April 2018 Volume 23(8)

Mecklenburg Audubon Society | P. O. Box 221093, Charlotte, NC 28222 | meckbirds.org

Audubon News

What’s Inside?

Coming Events

BBE Pt. 2: Warblers 1

Field Trips 2-3

Audubon Photo Exhibit 3

Landscaping Tips 4

Bird-Friendly Communities 5-6

Your Choice: Pest Control 7

Where are the Warblers 8

IDing Warblers 9

Warbler Scramble 10

Warbler App 10

Attract Warblers 10

Meet the Board 11

New T-shirts 11

Birds of the Central Carolinas 11

NestWatch 12

Renewal Form 12

4/3 Senior Birding

4/5 Monthly Meeting

4/7 Congaree NP

4/13 Photo Exhibit Gala

4/14 Catawba Preserve

4/17 Latta Park

4/21 Six-Mile Creek Grnwy.

4/28 Latta Prairie

5/1 Latta Prairie

5/3 Clark’s Creek Preserve

5/3 Monthly Meeting

5/5 Spring Count

Who’s New?Isla Bohm Erina CookNickolas Davros II Kathy Gister Brucie HarryLaurie HorneAngela Hughes Susan Jayson Barry QuinnAmanda Rankin Beck TaitArlene TenczaBarbara VeliskakisCheryl Williams

Birding By Ear Pt. 2: WarblersPresenter: Ken Kneidel | April 5th | 7:15 PM

At this moment thousands of small feathered creatures are taking wing on an arduous journey from the warmth of the tropics to the more temperate climes in North America. Many of them will pass through the Carolinas to the delight of birders. For the most part they are brightly colored little gems. They are neotropic warblers, also known as new world warblers, and are only found in the western hemisphere. Birders eagerly await their arrival with both joy and dread. The joy is seeing their bright colors. The dread is finding them, as they like to either hide in thick shrubs or bounce around high up in the tree tops. Warbler neck is a common malaise in the spring.

There is one thing that can help locate these charming creatures, their song. Each species has a unique song and even though in most cases it isn’t a warble, it helps birders locate birds. This month’s meeting will focus on learning some of those songs. As a follow up to last spring’s program, Ken

Kneidel will present Birding by Ear Part 2, focusing in on the warblers we are most likely to encounter in the Carolinas. He’ll give us tips on what to listen for and where to look once you hear the call. It will be an interactive presentation so come prepared to listen and learn. So join the flock as we prepare for the incoming migration at the Tyvola Senior Center (2225 Tyvola Rd.) on Thursday, April 3rd. Refreshments will be ready around 6:45 PM with the program beginning at 7:15 PM.

Field Trips

Physical Difficulty Key

Easy - Trails are level to slight grades usually paved; .5-3 miles walking

Moderate - Trails can be un-even with some hills; 2-4 miles walking.

Strenuous - Trails vary greatly; 4+ miles of walking.* Trails are handicapped accessible.

Tuesday, April 3rd: WingHaven (Senior MAS members Only)Mid-morning • Easy • Contact: Registration Link

Do you love nature and birds? Whether you are a novice or bird expert, you are sure to find delight in this special bird walk experience led by Mecklenburg Audubon Society volunteers. MAS has partnered with Wing Haven (260 Ridgewood Ave., Charlotte, NC, 28209) to offer these special, guided bird walks for Mecklenburg Audubon members. Wing Haven has many benches to sit and observe the birds, brick pathways to stroll and seek, as well as wooded areas to explore. A number of the pathways are ADA compliant and conducive to walkers and wheel-chairs. The entire property is about 3 acres. Bring your binoculars! The cost is $5/person - seniors only! To register, call 703.331.0664 or online at http://bit.ly/2us0x6f

Saturday, April 7th: Congaree National Park (Columbia, SC)Full Day • Moderate • Contact: Ron Clark [waxwing@bellsouth.net]

Did you know we have a great National Park only 100 miles to our south? If you didn’t, then you are in for a treat. Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States and is located just outside of Columbia, SC. We will be primarily looking for warblers such as the Hooded and Protho-notary who breed in the park. But there should be a good number of others migrating through.

We will meet at 6:30 AM in the Food Lion parking in Ft. Mill, SC (1046 Regent Pkwy., Fort Mill, SC 29715). Bring snacks, water, and lunch. It can get buggy so bring spray as well. The trail is an elevated boardwalk through the swamp. We will be walking about 3 miles.

Saturday, April 14th: Catawba College Ecological Preserve1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Steve Coggin [scoggin@catawba.edu] • Map

This Preserve is a 189 acre gem hidden on the campus of Catawba Col-lege less than an hour north on I-85. Dr. Steve Coggin will be our guide as we wonder through its flood plain forest, wooded slopes, creeks and ponds. The Preserve has several miles of trails and has over 150 species of birds have been recorded. We will meet at 8:30 AM in the College’s Chapel parking area (2300 W Innes St, Salisbury, NC 28144). For more information check out the Preserve’s webpage (https://goo.gl/AEtE2y).

Tuesday, April 17th: Latta Park (Dillworth)1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Judy Walker [birdwalker@me.com]

Although the park has undergone some landscape renovations, the birds still come to this historic spot for warbler migration. Neotropics should be beginning to move through and resident birds should be feeding young. Meet at the picnic pavillion at 8:30 AM.

Audubon News Page 2

All Mecklenburg Audubon Field Trips are free and open to the public. Directions for all trips can be found on the Mecklenburg Audubon website - meckbirds.org/trips/trips.html. Please remember to contact the trip leaders several days before the trip. If you don’t, you may not receive information about last minute changes or cancellations. Also, if they don’t know you are coming, they might leave without you!!

Prothonotary Warbler ©Will Stuart

Scarlet Tanager ©Will Stuart

Audubon News Page 3

Saturday, April 21st: Six-mile Creek Greenway (Beginners Bird Walk)

1/2 Day • Easy • Contact: Bill & Laura Blakesley [lclemons@mindspring.com]

On the southside of the county, Six-mile Creek Greenway is a great place to begin learning about birds and birding. Although folks of all levels are welcome, we will concentrate on helping folks new to birding learn ther basics of using binoculars, spotting a bird, and identification. This will be a two-mile walk (round trip) on a level paved walkway. Spring migration should produce a variety of migrants. We’ll start at 8:30 AM in the parking.

Saturday, April 28th: Latta Plantation Prairie (Beginner Bird Walk)

1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Marcia Howden [howden32@aol.com]

On the northside of the county, Latta Plantation is a great place to begin learning about birds and birding. Although folks of all levels are welcome, we will concentrate on helping folk new to birding learn ther basics of using binoculars, spotting a bird, and identification. This will be a two-mile walk on dirt and gravel roads. We’ll have power line right-of-way, woods and prairie/field. Spring migration should produce a variety of migrants. We’ll start at 8:30 AM in the parking lot to the right just inside the gate of Latta Nature Preserve.

Tuesday, May 1st: Latta Plantation Prairie1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Ron Clark [waxwing@bellsouth.net]

For those who couldn’t make the Saturday walk, Ron will do a repeat performance. The prairie is a great place to see Prairie Warblers, Chats, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings and much more. Meet at 8:00 AM in the parking lot on the right just inside the gate for the preserve next to the nature center.

Thursday, May 3rd: Clark’s Creek Nature Preserve1/2 Day • Moderate • Contact: Judy Walker [birdwalker@me.com] • MAP

We haven’t birded this preserve in the spring. The mix of open fields and wooded wet areas should produce a nice mix of breeding birds includ-ing Indigo Bunting, Chat, Field Sparrow and more. Meet in the parking lot on Hucks Rd. at 7:30 AM. (Note the earlier time so we can catch the birds as they are getting started on their morning excursions.)

Saturday, May 5th: Charlotte Spring CountAll Day • Contact: Jeff Lemons [birdsalot@gmail.com]

Our annual spring count will coincided with The Cornell Lab of Orinthol-ogy’s Global Big Day. We spend the day searching for as many species and individual birds as we can find within the same area (circle) as we use for our Christmas count. Jeff Lemons coodinates this effort, so con-tact him if you are interested in joining a group.

National Audubon Photo Exhibitat ImaginOn

If you have ever oohed and aa-hed over any of the photographs in the Audubon magazine or other bird related publications, here is an opportunity for you to see them up-close-and-personal. The 2017 National Audubon Photography Award winners are coming to Char-lotte. They will be showcased at ImaginOn in Uptown Charlotte April 13th through May 1st.

We are holding an opening reception at ImaginOn (third floor Balcony level) for MAS members on April 13, 2018 from 6 – 8 PM to view the images and celebrate Mecklenburg Audubon. Light hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments will be served. We hope that you will join your fellow Mecklenburg birders at this event. The space is limited to 50 attendees so please let us know you are coming by reg-istering at Meckbirds.org.

The Children’s Theater will also be presenting Madagascar: A Musi-cal Adventure at 7:30 PM. So you could turn this into a family night out. For more information about the play (https://goo.gl/3DoFhD). Parking information for Imagi-nOn (https://www.imaginon.org/node/44).

For more information about the award and how to enter the 2018 contest go to https://goo.gl/fhsxfq

Field Trips

Audubon News Page 4

Birds choose environments that provide them with food, water, and shelter. Take a bird’s-eye look at your backyard. Does it provide those things? If not, there are plants you can grow and many other ways you can enhance your yard to make it more bird-friendly. Here are some tips to help you:

Evaluate Your Real Estate

First, take stock of what you already have. Draw a map of your property including buildings and other struc-tures, sidewalks, fences, trees, shrubs, and the location of feeders and nest boxes. Note sunny or shady sites, low or wet areas, sandy sites, and plants you want to keep.

Start With a Plan

Before you start digging holes and rearranging your yard, develop a planting plan. Draw each new plant onto a piece of tracing paper, then place that over the map of your yard (of course, you could do this on your computer, too). Once your plants are in, use your map as a reminder about which need to be watered and weed-ed, especially in the first year after planting. Mulch is an invaluable tool for keeping moisture in and weeds out.

Include Important Plant Groups

In general, try to include in your planting plan some of the following important plant groups that are par-ticularly valuable for birds

* Conifers* Grasses and legumes* Nectar-producing plants* Summer-fruiting plants* Fall-fruiting plants* Winter-persistent plants* Nut and acorn plants

Think “Variety!”

Looking for diversity? Plants can provide birds with food in the form of flower buds, fruit, seeds, nectar, or sap, as well as nest sites and nest material, and shelter from adverse weather conditions and predators.

The larger the variety of plants you grow, the more different kinds of birds your yard will attract.

Choose Plants Wisely

Select new plants appropriate for the lighting and soil conditions of your property. Consider how big a new plant might eventually grow, and avoid the surprise of it taking over your yard!

Go Native!

Plant native species instead of exotics. Native plants, such as those at right, are more likely to thrive, plus they offer the foods best suited to the birds of your area. Here, in summer, the red blooms of cardinal flower attract hummingbirds, while wild bergamot and goldenrod harbor insects, an excellent food source for birds. Later in fall when the goldenrod fades, finches and sparrows will feast on its seeds.

Landscaping Tips for a Bird-friendly Backyard (from Cornell Ornithology Laboratory’s Bird Friendly Homes - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/browse/topic/bird-friendly-homes/)

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher ©Steve Coggin

This month’s Year of the Bird challenge is to create bird-friendly/planet friendly spaces. Simple changes around your house or yard can be bet-ter for birds—and for our climate. Mow less, avoid pesticides, think organ-ic, and save water. Articles in this months newsletter provide additional ways you can meet this challenge.

Continued on page 6

Audubon News Page 5

Your yard (regardless of size) -- and the kinds of plants in it -- matters more than you may know. Native plants play a very import-ant role in providing the food birds need to survive and thrive in a way that nonnative plants cannot do.

GoinG native Native plants are those that

occur naturally in an area. North Carolina, with its diverse geogra-phy, is home to thousands of native plant species! Our natural wildlife - including birds - have adapted to the resources provided by North Carolina’s native plant population. These plants and trees are, in a real sense, home for our birds.

The current population of na-tive plants is becoming displaced by non- native, exotic and often vigorously growing species. These invasive exotic plants encroach on natural habitats and do not pro-vide the nutrients many birds need to survive.

Why are native plants important? In a word: insects... Almost all

land birds require insects to feed their young. Even seed-eating birds often must feed their babies insects to ensure their survival. Insects cannot adapt to eating non-native plants. Less native plants mean less insects, which in turn means fewer bird babies growing to adulthood.

are nonnative plants bad for birds? Though often pretty, nonnatives

ultimately do not provide enough resources, particularly insects, to feed baby birds and sustain healthy bird populations.

“but birds love my privet hedGe!” Adult birds are adaptable and

will readily eat the fruits of nonna-tive plants. Most insects, however, are not as flexible and do not feed on nonnative plants. With fewer in-sects, baby birds starve – and bird populations plummet.

What are invasive plants? Invasive plants, like kudzu and

Chinese privet, are nonnative spe-cies that have escaped cultivation and now overrun native vegeta-tion. This has dire consequences for birds: less food (especially for nestlings), fewer nesting sites, and increased predation.

Additional resources regarding invasive plants are available at www.ncwild-flower.org/invasives/invasives.htm

online resources for native plants • NC Native Plant Society – www.

ncwildflower.org

• NC Botanical Garden – www.ncbg.unc.edu/ plants-and-garden-ing/

• Audubon North Carolina – www.ncaudubon.org

invasive plants – avoid these! Some of the most common – or,

in a few cases, “up-and-coming” – invasive species in the Piedmont of North Carolina are listed below.

English ivy (Hedera helix)

Privets (Ligustrum spp.)

Autumn olive, thorny olive (Elaeag-nus umbellata, pungens)

Exotic Wisterias (Wisteria sinensis, W. oribunda)

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Mimosa, silktree (Albizia julibrissin)

Periwinkle, Vinca (Vinca spp.)

Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japoni-ca)

Leatherleaf Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)

Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana)

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana)

Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)

Sacred bamboo (Nandina domesti-ca)

Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Sericea, bushclover (Lespedeza cuneata)

“It’s simple: By gardening with native plants, no matter where you live or how small or large your space is, you can help sustain wildlife.” - Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home

Bird Friendly Communities: The Yard

Audubon News Page 6

Berry-producing plants Nature’s energy-packed treats: Flowering dogwood (Cornus orida)

Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata)

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Viburnums (Viburnum nudum, V. dentatum, V. acerifolium)

Red chokeberry (Photinia (Aronia) pyrifolia)

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

Seed/nut-producing plants Nutrient-rich and long-lasting: Maples (Acer rubrum, A. oridanum,

A. leucoderme (native))

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angus-folius)

Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium stulo-sum)

Bluestem (Andropogon spp.)

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.)

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)

Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana)

Nectar-producing plants The sweetest things around:

Wild bergamot (Monarda didyma)

Bee balm (Monarda stulosa)

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracen-sis)

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occi-dentalis)

Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alni-folia)

Stokes aster (Stokesia laevis)

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Winterberry ©Will Stuart

Larval host plants Plant these and feed baby birds: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Native plums (Prunus americana, angus folia)

Oaks (Quercus alba, Q. phellos, Q. shumardii)

Wild indigos (Baptisia spp., Thermo-psis villosa)

Native blueberries (Vaccinium arbo-retum, V. stamineum)

Pawpaw, dwarfpawpaw (Asimina-triloba, A.parviflora)

River oats (Chasmanthium latifoli-um)

Continued from page 4

Landscaping

Year-round Attractions

To keep the birds coming back for more, select a variety of plants that will produce foods in different sea-sons. For winter residents as well as migrants that return early in spring, plants that hold their fruits through-out the winter (“winter-persistent” plants) are a vital food source.

Give Them Shelter

Provide dense thickets where birds can nest, perch, and escape from predators, by planting some shrubs, growing a hedge, or training vines over fence lines. Try to create an area of thick, wild growth to imitate a natu-ral environment.

Dead Wood’s Good!

Try to leave dead limbs and trees in place if it’s safe to do so. Insects that live under the bark and in the decaying wood are an important food source for birds such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches. Cavi-ty-nesting birds such as bluebirds and woodpeckers need old, hollow trees to nest in. To make a dead tree pretti-er, plant native vines, such as Virginia Creeper, to disguise its trunk.

Leave a Mess!

If you hate to tidy up your yard and flower beds in fall, birds will love you for it. If you grow annuals, espe-cially daisy-relatives such as purple coneflowers, black-eyed susans, and sunflowers, leave the dead seed heads on them when they fade—goldfinches and other seed-eaters will feast on the seeds. Instead of bagging up fallen leaves for disposal, rake them under your shrubs to act as mulch. They’ll harbor insects that ground-dwelling birds will find, too. And, come spring, those dead leaves, grasses, and plant stems will be a treasure trove for birds searching for nest material.

Audubon News Page 7

The Choice is YoursWhen bugs, weeds, or other pests become a problem, try one of these less-toxic control methods. Many

hardware stores and garden centers are carrying an increasing selection of healthier pest control products. Take this list with you on your next visit and ask which products are available.

physical methods • Pluck, wash, or vacuum bugs off plants or surfaces.

• Pull weeds the old-fashioned way, ideally before they produce seeds.

• Use row covers to block insects.

• Use mulch to prevent weeds.

• Encircle beds with copper flashing to deter snails and slugs.

traps, visual lures, nontoXic baits • Trap aphids & whiteflies with yellow sticky cards; the color attracts

them.

• Bait slugs with a beer or yeast solution in a saucer placed flush with the soil surface.

• Lure yellowjackets into narrow-necked bottles or jugs containing ap-ple juice.

horticultural oil sprays • Use to control aphids, mites, scale insects, whiteflies, & other pests.

• Try vegetable-oil (as opposed to petroleum-oil) based sprays.

• Apply summer or foliar oils when foliage is present.

insecticidal soaps • Use most effectively against soft-bodied pests —aphids, mites, white-

flies, thrips, caterpillars, etc.

heat & nontoXic substances • Apply corn gluten meal to turf grass in early spring and fall to prevent germination of dandelions, crabgrass,

and other common weeds.

• Kill weeds in driveway cracks with boiling water.

• Sprinkle natural-grade diatomaceous earth in pest hiding places and entry points.

bioloGical control • Learn your local allies. Lady beetles devour aphids; green lacewing

larvae feed more generally on soft-bodied insects, mites, and in-sect eggs. Other allies include spiders, soldier bugs, predatory mites, various nematodes.

• Support the allies you have. Provide the food, water, and shelter they need.

For more detailed information go to:

Audubon at Home: You have a Choice (http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/IPM_Alternatives)

Creating Bird Friendly Communities (http://www.audubon.org/conservation/bird-friendly-communities

Audubon News Page 8

Good warbler spots tend to have most of the following elements: 1) low deciduous trees, 2) thick, tan-gled undergrowth, 3) an open or semi-open canopy, 4) clear edges, 5) fresh water, 6) wind protection and 7) pathways that are wide (four feet across or wider) and/or elevated. The first six elements attract the warblers. The last makes it easier to look at them.

Quiet roads around lakes or along rivers are usually excellent warbler spots. The birds frequently feed in the tree limbs closest to the road or reveal themselves by flying across the road and landing in the first tree they reach on the other side. These roads are generally el-evated, at least one side, and the extra height offers an advantage to the birder, since the top of a 10- or 12-foot tree may be at eye level.

Ironically, city parks, college campuses, and similar “less nat-ural” habitats are often much better for warbler watching than deep and pretty lowland forests. In artificially landscaped areas, warblers will take refuge in widely separated lines of trees. Unless they are severely disturbed, they tend to move along these lines and so are more easily tacked.

stratiGraphic specialist Most warblers prefer certain

heights. In many cases the pref-erence is so strong that the strati-graphic level occupied by the war-bler can be a clue to its identity.

Other stratigraphic preferenc-es are more subtle and harder to chart but may still prove helpful once you become aware of them. In the East, for example, you should look twice at any “female hooded warbler” Fly-catching over your

head: there’s a good chance that the bird is a female Wilson’s. Hood-ed warblers will sometimes be seen up in the mid-levels (especially singing males), but they are more often seen near waist level and below.

You may also find that the strati-graphic preference for particular migrant warblers in you area may different from those described in the books (including this one).

Spring, as every birder knows, is the best season for warbler watching. The birds are in their finest plumage, and many sing strongly when they are still hun-dreds of miles south of their nesting grounds. What is not so well known is how brief the spring migration period actually is and how easy it is to miss.

Some warblers move north rela-tively early – the yellow-rumped, pine, palm, Louisiana waterthrush, black and white, yellow-throat-ed, yellow, prairie, palm, and black-throated green. Three spe-cies tend to come late: the black-poll, morning, and Connecticut. The rest tend to come together and pass through any given area within a period of three weeks or less. Typical peak periods appear in table 3, and dedicated warbler chasers try to be out in the field at every opportunity during the peak period, since weather patterns will

determine the fallouts, and these are almost impossible to predict.

No general guide can list the warblers in the sequence in which they will arrive in your area. Differ-ent species of warblers migrate at different speeds, so where you live will determine when each reach-es you. The Northern Parula, for example, is one that may arrive in the U.S. as early as the first week in March. It moves north- ward slowly, however, and does not arrive in Maine until mid-May during the main influx of warblers there.

Especially in spring, the morning after a night of hard rain is the best time to look for a fall-out of passer-ine migrants. Birding during days with intermittent rain can also be productive. The birds will contin-ue to feed during light rains. If the showers stop and the sun breaks through you can find yourself suddenly surrounded by par- ties of celebrating, hyperactive warblers.

Wind is a more serious problem. Warblers are more sensitive to wind than most birds and tend to stop moving and hide inside the foliage even during moderate gusts. If the wind starts to blow steadily at more than 15 mph or so, you should search deeper (and lower) in the woods or, better yet, put on your hawk-watching hat and save the warblers for another day.

The simple and ultimately delight-ful truth about warblers is that you can never identify all you see. No one can. This is ultimately delight-ful because it means warblers are always a challenge – warblers will always be a challenge – no matter how skilled you become. You can only become faster and more ac-curate in identifying them; you can never overmaster them.

tips for novice birders

Where are those pesky Warblers?

Stratigraphic Preferences of Warblers HIGH LEVEL: Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Black-throated green, Cerulean, Chest-

nut- sided, Tennessee, Yellow-throated.

MID-LEVEL: Bay-beasted, Black-throated Blue, Blue-winged, Canada, Bagno-lia, Prothonotary

LOW LEVEL: Common Yellowthroat, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mourning, Oven-bird, Palm, Swainson’s

Audubon News Page 9

Identifying Warblers by SightBy Melissa Mayntz, https://www.thespruce.com/warbler-identification-tips-387349

Warblers are one of the largest and most distinctive bird families in the world, and their bright plum-age and active behavior can be instantly recognized. Because they are so diverse, however, correctly identifying warblers can be a chal-lenge, and their busy activity often gives birders only a brief glimpse for identification. Birders who know how to properly identify warblers will be able to pinpoint these viva-cious species in the field with ease.

Most warblers have colorful, dis-tinctive plumage that can be easy to identify visually if you are able to spot the different field marks that distinguish each species. When watching warblers, look for these characteristics.

COLOR: Is there yellow, red, blue, black, gray, brown or orange plumage on the bird? Where is the color brightest on the bird’s body?

HEAD: What markings are visible on the head? Is there an eye ring, brow line or cheek patch? Is the chin or throat colored or streaked? Is there a visible cap or color differ-ence on the nape?

BILL: Is the bill delicate or bulky? Are both mandibles the same color?

CHEST: What color is the chest, and does it show streaks, spots or a color wash? Are the chest and the throat the same color?

FLANKS: Is there a color wash along the bird’s sides or flanks? Are they spotted, streaked or striped?

BACK: Is the back the same color as the wings or head? Does it show any streaks or spots?

WINGS: What color are the wings? Do they show any spots, edging, bars or patches?

TAIL: How long is the tail? Does it show any color patches or outer tail feather colors? Are the un-dertail coverts or rump a different color?

LEGS: Are the legs pale or dark? It is possible to identify many species of warbler by visual clues alone, provided you get a good enough view of the bird to note its distin-guishing marks. If you only have a brief glimpse, however, it may be necessary to take other factors into consideration when identifying the bird.

OTHER WAYS TO IDENTIFY WAR-BLERS

In addition to visual clues, a war-bler’s behavior and song can help to identify its species.

SONG AND SOUNDS: Many war-blers have distinctive songs, even

though most don’t ac-tually have a warbling quality. Learning how to bird by ear can help you distinguish different species of warblers by their calls, which can then let you focus on the exact field marks you need for a visual identification if desired.

Range and Habitat: While many warbler species have overlapping ranges, using geographic clues can be a good way to narrow down which warbler species you’ve seen. Also take into ac-count the habitat – some warblers prefer moist regions, while others are found in drier areas.

ACTIVITY HEIGHT: Because all warblers eat insects, these birds have evolved to feed at different heights to accommodate many species’ needs. When viewing war-blers, note where in the brush and canopy they appear most often and use that information to narrow down which species you’ve seen. Warblers that prefer to feed at the tops of trees, for example, will rarely be found at the lowest heights.

MIGRATION PERIOD: While spring is the height of warbler season for many birders, different warblers migrate at different times. Check with regional birding groups and bird sighting hotlines to learn which warblers tend to migrate early or late, and use that information to help you determine the species you see.

Identifying warblers can be tricky, but it is also rewarding when you are able to spot many different species of these colorful spring birds. Learning warbler identifica-tion tips can help you feel confi-dent in each bird you see.

American Redstart (Female) ©Bill Hilton

Audubon News Page 10

Bird Brain Teaser of the Month

Warbler ScrambleMigration time is here! Unscramble the following letters to reveal some

warblers we hope see this spring.

1. dhodeo ________________________________________

2. dacnaa ________________________________________

3. ireirpa ________________________________________

4. klcba dna hewit ________________________________________

5. lgaiamon ________________________________________

6. tcykunek ________________________________________

7. ootnytrophar ________________________________________

8. akclb rdoaetth ulbe ________________________________________

9. peca yma ________________________________________

10. amlp ________________________________________

11. mrow gintea ________________________________________

12. ubel giwden ________________________________________

13. biralbcukan ________________________________________

14. rhotnern urlapa ________________________________________

Answer Key: 1. hooded 2. canada 3. prairie 4. black and white 5. magnolia 6. kentucky 7. prothonotary 8. black throat-ed blue 9. cape may 10. palm 11. worm eating 12. blue winged 13. blackburian 14. northern parula

ATTRACT WARBLERS TO YOUR BACKYARD

•Warblers eat mostly insects and spiders. In fall and winter, they will eat seeds and berries. Offering suet is a great way to attract warblers. Suet is a great substitute for the in-

sects they like to eat. Smear suet in the bark of a tree, offer suet cakes in wire cages or other specially designed suet feeders.

•Water is one of the best attrac-tions for all warblers. A birdbath, pool-like depression or an elabo-rate running water system works great. The sound of water dripping is often more attractive to warblers than a birdbath.

•Warblers prefer brushy areas, thicketed hillsides, oak woods, or-chards, parklands and forest edg-es. Create ample cover in the form of brush piles or overgrown thickets. Warblers will readily use this type of shelter especially during migration in the fall.

•Plant some of their favorite trees: cypress, pine, oak, tulip pop-lar, sycamore, or willows.

•Plant some of their favorite berry producing plants such as honeysuckle, sumac, blackberries, dogwoods, wild grapes, junipers, mulberries and bayberry. They also love poison ivy, so instead of cut-ting it down, consider leaving this undesirable plant for your warblers!

•Warblers like open air nests in the crotch of a tree. They will use plant material, plant fibers, cob-webs, bark and grasses to build their nests. Offer some of these nesting materials in an empty suet cage.

5 Great Features Of

The Warbler Guide App

That Won’t Fit In Any Book1. Compare 2 species from any

angle using 3-D models

2. Not just similar species—simi-lar-sounding species

3. Narrow down using plumage and song clues simultaneously, using the Filter

4. Listen to lots of song record-ings—each one with a spectro-gram

5. Learn a song’s details by slow-ing it down to half-speed

For more detaile information about this app that is available for Apple & Android take a look at Cornell Lab’s review (https://goo.gl/FWA2Gd)

Black-throated Blue Warbler ©Jim Guyton

Audubon News Page 11

Birds of the Central Carolinas

Mecklenburg Audubon is excited to announce this labor of love by local birders, photographers and illustrators will go on sale in April. The book is a first of its kind, an authoritative, comprehensive summary of the status, distribution, and historical context of all the birds regularly occurring in the Piedmont of both Carolinas. It includes original historical research never before compiled and published in on sources; full accounts of 312 species with additional partial accounts of another 60 species; over 400 color photographs taken in the central Carolinas; and the complete results of the Mecklenburg County Breeding Bird Atlas. (Cost: $45)

Time toSpruce Up Your Wardrobe for Spring Birding

At the April meeting we will be un-veiling our new MAS T-shirt with this design done by a local artist.

Cost will be $20.

Meet Your Board Member:Jack Meckler, Treasurer

Jack is the Treasurer of MAS. He was previously on the board in 2006 - 2009, when his varied responsibilities included, among other things: conservation, t-shirts, name tags and insurance. He is retired from BB&T Bank.

Although Jack grew up in New York City, he credits his years as a Boy Scout and at scout camp for developing an early love of the outdoors.

While he was always curious about birds, he took a more serious interest after putting up a bird feeder in the backyard at his and Pat’s home in eastern North Carolina in the 90’s and more closely studying their behavior.

Jack has been a long-time volunteer and former board member of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and has done nature-related volunteer work for TreesCharlotte, the James F.

Matthews Center for Biodiver-sity Studies, and Mecklenburg County Park and Rec. He and Pat have conducted nature programs for 1st graders in the public schools. They both completed the Central Caro-lina Master Naturalist program and Pat, the Master Gardner program.

Audubon News Page 12

MAS Executive BoardPresident:

Jim Guyton [guytonj@att.net]Vice President:

Rich McCracken [richard.mccracken@gmail.com]

Treasurer: Jack Meckler [jmeckler1@gmail.com]

Secretary: Bill Blakesley [lclemons@mindspring.com]

Field Trips: Matt Janson [m.janson.geolover@gmail.

com]Education:

Patty Masten [pmasten31@gmail.com]Communications:

Drew Skinner [bigbadskinner@gmail.com]Membership:

Noreen George [heartreen@aol.com]Conservation:

Jim Pugh [jimfayepugh@gmail.com]Hospitality:

Marcia Howden [howden32@aol.com]Newsletter/Web:

Judy Walker [birdwalker@me.com]

Audubon News is published monthly from September through May by the Mecklenburg Audubon Society, a chapter of National Audu-bon. Local members receive the newsletter via postal mail and/or electronic mail. It is also posted on the Mecklenburg Audubon website - meckbirds.org.

As the MAS activities wind down for the summer, here’s a reminder that it’s time to Renew your membership. Don’t worry if you recently joined you are good until June 2019. But the rest of us have to dig into our piggy banks to find some funds to renew our memberships for another year.

Local membership dues help cover administration costs such as the website, programs, printing display materials and much more. In contrast, all of the monies we raise through coffee sales, raffles, auctions, etc. are used for conservation and education efforts.

Take a fews minutes to fill out the form below and send it to our illustrous treasurer. Or go to the website (meckbirds.org/membership.html) and pay with a credit or debit card.

Mecklenburg Audubon SocietyRenew now and your membership will be effective until June 2019.

Local Membership covers the cost of the newsletter, web site, meetings and other admin-istrative commitments.

Name: ______________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________ E-mail: _________________________________

Return to: Treasurer, Mecklenburg Audubon Society, P. O. Box 221093, Charlotte, NC 28222

q Individual Membership [$10]

q Family Membership [$15]

q Additional Donation $ _______

Volunteer Opportunities

q Lead field trips

q Do a program

q Help at events

Do more than just watch the birds in your backyard. Join NestWatch (https://nestwatch.org/) and turn your observations in valuable data that can be used to improve the survival rate of birds everywhere.