The Raven's Nest - News from Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society

Help out at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary! They'll be a work day at the Sanctuary on Sat. August 17 from 8:30 - noon. Come on out and help us keep the Sanctuary free of invasives! Bring work gloves and whatever tools you can.

Open House!

Stay tuned for details in the July newsletter about our Open House Celebration at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary set for September 8. We hope you will join us for all the activities and fun!

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Greetings!

A Message from Our Newly-Elected President

I am honored and humbled to be elected President of the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society. I joined the National Audubon Society about 35 years ago, shortly after I started birding. The idea of serving as the President of an Audubon chapter never crossed my mind. I was simply struggling to identify all those little brown jobs flitting about the bushes. Thank goodness for the occasional Cardinal!

I am fortunate to follow in the footsteps of Past-Presidents Len Pardue, Charlotte Goedsche, Marilyn Westphal and countless dedicated officers and Board members who have made EMAS a vibrant and effective conservation organization. I will strive to continue the legacy of this wonderful "Society."

EMAS is the only chapter in North Carolina that owns and manages a nature preserve - the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. We are deeply appreciative of the support of so many people during the recently concluded Campaign for the Birds. The amazing improvements at the Sanctuary are a testament to your generosity, helping ensure that the preserve will continue to be an urban haven for birds and people.

This issue of the newsletter features the results of the 2013 Birdathon, one of the most important causes of EMAS. Thanks to the generous support of EMAS members and donors, we raised more than $5,200. On behalf of the EMAS Board, please accept our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Birdathon, this year and in the past. The money will again go to conserve critical birding habitat in Colombia, home to not only beautiful tropical birds but many of our familiar North American migrants.

I look forward to your support over the next two years. Want to help? Contact me.

Good Birding,

Tom Tribble

President, Board of Directors

Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society

Birdathon Results!

The Birdathon, Elisha Mitchell Audubon's annual major fund-raising campaign, was a resounding success! Three teams of fabulous birders, the "Beaver Lake Bluebirds", the "Goldenwings" and the "Peregrines" set out to spot as many birds as possible in one day. Check out the teams' accounts of their big days below. Thanks to them, and to all of our generous contributors, we have surpassed our $5,000 fundraising goal! The funds go towards the Cerulean Warbler Reserve in Colombia and for an EMAS scholarship. If you haven't contributed to Birdathon 2013 yet, there's still time! Please dig deeply, check under the sofa cushions, and send in your tax-deductible check to EMAS (PO Box 18711, Asheville, NC 28814) or pay online! Thank you!

Birdathon Team Reports and Tallies

"The Beaver Lake Bluebirds met at 6:30 AM at the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary, excited and motivated by an inspirational speech from Captain Emeritus Len Pardue - "95 Species or Bust." After many miles and no lunch, the Bluebirds - Tony Geiger, JoAnne Rittenburg, Vin Stanton and Tom Tribble - pulled into the Sanctuary parking lot at about 8:00 PM, hoping the Eastern Screech Owl would peer at us from his roosting box. Bust! 91 species." Read more of Tom's report here.

The Goldenwings (Charlotte Goedsche, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford, Marilyn Westphal, Jamie Harrelson and Nancy Casey) were "plagued by numerous problems in May. Poor physical health and bad weather put a dent in our delivery. Undaunted, however, we set out at dawn, fueled by Gail's brownies and multiple cups of coffee, and birded on until dark." Read more of Charlotte's report here.

The Peregrines (Chris Jaquette and Simon Thompson) had their big day on May 24. "We started at the Pisgah Inn just before dawn and thankfully a distant Whip-poor-will started the day off well. No Saw-whets were calling, and by the end of the day we had recorded not a single owl of any species." Read more of Simon's report here.

A Message from Our Past President

New Officers to Help Lead EMAS

A new slate of officers has been elected to help lead Elisha Mitchell Audubon for the next two years. Here's the new lineup, elected at the June 18 membership meeting:

**President, Tom Tribble. He's an active birder and heavy-duty volunteer at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. He's served as a member-at-large of the Board of Directors and chaired the EMAS Campaign for the Birds the past year.

**Vice President, Gail Lankford. She's served the past four years as vice president, and has overseen a variety of special projects. She's an avid birder as well as a butterfly and dragonfly enthusiast.

**Secretary, Marianne Mooney. A newcomer to the area, Marianne has quickly become involved in EMAS. She's helping plan the September event celebrating the improvements at BLBS and the community support that made them possible. She's a native plant enthusiast and has made a long-term commitment to volunteering for nature-related organizations.

**Treasurer, Doug Williams. A retired finance attorney, Doug helped lead the Nature Center's board and has been active in the Blue Ridge Naturalist program.

With Tom's election as president, Len Pardue becomes immediate past president and board member. He's a long-time EMAS board member and volunteer at BLBS.

For recent service to EMAS, special thanks also go to:

**Jamie Harrelson, outgoing treasurer and webmaster (volunteer needed).

**Charlotte Goedsche, who served two terms as president before Len and who served a year as EMAS secretary when that position became vacant.

**Bonnie Parker, who served part of a term as secretary and about a year as chair of the Campaign for the Birds.

All these good folks deserve thanks and praise for their service to EMAS.

Congratulations, Bonnie Parker!

Congratulations to EMAS' own Bonnie Parker who was awarded Audobon North Carolina's T. Gilbert Pearson Award last month in Raleigh. The award "pays tribute to an individual's deep commitment to and sustaining leadership support of Audubon's conservation mission in North Carolina," according to the ANC press release. Bonnie has an extensive background in nonprofit management and has taken on multiple leadership roles in support of ANC and EMAS.

Thank you for all of your hard work, Bonnie!

We're Still Scouting for Talent!

EMAS is seeking someone with advanced computing skills to be our new Webmaster. Also, if you have computer skills (and a willingness to learn), we have an opening for our Newsletter Editor. If interested or have questions, contact Tom Tribble.

Due to space constraints, Beaver Bits is on summer vacation!

Check back here next month to read about

Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Blue Dashers and Orange Sulphurs

Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society | emas@emasnc.org | PO Box 18711 Asheville, NC 28814