 Sat, Jun 17, 9am
Swannanoa Valley Birdwalk
Tue, Jun 20, 7pm
EMAS program:
Birds vs Towers: Communication Impacts on Migratory Birds.
Sat, Jul 1, 8am
Beaver Lake Birdwalk
Tue, Jun 6, 7pm
EMAS Board Meeting
Sat, Jul 8, 8am
Jackson Park Birdwalk
Sat, Jul 15, 8am
Swannanoa Valley Birdwalk
Sat, Aug 5, 8am
Beaver Lake Birdwalk
Sat, Aug 12
, 8am
Jackson Park Birdwalk
Sat, Aug 19, 8am
Swannanoa Valley Birdwalk
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Tweet for Dollars!
Audubon NC is competing to win a share of $100,000 but we need your tweets. Between May 26 and June 19, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation is counting all the tweets and Instagram posts that have the hashtag #VoteAudubonNC + @bcbsnc in them and awarding a donation to Audubon NC
for every single one. This is all part of their Hike NC program to get folks outside to explore.
We Need Your Help! Every Tweet Counts!
1. Log-in to your
Twitter account or create a
Twitter account.
2. Click this link
TWEET or cut/paste this as your tweet: I get outside for birds so I #voteaudubonnc with @bcbsnc! #hikenc
Or compose your own message about birds and hiking. Repeat your tweets often!
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For the latest schedule and any changes:
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In April, I attended Audubon North Carolina's first Lobby Day where I met with WNC legislators to request their support for Audubon's 2017 legislative priorities, which are:
- Habitat Protection and Land Conservation. Audubon supports increasing funding for several trust funds that protect critical bird habitat across the state.
- Protecting Rare Coastal Habitat Threatened by Terminal Groins. Only 20% of North Carolina's natural inlets have not been altered by groins, which eliminate mudflats and sand spits that provide critical feeding and nesting habitat for shorebirds.
- Expanding Clean Energy. Audubon supports clean energy policies and wind and solar projects that ensure compatibility with birds and other wildlife.
I met with many legislators, knowing that some may not support birds and the environment, but their interest exceeded my expectations. The McDowell County representative took the initiative to ask if we were requesting support for HB 353, which adds several natural areas, including Bob's Pocket in McDowell County, to the State Park system. Two days later, the House of Representatives passed HB 353. For me, it was an exciting and inspirational day, my first effort at lobbying legislators face to face.
Birding and wildlife viewing is a $1 billion economy in North Carolina. We have 25,000 diverse Audubon members across our state and legislators who pay attention to passionate members of organizations that span the political spectrum.
You, too, can make a difference for birds! Call or write NC legislators, and ask them to support Audubon's 2017 legislative priorities. For talking points, see this
link to the summary of Audubon NC's 2017 legislative priorities.
Thanks and Good Birding!
Tom Tribble, EMAS president
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Birds vs Towers: Communication Tower Impacts on Migratory Birds
EMAS Program, Tues, Jun 20,
7 p.m.
Reuter Center, UNCA
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Birds migrating to and  from breeding grounds in the United States and Canada are killed by the millions in collisions with lighted towers and their guy wires. Emilie Travis investigated the impacts of these towers to migratory birds in Wisconsin while doing her Master's research. Her research was critical in determining a new estimate of communication tower bird mortality in the US and Canada (Longcore et al., 2012, 2013). Emilie will discuss the contributing factors to tower-kill events, and explain how her research on tower illumination helped in the development of new tower management guidelines. Emilie will complete her program with a unique bird quiz, so bring your field guides!
Emilie Travis received her Master's Degree in Forest and Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin and her B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from University of Vermont. She is an Adjunct Faculty member at Warren Wilson College where she teaches Field Ornithology. Emily is the Outreach Coordinator for the local Wild Birds Unlimited stores and co-manages the North Asheville store. She also works as a bird and nature guide for Ventures Birding & Nature Tours and serves on the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society Board.
EMAS programs are free and open to the public.
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Bird Notes by Rick Pyeritz
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A bird's egg comprises a wondrous balance. It bears the
weight of an incubating parent, and yet is not so thick that
the grown hatchling cannot get out.
Maryjo Koch from
Bird, Egg, Feather, Nest
A bird's egg is a remarkable
 structure in form and function. In about 24 hours a complete egg is formed which provides nourishment and protection for the developing chick. How does this compact vessel accomplish these two important functions? We will briefly try to answer this question in this month's article. Please follow this
link to read the article.
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Buy an Audubon Print
and Support EMAS
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Audubon prints from Bill Steiner's collection will be sold at the June EMAS meeting. Bill is an expert analyst of Audubon prints and author of the book
Audubon Art Prints: A Collector's Guide to Every Edition. Bill sold Audubon prints at our May meeting and generously donated the proceeds to Elisha Mitchell Audubon to support our annual Birdathon fundraiser. The remaining Audubon prints will be on display and for sale at the June 20
th EMAS Program meeting at the Reuter Center. Please come early to view the prints and bring cash or check.
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EMAS Birdathon Team Reports!
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The EMAS Birdathon teams have finished their competition and a winner has been declared. All the teams gave it their best, getting up before dawn and birding long after dark, hoping to add that elusive owl. Trying to see or hear as many bird species as possible in one 24-hour period is an intense way to bird. It requires an in-depth knowledge of birds and bird songs, birding stamina, and the ability to temporarily survive on junk food. It's all great fun and for a worthy conservation cause, helping Golden-winged Warblers, Wood Thrush and other neotropical migratory birds thrive. All team members encourage you to support the EMAS Birdathon fundraiser. Please make a pledge to your favorite team or simply write a check to Elisha Mitchell Audubon and send to EMAS, P.O. Box 18711, Asheville, NC 28814.
Thanks to all our generous supporters and donors, as our birding efforts would all be for naught without you. Now, in a repeat of last year's victory, this year's winning team is
The Peregrines with 128 species.
The Beaver Lake Bluebirds came in second with 113 species and the
Not-So-Common Loons were close behind with 109 species. Read the exciting tale of their big days and see the Peregrines total list
here.
Our congratulations to the Peregrine's team of great birders!
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Text and Photos by Jay Wherley
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Migrants passing through
 Beaver Lake picked up during May with fifteen warbler species and five vireo species noted during the month. New high count records set during the month include five Orchard Orioles reported on May 16th, and three Yellow-billed Cuckoos the same day.
 While no actual entry/exit of the Chimney Swift tower (see last month's Beaver Bits) has been observed, swifts have been seen breaking off twigs for a nest from a lakeside tree. Again, if you see any swifts enter or exit the Chimney Swift tower located in the meadow, please submit an eBird.org report.
Notable May sightings at Beaver Lake include Summer Tanager, Black-billed Cuckoo, and a pair of Warbling Vireos.
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