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CBC Newsletter

ISSN No. 0162-7120

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

Volume 54 April 2008 Number 2

Spring in the Carolina Sandhills!

Susan Campbell

The Club will be returning to Southern Pines, North
Carolina for the 2008 spring meeting. We hope that you will
take advantage of the interesting trips and programs we have
lined up beginning Thursday afternoon. May 1 st and running
through Sunday May 4th. Groups will head out to destinations
new to CBC members like Long Valley Farm, the Diggs Tract
and Raft Swamp Farm. Others will visit sites that have become
known as birding ‘hot spots’ more recently, such as Hobby
Field. We will also have trips to well-known locations such as
the Sandhills Game Land and Woodlake. We hope everyone
will take advantage of the renovated facilities at Weymouth
Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve as well. The new visitor’s
center and auditorium reopened in 2007 with upgraded facilities
and additional space.

Our headquarters for the meeting will be at the newly reno-
vated Days Inn in Southern Pines on US Highway 1 (south)
at Morganton Road. Rooms are $64 per night plus 9.75%
tax. In order to receive the CBC meeting rate, reservations
must be made by calling their toll free number (1-800-262-
5737) before April 7th. Reservations after the cut-off will
be honored based on availability. There are numerous mo-
tels in the area if you cannot get a room at the Days Inn. Be
aware that there are other events going on that weekend in
the area , so you should not wait too long to make your
lodging arrangements. The hotel will be accommodating
our field trip schedule by having early breakfast hours, be-
ginning at 6 a.m. Both the menu and buffet items are fabu-
lous. Their new world-class chef is terrific, so be sure to
bring your appetite!

You will note that a number of the field trips focus on interest-
ing organisms within the Sandhills ecosystem including
plants, butterflies, and moths, in addition to the birds. On
these trips, leaders will keep an eye/ear out for birds along the
way, but will be specifically seeking out other species. Also,
we have arranged some unique opportunities to observe inter-
esting demonstrations by local folks. One such program is the
Red-cockaded Woodpecker Nesting Ecology program involv-
ing an experienced local woodpecker biologist who will dem-
onstrate the techniques used in monitoring and conservation of
this endangered species. There will also be songbird and
hummingbird banding, and perhaps an actual prescribed bum.

Participants signing up for whole day trips will want to ensure
they bring a lunch with them, as locations for purchasing food
are limited in the vicinity of some destinations. Options for
‘birding on your own’ on the way to the meeting will be
posted at the CBC web site (www.carolinabirdclub.org) well
ahead of time. Otherwise, you will find a number of possibili-
ties in your registration packet when you arrive.

We are very excited to offer for sale a special meeting t-shirt
created by birder and artist Hal Broadfoot. Proceeds will bene-
fit our sponsor of the meeting, the Sandhills Natural History So-
ciety. As always, check the schedule posted at registration for
more details on all of the weekend's events. We will also have
material on restaurants and additional family activities available
when you arrive. If you have any questions about lodging,
field trips or the Southern Pines area, feel free to contact the
meeting organizer, Susan Campbell, at (910) 949-3207 or email
susan@ncaves.com

CBC Newsletter (USPS# 023-534), April 2008, Volume 54, Number 2. Published bimonthly by Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 353 Montabello, Bloomingdale, 1L 60108-
1037. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CBC Newsletter, Carolina Bird Club, Inc., 6325 Falls of the Neuse Road, STE 9 PMB 150, Raleigh, NC 27615

Birding Bars and Restaurants... or Eating My Way to a Larger List

Ginger Travis

I was slow to catch on: Good birds hang around bars
and restaurants. And even ordinary birds can surprise
us when they eat where we eat.

Ten years ago if you’d asked me what birds I’d ever
seen from a restaurant I could have told you exactly
one: House Sparrow at McDonald’s on Franklin Street
in Chapel Hill.

Isn’t that pitiful?

It took a long time, but I started to get a clue. The
Chapel Hill Bird Club, with Doug Shadwick leading
the way, does an annual January trip to the coast over
the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. A few years
ago we included the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in
our itinerary - this was before unescorted birders were
viewed as potential terrorists - and we stopped on
every island looking for eiders, rare gulls, scoters and
the like. On the first island north of Virginia Beach
there’s that the little restaurant where you can thaw
yourself out from the zero-degree wind chill. I went in
for a hot chocolate and came back to find a Ruddy
Turnstone scouring the restaurant parking lot for
dropped French fries. I saw it score some too. How
weird is that?

Equally weird: Visiting San Antonio, where my
mother lives, I ate at a Tex-Mex place with sidewalk
tables. A guy at the next table got up and left a half-
eaten plate of rice and beans. In two seconds a male
Great-tailed Grackle landed right on his plate and be-
gan gobbling leftovers. A female grackle joined him
on the tabletop. They were brazen and they were
huge. I looked around the cafe to see if anyone else
noticed. No wait staff came running over, even
though there was now another grackle standing in a
plastic bus basin piled with dirty plates. If these had
been rats .... Clearly, it pays to have wings. Disarms
the opposition.

The peak experiences of my eating-and-birding life
came in San Francisco in August 2006. Late one
morning I’d been to a cafe for a pastry and coffee, and
I was strolling along Fisherman’s Wharf thinking
about where to eat next. Brewer’s Blackbirds foraged

in the gutters. Imagine that, I thought - Brewer’s
Blackbirds as trash birds. Then I saw a fellow tourist
stuffing himself with a seafood concoction in a cup
while he stood next to the railing on the wharf. Stalk-
ing toward him along the railing came a menacing (to
the tourist) and thrilling (to me) life bird: Heermann’s
Gull! Actually there were two Heermann’s, one on the
ground near the guy’s feet and the other an arm’s
length away on the rail. The gulls seemed to work in
tandem to scare the guy into giving up his food cup.
(Hitchcock filmed “The Birds” just 60 miles away;
these birds had studied reruns, I’m certain.) As the
two gulls moved toward him with piercing stares, the
guy slowly backed away. He survived and even man-
aged to hold on to his food, but it was close. Note to
self: no open containers of food on the wharf!

The next day my birding partner and I took a city bus
out to the end of the line: Sutro Baths and Cliff House
on the western shore of the city. Nothing beyond but
the cold Pacific Ocean, next stop Japan. We froze in
the wind while trying to scope distant birds with abso-
lutely no success. So we gave up any pretense of har-
diness - went into the Cliff House bar instead, sat by
the window, ordered Anchor Steam beers and started
seeing lifers. Low tide had uncovered a huge rock just
below us. A small flock of birds worked over the
food-rich surface of the rock - hey, Black Turnstones!
Next a dark bird flew solo from the shore out to a lar-
ger rock in the surf. Through binoculars I saw the bird
was all black except for a red eye-ring, big red bill,
and pink legs. Oh joy! Black Oystercatcher. And
then a surprisingly big, all-gray sandpiper came teeter-
ing toward us over the rocks just like a Spotted Sand-
piper back home at Jordan Lake: Wandering Tattler.
It’ll never get better than this, I thought, wherever else
I go to eat and drink.

But you know what? That’s defeatist talk - of course it
can get better. I just have to re-
solve to eat out more. And I al-
ready have a vision of it: a
thatch-roofed beach shack in
Baja, a couple of fish tacos, a
Corona, and . . . Blue-footed
Boobies! How does that
sound?

2

A Primer on Hummingbird Feeding

Steve Shultz

By the time this Newsletter reaches you, Ruby-
throated Hummingbirds should be migrating through
the United States across a broad front. Leaving win-
tering grounds in Mexico and Central America, these
amazing flying jewels may cross the Gulf of Mexico
in an incredible non-stop flight before covering hun-
dreds of additional miles to arrive at breeding grounds
in the eastern U.S. and Canada. Members in South
Carolina may already have their first birds exploring
early flowering plants, carefully hung feeders, or sap-
sucker wells. North Carolinians usually have to wait a
little longer, and may be on the look-out for the sea-
son’s first bird, often a freshly-plumaged male. Wher-
ever you live, you may be one of many who enjoy at-
tracting hummingbirds through the use of nectar
(sugar water) feeders. This article is intended to pro-
vide hints in purchasing, stocking, and maintaining
nectar feeders for hummingbirds and other thirsty crit-
ters.

one thing that all of these have
in common is that they are much more expensive than
good old crystal sugar. Regardless of the packaging,
these prepared products contain sugar as the primary
ingredient, and there is not really a need to include
anything else. The sugar water mixture is easy to
make - just add 4 or 5 parts water to 1 part sugar and
boil. The exact ratio of sugar to water is not terribly
important, though research indicates the ratio of sugar
to water should not be more than 4: 1 . The addition of
red food coloring is not necessary and may actually
be harmful. The coloring of the feeder, which is usu-
ally red, is sufficient to attract birds. The mixture
should be boiled to ensure any bacteria are rendered
incapable of harm, and should of course be cooled
prior to filling the feeder. Sugar water will keep in the
refrigerator for a week or so, but has a shorter life
once in the feeder. This brings us to placement of the
feeder. . .

First time purchasers of hummingbird feeders are
greeted with a dizzying array of choices from utilitar-
ian models to fine works of art. Although the variety
is great, most feeders fall into one of two categories -
gravity-fed and saucer-type - and nearly all models
will serve to attract birds. Gravity-fed feeders feature
a reservoir atop the feeding ports. Nectar flows to the
ports via gravity, and construction of the feeder and
the vacuum created in reservoir (hopefully) serve to
keep the sugar water from draining out and forming a
sticky puddle. Saucer-type feeders store the nectar be-
low the feeding ports, and are thus less prone to leak-
age than gravity feeders, which can develop annoying
drips. In general gravity feeders allow for a larger
nectar reservoir, can be easier to disassemble and
clean, and it is often easier to gauge the volume of re-
maining sugar water at a glance. Saucer feeders rarely
leak, but are limited to the amount of nectar they can
hold as the depth of the entire reservoir must be within
“tongue’s length” of the feeding port. I suggest choos-
ing a feeder that is simple and easy to clean, as proper
maintenance of the feeder is critical to the health of
“your” hummingbirds.

Now that you have a feeder, what goes in it? Most
purveyors of feeders also stock a variety of nectars,
some in powder form and some in liquid form. The

Ideally a hummingbird feeder is in an area that is easy
for the birds to see and approach, sheltered from wind
that can cause gravity feeders to sway and leak, and
out of direct sunlight. Of course finding this ideal lo-
cation is not always possible, so it is important to keep
your feeder(s) properly maintained. Nectar can be-
come milky fairly quickly in the summer, and this is
an indication the sugar water is becoming a breeding
ground for not-so-fun bacteria and molds. Plan on
changing the sugar water at least twice a week, but
you may find that a) your birds drain the feeder, or b)
the nectar goes bad quickly. In these cases more fre-
quent fill-ups are required. Each time the feeder is
taken down for refilling it should be cleaned. Clean
the feeder with hot water or hot water and a small
amount of bleach. Extra care should be taken to en-
sure the feeding ports and narrow “plumbing” within
the feeder are clean. While special tools are available
at wild bird stores, Eve found that pipe cleaners work
quite well and are inexpensive. A dark alga growing
on or around the feeding ports is an indication that
your cleaning efforts are falling behind. Consider
buying two feeders so that a clean one can be placed
outside immediately, giving you time to properly clean
the second and have it ready for the next change out.

(continued on page 4)

3

A Primer on Hummingbird Feeding (continued)

Now that you have a well-stocked feeder and are at-
tracting beautiful hummingbirds, you might run into
another problem - insects. The same yummy nectar
favored by the birds is quite attractive to “bugs”, par-
ticularly ants and bees/wasps. Ants are fairly easy to
deal with, as the concept on an “ant moat” is very ef-
fective. The moat is sometimes built into the feeder
and is sometimes a separate piece that can be pur-
chased along with the feeder. In either case filling the
circular moat with water provides a barrier to ants that
would otherwise form a buffet line to your feeder,
cause a mess, die in the nectar, and generally foul
things up. Be sure to use water in the moat. Some
have tried vegetable oil or grease barriers to repel ants,
but having these substances in close proximity to hum-
mingbirds can be dangerous, as greased or oiled feath-
ers will not function properly, potentially leading to

the death of the bird due to feeding, thermoregulation,
or flight issues. Bees are a little more difficult to repel
as they are generally engineered to utilize the same
natural nectar sources as hummingbirds. Some feed-
ers have “bee guards”, plastic mesh covering the feed-
ing ports that are, theoretically, taller than a bee’s
feeding organ is long, but this is not always the case.

In many cases bees/wasps are just part of the deal.

We’ve looked at a few tips for buying, stocking, and
maintaining hummingbird feeders. Your local pur-
veyor of wild bird products can likely show you which
models are most popular in your area. Enjoy the
chance to see one of nature’s most magnificent crea-
tions in your yard, and here’s to many successful sea-
sons of hummingbird-ing!

Matching Grant Opportunity Raises Over $7,400 for the N.C. Birding Trail

Lena Gallitano

,The NC Birding Trail steering committee would like to thank each and every one of the Carolina Bird Club
members who contributed to the matching grant for funds to publish the Piedmont Trail Guide. Mecklenburg
Audubon Society also conducted a matching grant with their members that was subsequently matched by CBC
and we extend our appreciation to them as well. In total, $7,455.70 was contributed to the NC Birding Trail
for the Piedmont Trail Guide that will be released in May. You can find information on the Piedmont sites at
www.ncbirdingtrail.org.

The Mountain Trail Guide site nomination process will close April 1 - contact local site managers to be sure
your favorite birding location in the mountains has been nominated for the Birding Trail. The Mountain Trail
Guide will be released in May 2009.

New Members

Robert Blohme
Bennett, NC

Joyce and Kyle Brax-
ton

Hemingway, SC

Glenn & Carolyn Cro-
teau

Seneca, SC

Dave Gustafson
Pawleys Island, SC

Elva Hendrix

Sandra Sink

Hal & Peggy Schachte

Will Whitsett

Advance, NC

Kure Beach, NC

Sullivan’s Island, SC

Mount Pleasant, SC

Tom Hofstetter

Patricia Schlegel

Rebecca Trull

John Willson

Aiken, SC

Castle Hayne, NC

Sanford, NC

New Ellenton, SC

Anita Kuehne

Bibby Moore

Charles Dean Tysinger

Meret Wilson

Raleigh, NC

Richard Kunst
Chapel Hill, NC

Mebane, NC

Ormand Beach, FI

Ruth-Marie and
Jimmy Lyons
Aiken, SC

Becky Rickenbacker
Lexington, SC

Kristi Ward
Greensboro, NC

‘Deceased 'Wtwdend
Maxilla Evans

Mary Storms

Bill & Margot Sloup

John Weinstein
Charleston, SC

Carolyn Gibson

Supply, NC

Southport, NC

4

CBC Bonus Trips: A Chance to Bird With Old Friends and Make New Ones
in Fun Places Around the Carolinas and Beyond!

The CBC is pleased to announce several bonus in-state field trips for 2008. Information on the out-of-state trip
announced in the previous edition of the Newsletter is also listed. As always, contact the trip leaders for more
information and to reserve your place on the trip. These offerings fill up fast, so act soon to avoid disappoint-
ment!

Brunswick County Woodpeckers - April 5-6: Brunswick County, NC is for woodpeckers! In addition to
having several colonies of the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker in Boiling Spring Lakes, the area is
great for finding North Carolina’s other six resident woodpeckers, plus it serves as winter home for the Yel-
low-bellied Sapsucker. In early April we expect much breeding activity to be evident! The trip will include
several Brunswick County NC Birding Trail sites such as Brunswick Town and Southport. Woodpeckers will
be prime target birds; however, we should get a great assortment of migrants, area specialties, and overwinter-
ing birds. Be prepared for an early morning on Sunday as Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are early risers! Dates:
Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, from 6 a.m. to noon. Hotel information and
field trip departure sites to be determined. Cost: $20. Please note that trip participants will be responsible for
their lodging Saturday night. Personal vehicles will be used each day, and carpooling is encouraged. Contact
John Ennis atjohnxennis@bellsouth.net or by phone at (910) 371-9729 for more details or Dana Harris at
hq@carolinabirdclub.org to establish your slot on the trip. See the registration form on page 10.

New! Dobbins Farm, Townville, SC - April 27: Contact Linda Kolb at Rapahana4@hotmail.com for more
information. Cost is $10. Dobbins Farm has been a local hotspot for migrants and birds of open country.
Ponds may hold lingering waterfowl or migrating shorebirds. More details will be posted on the CBC website
as they become available.

New! Howell Woods, North Carolina - May 16-18: Bring your adventurous spirit and enthusiasm for bird-
ing the 2,800 acres of the Howell Woods Learning Center, Four Oaks, NC, a site on the NC Birding Trail -
Coastal Plain. Trip is limited to 16 participants who are willing to share 2 cabins on site - one for men and one
for women. The two cabins are nestled in pine trees overlooking a longleaf pine savannah restoration site and
are a short walk to the Learning Center building. The cabins are a recent addition to Howell Woods and consist
of 2 rooms/cabin, 4 people/room, each room with a private bath. Each cabin has a shared kitchen complete
with all dining and cooking appliances and utensils plus an outdoor grill and picnic tables. Guests will need to
bring the food they would like to cook. They provide organic shade grown coffee and organic spices! There is
a country grill nearby, and numerous restaurants are available in Smithfield, about 20 minutes away, for those
who prefer not to cook. Jamie Sasser, Director of Howell Woods, and Chris Moorman, Wildlife Biologist with
NC State University, will provide expert leadership to locate the following expected birds: Mississippi Kites,
Kentucky, Swainson's, Hooded and Prothonotary Warblers, American Redstarts, Yellow-breasted Chat, Oven-
bird, Northern Parula, Black-and-white Warbler and possible Black-throated Blue Warbler, Summer Tanager,
Brown-headed Nuthatch, Yellow-throated Vireo, Field Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Orchard
Oriole, Red-headed Woodpecker, both night herons, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks.

Trip cost is $40/person for lodging only. Linens are available for an extra fee. Each person will be responsi-
ble for their own food. Email Lena Gallitano at lena_gallitano@ncsu.edu or call at (919) 571-0388 for details.
To learn more about Howell Woods, go to www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods.

The registration form for these trips is on page 11. Prior to submitting the form, please confirm with
the trip leader or CBC Secretary, Dana Harris, that your space is confirmed. Dana can be reached via
e-mail at hq@carolinabirdclub.org.

5

CBC Bonus Trips (continued)

Maine- Puffins, boreal birds and spectacular scenery!

Join CBC member and globetrotting birding guide Simon Thompson from July 11-19, 2008 on this very spe-
cial Ventures, Inc. trip designed especially for the CBC. Maine is wonderful to visit in the summer for its cool
climate and fine scenery, and has long been a popular vacation destination. It also happens to be an out-
standing birding destination, offering a variety of habitats, which offer quite different birding opportunities
from one another. Our venture will begin in Portland, where we will explore the waders and water birds of
Scarborough Marsh. From there we go to Maine’s fabled coast, where we will visit Acadia National Park and
then head “down east” to investigate some specialized habitats — the boreal forest and blueberry barrens of
easternmost Maine. We will visit Moosehom National Wildlife Refuge, several state parks, Campobello Is-
land (site of one of the Roosevelt family’s summer homes), Great Wass Island (a Nature Conservancy pre-
serve), and other “down east” sites. One of the highlights of our trip will undoubtedly be our boat ride to Ma-
chias Seal Island, site of breeding Atlantic Puffin and Arctic Tern colonies, where we will be able to spend
time ashore getting close-up looks and photographs of these two species. We will also take a boat ride out of
Bar Harbor to look for Atlantic Puffin and Roseate Tern on Petit Manan Island and then to look for pelagic
birds and whales a bit further out in the Gulf of Maine. Target species include: Spruce Grouse, Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher, Three-toed & Black-backed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Atlantic Puffin, Black
Guillemot, Razorbill, Arctic & Roseate Terns, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Black-legged Kitti-
wake, Common Loon, Common Eider, Magnolia, Bay-breasted & Blackpoll Warblers, Saltmarsh & Nelson’s
Sharp-tailed Sparrows.

The cost of the Maine Venture is %\915 from Portland based on double occupancy (Single supplement $325).
Price includes: Van transportation from Portland, accommodation, meals, boat trips, admission fees, informa-
tion packet & bird checklist, and guide/leader service, plus a $50 donation to the CBC. Not included: Airfare
to Portland, alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature. Reservations and prepayment are required on
all Ventures. A $200 deposit is required to reserve your spot. Please make your check payable to VEN-
TURES, Inc. and send it to the address below. Limited to 10 participants. For more information, or to reserve
your spot on this Ventures, Inc. trip, contact Simon Thompson at: Ventures, PO Box 1095, Skyland NC 28776.
The phone is 828-253-4247. E-mail: travel@birdventures.com

N.C. Birding Trail Update

Don’t forget that the Coastal Plain Trail Guide is now
available for purchase. The 172-page book highlights
102 sites along North Carolina’s beautiful coast and
coastal plain. Birders can visit sites individually or
string together numerous “birding drives” that take in
multiple sites. The spiral bound guide includes color
photos, detailed maps, site overviews, logistic infor-
mation, and lists special interest species for each loca-
tion. The Coastal Plain Trail Guide can be ordered at
the discount price of $10 per copy through the NC
Birding Trail website, which links directly to the N.C.
Wildlife Resources Commission’s “NC Wild” online
store. The Piedmont Trail Guide is scheduled for a
June 2008 release, followed by the Mountain region
guide in 2009.

The Birder Friendly Business and Birder Friendly
Community training program has many dates sched-
uled from the coast to the mountains for the remainder
of 2008. To date, more than 160 people have attended
this training. Participants are learning that birding is
big business in North Carolina and many are looking
to reach this niche market. You can find the list of
participants and a connection to their business on the
NC Birding Trail website under Birder Friendly Busi-
nesses. We hope you will patronize these businesses
and don’t forget to leave a “birder calling card” as you
travel the State in search of the latest rarity! For more
information, visit the NC Birding Trail website:
www.ncbirdingtrail.org

6

Southern Pines Field Trip Schedule

Thursday, May 1

These trips will take place at Weymouth Woods San-
dhills Nature Preserve. Meet in the Visitors Center.
Trip 1 : Prescribed Burning (2:00 p.m.)

Trip 2: Migration Bird Banding (3:00 p.m.)

Friday, May 2

Morning Half-Day Trips
(leave from the hotel parking lot)

Trip 3: Woodlake (7:00 a.m.)

Trip 4: Slate Road and Camp Mackall (7:15 a.m.)
Trip 5: Hobby Field and Horse Country (7:15 a.m.)
Trip 6: Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
(7:20 a.m. or meet at the Preserve parking lot
at 7:30 a.m.)

Afternoon Half-Day Trips

(meet in the Weymouth Woods Visitors Center)

Trip 7: Butterflies ( 1 :00 p.m.)

Trip 8: Wildflowers (1:15 p.m.)

Trip 9: Digiscoping (1:15 p.m.)

Trip 10: Red-cockaded Woodpecker Nesting Ecology
(1:30 p.m.)

All-Day Trips

(leave from the hotel parking lot)

Trip 1 1: Howell Woods Environmental Learning

Center and Raven Rock State Park (7 a.m.)
Trip 12: Sandhills Game Land (7:15 a.m.)

Trip 13: Raft Swamp Farms (7:30 a.m.)

Join us Friday for Social Hour hosted by Sandhills Natu-
ral History Society at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature
Preserve from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.. At 8 p.m. Jeff Marcus
from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission's Wild-
life Diversity program will present results from bird
studies in the Sandhills Game Land. In 2004 a study
was initiated to provide information on key habitats
during breeding, migration, and non-breeding seasons.
One of the early findings was the expansion of Bach-
man's Sparrows into new areas that were converted
from closed canopy, fire-suppressed woodlands into
open savannah habitats with herbaceous ground cover.
Jeff will summarize a new study designed to track
Bachman's Sparrow populations, and to compare their
needs to those of another focal species, Bobwhite.

Saturday, May 3

Morning Half-Day Trips
(leave from the hotel parking lot)

Trip 14: Long Valley Farm (7:00 a.m.)

Trip 15: All American Trail (Ft. Bragg) (7:15 a.m.)
Trip 16: Hobby Field and Horse Country (7:15 a.m.)
Trip 17: Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
(7:20 a.m. or meet at the Preserve parking lot
at 7:30 a.m.)

Afternoon Half-Day Trips

(meet in the Weymouth Woods Visitors Center)

Trip 18: Butterflies (1 :00 p.m.)

Trip 19: Wildflowers (1:15 p.m.)

Trip 20: Hummingbirds (1:15 p.m.)

Trip 21 : Red-cockaded Woodpecker Nesting Ecology
(1:30 p.m.)

All-Day Trips

(leave from the hotel parking lot)

Trip 22: Howell Woods Environmental Learning

Center and Raven Rock State Park (7 a.m.)
Trip 23: Hinson Lake and Diggs Tract (7:15 a.m.)
Trip 24: Raft Swamp Farms (7:30 a.m.)

Sunday, May 4

Trip 25: Hobby Field and Horse Country (7:30 a.m.)
Trip 26: Southern Pines/Pinehurst Area (7:45 a.m.)

Several other Sunday half-day trips will be scheduled
to area hotspots Saturday evening. Locations will be
dependent on bird activity Friday and Saturday.

Saturday the hotel will offer a buffet dinner at 6 p.m.
for $25.95 per person (including tax and gratuity). Of-
ferings will include beef, chicken and a vegetarian en-
tree with sides, salad bar and assorted desserts. The
Annual Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a
program by local biologist and photographer, Todd
Pusser. Todd, a Moore County native, grew up ex-
ploring in the Sandhills. He has learned much about
the native flora and fauna and has a real love of shar-
ing his knowledge and experiences. Todd is an inter-
nationally-renowned writer and photographer. His
work is regularly found in NC Wildlife and has been
featured in National Wildlife and National Geographic
as well. He will present a collection of his favorite
images from around the region.

7

Southern Pines Field Trip Descriptions

Trip 1: Prescribed burning

You will have the unique opportunity to join park staff at
Weymouth Woods State Nature Preserve for an up-close
look at how a prescribed bum is prepared and con-
ducted. Participants will measure weather parameters,
and if conditions are favorable, staff will bum a small area.
The program will last about two hours.

Trip 2: Migration bird banding

Join park staff and volunteers as they mn the mist nets
adjacent to the Pine Island Trail. A variety of mi-
grants as well as local resident species are possible.
You may see such species as Wood Thrush, Ovenbird,
Kentucky Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Common
Yellowthroat, Acadian Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, or
Northern Cardinal in hand. Bring along a camera as
well as binoculars since photo opportunities should be
plentiful. We plan to close the nets at 5 p.m.

Trip 3: Wood lake

Enjoy a diversity of stops within the private residential
golf community of Woodlake, which surrounds Lake
Surf, the largest body of water in Moore County. Not
only will we look for lingering waterfowl, but also we
will visit both upland hardwood and pine stands for mi-
grants. Possibilities include Bald Eagle, Green Heron,
Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Vireo and
Prothonotary Warbler. We will watch for large mam-
mals such as Coyote, Grey Fox, Bobcat, River Otter,
Beaver and Muskrat that frequent the area.. Restrooms
are available at the clubhouse. The group should be back
at the hotel by noon.

Trip 4: Slate Road & Camp Mackall

Join Ft. Bragg biologist Alan Schultz for a guided tour
of habitat on the edge of Camp Mackall’s pine savan-
nahs as well as bottomland hardwood along Drowning
Creek. It is here, where the Army's elite Special Forces
train, that Lark Sparrows historically have bred. We
may find Northern Bob white, Loggerhead Shrike, Red-
cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch
along with Wood Duck, Red-headed Woodpecker,
Northern Pamla and perhaps Swainson's Warbler. There
will be several stops with short periods of walking at
each. The trip will end at noon.

Trips 5, 16 & 25: Hobby Field & Horse Country

We will head to ‘horse country’ on the eastern edge of
Southern Pines and focus on open-country birds. First
stop will be Hobby Field. This 70-acre site has been
home to a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers the past
three summers. We expect to see Grasshopper Spar-
rows, Chipping Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks, Red-
headed Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds and perhaps a
Loggerhead Shrike. Next, we will take a walk into the
adjacent Walthour-Moss Foundation property for Pine
Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch and Red-cockaded
Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher
and Red-eyed Vireo and perhaps Red-shouldered
Hawk. If we are lucky, we may see Northern Bob-
white, Wild Turkey or even members of our breeding
American Kestrel population. Bring plenty to drink
and comfortable walking shoes. We will return to the
hotel by noon.

Trips 6 & 17: Weymouth Woods

Walking about a mile of the loop trails through typical
Sandhill drains we will look for flocks of migrant fly-
catchers, thrushes and warblers. Songs of early Blue-
headed Vireos and Bachman's Sparrows which breed
at the preserve should be heard. There will also be the
opportunity to learn about the breeding groups of Red-
cockaded Woodpeckers at the park this season. Fox
Squirrels are more active this time of year so look for
family groups foraging in the woods. The group will
also get a good look at the newest changes to the creek
bottom as a result of our resident beaver’s winter
work. In addition, you will have a chance to visit with
a bird bander at the new feeder banding station. Hope-
fully you will be able to see some of Weymouth’s
summer residents at very close range. Wear comfort-
able shoes and bring a camera - there could be some
good photo opportunities. The program will be over at
noon.

Trips 7 & 18: Butterflies

This will be an opportunity to sharpen your Duskywing
and Cloudywing identificaton skills. These species are
plentiful along the trails at Weymouth Woods. Hoary-
edged Skippers may also be fairly common at this time
of year. In addition, we may encounter Pearly Eyes as
well as an American Copper. The program will last
about two hours.

Southern Pines Field Trip Descriptions (continued)

Trips 8 & 19: Wildflowers

The winding trails of Weymouth Woods will take us
through several types of upland Sandhills habitats in
search of local spring specialties such as blooming
pitcher plants, sundews, Wild Indigo, Goats Rue, Rosy
Spiderwort, Sandhill Sandwort, Tread Softly and
Queen’s Root. The terrain will be good, but be pre-
pared to get close to dense vegetation- long pants and
long sleeves are encouraged. The walk will be ap-
proximately two hours long.

Trip 9: Digiscoping

Learn how to take pictures with a spotting scope and a
digital camera. The group will work the area close to
the Visitor’s Center, as well as the bird feeding station,
looking for a variety of photo opportunities. Even if
you are familiar with the process, you may pick up
pointers on improving focus, depth of field, and over-
all picture quality.

Trips 10 & 21: Red-cockaded Woodpecker Nesting
Ecology

Join a local woodpecker biologist to learn about the
unique ecology of this native endangered species. Hear
about the history of woodpecker conservation efforts in
the Sandhills. Field techniques used for monitoring of
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers during the breeding will be
demonstrated. The program will last about two hours.

Trips 11 & 22: Howell Woods Environmental
Learning Center and Raven Rock State Park

Howell Woods, approximately 75 miles east of South-
ern Pines, is a large (2800 acre) property with a variety
of habitats from open fields to bottomland hardwood.
There are extensive trails throughout and a number of
streams and ponds as well as the river. We will also
spend some time viewing the exhibits at the Visitor’s
Center (where there are restroom facilities). One of
the highlights should be seeing Mississippi Kites. In-
dividuals are frequently seen soaring over the fields
while searching for large insects. Be prepared to see a
wide variety of species including Green Heron, Red-
headed Woodpecker, Eastern Kingbird, Wood Thrush,
Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, Yellow-throated
Vireo, Kentucky Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, and
Ruby-throated Hummingbird. On the way back, the
group will make a stop at Raven Rock State Park outside
Sanford (at about the half way point back to Southern

Pines). We will stroll the scenic bluffs along the Cape
Fear River surrounded by. hardwoods where neotropical
migrants are often plentiful. Woodland birding in the
park often turns up mixed flocks with unexpected spe-
cies in the spring such as Wilson's Warbler. Be sure to
wear comfortable shoes since we may encounter some
relief along the trails. However, the walking will not be
too strenuous. Be sure to have a picnic lunch. The
group should be back at the hotel by 5 PM.

Trip 12: Sandhills Game Land

This trip will visit some of the birding hotspots within
just to the south of Southern Pines. Most of the species
commonly found in xeric upland Longleaf Pine commu-
nities should be seen. There will be a stop along Thun-
der Road at what most consider the most beautiful stand
of Longleaf in the area. In addition to searching for
Bachman's Sparrows and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers,
Wildlife Commission biologist Jeff Marcus will discuss
how they are gradually restoring the game land’s forests
to their original state. Look for species as Field Spar-
row, Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-
breasted Chat. The group will visit the McKinney Lake
Fish Hatchery where they may find lingering shorebirds
or waterbirds, or even spot a foraging Bald Eagle. A
stop may also be made along Drowning Creek to search
for flocks of migrants. There will be a restroom break
along the way, but be sure to bring lunch. Be prepared
to spend time walking on sandy terrain. We will return
to the hotel by 4:30 p.m.

Trips 13 & 24: Raft Swamp Farms

This trip will head to Raft Swamp Farms outside of
Raeford. The property owners, Jackie and Louie
Hough, will give us a guided tour of their organic
farm. The configuration of the property provides for
an array of bird species that utilize early successional
vegetation. If nothing else, the tour will provide first-
hand experience of how organic farming works to en-
hance bird habitat and promote wildlife. After lunch,
we will head next door to the Maynor property. The
highlight is beautiful gum-cypress Hogins Pond. Here
those who wish, may do some birding via canoe or
kayak ($8-12 rental fee or $5 if you bring your own).
However, there are also trails through the woods to ex-
plore for those who would prefer to stick to land. Be-
tween the two

(continued)

9

Southern Pines Field Trip Descriptions (continued)

properties, expect to encounter Green Heron, Logger-
head Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadow-
lark, Field Sparrow, Prothonotary Warbler or Hooded
Warbler. We will have access to restroom facilities at
the Hough’s. The group will be back at the hotel be-
fore 5 p.m.

Trip 14: Long Valley Farm

We have the unique opportunity to tour the Nature
Conservancy’s 1380-acre Long Valley Farm just north
of Fayetteville. It was the bequest of the conservation-
minded James Stillman Rockefeller in 2004. This
relatively recent acquisition is still in the restoration
phase and not yet open to the public. The group will
be led on a tour by Ryan Elting, Director of the Nature
Conservancy’s Sandhills Office, of this mix of farm-
land, pasture and forest adjacent to Ft. Bragg. Not
only are there healthy Longleaf Pine stands on the
property, but there is also a mature cypress-gum
swamp and wet meadows that support carnivorous
plans like pitcher plants and sundews. Fox Squirrels
have been seen on the property as well as Bachman’s
Sparrow, Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Loggerhead
Shrike. There is an established Purple Martin colony
adjacent to the family’s old home. Birding potential at
this site is still largely unknown, but expect a variety
from Pine Warblers and Brown-headed Nuthatches to
Great Crested Flycatchers, Prairie Warblers and Blue
Grosbeaks. The group will be back at the hotel by
noon.

Trip 15: All American Trail

In 2006, Fort Bragg created and dedicated seven
miles of western Fort Bragg Military Installation's
southern boundary as the All American Trail. The ten
to fifteen foot wide unpaved pathway is designed for
use by hikers, runners, and bicyclers. In 2007, the trail
was also designated as part of the NC Birding Trail
system. A Fort Bragg biologist will lead the group to
the parking lot found at the trailhead off Raeford/Vass
Road. We will be taking the portion of the trail to the
east. The length of our hike be approximately 3 miles
total. Habitat types the group will encounter include
upland Longleaf Pine forest mixed with scrub oaks,
open Longleaf Pine-wiregrass stands and a streamhead
pocosin with cane and large hardwoods (Nicholson
Creek). We will see a variety of bird species common

to the Sandhills region. At the end of the trail where
we will be turning around, there is an active Red-
cockaded Woodpecker (RCWs) cluster. Since it is the
beginning of the RCW nesting season, there will be an
excellent chance of seeing them in and around the
cluster. Y ou may want to bring along a camera in ad-
dition to binoculars, bird book, water bottle and a pair
of comfortable walking shoes. The group will head
back at the hotel by noon.

Trip 20: Hummingbirds

This is your chance to ask questions about hummingbird
ecology and feeding in North Carolina. Observe Ruby-
throated Hummingbirds up close as they are banded as
part of ongoing research at the Visitor's Center. Don't
forget your camera and plenty of film! The program will
end around 3:30 p.m. or when the hummers thin out at
the feeders.

Trip 23: Hinson Lake & Diggs Tract

Participants of this trip will accompany Terry Sharpe,
retired wildlife biologist with the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), to two
very different destinations southwest of Southern
Pines. The first, Hinson Lake, is a NCWRC owned
property on the edge of Rockingham, roughly 30 miles
south of Southern Pines. It consists of a lake (approx
50 acres), blackwater wetland complex, and Loblolly
Pine uplands. We should see a variety of waterbirds,
snakes, turtles, maybe Fox Squirrels, and others there.
We will likely walk the loop trail, which is relatively
flat and about 1.5 miles. Hinson Lake would be the
first stop so that we can let the turkey hunters have the
early morning at Diggs. The second stop, the Diggs
Tract, is a very recent acquisition by NCWRC. It is a
hilly Piedmont-type terrain. We will take a 4.5-mile
hike with a good climb on the way out at Diggs.
Everyone should pack a lunch so we can eat on the
bluff overlooking the river. Most of the hike is
through pine plantations before we reach the big
attraction: the river corridor along the Pee Dee River.
The upland should produce Yellow-breasted Chats,
Prairie Warblers and Indigo Buntings with
Prothonotary Warblers, Northern Parulas and Acadian
Flycatchers along the river bottom. However, there
are likely to be good numbers of migrants coming up
the river, with the chance of some shorebirds, terns or

10

Southern Pines Field Trip Descriptions (continued)

gulls in the mix. Restrooms are available at Hinson
Lake only. Group will be back at the hotel by 5 p.m.

Trip 26: Southern Pines & Pinehurst

Walk along the boundary of the historic Moore County
Airport to look for Grasshopper Sparrows, Homed Larks
and other grassland species. Explore trails at Southern
Pines Reservoir Park and Sandhills Community College
for migrants and early breeders among the expanse of
Longleaf Pines, flowering trees, and wetland vegetation.
Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and long pants
since you may be walking through extensive grassy and
damp areas. The trip will end at noon.

Special Notes on Field Trips

Please note that some field trips depart from the hotel,
while others depart from Weymouth Woods Visitor’s
Center. Please plan accordingly. Most trips carpool to
minimize the number of vehicles; if you have room or
wish to ride with other participants, please let your

field trip leader know.

Some field trips are limited to the number of partici-
pants. Please check the Carolina Bird Club website at
www.carolinabirdclub.org for a listing of full trips,
changes to the trip schedule, or possible cancellations.

And finally, it will be turkey season at meeting time,
so it is suggested that you bring a brightly colored hat
along. A number of our trip destinations are public
lands that are open to hunting, and our leaders will at-
tempt to steer clear of hunters. But nonetheless, it’s a
good idea for folks to be somewhat more ‘visible’ as
we venture out into the woods— just in case.

Did You Know?

Weymouth Woods was once a winter country retreat
for the Boyd family. The trees reminded novelist
James Boyd’s grandfather of Weymouth, England.

CBC Spring Meeting & Bonus Field Trip Registration Form

Name(s)

Address

City

State Zip

Day Phone Evening phone Email

I am enclosing $ for the following:

Bonus Field Trips

Brunswick County Woodpeckers x $20 = $

Howell Woods x $40 = $

Dobbins Farm x $ 1 0 = $

Southern Pines Spring Meeting

Meeting Registration (Member) x $1 5 = $

Meeting Registration (Non-member) x $20 = $

Saturday Buffet Dinner (each) x $25.95 = $

Club policy requires all field trip participants to comply with the
field trip leader’s assessment and requests concerning the physical
ability of each participant to make or complete the trip. Meeting registration at the door costs $25.

I release and discharge (and will not make a claim against) Carolina Bird Club for injury, death, or property damage arising from
my participation at this meeting and/or Club field trips. This release of liability is entered into on behalf of all members of my fam-
ily, including all minors accompanying me. I certify that I am the parent or legal guardian of any such minors and that I am over 18
years of age.

Signature Date Signature Date

Make cheek payable to Carolina Bird Club and send to: CBC, 353 Montabello, Bloomingdale, IL 60108

□ Please update my address or other contact information as listed above

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Carolina Bird Club, Inc.
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Upcoming CBC Meetings

Carolina Beach/Ft. Fisher, NC Fall 2008
North Carolina’s “Inner Banks”, Winter 2009

CBC Board Members

President, Steve Patterson
Lancaster, SC, 803-667-8199
SCBirder@aol.com
Vice-Presidents
Marion Clark, Lexington, SC
John Ennis, Leland, NC
Taylor Piephoff , Charlotte, NC
Secretary

Pru Williams, Hope Mills, NC

Treasurer

Bruce Smithson, Wilmington, NC
NC Members -at -Large
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Ed Toone, Wilmington
SC Members -at -Large
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Dr. J. Drew Lanham, Clemson

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Editor of The Chat, Kent Fiala, Hillsborough, NC
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Headquarters Secretary, Dana Harris, Bloomingdale, IL
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The CBC Newsletters 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 &
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Membership dues of $20 include $4 for a subscription to CBC Newsletter and $5
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12