The Mountain Chat Fall 2017

Transcription

1 The Mountain Chat Newsletter of the Mountaineer Chapter of the National Audubon Society Volume 42 No. 2 Fall 2017 Chat photo above from Climate Change, Birds, and the Future By Larry Schwab, Conservation Committee Chair The National Audubon Society published Birds and Climate Change in This comprehensive report utilized data accumulated for three decades of the Christmas Bird Count and the North American Breeding Bird Survey to determine the climatic suitability and projected ranges for 588 North American birds. Of this number, 314 species were determined to be at risk. Of the 314 species that are projected to lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by 2080, 126 of them are climate endangered. The other 188 species are climate threatened and are expected to lose more than 50 percent of their current range by 2080 if global warming continues at its current pace. These are not encouraging numbers. Many West Virginia species are at risk including the already threatened Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers and the more common and well known favorite, the Baltimore Oriole. It is difficult to imagine loss of the gentle beauty of these and other songbirds we know so well. Despite the current national political administration s climate policies including withdrawal from the internationally-negotiated Paris Climate Accord and the shrill voices of climate deniers, there is international momentum to address the threat that global warming poses to collective health and environment. Positive signs include the overall decrease of burning fossil fuels for energy, the increase of alternative energy strategies, and gathering political support in the world s industrial nations. In a personal discussion with a climate change skeptic recently, I was asked if I believe in climate change. My reply was that climate change is not a belief; it is fact based on solid scientific data. I said that I accept climate change as a scientific fact. Together with the National Audubon Society and other conservation organizations, we can join with the voices of reason to protect and save not just our sensitive bird species but also a world that is sustainable. Bird Photos by D. Courtney, MD Christmas Bird Count By LeJay Graffious, CBC Coordinator I have been a birder since 1976 when I discovered the Mountaineer Chapter of National Audubon and I have participated in every Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) since then. In 1976 there were only two folks on the count, Elizabeth Zimmerman and me. The data was not submitted to national, so there is not record of the species seen, but I remember Elizabeth taught me to identify a Carolina Wren that day at Mont Chateau. The CBC has been held nationally every year since The modern version involves canvassing all the birds one can find in a 15- mile diameter circle in one day during the period from 10 days before to 10 days after Christmas. There are over 2,000 CBC s in North America and more in Central and South America. The data from these counts is available on -line at Historical/ResultsByCount.aspx# and is used by scientists to assess the health and movements of bird populations over time. I have been the compiler for the Morgantown Chapter since That year were had 41 species and 19 participants. Over the years I have seen many changes to our count area. I have witnessed the shrinking rural farming areas that produced sparrows and meadow larks. On a positive side, the water ways are much cleaner producing much more micro-fauna and invertebrates which translates into fish food. These food sources produce a fueling stop for migrating waterfowl. The subsequent recovery of the streams has been a major conservation victory, and greatly increased our annual bird count. Another positive has been the increase in the number of birders in the area. As an area leader I m responsible for coordinating four sectors of birders to cover a 15 mile diameter circle centered on the airport. Last year was a banner year with 91 species recorded on count day and an additional 9 species added during count week. This set a new high of 100 species. The weather is never predicable and last year s ice storm reduced our predicted counters from 35 to 26. The count is open to anyone to join in- novice or expert. We would love to have you join us this year on Saturday, December 16. More information can be found at mountaineeraudubon.org.

2 President s Message I would like to begin by thanking past-president John Boback, who decided to step down from this position in March, for his service to Mountaineer Audubon. I m fortunate to have had a year working alongside him as vice president before being elected president myself. Thank you, John. As I wrote in the last issue of our newsletter, birds have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As president, I m looking forward to advancing Mountaineer Audubon s mission to promote the enjoyment, conservation, and understanding of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through birding, education, and outreach. County s Screech Owl Brewery, the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia, and Ridge Way Farm for our first Birds and Beer event. We met at Ridge Way Farm in Cheat Lake for an evening bird walk; Ridge Way is a 35-acre property managed by the Human-Animal Bond, Inc., a local nonprofit, and hopefully will be the future site of the ACCA. After the bird walk, we migrated down to The Lakehouse, where some of us enjoyed Screech Owl beer, which was offered at a special price for participants. We had more than 30 people join us at The Lakehouse! We hope to sponsor more events like this one in the future. I hope to see many of you at bird walks this fall we have some great ones lined up. Our fall programs sound excellent as well. Check our Facebook page ( for updates and more information about these events. I hope everyone had a great spring and summer of birding and enjoying the outdoors I know I did, although it never feels like I spend enough time seeking birds. One of my spring highlights included my first trip to Cranesville Swamp in May, which was a joint outing with Mountaineer Audubon and Potomac Valley Audubon (the only other Audubon chapter in West Virginia). We had great turnout from both clubs, and we had several good birds, including redbreasted nuthatch, brown creeper, northern waterthrush, and Canada warbler. On the drive back to Morgantown, we stopped along some Preston County farmland to watch bobolinks and savannah sparrows. Another highlight of my spring was my trip south to the New River Birding and Nature Festival near Fayetteville, WV. I ve been a guide there for the last six years, and it s something I look forward to each year. I always have a great time with great friends and of course the birds are amazing. Great birds from my time at the festival included cerulean warbler, Swainson s warbler, Kentucky warbler, and worm-eating warbler. Also, somehow before this spring I d never visited Monongalia County s Little Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area before but of course I plan to go back! My kids (Laurel and Cora) and my husband Jesse and I took a short, leisurely walk along the road and saw many species of bird, including prairie warbler, yellow-breasted chat, and many field sparrows and common yellowthroats. In July, Mountaineer Audubon partnered with The Lakehouse Restaurant in Cheat Lake, Preston 2 In the meantime, best wishes and good birding! Fall Programs Katie Fallon Mountaineer Audubon s Fall Programs will take place on the second Tuesday of September, October, and November, at 7pm. Programs will be held at the Spruce Street United Methodist Church, on 386 Spruce Street in downtown Morgantown, near the Farmers Market pavilion. Everyone is welcome at these free programs, even if you are not a member of Mountaineer Audubon. We think we have a great lineup this Fall please invite your friends! September 12, 7pm Program: The Tale of North America's Forest Raptors Speaker: Meghan Jensen This talk will be about the last group of birds to ever receive legal protection in the United States: North America's forest raptors (Genus: Accipiter). The talk will include a brief history, current conservation concerns, a little population genetics, and future considerations. It will also include some details and video footage of an improved field trapping methodology developed for researching these illusive birds. Meghan Jensen is a Ph.D. candidate at West Virginia University in the Forestry and Natural Resources Department. She earned her Bachelor's Degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and in Biology from Paul Smith's College in 2009, and her Master's degree in Biology from SUNY Buffalo State in Meghan is a conservation biologist who specializes

3 in population genetics and genomics. While she has a strong interest in numerous taxa, she has been working with birds of prey for over ten years. As a raptor researcher, bander, and a volunteer raptor educator and trainer, she is passionate about raptor management and conservation. October 10, 7pm Program: An Encounter with Birds in Ecuador Speaker: Larry Schwab This program will discuss the birds that Mountaineer Audubon member Larry Schwab encountered on his recent trip to Ecuador. Larry is a local birder and serves as Chair of the Conservation Committee for Mountaineer Audubon. November 14, 7pm Program: California Condors Speaker: Jonathan Hall Dr. Jonathan Hall, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology and Geography at WVU, will give a program about one of his current research projects on endangered California condors. This research was featured in a recent issue of WVU Magazine. FALL 2017 BIRD WALKS All walks are free and will be on Saturdays. They will only be canceled for extremely inclement weather. Bring binoculars and dress appropriately for the weather. Included are some sponsored by other area organizations. For more information, contact David Daniels at Cotinga747@yahoo.com or (304) Sep. 16 Prickett s Fort State Park, Fairmont. 8:00 am at the rail trail parking lot next to the fort. Leader: Joey Herron. Weather permitting, Joey will have his banding nets set up, so in-hand views of netted birds may be possible. Sep. 23 Little Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area, Monongalia County. 8:00 am at Mountaineer Mall near the water tower. Leader: David Daniels. Sep. 30 and Oct 1 Tygart Lake Birding and Banding Weekend. Join Joey Herron at 8:30 am each morning at the lodge where he will hold a demonstration on bird banding. Banding ends at about 11:30 am, and for those interested, he will spend some time birding at nearby Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area between 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm. For questions, contact Joey at wvsawwhet@yahoo.com Oct. 7--Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area, Taylor and Barbour Counties. 8:00 am at the southern boat ramp parking lot at Tygart Lake Marina. For those coming from Morgantown, meet at 7:00 am at Mountaineer Mall near the water tower. Leader: David Daniels. Oct. 21 Fairfax Pond-Rehe Wildlife Management Area, Reedsville area, Preston County. 8:00 am where Decker s Creek Trail crosses Route 92 just south of Reedsville. Leader: David Daniels. Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, and Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 Sawwhet Owl banding demonstration. 8:30 pm behind the ranger s house near the park office at Valley Fall State Park, Marion County. Leader: Joey Herron. Joey will be holding public demonstrations on banding Northern Saw-whet Owls. Last year he banded a record 53 owls during the season. Dress warmly and bring a folding chair, flashlight, and camera. Please pre-register with Joey at wvsawwhet@yahoo.com. Nov. 18 Waterfowl trip, Cheat Lake. 8:00 am at Ruby and Ketchy s Restaurant on Route 857 east of Cheat Lake. 7:00 am if you d like breakfast first. Leader: Derek Courtney. Nov. 18 Owl Prowl, West Virginia Botanical Garden, Tyrone Road. 6:30 pm. Join local birder LeJay Graffious on an early evening search for owls and other nocturnal wildlife. Possible targets include Eastern Screech-Owl, Barred Owl, and Great Horned Owl. Bring flashlights and binoculars if you have them and dress appropriately for cool to cold weather. All ages. Sponsored by the West Virginia Botanical Garden. Please pre-register online at For questions related to the WVBG, please call (304) ($5 fee for the WVBG) Dec. 16 Morgantown Christmas Bird Count. Various locations. People who want to get involved may register on-line at beginning in November or contact compiler LeJay Graffious at lejay@oldhemlock.org or (304) to volunteer. 3

4 Paddling and Birding: Two Fun Outdoor Activities Together By Mary Wimmer Mountaineer Audubon and Morgantown Area Paddlers (MAP) have begun sponsoring joint paddling trips on local rivers and lakes to experience birding from a different perspective, while educating paddlers about our flying fauna. Audubon s LeJay Graffious co-leads these trips, delighting us not only with the birds some of us already recognize, but also with a whole list of species unknown to MAP s paddlers. The great blue and green herons, kingfishers, ospreys, an occasional bald eagle, and all sorts of ducks, geese and other water birds make birding while paddling quite different than while walking on land. Morgantown Area Paddlers (MAP) was organized in October 2015 to develop and promote social, relaxed flatwater kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding in our area. With 200 people on the MAP list, and a popular following on Facebook (FB), MAP has sponsored over 70 paddling trips thus far, currently averaging nearly 10 paddlers per outing. We ve traveled all sections of the Mon River as far north as Greensboro, PA, plus several tributaries; Cheat River up through Coopers Rock, as well as up the mouth near Pt. Marion, PA, and between Parsons and St. George; Big Sandy from Bruceton Mills to Clifton Mills; Tygart River below the dam, as well as up from its confluence with West Fork River; Blackwater River in Canaan Valley NWR; and area lakes (Cheat, Tygart, Stonecoal and North Bend State Park, the latter, a birder s paradise). We periodically do lockages through the Upper Mon River s locks, a unique experience for a small kayak! A photo album for each MAP trip is posted on our FB page. With Mountaineer Audubon s help, MAP, along with many other contributors, raised funds to install a kayak/canoe launch at the Van Voorhis Trailhead north of Star City, which provides a safe and easy way to enter the Mon River. This summer a similar launch was put in at Palatine Park in Fairmont, and a smaller launch at Rivesville. MAPers developed an online River/Lake Access Map ( to help folks find safe places to put in on our area waters. We are adding more points as we assess them, and welcome feedback from users. Audubon and MAP first teamed up on June 18, 2016, along with WV Sierra Club, for a paddling trip focusing on birds along the Monongahela River. Twenty-two paddlers showed up (!) for the 4-mile round trip from the Uffington boat ramp to Round Bottom, just before the Hildebrand Lock and Dam. Larry Schwab joined LeJay, paddling in his canoe. The success of this outing led to a June 26 trip on the Big Sandy, with 14 boaters paddling from Bruceton Mills toward Clifton Mills and back as MAP s Mary Wimmer and MRTC s Ella Belling prepare to break the ribbons at the new Van Voorhis Kayak/Canoe Launch, July

5 LeJay performed his art. This year, two trips have been rained out, but 7 paddlers did manage a trip up the Cheat River from Ice s Ferry Bridge into Coopers Rock State Forest, with 33 species identified. LeJay broke in his new kayak on this trip! MAP welcomes Audubon birders on any of our paddling trips, which we announce under Events on our Facebook page, so come join us any time! June 18, 2016 Mon River at Uffington Mountaineer Audubon Bird Seed Sale This year, we will be working with Morgantown s new Wild Birds Unlimited store for our annual bird seed sale fundraiser. The store is located in the Suncrest Towne Center near the intersection of route 705 and Stewartstown Road. Seed orders will be due by October 14 to the address listed below. Checks can be made payable to Mountaineer Audubon. Bird seed pickup will be Sunday, November 12, from 12-5pm, at the former Sleep Outfitters store (now vacant), two doors down from the Wild Birds Unlimited store. We will put up a sign. Wild Birds Unlimited has provided detailed descriptions of the products available for Mountaineer Audubon members to order. The regular prices have been discounted, and Mountaineer Audubon will receive a portion of the proceeds. Seed No Shells No-Mess (sunflower chips, peanuts, low millet) & No- Mess Plus Blend (Added fruit, calcium & Bark Butter Bits) 100% edible blend to attract ALL birds with NO MESS. Our unique No-Mess Blends feature seeds that have had their shells removed so only the meat of the seed is left. No hulls on the seeds makes for tidier feeding, since there s no debris on the ground to clean up. Pound for pound, our No-Mess Blends offer the best value, because you do not pay for uneaten seed waste. The birds eat everything. Great for use near flower beds, patios and decks July 18, 2017 Cheat River/CRSF Includes Millet Deluxe Blend LM (Low Millet) Feeds Birds at the Feeder and on the Ground Our Deluxe Blends attract a wide variety of birds. These blends are full of black oil sunflower seeds, white millet, striped sunflower and safflower and are bound to satisfy a bevy of birds in your backyard. Birds that love oil sunflower and safflower will enjoy this blend at the feeder, while juncos, doves and towhees will feast on the white millet on the ground. Includes Peanuts Choice Blend A Great All-around Blend with Peanuts Our Choice Blends are a fantastic combination of high-oil content seeds. The black oil sunflower, sunflower chips, shelled peanuts, safflower and striped sunflower do a great job of attracting a variety of birds, including chickadees, woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches and jays Excellent for Your Local Birds Supreme Blend Versatile blend for virtually every feeder Our Supreme Blends feature black oil sunflower, sunflower chips, safflower and striped sunflower in a combination that helps attract a wide variety of birds, such as chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and wrens. 5

6 Great Source of Energy Premium Black Oil Sunflower Our Premium Oil Sunflower is a great source of energy for the birds and 99% free of sticks, stems or other foreign matter so your feeders won t clog with debris. Oil sunflower has a high calorie/ounce ratio due to its high fat and protein content and its relatively thin shell. Among seed ingredients, oil sunflower attracts the greatest variety of small and large seed-eating birds. Goldfinches Favorite Food Nyjer Nyjer is a high oil content seed, making it an excellent energy source for active birds such as goldfinches, house finches, purple finches and pine siskins. It is important to keep the food fresh for these picky little eaters. Nyjer has a thin shell and is vulnerable to spoilage while in the tube. Once seed starts to dry out and become stale, finches will turn up their beak for fresher forage. Suet Cakes: Nut and Fruit Lovers Favorite Nuts & Berries Suet Loaded with peanuts, almonds, pecans and cranberries, Nuts & Berries is designed to attract, nut- and fruit-eating birds like woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens and more. All of our suets are rendered and refined to remove impurities that cause spoilage. Loaded with Peanuts Naturally Nuts Suet Our Naturally Nuts Suet is loaded with lots of yummy nuts that birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches love to eat. All of our suets are rendered and refined to remove impurities that cause spoilage. Full of Peanuts and Fruit PB&J Suet Our PB&J Suet mimics the old childhood favorite, but without the sticky after-effects. The peanut butter appeals to birds that like insects and nuts, while the jelly (blueberries) attracts fruit-eating birds. Woodpeckers, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches and others enjoy this high-energy food. Nuts & Berries No-Melt Suet Cylinder No-Melt Suet is designed to withstand temperatures up to 130 F. Made of corn, roasted peanuts, rendered beef suet, oats, cranberries, almonds, pecans, walnuts and soy oil, our Nuts & Berries No-Melt Suet Cylinder is an easy, longlasting way to offer a high-energy, high-fat food to clinging and perching birds. High-energy, Pure Fat Naturally Nuts No-Melt Suet Cylinder No-Melt Suet is designed to withstand temperatures up to 130 F. Long-lasting and easy to use, our Naturally Nuts No- Melt Suet Cylinder contains peanuts, rendered beef suet, corn and oats. Peanut Butter & Fruit Treat PB&J No-Melt Suet Cylinder No-Melt Suet is designed to withstand temperatures up to 130 F. Made of peanut butter, peanuts, rendered beef suet, corn, oats, calcium carbonate, raisins and blueberries, our PB&J No-Melt Suet Cylinder is an easy, long-lasting way to offer a high-energy, high-fat food to clinging and perching birds. Suet Cylinder Feeder Capacity: 1 Suet Dough Cylinder Dimensions: 9 x 5 diameter Our Bird Food Cylinders are long-lasting and easy to use. But with our Suet Cylinder Feeder, now it s even easier to attract suet-eating birds to your bird feeding station. Simply drop one of our exclusive Naturally Nuts No-melt Dough Cylinders into the powder coated metal feeder, hang it, and watch your birds enjoy. (Bird food not included.) Christmas Suet Our exclusive Christmas Cake Suet offers all the goodies birds wish for in one neat, little snack cake! Full of peanuts, almonds, peanut pellets (peanuts, corn & oats), blueberries, cherries, raisins and papaya, it's a high -calorie energy source that birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, and nuthatches love. And like all of our suet, Christmas Cake is rendered to eliminate impurities. Suet Cylinders: High-energy, Pure Fat 6

7 MOUNTAINEER AUDUBON CUSTOMER PURCHASE FORM NAME ADDRESS PHONE NUMBER PICK UP LOCATION will be at the former Sleep Outfitters store (now vacant), two doors down from Wild Birds Unlimited in the Suncrest Towne Center, from 12-5pm on Sunday, Nov. 12. Make check payable to Mountaineer Audubon and mail along with this form to: Katie Fallon, 60 Hickory Hills Drive, Morgantown, WV, UNIT DESCRIPTION QTY MOUNTAINEER AUDOBON CUSTOMER PRICE NO MESS PLUS BLEND (sunflower chips, shelled peanuts, chopped tree nuts, cherries, cranberries, bark $31.00 butter bits, calcium) NO MESS BLEND LM (sunflower chips, shelled peanuts, hulled white millet) $30.00 CHOICE BLEND (oil sunflower, striped sunflower, safflower, sunflower chips, shelled peanuts) $23.00 DELUXE BLEND LM (oil sunflower, striped sunflower, safflower, white millet) $20.00 SUPREME BLEND (oil sunflower, striped sunflower, safflower, sunflower chips) $21.00 SAFFLOWER $23.00 PREMIUM BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER $18.00 NYJER $ /CASE CHRISTMAS SUET (HIGH ENERGY) $ /CASE NATURALLY NUTS SUET $ /CASE NUTS & BERRIES SUET $ /CASE PB & J SUET $ /CASE NATURALLY NUTS NO MELT SUET CYLINDER $ /CASE NUTS & BERRIES NO MELT SUET CYLINDER $ /CASE PB & J NO MELT SUET CYLINDER $ BARK BUTTER 2 lb Tub $ BARK BUTTER BITS 3.5 lb Bag $8.00 TOTAL 1 METAL SUET CYLINDER FEEDER $7.00 TOTAL: $ 7

8 Mountaineer Chapter National Audubon Society PO Box 422 Morgantown, WV The Mountain Chat Fall 2017 JOIN MOUNTAINEER AUDUBON TODAY! Chapter Code: C2ZY510Z (Do not use this form if you are currently a member of National Audubon) Join Mountaineer Audubon and receive all the benefits of Chapter membership. For $5 more also receive a National Audubon membership and receive the AUDUBON magazine. Mark your choice below. $15 Mountaineer Audubon Membership Only $20 Mountaineer & National Audubon Membership Name: Address: City: State: Zip code: Phone (optional): Stay alert to the Mountaineer Chapter of National Audubon programs and outings via our web site and our Facebook Page. Clip and mail this form with your check made payable to Mountaineer Audubon Mountaineer Audubon P.O. Box 422 Morgantown, WV Thank you for your support! Mountaineer Audubon Directory President Katie Fallon Katie@accawv.org Vice President LeJay Graffious Lejaygraffious@gmail.com Secretary Alan Clark 724/ eftwood@juno.com Treasurer Vicky Shears vshears@comcast.net Fundraising Sue Olcott solcott@frontiernet.net Education LeJay Graffious lejaygraffious@gmail.com Membership Mary Ann Tokarz maryloudeaner425@comcast.net Field Trips David Daniels cotinga747@yahoo.com Conservation Larry Schwab larryschwab@gmail.com Newsletter Sally Wilts sallywilts@yahoo.com 8