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CarolinaBirds for Wednesday, August 2, 2006
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Subject: Hummer Activity
From: "Randy Dunson" <trdunson(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 6:38am
Have others noted a dramatic rise in hummer activity this year? We have
lived outside of Hillsborough for almost 11 years and I've never seen the
numbers of these delightful little birds as I have this year. I only have
two feeders. My wife would kill me if I put up more. :-) I now have to
refill the feeders daily. I don't know if I'm just lucky or what!
Regards,
Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Hummer Activity
From: "Smith, Marek" <Marek.Smith(AT)mecklenburgcountync.gov>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 7:46am
At our house in Mint Hill, we have seen at least 8 this year, whereas 3-4 is the
most we have seen at this same time in past years. Know the hatching year
birds are really out now, but we too are seeing some increase from recent years
at least. My better half is a birder too, so SHE put up the third feeder for us
;-)
Marek Smith
Natural Resource Coordinator
Mecklenburg County Division of Natural Resources
Conservation Science Office
9401 Plaza Road Ext., Charlotte, NC 28215
704-432-1389 Fax: 704-432-1420
marek.smith(AT)mecklenburgcountync.gov
www.parkandrec.com
"A populace less familiar with its nonhuman neighbors is one whose own impacts
are unlikely to be noticed and moderated by choice." - Robert Michael Pyle
-----Original Message-----
From: carolinabirds-owner(AT)acpub.duke.edu
[mailto:carolinabirds-owner(AT)acpub.duke.edu] On Behalf Of Randy Dunson
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 6:38 AM
To: carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu
Subject: Hummer Activity
Have others noted a dramatic rise in hummer activity this year? We have lived
outside of Hillsborough for almost 11 years and I've never seen the numbers of
these delightful little birds as I have this year. I only have two feeders. My
wife would kill me if I put up more. :-) I now have to refill the feeders daily.
I don't know if I'm just lucky or what!
Regards,
Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Chimney Rock Park being sold
From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 8:33am
Yes, it's all true. This is a very hot issue around here. The Morse family
created and has owned the park since the 1920's (they also created Lake Lure,
but sold that long ago). It's everyone's worst nightmare that it would get
sold to a developer, so there are a lot of people trying to urge the state to
purchase it. The problem is that the state can only pay "fair market value"
and they claim that is $20 million. The family is asking for $55 million, and
I'm guessing they'll get it. My understanding is that it will go to the
highest bidder. The family is not happy about having to sell the property,
but evidently it is getting too difficult and/or expensive to keep. That's
hard to imagine considering the number of people that visit there every year
and the entrance fee, but land values are skyrocketing in that area, and I'm
sure they must also pay a very hefty and growing insurance rate. Having the
state purchase it makes a lot of sense since they just purchased the adjacent
property for a state park.
Anyway, that's the way things stand at the moment. Whatever support you can
give to the drive to get the state to purchase the property would be
appreciated.
Marilyn
>===== Original Message From srharris(AT)mindspring.com =====
>Carolinabirders,
>I received the following message at the Carolina Bird Club headquarters
>address. I am forwarding it to the listserve in its entirety in that I
>felt it would be of general interest to a wide number of regional birders.
>The Carolina Bird Club nor I have no information on the validity of the web
>site referenced.
>
>
>Greetings,
>
>The North Carolina State Parks is negotiating with the owners of Chimney
>Rock Park for purchase of their property. This would then be the
>centerpiece property for the new Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. The owners
>of Chimney Rock Park have also decided to list the park with Sotheby's
>International Realty. The most important national icon of North Carolina is
>at risk. There is a very real possibility of the park falling into the
>hands of a private developer with unknown intentions.
>
>Please help us save Chimney Rock Park. Chimney Rock Park is one of the most
>significant ecological sights in the entire southeast. The flora and fauna
>of the park are rich, diverse and irreplaceable. The park contains rare
>and indigenous plants, unusual geological formations and a variety of
>native wildlife. Chimney Rock Park has more than 3.5 miles of well
>maintained nature trails. We must do all we can to keep the State of North
>Carolina negotiating with the owners of Chimney Rock Park. I have a
>website www.savechimneyrock.net . The website has easy links to the
>governor's email. Please help us protect this property and in the process
>create one of the best state parks in the nation.
>
>Jim Proctor
>Mayor of Lake Lure
>
>Message forwarded by
>Stephen R. Harris
>srharris(AT)mindspring.com
Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Hummer Activity
From: James Coman <hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 8:47am
Randy, and all:
I, too, have had far more hummingbirds this summer than ever before (and for
me that is a long time). Usually in July in the mountains in Alleghany I
will have 5 or 6 feeding on the feeders at the farm. This year there are at
least 15 to 18, all immature ruby-throats.
Nothing unusual as yet, though.
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 8/2/06 6:37 AM, "Randy Dunson" <trdunson(AT)nc.rr.com> wrote:
> Have others noted a dramatic rise in hummer activity this year? We have
> lived outside of Hillsborough for almost 11 years and I've never seen the
> numbers of these delightful little birds as I have this year. I only have
> two feeders. My wife would kill me if I put up more. :-) I now have to
> refill the feeders daily. I don't know if I'm just lucky or what!
>
> Regards,
>
> Randy Dunson
> Hillsborough, NC
>
>
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Hummingbirds
From: edabbs(AT)ftc-i.net
Date: 2 Aug 2006 8:39am
This has been a banner year for the hummingbirds, here in the upper coastal
plain of SC. Even in June we had many more than normal and now a gallon of
sugar-water is made up daily for them! We found some feeders which hold 25
ounces which have helped.
Evelyn Dabbs
Wenee Woods
(on the bluff of Black River Swamp)
Mayesville, SC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Songbirds and mercury (Dave Evers' work in SC)
From: "Cape Romain Bird Observatory" <crbo(AT)dmzs.com>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 1:40pm
Dave Evers and his organization, the Biodiversity Research Institute, are also
doing work in South Carolina. We at CRBO have been honored to be able to help
them.
In addition to a host of projects and initiatives, B.R.I. is part of the Rusty
Blackbird Technical Working Group. Dr. Evers and other B.R.I. personnel are
investigating methyl mercury contamination as one of the potential causes of
Rusty Blackbird's population decline.
Dave hopes to one day be able to trace mercury (from water, blood or feather
samples) back to the precise power plant or other source where it was
produced. This would be huge - imagine knowing for certain that power plant X
was causing unsafe methyl mercury contamination in our Wood Storks or other
endangered species.
With potent ammunition like that, "good guys" like Derb Carter and the SELC
might be able to force some big bad polluters to mend their ways.
For more information on Dr. Evers' and BRI's work in SC, see:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MigratoryBirds/Research/Rusty_Blackbird/first_year.cfm
http://www.briloon.org/index.htm
http://www.crbo.net/RustyBlackbird.html
People like Dave and Derb - who use science, the law and other disciplines to
save humanity from itself - are the silver lining that "keeps me going" in the
presence of so many dark clouds everywhere...
--
Nathan Dias
Executive Director
Cape Romain Bird Observatory
http://www.crbo.net/
crbo(AT)dmzs.com
P.O. Box 362
McClellanville, SC 29458
-----------------------------------------
Subject: Songbirds and mercury - new study
From: "Toni McFarland" <tonirexx AT earthlink.net>
To: CAROLINABIRDS(AT)duke.edu
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 12:08:44 -0400
I thought some of you might find this interesting:
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4510&Main=
4493
New York Times article:
Study of songbirds finds high levels of mercury.
A New York biologist, David C. Evers, discovered high levels of mercury in
the blood and feathers of 178 songbirds he tested last year, showing that
this toxic chemical has spread farther in the environment than originally
thought. While the presence of mercury in bodies of water and in fish is
already well documented, Dr. Evers work documents the presence of mercury in
birds that don’t live on water and never eat fish.
...
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Songbirds and mercury - new study
From: "Toni McFarland" <tonirexx(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 12:10pm
I thought some of you might find this interesting:
Study of songbirds finds high levels of mercury.
A New York biologist, David C. Evers, discovered high levels of mercury in
the blood and feathers of 178 songbirds he tested last year, showing that
this toxic chemical has spread farther in the environment than originally
thought. While the presence of mercury in bodies of water and in fish is
already well documented, Dr. Evers work documents the presence of mercury in
birds that don’t live on water and never eat fish.
Last year the Nature Conservancy, concerned about mercury contamination and
its effect on the ecosystem, commissioned Dr. Evers to undertake the study
in New York State. He netted songbirds at nine sites, including areas near
some of New York City’s upstate reservoirs.
The results of his study suggest that when mercury falls on land, it is
absorbed by soil and by fallen leaves that are consumed by worms and
insects. Songbirds then feed on the bugs, absorbing the mercury. While all
the birds he tested last year had mercury in their blood, wood thrushes had
the most, Dr. Evers said-- an average of 0.1 parts per million which,
although below the federal safe standard for fish (0.3 p.p.m.) but high
enough to affect the birds’ reproductive cycle.
North Carolina rulemakers are currently considering rules that would control
mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, and their draft rules are
far weaker than environmental and health advocates would like to see. The
Environmental Management Commission is slated to take up a final rule this
fall.
These links will take you to more information:
http://www.nwpphotoforum.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4510&Main=
4493
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/nyregion/25birds.html?ex=1154664000&en=351
a3f4b0220d688&ei=5070
Toni
------------------------------------------------------------------
Toni S. (Rexrode) McFarland
Durham, NC
tonirexx(AT)earthlink.net <mailto:tonirexx(AT)earthlink.net>
"There are two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle.
The other is though everything is a miracle." .... Albert Einstein
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: 17 Roseate Spoonbills near Bear Island WMA
From: Nate Dias <offshorebirder(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 5:51pm
Carolinabirders,
I just got a secondhand report that SC DNR fisheries
workers have been observing a group of Roseate
Spoonbills along the Edisto River beside Bear Island
WMA.
I might look for them in the next day or two by boat -
I will post directions if the birds are accessible to
land birders.
Presumably the Spoonbills are roosting or feeding
nearby when high tide submerges the mudflats and
shallows in the Edisto. So I would imagine that they
are putting in appearances around Bear Island WMA and
other nearby locations.
Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Hummer Activity
From: BILL HILTON JR The Piedmont Naturalist <hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 11:21am
JESSE . . .
Since the feeders on your patio--which I have observed in
summer--have no real competition for miles around, the birds are
unable to defend them and simply come and go. Your hummingbird snack
bar is what I call an "indefensible resource."
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
BILL
==========
>Grandfather Mountain is also having another great
>year of hummer activity. I think it's pretty similar
>to last year for us though. We had 20-25 or so last
>summer at this time, and I think we are around the
>same number. We have 8 feeders out, and most are
>being depleted daily.
>
> Something I notice that's interesting at Grandfather
>is that the males do not try to hold the territory
>around the feeders. I often see two and three males
>feeding out of the same feeder or feeders nearby. My
>analogy would be that our feeding station is like a
>hummingbird Wal-mart or a MacDonald's. They just
>come, in large numbers, to eat and then head back to
>their respective territories. Does anyone else notice
>this behavior when multiple feeders are present? I'm
>guessing it's quite common in highly active
>hummingbird areas.
>
>
>
>Jesse Pope
>
>Naturalist, Grandfather Mountain
>P.O. Box 129
>Linville, NC 28646
>828-733-4326
>www.grandfather.com
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
>http://mail.yahoo.com
--
BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845
The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to
conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of
the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation,
scientific study, and education for students of all ages." Please
visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at
http://www.hiltonpond.org and http://www.rubythroat.org ("Operation
RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project").
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset." BHjr.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Hummingbirds & Fish Crows
From: Smith82534(AT)aol.com
Date: 2 Aug 2006 10:39am
Although Susan Campbell a couple of weeks ago alerted us to the fact that we
would soon see more hummer activity as they prepared for their journey south,
your reports would seem to indicate a bumper crop this year. My question is
whether inland Carolinabirders have noticed an unusual presence of Fish Crows?
They have been present year round in Wake County, NC, since before 1982, but
in noticeable numbers only in the winter months. This year, however, I hear
them every day on my morning walk in west Raleigh, with flocks of up to 20
flying over. I am also hearing them at Lake Benson in Garner, NC, when I have
checked on the breeding Loggerhead Shrikes there. Not good news for nesting
songbirds.
Clyde Smith
2615 Wells Ave
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 781-2637
Smith82534(AT)aol.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Hummer Activity
From: Jesse Pope <osprey1014(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 2 Aug 2006 10:40am
Grandfather Mountain is also having another great
year of hummer activity. I think it's pretty similar
to last year for us though. We had 20-25 or so last
summer at this time, and I think we are around the
same number. We have 8 feeders out, and most are
being depleted daily.
Something I notice that's interesting at Grandfather
is that the males do not try to hold the territory
around the feeders. I often see two and three males
feeding out of the same feeder or feeders nearby. My
analogy would be that our feeding station is like a
hummingbird Wal-mart or a MacDonald's. They just
come, in large numbers, to eat and then head back to
their respective territories. Does anyone else notice
this behavior when multiple feeders are present? I'm
guessing it's quite common in highly active
hummingbird areas.
Jesse Pope
Naturalist, Grandfather Mountain
P.O. Box 129
Linville, NC 28646
828-733-4326
www.grandfather.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
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