Volume 13 Number 1

August 1999

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

Phone: (410) 692-9305
Fax: (410) 692-2765
E-mail: raptors@bellatlantic.net

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CONTENTS

INVITATION - ANNUAL PICNIC
1999-2000 Membership
Calendar of Events
Message from Departing President......
An Entertaining Summer Social......
Invitation from the Cecil Bird Club:
Harford's Avian Visitors
2000 MOS Scholarship Program
In Memoriam.....Col. Leland Devore Jr.
HARFORD CHAPTER - MOS FIELD TRIPS AUGUST-OCTOBER 1999
Field Trip Summaries
Volunteer Spot Light
50^th Anniversary Celebration
PICNIC RESERVATION FORM

The Harford Bird Club's annual picnic will occur at Capa Field, Aberdeen Proving Grounds on October 9th, Saturday from 2:00 to 6:00 PM. Food will be served at 3:00 PM.

Directions to Capa Field, APG are as follows: Go South on Route 24 from the I-95 interchange and proceed through the military entrance. Continue straight through the first traffic signal and turn right at approximately 1 mile at the 4-way stop. Follow the signs to Capa Field (second right) to the Pavilion.

Tom Congersky will be handling the annual picnic and preparing the food. 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.

Please return the reservation form on the back of the newsletter by Sunday, October 31. Also, please note the speed limit on APG, the police strictly enforce this so be forewarned We want everyone to have a pleasant time and nice memories, not a speeding ticket.

If you have any questions about the picnic or would like to volunteer, please call Tom Congersky at (410) 676-6489.

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Annual dues are now due for the club year from September 1, 1999, through August 31, 2000. This year the membership form has 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 due paid by November 1, 1999. You may pick up your membership card at the November dinner meeting.

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I wish to thank Debbie Delevan and the members of the bird club for the generous gift certificate from Barnes and Noble and the pen set and note cards. I appreciate the gifts very much. My two-year term of office was made easier by the many willing volunteers who stepped forward to assist me. Thanks to one and all!

Larry Fry     

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The July 16th Summer Social held at the Anita Leight Estuary Center was delightful. Dr. Bill Seegar captured the audience with his high tech tracking program and tales of Tundra Peregrine Falcons. Two night owls showed up for cocktails and members took turns holding the little party animals on the glove. The wine flowed and the cheese & vegetable dips were delicious.

Everyone had a great time....doing what MOS members do best....socialize!

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The Cecil Bird Club wishes that their neighboring Harford Bird Club cohorts would come out and share in the excitement of the 1999 Turkey Point Hawk Watch, which was established in 1994 by Cecil founding president Gary Griffith and veteran hawk watcher Charles Gant. Join us on Wed. September 1st, 11 a.m. for the official dedication of an interpretive sign to the Elk Neck State Park. Club member Ron Kelczewski has been working hard all summer constructing this much needed and informative piece of work. The club is excited to be contributing something of lasting value to the park. In the past, hawk watchers have had breath taking looks of raptors in their often "naked eye" flight path across the point, while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the peninsula. Who can forget the excitement when someone yells "PEREGRINE!!!", the sense of awe when the sky is filled with migrating raptors. If hawk watching is your game, you need to join us at Turkey Point this fall.

Our best season to date has been 5,000 raptors with much less than full time coverage, and we suspect that being strategically located on a peninsula, the numbers could be much higher, perhaps even significant, with regular volunteer coverage. Therefore, we invite you to join us at the Turkey Point Hawk Watch on a regular basis, for a few hours, for a day, once a week, come as you can, whatever!! We look forward to seeing you. I encourage all who can commit to a specific date(s) to contact me, Leslie Fisher, as I will be co-ordinating volunteers. A regular core of counters would be wonderful. Call 410-658-2427 or e-mail gonbrdn@dol.net. It would be equally welcome for spur of the moment visitors to report data should they find no counter present. Ron K, builder of the new sign will also be data compiler, and will submit to HMANA at the end of the season. Call Ron at 302-738-4345, or e-mail lrkmak@compuserv.com with your data

Turkey Point is located in Cecil County, in the northeast corner of Maryland. The Point is a peninsula of land between the Elk and Northeast Rivers, at the head of the Chesapeake Bay. The peninsula is roughly triangular, with the point facing south, and this shape funnels and concentrates migrating birds, which are often reluctant to cross the water. To reach Turkey Point, take I-95 or Route 40 into Cecil County. Exit at Rt. 272 south and enter the town of North East. Continue straight through town and remain on 272 south. Continue past the main part of Elk Neck State Park (camping area, day use areas and administrative offices) and past the community of Chesapeake Isle. Rt. 272 ends at the Turkey Point parking lot. Park here and follow the trail 0.9 miles to the second meadow. Look for the sign and people staring into the sky!! We hope to see you during the 1999 Turkey Point hawk watching season.

Leslie Fisher     

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Summer is not generally considered the prime birding season in Harford County, but that doesn't mean that notable birds are nowhere to be seen! Autumn migration is just around the corner and early migrants are always a possibility, as are those spring migrants and even winter residents that simply do not leave the area. Couple these with the rare excitement of watching fledglings cope with flight (actually, landing appears to be the difficult step) and summer appears to offer rather exciting birding. Lets take a look at some of these exciting Harford's Avian Visitors.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds offers some incredible birds no matter what the time of year. Certainly this was the case late this past spring on May 27th when an Alder Flycatcher male was heard singing near Philips Airfield (DW). On the other side of this military base, also in a large field but this time on a bombing range, a bird-of-the-year candidate was identified on June 27th in the form of a singing male Henslow's Sparrow (DD). The Henslow's put on a show for several weeks, singing from a thistle plant hoping for that female Henslow's to arrive. While looking for the Henslow's Sparrow on June 30th, two Bobolinks were spotted nearby (DD and DW).

Not to be surpassed by the Proving Grounds in the birds-attracted category, Havre de Grace supplied its usual number of surprises through mid-summer. Shorebirds are early to migrate, often beginning as early as mid July, but gulls are unexpected at that time. That explains the surprise when a juvenile Ring-billed Gull found its way to Havre de Grace on July 8th (DW). Shorebirds did begin to trickle southward in mid July however. July 10th was a busy day at the Tydings Island mud flats with several Least Sandpipers, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, and many Killdeer stopping by to take a break (RB). Five days later a Short-billed Dowitcher also made an appearance at the flats (DW), while birds of different feathers including two Cliff Swallows on July 11th (RB) and a Pied-billed Grebe on July 20th (DW) were seen from the Tydings Island Marina as well. Upland birding in Havre de Grace hasn't been all that bad either, with notables such as a singing Blue Grosbeak on June 6th and a very, very early (or very, very late ????) Dark-eyed Junco in Webster Village on July 18th (DW).

There is of course more to summer birding in Harford County than is seen at APG and Havre de Grace. Scenic Carson's Run is a stream that meanders through the Aldino area, and was the location of a singing Willow Flycatcher on June 5th (DW). A relatively new area getting attention of late is the Lakeside Business Park in Edgewood. Large mud flats and sediment control ponds adjacent to the businesses are attractive to many shorebirds and ducks. A Ring-necked Duck checked out the ponds there on July 18th (DP), a few days before the report of a Great Egret was received (RB). Shorebirds at the business park on July 22nd included a Solitary Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs (RB).

Conowingo Dam had its fair share of birds throughout July, highlighted by a male Northern Pintail on the 11th that had remained for much of the month. Also notable at the dam were several Black-crowned Night-Herons including recently fledged juveniles on July 22nd (RB).

Soon comes a truly challenging time for birders, autumn migration. It is a time when many birds have lost their breeding plumage, leaving them very different in appearance from when they last visited Harford County in May. To complicate the issue, countless hatch-year birds will filter through the area, these often looking nothing like the adults. Also, many autumn migrants do not sing, taking away an alternative form of identification. The increase in challenge makes it all the more attractive however to search for migrating shorebirds in August, passerines in September, and raptors in October.

Along the way, please be sure to report any of Harford's Avian Visitors that you may have seen to Russ Kovach by email to rkovac1@tiger.towson.edu or by "snail mail" to 810 Falconer Rd, Joppa MD, 21085.

OBSERVERS: (RB): Rick Blom, (DD): Diedra Deroila, (DP): Dave Powell, (DW): Dave Webb

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The Maryland Ornithological Society is now accepting applications from Maryland teachers and youth leaders for ten scholarships to attend summer ecology and ornithology workshops which the National Audubon society holds at its camps in Maine, Connecticut and Wyoming. Each grant covers the cost of tuition, room and board for an intensive six-day course field study and instruction in ecology, ornithology, conservation, and natural history. The value of each scholarship is from $600 to $800.

MOS requires that its scholarship recipients work with young people This includes teachers, camp counselors, park rangers, students and others who intend to make nature education a part of their careers. Applicants need not be members of MOS, but they must be endorsed by a chapter or a member of MOS. Each candidate must submit the following:

1. A written statement in the form of a letter showing how the Audubon experience will be used to develop in young people an appreciation of our wild heritage and a sense of responsibility for the care and quality of our natural resources and environment.

2. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who know of the candidate's interests and activities. One must be from an MOS member or chapter. It is most helpful if recommendation letters cite specific programs, job descriptions, or activities in which the candidate has been involved in addition to personal qualities.

3. A current resume.

Applicants must be eighteen or older.

Applications for the 2000 scholarships are due by January 31, 2000 to Jean Fry, Chairperson of the MOS Scholarship Committee, 1202 Ridge Road, Pylesville, MD 21132.

For inquires, please call (410) 452-8539.

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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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Hosts Paul and Emily Hines rolled out the welcome mat on a muggy July evening for a birdwalk at their buffalo farm in Churchville. The six club members watched these massive ruminants graze on Cedarvale Farms' 80+ acres, and even enjoy a special dessert of assorted bagels. Then it was onto the bird walk, where we came across many Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows and Purple Martins feeding over the pond and surrounding fields. Eastern Kingbirds were quite numerous, guarding their territories from larger crows and mockingbirds. Brief in-flight glimpses of a Brown Thrasher and a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds rounded out the list of 32 species in the two hour walk.

Afterwards, the Hines' invited everyone into their home for some buffalo chili, homegrown fruit salad and other delicious goodies. Thanks Paul and Emily, for a wonderful evening!!!!!

Five birders showed up on a warm Wednesday morning for a leisurely stroll at Soma. We saw about twenty common birds. The best birds were good looks at Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting and a determined Red-tailed Hawk that refused to leave even after harassment by Oriole, Mockingbird and Crow.

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On behalf of the Harford Bird Club I would like to recognize Les Eastman for his dedication and faithful service to our bird club. Les is one of the foundation stones, who patiently helped the club grow in a variety of ways. He has been a member for the past 15 years and he served as editor for our newsletter, Wrenderings, for the past 12 years. Les states, "It was Dennis Kirkwood's idea to start a regular newsletter when he was President of the club. I was servicing as Vice-President then and Dennis asked me to put it all together...since I had some computer experience. The first issues were pretty crude, but as my equipment got better, the newsletter started to look better. As time went on, different club members thought up new ideas for regular features, and so it gradually grew to what it is now.". Les also been on the field trip committee since it's inception. (About 10 years) and leads several field trips each year. Les continues active as he still monitors our Web site and volunteers when the need arises.

Thank you Les for all your hard work. You certainly are appreciated by us! It is members such as Les, who have paved the way for us new kids on the block.

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The Harford County Bird Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Friday, November 5, 1999 at the dinner meeting. Chandler Robbins will be the keynote speaker. Past presidents and long-time members will be recognized. There will be a display of pictures, articles, and memorabilia from past club activities.

Members should make a special effort to attend this meeting. If you have any suggestions, pictures, or questions, please contact Jean Fry. before Wednesday, September 15, which is the last planning committee meeting.

Further details in the October newsletter!!

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PICNIC RESERVATION FORM


Please return to Tom Congersky at 2418 Sycamore Lane, Edgewood, MD 21040 
by Sunday, October 3rd.

		__________ 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.

			_______________________________
			_______________________________
			 Please list names of attendees

Please send any comments to Les Eastman.
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