Dr. Messersmith, a retired Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of Maryland, has organized and usually led birding trips to every continent and some 121 countries. He has had two trips to Australia, most recently last year. His slides will show scenes from all parts of Australia and will illustrate birds from emus to penguins, parrots, pigeons, peewees, pardalotes and more. Mammals like pademelons and platypus as well as many wild flowers will be featured. He will relate some of his adventures meeting four-foot long goannas (lizards) and a 17-foot long python.
He teaches courses in Entomology, Ornithology, Environmental Education, and Conservation of Natural Resources on a part-time basis. He is the co-founder (with the late Orville W. Crowder) and President of the World Nature Association, a grant-giving conservation organization. He and his wife operated World Nature Tours, the oldest of the nature tour companies, for over 20 years. He is active in many national and state bird conservation organizations.
The meeting will be held on Friday, November 1, 1996, at Churchville Presbyterian Church located at the intersection of MD 22 and MD 136. The dinner will start at 6:15 PM. The dinner reservation form is at the back of the newsletter. The business meeting and program start about 7:00 PM for those who do not wish to attend the dinner.
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| Friday, Nov 1 | Dinner Meeting at Churchville Presbyterian Church |
| at 6:15 PM. | |
| Friday. Nov 22 | Deadline to submit Harford bird reports to Dave |
| Ziolkowski for Sep 25 - Nov 20. Dave's address is | |
| 810 Chatfield Road, Joppatowne, MD 21085. | |
| Wednesday, Nov 27 | Deadline for submitting articles for the December |
| newsletter to Les Eastman. Les' address is | |
| 4034 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. | |
| Sunday, Dec 29 | 25th Annual Rock Run Christmas Count. |
| Monday, Jan 13 | Field Trip Committee meeting at 7 PM at Dave |
| Webb's house. | |
| Saturday, Jan 25 | Annual Midwinter Count. |
| May 2-4 | Annual MOS Convention. |
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Dave Ziolkowski has replaced Dave Webb as compiler of the "Harford's Avian Visitors" column.
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(Thank you, Joan for a great letter!)
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Here is a list of the seed quantities which you may purchase, and the prices.
Price 5% Tax Total
4 lb. Niger (Thistle) Seed $ 5.13 + $ .26 = $ 5.39
5 lb. Safflower Seed $ 3.96 + $ .20 = $ 4.16
5 lb. Squirrel Snack $ 3.99 + $ .20 = $ 4.19
5 lb. Sunflower Chips $ 5.56 + $ .28 = $ 5.84
8 lb. Niger (Thistle) Seed $ 9.95 + $ .50 = $10.45
8 lb. White Proso Millet $ 3.56 + $ .18 = $ 3.74
20 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Deluxe Mix $ 7.57 + $ .38 = $ 7.95
20 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Regular Mix $ 6.42 + $ .33 = $ 6.75
20 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Special Mix $ 8.29 + $ .42 = $ 8.71
25 lb. Black Oil Sunflower $ 8.59 + $ .43 = $ 9.02
25 lb. Cracked Corn $ 6.95 + $ .35 = $ 7.30
25 lb. Medium Striped Sunflower $ 9.46 + $ .48 = $ 9.94
25 lb. Niger (Thistle) Seed $29.81 + $1.50 = $31.31
25 lb. Split Peanuts $24.32 + $1.22 = $25.54
25 lb. Safflower Seed $18.02 + $ .91 = $18.93
25 lb. Squirrel Snack $13.99 + $ .70 = $14.69
25 lb. Sunflower Chips $26.39 + $1.32 = $27.71
25 lb. White Proso Millet $ 9.38 + $ .47 = $ 9.85
25 lb. Whole Corn $ 6.86 + $ .35 = $ 7.21
40 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Deluxe Mix $14.26 + $ .72 = $14.98
40 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Regular Mix $11.78 + $ .59 = $12.37
40 lb. Wild Bird Marketplace Special Mix $15.62 + $ .79 = $16.41
50 lb. Black Oil Sunflower $16.40 + $ .82 = $17.22
50 lb. Medium Striped Sunflower $18.03 + $ .91 = $18.94
To place your order, phone Marsha Webb at 569-0107 by Thursday,
October 31. Then just bring your payment to the dinner meeting.
If you cannot attend the meeting, your order will be held for
you at Wild Bird Marketplace, located in the Bel Air Town Center.
Checks should be made payable to Wild Bird Marketplace.Your order will help support the Harford Bird Club and help feed the birds!
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The Harford Bird Club is on the World Wide Web! I have written a web page that tells the world about our club and birding in Harford County. The page provides some basic facts about the club including a list of the officers and how to join, past and present newsletters, a list of fieldtrips, and the checklist of Harford County birds. Future enhancements will include information about and pictures of Harford County birding sites and pictures of club members in action. For those with web access, you can see the page at the URL:
http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~tross/harford/harfhome.html
I invite everyone to view the page and send me any comments on the current contents as well as suggestions for future improvements. I would also like to thank Terry Ross of the Baltimore Bird Club for providing the space on his account for the web page.
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In addition to the phone chain, Les Eastman maintains an electronic mailing list for reporting rare birds in the area. Any birds reported on the phone chain are also reported on the mailing list. If you have an e-mail account and would like to be included on the mailing list, call Les or send a message to lreastma@apgea.army.mil.
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On Saturday, August 24, six club members joined Rick Blom for a tour of several
of the county's best shorebird spots. After the Aldino Sod Farm failed to turn
up little more than about 10 Killdeer and a resident American
Kestrel, we drove to Conowingo Dam. Here we found several Spotted
and Least Sandpipers feeding in the exposed reefs of the Susquehanna
River. We encountered a few songbirds along the Mason-Dixon Trail including
Prothonotary Warbler and a juvenile Wood Thrush. Several heron
species fed near the dam, including Great Egret, Snowy Egret,
Black-crowned Night-heron, and the ubiquitous Great Blue Herons.
Our day finished where it began, at Tydings Marina in Havre de Grace. The
ebbing tide had by now exposed the Tydings Island mudflats, attracting many
Caspian Terns, a single Common Tern, a dozen "peep" sandpipers,
and a flock of 6 Pectoral Sandpipers. In all, we found about 50 species
for the day.
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Although bird hotlines may appeal to some birders they have the drawback of focusing only on rarities or on saturated birding hotspots. In an effort to address this problem Dave Webb created a column called Harford's Avian Visitors. As Dave put it, "the purpose of the column is to give readers a comprehensive summary of recent sightings and, more importantly, to provide a written record of Harford's birdlife that future generations will appreciate." Dave's been informing and entertaining us with this column since it first appeared in October of 1995. Unfortunately, Dave is no longer able to write the column. It is my pleasure that Dave has asked me to pick up where he left off.
All sightings of Harford County birds, from feeder birds to continental records, are welcomed. Along with the date and location of the sighting, feel free to include any interesting notes or unusual behavior. Please send your sightings to Dave Ziolkowski Jr., 810 Chatfield Road, Joppatowne, MD 21085. You can also report via telephone at 679-6765, or electronic mail at dziolk1@tiger.towson.edu. As always, feel free to air your comments, criticisms, or compliments to me or our newsletter editor, Les Eastman.
And now onto the sightings.
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More often thought of as a good spot for cormorants and wading birds during the spring and fall, Conowingo Dam hosted 145 Double Crested-cormorants on Jul 27 (RB) and five Great Egrets on Jul 26. An adult Yellow-crowned Night-heron, a rarely seen species in the county, was found on Rowland Island along with a Snowy Egret on Jul 27 (RB). On Aug 26 Harford Glen was visited by an immature Little Blue Heron (DK).
Waterfowl sightings have just started to come in with the first migrant flock of Canada Geese reported on Sep 19 (DW). Large numbers of Wood Ducks have begun congregating in the Gunpowder River, 185 were reported for the evening of Sep 20 (JR). Five Blue-winged Teal were seen at Harford Glen on Sep 14. Later that day the open skies above the park produced a migrating Bald Eagle and a flock of seven Red-shouldered Hawks. Sora rails are often struck by cars during nighttime migration stopovers. Such was the fate for an early migrant found near the Aldino sod fields on Aug 2 (LE). Also at the sod fields on that day were a single Grasshopper Sparrow and five Eastern Meadowlarks (LE). The highlight of the shorebird department was a very early breeding plumage American Golden-plover seen on Tydings Island on Aug 16 (RB). Tydings Island also had a good showing of other shorebirds including July sightings of Semipalmated Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, and Least Sandpipers and August sightings of Stilt Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher (RB). The Susquehanna was not the only area that turned up shorebirds. Five Lesser Yellowlegs were at Spesutie Island on Aug 13 (DW) and a single Solitary Sandpiper was found at Lake Mitten on Aug 19 (JLF).
Gulls and terns were plentiful in the upper bay this season. Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls were all found on the Susquehanna River during late July (RB). Along with the gulls were large numbers of terns. Twenty-eight Caspian Terns were observed at Tydings Island on Jul 27 (RB), 18 on Aug 2 (including two juveniles- RB), and 3 in the Gunpowder Marsh on Sep 20 (RK). Contrary to the name, Common Terns are actually uncommon in the county. However, on three separate occasions between July and September, a few were spotted amongst large numbers of Forster's Terns on Tydings island (RB). A late Least Tern was found on the Maryland Blvd. picnic area on Sep 3 (DW). A single Black Tern, an uncommon migrant in the county, was seen at Rowland Island on Jul 26.
No doubt the Bowers have seen the list for their yard in Street grow by leaps and bounds this year. Yard sightings included three Sharp-shinned Hawks on Sep 18, a singing Black-billed Cuckoo from Aug 14-21, a Great Horned Owl, and a singing Whip-poor-will from Aug 31 to Sep 11. Other nice birds included Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, Golden- winged Warbler, and a hybrid "Brewster's Warbler." On Aug 31 the Johnsons had a "Traill's" Flycatcher visit their home in Baldwin. The Frys also had some nice visitors at their home in Pylesville including a Yellow-billed Cuckoo that was seen from Aug 1-10 and an Eastern Screech-Owl which sings outside of the house.
Pylesville was not the only area that had active owls, 2 immature and 2 adult
Great Horned Owls were heard calling from the Gunpowder Marsh on Sep 20
(JR). Also along the Gunpowder Marsh on the same night was a Barred Owl
(RK). Common Nighthawks were well recorded with reports from Bel Air
(DW), Norrisville (DK), and Ladew Gardens (LE) in August. On Aug 26, 12
Horned Larks were in the fields of the "World Famous" Bradenbaugh Flats
(DK). Reports of forest birds were fewer than expected for this time of year.
Species seen included a Wood Thrush in Havre de Grace on Aug 13 (PH), a
Gray-cheeked Thrush at Harford Glen Sep 14, and singing
Yellow-throated Vireos from Rocks State Park on Sep 15 (DW). Notable
open country birds included a single Blue Grosbeak from Broad Creek on
Sep 7 (JLF) and 8 Bobolinks from the Gunpowder Marsh on Sep 20.
Observers: Rick Blom (RB), Deborah Bowers (DB), Les Eastman (LE), Jean and Larry Fry (JLF), Pat Haacke (PH), Mark Johnson (MJ), Dennis Kirkwood (DK), Russell Kovach (RK), Joanna Rawlings (JR), Dave Webb (DW)
NOTE: The time frame for the column that will appear in December's Wrenderings is September 25 to November 20.
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CODE OF BIRDING ETHICS
1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.
1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.
Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;
Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease. It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify appropriate individuals or organizations. Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to the areas being visited (i.e., no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and submit records to appropriate organizations.
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS CODE - DISTRIBUTE AND TEACH IT TO OTHERS
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Return to Table of ContentsPlease return to Barbara Siebens, P.O. Box 68, Pylesville, MD 21132-0068 by Wednesday, October 23, 1996. __________ Number of adults ( at $9.00 each ) __________ Number of children 12 and under ( at $5.00 each ) Please make checks payable to Harford County MOS. _______________________________ Print your name(s) Include address and phone number if you would like transportation to the meeting. _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ Dinner Meeting Reservation Form