VOLUME 32, NUMBER 8 MAY 2001
WARIOTO AT A GLANCE
REGULAR MEETING: Thursday, May 3, 7:30
p.m., room 102, McCord Building, APSU.
PROGRAM: "Southern African Ecosystems: Diversity and Challenges"
by Drs. Steve and Carol Baskauf.
HOSPITALITY: The Clarksville Academy Key Club will provide refreshments
after the program.
BOARD MEETING: Thursday, May 3, 7:00 p.m., room 214, McCord Science
Bldg., APSU.
FIELD TRIPS: "Spring Bird Count," May 12 and "Spring
Fling," May 19 - more information on both found below.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE by Sally Schiller
"Toad, Toad, wake up. It is May now."
"What?" said Toad. "Can it be May so soon?"
"Yes," said Frog. "Look at your calendar."
Toad looked at the calendar. The May page was on top.
"Why , it is May!" said Toad as he climbed out of bed.
Then he and Frog ran outside to see how the world was
looking in Spring.
- from Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, Harper & Row, Publishers.
1971.
I hope you are up and out and enjoying Spring too. Please place on your May calendar all of the fine events the chapter has planned.
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PROGRAM NOTES, Sally Schiller
I would like to thank Laurina
Lyle for her presentation about Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. It was interesting to
learn how Mother Nature has made moot the debate on whether to breech the dikes that have
kept the ocean water from mixing with the river water for years. The recent earthquake in
Washington state broke the dike; thus, once again, salt water mixes with river water at
high tide restoring a unique ecosystem. Thanks again to the Clarksville Academy Key Club
for refreshments.
For our program meeting on May 3rd at 7:30 PM we welcome
Drs. Steve and Carol Baskauf who will give a slide presentation entitled, "Southern
African Ecosystems: Diversity and Challenges." Steve and Carol lived and worked in
Swaziland several years ago and have first hand knowledge of these ecosystems. This
promises to be a very informative presentation.
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FIELD TRIP REPORT, Sally Schiller
May 12th , Saturday is the Annual Spring Bird Count. Field
and feeder counters are needed. Gloria Milliken is again coordinating this most important
event. The more participation the better!! More information is provided below.
May 21st , Saturday is our Spring Fling Event at Dunbar Cave
State Park. Please see the schedule of events below. Bring your family and friends!!
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INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD COUNT
Warioto Chapter of the National Audubon Society have contributed to the International Migratory Bird Count for the last several years. It is an important measure of the "health" of our Neotropical migrants as well as that of our resident and non-Neotropical migrant species. On the designated date, groups from all over North America and the World identify and enumerate birds in their areas. Through the coordinated effort we can contribute to the "snapshot" of the migration in progress. The information can be used to follow population trends of migrant and resident species and provide long term documentation of the avifauna activity.
The designated date for the 2000 spring count is May 12. We have again had unusual weather (It looks like unusual is usual!) and many migrants will have arrived and gone by the time of this count.
The spring count tallies species and numbers of individual much like the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). You must keep a record of your activity on the count. That is, record distance traveled on foot and in the car and time in and out of the car just as you would for the CBC. Also, similar to the CBC are the count week records. This allows you to report observations of birds seen in the three days before and three days after the count day, but not observed on the count day.
The count itself is organized differently from the Christmas Bird Count. We (1) do not meet at Shoneys, we (2) do not have a post-count meeting, and (3) we are not restricted to the 15-mile count circle, only by the county boundaries. While it is an all day count, you are not required to put in a full 8 hours as you are with the CBC (although, as with several of you, Debbie and I will get in at least 8 hours). It is organized as follows: (1) You MUST call Gloria Milliken (358-2998) in advance to select your count areas/ locations. You pick the areas/locations were you plan to count and she makes sure there is not an overlap or duplication of efforts with other birders. Gloria may be able to direct you to an area or pair you with someone. (2) Call Gloria and report the results of your count. Gloria will compile and submit Warioto's results. (3) The count is restricted to Montgomery County. If you have any questions about the count, call Gloria at the number provided above.
American Redstart, one of our spring migrants
AUDUBON MEMBER WILL BE MISSED
Rachel Raska, a member of the Warioto Audubon Chapter, died last month. She had been a member of our chapter for many years. I remember her most fondly for her efforts to attend the chapter's July potluck picnic each year.
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JOHN ROBINSON INVESTIGATES MINORITY BIRDERS
Those of you that have been in the area for a few years may remember John Robison as an outstanding birder at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge. Also, you may know him as the author of "An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. The Spring 2001 "Chapter Networker," a newsletter for Audubon chapter leaders, reports that John is investigating minorities involved in birding. For those of you who do not know John, he is African-American. He is looking at the limited involvement of minorities in birding and hope to find ways to encourage more minorities to take up birding.
If you want to help, visit the American Birding Association web site at http://www.americanbirding.org/newsbullet11.htm . You are encouraged to visit the site and fill out a questionnaire at the above wed address and to spread the word about the site and encourage others to fill out the form. The deadline is May 2001, so do not delay.
If you want to contact John Robinson for more information or to re-establish contact, he can be reached at the following addresses.
John C. Robinson, 1470 Creekside Dr., Suite 23, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; logshrike@compuserve.com ; or (925) 932-4201
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PLEASE JOIN AUDUBON
For those of you who are not members of the National
Audubon Society, let me encourage you to join. Remember that NAS is one of the leading
conservation organizations in North America. By joining you not only help the Warioto
chapter in achieving its local goals, but you will participate in National Audubon Society
"programs to protect wildlife, promote energy conservation and help ensure a
healthier environment." Just fill out this form and mail it the National Audubon
Society.
If you are a member, share this application with a friend or neighbor. Alternatively, you may want to give a membership as a gift.
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Spring Fling At Dunbar
Cave State Park
Saturday, May 19th
Celebrate Spring at Dunbar Cave
with
Friends of Dunbar Cave
Warioto Audubon Chapter
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Tennessee Trails Association
all activities begin at the visitor center and are free of charge
Early Morning Bird Hike 7:00-8:30 AM
Hike the trails at Dunbar Cave State Park; watch and identify birds with members of the Warioto Audubon Chapter.
Snakes Alive! 8:45-9:45 AM
Are you brave enough to join Dr. David Snyder and his son Logan as they show you some of the common snakes of Middle Tennessee and other reptiles? Learn why these gentle creatures are so important to our ecology.
Wildflower Walk 10:00-11:15 AM
Sallie Noel will lead you on a hike through the park on a mildly strenuous trail to appreciate the abundant wild flowers & other plants at Dunbar Cave State Park.
Salamanders 11:30-12:30 PM
Learn about these interesting animals that live in and around Dunbar Cave with salamander expert, Colleen White.
Backyard Habitat 12:45-1:45 PM
Learn the do's and don'ts of creating backyard bird habitat with Polly Rooker from Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Canoeing 2:00 -3:00 PM
Experience Dunbar Cave Natural Area from a canoe.
For More Information Contact: Sally Schiller at 387-4071
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THE 2000-2001 WARIOTO BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President:: Sally Schiller, 387-4071, slschil@attglobal.net
5th V.P.-CEECS: Joe Schiller, 387-4071, schillerjoseph@netscape.net
1st V.P.-Program Chair/Pres. Elect: OPEN
Secretary: Amy Atkins, 648-5526
2nd V.P.-Field Trips: Rebecca Houtman, 645-2398, rahoutman@aol.com
Treasurer: Gloria Milliken, 358-2998
3rd V.P.-Membership: Debbie Hamilton, 645-8092, hamiltond@clarksvilleacademy.com
Hospitality Chair: Colleen White, (615) 307-9415, faxon@aol.com
4th V.P.-Publications: Steve Hamilton, 645-8092 , hamiltonsw@apsu.edu
Board Members-At-Large: 1998-2001: Suva Bastin, 645-2849; Heather Hollis, 221-0718
1999-2002: Barry Podell, 648-1922; Barbara Wilbur, 647-4956
2000-2003: Randy Ellis, 551-8741; Jill Freethy, flame327@aol.com
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WARIOTO WARBLER NEWSLETTER is published at least nine times a year by Warioto Audubon Chapter, Clarksville, TN 37040. All National Audubon members in our area receive it, and nonmembers may subscribe to it at a subscription price of $4.00 per year. Checks should be made payable to Warioto Warbler Audubon Chapter. Please notify us of any CHANGE OF ADDRESS, as this Newsletter is sent by bulk mail and cannot be forwarded.
PRESIDENT: Sally Schiller, 2951 Chapel Hill Rd., Clarksville, TN 37040-8312
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Steve Hamilton, 290 Ardmoor Dr., Clarksville, TN 37043 (645-8092)
MEMBERSHIP: Debbie Hamilton, 290 Ardmoor Dr., Clarksville, TN 37043 (645-8092)
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ARTICLES AND INFORMATION FOR THE JUNE NEWSLETTER ARE DUE MAY 21.
Submit to Steve Hamilton, 290 Ardmoor Dr., Clarksville, TN 37043 or to hamiltonsw@apsu.edu