for members of the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., ornithological society of the Carolinas & v-' VLi Newsletter Lynne Mattocks Lucas Volume 51 August 2005 Number 4 CBC Travels to Charleston, SC September 30 -October 2 By Marcia Watkins The fall meeting of the CBC will be held in Charleston, SC, where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers join to create the Atlantic Ocean. Charleston, one of the country’s top tourist attractions, offers much to birders and non-birding spouses alike. The cooler weather makes sightseeing and shopping in the Historic District even more enjoyable. For birders, the habitat within a 25-mile radius of the downtown area consists of beaches, marshes, barrier islands, the ocean, estuaries, and maritime forests. Bob Wood and Nathan Dias have planned a full weekend of field trips to all of these places — and more. We will have choices such as Bull Island, Bear Island and Donnelly WMA, Magnolia Gardens, Folly Beach, Dill Plantation, I'On Swamp, East Cooper, and a special trip to Kiawah Island. Bob has also planned a Charleston County Big Day Competition for all of us obsessive competitive types. Our hotel is the Holiday Inn Patriot’s Point on Highway 17, 250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., in Mt. Pleasant at the foot of the new Ravenel Bridge over the Cooper River. When making reservations, ask for the group block, CBC. The rate of $89 per room plus tax (breakfast not included) will be available until August 29. You may reserve rooms online (www.himtpleasant.com) by using the group code or by calling the toll-free number 800-290-4004, ext.l 10, or the hotel at 843-884-6000. Other hotels nearby are the Hampton Inn at Patriot’s Point, 255 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., 843-881- 3300; Best Western Patriot’s Point, 259 McGrath-Darby Blvd., 843-971-7070; and the Sleep Inn Mt.Pleasant, 299 Wingo Way, 843-856-5000. Thursday night registration will be from 7 until 9 pm and resume on Friday at 6:00 am. We’ll have several tables with T-shirts, hats, and other Club items for sale. Simon Thompson of Ventures and perhaps some local artists will have a display. A book sale will also be added this year and will include some of the many new nonfiction bird books published in the past 18 months. The Happy Bookseller of Columbia will provide the books and will donate a percentage of the profits to the CBC. We will also have a table displaying the door prizes to be awarded to some lucky birders with the right ticket numbers. Since many of you said you wanted to experience Charleston’s many fine restaurants, we have decided to forego the Saturday night banquet so you can choose from a variety of eating establishments on Shem Creek, Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and Mt. Pleasant. Of course, you can have your pick of restaurants in downtown Charleston, too. Your registration packet will contain material on these restaurants. The Friday and Saturday night programs will begin at 8:00 pm. Nathan Dias will be our speaker on Friday night and will give a talk on the history of ornithology in South Carolina. A native Charlestonian, Nathan has been an avid birder and conservationist since the late 1980s. One of his claims to fame is his SC Big Year Record in 2003 with 326 species. In 2004 he founded the Cape Romain Observatory to study birds and to be an advocate for the native birds of the SC coastal region. Our Saturday night speaker will be Jim Elliott, Executive Director of the International Center for Birds of Prey in Charleston. The Center is a merger of Jim’s SC Center for Birds of Prey (which he founded in 1991) and Jemima Parry- Jones’s National Birds of Prey Centre in Gloucestershire, England. The new facility (in Awendaw on Highway 17) will be one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures, and other birds of prey. Jim has studied and consulted extensively with the leading raptor centers both in the United States and abroad and has won many awards for his work. With speakers and field trips of such high caliber, you will not want to miss this fall meeting in Charleston. We expect a large turnout, so get your reservations in early. The “Holy City” is awaiting you. upcoming meetings l Virginia 'Beach, February $pd£>; Asheville, April 28-30, 200& The Scavenger Hunt By Stephen Harris Over time many of us who call ourselves birders have been queried on why we do what we do. What motivates us to spend time in swamps, deserts, dumps, and waste water treatment plants? How could we revel in the desert at 1 10 degrees and in Minnesota at minus 10 degrees; brave seasickness and the 4 am wake up call? I have over the years described the activity to the uninitiated as a scavenger hunt. You have a list (ABA, North America, World, or even state or county), and a time frame (day, year, life). The goal is to find as many on the list as possible within the area and time frame described. This explanation seems to satisfy most who wonder about my sanity or as my wife calls it, an obsession — a term she interestingly applies not to just me but to my brother and sister. All of us have different answers to be sure, but what I have come to understand is that what initially motivated me has also evolved over time. The answers I would have given as a beginning birder are different from the answers today. A decade ago I would have shared about how an avid hiker in the mountains above Greenville, SC sought to better understand what was moving around me as 1 power-hiked the trail. Nowadays a conventional hiker or mountain biker would scream in frustration at my pace as I amble down the trail looking not just at birds, but also anything that may interest me at the moment — wildflowers, butterflies, heck, even bugs. Today I realize that there is indeed so much more to what we do. From the first time I attended a CBC meeting (I believe my first was a Clemson spring meeting in 1997) to the most recent Blowing Rock meeting 1 have come to appreciate not just what birding does for me and my quality of life, but what the interaction with other interested birders brings to the experience. I have learned by being in the company of others with better skills and knowledge. I have also benefited from my own dreadful errors — 1 once shared with a group of CBC members about seeing a Northern Shrike (while standing in the Carolinas) only to realize hours later that must have sounded pretty ignorant. But 1 have also enjoyed helping other birders to see an interesting sighting. Indeed my great pleasure on recently viewing up close and at leisure my 600th ABA bird, a Boreal Owl in Minnesota, was elevated by the knowledge I also had a part in making that sighting possible for 21 other CBC birders who were with me and equally excited. So as we come in contact with each other on the field trips of the future, whether in a Carolina swamp or waste water treatment plant, or further afield — whatever your reason for being there, freely share with me and others what you see that interests you. It really does not matter whether it is your 600th lifer or the tenth Eastern Bluebird of the day. We will both be better for the experience. New Members Dr. Audie Bloise North Wilkesboro, NC Paul & Kathy John Sneeden Cary, NC Bob Rymer & Cathy Walsh Mount Pleasant, SC Bridgeman Deceased Fayetteville, NC Members Doug & Mary Burkholder Charles Babcock Claremont, NC Winston-Salem, NC Alcee Hecht Louise Lacoss Winston-Salem, NC Hilton Head, SC A1 & Pat Herlands Barbara Maxwell Oriental, NC Greenville, SC Jerry Kerschner Pawleys Island, SC Cary & David Paynter Wilmington, NC Carol Reigle Morehead City, NC Share your Blue Ridge Parkway Bird Lists! By Bob Cherry, Resource Management Specialist, Blue Ridge Parkway I’m trying to improve our bird information on the Blue Ridge Parkway and would appreciate any reports from trips along the Parkway to add to our database. I would be grateful for any specific locations rather than just a list of birds reported from a county along the Parkway or a report that covers a long section of the Parkway. Reports, especially for significant sightings, listing the milepost, developed area, overlook, etc. would be very helpful. If you have any past records that you would like to share that would be terrific as well. Please be sure to include the dates if you send me any past reports. We have bird lists for four sections of the Parkway, including three in NC done for us by local birders. The address for the lists is http:// www.nps.gov/blri/pphtml/animals.html. You can post your sightings on Carolinabirds or contact me at the following information: Blue Ridge Parkway 5580 Shulls Mill Road Blowing Rock, NC 28605-9453 828/295-7591 or 7350; 828/295-0337 (fax) Bob_Cherry@nps.gov; www.nps.gov/blri Thanks for any information you can provide. It's done! Birding in North Carolina book is released. Birding North Carolina Edited by Marshall Brooks and Mark Johns. With contributions from the members of the Carolina Bird Club. Falcon Press. ISBN: 0-7627-3 134-6 By Marshall Brooks and Mark Johns Birding North Carolina is the result of the vision of Len Pardue who, during his presidency of the Carolina Bird Club, began working on making it become a reality. The development of Birding North Carolina was undertaken by the Carolina Bird Club to promote birding in North Carolina and to make birding more accessible to all skill levels of birders by providing information regarding the wonderful birding opportunities that we have in our state. The successful completion of the guide is due to the collaboration and involvement of a large group of volunteers whose contributions included, among other tasks, recruiting volunteers, writing and reviewing site descriptions, site proofing, and providing photographs and drawings. Authors submitted over 90 site descriptions. Because of page limitations, however, we were only permitted to include 44 full descriptions of sites distributed over the three geographic regions (Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Mountains) of the state. In some cases we were able to combine two or more descriptions into one, in other cases the additional sites are given brief mention as nearby opportunities. However, the good news is that complete descriptions of all sites submitted, but which were not included in the guide, are available from the Carolina Bird Club webpage. A special thank you goes to Kent Fiala, CBC webmaster, for his work in formatting and enhancing each of these descriptions with links to a Google map. It has been a pleasure and privilege for each of us to work with over 70 Carolina birders and naturalists in this endeavor. We are delighted that on behalf of all the volunteers, the Carolina Bird Club, the North Carolina Partners in Flight, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, that the royalties from the sale of Birding North Carolina will go to a special fund managed by the Carolina Bird Club, dedicated to promoting research and conservation of the birds of the Carolinas. Editor’s note: The front and back cover photos of the new book are by CBC member Harry Sell. Congratulations Harry! KB HUtCaUd' Birding North Carolina V<*** rvm -*3 P+tfry** t> i>z*x**> Remembering Barbara Maxwell By Jack Peachy I met Bob before I met Barbara, when Bob and I were both on a canceled pelagic on August 7, 1994; we and others on the boat went over to Donnelly WMA in Colleton County to see the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Bob and I hit it off from the first day. We met to bird at Huntington Beach SP every time they came down to the beach to stay at their house in South Fitchfield. Almost always Barbara would come with us, whether to find some good bird at the jetty or to check out other places such as the Santee Coastal Reserve. I fondly remember often walking to the jetty with Bob and Barbara to get our year Great Cormorant or Purple Sandpiper. When she insisted that she take her turn at carrying the scope, I would say to Bob, “That’s an exceptional birding wife you have there Bob.” He would grin and say, “You don’t know the half of it.” Invariably, Barbara’s keen eyes would find the target bird first, although she would make it seem that you found the bird, saying something like “Well, what’s that bird over there.” As well as being friendly and charming Barbara was an accomplished birder as her sixth place location on the American Birding Association SC list attests. Of course, we all recall how Barbara was such a gracious hostess at the winter meetings of the CBC at Fitchfield; greeting all with enthusiasm whether veteran or newcomer. They both planned the trips with meticulous care down to driving instructions to the nearest tenth of a mile. Almost two years ago Bob and Barbara were down at the beach and Bob and I went to the causeway at Huntington Beach SP trying to see if the Cave Swallow would show up and it did. Bob then went back to his house to get Barbara, who couldn’t get out much because of pain and nausea from the chemo. Bob helped Barbara out of the car and we located the Cave Swallow, which gave us a nice view while it rested on the roof of the overlook. Barbara went back towards the car but turned back in concern when I walked precariously out on the rocks to try and get a photo of the bird. “Now Jack, don’t you dare fall and hurt yourself. I’ve seen enough of hospitals and doctors,” she exclaimed. That was typical Barbara concern for someone else. That was the last time the three of us were together birding. Barbara was 70 years of age at her death and had been ill for five years Barbara & Bob Maxwell Stecoah Gap She struggled hard to beat her illness for Bob and her three daughters but it was not to be. When Bob called to inform me of her passing, my wife, Fynn and I offered our condolences, and 1 asked if I could inform the membership via the Carolinabirds listserve. Bob said sure and added this message for the membership, “The next time you see a pretty bird, think of Barbara.” And we will. P.S. If you wish to remember Barbara with a memorial, the family suggests a donation to St. Francis Hospice, 414 Pettigru Street, Greenville, SC 29601. Trans Atlantic Cousins ByJ.C. Raymond When the British colonists came to North America they saw a bird that reminded them of their little Robin back home, so they named this new bird the “American Robin”. They must have been drinking too much hard cider. It’s true the American Robin has a reddish orange breast, and the Robin of Europe has a bright red breast, but that is about as close to each other in resemblance the two birds are. The American Robin is just about twice the size of the Robin in Europe. Their postures, gaits, feeding, and just about everything else are different. However, there is a European bird that is very much like our familiar American Robin. It is the “Blackbird” or “Amsel”. I prefer the second name because the name Blackbird is too ambiguous; too many different birds are called blackbirds, but the name Amsel is unique to a single species. Although it is a German word, it is very easy to spell and pronounce, so that’s what I will call our European bird. The Amsel is the same size and the American Robin, and like it in every way (except one, which I’ll tell you about later). The Amsel stands more or less upright, and it moves along the ground with a combination of walking steps and hops. The body shapes of the two birds are identical, and you might think they are twins. The Amsel even has the white broken eye ring, just like the American Robin. There are woodland Amsel and suburban Amsels, just like our Robins. In a city, as long as there is a small patch of grass and a bush or two, you are likely to see a pair of Amsels busy at work making a living. They cock their heads sideways to inspect the ground, and if they are lucky, they will pull a large juicy worm out of the soil. The suburban birds like to make their nests near a human dwelling. Perhaps they know that here their chicks are relatively safe from crows and other predators. Nevertheless, just like an American Robin, they are completely wild creatures. You can see Amsels in just about every habitat. I have spent many days walking along the high cliffs overlooking the Baltic Sea in the province of Schleswig-Holstein. At one place high atop the cliffs there is a grassy meadow owned by a pair of Amsels. One can always be sure to see them there. At least I think it is the same two individuals. I expect the next time I visit this high cliff this same pair or their offspring will still be hard at work in the grassy meadow atop the cliff. When a visitor from North America goes to middle or northern Europe, one of the very first birds he will see is the Amsel, and the visitor will continue to see them in many locations day after day. For me seeing an Amsel always reminds me of North America, so similar are they to our American Robins. I feel the affection toward both species. Earlier 1 said that there was one important way in which the Amsel was different from our American Robin, and that is the color of their feathers. The male Amsel is jet black and the female is a mottled brownish/grey. But colour changes are not fundamental in distinguishing close relatives. If you did a dye job on these birds, the European Amsels would be indistinguishable from their American cousins. North Carolina Birding Trail By Lena Gallitano Those of us living in the Carolinas love our birds. Given our passion for these creatures with wings and feathers, what better time than now to move forward with the North Carolina Birding Trail (NCBT) initiative. The NCBT will consist of a map linking existing birdwatching sites into a cohesive and marketable unit. Plans are well underway for the coastal component of the trail, with development moving westward to the piedmont and mountains as each component is completed. Haven’t used a birding trail? Then check around. More than 30 states have existing trails, with additional states including not only North, but South Carolina with trails under development. Birding trails bring millions of nature-based tourism dollars into their states and give economic value to their natural resources. Economic value, in turn, provides the incentive to protect these resources. North Carolina has abundant natural resources in our parks, national wildlife refuges, national seashores, and game lands. It’s time for us to recognize these areas for their economic value to our state and to make them economically productive for our citizens. The NCBT expects to do just that. Birders planning a North Carolina trip will be able to use the NCBT map to logically, and efficiently organize their trip to maximize their birdwatching opportunities. In what may be a unique approach among birding trails, the NCBT website will also provide a resource to locate alternative activities such as local artisans, historic or scenic sites, and businesses. With this planning tool, birders traveling with a non-birding companion(s) can locate other recreational opportunities to make for a compatible trip for all participants. Accommodations near the trail will also be of interest to travelers and the website will provide that resource as well. Birders will be able to locate accommodations through web links to the communities and/or counties in which they are visiting. With many of our best birdwatching sites in less populated areas, access to accommodations such as lodges and bed and breakfasts will be a great way to generate visits to these less traveled parts of our state. At present, site nominations are being accepted for the coastal component of the NCBT. Birders familiar with NC will be of great value in identifying those special places that will make the trail a success. Local bird clubs can also lend their support in this process. The Lower Cape Fear Bird Club is actively working on site nominations in the Wilmington area thanks to the continued on the following page continued from the previous page efforts of John Ennis and other club volunteers. Ed Dombrofski in the Morehead City area is also actively recruiting site nominations there. The North Banks Bird Club and the Cape Hatteras Bird Club are also identifying sites. As you can see, we have great support and help but we also welcome additional suggestions for site nominations in other areas. If you have suggestions or comments regarding a special site in the NC coastal plain, please contact us at info@ncbirdingtrail.org or 919- 604-5183. You can also check the website at www.ncbirdingtrail.org for a site nomination form and additional information. Of course, the information on the website will grow as the trail develops so we hope you will check it regularly. North Carolina is already a destination for many birders because of our position on the east coast flyway and the many birds that make their way either to or through our state during spring and fall migration. When completed, the NCBT will further enhance our state’s opportunities to utilize our birds and other natural resources for the enjoyment as well as the economic benefit of our citizens. We hope you share our vision and enthusiasm for the NCBT. Birding on the Way to Charleston Coming from North Carolina? Try these spots. 1-26 Landrum Farmlands: Take Exit 1 and turn left (east) onto SC 14. Turn right (south) onto Fairview Farm Road and cruise this and other roads as you make your way south to SC 11. Turn right on SC 11, and you’ll be back on 1-26 before you know it. Super Sod Farm: Take Exit 154 and go right (west) on US 301 for about half a mile or so. You’ll see the legendary Super Sod farm shorebirding spot on the left. Check in at the front office and see if they’ll give you permission to drive their dirt roads to look for shorebirds. (Please stay off the grass!) Also check out the ponds and fields in the nearby industrial park as you return to the interstate. 1-95 South of the Border: Just kidding. Amigo, unless you need a House Sparrow for Dillon County! Santee NWR: Just past Summerton, take Exit 102 and get on US 15/301 headed back north. In no time flat, you’ll see the sign to Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Follow the signs into the Bluff Unit. Bird the Visitors Center and then return to the refuge road and bird the Indian Mound. Check out the nearby nature trail. We’ve had entire seasonal meetings based on this wonderful refuge. US 17 Myrtle Beach State Park: South of Myrtle Beach and just past the airport is Fall Warbler City. Easy birding. Admission fee. Huntington Beach State Park: South of Murrells Inlet, across US 17 from Brookgreen Gardens. If Bull Island is not the best place to bird in South Carolina, this place is. Just leave in time to make the meeting. Georgetown Sewage Treatment Plant: After you cross Winyah Bay, take US 521/17A to the north (toward Andrews). Go a mile or two and turn left at the sign for the animal shelter. The sewage treatment plant is at the entrance to the shelter. Maybe one day the plant will get its own sign, because the birds are worth it. Return to US 17 via US 521 South. Garris Landing (formerly Moores Landing): After Awendaw is a small creek. Just after you cross it, turn left onto Doar Road. Follow this country road until you see the sign to Garris Landing. Restrooms are available in the parking lot. This is where we take the ferry to Bull's Island, but you’ll just walk out on the long, long pier to watch for shorebirds, wading birds, gulls, terns, and raptors. Cainhoy: As you approach 1-526, keep a sharp eye out for SC 41 to the right. Take it through some wonderful South Carolina lowcountry to this neat little fishing village. The bridge over the Wando River (before you reach Cainhoy) is the real attraction here. Georgia's Colonial Coast Birding and Nature Festival October 7-9, 2005 Celebrate the third annual Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding and Nature Festival based at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. There will be seminars, exhibits, and field trips to a variety of habitats along the Georgia Birding Trail, including Cumberland Island NS, Harris Neck NWR, Jekyll Island Banding Station, and Little St. Simons Island. Many people have given their time to make this event a success. Help promote ecotourism in coastal Georgia so that the politicians and business owners realize that there is a monetary value to preserving our natural resources. For more information: www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org 1-877-4 Jekyll Charleston Field Trip Schedule Friday, September 30 All-day trips Trip #1 Bull’s Island Trip A — 6:30 am at the Holiday Inn or 7:15 am at Garris Landing (formerly Moores Landing). Trip #2 Bull’s Island Trip B — 6:30 am at the Holiday Inn or 7:15 am at Garris Landing (formerly Moores Landing). Trip #3 Bear Island and Donnelly WMA — 7 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #4 Magnolia Gardens full-day — 7:45 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #5 Charleston County Big Day Competition — Departure on your own in pre-registered groups of two or more. Half-day morning Trip #6 Folly Island and James Island — 7:15 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #7 I’On Swamp, Francis Marion NF, and International Center for Birds of Prey — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #8 East Cooper — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #9 Dill Plantation — 7:45 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #10 Caw Caw Regional Park — 8:15 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #1 1 Magnolia Gardens half-day — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Half-day afternoon Trip #12 Caw Caw Regional Park — 1 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #13 Magnolia Gardens half-day — 1 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #14 I’On Swamp and Francis Marion NF — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #15 East Cooper — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #16 Folly Island and James Island — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Saturday, October 1 All-day trips Trip #17 Head Boat Birding — TBA, but it will be early. Trip #18 Island Excursion — 6:15 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #19 Kiawah Island — 6:15 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #20 Bull’s Island Trip A — 6:30 am at the Holiday Inn or 7:15 am at Garris Landing (formerly Moores Landing). Trip #21 Bull’s Island Trip B — 6:30 am at the Holiday Inn or 7:15 am at Garris Landing (formerly Moores Landing). The groups will split up once we get to the island. Trip #22 Bear Island and Donnelly WMA — 7 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #23 Magnolia Gardens full-day — 7:45 am at the Holiday Inn. Half-day morning Trip #24 Folly and James Island — 7 : 1 5 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #25 I’On Swamp, Francis Marion NF, and International Center for Birds of Prey — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #26 East Cooper — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #27 South Tibwin — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #28 Dill Plantation — 7:45 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #29 Caw Caw Regional Park — 7:45 am at the Holiday Inn. Trip #30 Magnolia Gardens half-day — 7:30 am at the Holiday Inn. Half-day afternoon Trip #31 I’On Swamp and Francis Marion NF — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #32 East Cooper — 1 : 1 5 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #33 Folly Island and James Island — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #34 Caw Caw Regional Park — 1 : 1 5 pm at the Holiday Inn. Trip #35 Magnolia Gardens half-day — 1:15 pm at the Holiday Inn. Sunday, October 2 Trip #36 Weekend Hot Spots — TBA Charleston Field Trip Descriptions Trips 1, 20. Bull’s Island Trip A. The pearl of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Bull’s Island offers mud banks, saltwater marshes, beaches, freshwater impoundments, ponds, and upland habitats. This place is on anybody’s list of the top five birding spots in South Carolina. The species list starts at the beginning of the field guide and goes all the way to the end, with alligators and seashells thrown in for good measure. Bring lunch and water as we’ll be walking on the island all day. Cost: $30 for the ferry ride. Limit 20, but we can add a 7:30 am departure if we need to. Trips 2, 21. Bull’s Island Trip B. Same island, same $30, still all day, but less walking. We’ll split up once we get to the island. Limit 1 8, but we can add a 7:30 am departure if we need to. Trips 3, 22. Bear Island and Donnelly Wildlife Management Areas. Many people’s favorite spot in the ACE Basin, Bear Island and Donnelly offer freshwater ponds, hardwood forests, pine plantations, and open fields. They’re about 45 miles south of the hotel. If you need a Bald Eagle for your life list, this is the place. Trips 4, 23. Magnolia Gardens all-day. This old plantation provides all forms of freshwater habitats, from cypress swamps to an old rice field. Expect raptors, warblers, great views of birds flying over the Ashley River, and hope for some early ducks. Wonderful snack bar and picnic grounds. Our very own Fernanda Hastie is letting us in at a discounted rate of $9. 50/person. This includes access to the gardens, the Audubon Swamp Garden, and the house. Tell them you’re with CBC to receive the discounted rate all weekend. Trip #5. Charleston County Big Day Competition. Sign up your 2-person team in advance by registering with Bob Wood at wood@rtt-law.com and getting a copy of our special rules (which will generally follow ABA Big Day Rules). In case you had any questions about it, departure is on your own, departure time is 12:01 am (or later), and the trip ends at 8 pm (or earlier). This trip will not repeat on Saturday. Trips 6, 16, 24, 33. Folly Island and James Island. Habitats include beaches, salt marshes, live oak forests, and tidal creeks. These islands are magnets for fall migrants. Trips 7, 14, 25, 31. 1’On Swamp, Francis Marion National Forest, and International Center for Birds of Prey. Again, loads of habitat diversity, and just down the road from the hotel. We probably won’t hit the Center in afternoon trips. Lots of back-roads birding and not too much walking. Heck, if birders in Arkansas can find a woodpecker that many thought was extinct, just imagine what Carolina birders can do to a warbler seen as recently as the 1960s! Trips 8, 15, 26, 32. East Cooper. We’ll bird Patriots Point, Fort Moultrie, Pitt Street Bridge, and Breech Inlet. Habitats include salt marshes, beach, mud flats, live oak forests, and sand dunes. Birds include shorebirds, wading birds, rails, gulls, terns, warblers, and, if we are living right, even more warblers. Expect to run into the Big-Dayers on Friday morning, because they know this is where to go to get the most birds for the birding hour. Very little walking, too. Trips 9, 28. Dill Plantation. This is where South Carolina General Field Notes editor Will Post likes to set up his mist nets, so expect warblers. But there are two wonderful ponds as well and lots of great old-farm habitat. Trips 10, 12, 29, 34. Caw Caw Regional Park. Includes 650 acres of forest, rice fields, and freshwater. Easy, quality birding, similar to Magnolia Gardens, with more dikes, but fewer woodland trails. You might recognize Perry Nugent’s weekly reports from Carolinabirds. $5 admission. Trips 11, 13, 30, 35. Magnolia Gardens half-day. (See trip 4 and 23 description.) Trip 17. Head Boat Birding. We’re still working on this one. $30. Limit 8. Trip 18. Island Excursion. Nathan Dias will line up some boats and drivers for a half-day trip to a nearby island. He’ll select the island depending on the weather, but he’s hoping for Bird Key Stono or Morris Island. Limited space. Cost dependent on boat availability, but probably $30 or less. Trip 19. Kiawah Island. Some say this is where God goes for vacation. We don’t know about that, but this is some of the most expensive real estate in South Carolina. And the birds like it, too. Beaches and hardwood and pine forests are the main attractions here, so expect wading birds, shorebirds, and warblers. Trip 27. South Tibwin. A special part of Francis Marion National Forest, the parking lot is right off of US 17. We’ll walk through mature pine forest to medium-sized impoundments that will remind you of the wooded portions of Donnelly WMA. Warblers and wading birds should be the order of the day. Trip 36. Sunday Morning Hot Spots. TBA **Some trips and plans may change depending on conditions and bird patterns. Carolina Bird Club Registration Form Charleston Meeting September 30 - October 2 and Bonus Field Trips Name(s) Address City State Zip Day Phone Evening phone Email Enclosed is my check for $ for member ($15) registration(s) and/or nonmember ($20) registration(s). Registration at the door costs $25 for everyone. Friday trip choices# / Saturday trip choices # / Sunday trip choice# AM PM AM PM This is my (our) first time attending a CBC meeting. Registration for the Ridge Junction bonus trip costs $ 1 0/pp paid in advance. Registration for the Cape May bonus trip costs $51 0/pp paid in advance. Enclosed is my check for $ for member(s) to join the Ridge Junction, NC August 27 trip. Enclosed is my check for $ for member(s) to join the Cape May, NJ September 22-26 trip. Make check payable to Carolina Bird Club and send to: CBC, 5009 Crown Point Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409. Carolina Bird Club / Inc. 5009 Crown Point Lane Wilmington, NC 28409-3298 CBC Newsletter is published bi-monthly for $20.00 by the Carolina Bird Club, Inc., with headquarters at 5009 Crown Point Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409- 3298. Second-class postage paid at Wilmington, NC. Upcoming CBC Bonus Trips Ridge Junction Overlook, August 28 Cape May, NJ, September 22-26 Periodicals Postage Paid at Wilmington, NC 28401 and additional mailing offices yi "4""" ■■MIXEffl ADC 2/U SMITH SO N LAN L SBRAR1ES BOX 37012/SERIALS NHB 25-MRC 154 WAS HING TO N D C 2 0 0 13-7 0 1 2 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 3 9088 01175 4736 CBC Board Members President, Stephen Harris, Wilmington, NC 910-791-9034 srharris@mindspring.com Vice-Presidents John Cely, Columbia, SC John Ennis, Leland, NC Simon Thompson, Asheville, NC Secretary Kathleen O'Grady, Columbia, SC Treasurer Bruce Smithson, Wilmington, NC NC Members -at -Large Kim Horstman, New Bern Gail Lankford, Asheville Lori Martin, Maiden Ed Toone, Wilmington SC Members-at-Large Bob Ellis, Columbia Steve Patterson, Lancaster Immediate Past President, Bob Wood, Camden, SC Editor of The Chat, Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC Website Editor, Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC Editor of CBC Newsletter, Karen Bearden 1809 Lakepark Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612 919-844-9050, chickadeebirders@earthlink.net Submission deadlines are due the 1st of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Headquarters Secretary, Dana Harris, Wilmington, NC 910-791-9034, srharris@mindspring.com Rare Bird Alert: 704-332-BIRD CBC Website: www.carolinabirdclub.org The CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly by Carolina Bird Club, Inc. Founded in 1937 the membership is open to anyone interested in birds, natural history, and conservation. Current dues are: Individual & non-profit, $20; Associate (in household with individual), $5; Student, $15; Patron, $50 and up; Sustaining & businesses, $25; Life, $400; Associate Life (in household with Life Member), $100 (both Life memberships can be paid in four annual installments). Cost for CBC bird checklists, including postage: 10@$2.50, 25@$6, 50@$11.75, 75@$17.75, and 100@$23.50. Submit application for membership, change of address, and payment for checklists to: CBC Headquarters Secretary, 5009 Crown Point Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409-3298, Copyright © 2005. Printed on 100% recycled paper at Crass Roots Press.