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thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
HE
We promote the enjoyment, understanding,and preservation of birds, other wildlife, and habitat through education, advocacy, and fellowship.
no summer meeTInGs!WHen: RAS membership meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM (except June, July, August and December). Come early for coffee, cookies and conversation beforehand starting at 6:30 PM.
WHere: Held at St. Luke Lutheran Church • 7757 Chippenham Pkwy., Richmond, VA at the corner of Custis Road and Chippenham Parkway unless noted.
VIsIT: www.RichmondAudubon.org for updates and additional information.
In THIs Issue VABBA2 Message 1
President’s Message 2
Bird-a-thon Update 3
Breeding Bird Activity Photos 4
Breeding Bird Activity Photos Cont. 5
Bird-a-thon Update Cont. 6
About RAS • RAS Board & Committees 7
Issue Features 8
July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
A noTe from THe VABBA2 sTATe CoorDInATor The VABBA2 (Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas) is rolling into the heart of the third breeding season, the mid-point for this five-year statewide effort to document the distribution and breeding status of birds across VA. With close to 1000 contributors to the project’s eBird portal, the VABBA2 continues to seek help from volunteers to visit and bird under-surveyed parts of the state. Many rural regions, including the southwestern ridge and valleys or south-central piedmont are benefiting from blockbusters, or birders who devote a weekend to birding an Atlas priority block with little or no data. Still other birders are focusing their efforts on nocturnal species, since many Atlas blocks need only a couple hours of nighttime surveying to be completed! To learn more about how to contribute to the Atlas, check out our project website at www.vabba2.org and our Atlas eBird portal at eBird.org/atlasva. Don’t forget that all breeding observations should be reported to this portal and that many good articles and tutorials are found at both sites. Those interest in viewing the Atlas Block map can do so at http://vafwis.dgif.virginia.gov/BBA2/BlockExplorer/.
Ashley Peele - VABBA2 Coordinator
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thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
HE
July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
PresIDenT’s messAGe I’ve had the pleasure of attending several fun, public events on behalf of the Richmond Audubon Society in the past couple of months: The Explore the Outdoors event put on by WCVE and the Festival of the River put on by the Richmond Symphony. At both events I’ve had folks come up to our booth to ask for tips on attracting hummingbirds to their yards. Since the question has come up so many times recently, I thought I would share here some of the tips I’ve come across for developing the ideal hummingbird habitat in your backyard.
While you can certainly use hummingbird feeders (a simple solution of ¼ cup sugar dissolved into 1 cup of water works well—no need to add any red food coloring), native plants with bright red, purple, or orange flowers will draw hummingbirds in. One of the most popular is bee balm. I have some in my backyard that will produce really pretty purple flowers this summer that will also attract bees and butterflies. Native honeysuckle—sometimes called coral or trumpet honeysuckle—is reported to be a big draw, as well. Other birds, including finches and robins may also be fans of the red berries on the honeysuckle plants. Sage plants also attract hummingbirds and butterflies and serve a dual purpose of being a useful herb!
Once you have hummingbirds visiting your backyard, take a few minutes to upload some information to Audubon’s hummingbird citizen science research project called Hummingbirds at Home and which is aimed at learning more about these fascinating birds and developing strategies to protect them into the future. You can learn more about that program here: http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/ there are also some additional resources there for using native plants to attract hummingbirds (and other birds and butterflies) to your yard.
eileen r. Geller - rAs President
from THe eDITors It is our pleasure to announce that we will be co-editing the Thrasher starting with this issue for the next two years.
We are highlighting two events in this issue, the ongoing Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas (VBBA2) and Bird-A-Thon , where once a year, teams of birders fan out all over Virginia to see or hear the maximum number of species in a 24 hour period. If you have not done so already, please consider sponsoring your favorite team by going to: http://www.richmondaudubon.org/bird-a-thon-teams/ and making a donation.
One of the most exciting birding news is the confirmation of Least Bittern nesting at Dutch Gap. Please check out the nesting activity pictures by Robbie Sabatini (2017) and Bill Wood (2018)
We are counting on your participation and interaction with the Richmond Audubon Society and look forward to bringing you a quality newsletter every two months.
naseem reza and Bob schamerhorn - rAs Thrasher Co-editors
Ruby-throated Hummingbird • Photo by Naseem Reza
Northern Flicker • Photo by Bob Schamerhorn • www.iPhotoBirds.com
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thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
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July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
BIrD-A-THon 2018 uPDATeTeAm: CrAzy CooT The Crazy Coots Bird-a-thon team did their big day on Saturday, May 5 this year. We changed things up a bit this year, starting in the Roanoke area. Our first bird was a migrating Swainson’s Thrush, calling as it flew over the parking lot of the Super 8 in Daleville, VA at 4:12 am. Owling along the Blue Ridge Parkway netted us an expected Eastern Whip-poor-will and an unexpected Great Horned Owl, but no other owls. The big haul for this early morning came at Mill Mountain Park, where we found 19 species of warbler including Tennessee, Kentucky, Blackburnian, and Bay-breasted, along with other key birds like Common Raven, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery and Pine Siskin. We left Roanoke by 9:30 with 94 species tallied. A bathroom break at Eileen’s office in Innsbrook yielded our only Red-shouldered Hawk of the day, and we headed off from there for Piney Grove. We missed on Red-cockaded Woodpecker this year, and spending more time than anticipated in that search knocked a couple of stops off of our itinerary. Still, we picked up eleven species on that leg of the journey, including Bobwhite, Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and Brown-headed Nuthatch. From there it was pretty much a straight shot to Chincoteague, where we had much better timing this year, getting all of our waders and adding 35 more species to the total, most notably Long-billed Dowitcher. Our nocturnal visit to Saxis Marsh was cooler, breezier, and much less buggy than last year’s, and yielded our final two species, Virginia Rail and Seaside Sparrow. We finished the day with 154 species. To support the Coots, you can make a donation on our web page: http://www.richmondaudubon.org/crazy-coots/.
TeAm: PurPle mArTIAns On May 4th and 5th the Purple Martians Bird-A-Thon team set out to find as many bird species as possible in Metro-Richmond in just 24 hours. The goal was to beat the team’s previous Metro-Richmond record of 124 species set in during the 2017 competition. Our “day” included birding in the Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George and the City of Richmond. Important stops along the route included Malvern Hill, Shirley Plantation, Dutch Gap, James River Park and Swift Creek Reservoir.
Highlights of the day were Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe and five species of ducks and geese at Swift Creek Reservoir. Other nice additions were eight species of shorebirds found at Shirley Plantation. RAS’s annual spring warbler walk at the 42nd St entrance of James River Park produced 79 species in five hours. In the end we beat our goal of 124 species by two but it was close. Our last two species, Yellow-breasted Chat and Bonaparte’s Gull, were found along the James River in Chesterfield just four minutes before time expired. In the end we recorded 126 species and had a great time birding to support the birds and RAS. Support this team at: http://www.richmondaudubon.org/the-purple-martians/. (Cont. page 6)
Tree Swallow - Photo by Lewis Barnett
rAs eVenTs sCHeDuleCheck the RAS Listserv or the RAS website for information and any late breaking news about field trips or join our meeT-uP GrouP: www.meetup.com/RAS-Meetup/
no memBers meeTInGs for July AnD AuGusT - Have a great summer.
Bonaparte’s Gull Gull - Photo by Bob Schamerhorn
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thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
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July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
Wood Duck fledging duckling • Photo by Robbie Sabatini
Red-shouldered Hawk • Photo by Pam Scrima
Cliff Swallow • Photo by Naseem Reza
Eastern Bluebird • Photo by Hudson HoenRed-shouldered Hawk • Photo by Doug Rogers
sIGns of BreeDInG BIrD ACTIVITy In
VIrGInIA
Barred Owlet • Photo by James Shelton
thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
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July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
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White-eyed Vireo • Photo by Julie Kacmarcik
Prothonotary Warbler • Photo by Bill WoodLeast Bittern • Photo by Bill Wood
American Robin • Photo by Caroline Coe
Prairie Warbler • Photo by Les Brooks
TeAm BIrDzerk BIrD-A-THon With another “#1 Top Fund-raiser Team” ranking in sight for the 2018 Bird-A-Thon season, Team Birdzerk opted to stay in a locally based territory. This was in an effort to make our volunteer day as eco-friendly as possible. After all we are a conservation organization. We limited our travels to about a ten mile radius of downtown Richmond. This allowed us access to a good diversity of habitats, from riverine to deciduous forest, to open scrubby fields. We found this approach included most of the locations we typically visit anyway, with out the need or expense of lengthy travel.
On May 24th Linda and Al Warfield met up with Naseem Reza and Bob Schamerhorn at 6:00 am at 42nd Street entrance
to Richmond’s James River Park, where we picked up a few late migrants along with many of our local birds. Then, Brown’s Island gave us several James River species, but best one was the nest building activity under the Tyler Potterfield Bridge by a dozen or so Cliff Swallows. Next stop was Dutch Gap where a fellow birder, Bill Wood, pointed out a male Least Bittern carrying nesting materials in the marsh area. Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagles were flying around and male Red-winged Blackbirds were noisily defending their territories. Malvern Hill Battlefield yielded another choice species, a singing Yellow-breasted Chat. Our day ended around 3:00 pm at Chamberlayne Marsh which resembled a lake because of the recent abundant rainfall and we spotted a couple of Great Egrets and a nesting Killdeer. Total of 89 species for the day. To support Team Birdzerk, you can make a donation on our web page: http://www.richmondaudubon.org/birdzerk/.
TeAm: THe GooD THe BAD AnD THe uGly DuCklInGs The venerable The Good the Bad and the Ugly Ducklings, a team who flocked together as far back as 1999, alas, did not go out in the field for this year’s 2018 Richmond Bird-a-thon but were together only in our imaginations. Our
team hopes to re-flock in 2019! Thanks to those who pledged TGTBATUD. Please support RAS to help continue our good work: http://www.richmondaudubon.org/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-ducklings/.
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thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
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July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
Bald Eagle • Photo by Bob Schamerhorn
Yellow-breasted Chat - Photo by Naseem Reza
RICHMOND AUDUBON SOCIETY
BIRDATHON
ABouT THe rICHmonD AuDuBon soCIeTyRichmond Audubon Society (RAS) is a chapter of The National Audubon Society (NAS), becoming a member of either Society, enrolls your membership in both (NAS and RAS by zip code). Renewals are processed through The National Audubon Society.
AffIlIATes: Chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO) and the Virginia Conservation Network (VCN).
mAIlInG ADDress: Richmond Audubon Society P.O. Box 26648 • Richmond, VA 23261
PHone (message line): 804-601-4917
WeBsITe: www.RichmondAudubon.org
fACeBook: www.facebook.com/RichmondAudubon/
meeT-uP GrouP: www.meetup.com/RAS-Meetup/
TWITTer: www.twitter.com/@RichmondAudubon
lIsTserV: www.freelists.org/list/va-richmond-general
nonProfIT: RAS is a registered nonprofit 501 (C) (3) charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible.
neWsleTTer: “The Thrasher” is issued bimonthly (January, March, May, July, September, November.) Submissions due by the 10th of the month prior. The newsletter is available for download (PDF) from the RAS website or by special request for a hard copy.
rAs BoArD meeTInGs: Second Thursdays of January, March, May, July (annual strategic planning session), September, and November. Board Meeting start times and locations vary, members are welcome to attend, contact the President or Secretary in advance.
AuDuBon soCIeTy memBersHIP APPlICATIonYes, enroll me (us) as member(s) of both National Audubon and Richmond Audubon Societies at the address below, at the introductory rate of $20.00. A subscription to the nAs “Audubon” magazine is included.
Name_________________________________
Address ______________________________
City __________________________________
State_________ ZIP _____________________
Phone ________________________________
E-mail ________________________________
Enclose a $20.00 check payable to National Audubon Society for Individual/Family Membership and write “X53”as the memo. send check and application to: richmond Audubon society P.o. Box 26648, richmond, VA 23261 X53
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offICers & CommITTee CHAIrPersons of THe rICHmonD AuDuBon soCIeTyPresident Eileen Geller [email protected] First Vice President Ellison Orcutt [email protected] Second Vice President Wes Teets [email protected] Secretary Lori Schamerhorn [email protected] Treasurer Lewis Barnett [email protected] Bird-a-Thon Chair Lewis Barnett [email protected] Conservation Chair Mary Elfner [email protected] Cyberspace Chair Lee Williams [email protected] Development Chair Abby Walter [email protected] Education Chair Jan Robertson & Kathy Warnkey [email protected] Field Trips Chair Wes Teets [email protected] Hospitality Chair vacant IBA/VAC Representative Len Smock [email protected] Legislation Chair James Shelton [email protected] Membership Chair Mario and Gail Grasso [email protected] Past President Lewis Barnett [email protected] Programs Chair Kim Harrell [email protected] Publicity Chair vacant [email protected] Thrasher Co-Editors Naseem Reza & Bob Schamerhorn [email protected] Youth Chair Ellison Orcutt [email protected]
thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
HE
July/August, 2018 • Volume 46, Issue 4
Richmond Audubon SocietyP.O. Box 26648
Richmond, VA 23261www.RichmondAudubon.org
Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage PaidRichmond, VA
Permit Number 3022
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THIs Issue feATures:A noTe from THe VABBA2 sTATe CoorDInATor(See page 1)
PresIDenT’s messAGe(See page 2)
BIrD-A-THon uPDATe(See page 3 and 6)
BreeDInG BIrD ACTIVITy In VIrGInIA(See pages 4 and 5)
thrasherNewsletter of The Richmond Audubon Society T
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Brown Thrasher • Photo by Bob Schamerhorn • www.iPhotoBirds.com
