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The
Raven's
Nest
April
2023
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Birding Events
Join Blue Ridge Audubon for birding three Saturdays each month.
Free and open to all.
for leading our outings.
April 15, 8 a.m.
May 6, 8 a.m.
May 13, 8 a.m.
May 20, 8 a.m.
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Programs/Events
Birds of New Guinea
Blue Ridge Audubon Program
Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m., UNCA
Plants for Birds Walk
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary
Saturday, April 22, 1 p.m.
The Birding Effect
Blue Ridge Audubon Program
Thursday, May 25, 7 p.m., UNCA
Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Open to members, contact us to attend
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Dear friend,
It’s spring and you know what that means! Neoptropical migration is underway, filling the woods with buoyant birdsong. The days are getting longer and warmer, trees are leafing out, shrubs are blooming, and Allegra and Claritin sales are soaring. Most importantly, it’s Blue Ridge Audubon Birdathon time!
We are pleased to announce that this year’s Birdathon will fund the purchase of VHF antennas to connect to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. This innovative system tracks the movement of birds that have been outfitted with nano transmitters. As a bird flies within range of a Motus tower, its transmitter is identified in passing. Coverage has improved in some areas of the country, but there remain big gaps, including here in the western North Carolina mountains!
Last year when we raised money to sustain Golden-winged Warbler habitat, North Carolina Audubon’s Curtis Smalling gave a presentation that included some amazing facts learned about these wonderful birds via Motus tower tracking. We hope that installing several of these antennas in the nearby mountains will provide scientists with crucial data that will help us protect these local summertime breeders, as well as other birds that pass through our mountains during their spring and fall migrations.
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Bird lovers can also personally benefit from this network of tracking towers. Last year, the National Audubon Society launched its Bird Migration Explorer, an interactive tool that lets you visualize these birds in migration and throughout the year. The Explorer can search migration by species and even by individual bird if they have a transmitter that talks to the Motus tower network in flight. Check out the movements of these Hermit Thrushes!
We at Blue Ridge Audubon hope you are as excited about the prospects of contributing to this network of information that will help us protect the habitat that our imperiled summer breeders like the Golden-winged Warbler and others need to survive and thrive. Read below for more information on how to contribute.
John Koon
President, Blue Ridge Audubon
Golden-winged Warbler by Alan Lenk
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Exploring New Guinea’s Lost Worlds
and Elusive Birds of Paradise
Blue Ridge Audubon Program
7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18
Reuter Center, UNCA
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In this exciting program, Bruce Beehler will share tales of his nearly four decades of field study of the birds and rainforests of New Guinea. Bruce will cover the remarkable diversity of the birdlife inhabiting New Guinea, with a look at the wonderful Birds of Paradise, their amazing plumages, and the behaviors of the various species in this unique bird family. Bruce will take us on a virtual field expedition to the Foja Mountains of western New Guinea—perhaps the most isolated and untouched place on planet earth where more than a hundred species of plants and animals new to science were found. This includes some of the most bizarre creatures on earth—a ‘lost’ Bird of Paradise, a Golden-maned Bowerbird unique to this tiny mountain range, a Wattled Honeyeater-bird as well as an egg-laying spiny mammal without teeth, and a scary five-pound giant rat. The lecture will feature the gorgeous imagery of Tim Laman, National Geographic Photographer. |
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Bruce Beehler is an ornithologist, conservationist, and naturalist. He is currently a Research Associate in the Division of Birds at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and a Scientific Affiliate of the American Bird Conservancy. Bruce was featured in a 60-Minutes piece highlighting an expedition he led to the Foja Mountains in the interior of New Guinea in which scores of new species of plants and animals were discovered. He is the author of many books and co-author of the Birds of New Guinea. His latest book is New Guinea: Nature and Culture of the Earth’s Grandest Island.
Blue Ridge Audubon programs are free and open to the public.
Photo of Raggiana Bird of Paradise by Tim Laman
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Blue Ridge Audubon
Birdathon 2023!
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It’s Birdathon time! In early May, teams of Blue Ridge Audubon birders challenge each other to a friendly competition, searching for and identifying as many species of birds as they can in one 24-hour period. Their goal is not only to spot the most birds but, more importantly, to raise money for bird conservation. Since 2010, with your generous support, our Birdathons have raised over $80,000 for bird conservation. This year’s donations will go to the purchase of VHF antennas to connect to the Motus Wildlife Tracking System. We're very excited to help researchers discover more about the conservation needs of migrant and local bird species.
You're welcome to join in the fun and gather a team to compete in the Birdathon. Or you can help by making a donation to our fundraiser. You can support the Birdathon with a direct online donation here or at our website. You can also print out the donation form and mail a check to: Blue Ridge Audubon Birdathon, PO Box 18711, Asheville, NC 28814.
We are most grateful for the generosity of our members in helping us raise money for bird conservation. Thank you all very much for your support! We invite everyone to attend our special Blue Ridge Audubon program on Thursday, May 25 where we hope to announce the winning Birdathon team. Our May program is a time when we ask folks to donate to the Birdathon at the door. Our program will feature famed wildlife biologist and birder Alex Troutman on The Birding Effect: Birding as an Introduction to Nature. Please join us!
Golden-winged Warbler with a tiny nano tag. Courtesy of NCWRC.
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Blue Ridge Audubon Board Nominations |
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Would you like to bring your experience to our Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter and join our board? Our Board of Directors will hold elections for officers and at-large board members at the 2023 June board meeting. The Nominating Committee, consisting of board members Bonnie Snyder, Nancy Casey and Marianne Mooney, is seeking qualified candidates for at-large board member positions. We’d love to have you join us in running our vibrant chapter! The Blue Ridge Audubon board meets 9 times a year, and board members are required to serve on a committee. This year we are looking for at-large members as well as a numbers-oriented person who can take over from our wonderful Treasurer. If you’re interested in joining the board, please send an enquiry email to: Bonnie Snyder
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Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter News |
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Many thanks go out to some stellar Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary volunteers! Alicia and Art Hulse and Florrie Funk planted more than 70 native plants in the newly revamped gardening for birds area in front of the gazebo. That was possible only after Bonnie Snyder, Leann Apfelbeck and Tom Tribble tilled the bed to get a home ready for all those new plants. Thanks also go to Painters Greenhouse who gave the Chapter a generous discount on the new native plants.
We have added free guided native plant walks to our monthly outings schedule. Our appreciation goes out to the generosity of plant walks leader Randy Richardson for sharing his knowledge of native plants. The March outing had 17 participants who observed quite a few native species including violets, bloodroot, trillium, golden ragwort, and marsh marigolds. Join Randy at 1 p.m. for a walk on the Saturdays of: April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, August, September 23, and October 28. Check our website page for more information. Thank you, Randy!
Please join Balsam Mountain Trust at their annual World Migratory Bird Festival on Saturday May 6th, from 10am to 2pm at Bridge Park, Sylva. There will be games, crafts, and lots of fun learning about migrating birds and how healthy water ecosystems are so important to their journey. There will also be a free live bird presentation starring the avian ambassadors from Balsam at 1p.m. Blue Ridge Audubon will be there to help spread the word about migratory birds!
Alicia & Art Hulse with Florrie Funk
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Once again, Blue Ridge Audubon members engaged with local state lawmakers during Audubon North Carolina's annual Advocacy Day on March 22.
We spoke online with Sen. Julie Mayfield (pictured lower right), Sen. Tim Moffitt, and Reps. Lindsey Prather and Caleb Rudow about increasing conservation funds in the state budget, and the heirs property and native plants bills. We had great conversations with each and are so pleased they are all in favor of legislation that benefits birds. After our meeting, Rep. Prather gave us a shout-out on Facebook!
In other exciting news, Asheville’s former state representative Brian Turner is joining Audubon North Carolina as their new Policy Director. Blue Ridge Audubon couldn't be more pleased. We really enjoyed meeting with Brian during past Advocacy Days. He was a great proponent for bird-friendly legislation at the state level. Welcome aboard, Brian! Read more about Brian here.
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Beaver Bits
Text and Photos by Jay Wherley
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Native plants are important to birds, and spring wildflowers are already blooming and supporting insect populations that will feed the birds. The attached photos show Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, and Sweet Betsy, Trillium cuneatum, which are both found growing in Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. You can see both plants and more on our monthly guided plant walks.
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Our chapter has spent time and money over the past several years working towards a goal of reducing the most severe invasive plants species growing in the sanctuary by 80-100%. The worst offenders are Porcelain Berry, Multiflora Rose, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Asiatic Bittersweet. These aggressive exotic species can outcompete beneficial native species. The result of the invasive removal work is already making a difference for birds in the sanctuary.
Last month’s quiz answers:
1. Wood Fairy 2. Eastern Phoebe 3. Eastern Bluebird 4. Brown-headed Nuthatch 5. Eastern Screech-Owl 6. Wood Duck 7. Purple Martin 8. Tree Swallow 9. Chimney Swift – spelling out WEBBED, MTS (Mountain-to-Sea Trail).
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Notable recent sightings at Beaver Lake include Red Crossbill and Vesper Sparrow.
Images:
Lonicera sempervirens
Trillium cuneatum
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About the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter |
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Blue Ridge Audubon is a chapter of the National Audubon Society, serving Buncombe, Henderson, and surrounding counties in western North Carolina.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are
tax-deductible to the extent
allowed by law.
Raven's Nest Editor:
Marianne Mooney
mooney.marianne@gmail.com
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Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter
PO Box 18711
Asheville, NC 28814
Blue Ridge Audubon's mission is to protect birds and the places they depend on. We believe that a world in which birds thrive is a world that benefits all living things.
Our vision is a vibrant and just community where the protection of birds and our natural world is valued by everyone.
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For the latest information and schedule changes,
check our Website or Facebook/Instagram page.
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