FEBRUARY 2004/MARCH 2004

WINGBEAT
Cullman Audubon Society
PO Box 1444 WELCOME
Cullman, AL 35056 SPRING!
Francene Van Sambeek, Editor Volume 8, Issue 3
Inside this issue:
CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT By Jimmy Wells
4411 Red-winged Blackbirds, this
year, “only” 607. Last year had March Speaker 2
On Sunday, December 21, 2003 our
2624 European Starlings, this
chapter held another successful March Field Trip 2
year “only” 1039. Some numbers
Christmas Bird Count. 13 people
were down; some were up. Cedar February Speaker 2
participated in the field, and four
Waxwings went from a dismal and
people recorded species from their January Field Trip 3
unusually low single bird last
feeders at their homes. We accumu-
year to 499 this year. Luck of
lated a total of 77 species and
the draw, it seems.
counted a total of 8969 identifi-
Some firsts, too. Eastern Coming attractions
able birds.
Screech Owl, Northern Bobwhite, • February 10: Meeting
Once again, we were honored to
American Woodcock, and Winter 7PM. Dave Pylant.
have the help of Rick West of Tal-
Wren were common species not seen
lahassee, Florida. Other partici- • February 15: Field Trip.
in any of our previous counts. My
pants included regular counters
contribution to this list was 7AM. Lake Guntersville.
David Pylant, Booty Richter, Mike
spotted at Smith Lake Park. I was
Payne, Vince Meleski, Neal
ready to leave and head to an- • March 9: Meeting 7PM.
Culpepper, Robert and Karen Speaker: Bankhead ex-
other spot, but Mariman wanted to
Lindsey, and Jimmy Wells. New par- pert.
take another glance. As I looked
ticipants were Mariman Pope,
back, we both saw a large bird
Francene Van Sambeek, Harry Roach,
flying over the water, heading • March: Field Trip: De-
and our youngest participant, four Soto Wildflower walk.
out of the area that was in the
year old Eli Lindsey, the son of 7AM.
Count Circle. A glance at the
Robert and Karen. Eli participated
bird had me struggling to grab my
in the afternoon session and was
binoculars. Focusing them, I
instrumental in helping spot our
only sightings of some species.
watched as a Bald Eagle soared DID YA KNOW??
across the water. First one I
Most were on the money, but I am
having trouble finding Triangle-
have ever seen at the park, al- February has been
though I have seen them on rare designated Na-
billed Hawk on any of my bird
occasions nearby.
lists. Glad to see him here. An-
The only bird qualifying for
tional Bird Feed-
other new face to our group was Dr. ing Month!!
a truly unusual bird was seen by
Harry Roach. Harry is a retired OB- (Continued on page 4)
GYN from Cincinnati, and this was
the first CBC in which he has par-
ticipated since his college days.
Welcome to Cullman and please join
us for more outings.
FEBRUARY 15TH FIELD TRIP: GUNTERSVILLE
Feeder-watchers included Charlie The Cullman Audubon Society’s February field trip will be on
Thompson, Loran and Caila Lamont, Sunday, February 15, 2004. We will be going to the downtown
and Tim Chambers. Guntersville waterfront area as well as Guntersville State Park. A
The 77 species sighted blew last wide variety of waterfowl can be observed easily along the water-
year’s record of 71 out of the wa- front, along with some unusual species. Recently a Glaucous Gull,
ter. Number of birds sighted was a group of Long-tailed Ducks (Old Squaw), and a Red-necked
down by just over 3000 birds, but
Grebe have been seen on a regular basis. After that we’ll head over
most of this drop can be attributed
to differences in the numbers of the mountain to the Park to spot Bald Eagles and other birds.
large flocks of birds that were We’ll meet in the St Bernard Parking Lot at 7:00 AM. f
seen this year versus last year. you would like, meet us at the parking lot across from the Rib
For instance, last year’s count had Shack on the Arab side of the causeway at 8:00 AM.
 2003-2004 Officers/ Committee Chairs FEBRUARY 10TH MEETING: WATER BIRDS
OFFICERS: On Tuesday, February 10th, Mr. David Pylant will be the fea-
President: Jerry Jacob tured speaker for the Cullman Audubon Society. Mr. Pylant be
(H) 256-734-6775 251 CO RD 1401
(W) 256-775-1389 Cullman, AL 35058 speaking on common water birds of North Alabama. A slide
(F) 256-734-6288 [email protected] show and brief discussion about water birds that can be found
Immediate Past President: David Pylant during the winter in the waters of North Alabama will be
(W) 256-352-8242 403 9th St SE featured. Species to be covered include grebes and
(H) 256-734-5716 Cullman, AL 35055
[email protected]
loons, waterfowl, cranes and rails, sandpipers, plovers,
gulls and terns, wading birds, kingfishers, and a few oth-
Vice-President: Henry Beeler
(W) 256-739-0455 900 Shady Lane ers.
(H) 256-739-3438 Cullman, AL 35055 The meeting begins at 7 PM and will be held in the old Sci-
[email protected] ence Building on the campus of St. Bernard Prep School.
Secretary/Treasurer: Karen Lindsey
(W) 256-734-2363 247 CO RD 451
(H) 256-734-2363 Cullman, AL 35057
[email protected] MARCH 9TH MEETING: BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST
COMMITTEE CHAIRS: For the March 9th meeting of the Cullman Audubon Society, our
Conservation/Research: David Pylant speaker will be an archaeologist familiar with the Bankhead For-
(W) 256-352-8242 403 9th St SE
(H) 256-734-5716 Cullman, AL 35055 est. Look for more details on next month’s postcard. The meet-
[email protected] ing will start at 7PM at the Old Science Building on the campus of
Program: Henry Beeler St. Bernard. All are invited to attend this informative talk.
(W) 256-739-0455 900 Shady Lane
(H) 256-739-3438 Cullman, AL 35055
[email protected]
Education: Vince Meleski
(W) 256-974-6166 121 CO RD 1415 MARCH FIELD TRIP: DESOTO WILDFLOWER WALK
(H) 256-739-4589 Cullman AL 35058 Details as to departing time and place will be
[email protected]
discussed at the February meeting and will be
Field Trip: David Pylant printed on the March postcard.
(W) 256-352-8242 403 9th St SE
(H) 256-734-5716 Cullman, AL 35055
[email protected]
Publicity: Marcia Jacob 'Audubon At Home' Will Create Healthier Greenspaces
(H) 256-734-6775 251 CO RD 1401
Source: Audubon Newswire
[email protected] Cullman, AL 35058
Tuesday, December 2, 2003 - Audubon Ohio is pleased to announce the launch of
Electronic communications: Jimmy Wells
(W) 256-734-3894 210 CO RD 469
Audubon At Home, a new National Audubon conservation initiative, throughout
(H) 256-739-0933 Cullman, AL 35057 the state of Ohio. Funded through a federal grant from the Natural Resource
[email protected] Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Audubon At Home
Newsletter: Francene Van Sambeek will engage people at home, in Audubon Chapters, and in local communities, im-
(W) 256-352-8036 266 CO RD 699 proving the quality of habitat and the environmental health of backyards and
(H) 256-775-6407 Cullman, AL 35055
[email protected] community greenspaces. The premise of Audubon At Home is that actions we
take in our everyday lives can add up to make an important difference in conser-
Christmas Bird Count: Jimmy Wells
(W) 256-734-3894 210 CO RD 469 vation, the environment, and in the quality of our everyday lives. Our back yards
(H) 256-739-0933 Cullman, AL 35057 are one place to start. By reducing the use of pesticides and fertilizer, yards and
[email protected] communities will be safer for children and pets, and the quality of the water in
Membership: Rachel Moody our lakes, streams, and reservoirs will improve. Using native plant species, and
(W) 256-737-2259 1194CO RD 1043 providing bird-friendly habitat in our lawns and landscaping saves money and
(H) 256-747-8040 Cullman, AL 35057
time, and creates homes for wildlife that can provide hours of viewing enjoyment.
Bird Rescue: Neal Culpepper As part of its commitment to community-based conservation, Audubon seeks to
(H) 256-739-6431 545 CO RD 1169
Cullman, AL 35055 share the guiding principles of the Audubon at Home program with people in ur-
ban, suburban, and rural areas all over the country. To learn more about the Na-
Earth Day: OPEN
tional Audubon Society's nationwide Audubon at Home program, please visit:
Cullman Audubon Website: www.cullmanaudubon.com http://www.audubon.org. To learn more about the program in Ohio, please
National Audubon Website: www.audubon.org contact Casey Tucker at 614-224-3303 x15 or email [email protected].

Newsletter Deadlines: Please submit articles, photos, etc by the 20th of the odd numbered
months for publication in the next newsletter. Send to Francene Van Sambeek at the ad-
dress or email listed to the left. Please include “Audubon” in the subject line.

Page 2 WINGBEAT
 January Field Trip Report We started at the viewing platform near Mooresville, hop-
ing to see vast quantities of Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and
By David Pylant White-fronted Geese. No cooperation from the birds, however.
The Cullman Audubon Society made its annual Undaunted, we pressed on with our trip, touring the Limestone
field trip to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge on January 17. Bay area, along the north side of the river west toward Decatur.
In attendance were: David Pylant, Neal Culpepper, Booty This route proved to be very productive as usual. After lunch
Richter, Mike Payne, Robert and Karen Lindsey, Sue Melvin, at the Greenbrier we stopped off at the Visitor Center to return
Jo Whitley, and our good friend from Huntsville, Tom the key and see what was around the viewing building. Low
Brindley. The weather proved cooperative as the rain held off and behold, around 125 Sandhill Cranes were in the fields
until the afternoon. north of the building. Glad we stopped by.

In all we observed 70 different species on the trip. These included:

Pied-billed Grebe Great Blue Heron Great Egret White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose Ross’ Goose Canada Goose Wood Duck
American Black Duck Mallard Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler
Gadwall American Widgeon Canvasback Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Ruddy Duck Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel American Coot
Sandhill Crane Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Common Snipe
Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Rock Pigeon Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Down Woodpecker Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker Blue Jay American Crow Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin
Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher American Pipet Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Cardinal Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Dark-eyed Junco
Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch House Finch
Starling House Sparrow

7TH ANNUAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRDCOUNT AUDUBON ADVISORY: December 19, 2003 (Vol. 2003, Issue 25)
Here are just a few highlights from the 108th US Congress activities
FEBRUARY 13-16, 2004 for 2003.
Source: Audubon Newswire Volume 2, Number 1 January 20, 2004
1. ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SAFE FROM
From February 13-16, 2004, bird enthusiasts are invited DRILLING FOR 2003: Attempts by pro-drilling special interests
to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drill-
project developed and managed by the National Audubon ing failed in the U.S. Senate by three votes!
Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, with sponsor- 2. STATEWIDE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: For fiscal year
ship from Wild Birds Unlimited storeowners and NRCS 2004, the U.S. Congress increased its support for State Wildlife
(Natural Resources Conservation Service), and with partici- Grant programs by $10 million!
pation from Bird Studies Canada for the first time. During 3. MIGRATORY BIRD PROTECTION: Congress allotted $4 mil-
lion to go directly to supporting partnership programs that con-
the event, everyone who enjoys birds will be able to submit serve and enhance habitat of Neotropical migratory birds.
their observations through BirdSource, www.birdsource. 4. EPA AND ARMY CORP DROP PLANS TO REMOVE EVEN
org; these data will help scientists determine the status of MORE PROTECTIONS FROM WETLANDS.
birds continent wide. At the same time, the project will 5. NATIONAL WIDLIFE REFUGES The National Wildlife Ref-
teach participants how to turn their backyards into real, use- uge System -- which celebrated its 100th Anniversary this year --
ful habitat for birds. "Improving backyards is an important received a $24 million increase over last year for refuge opera-
way to create greenways for birds between parks and wild tion and maintenance
6. EVERGLADES RESTORATION Audubon and our partners
areas," said Frank Gill, Audubon's Director of Science."
succeeded in convincing Congress to add legislative language to
Yards allow for the cultivation of native plants and provide the Interior and Energy and Water spending bills that ensures
essential sanctuary to migratory and resident birds. Par- that the State of Florida complies with state and federal water
ticipating in the Great Backyard Bird Count gives people a quality standards.
first-hand view of how important bird-friendly 7. For more info: Audubon Advisory Audubon Public Policy Divi-
backyards are to many bird species." Visit www. sion 1150 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.
audubon.org for the full story. C. 20036 1-800-659-2622 [email protected] .

Page 3 WINGBEAT
 Cullman Audubon Society
PO Box 1444
Cullman, AL 35056

(CBC, Continued from page 1) currently has the results of Tufted Titmouse 100
our two intrepid travelers, all Christmas Bird Counts White-breasted Nuthatch 25
Vince Meleski and Rick West. from 1900 through 2002. Brown-headed Nuthatch 14
They were covering the North- Species Number seen Brown Creeper 2
east section, which included Carolina Wren 22
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Sportsman’s Lake Park. After Winter Wren 2
Great Blue Heron 23
traveling to it twice to find Golden-crowned Kinglet 5
Green Heron 1
the gate inexplicably locked, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Canada Goose 49
in the afternoon they decided Eastern Bluebird 211
Wood Duck 5
that it was too important a Hermit Thrush 9
Mallard 85
place to not count, and scaled American Robin 495
Gadwall 162
the fence. After a conversation Northern Mockingbird 87
Ring-necked Duck 45
with the caretaker, they were Brown Thrasher 14
Hooded Merganser 9
Cedar Waxwing 499
allowed to continue. (The Black Vulture 12
Loggerhead Shrike 15
Christmas Lights program held Turkey Vulture 192
Yellow-rumped Warbler 24
this year had an expensive Bald Eagle 1
Pine Warbler 8
lighting system in place at the Northern Harrier 4
Northern Cardinal 200
park, and the gate was locked Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Eastern Towhee 39
to protect it.) It was a good Cooper’s Hawk 12
Chipping Sparrow 136
thing they took the initiative Red-shouldered Hawk 14
Field Sparrow 277
to enter, for they spotted a Red-tailed Hawk 52
Savannah Sparrow 61
Green Heron at the park. This American Kestrel 36
Fox Sparrow 3
misguided bird forgot to mi- Northern Bobwhite 5
Song Sparrow 54
grate south, and thus will gain American Coot 13
Swamp Sparrow 16
us a highlight in the annual Killdeer 83
White-throated Sparrow 146
report issued by National Audu- Common Snipe 3
Dark-eyed Junco 70
bon. American Woodcock 1
Red-winged Blackbird 607
My thanks to all that par- gull species 2
Eastern Meadowlark 200
ticipated, especially Rick Rock Pigeon 122
Common Grackle 2249
West, for taking the time to Eurasian Collared Dove 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 21
Mourning Dove 319
help this bunch of relative Purple Finch 13
Eastern Screech Owl 1
rookies, and Neal for allowing American Goldfinch 214
Barred Owl 1
us to meet at his office. House Finch 63
Belted Kingfisher 23
The results will be avail- House Sparrow 48
Red-headed Woodpecker 3
able online soon. BirdSource is European Starling 1039
Red-bellied Woodpecker 44
having problems with the new Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 8 Total number of Species 77
software they have installed Downy Woodpecker 25 Total number of Birds 8,969
and are still working out the Hairy Woodpecker 5
bugs. I keep getting emails
Number of groups 5
Northern Flicker 23
promising that the compilers Number of group-hours 46
Pileated Woodpecker 4
will be able to report their Eastern Phoebe 6 Number of miles
findings soon. To view previous Blue Jay 145 traveled by car 463
year’s results, visit http:// American Crow 362 Number of miles
www.audubon.org/bird/cbc. It Carolina Chickadee 58 traveled on foot 20