Volume 12 Number 1

August 1998

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Found an injured raptor?
Contact Debbie Delevan of Chesapeake Birds of Prey, Inc.

Phone: (410) 692-2794
Fax: (410) 329-1221
E-mail: raptors@bellatlantic.net

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CONTENTS

Annual Picnic Begins 50^th Year
1998-99 Membership
Calendar of Events
Leight Center Garden Project
July Social Again Successful
Memorial Gift
Bird Club Display
Wild Bird Marketplace to Move
John Wortman
Harford's Avian Visitors
Special Chincoteague Trip Planned for November
Fifth Annual Fall Migration Count
Vacation Reports
Celebrating Nature's Beauty
Field Trip Reports
HARFORD CHAPTER - MOS FIELD TRIPS AUGUST-OCTOBER 1998
PICNIC RESERVATION FORM

Why not begin the new birding year with a social event? The Harford Bird Club's annual picnic will occur at the 4-H Camp at Rocks State Park on Saturday, September 12. This will be the eighth year at the 4-H camp. The picnic gives old and new members a chance to meet and socialize at a relaxing and pleasant place. Don`t forget to bring all of your summer stories and experiences to share.

Randy Robertson and crew will prepare roast beef. Additional foods will be potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, corn-on-the-cob, crab soup, rolls, watermelon and cake. All utensils and paper goods will be provided. Please bring the beverage of your choice. Those who wish to attend the picnic and bring their own food are welcome to do so.

The picnic will be held on Saturday, September 12 from 2 to 6 PM. Food will be served at 3 PM. There will be a bird walk later on in the afternoon. Please return the reservation form at the back of the newsletter by Friday, September 4.

Directions to the 4-H Camp are as follows: From Bel Air, take Route 24 north through Forest Hill. As you enter Rocks State Park, look for the Cherry Hill Road bridge on the right. Turn right onto Cherry Hill Road and take the first immediate left into the camp. Our group is usually given the first picnic pavilion on the left.

If you have any questions, please call Larry Fry at 410-452-8539.

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Annual dues are now due for the club year from September 1, 1998, through August 31, 1999. This year the membership form has again been combined with the return envelope. Please fill out the form, enclose your check made payable to HARFORD MOS and mail it to our treasurer, Joyce Gorsuch. We would like to have all dues paid by November 1, 1998. You may pick up your membership card at the picnic or at the November dinner meeting. Please do not send dues with the dinner reservation form.

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On Saturday, May 30 Carole, Joe, and Eric Vangrin; Eileen and Robert Frey; and Jean and Larry Fry gathered at the Leight Center to plant the Winterberry, Bayberry, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Summersweet, and Inkberry shrubs as well as many perennials. Mildred Gebhard recently also added a contribution to the effort so we ended up with just over $500. We received the following note from Heather Helm, chief naturalist at the Leight Center.

"I wanted to personally thank the Harford Bird Club for your generous support of the native plant bird garden at the Anita Leight Estuary Center. It was especially great that your club not only sponsored the plants but also provided the work force to plant. The garden looks wonderful and will only grow more beautiful in time."

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The July social at the Leight Center was a big success. Approximately 50 persons attended the event at the Estuary Research Center. Bob Schutsky of BIRD TREKS presented a wonderful slide program on "The Birds and Beauty of Arizona." We do plan on making this an annual event and hope next summer's meeting date will be cooler.

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The Bird Club recently sent a donation to the MOS Sanctuary Fund in memorial to Captain Lucille Wilson, who died May 18. Captain Willie had been a member of the club since 1955.

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Our club display was taken to Camp Puh'tok in northern Baltimore County on Sunday, May 24 for their Nature Study Day. Debbie Delevan, a member of our club, is employed there as a naturalist and camp leader. The camp is operated by the Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Clubs.

The display was also taken to the ceremony for the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail at the equestrian center on Saturday, June 27. The hike and bike trail will be seven miles long and will extend from the equestrian center to Forest Hill, following the Ma and Pa railroad bed. Work will commence this fall and Phase I should be open by July 1, 1999. This should offer some good birding possibilities.

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John and Linda Ireland have informed us that their store will be moving. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the new location has not yet been determined. They have been very generous to the bird club so we all hope they can find a new home.

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John's medical struggle continues. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. You may want to send him a card at 110 Springlake Way, Havre de Grace MD 21078.

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Without any doubt the most diverse time for birders in Harford County is during spring migration. It is a time when the "best" of both worlds, the winter resident birds and the summer breeding birds, plus many other "passer-byes" can be observed. This year certainly did not disappoint! Migrating birds landed in front of binoculars at many of Harford's hot spots, and of course in back yards all over the county. Little did those birds know that they would be immortalized in the Harford's Avian Visitors column for May - July, 1998.

Perhaps it is easiest to catalogue migrating bird reports by separating water and shorebirds from terrestrial birds. Not all shorebirds stop on the Delaware Bay to gorge on horseshoe crab eggs, some actually make their way to Harford County! When one is discussing shorebirds in Harford County, Tydings Island in Havre de Grace immediately comes to mind. Reports started flying in on May 16 with Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plover, and a couple of Short-billed Dowitchers (DW). The tides also cooperated on May 25 to reveal Dunlin, many peeps (of unspecified species), and six Whimbrel feeding on the exposed mud flats (DW). Two days later a White-rumped Sandpiper exposed itself to (DW) at the same location, and remained to be seen along with a Common Tern, two Sanderlings, and a Tricolored (Louisiana) Heron on May 31 (RB). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was reported from this area of Havre de Grace on May 20 (JW). As the temperature heated up the reports from Tydings Island cooled off, but there was still the White-rumped Sandpiper on June 4, and an American Coot on June 3 (DW). This is a location to be watched over the next few months, especially for those needing shorebird species to augment their county list.

Migration through Harford County apparently was the way to go this year for numerous species of warblers. Early reports of Palm Warbler and Pine Warblers landed in late April, proving only to be the start of a stellar year. Yellow-rumped Warblers had not yet migrated from Forest Hill on May 3 (HB). The following were all reported from a Havre de Grace backyard between May 14 and May 15: Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Ovenbird, Canada Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler (MW & DW). To add injury to insult to those of us that only see Starlings and House Sparrows in our yard, the same house was host to a male Wilson's Warbler three days later! Bay-breasted Warblers were seen at Webster Village on May 23 (DW). The intense warbler migration even trickled into June as Black-throated Green and Blackpoll Warblers were witnessed in Webster Village on June 8 (DW). A Blackpoll Warbler hit a window in Street on May 30 but apparently recovered (DB). A Hooded Warbler was also seen and often heard in the same area from May 31 until the middle of July (DB).

Despite the quality and quantity of warblers moving through Harford County this spring, they were not the only birds in the sky. Several noteworthy reports were levied between May and July. Swainson's Thrushes were witnessed in Havre de Grace on May 16 (DW), and near Pylesville on May 23 (J&LF). That same day Lake Mitten played host to two Spotted Sandpipers, followed a week later by a Common Loon which was observed as late as June 10 (J&LF). A Wild Turkey gobbled up the sun, posing for motorist along Rt. 543 on May 20 (J&LF). On May 26 an Olive-sided Flycatcher requested drinks in a Havre de Grace backyard (MW & DW). Olive-sided Flycatchers are of course noted for singing "quick-three-beers", undoubtedly leading to several more sightings shortly after the first! Often through the summer young birds can be seen, sometimes humorously following their parents. Perhaps not seen so often however is a Wood Duck with young, such as was reported from Broad Creek on July 9. One of the most compelling birds reported in Harford County so far this year occurred on July 7. A Chuck-will's-widow was reported from a farm near Bel Air on that day (RC). Certainly the county listers would like to have seen that one! On July 10, a Scarlet Tanager was seen in Rocks State Park feeding on raspberries giving the observer her best ever view of this bird (DB).

Even a spring as unusually wet as ours was this year needs to dry into summer, and in a sense the birding life 'dries up" somewhat as summer arrives. Birds are nevertheless still here, however, so please don't forget to send in all your interesting (and not-so-interesting too) observations for publication in the Harford's Avian Visitors column! Postal mail migrates into this column through 810 Falconer Road, Joppa MD 21085; or by e-mail at "rkovac1@tiger.towson.edu". Good Birding!

OBSERVERS: Rick Blom (RB), Harold Boling (HB), Deborah Bowers (DB), Rick Cheicante (RC), Jean and Larry Fry (J&LF), Marsha Webb (MW), John Wortman (JW), and last but by no means whatsoever least, Dave Webb (DW).

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On the weekend of November 13-15, the bird club will sponsor an exciting field trip to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and environs. As a special bonus, club members Bruce and Madi Hoffman, and Larry and Jean Fry have agreed to provide free overnight accommodations at their Chincoteague vacation homes on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit to the number of field trip participants. However, only the first ten registrants will be able to take advantage of the free accommodations; later registrants must make their own lodging arrangements. Early in September, this offer will be made available to all MOS members statewide via the Yellowthroat, so be sure to call the Fry's early at 410-452-8539.

Chincoteague is one of the best late-autumn birding spots in the mid-Atlantic area. Many species are sure to be seen over the course of the weekend, including Northern Gannet, Brant, American Oystercatcher, Hudsonian Godwit, and Brown-headed Nuthatch.

"Merci beaucoup!" to the Hoffman's and Fry's for their hospitality and generosity.

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Come mid-September, what's your favorite local birding activity? Scanning the skies for hawks from the King and Queen Seat? Looking at fall warblers and Empidonax flycatchers at Harford Glen? Identifying the shorebirds at Tydings Island? Paddling the marshes of Joppatowne for rails? Looking for migrant songbirds while walking about your neighborhood? Or is it simply watching the feeders in your own backyard?

Whatever your fancy, all bird club members and friends are once again invited to participate in the annual Fall Migration Count on Saturday, September 19. Volunteer birders of all skill levels are needed to help census resident and migrant birds. The census helps in the understanding of migration routes and long-term population trends.

The format for the Fall Count is the same as that for the popular North American Migration Count (a.k.a., "May Count"). Birding individually or in small teams, volunteers record all birds seen or heard on the territory of their choice for as long a time as they wish. Since there can be no duplication of count territories, participants are asked to "stake their claim" with coordinator Dave Webb, 410-939-3537. If you're not sure where to conduct your count, Dave can help you select good birding locations, even some close to your home.

The club is also in need of one volunteer to compile the Harford County results and forward them to the state compiler. Access to a computer spreadsheet or database is helpful, but not necessary. Furthermore, you do not have to be one of the count participants to fill the role of Harford compiler. Call Dave if you are interested in serving in this capacity.

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If you traveled over the summer and had any good birding experiences, please write a concise report of a couple of paragraphs for inclusion in the next newsletter. Please send them to Larry Fry at 1202 Ridge Road, Pylesville, MD 21132 or Les Eastman at 4034 Wilkinson Road, Havre de Grace, MD 21078 by Friday, September 25.

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"We don't need any governmental proclamations," I said to Ellie Womack, editor of the Hummingbird Hotline. "Let's just do it."

"August 15 is a good date," Ellie mentioned. "It's a time when almost everyone who attracts hummers will have some."

The Hummingbird Hotline is the newsletter of the small semi-organization the Hummingbird Research Group. The Group has no by-laws, dues, officers or regularly scheduled meetings, but it keeps those of us who band hummers in touch with each other.

Our Group had gathered in Little Rock, Arkansas, in June 1995. That meeting was a wonderful opportunity to reach out and touch the people who devote their lives to helping hummers and learning more about them. No longer were these people just flat names printed on paper. They were now flesh-and-blood people with whom I share a passion. The Group is international and so are the birds.

Energized, I drafted a simple declaration, which Ellie printed in the newsletter. I also posted it on the internet and in this column.

INTERNATIONAL HUMMINGBIRD DAY, August 15, has been set aside by the Hummingbird Research Group as a day to celebrate the joy and unique beauty of these exciting birds! Members and their friends (and all people who love hummingbirds) will mark the occasion by watching hummers, banding them, or counting them. Hummingbirders in Arizona, Texas, and in tropical America may run a "Big Day" in which the goal is to see as many species as possible.

Other activities may include planting trees (preferably oak or sycamore), providing additional nectar sources, installing a misting system to facilitate hummer bathing, or just plain sitting back and drinking in every glittering detail.

I received several inquiries from folks who wanted to join in the fun. Each promised to report back about his or her unique manner of celebrating.

My own plan was to band Ruby-throats at the "Hummer Haven" of Olga and Walter Clifton in Abita Springs, Louisiana, about 30 miles north of my home. Olga feeds more hummers than just about anybody I've ever seen - estimates run to about 800 on peak days of migration. For me, it would be a quiet day in the country.

"August 15 is International Hummingbird Day," I revealed to Olga, "And, we're going to celebrate it at your house."

She didn't even blink. "Good, we'll get press coverage and make it a big event!"

It wasn't exactly what I envisioned, but Olga always knows best and she knows how to get things done. "Let's not miss an opportunity to educate people." She was absolutely right, of course. And, so it was ordained.

On the appointed day, I rose long before dawn, guzzled coffee from a new hummingbird mug, and donned a comfortable T-shirt with pictures of all the hummingbirds all over it. Ready for the big day, I left to fetch James Beck, an able assistant who would run traps and catch the birds for me.

It was still dark when we arrived, but Olga was bright-eyed and ready. A table on the covered deck held information sheets, pamphlets from the Nature Conservancy, and a guest book. James and Walter set up a table where I could just release the birds as I finished recording all their information. A more perfect arrangement could not have been found.

James put a trap into place and waited. Meanwhile, Olga took down a few of the more than 30 feeders. By that time, the yard was abuzz with chittering, twittering Ruby-throats, angry at the change in their feeders. It was going to be a great day!

Soon, people began appearing, eager to see the hummers up-close. Dave Patton, a fellow hummer bander from Lafayette, Louisiana arrived ready to work. He set up another trap. Soon, they began to catch hummers.

People crowded around as I clamped a tiny metal band around the first hummer's leg. It was an immature male. I explained each step as I recorded information about the bird on a data sheet.

Flash! Flash! Images of the moment were captured on film. Then, I marked the top of its head with bright pink paint so we'd be able to see which birds were banded among the hordes that drain Olga's feeders.

Some of the hummers were fat and ready to migrate south. Others needed a lot more nectar before they'd be ready to go. I placed each banded hummer in an outstretched palm to permit out guests the incredible thrill of releasing it back to the wild, an excitement too precious for me to keep to myself.

A reporter-photographer from the local newspaper, the News-Banner, spent a couple of hours watching and asking good questions. The New Orleans Times-Picayune sent a reporter and a photographer. They too were interested in the birds and the event. What a wonderful opportunity to educate people about our birds and the habitats that are so important to them!

Meanwhile, Olga spoke passionately - its the only way Olga speaks - about her marvelous hummingbird and butterfly garden. The yard is large, with a pond and lots of trees, as well as shrubs and vines. Beds of annuals and perennials promise a steady nectar supply to every passing hummer. "Hummer Haven", indeed!

The weather cooperated wonderfully, warm and dry. There was a steady stream of on-lookers as folks from as far as 50 miles away dropped by to see the action. One man left work early to come. A dentist and his assistant came on their lunch hour.

Some people were merely curious, but most were ardent hummingbird lovers. And, there were lots of hummers to see, too. By the end of the day, Dave and I had banded 37 hummers and we'd talked to dozens of eager new hummingbirders. In all 92 people visited us on the first ever International Hummingbird Day!

In any case, it would have been a wonderful day, a day to celebrate the beauty and joy of nature's most precious treasures. But, Olga's vision brought the event into sharper focus. It was a day to share with all the world - International Hummingbird Day! Thank you, Olga!

(Editor's Note: Nancy Newfield is one of the country's leading authorities on hummingbird behavior and author of Hummingbird Gardens. She lives in Metairie, LA. On my trip to New Orleans in February, I was treated to two days of birding with her. In exchange, I offered to take her to her favorite restaurant. Instead of going to a high priced New Orleans restaurant, she opted to go to a local seafood house in Madisonville, LA where the Covington Birdclub was meeting. There, I met Olga Clifton and other members of the birdclub. - Les.)

On Saturday, May 2, the Harford Chapter, led by Beth Olsen and Jeff Effinger visited Broad Creek Scout Reserve. The weather was rainy and the group was small-only five people attended.

The first stop on Susquehanna Hall Road yielded excellent views of a singing Hooded Warbler. Several other species were encountered in the same area but none were as cooperative.

Upon penetration onto the camp itself, we found several shorebirds in the Lake Strauss area. A Black-bellied Plover called as it flew over. We also had two Spotted Sandpipers, several Greater Yellowlegs and one Lesser Yellowlegs. Prairie Warblers were heard in the distance, however always on the other side of the lake. Before leaving this area, we found two Bald Eagles, one adult and one juvenile.

The next stop was on Robinson Mill Road. An elusive Red-headed Woodpecker called persistently from the top of a sycamore, foiling all attempts to spot it until it took wing. A nearby Baltimore Oriole was less reticent. A Louisiana Waterthrush in the same area was also quite obliging. Our only migrant warblers of the day were two Black-throated Green Warblers and one Yellow-rumped Warbler. There were 60 species found in all.

The trip to Bombay Hook included stops at the Woodland Beach ponds north of Bombay and at Port Mahon. Port Mahon was very disappointing by its lack of shorebird numbers and species. Modest numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers (with a few Western Sandpipers intermixed), some Ruddy Turnstone and one small flight of Red Knot. This year seems to be continuing a trend of declining numbers of shorebirds at Port Mahon. If this is typical of the whole Delmarva seashore then our shorebirds are in serious trouble.

The Woodland Beach ponds were rather full so the number of shorebirds were low but did yield good views (for the beginning birders on the trip) of Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers, Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitcher.

Bombay Hook gave the party some interesting sightings. Good views were had of Wild Turkey and a Killdeer sitting on three eggs in the gravel parking lot of the Raymond Pool Observation Tower. The Boardwalk Trail hosted a Tennessee Warbler and Big Bear Swamp provided excellent views of Dickcissel. Overall, over seventy species were seen.

On Friday, June 5, seven hopeful birders took an evening trek to Broad Creek Scout Camp to listen and watch for Whip-poor-wills and owls. The weather was foreboding with a rainstorm just prior to the departure. Cool temperatures probably were a deterrent to the whips; however, one or two where heard in the distance and finally at 10:30, one gave a resounding performance. Very few other species were found and no owls.

On Saturday, June 13, five birders ventured to Huntley Meadows. This oasis of wooded and marsh habitats lies south of Alexandria in the heart of suburban DC. Despite threatening weather at the Park&Ride, the clouds dispersed and the sun was shining for our arrival at the park. A total of about 40 species were counted with several highlights. King Rails were calling and scurrying around the boardwalk at nearly arms length. An American Bittern was spotted flying over the marsh grass and was seen by all. Reports of a Little Blue Heron were verified with a long distance observation through the spotting scope. Several immature Hooded Mergansers and Wood Ducks were also seen. We were disappointed in not bagging a Least Bittern and a Mississippi Kite seen recently at Huntley Meadows. No sign of the Pacific Loon (in the vicinity of Reagan National Airport) despite stopping in several locations along the Potomac. All together, it was a good day in a surprisingly bountiful urban wildlife area.

Eight of us gathered on June 17, a Wednesday evening, to search the Bowers property for interesting birds. Immediately we were treated to perching Scarlet Tanager and Eastern Bluebird and several Indigo Buntings feeding in tall grasses. A newcomer in our group was delighted to see a Hairy Woodpecker for the first time. During the walk through woodland and fields we also saw more indigoes and scarlets, Common Yellowthroat, Chipping Sparrow, Barn Swallow and Great Blue Heron. We heard many Ovenbirds and Wood Thrush, but despite our forays into laurel thickets, none could be "thrushed" out. It was very pleasant weather and we all enjoyed the leisurely outing which included a snack on black raspberries.

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Here are the Harford Bird Club field trips for the next few weeks. If you would like further information about a particular field trip, please contact Dave Webb.

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PICNIC RESERVATION FORM


Please return to Larry Fry,  1202 Ridge Road, Pylesville, MD 21132 
by Friday, September 4, 1998.

		__________ Number of attendees over 12 ( at $11.00 each )
		__________ Number of children 12 and under ( at $5.00 each )

		Make checks payable to Harford County MOS.

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			  Print your name(s)

Please send any comments to Les Eastman.
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