may-june 2003 mobile bay audubon society newsletters

Upload: mobile-bay-audubon-society

Post on 30-May-2018

221 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    1/12

    1

    Mobile BayMAY, 2003

    VOLUME XX II NO. 3

    A CHAPTER OFT H E NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETYSINCE1971Audubon Society

    Contents Lovell Sanctuary @ Lovell Farm, LoxleySaturday, May 17th, 4:00 PM till

    Spring has sprung! Birds aremigrating and once again its timefor the Audubon Annual Picnic atthe Lovells Farm!

    The menu will be fried catfish,slaw and beans plus whatever ourmembers bring to add to thebounty. Members are also askedto bring lawn chairs.

    To help in the planning of thegoodies, the Lovells would appre-

    ciate members who are planningto attend to give them a quick calland let them know. It will be verybeneficial in planning the amountof food as well as tables, etc. Judys

    number is (251) 964-6512 andNadine Lovell can be reached at(251) 964-5387.

    The Lovell Farm has manyresident birds as well as the birdsthat we will be able to see as theypass through. Judy has spottedsome Upland Sandpipers, Or-chard Orioles, Common Yellow-throats, White-crowned Sparrows,Great Crested Flycatchers and

    many more. She says that arounddusk we should be able to spot anice variety.

    Bring your chair and a friendand come with a hearty appetite.

    Directions to the Lovell Farm can be found on page 8.

    Bluebirds Compete withChickadees ---------------------- 2

    Board Members ---------------- 2

    Eastern Bluebird --------------- 3

    Birdathon ----------------------- 3

    New Members ----------------- 4

    Summer Film Series ----------- 5Follow Me to Eaufaula ------- 6

    Calendar ------------------------- 8

    Artic National WildlifeRefuge --------------------------- 8

    Snowy Egret -------------------- 9

    Spring Migration -------------- 10

    Yellow-crowned NightHeron ---------------------------- 11

    Newsletter Deadline ---------- 11

    Membership Application ---- 12

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    2/12

    2

    Board of Directors

    2003tnediserP,.D.hP,moroBnhoJ

    234xoBOP

    33563LA,epohriaF

    )B(3240-099

    )H(9125-829

    ;tnediserPeciV,smailliWhtebazilE

    .gorPmliFloohcSdnanohtadriB

    evirDegdiRreppeP616339663LA,eliboM 7527-346

    rerusaerT,senoJlliB

    teertSeliboMS247

    23563LA,epohriaF 6798-829

    yraterceS,siaduaviLronaelE

    294xoBOP

    46563LA,raelCtnioP 7698-829

    pihsrebmeM,daetslaHeilittO

    evirDkcoddaP33

    23563LA,epohriaF 7359-829

    rotidE,llamSenaleD

    evirDatseiF1

    72563LA,troFhsinapS

    )B(0042-064

    )H(0079-626

    yticilbuP,snilluManiwdE

    evirDtesnuSN606480663LA,eliboM 5711-443

    serutnevdAnobuduA,sirroMnahT

    truoCnoeLedecnoP5962

    24563LA,serohSfluG 6577-045

    dnalsInihpuaD,.D.hP,retroPnhoJ

    yrautcnaSnobuduA

    848xoBOP

    82563LA,dnalsInihpuaD 0212-168

    dleiF,.D.hP,hcnerFhtebazilE

    spirT

    evirDdoowegdiR63

    11663LA,wasakcihC 1211-254

    spirTdleiF,yalCregoR

    742xoBOP

    62563LA,enhpaD

    )B(4745-626

    )H(7409-829

    stcejorPlaicepS,smiSdnalraG

    teertSleruaL101

    23563LA,epohriaF 2776-829

    spirTdleiF,gnoLnivleM

    68xoBOP

    63563LA,yeloF 2938-349

    spirTdleiF,seknoNeinniM

    22tpAegalliVdaetsemoH201

    23563LA,epohriaF 6920-829

    sdniHetseleC

    enaLllahsraM12311

    23553LA,epohriaF 6256-829

    SREBMEMOICIFFO-XE

    tnediserPtsaP,senoJtryM

    116058xoBOP 58663LA,eliboM 9522-526

    retraChtieK

    NevirDaraT2637

    91663LA,eliboM 6052-666

    aroHycnaN

    edroBaL614

    90663LA,eliboM 4286-243

    notnilCcMhtidE

    teertSetteyafaLN071

    40663LA,eliboM 8984-234

    In January a brilliant maleBluebird, Sailia siasis, perchedoutside my window on a leaflesspeach tree and sang soft musicalmelodies, warbling almostrelentlessly, head tilted to the

    side in the characteristic postureof his species. Even thoughnesting houses were provided inour front yard and in aneighbors field, I insisted onputting up still another nestbox, this one on my clothes linepole.

    Two days later Mr. BB waschecking it out, poking his headin and out, sitting on top of it,flying back and forth to the

    peach tree. A few days later afemale joined him, also disap-pearing into the box, thencoming out to perch on theclothes line.

    This activity occurred earlymorning, then the pair disap-peared for much of the day.While they were absent aCarolina Chickadee, Paruscarolinensis, decided the box

    might be to his liking and beganthe same scenario of poking inand out.

    Next day the Chickadeearrived before the Bluebirds lefton their morning trek. Mr. BBconfronted the Chickadee andchased him (or her) into the woods. While he was all riled

    up and in a confrontational moodhe bombarded a squirrel that wasminding his own business on theplatform feeder. I believe theBluebird actually nipped fur fromthe pesky rodent.

    Since Chickadees are alsocavity nesters we put up stillanother box, in hopes the Chicka-dees would find it suitable. Lastyear the dead tree that housedseveral families of Woodpeckersand Chickadees fell victim of asaw necessary because nearbypower lines were threatened.

    There are several Bluebirdsnesting in our neighborhood andthey all seem more colorful this

    year. Seeing them in Februarybefore trees and plants have theirspring bloom is especially pleas-ing to my eyes.

    When the television news isall about war, death and destruc-tion, I turn off the telly, put asidethe newspaper and enjoy theantics of my feathered friends. Ieven gave up the clothes lineuntil nesting season is over.

    Celeste Hinds

    Bluebirds Compete WithChickadees

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    3/12

    3

    Eastern Blue-bird

    by John Borom

    The natural nestingplace of Eastern Bluebirds(Sialia sialis) is in tree cavities.Over the years, land has beencleared for housing and indus-trial developments, shoppingmalls, cropland and highways. Wooden fence posts that onceprovided nesting cavities havenow been replaced with metalposts. With progress, the

    supply of natural nestingcavities for Eastern Bluebirdsand other native cavity nestershas been greatly reduced.

    Modern forestry prac-tices that favor the removal ofaged and diseased trees, havecontributed to populationdeclines. Competition for nestsites from introduced Euro-pean Starlings and HouseSparrows, particularly where

    suitable holes are scarce has worsened the situation. Theharmful effects from the use ofpesticides to control fire antsis also a problem.

    Eastern Bluebirdpopulations declined in recentyears to as low as 17 percent oftheir previous numbers in thelate 1950s and early 1960s.Currently, Eastern Bluebird

    populations are increasing insome regions as the number ofnatural nesting sites has beenaugmented with artificialnesting boxes. Bluebirding isa great environmental, hands-on project that people of allages can enjoy.

    BirdathonThe following is copied from Elizabeths letter to her sponsors:Dear Family, Friends, Neighbors, and Faithful Birdathon Sponsors:

    I decided this year not to talk with Confucius about the Birdathonfor I could just hear him may, Youve gotta stop this foolishness ofcounting birds. You cant hear! You cant see! And you cant walk! Youare just too old!

    In spite of Confucious negative comments and in spite of theweathermans heavy rain prediction, we (my birding cohorts, EdithMcClinton, Lois Cassity and Ediths daughter, Genny, as our driver)took off for the Island determined to count species to raise funds toplace the wildlife magazine, Audubon Adventures, into classrooms inMobile and Baldwin Counties and to have fun.

    And fun we had! The weather cooperated, overcast but no rain.Because the tide was quite high, we were surprised to pick up manyshore birds including 3 busy Ruddy Turnstones turning over stones, 2 wading Oystercatchers, Skimmers, Black-necks Stilts, Willets and

    several Rails. Gulls, Terns, Herons, a Pied-billed Grebe, a few warblerswith their ventriloquial talent making it hard to catch a glimpse ofthem, 1 Summer Tanager, 1 Baltimore Oriole, 1 Hummer, a scatteringof Swallows, and the usual backyard visitors, (Titmouse, Finches,Wrens, Chickadees, Cardinals, etc.) raised our count to 79. We werepleased and doing it for a worthy cause, in spite of the gnats, kept usgoing n counting, going n counting.

    At the Audubon Sanctuary, the resident alligator put on a show forus. On the boardwalk out to the lake, Genny and I were privileged tohear and see 2 Towhees chatting to each othera delightful pair.

    Many of you have continued to be one of my sponsors. As always,5, 10. 25, $1.00 per speciesany amount is appreciated, no gift too

    small and no gift too large. You donation is tax deductible. Make checkspayable to the Mobile Bay Audubon Society and mail to me.

    Thank you from your faithful Birdathon rep.Elizabeth Williams3616 Pepper Ridge DriveMobile, AL 36693643-7527

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    4/12

    4

    Welcome to the Mobile Bay Audubon Society, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society. We thank you foryour support. A few facts about our chapter: Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday from September thru

    May at 7:30 PM alternately in Fairhope and Mobile (See calendar for details of programs and locations.) Programsof interest are planned for each meeting and field trips are scheduled regularly. We are a non-profit organizationalldonations are tax deductible. A list of officers is listed in the newsletter; feel free to call any of them for information.Join us as often as you canwe want to get to know you.

    Ottilie Halstead, Membership Chairman

    New Members

    Baker, LARay RamsayBay MinetteE McPhersonSharilyn Romanick

    Bon Secour Jennifer DavisChunchulaTona DukesDaphneRoderick G DrummondKaren Pearson Jayne YarbroughDauphin IslandConnie RoanC Spencer

    Howard A VollbrechtBeverly WatsonFairhopeGay CraneMichael J. KaufmanSusan MitchellLisa Myers

    Margaret D OwenPatricia PortierHamp RoystonGardland SimsMelanie Wilhite

    FoleyAtchisonsBill BenderAlice CoxMrs. D. HerndonDonald R LabbeeMargaret G RogersJennifer SiskGulf ShoresDan ChichesterJayne L Rickert

    Cheryl SearcyJackson, MODennis D SprandelLillian Waler LawsonLittle RiverRobert Lynch

    Magnolia Springs Jane KempMobileMargaret BarnesIan J Blackburn

    Dr. & Mrs. C. BrownCheryl CainBrenda CatlinRachel DixonSandy DowningRoyer DowningM W Gray Jerri HesterTheresa HickeyKathy KvietysCindy McDonald

    Ainsley McWeelyMargo NaborsMary NashGeorge RagazzoRobert RaschDebbie ReynoldsTim Rice

    Joan RichardsonDr. Laura ShorterJoanne ShrevesDavid WalshFelice White

    MontroseKathy Hunter GordonRobertsdaleBarbara BingertStephen CloudMarvin HayesWanita KaiserSaralandDr. Thomas BilboR. KinardRalph Sones

    SilverhillKelly AgeeDonna RichardsonSpanish FortMaddy OtooleSummerdaleKim DavisVickie KilgoreTheodoreKati Weis

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    5/12

    5

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    6/12

    6

    February 28 was a cold day atEaufaula not like the bitter daysearlier in the month, but coldenough for insulated undergar-ments. After driving the country

    roads from Fairhope to Eufaula wechecked into the Lake Front StatePark Lodge, then birded areasaround the park.

    Fins, Feathers and Flowers wasthe title of this weekend birdersretreat where we logged sixty-twospecies in less than twenty-fourhours.

    Linda Reynolds, LakeGuntersville State Park Naturalistwas the weekend leader and keptthe group organized, offeringseveral options for birding by boator on foot. After an apple cidersocial, Friday nights program wasa slide presentation by accom-plished wildlife photographerQuincy Banks. Banks slidescaptured the essence of the refuge,sharing many of his fantastic slides

    and tips for photographing birds.Frank Duke, Manager of the

    Eufaula Refuge spoke about thehistory of the refuge and some ofthe management responsibilities.

    On Saturday after a heartybuffet breakfast our group optedfor the trip across the river intoGeorgia to bird the Bradley Unitof the huge Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. Dick Reynoldswas leader of the group and hisexpertise was valuable in spottingand identifying many species.This unit is closed to the publicand our caravan stopped for gatesto be unlocked.

    At the entrance to the unit aflock of wild turkeys was feedingin a corn field. Many ducksincluding Blue-winged Teal,Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wideon, Canvasback,Redhead, Ring-necked, LesserScaup and Common Goldeneyewere spotted. Much of the

    spotting required scopes. Myfavorite ducks of the entire trip were Buffleheads, Hooded Mer-gansers and Ruddy Ducks.

    Osprey, Northern Harrier,

    Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailedHawks were visible. Our boxedlunch was consumed while we watched a Bald Eagle munchingon his mid-day meal. AmericanAnhinga were in the trees, one sonear we could almost reach outand touch him.

    Shorebirds and waders galorewere feeding in the shallow areas.In the woods near the BradleyUnit were many passerines.

    After birding the Bradley Unituntil early afternoon we partedwith the group and returned tothe Alabama side of the refugewhere we birded the nearby areasin Houston and Upland Units ofthe Refuge. Here we saw wadersand Wood Ducks plus ducksobserved earlier in the day. Scopes

    Follow Me to EufaulaBy Celeste Hinds

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    7/12

    7

    were not needed here we couldalmost reach out and touch theHooded Mergansers.

    Saturday night after a seateddinner at the Eufaula Lodge, EricSoehren, field biologist with theState Lands Division of the

    Alabama Department of Conserva-tion and Natural Resources,showed slides and discussed hiswork in the Mobile/Tensaw Delta.His adventures on the Delta werea reminder of what a pristine areathe Delta is and so near to us in

    Baldwin and Mobile counties.A weekend at the Fins,

    Feathers and Flowers is well worth-while. But just going onyour own is a fine trip. There are well marked trails, viewingplatforms and maps, all making it

    easy to get around. There arecampgrounds and a rustic lodge,plus other recreation facilities.

    Eufaula National WildlifeRefuge was established in 1964through community support and

    in cooperation with the U. S.Army Corps of engineers andencompasses 11,184 acres of landand water. It is located on bothbanks of the Chattahochee Riverin southeast Alabama and south- west Georgia. Named after the

    city of Eufaula, the refuge offers avariety of wetland and uplandhabitats for a diverse fauna.

    For further informationcontact the refuge office at 334-687-4065.

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    8/12

    8

    CalendarMay

    3 Kids Fishing Fun Day. Safe Harbor R.V. Park. 8:00 a.m.-l:30p.m. A project of the Weeks Bay Reserve

    Foundation and ADCNR. For information call the reserve at 928-9792.

    13 Board Meeting. 6:30 p.m.

    General Meeting. The Natural History of the Mobile-Tensaw RiverDelta presented by

    Eric Soehren, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands

    Division. 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend.

    17 Audubon Annual Picnic, Saturday, May 17, 4:00 p.m. till . . .Lovell Sanctuary @ Lovell Farm, Loxley

    Directions: On County Road 49 turn off in front of Loxley School onto Black Griffin Road.Go to the end of the road that deadends and you will see the sanctuary on the right. Judy

    will put signs out on the road.RSVP: Judy (251)964-6512 Nadine (251)964-5387

    June

    13 Field trip to Gaillard Island in Mobile Bay to observe nesting Brown Pelicans as well as gulls and terns.

    Meet at Beachcomber Dry Dock and Marine Supply at Dog River in Mobile County. Going south take

    the first left after you cross the Dog River Bridge. There will be a $15 per person fee. Limit 20 people.

    9 a.m.-1 p.m. For reservations call John Borom at 990-0423.

    The disappointing House votein favor of drilling in the ArcticRefuge on April 10 overshadoweda major conservation victory forthe refuge that came the very nextday. On Friday, April 11, theCongress adopted the conference

    report on the Budget Resolutionwhich was clear of any instructionto the authorizing committees todrill in the Arctic Refuge. Quitesimply, this means that the pro-drilling members of Congressconceded defeat on this back-doorattempt to sneak a drilling provi-sion into the budget.\

    After the House passed theirversion of the Budget Resolutionwhich contained a hidden revisionfor drilling in the Arctic Refuge,the Senate rejected a proposal toadd Arctic drilling to the budgeton March 19 with a vote of 52-48.

    The Resolution then went toconference, and when the measureemerged, the conference commit-tee had acceded to the Senateposition of no drilling in therefuge. The fact that this drillingprovision did not pass the Senatewith a simple majority is a clearindication that drilling proponents

    cannot get the 60 votes needed toauthorize arctic drilling on theSenate floor. (60 votes would beneeded to authorization to breakthe filibuster that some Senatorshave vowed to use to block Arcticdrilling.)

    It remains to be seen whatthreats the refuge will face in theSenate Energy Committee, butthis victory in the CongressionalBudget Resolution was a majordefeat to those who want to openthe wildlife reserve to oil drilling.The inability of drilling propo-

    Artic National Wildlife RefugeBig Win for the Arctic Refuge Comes After Setback in the House

    Continued on page9

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    9/12

    9

    The Snowy Egret (Egrettathula) is a medium-sized, graceful,delicate, long-legged wading bird

    with entirely white plumage. It isabout 20 inches tall with awingspan of about 38 inches, andit is certainly a beautiful bird.

    Adults have a thin blackbill, yellow facial skin, black legs,and yellow feet. In breedingseason long lacy plumes arepresent on the head, neck, andback. Immature birds are similarto adults but lack plumes andhave a yellow stripe up the backof their legs.

    Snowy Egrets are com-mon permanent residents unlikelyto be missed if one looks inponds, coastal marshes, swampsand river edges. These agile birdsoften feed by sprinting rapidlythrough shallow water, chasingschools of minnows and shrimp.This habit makes them easy toidentify without seeing their bills

    and feet. They also constantly

    Snowy Egretby John Borom

    nents to deliver a majority in theSenate means that the environmen-tal community is well-positioned tohandle any future threats to theArctic Refuge that come in thisCongress.

    Support is still needed! Every-one is encouraged to see where their

    Representative and Senators standon the issue and then take the timeto contact them and let them knowhow you feel on the issue. Togetherwe will make sure that this greatarctic wilderness is not destroyed forsix months worth of oil.US World Wildlife Fund Arctic National

    Wildlife Refuge

    shuffle their yellow feet and stirup mud to scare out prey.

    Prior to the protection of

    our native species, Snowy Egretswere extensively hunted for theirplumes. During the mid-1800sit was very fashionable for womento have bird feathers on their hatsand clothing. Many adults werekilled on the nest and the youngleft to die. Their slaughterspawned the conservation move-ment in the United States, includ-ing the establishment of theNational Audubon Society. TheMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918and other laws made it illegal toharm many of our native birdsand other laws pulled this speciesback from very reduced numbers.Today the Snowy Egret is notlisted needing special conservationattention in any portion of itsoutheastern range.

    The photograph of theSnowy Egret was taken near the

    Dauphin Island Airport on April19, 2003.

    Continued from page 8

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    10/12

    10

    Spring migration is the superbowl

    for birders . Amazingly, these tiny

    birds have flown thousand of miles to

    reach the coast after spending the

    North American winter in Mexico,

    Central America or South America

    where the days remain warm and food

    is plentiful during our cold season.

    And luckily for those of us fortunate

    enough to live on the coast, migrating

    birds pass through our area. Birding

    is excellent all along the coast andthere are numerous special birding

    events.

    The Great LouisianaBirdFest

    Nancy Hora and I, as well as John

    Borom and his wife Carolyn, attended

    The Great Louisiana BirdFest, an

    annual event of the Northlake Nature

    Center in Mandeville, Louisiana. The

    Birdfest consists of around 18

    different field trips over a four dayperiod. The trips visit varied hatitats

    including seashore, swamps,

    wetlands, pine savanna, and

    hardwoods. The birders meet at the

    Castine Center, where they are picked

    up by bus and driven to the site they

    have selected. Excellent guides

    accompany each group and often

    meals, snacks or wine and cheese are

    served. On Friday nights of the

    Birdfest they have a benefit featuring

    South Louisiana food (and those

    Cajuns know how to cook), silent

    auction and a Cajun band.

    Following is a list of some of the birds

    we sighted on our trips (Nancy and

    Delane; John chose some different

    trips):

    Yellow Rumped Warbler

    Black-crowned Night Heron

    Little Blue Heron

    Green HeronTri-colored Heron

    Yellow-crowned Night Heron

    Ospry

    Mississippi Kite

    Red tailed Hawk

    Red shouldered Hawk

    Black Vulture

    Turkey Vulture

    Anhinga

    Brown-headed Nuthatch

    White Ibis

    Eastern Bluebird

    Great Crested FlycatcherGray Catbird

    Carolina Chickadee

    Mottled Duck

    Snowy Egret

    Great Egret

    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

    Broad-winged Hawk

    Wild Turkey

    Summer Tanager

    Painted Bunting

    Everything about the trip was

    wonderful. The 50 or so members of

    the Northlake Nature Center do an

    excellent job of arranging varied and

    interesting trips and coordinating all

    the activities. Next year maybe more

    of our members will be able to go.

    Dauphin IslandThe weekend following the Birdfest,

    April 20, we went to Dauphin Island

    where birds were abundant. DauphinIsland was the site of the annual

    AOS meeting and there were birders

    from all over the US and a few

    foreign countries. Following is a list

    of sightings there:

    Tennessee Warbler

    Great crested Flycatcher

    Solitary Sandpiper

    Prothonotary Warbler

    Chuck-wills Widow

    Summer Tanager

    Indigo Bunting

    Downy Woodpecker

    Wood Thrust

    Grey-cheeked Thrush

    AmericanRedstart

    Black & white Warbler

    Worm-eating Warbler

    Reddish Egret

    Blue Grosbeack

    Delane Small

    Spring Migration

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    11/12

    11

    Adult Yellow-crownedNight Herons (Nyctanassaviolacea) are beautiful birds. Thegeneric name is derived from a

    combination of two Greek words,Nyctos (night) and anassa (a lady)and the specific name is the Latinword for violet-colored.

    Night herons are stockierin appearance than most otherherons. They are about 21 inchestall and have a 44 inch wingspan.They have a yellow crown, ofcourse, and a black head with a white cheek patch, large reddish

    orange eyes, and a thick black billshaped like a spear point. Thebody is a powder blue and eachfeather of the folded wings is linedwith white, and the legs and feetare yellow. During the breedingseason long white occipital plumesare present.

    Yellow-crowned Night Heronby John Borom

    Juvenile birds are slaty-brown streaked finely with buffand white. The eyes are yellowishto amber. Adult plumage isgradually acquired over a period oftwo years.

    On the Gulf Coast,breeding season begins in lateMarch, peaks in mid-April to

    early May, and extends to themiddle of July. Breeding habitatis wetland areas, includingswamps, marshes, bottomlandforests, and river systems. Thenest is commonly built in a tree30-40 feet above the ground over water. The platform-style nest isbuilt of sticks and other plantmaterial and looks as if the eggsmight fall through the bottom.

    The female usually laysfour or five dull bluish eggs, andboth adults take turns incubatingthem for 21-25 days. The youngremain near the nest for 25 daysafter hatching. Both adults carefor the nestlings.

    The diet is primarilycrustaceans, especially crabs and

    crayfish, but also includes snails,mussels, small mammals, lizardsand snakes. This species forages atnight and roosts during the day.

    The photograph of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron andnest was taken near Bayou SauvageNational Wildlife Refuge duringthe Great Louisiana BirdFest on

    April 11, 2003.

    NewsletterDeadline

    Please send yourarticles for the

    July issue toDelane Small by June 20.Address:1 Fiesta DriveSpanish Fort, AL36527Email:[email protected]

  • 8/9/2019 May-June 2003 Mobile Bay Audubon Society Newsletters

    12/12

    NationalAudubonSociety

    MobileBayAudubonSociety

    POBox483

    Fairhope,AL366522

    Non-ProfitOrg.USPOSTAGE

    PAIDFairhope,AL

    PermitNo.24

    Mobile Bay Audubon Wants You!

    Join Us Today!Every membership supports Audubons vital efforts to protect birds, wildlife and natural habitats.

    As a member, youll become an important part of our dynamic chapter and receive a host of benefits including:

    A 1-year subscription (6 bi-monthly issues) of our chapter newsletter.

    Automatic membership in National Audubon Society, and a 1-year subscription (4 issues, one per quarter) of

    Audubon, its award-winning magazine;

    Admission to Audubon Centers across the country

    A 10% discount on products at select Audubon Nature Stores, and more!

    Yes! I want to join Mobile Bay Audubon and National Audubon Society!

    $20 1 year Introductory Rate

    $15 1 year Student/Senior Rate $1,000 Individual Life Membership

    $30 2 year Special Rate $1,500 Dual Life Membership

    My check is enclosed. Please bill me.

    Name:

    Address:

    City/ST/Zip:

    Telephone:

    Make check payaable to National Audubon Society and Mail to :National Audubon Society, Membership Data

    Center, P.O.Box 52529, Boulder, CO 80322-2529 ChapterCode: A017XCH

    From Singing in the Wilderness 1935

    by Donald Culross Peattie

    Man feels himself an infinity above those creatures who stand, zoologically, only one step below him, but every human

    being looks up to the birds. They suit the fancy of us all. What they feel they can voice, as we try to; they court and nest,

    they battle with the elements, they are torn by two opposing impulses, a love of home and a passion for far places. Only

    with birds do we share so much emotion.