Volume 19 Number 5 |
September - October 2006 |
I suppose I cannot speak for the club as a whole, but the Christmas birding season has always been my favorite time of the year with respect to our chosen hobby. To put it lightly, the Christmas Bird Count is what my birding year revolves around, and with it just around the corner... I am itching to get started! This year offers a fantastic new program that recognizes land-owners that have so often granted us access to their property for the purpose of birding on counts and birding trips. If you there have been land-owners that have regularly allowed your access onto their property for bird-club events, please contact Dave Webb to see about arranging an invitation to one of our dinner meetings or picnics. At the end-of-summer picnic we had not only some local land-owners as guests; also invited and on-hand was MOS Audubon Camp scholarship winner Amanda Koss, one of two Harford County teachers that applied for and won the scholarship to Audubon camp in Maine. The other winner, who was unable to attend the picnic, was Edgewood biology teacher Dan Naegeli. I am not sure about this, but my guess is that more Harford County participants have earned the MOS Audubon scholarship that any other county, yet another testament to the strength of our club and its relationship to the school system!
Speaking of our meetings... the 2006-2007 season speaker list is complete, and we certainly do have quite a line-up if I do say so myself! Starting off in November is our very own Tom Gibson, who will share highlights of his recent birding trip to Texas with the Kirkwoods and other Harford County birders. Hank Kaestner will return in January updating us on the "Travels of a Spice Trader", and VENT tour leader Jeff Gordon (no, not the race-car driver) will be in town for the March meeting sharing stories from years of travels all over the Americas. Spring will bring us a new meeting venue in addition to local ornithologist Kim Derrickson who will share with us aspects of his research on the biology of the Wood Thrush. The season will end at the summer social on July 21st with a talk about birding in the Adirondack Mountains by long-time Adirondacker Bill Barber, an aficionado of birding in the boreal bonanza that is the Adirondack Mountains!
Speaking of spring... this coming May's meeting will be held for the first time in years at the Harford Glen Outdoor Environmental Education Center. Harford Glen features a large pavilion with fireplace in addition to indoor facilities in the event of poor weather. With a little luck such a fantastic location for a bird-club meeting may provide us with a few migrant warblers in addition to hearing about the biology of the Wood Thrush.
In the meantime... be sure to stay on the look-out for rare and unusual (albeit rather late) migrants and strays. The week of this writing a Sabine's Gull was spotted and photographed at Conowingo Dam compliments of Les Eastman and Greg Futral. One never knows what birdlife may be in Harford County; it only takes birders out there doing what they love to find them! (Oh... and if any of them happen to be in my CBC area... please tie them down until December!) Finally... this is election season; please be sure to ask candidates about their positions on preservation of important bird areas and wildlife-sensitive lands in Harford County. And most important of all, be sure to get out and vote as well! I look forward to seeing you all at the November meeting and at the Christmas Bird County tally rally!
Best birding wishes...
Russ Kovach
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We need you! The 35th Annual Rock Run Christmas Bird Count will be held on Friday December 29, 2006. Last year's count was a great success because we had the count circle well covered. Let's try to do even better this year. The CBC is an excellent opportunity to have fun while contributing to one of the largest scientific databases concerning bird populations. You don't need to be an expert birder to participate. The count is simple. The count circle is 15 miles in diameter with the center point at Rock Run Mill. The circle is divided into sectors in which a group and its leader have 24 hours to count as many species and individual birds as they can find. The fee for participating is $5 (students under 18 free). All moneys are forwarded to National Audubon Society in order to compile and publish the results.
Let's try to cover the entire count circle with lots of observers. Everyone is invited to participate. If you usually lead a group or you would like to participate please contact me as soon as possible at 410-879-7424 or email.
Jean Wheeler
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| October 26 | HBC Executive Board Meeting |
| November 1 | Deadline: Harford Birdlife: Becky Gallo |
| November 3 | Dinner Meeting: Tom Gibson |
| November 25 | Deadline: Wrenderings: Rick Cheicante |
| December 29 | 35th Annual Christmas Bird Count |
| January 12 | Winter Meeting: Hank Kaestner |
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Annual membership dues are now overdue for the Harford Bird Club year from September 1, 2006 through August 31, 2007. You should have received a pre-addressed envelope with fee structures in the July/August Wrenderings. If you did not receive this envelope, please contact Marjie Heagy at (410)557-9485 for more information on renewal. Please fill out the envelope, enclose your check made payable to HARFORD MOS and mail it to our treasurer, Marjie Heagy. We would like to have all dues paid by December 31, 2006.
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In January a letter was sent out to all Harford County elementary schools and the Public Library. During the months of March and April I presented eight programs to forth and fifth graders at Prospect Mills, Hall Cross and Fountain Green elementary schools. This evolved a total of 370 students. Mr. Eakes' class, at Fountain Green wrote thank you notes which were really cute.
On August 24th I presented a program to adults at Brightview Assisted Living.
If any one would like to join the Education committee please give me call. I can always use new ideas and assistance.
Madeline Lovera
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Congratulations and best of luck to Jean Wheeler. Jean has accepted the position of Chapter Chatter columnist for the Maryland Yellowthroat starting in January of 2007.
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John and Linda Ireland, gracious supporters of our dinner meeting raffles, offer discounts to HBC members. Located in the Forest Hill Industrial Airpark, there hours are:
| Sun: | 12 - 4 p.m. | Wed: | 6 - 8 p.m. |
| Mon: | Closed | Thurs: | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Tues: | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Fri: | 6 - 8 p.m. |
| Sat: | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
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There are a few dates left for the fall season of bird banding. Members are encouraged to come by and visit Mark Johnson and the folks for an up-close look at the birds.
Friday, October 27
Thursday, November 2
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New evidence is being reported for the (re-)discovery of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers along the Choctawhatchee River in Florida. Check out www.ibwo.org for links to these new efforts.
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July - August 2006: Must have been a busy hot summer! There weren't any out of the ordinary birds sighted.
Goose, Duck, Gamebird, Cormorant
Canada Geese were spotted at Susquehanna State Park (Aug 26, MoH), Conowingo Dam (Aug 26, MoH)
and Aberdeen Proving Ground (Aug 8, MoH). JG saw Canada Geese at Swan Harbor - a flock with at
least 30 goslings found the new pier area. The only duck reported this report was American Black Ducks at
Swan Harbor (MoH Jul 28 & Aug 5, BG Aug). RC heard a Northern Bobwhite calling in the Perryman
area on Aug 27th. Double-crested Cormorants were seen at Conowingo Dam (Jul 9, Aug 26) and Swan
Harbor (Aug 2), MoH.
Herons
On July 8th RC saw an American Bittern at Swan Harbor. Great Blue Herons were spotted in their typical
areas - Susquehanna State Park, Conowingo Dam and Swan Harbor (MoH, JG, BG). Great Egrets made a
home at Swan Harbor for several weeks (JG, RG). DL & PL saw 1 Great Egret at Lakeside on Aug 27th.
Great Egrets were also spotted at Harford Glen (SBH Jul 23, DL & PL Aug 27). A Snowy Egret was at
Swan Harbor on Jul 28th (MoH). On Aug 27th at Lakeside DL & PL saw a Little Blue Heron. Green
Herons were spotted at Harford Glen (SBH Jul 23), Lakeside (DL Aug 13), and Swan Harbor (MoH Jul
28).
Hawks, Falcons
Ospreys were hunting at Anita Leight Estuary Center (MoH Jul 21) and Lakeside (DL Aug 13 & Jul 30).
They were also at Susquehanna State Park and Conowingo Dam (MoH). Bald Eagles were spotted at Swan
Harbor (JG & RG) and Conowingo Dam (MoH). A Cooper's Hawk was seen on Jul 25th flying over
Havre de Grace (MoH). As many as 7 American Kestrels were seen at Swan Harbor towards the end of
Aug (JG & RG).
Plovers, Sandpipers
DL & PL saw 2 Killdeer, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, 6 Least Sandpipers and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper at
Harford Glen on Aug 27th. They saw 1 Spotted Sandpiper on the same day at Lakeside. RC spotted a
Solitary Sandpiper at Swan Harbor on Jul 8th. MoH saw a Lesser Yellowlegs in Havre de Grace on Jul
7th.
Gulls, Tern, Cuckoo, Owls
RC saw as many as 20 Ring-billed Gulls and several Caspian Terns on the airstrip of Edgewood Arsenal
towards the end of July. MoH saw 1 Herring Gull at Conowingo Dam on Jul 9th. DL & PL saw 1 Caspian
Tern at Lakeside on Aug 27th. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen at Swan Harbor sitting in the flower
garden on Aug 26th. LP heard an Eastern Screech-Owl calling off and on at the south end of Stoney Forest
in July. JG & RG heard a Great Horned Owl calling at the front gate of Swan Harbor towards the end of
Aug. SBH heard 2 Barred Owls calling to each other at Harford Glen on Jul 23rd.
Swift, Hummingbird, Woodpeckers
JG saw a Chimney Swift in Aberdeen in July. MoH saw 3 Chimney Swifts and 2 Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds in Havre de Grace on Jul 24. RG saw as many as 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at her
Licorice bushes in August. LE had 10 to 15 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds daily at his feeders. DL saw a
Belted Kingfisher at Lakeside on Aug 13th. SBH were birding at Harford Glen on Jul 23rd and spotted a
Belted Kingfisher. DK had 2 adult and 1 young Red-headed Woodpecker on his property this summer.
MoH spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker at Anita Leight Estuary Center on Jul
21st. For most of August LE had Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy
Woodpeckers at his suet feeder. He also saw a Northern Flicker on Aug 25th and a Pileated Woodpecker
in late August.
Flycatchers, Lark, Swallows
SBH saw 2 Acadian Flycatcher at Harford Glen on Jul 23rd. MoH spotted Eastern Phoebes at
Susquehanna State Park, Aberdeen Proving Ground and Swan Harbor in August. DL saw 5 Eastern
Kingbirds at Lakeside on Jul 30th. On Jul 8th RC saw 1 Horned Lark at Swan Harbor. MoH saw at least
200 Tree Swallows at Conowingo Dam on Jul 9th. Tree and Barn Swallows were spotted almost daily at
Swan Harbor in July and August (JG & RG). Ten Bank Swallows were at Swan Harbor on Aug 5th
(MoH).
Kinglet, Gnatcatcher, Waxing
One Ruby-crowned Kinglet was spotted by LE in Havre de Grace on Aug 25th. On Jul 23rd SBH saw 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Harford Glen. MoH saw Eastern Bluebirds at Swan Harbor on Jul 28th and Aug
5th. MoH saw 1 Cedar Waxwing in Havre de Grace on Aug 20th and 1 at Susquehanna State Park (Aug
26th).
Warblers, Sparrow, Grosbeak
LP saw 2 Black-and-white Warblers and 1 Canada Warbler at the south end of Stoney Forest on Aug 11th.
MoH saw 2 Prothonotary Warblers in the Rock Run Mill area of Susquehanna State Park on Jul 9th. Song
Sparrows were spotted at Swan Harbor on Jul 28 and Aug 5th (MoH). RC saw a pair of Blue Grosbeaks at
Edgewood Arsenal on Aug 9th. MoH saw 1 Indigo Bunting at Swan Harbor on Jul 28th.
Blackbird, Finches
Three Eastern Meadowlarks were heard singing at the Edgewood Arsenal Airstrip during the month of July
(RC). LE saw American Goldfinches in Havre de Grace during the month of August. MoH saw American
Goldfinches on Aberdeen Proving Ground and at Swan Harbor in August.
Contributors
RC - Rick Cheicante, LE - Les Eastman, BG - Becky Gallo, JG - John Gallo, DL - Dave Larkin, PL -
Peter Lev, MoH - Monroe Harden, SBH - Susan & Bob Hood, LP - Leanne Pemburn
I want to thank everyone who contributed. The next article will have sightings from September 1 thru October 31, 2006. You can call me with sightings - 410-459-8873 or email me. Please send the reports to me as you see them. Thanks and Happy Birding!
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Field Trip Schedule
by Colleen Webster
Return to Table of ContentsPlease return to Eileen Nack, 8 Cresmont Drive, Aberdeen MD 21001 by Thursday, October 26, 2006. __________ Number of adults ( at $12.00 each ) __________ Number of children 12 and under ( at $7.00 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. _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________ TEL:___________________________
Dinner Reservation Form