President’s Message - Wayne A. Shifflett
This is one of the most exciting periods of the year when spring signals the beginning of the bird migrations. Birds will initiate one of the most amazing feats of nature as they attempt to return to their place of origin. Birds, big and small, do not have to look at the calendar to plan this annual journey. It is put in play by the changing of the forces of nature which has done it for eons of time. It is so convenient for 'bird watchers' to have the birds visit them in their back yards or other local places. How many birds would we have on our bird list if birds did not migrate and we had to go and see them in their place of origin? I would dare to say that our list would be very small as most of our feathered friends go to remote areas where they can breed and nest in seclusion. However we are fortunate to have a bird club where the members are very active and they will be going to many local areas and reporting back where we can all go and see many of these brief visitors. I would recommend that you make plans to go on some of these field trips. I know you will not be disappointed. I will be migrating back from Austin this week and making my plans for many of these field trips.
Trip Reports – Tom Mizell
Our last Hillandale walk before spring 2007 was enjoyed by three members of the RBC. In stark contrast from the ice/snow and freezing weather of last month’s walk, temperatures in the high 60s greeted us as we made the usual rounds. A pair of Eastern Towhees made their spring return apparent just before the last of us left the site. Nice to hear once again the Towhees scratching and calling in the brush. Since we began the monthly walks in October 2006 our species list now stands at 40 as we added Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers the day before spring.
Bird Sightings - Ken Hinkle
As usual Charles Ziegenfus has been getting some “spring firsts” and seeing a good variety of birds as he takes his JMU ornithology classes on their weekly rounds in southwestern Rockingham County and northern Augusta County. He spotted his first Tree Swallow way back on March 1, and on March 27 he reported the first Barn Swallow. One of his better days was March 20 when he saw a male Long-tailed Duck still in winter plumage on Lake Shenandoah where he also saw two Horned Grebes with one in winter plumage and the other in extensive molt toward breeding plumage. Other species observed at the same place and time were four Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Duck, Ring-billed Gull, Hooded Merganser, Wood Ducks and three pairs of Redheads. Gadwalls, Canvasbacks and a Tundra Swan have been on Lake Campbell over the past month. Charles also saw a banded Canada Goose at that water body. Leonard’s Pond has been reliable for Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Ducks and a number of Killdeer during March. Charles and his class also saw a Savannah Sparrow there on March 27. The intermittent pond below the entrance to Green Valley Book Fair has once again been a good water spot for ducks. On March 21Charles saw over 60 Wilson’s Snipe there along with 16 Wood Ducks (many perched in trees), 6 American Wigeon, 50 Horned Larks and 4 Rusty Blackbirds. Charles reported the first sighting of a Greater Yellowlegs along Mossy Creek near the county line on March 27...