Also, the Birdathon has been in full swing, raising money to support Golden-Winged Warbler breeding habitat on lands acquired by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. My team and I had a great time searching for birds, and we’ve been busy seeking donations to support us. It’s not too late to contribute to this worthy cause! Donate on online here.

Finally, several members have just wrapped up participation in Audubon North Carolina Advocacy Day, a valuable opportunity in which Audubon members get to interact directly with our elected representatives in Raleigh to press the case for supporting bills that are beneficial to birds and the places they live. One of the bills that we supported this year was Senate Bill 628, a bipartisan bill introduced that will ensure that native plants are used to landscape state-owned property. Why is this important to birds? It’s pretty interesting why. Planting a native oak tree on the grounds of a state office building lot will require less fertilizer and care, but the real win is that the oak tree canopy can support over 500 species of caterpillars, whereas a gingko tree introduced from Asia is a host tree for only 5 local caterpillar species. That makes a huge difference to breeding birds when a brood of chickadees will consume an average of 6,000 caterpillars before they fledge! Thanks to all the volunteers who helped out in Advocacy this spring, whether it be from participating in Advocacy Day, or even just responding with an email to an Audubon Advocacy Alert. Every response does make a difference.

We have one more program meeting before the summer eases our schedule. On June 21st, we will have an excellent presentation on Roseate Spoonbills and Flamingos by Cherie Pittillo, and it is also our annual membership meeting where we will elect officers and members of the Board of Directors to new terms. Come on out and meet our new board members and connect with our wonderful chapter members. Hope to see you there!

or watch on our Facebook page

Living in both Florida and the Yucatán, Cherie has had the opportunity to photograph uncommon close-ups of both birds. She has banded flamingos in the Yucatan and discussed their behaviors and historical data with experts. An author and award-winning photographer, Cherie’s photographic publications range from BBC books to biology textbooks. Since 2011, she has written a monthly column, “Backyard Birding in Merida, Yucatan and Beyond,” for The Yucatan Times. She’s an avid traveling birder with a master’s degree in biology and is a former Blue Ridge Audubon board member.

The teams have done their part and now it’s up to you. We are most grateful and so appreciate your support in making the Birdathon a success. Please follow this link to the Blue Ridge Audubon Birdathon page where you can learn more about where the donations are going, and make a contribution either online or by sending a check to P.O. Box 18711, Asheville, NC 28814. Please note online or on your check that it's for the Birdathon. Thank you so much!

And now, in a major upset, the winning team is the Not-So-Common Loons with 125 species! The Beaver Lake Bluebirds came in second with 120 species, and the Peregrines were close behind with 106 species. Our congratulations to team Loons! You can read their big day report here. 

The Blue Ridge Audubon community is saddened by the sudden passing of our dear friend, Janie Owens. Janie was a wonderfully warm and inviting person, an outstanding birder, and a longtime supporter of our chapter. She rarely missed a program meeting. For years she was a key member of the Golden-wings Birdathon team, proudly known as "the best darn all-woman Birdathon team in Western North Carolina." Her team often won the friendly competition. Janie had encyclopedic knowledge of every bird, flower, butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly out there -- It was always a joy to spend a day with her. Several friends have contributed remembrances which can be read here. All of us at Blue Ridge Audubon offer our heartfelt condolences to her husband, Larry, and the entire Owens family.

Blue Ridge Audubon is pleased to announce its new Plants for Birds tours, to be conducted on the 4th Saturdays of each month at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. These walks will focus on the native plants, trees, and shrubs that sustain the birds who visit our sanctuary. Naturalist Randy Richardson will highlight blooming wildflowers and notable trees and shrubs, sharing anecdotes about each along with their role in supporting our avian visitors.

Randy is a graduate of the N.C. Arboretum's Blue Ridge Naturalist certificate program. Upon retiring from a career in engineering and manufacturing he returned to his childhood fascination with the natural world. A member of the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary Committee, Randy recently completed a survey of plants found at the sanctuary and identified over 140 native perennials there, as well as many dozens of species of trees and shrubs. He leads forest walks at the N.C. Arboretum as well as for other local organizations.