E cobon

March 2008:
No. 290

Newsletter of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society

Audubon Refuge Keepers

MARCH Program ~ by Charlotte White

Tuesday, March 11, 2008, 7:30 pm at the Seabrook
Dr. Maria Whitehead of the Nature Conservancy will speak at the March program about a research project in South Carolina
on Swallow-tailed Kites. This striking raptor returns to our area in March and can periodically be seen gracefully flying above 278,
west of Sun City. Dr. Whitehead is the principle investigator for a grant that has initiated a citizen-science monitoring program for
collecting information on numbers, behaviors and habitats of kites along the South Carolina Coastal Plain. The Swallow-tailed
kite is an endangered species in our state, requiring more information about conservation goals. The project originates out of the
Center for Birds of Prey, just north of Charleston and SC Audubon is one of the partners in this project. The project has set up a
web site and hotline for reporting sightings. For more details about this awe-inspiring bird and how to participate in the monitoring
program, come Tuesday, March 11 WITH A FRIEND to the 7:30 p.m. program at Seabrook.

P.S. Check out the following web site also: www.centerforbirdsofprey.org <http://www.centerforbirdsofprey.org/>

FIELD TRIPS by Bill Nicol

In April we will return to Pinckney Island to view some
of the birds returning for the summer. The trip is scheduled
for Thursday, 24 April 2008. We will meet at Pinckney
Island at 8:00 and the trip will last no later than noon and
will be lead by Clem Dietze. The trip is limited to 5 cars
or approximately 25 people. Bikers are welcome and
will not count against the car limit. Please contact me at
671-4721 or pennst63@aol.com if you have any questions
or wish to go.

MARCH FIELD TRIP

Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 a.m

Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot

Just a reminder for those of you who signed
up. Bring snacks or a sack lunch and some-
thing to drink. We may bird until 1:30 p.m.
Meet to carpool at the Moss Creek Village
parking lot. The trip is filled. To be added
to the waiting list please call Karen McGinty
at 681-8498.
 HHI Audubon OUR MISSION
Board of Directors:
President is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds,
Howard Costa 842-9447
Vice President
other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity
Bill Nicol 671-4721 and the earth's biological diversity.
Treasurer
Karen McGinty 681-8498
Fran Baer 686-6348
Recording Secretary Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
Steve White 837-4597
Corresponding Secretary
by Clem Dietze
Polly Herron 342-6129 As most of you know, Hilton Head Audubon has for years assumed a responsibility
Members‑at‑Large
Jim Currie 681-8525 for Pinckney National Wildlife Refuge through our Adopt a Refuge committee chaired
Marianne Currie 681-8525 by Karen Mc Ginty and Clem Dietze who also volunteer for US Fish & Wildlife Service
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Barry Lowes 671-3537 on the refuge. Ogeechee Audubon in Savannah does the same for Savannah NWR and
Nan Lloyd 363-2092 Harris Neck NWR. Another group in Brunswick works with the southernmost of the 7
Betty Walter 842-7147 refuges managed by FWS in Savannah.
Joan Wilson 837-2874
Committee Chairpersons: Most NWR’s in the country have a Friends group affiliated with the National Wild-
Adopt-A-Refuge (Pinckney) life Refuge Association and a group of us have been meeting with FWS in Savannah
Clem Dietze 837-2612
to form a Friends group for our refuges. Clem, Karen, Bill Hamel, and Terry Putnam
Karen McGinty 681-8498
Audubon Newhall Preserve have been a part of this group. You can find out more about Friends Groups by going to
Joan Shulman 842-9246 www.refugenet.org/ on the internet. Our Audubon chapter is an affiliate. You can also
Bird Walks/Field Trips Google Friends Groups on the internet and find websites for dozens of groups around
Bill Nicol 671-4721
Bird House Construction the country to see what they are doing on their refuges.
Jim Collins 671-1240
We are now incorporated and will soon have our non-profit status confirmed. Our
Bird Seed Sale
Ed Nash 681-5725 Mission Statement is “The mission of the Friends of the Savannah Coastal Refuges, Inc.
Christmas Bird Count is to support and advocate for the seven wildlife refuges within the Savannah Coastal
Barry Lowes 671‑3537 Refuges system and to promote public understanding of the need to protect and preserve
Education
Betsy Pehrson 689-2243 wildlife habitat”.
Historian We are still in the formative stages and are working on a website, suggested dues
June Collins 671-1240
Hospitality for members, and the opening of a Visitor’s Center near the Savannah NWR off of
Thea Luba 785-3214 Hwy. 17. The center will hopefully be fully operational by spring of 2009 and will have
Legislation interpretive exhibits, a gift shop, and auditorium. It will also be the new headquarters
Nicola Jordan 681-5664
Membership for FWS staff.
Thea Luba 785-3214
The purpose of this message is to ask you if you might be interested in becoming
Newsletter Circulation
Marianne Currie 681-8525 a member of our Friends Group. If so, please send an e-mail or note to Clem Dietze
Pat Marks 689-6876 and you will be contacted as further details are finalized for the group. E-mail clemd@
Newsletter Editor hargray.com or mail to 277 Moss Creek Drive Hilton Head, SC 29926.
Joan Wilson 837-2874
Programs
Charlotte White 837-4597
Publicity & Public Relations
Clem Dietze 837-2612
Sales Table
Dorothy Gibb 686-6406
Shorebirds/Conservation
Howard Costa 842-9447
Special Projects
Richard Shulman 842-9246
Sun City Representative
Ken Neitzke 705-3970
Wetlands/Conservation
Sally Krebs H: 757-2973 O: 341-4690
Website: www.hiltonheadaudubon.org
Hermit Thrush seen on
The Ecobon is a monthly publication (Sep-
tember through May) of the Hilton Head Island Christmas Bird Count Day
Audubon Society. Subscription is a benefit of
membership. Direct inquiries to P.O. Box 6185, Photo compliments of Fran
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938 or call
one of the above officers or chairpersons.
Piping Plover

Page 2 March 2008

NOTES FROM THE NEWHALL PRESERVE recent AREA bird sightings
by Joan Shulman
Our Spring Work Day will be on Saturday, March 15, starting
at 9:00 A.M. We need all the help we can get. Bring gloves, in-
sect spray, rakes, clippers, and energy. We start at 9:00 A.M. and
continue until about 1:00 P.M. or until you have to leave. Any
time that you can give us is appreciated. Water and cookies will
be provided.
We begin our Spring Walk Program on Saturday, March 29, at
10:00 A.M. in the Preserve. Joan Shulman will lead a walk on the
theme of “Native Plants and Unique Habitats on a Sea Island.”
For information, call 842-9246. Adults $7.00; Children under 12,
Free; Maximum per family, $14.00. Additional walks will take
place in April.
Thanks to Mary Jane and Robert Major for monitoring the
trails in March.
Not long ago, as I checked the supply of Trail Guides in the
Preserve, a visitor passed me and muttered the comment, “Now I
can deal with my family.” She had dropped by to sit quietly on a
bench near the pond and gaze at the tops of the pine trees sway-
ing in the wind. Apparently the quiet time gave her the fortitude
to face a disagreeable situation--or so it seemed. You never know
how a visit to the Preserve will improve your mental health!
FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE ~
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following
slate of officers for this chapter for 2008 - 2009.
President - Bill Nicol
Vice-president - Ken Neitzke
Treasurer - Karen McGinty and Fran Baer
Recording Secretary - Steve White
Corresponding Secretary - Sherman Barker
Member-at-Large - Howard Costa
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Walter, Chair, Howard Costa, Clem Dietze, Nan Lloyd.
Join Us! Saturday, March 15 10:00-3:00
Annual Hilton Head Audubon Membership Drive
at ‘Wild Birds Unlimited’
681-4461 ~ Festival Centre at Indigo Park (mile marker 3 & 4)
Please volunteer and add your name to the sign-up sheet at the
March meeting. The Bird Seed Sale has been extended until
March 15th! National Audubon has reduced their payments to
all Chapters by 80-90%? No payment is received for continu-
ing members. We need New Members! Please join us at WiId
Birds Unlimited. Spend a few enjoyable hours with fellow bird-
lovers and share your expertise!
Volunteer CPA needed
to help the HHI Audubon Society with non-profit taxes.
Please contact either Fran Baer or Karen McGinty.
March 2008 Page 3
by Jack Colcolough
We are nearing the end of a mild winter with hints of spring
in the air. It’s a great time to get out birding to see the last of our
winter birds and look for early arrivals of our migrating/summer
birds.
An unusual American Bittern was found on several occasions
at Whooping Crane Conservancy and rare Sandhill Cranes
continue to be sighted at Knowles Island. An unusual Peregrine
Falcon was spotted at Fish Haul Creek.
Some 15-17 endangered Piping Plovers are being routinely
reported along our HHI coast by our local Piping Plover Survey
team.
A female Baltimore Oriole and Mottled Ducks were seen at
the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge and an out-of-season
Orchard Oriole was reported on our island. Red Knots and Pip-
ing and Wilson’s Plovers were found on off-coast Pritchard’s
Island.
Nearby reports of rare birds include: Vermilion Flycatcher
at Edisto Island, Western Tanager at Skidaway Island, Calliope
Hummingbird at James Island, immature Brant at Tybee Island,
Tundra Swan at Bear Island and Common Eider at Hunting
Island.
Good FOTY birds reported with the coming of our new
year were: Bald Eagle, Black & White Warbler, House Wren,
Marbled Godwit, American Oystercatcher and Black Skimmer
as well as many other winter ducks, shorebirds, sparrows and
songbirds.
A Purple Finch and Dark-eyed Junco were reported by birders
enrolled in the national Project Feeder Watch program which
continues through early April.
Many thanks to those contributing to our recent sightings:
Fran Baer, Howard Costa, Karen McGinty, Peter Zachmann,
Doris McCullough, Miriam Waterhouse, Doris Stoner, Allan
McLaughlin, et al.
To report a rare, unusual or FOTS bird sighting e-mail: jack-
colcolough@aol.com, call 689-3455 or send a blank e-mail to:
BirdingFriends-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join the group
and report the bird.
Good Birding To All
~ Photo above courtesy of Bob Gibson
 SPRINGTIME BIRDING ANYWHERE YOU CAN
by Karen McGinty
Have you decided where you want to spend some time this
spring welcoming returning migrants? Each year I spend a
great deal of time deciding between the many possible loca-
tions where you can watch warblers along the migration route
from their wintering to their breeding grounds. This year my
husband and I will again spend a few days along the Alabama
coast at Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The banding sta-
tion at Fort Morgan manned by Bob and Martha Sargent and
their wonderful group of banders from the Hummer Bird Study
Group (www.hummingbirdsplus.org) should be on everyone’s
short list as a place to go from March 29 to April 11. Mist nets
are placed in strategic locations in the woods. The birds are
gently taken from the nets, weighed, sexed, aged and examined
for body fat. Not only do you get to see warblers, humming-
birds, etc. up close and personal, but you may be lucky to be
asked to hold one in your hand and release it. If it is a hum-
mingbird, they will place it in your open hand, talk about the
bird, and then gently rock the bird back on its legs so it can fly
away. Yes, they band ruby throated hummingbirds too. Other
places to think about are High Island in Texas, the Dry Tortugas
in Florida, the New River Gorge in West Virginia, Point Pelee in
Canada or maybe here close to home. Wherever, just remember
to get out there and find the returning migrants in their beautiful
colors and song.
Bluebird ~
taken at
Whooping Crane
Conservatory
Photo courtesy
of Bob Gibson
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Please Note: Current members are encouraged to use this membership form to sign up friends, relatives, and neighbors as new
members. Our Chapter benefits significantly from a “return of dues” from National if our local form is used for new memberships
BIRD OF THE MONTH
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
by Clem Dietze
While Spring Migration is spectacular for all of us, winter
is not totally boring by any means. There is also joy in the
arrival of our winter residents such as Hooded Mergansers,
Buffleheads, and Robins.
My personal backyard
favorite is the American Gold-
finch. As soon as I see the first
arrival out comes the thistle
seed feeder and soon I am
mobbed. On arrival both sexes
are olive drab in plumage but
darting out of the hedgerow to
the feeder and then back with
their undulating flight makes for great company. In winter they
tend to group together in rather large flocks.
As the season drifts into March the males begin to take
on their brilliant yellow color accented by black and white wing
bars. By mid April all are in full vivid breeding plumage and have
moved on to their northern breeding grounds. Some do breed in
northern Georgia and South Carolina but not in our area.
The good news is that this is one species that is thriving
and increasing in numbers. It is also one of the latest nesting
songbirds in the country due mainly to its wait for seeds to be
available for feeding their young. Here again thistle is the pre-
ferred food of choice. The American Goldfinch is the only finch
that molts both in the fall and in the spring and fortunately the
eye disease that affects its House Finch cousin has not spread
to the species.
Enjoy them while they are here and delight in watching the
males molt into their summer plumage.

National Audubon Society Chapter

Membership Form  New  1 YR. - $20  2 YRS. - $30
NEW MEMBERS ONLY  Senior  1 YR. - $15  2 YRS. - $30
 Junior  1 YR. - $15  2 YRS. - $30
Name _ ______________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________State__________ Zip_ ________________
Phone__________________________ Preferred First Name(s) ____________________________
Full Year Resident ______ Part Year Resident ______ I/We first joined Audubon in _______________
Mail a check payable to National Audubon Society U50
National Audubon Society, Chapter Membership Data Center, P.O. Box 51001, Boulder, CO 80322-1001 7XCH

Page 4 March 2008

BIRD SEED SALE WRAPPING UP SOON by Ed Nash
The annual Bird Seed Sale as of Early-February is off to a good start. We have many new buyers and sales exceed
160 bags (mostly in January) with a fine potential of more sales than last years good total. We thank everyone for their
purchases to date and remind all that this effort is very important for funding our local environmental and education
objectives. Please use the order blank that came with your January ECOBON or see Virginia & Lyle at Wild Birds for
another copy. We are now down to the last 2 weeks of our sales period, and will surely appreciate a strong response by as
many members and friends as possible. If you haven’t bought a bag or two (or more) yet please do so by March 15!

Festival Centre at Indigo Park Feeders, Nest Boxes,

45 Pembroke Dr., Suite 130 Seed, Field Guides,
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 Bird Baths, Gifts,
843-681-4461
Toys & Much More

• Binoculars & Spotting Scopes • Custom Seed Blends Nikon, Bushnell,
• •
Brunton & Meade Optics
Field Guides Bird Feeders & Houses
• Nature Books • Bird Baths & Fountains
• Nature Gifts • Water Gardening Supplies Audubon Society Members
always 10% discount storewide!
We Bring People And Nature Together®
Visit us at www.wbu.com J-2 Village at Wexford • Hilton Head Island • 785-4311

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LOCATED OUTSIDE HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

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Island Packet's winner - Favorite Travel Agency Mon.-Fri.
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March 2008 Page 5


290 Issue #:
Hilton Head, South Carolina 29938
P.O. Box 6185
Hilton Head Island Audubon Society Organization:
Monthly Sept.-May Frequency:
March 2008 Issue Date:
Permit #39
Ecobon Title:
Hilton Head Island, SC
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29938
Non Profit Organization
P. O. Box 6185
Ecobon

FEBRUARY ~ MARCH 2008 Calendar

MARCH
0
B E Q U E S T S
Thurs. Mar. 6 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm
If you wish to honor a family
Tues. Mar. 11 Monthly Meeting at The Seabrook...................... 7:30 pm member or friend with a memorial
Weds. Mar. 12 Field Trip to Parris Island.................................... 7:30 am gift, or remember the Audubon Ne-
Sat. Mar. 15 Spring Work Day at Newhall Preserve................... 7:30 am whall Preserve or the Hilton Head
Island Audubon Society in your will,
Sat. Mar. 15 Membership Drive at Wild Birds Unlimited. .....10-3:00 pm your gift may be in the form of secu-
Sat. Mar. 29 Newhall Walk "Native Plants and Unique....... 10:00 am rities, cash, life insurance, real estate,
"Native Plants and Unique Habitats on a Sea Island" or other property.

APRIL Contact your own estate planner

or our Audubon Chapter at P.O. Box
Thurs. Apr. 3 Board Meeting at the Seabrook .......................... 2:00 pm 6185, Hilton Head Island, South
Tues. Apr. 8 Monthly Meeting at The Seabrook...................... 7:30 pm Carolina 29938.
Sharing your estate with Audubon
not only reduces the taxes on your
estate but will help protect birds,
Monthly meetings of the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society are regularly scheduled wildlife, and their habitat in the years
at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, in the to come.
Auditorium at the Seabrook, 300 Woodhaven Drive. Members and guests welcome!

Page 6 Printed on recycled paper March 2008