state's fastest growing outdoor recreational
activities," said Pete Laurie, Wayne
Society coordinator for the state wildlife
department's Conservation Education and
Communications Division.

"Many bird watchers keep lists of the
birds they have identified during their
lifetimes, with separate lists for the state

where they live and other states they
frequently visit," Laurie said. "This
program gives birders a goal to shoot for
in South Carolina and should encourage
both bird watching and tourism."

Applicants to the Wayne Society must
submit a list of bird species observed

within the state to a membership
committee to ensure each applicant can
provide a valid list of 200 or more bird
species typical of South Carolina. Rare
and unusual species sighted will require
written documentation.

Once accepted for membership, Wayne
Society members will receive a jacket-

patch, invitation to seminars and other
special events, and recognition in
department publications.

The patch features Bachman's Warbler,
an extremely rare bird closely associated -
with South Carolina and Arthur T. Wayne,
South Carolina's most prominent
ornithologist.

Individuals accepted into the Wayne
Society are asked to pay an initiation fee of
$10.00 ($5.00 for students) to cover the
cost of patches, printing and mailing.

Additional revenues will be used to fund
weekend seminars and workshops, and
possibly omithological research projects
conducted by Society members or by state
wildlife department staff. All fees will be
paid to the Harry Hampton Memorial
Wildlife Fund. .

."We hope the Wayne Society eventually
will be able to conduct weekend natural
history outings to many of South
Carolina's best birding spots," Laurie said.

To receive an application package write .
Arthur T. Wayne Society, SCWMRD, PO
Box 12559, Charleston, SC 29422-2559.

Help Barn Owls!

Let's

The Common Barn-Owl needs large
areas of grassland (= voles, cotton rats)
and a secure nest site.

Bam Owl nest boxes have helped
reproduction by this owl in Virginia and
in other states. Nest boxes are usually
placed in silos. In the Halifax area I put
out 1 2 boxes in unused silos in
November of 1993. This winter an owl
was found roosting in two boxes, and
Bam Owl pellets were found at a third.

Trays measuring 2' x 16", 1 1 " high
are used in roofed silos. However, since
my silos lack their roofs, my nest boxes
include a lean-to roof of salt-treated
plywood. A free standing conventional
bird box has also been used by some for
Bam Owls: 2' x 2' with 24" to 26" height,
and a 6" hole 12" up in front. Setting this
on a greased pole may discourage snakes
and raccoons.

Bam Owls nested in a bam, a. cotton gin,
and a tree cavity in North Carolina in
1992. Human activity, especially large

dogs in the yard, may protect the Bam Owl
nest at those site from predators.
Abandoned buildings, water tanks, church
steeples, under bridges, even TV towers
were other sites used in Virginia in recent
years.

Now I have permission to place another
ten nest boxes in silos in Enfield, Pyngo,
and Goldsboro. I prefer 3o place boxes
within Christmas bird count circles where
people will check for owl activity.

To me, a silo is available if it is not

£ falling apart, and if the owner gives
* permission to set out a box. My goal
is a Bam Owl box in every available
silo east of 1-95 by the year 2006. I
think I can do this if I put out about 30
nest boxes a year.

Why not a Bam Owl box in every
available silo in the Carolinas by the
year 2000? If Bam Owls aren't in the
area, kestrels could use the boxes. To
reach this goal, I would need help: (1 )
to build boxes. Materials cost about
$10 per box. A source of 12" wide salt-
treated 1 " boards is needed. (2) to find
sites and get permission. One prefers
places where Bam Owls already occur. (3)
to put up boxes; climbing, pulleying,
wiring in place, (4) to check sites every
few months for owls, whitewash, pellets.
(5) to band nestlings and adults.

Contact Frank Enders, Rt. 2, Box
67-A, Halifax, NC 27839, Tel.
(919) 583-7371, if you think you
might help with this project.

CBC Summer Field Trips

South Carolina Offshore Trip August 21, 1993

Leaders: Dennis Forsythe, Lex Glover Limit: 10 Participants Cost: $35

This is a relatively inexpensive
opportunity to observe pelagic birds off
Charleston, SC by going on the 65 ft.

Mt. Pleasant-based Carolina Clipper
on fishing trips which range 40-60
nautical miles off the South Carolina
coast. On each trip, the' boat leaves Sheni
Creek, Mt. Pleasant at 7:00 a.m. and •
returns about 6:30 p.m. On a typical trip,
the boat has a 3-4 hour ride out to 120-
330 ft. deep water to fish, then spends
from about 1 1:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
bottom fishing in various locations before
the three hour return trip in the afternoon.
We will look for harbor and offshore birds
from the vantage point of the ship's upper
deck. There is an additional charge if you

wish to fish as well as watch birds.

Mid- August should be a gtxxl time for
pelagic species. Expected species include:
Cory's and Audubon Shearwaters,
Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Red-necked

Phalarope, Bridled Tern along with harbor
and inshore species like Brown Pelican,
Royal, Least and Sandwich Terns, and
Black Skimmers. Possible species
include: Black-capped Petrel (rare), Leach's
Storm-Petrel, Pomarine and Parasitic
Jaegers, and Sooty Tern.

Accommodations are plentiful in the Mt.
Pleasant and Charleston areas.

Registration: Contact Lex Glover
at (803) 438-1703 (evenings) to reserve
space. Send registration form with fee to
CBC headquarters. If the August 21 trip is
filled, a second trip will be scheduled for
August 22. Inquire about this possibility
if you cannot go August 21 .

Orangeburg Sod Farm & Congaree
Swamp National Monument

Leader: Nathan Dias

August 28, 1993

Limit: 15 Participants Cost: $10

Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the General Store
on US 301 .just on the Orangeburg side of
1-26 (this is a rustic looking
gas/convenience store). Remember to
bring a lunch, as we will be picnicking at
Congaree Swamp National Monument.

We will begin the morning's birding at
the Super Sod Farm where we will be
hoping for Buff-breasted Sandpiper and
Lesser Golden-Plover. Upland Sandpiper
and Homed Lark should be easy' finds.

After a few hours at the Sod Farm, we
will proceed to Congaree Swamp National
Monument. Some early migrant warblers

should be at Congaree (Blue-winged and
Golden-winged Warblers were seen in
recent Augusts). Breeding Prothonotary,
Kentucky and Hooded Warblers will also
be present. Those birders who are also
interested in butterflies will enjoy this,
field trip immensely. The access road that
splits the Monument is one of the best
migrant traps for fall butterflies around
(especially after a recent rain).

We should finish at Congaree during the
middle of the afternoon; after that those
who wish can make a return trip to the
Sod Farm. New birds often show up

between early morning and afternoon. If
the Sod Farm is on your way home, a
second stop might get you a bird we
missed in the morning.

There are a variety of motels in
Orangeburg, SC that are a short drive up
US 301 from 1-26.

Registration: Contact Nathan Dias
at (803) 556-4792 to reserve space. Send
registration form with fee to CBC
headquarters

Field Trip Reports

On 20 February 1993, 15 birders from
around the Carolinas gathered to bird with
Ned and Teddy Shuler at some of their
favorite birding spots.

We traveled around Oconee County, SC,
and our stops included: Tamassee DAR (a
local school where Teddy teaches); Fiddlers
Cove; Tamassee Knob Road; Sumter
National Forest (Tamassee Creek, Chrokee
Lake, Burrell Mt. Picnic Area and

Oconee County
Hot Spots

by Lex Glover

Persimmon Mt. Overhx>k); Lake Jocassee
and Lake Keowee. We also went into

North Carolina to visit Whitewater Falls.

We tallied 56 species for the day. Some
of the highlights were: a female Common
Goldeneye, 2 Bald Eagles (an adult and an
immature). Homed Grebes and Wild
Turkey. Another highlight of the trip was
the wonderful spread of fox! Teddy and
Ned supplied for us at lunch.

Gixxl birds, food arid friends made for a
fun day's birding.

On Saturday, June 5, 1993, a group of
eager birders gathered at 7:00 a.m. at the
headquarters of South Carolina's Santee
National Wildlife Refuge for a day trip led
by CBC President Lex Glover, The day
promised to be hot and humid, but hopes
wefe high that we would locate several
species that were known to be on the
refuge such as Least Bittern, Anhinga,
Purple Gallinule, Painted Bunting and the
Warbling Vireo which has begun nesting
on the refuge in the past few years.

We began our day in the Bluff Unit of
the refuge. Within minutes of entering
the area of a large pond, dike and fields the
usually elusive Least Bittern made himself
visible as he fiew across the pond. As we
looked carefully where he landed, we saw
there were two! Then, three! Our scopes
immediately brought them into view for
all.

As Anhingas and Ospreys soared
overhead, Orchard Orioles flitted from tree
to tree. Numerous Wood Ducks retreated
as far away as possible from us to the
other side of the pond. Before long, we
heard the song of the Warbling Vireo and
our adrenalin began to flow. This was to
be a life bird for several of us that had
searched in vain for this bird on other
trips, he sang, and sang, and sang.

Where was the rascal? Camouflaged in
the top of the willow trees, no doubt.
After about 15 minutes, he decided to fly,
and he was ours. Everyone in the group
was able to get excellent views as he fiew
in even closer to us. We were able to

Santee National
Wildlife Refuge

by Nell Moore

locate two-three more singing males in
this vicinity.

It was in the same area that the Painted
Bunting appeared. At first we had to settle
for a tree-top view from several hundred
feet away; then he fiew in to a nearby
bush when we obtained a close-up look at
his magnificent colors.

Next, we moved on to the Pine Island
Unit. Our target bird in this area was the
Purple Gallinule which Lex located after
searching the pond area where the bird had
been seen. The sun had grown hotter by
midday, so we went in search of the
elusive shade that had proven to be very
rare on the refuge. After stopping for
lunch and discussing our plans for the rest
of the day, we continued on to the Cuddo
Unit. Finding a shady area in a low,

swampy area proved to be rewarding as we
found the birds too had sought out the
shade. Within ten minutes we located and
identified 13 species in about a 200 ft.
radius. Among these were Summer
Tanager, northern Panda, Yellow-throated
Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pine
Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Eastern
Wood-Peewee. With this flurry of
activity, we were encouraged to go on.

From there we were off to check two
Wood Duck boxes that were home to
young Screech Owls Which were to be
banded by Lex. This was one of the
highlights of the day, as we were able to
observe and compare a young "gray" phase
and "red" phase bird in hand. Two were
banded.

An Anhinga and heron rookery was our-
next stop where at least 10-15 nests were
observed. Anhingas were observed at all
ages. Also seen on the lake in the Cuddo
area was a pair of Ring-necked Ducks.
They may be spending the summer in the
refuge. '

We concluded our day with oiie more
hike late in the afternoon through a mixed
hardwtxxl low area and tallied even more
species bringing our total for the day to
64. All in all, this was a most
memorable trip. It was especially .
memorable the following week, as our
chiggers constantly reminded us of it! All
left with the satisfaction of seeing new
birds; new friends being made, and having
experienced the strengthening of old
friendships.

Congratulations to all participants,
you met the Challenge! This year's
Empidonax Challenge was a success.
Everyone was able to get close looks at
each of. our region's four breeding
Empidonax flycatchers. Each was seen
well and all were giving their diagnostic
songs and call notes. We had: five Alder
Flycatchers, eleven Least Flycatchers,
three Willow Flycatchers, and around five
Acadian Flycatchers. We were able to
compare this group with their closest
identification competitors, Eastern Wood-
Pewee and Eastern Phoebe.

The flycatchers were the locus of the
trip, but it did not stop us from getting
wonderful looks at many breeding
warblers.. .in the scope! Canada,
Blackburnian, Black:throated Blue&
Green, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Hooded,
Ovenbird, Black and White, and Panila.

1993's Empidonax
Challenge

by Roger McNeill

Other breeders put on a show: Solitary
Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet
Tanager, Cedar Waxwing, Common
Raven, Veery, Golden-crowned K mg let,
Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch,
and many more.

The only down points were punctuated
with optimism. A hike to see Golden-
winged Warbler turned up no visual, but
some very promising buzzy calls. The
Saw Whet Owls were just the opposite.
The winds were fierce and no birds were
heard calling, but a single small owl
buzzed our location up to three
times...Hmmm?

Bert and I would like to thank all of this
year's guests. We had a wonderful time.
We ajso encourage those of strong will
and a burning in their lists to take next
year's Empidonax Challenge.

Registration Form

- CBC Special Field Trips

Name(s). :

(list each participant)

Address City i State Zip.

Enclosed is my check in the amount of $ for the following field trips: SC Offshore Trip, August 21 (22), 1993

($35) Orangeburg Sod Farm, August 28, 1993 ($10). 1 have called the appropriate trip leader to ensure that space is available.

Mail with check to Carolina Bird Club, Inc., PO Box 27647, Raleigh, NC 2761 1

Membership Application and Order Form

Name

Address

City [ - State Zip Tel. ( ) : ( )

(home) (business)

Enter/Renew Membership As Indicated Send Materials Indicated

Individual • ($12)

Family ($15)

Student ($6)

Affiliate Club ($15)

Library/Institution ($15)

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

Patron ($50) CBC Decals (vinyl stick -on) $1.50 ea., $1.25 ea. in quantity

_Daily Checklists 1 0/$ 1 .00, 25/$ 1 .25, 50/$2.50, 75/$3.75

1 00/$5 .00

Make check payable to Carolina Bird Club, Inc. and mail to PO Box 27647, Raleigh, NC 2761 1

Registration Form

CBC Fall Meeting, September 24-26, 1993

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 $5 for members and $6 for nonmembers.

$ * . - ‘ V .

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

Comfort Inn Reservation Form

. Carolina Bird Club
Fall Meeting. September 24-26, 1993

Name : Address

City State ' Zip

Rooms (up to 4 persons) $50.00 plus tax.

Please reserve room(s) at $50.00 jter night. The number of occupants for each room is . My check for the first

night's lmlging is enclosed. I will arrive and depart _.

Mail with deposit to Comfort Inn Oceanfront. PO Box 307. Nags Head. NC 27959 or call 1-800-334-3302 *

Welcome New Members

William P. Blakeslee

Atlanta, GA

Jessie W. Bynum
Alexandria, VA

Dan & Regina Canning

Raleigh, NC

Brenda B. Clark

Arlington, VA

Ed & Judy Funderburk

Columbia, SC

Charlotte Goedsche &
Cynthia Janes
Asheville, NC

Peggy. P. Johnson
Raleigh, NC

Sandy & Mark Kemper

Easley, SC

Peggy Lasher
Weaverville, NC

Nancy L. Lyman

Columbia, SC

B. R. Mahaley, Sr.

• Charlotte, NC

Carol R. Mann

Greenville, SC

Adam & Phyllis Martin

Conover, NC

Laurie S. Pearl

Knoxville, TN

Dr. Stewart Skeate
Banner Elk, NC

Donald R. Snipes

Norfolk, VA

Gary L. Sowell
Hopkins, SC

Charles Thomas & Susan
Gustke
Greenville, NC

Nancy Tilghman
Asheville, NC

Van Atkins & family
Charleston, SC

Ken Wilkins

New Bern, NC

Jergen & Karin Zerbock
Raleigh, NC

Whose Pigeon is This?

(continued from page 3)

navigate successfully on cloudy days and
at night. Also, birds apparently can detect
the earth's magnetic lines of force, much
as the needle of a compass does.

Unlike most wild birds, domestic
pigeons are not the best of homers. It is
often necessary to train racing pigeons by
taking them on increasingly longer trips

from the home roost in order to sharpen
their homing ability.

Perhaps "AU 92, AR PU, 24356" did
not learn his lesson well. Why did he
apparently adopt our location and return to
it twice rather than going to his home
roost? And, will he be back again? Time
will tell! 1672 Deer Run Road, Catawba,
SC 29704. Te. (803)329-3759

CBC Rare Bird Alert
(704) 332-BIRD

CBC Newsletter is publisher! bimonthly 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 are encouraged to submit items of interest to CBC Newsletter, Clyde Smith,
Editor, 2615 Wells Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27608.

CAROLINA BIRD CLUB, INC.

CB©

P.O. BOX 27647, RALEIGH, NC 27611

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