Hey Y'all,

Here's the checklist from Saturday's bird walk at Whitehall Forest.

Location: Whitehall Forest
Observation date: 10/4/08
Notes: 53-75F, Fair, Calm. Observers M. Freeman, S.Holzman, J. McMinn, E. Maioriello and other ORAS birdwalk participants
Number of species: 39

Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Rock Pigeon 1
Mourning Dove 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 3
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8
Downy Woodpecker 7
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Eastern Phoebe 7
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 10
Carolina Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 20
Brown-headed Nuthatch 4
Carolina Wren 15
Eastern Bluebird 5
Swainson's Thrush 3
Wood Thrush 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Brown Thrasher 12
Tennessee Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 4
Pine Warbler 4
Hooded Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Chipping Sparrow 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 2
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 10
House Finch 10

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

(cross-posted to GABO-L, in part)
Bill O'Grady, Karla O'Grady, and I birded the state botanical garden Thursday morning and this morning. Some highlights from Thursday were an Ovenbird, Baltimore Oriole (juvenile male), Scarlet Tanager, a Red-headed Woodpecker, and Magnolia Warblers at the beaverpond.

The beaverpond wetland along the orange trail was again the best center of activity this morning, with a pack of 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a Swamp Sparrow, at least 4 White-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Magnolia Warblers, a male Chestnut-sided Warbler, a Scarlet Tanager, and a Northern Waterthrush. Below are some highlights lifted from today's ebird list:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 (chasing a terrified male Cardinal at the beaverpond)
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 3 (first of the fall/ new botgarden early date; meowing & chasing)
Acadian Flycatcher 1 (continues to set new botgarden late date)
White-eyed Vireo 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 4+ (4 on one snag at once; first seen in a month)
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH 1 (first feeding on wild grapes, then pokeweed; seen and heard well)
Swainson's Thrush 1 (heard only)
Catharus sp. 1 (probable GCTH; flew away joined at the hip with the confirmed GCTH)
Wood Thrush 1 (heard only)
Northern Parula 1
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3 (one with great chestnut sides)
Magnolia Warbler 8 (a couple giving House Finchy alarm calls)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER 1 (river at powerline; first of fall/ new early date)
Pine Warbler 5
Northern Waterthrush 2 (beaver pond and white trail river sandbar; continuing to set new late date)
Common Yellowthroat 3
Hooded Warbler 4 (chips heard only)
Scarlet Tanager 1 (tied with 2005 for late date)
SWAMP SPARROW 1 (first of the fall/ new early date)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Indigo Bunting 2

Big Sit 2008!

Pull out your folding chairs, grab your binoculars and get ready to sit! Join Oconee Rivers Audubon Society for the Big Sit 2008 on October 12th, 2008. We had a very successful year last year, and we hope to have an even bigger year in 2008. The Big Sit is a world-wide birding event when birders compete to count the most birds. Teams compete at the state, national and world level. To participate, groups sit together in a circle and count as many birds as they can see or hear. You can only count birds seen or heard while in the circle. The event not only allows you to enjoy seeing the birds but you can socialize with other birders!

Date: October 12th, 2008
Time: 6:30am-8:00pm
Location: State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA. Event will be in the power cut next to the river.
What to bring: Chair, snacks, water, binoculars, field guide, warm clothes for early or late in the day

For more information or to sign up, contact Kate Mowbray Education Chair, at (706) 224-2194 or by email uga71978@aol.com.

Come and join us this Saturday, October 4th, at Whitehall forest. (Directions bellow:) We will meet at 8am at Whitehall Forest along the road in front of the gate past the mansion, and please come prepared with bug repellent, clothing appropriate to the weather and practical shoes. Also, please don't be late! We will have to close the gate behind us once we are in and there will be no way to get in after that, though you will be able to leave at any time.
As usual, the walks last between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 hours, but if you wish, there will be a mid point in the walk were you will have the choice to go home early.
 
If you have any questions please contact me at fieldtrip@oconeeriversaudubon.org or at 706-208-8504

See you there,

Ed Maioriello
Athens, GA
 
 
 
Directions to Whitehall forest:
 
From HWY 78 and HWY 29(entering Athens from west):
HWY 78 joins HWY 29-stay in R lane coming into Athens. When you see Georgia Square Mall on left and Mission Square on R, get in far R lane and get onto Athens bypass. Follow signs to HWY 78 East/HWY 10 South loop. Stay on bypass 10 miles and take Milledge Avenue exit. Turn R onto Milledge, which forks at Whitehall. Take the R fork, cross Whitehall Rd and enter the Whitehall Forest. The main road ends at Flinchum's Phoenix, about 1.5 miles.

From HWY 129 and HWY 441 (entering from north):
Follow sign 129/441 South that will take you to bypass around Athens. You will exit one section of bypass and get on another. Signs lead you to UGA stadium and Watkinsville. Take Milledge Avenue exit and turn L onto Milledge, which forks at Whitehall. Take the R fork, cross Whitehall Rd and enter the Whitehall Forest. The main road ends at Flinchum' s Phoenix, about 1.5 miles.

FROM HWY 78 (entering Athens from East):
Entering Athens, turn L at the first major intersection which is Gaines School Road. After about one mile, this becomes Barnett Shoals Road. As you pass Burger King, Wendy's and some other fast food places, get in the L lane. Go straight thru intersection of College Station (Golden Pantry will be on your R), get in the R lane, and stay R as the road turns into Whitehall Road. After crossing some RR tracks, turn L at the next road which is the entrance to Whitehall Forest. The main road ends at Flinchum's Phoenix, about 1.5 miles.

From HWY 129 and 441 (entering from the south):
Entering Watkinsville, HWY 129/441 and HWY 15 intersect at Golden Pantry. Stay on 129/441/15 and turn R at next road (Simon Bridges and Whitehall). Stay on this for a few miles. Just before the entrance to Whitehall Forest, you'll see signs for UGA Central Research Stores ad Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). Turn R into Whitehall Forest after GFC Building. The main road ends at Flinchum's Phoenix, about 1.5 miles.

You're correct, Mark. The route was changed to make it easier for the big birds to get around the mountains in TN. But selfishly, I was disappointed that they will barely touch GA now.

Just learned from the Alabama Birds listserv that this year's Operation Migration Whooping Crane route will follow a more westerly path. Here is a link with the new route thru Alabama:

http://operationmigration.org/mile_makers.htm

I'm assuming this is the new (only) route and not an additional route. While it makes it harder for Georgia folks to try to see the whoopers, I suspect the route was changed to make it easier for them to get around the mountains in Tennessee... just a guess on my part. Here's what I read on AlabamaBirds:

> Operation Migration has had the proposed
> route posted on their web site for several months.
> As best as I can decipher, they will attempt
> to make 2 stops in West Tennessee this migration.
> The first stop should be somewhere in Carroll
> county with the second stop being somewhere in
> Hardin county.
>
> Check out operationmigration
> http://operationmigration.org/mile_makers.htm
> from there you should be able to see their map.
>
> May I again state that I don't have any inside
> information from OM that is passed on to me
> personally. I do know about three or so persons
> on a first name basis but that's it. I have gleaned
> what I think I know from the information presented
> on the OM web site.
>
> Jimmy Wilkerson
> Hixson, TN

As always they need donations to help fund the project, even moreso with todays higher fuel costs:
http://operationmigration.org/MileMaker2008/SelectMile.php

Below are some highlights from this morning at the State Botanical Garden (almost everything along the river on the orange trail). Oddly, no Chestnut-sided Warblers or Tanagers of either species.

Solitary Sandpiper 2 (on the powerline island; not very Solitary...)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 (big dropoff since last week)
Red-headed Woodpecker 2 (again flying upstream on white trail)
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee 6
Acadian Flycatcher 1
Red-eyed Vireo 2
House Wren 1 (privet eradication area)
Swainson's Thrush 6
Catharus sp. 5 (too far back in the trees to ID, but most were likely Swainson's)
Wood Thrush 2
Song Sparrow 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5
Indigo Bunting 3

12 Warbler spp.:
Tennessee Warbler 8
Northern Parula 1
Magnolia Warbler 7
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 3
Palm Warbler 1 (new flower garden)
Black-and-white Warbler 1
American Redstart 9
Worm-eating Warbler 2 (along river near beaver pond, one sitting out in full sun)
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Hooded Warbler 3

ORAS monthly meeting, Thursday 2 - Social & recipe swap at 6pm - Presentation at 7pm

Vanessa Lane, Ph.D. student at the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and current Oconee Rivers Audubon Society president, will be discussing her experiences working with Project Puffin in the Gulf of Maine at the October 2 meeting of the Oconee Rivers Audubon Society. The National Audubon Society started Project Puffin in 1973 in an effort to learn how to restore puffins to historic nesting islands in the Gulf of Maine. Project Puffin now manages several islands for puffins and other birds such as Razorbills, Common Murres, Arctic Terns, Common Terns, and the endangered Roseate Tern. Vanessa has participated in many projects, including Project Puffin, a Cerulean Warbler feeding and nesting study in West Virginia, and raptor rehabilitation at Ravensbeard Wildlife Center in upstate New York.

The program, which is open to the public, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the ENSAT Building at Sandy Creek Nature Center.

***************
Preceding the presentation is a social and recipe swap at 6:00 p.m. Bring a dish to share!
***************

For additional information, call Edwige Damron at 613-9875.

I stopped by the state botanical garden this evening in the hopes of hearing a Barred Owl (last reported on ebird from the botgarden on August 29th) or maybe, just maybe, a Screech Owl (2 were reported to ebird from September 7th 1986!). I ended up with neither, but what I did get was a GREAT HORNED OWL (hitherto unreported from the botgarden on ebird). The GHOW sailed over about 20-30 ft above treetop level coming from the direction of the perennial garden/upper powerline and headed WSW toward the river between the lower parking lot and greenhouses at approximately 7:50 PM.

Also, if any of you missed Jared Fisher's post to GABO-L this week, he set up a site showing ebird data (species seen in the past week, what day they were seen, and high counts) from a few popular GA birding spots. Featured first and foremost on the list is the botanical garden.

http://gebirding.googlepages.com/eBirdSightings.htm

Edited by author 09-23-2008 03:58 PM
The Oconee Rivers Audubon Society will be hosting a bird walk this Saturday at the State Botanical Garden! Please meet at 8AM at the Chapel parking lot.

Our next walk on October 4th will be held at Whitehall Forest.

FYI - from the UGA - SOS website.

October 2, 2008
Feral Cat Presentation and Panel Discussion
Feral cats — the unsocialized descendants of unsterilized pet and stray cats — can be found in many locations where there is a food source and irresponsible pet owners, inlcuding the UGA campus and the Athens community. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is an internationally recognized method used to control the feral population through sterilization, vaccination, and active management of cats in colonies. However, some people disagree with TNR, believing it does harm to wildlife populations and the cats themselves. Dr. Julie Levy, a leading researcher on feral cat management and director of the Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, will give a presentation about TNR. A discussion focusing on feral cats in our community will follow, featuring a panel of local experts and activists. Come learn about TNR in the Athens community and share your views on this controversial topic.
Student Learning Center, room 213, at 7:30 pm.

Christie Harwell and I had some new arrivals and other good birds at the botanical garden this morning, although the 3 main areas of high activity we encountered were interspersed with long stretches of quiet birdlessness. Some highlights:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Red-headed Woodpecker 1 (white trail, flying upriver; not seen at botgarden since May 1st)
Northern Flicker 1 (botgarden First Of The Fall, my first there since April)
Eastern Wood-Pewee 3
Acadian Flycatcher 3
Blue-headed Vireo 1 (FOTF, orange trail along river)
Eastern Bluebird 16 (nice flock going across the new flower garden)
Wood Thrush 6 (vocal, but not cooperative visually)
Tennessee Warbler 12 (7+ near the new deck)
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 (FOTF, orange trail along Pig Stink Creek)
Pine Warbler 4 (heard only)
American Redstart 7 (2 adult males)
Worm-eating Warbler 2 (one nearly flew directly into our faces)
Northern Waterthrush 1
Common Yellowthroat 1 (a brief pish brought him within a couple feet of us)
Hooded Warbler 2 (heard only)
Canada Warbler 1 (foraged at close range along the white trail spur to the greenhouses)
Summer Tanager 3
Scarlet Tanager 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4 (including one adult male)
Blue Grosbeak 2
Indigo Bunting 6

The State Botanical Garden was pretty quiet this morning except for a couple pockets of brief activity, the best of which was in the trees and wild grape tangles around the lower parking lot by the powerline. Some highlights:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 (almost gone...)
Swainson's Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 2
Summer Tanager 1
Scarlet Tanager 3
Song Sparrow 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2

Warblers:
Tennessee Warbler 4 (first of the year...FINALLY)
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2
Magnolia Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 5
American Redstart 3
Ovenbird 1 (furthest upstream part of white trail)
Hooded Warbler 1

There will be an opening of the Richard Parks collection at the Main Library on the UGA campus
TODAY at 1pm. See the link below for more information.

http://www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org/dickparks_inside.pdf

Hope you can make it.

The Oconee Rivers Audubon Society will be having a field trip to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield in Kennesaw this Saturday, September 20th. Kennesaw Mountain is distinguished as being Georgia's first designated Important Bird Area, and offers fantastic birding during migrations.

We will be meeting in the Shops of South Athens shopping center where South Milledge hits the bypass so we can leave at 6:00AM. Again, we will be leaving at 6 so please plan to arrive a little earlier. While we are gathering we will try to arrange car pooling options to minimize the number of cars that need to make the drive. There are no guarantees that you will be able to ride with someone else, but we generally are able to work things out to everyone's satisfaction.

You will want to dress for the weather and wear practical shoes. The walk involves hiking up the road on the mountain and back down. The hike up is moderately difficult. Please plan to bring water, bug spray, and any snacks desired. The birding is typically from 7:30 or so until late morning to noon. We are usually able to return to Athens by 2:00-3:00PM.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 706-208-8504 or via email to fieldtrip@oconeeriversaudubon.org.

Ed Maioriello