From the President's Desk - Wayne Shifflett
No matter your political orientation, all of the Federal Agencies who have responsibilities for the nation's natural resources must be pleased with the recent elections and the change in administrations. Having been a Federal Manager for 38 years in the Department of the Interior, I can say the change from a very conservative administration to a more moderate management team is a positive step for the environmental agencies who have been given management responsibilities for protecting the air, water and natural resources scattered across North America. We have all witnessed changes going on in the world regarding climate change, yet it is the private sector demanding changes to improve our air and water. The administration in Washington should be leading in the fight to protect the environment but it has consistently refused to acknowledge that there is a problem. Naturally it is all related to profit margins by the polluting industries. However, when there are companies like Duke Power Companies and General Electric demanding changes for the environment, how long will this administration stay by and stick their heads in the sand? I think that all local environmental clubs with an interest in protecting the waters and natural resources should start demanding changes from our leaders in Washington.
Bird Sightings - Ken Hinkle
A Selasphorus hummingbird was reported coming to a feeder in Timberville during the weekend of January 13-14. Tom Lord said the bird appeared to be a juvenile female and probably was a Rufous. This is the third Selasphorus hummingbird reported in the county during the past fall and this winter.
Steve White reports sightings of a Brown Creeper, Eastern Screech Owl and a regular Sharp-shinned Hawk. Steve still has the European Goldfinch that he first saw back on December 6th. He said Cornell University wanted a "rare bird report" on the goldfinch, so he sent them one with an accompanying photo, which they have posted on their website. Steve says Cornell even seems interested in escaped pets.
Diane Holsinger had a Sharp-shinned Hawk hit her window. She said it sounded like a gunshot and that the stunned hawk initially held on to a small fence she had put up to keep her dogs in. The hawk clutched the fence for about three minutes and then just sat on the ground for another fifteen minutes before recovering enough to fly off. She said her bird feeders remained clear for some time.
I have also had a Sharp-shinned Hawk making a pretty good living in my yard. This hawk doesn't seem too skittish, only flying a short distance away when I go out in the yard. One day it just moved around to the other side of some shrubbery as I walked around toward it. Meanwhile several White- throated Sparrows and a female Cardinal remained motionless in the bush until I finally flushed the hawk away.
Charles Ziegenfus has started his weekly trips with his JMU students. On January 23 they found 14 Gadwall at Lake Campbell, and at Lake Shenandoah they observed five Ring-billed Gulls, six Gadwall, both male and female Scaup along with the Coots, Ruddy Ducks and Hooded Mergansers that have been wintering there. Charles also reported five Green-winged Teal at the pond in Mount Solon. He says they are seeing good evidence that Mallards are already pairing off to court.
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