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CarolinaBirds for Thursday, June 1, 2006
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Subject: helicopter use and birds
From: "Bob Cherry" <cherylay(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 12:05am
The Blue Ridge Parkway will shortly be contracting for a helicopter to fly
sections of the parkway while filming for a park movie. The flights will
only be in one area for a short period of time, probably just long enough
to film a section of the parkway and then move on. In some locations there
might be multiple flights but I would think the total time should still be
less than an hour. There should be no night flights but possibly some at
sunrise and sunset.
My involvement in this is to ensure that park resources are not harmed. I
am wondering specifically about any impacts there might be on our birds.
Does anyone know of any research indicating that helicopter flights will
affect birds at certain times of the year or in certain activities? I
think the flights will be after birds have nested and fledged but if not
would this be a concern to any species? What about if the flights are
during hawk watch season? Is there any physical harm that could come to
migrating birds (during day light hours)? Any other concerns?
I'm leaning towards this will have no, or virtually no, impact on the
park's birds but would appreciate any comments anyone might have.
Thanks for your help.
Bob
___________________________________
Bob Cherry
Resource Management Specialist
Blue Ridge Parkway
5580 Shulls Mill Road
Blowing Rock, NC 28605-9453
828/295-7591
828/295-0337 (fax)
Bob_Cherry(AT)nps.gov
www.nps.gov/blri
___________________________________
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: helicopter use and birds
From: James Coman <hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 6:35am
Bob, and all:
I am forwarding your post and my reply to Jim Keighton, who runs the
Mahogany Rock and Bullhead hawkwatch sites, for his comment.
I do not see that there could be any serious impact on bird populations by
the kind of helicopter flights that you describe. Multiple flights over an
established hawkwatch site such as Mahogany Rock Overlook that happened to
coincide with passage of large numbers of Broad-Winged Hawks in kettles
could, conceivably, endanger some individual birds (and the helicopter) and
irritate the birders below, but such is unlikely.
The escarpment, and the BRP, are continually being overflown, often at very
low altitude, by military aircraft on training flights (primarily F-16s,
F/A-18s, and A-6s), civilian aircraft, helicopters searching for marijuana,
etc. One helicopter filming a movie cannot possibly make any additional
impact on bird populations of the Parkway corridor.
James Coman
Executive Director
Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust
P. O. Box 2557
Boone, N. C. 28607
828-263-8776
info(AT)brrlt.org
www.brrlt.org
Farm Office:
9124 NC Hwy 93
Piney Creek, N. C. 28663
336-359-2909
Fax 336-359-8643
hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com
On 6/1/06 12:04 AM, "Bob Cherry" <cherylay(AT)bellsouth.net> wrote:
> The Blue Ridge Parkway will shortly be contracting for a helicopter to fly
> sections of the parkway while filming for a park movie. The flights will
> only be in one area for a short period of time, probably just long enough
> to film a section of the parkway and then move on. In some locations there
> might be multiple flights but I would think the total time should still be
> less than an hour. There should be no night flights but possibly some at
> sunrise and sunset.
>
> My involvement in this is to ensure that park resources are not harmed. I
> am wondering specifically about any impacts there might be on our birds.
> Does anyone know of any research indicating that helicopter flights will
> affect birds at certain times of the year or in certain activities? I
> think the flights will be after birds have nested and fledged but if not
> would this be a concern to any species? What about if the flights are
> during hawk watch season? Is there any physical harm that could come to
> migrating birds (during day light hours)? Any other concerns?
>
> I'm leaning towards this will have no, or virtually no, impact on the
> park's birds but would appreciate any comments anyone might have.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Bob
>
> ___________________________________
> Bob Cherry
> Resource Management Specialist
>
> Blue Ridge Parkway
> 5580 Shulls Mill Road
> Blowing Rock, NC 28605-9453
>
> 828/295-7591
> 828/295-0337 (fax)
> Bob_Cherry(AT)nps.gov
> www.nps.gov/blri
> ___________________________________
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Duck Stamps on sale
From: Jim Seaman <cb(AT)jbs-blog.com>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 9:52am
Duck stamps go on sale this Friday, June 2.
Proceeds from sale of these stamps (officially the Migratory Bird Hunting
and Conservation Stamp) are used to buy and maintain land for national
wildlife refuges and to buy and lease waterfowl production areas. Many
species of nongame birds and other animals receive help from these efforts.
Buy a stamp (they should be available at your local post office). The cost
is only $15 and, of that cost, $14.70 actually goes toward the program!
This is one of the best bird conservation investments you can make and the
stamps are quite collectable as well.
More info: http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/
Jim Seaman - Raleigh, NC
http://www.jseaman.com/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: helicopter use and birds
From: "Michael C. Parrish" <pendragon1998(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 11:04am
I tend to agree; I don't think that one helicopter would have much
impact at all on the bird population as a whole - perhaps on one or two
individuals, and probably not that. If anything, the movie made by the
helicopter might actually improve the situation for the birds by
contributing to conservation.
--- James Coman <hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com> wrote:
> Multiple flights over an established hawkwatch site such as Mahogany
> Rock Overlook that happened to coincide with passage of large numbers
> of Broad-Winged Hawks in kettles could, conceivably, endanger some
> individual birds (and the helicopter) and irritate the birders below,
> but such is unlikely.
>
> The escarpment, and the BRP, are continually being overflown, often
> at very
> low altitude, by military aircraft on training flights (primarily
> F-16s,
> F/A-18s, and A-6s), civilian aircraft, helicopters searching for
> marijuana,
> etc. One helicopter filming a movie cannot possibly make any
> additional
> impact on bird populations of the Parkway corridor.
Michael C. Parrish
Watkinsville, GA (Oconee Co.)
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~parrishm/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: yellow belly flycatchers
From: "Kevin Caldwell" <kevin(AT)equinoxenvironmental.com>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 1:40pm
The 1996 USDA publication "Neotropical Migratory Birds of the
S.Appalachians" (Franzreb & Phillips) notes that yellow belly flycatchers
can be found in the spruce / fir zone of the s. Apps. I've not seen or
heard them there (did not on the recent migration count there)
I'm wondering if anyone has actually seen / heard, or knows of breeding of
this bird anywhere in the spruce / fir zone in western NC - might they be
more in the Mt. Rogers area?
Kevin Caldwell
Barnardsville, NC (Mtns)
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Subject: Black Mts spring count
From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 5:12pm
The Black Mountains IBA Spring Count was held on Saturday, May 27th in fine
weather, although quite windy on the mountain ridges in the morning. The
Black Mountains are the highest mountain range east of the Mississippi and
include Mount Mitchell and several other peaks above 6000 feet. Its a very
different world up there. Even in late May many of the trees had not yet
leafed out.
Eleven participants in four groups covered mainly higher elevation areas
around Mount Mitchell, but also some lower areas around the Black Mountains
campground. Unlike the Balsam Mountains count, no large balds are covered in
this area and the bird population reflects largely high elevation forest
species. For this reason, the order of abundance is somewhat different on
this count than on the Balsam Mts count where Chestnut-sided Warblers
dominated. In the forest the Black-throated Green Warbler takes over, and
Golden-crowned Kinglets are almost never out of earshot. Fewer total birds
were counted largely because there were fewer people counting, and they
covered a smaller area. A total of 59 species were found. Top ten species in
order of abundance were: Golden-crowned Kinglet (197), Dark-eyed Junco (174),
Black-throated Green Warbler (76), Canada Warbler (55), Winter Wren (53),
Blue-headed Vireo (50), Blackburnian Warbler (49), Chestnut-sided Warbler
(44), Eastern Towhee (42), Black-throated Blue Warbler (41).
Interesting finds were a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers that may have been
late migrants or may have been breeding birds, a healthy population of 17
Hermit Thrushes probably largely breeding birds, a lingering Swainsons
Thrush, a Meadowlark on Mount Mitchell, a family of three Louisiana
Waterthrushes in the Black Mountain campground, a flock of 18 Red Crossbills
about a mile or two north of Mt Mitchell on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a
Saw-whet Owl calling briefly just after dark at Balsam Gap. Strangest
absentee from the count was Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Many thanks again to the participants who had to get up mighty early in the
morning to be up at Mount Mitchell at dawn. A complete list of birds follows:
Turkey Vulture 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Coopers Hawk - 1
Broadwinged Hawk - 6
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Mourning Dove 3
N. Saw-whet Owl 1
Chimney Swift 10
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 6
Eastern Wood Pewee 3
Acadian Flycatcher 6
Eastern Phoebe 3
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Blue-headed Vireo 50
Red-eyed Vireo 21
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 10
Common Raven 3
Carolina Chickadee 6
Tufted Titmouse 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 35
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 12
Carolina Wren 3
Winter Wren 53
Golden-crowned Kinglet 197
Veery 35
Swainsons Thrush 1
Thrush sp - 1
Hermit Thrush 17
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin 31
Gray Catbird 18
Cedar Waxwing 13
Northern Parula 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 44
Black-throated Blue Warbler 41
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
Black-throated Green Warbler 76
Blackburnian Warbler 49
Black-and-white Warbler 17
American Redstart 2
Worm-eating Warbler 2
Ovenbird 33
Louisiana Waterthrush 3
Common Yellowthroat 1
Hooded Warbler 5
Canada Warbler 55
Scarlet Tanager 2
Eastern Towhee 42
Song Sparrow 4
Dark-eyed Junco 174
Indigo Bunting 39
Eastern Meadowlark 1
Red Crossbill 18
Pine Siskin 6
American Goldfinch 1
Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Spring Bird Sightings Reports Due
From: rdnc <rdnc(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 5:57pm
Hi Folks
This is a reminder that your Spring Season (Mar 1 - May 31) Bird
Sighting Reports for North American Birds Southern Atlantic Region
(NC,SC,GA) and The Chat Briefs for the Files (NC, SC)are due. Please
get me your reports and any photos you want to send by June 20, 06. As
always, I am interested in anything rare, locally unusual, or anything
early or late as a migrant. Also let me know how the migration was in
your area. Sending by email is best of course but you can also send by
snail mail or fax. Thanks, and good birding, later, Ricky.
Ricky Davis
NAB-Southern Atlantic Region
The Chat-Briefs for the Files
608 Smallwood Drive
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
rdnc(AT)earthlink.net
RJDNC(AT)aol.com
rickyd(AT)theodavis.com(W)
(252)443-0276
(919)269-7401(W)
(919)269-5647(Wfax)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Snowy Plover still present?
From: Will Cook <cwcook(AT)duke.edu>
Date: 1 Jun 2006 6:02pm
Has anyone looked for the Cape Hatteras Snowy Plover since Monday?
Positive or negative reports would be appreciated by those of us hoping
to head down there this weekend. (Anyone want to share a ride?)
Thanks,
Will
--
Will Cook - Durham, NC
http://www.carolinanature.com
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