Occasionally, we are fortunate in making a good thing happen froma bad situation. Such was the case with four immature bald eagles that were trapped ina mud pit in Charles County earlier this year. On May 26", these four immature eagles were rescued in dramatic fashion from sure death by DNR biologists and a U.S. Park Service rescue helicopter. All this was captured on film by a photographer from the Governor’s press office. The great photos and story of the rescue can be viewed on DNR’s webpage (www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/eaglewatch). You probably saw this story in the newspaper or on TV. While the eagles were in rehabilitation at the Baltimore Zoo and then Tri-State Bird Rescue in Delaware, we decided to attempt to track these birds by satellite once they were released. Not being equipped to do this, we sought help. We were fortunate to hook up with enthusiastic raptor biologists with the non-profit group Earthspan. These folks follow the movements of birds of prey with the use of satellite transmitters and agreed to help with tracking the four immature eagles. They even donated the transmitters! A few days prior to their release, the immature eagles were equipped with backpack satellite transmitters. Sandy Point State Park was chosen as the site for the release. We did not want to put the birds back where they were captured, since we did not want the immature eagles to go back into the mud pit. A big media event was conducted, including the Governor releasing the eagles. Satellite tracking started that day. What started as a near tragedy than became a public relations event, has now become a scientific endeavor. Since their release on May 27", we have been tracking the four eagles every 2-3 days and we are learning a lot about the movements of immature eagles in the Chesapeake Bay area. We knew some things about movements of immature bald eagles from banding studies in the 1970s and 1980s and some radio telemetry studies. These two previous methods were limited in the amount of movement data they provided. With the use of satellite tracking, we now have detailed movement information on an every 2-3 day basis. The results are interesting. The immature eagles have gone their own ways and have moved with varying frequencies. Some have moved around a lot, while one stayed in one place for nearly four months. They have traveled to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina. They have frequented known eagle concentration areas, as well as other areas not known for large concentrations of eagles. The movements of these birds can be viewed weekly on the DNR webpage. The map is updated on Wednesdays. Previous weeks’ maps are archived on the Earthspan webpage (www.earthspan.org/projects/eagles). Each immature eagle is depicted on the map by color (green, red, blue, yellow). (continued on page 3, column 1) THE MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT Newsletter of the Maryland Ornithological Society VOL. 22, NO.5 Boating and Birding on the Eastern Shore by Henry T. Armistead “How can water that doesn’t chase the moon speak to the imagination? I had rather watch tides come and go from the merest muddy fingerling of a cove off a creek off a river off a bay off an ocean than own Golden Pond. What mattered to me as a boy was the fact that the scruffy water in Cambridge Creek was contiguous with, say, Portugal.” ...Novelist John Barth. I can never understand why more birders don’t go boating. For half the price or less of your compact car you can have a small skiff, outboard and trailer. Much less if you canoe or kayak. These will all last many years with proper maintenance. My 14-foot Crestliner skiff I used for 38 years, its 18 H.P. Evinrude outboard and its trailer for 30. Go birding plus get moderate exercise exploring the hundreds of miles of shoreline on the Eastern Shore, much of which has never seen a birder. In general the farther south on the shore the less birded is the shoreline. This article discusses small boating in general. Decide where to go by consulting some of the references listed here. A lot of what is said below I also find useful if lam going on a pelagic trip, or just driving somewhere. Do it now when you have four more years ahead for helping out with the Atlas and can poke into the hundreds of lovely areas that are inaccessible by car or even by hiking off the road. Canoers and kayakers can make a special contribution to atlassing. As one of my acquaintances once said: “As long as lam ina boat I don’t care what lam doing.” Boating is best when itis quiet but with movement still possible such as sailing or drifting. No matter what the weather or situation, someone ina boat willalmost always see birds that people on land will miss, evenif the surface is dead calm and there are folks on shore scanning with good scopes. There is more out there than there seems to be. Often those 325 Long-tailed Ducks clamoring off our shoreline in the Choptank turn into 550 when I get out among them in my skiff. And where did that pair of White-winged Scoters come from? Once while fishing with friends just off our shoreline an immature Black-legged Kittiwake circled our skiff for a quarter of an hour, so close that we could see with unaided eyes that it had pink legs. The only Bay King Eider I have ever seen was one I almost caught ina crab net one August day at Nelson’s Island. Most of us who bird on the water use boats, ironically, to get to land: islands, points, and otherwise inaccessible areas. However, mid-Bay waters are worth investigating. Who knows what is out there? Groups of thousands of Long-tailed Ducks and Surf Scoters are an exciting spectacle, (continued on page 6, column 1) NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2002 by Martha Waugh Baltimore Chapter Loses a Special Member— Don Culbertson, a member of the Baltimore Bird Club, died on August 8, 2002 at the age of 77. One of his favorite birding activities was hawk-watching at Hawk Mt. and Waggoner’s Gap with his wife Ruth. Don was in advertising, using his artistic talents to design fliers, brochures newspaper and magazine ads. After retiring, Don designed various promotions for the MOS and the BBC. His colorful Wood Duck design was used on the pin for the 1999 MOS convention. He enjoyed the conventions and could always be found behind the tables selling MOS T-shirts and other wares. Don also designed the Baltimore Oriole logo which the BBC uses on its web site, patches, Chip Notes and hand outs. Don served in the 103rd Division during WW II. One of his most satisfying memories from that conflict occurred while he was serving as point man for his company - a German general surrendered the city of Innsbruck to him. Harford Chapter Extends Sympathy to Family of Janet Eastman—Sympathy is extended to Les Eastman and daughter Nanje upon the death of Janet Eastman on August 31, 2002 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 56. Jan was born in Butler, PA and is also survived by a brother, Fran Gillott. She was a graduate of Clarion College, completed her master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and also attended Loyola College. She was a retired teacher who had taught at Meadowvale Elementary School. A member of Alpha Delta Kappa Educational Teachers’ Sorority and the Havre de Grace Independence Parade Committee, she was (continued on page 3, column 2) Contents DNR Reports Birding & Boating in Maryland Chapter Chatter Research Committee Reminder Junior Duck Stamp Contest 2002 Christmas Bird Counts 2003 Pin Contest Rules Scholarship Program Reminder Atlas News Conservation Connection June 2002 Board Meeting Minutes 2002 List Report Form MOS Calendar, Nov/Dec Page 2 Research Grant Deadline Approaching! by Gwen Brewer The Maryland Ornithological Society announces the availability of research grants for ornithological research to be conducted in the state of Maryland. Grants are generally limited to amounts less than $2,000. If the research is to be done at or near one of the MOS sanctuaries, the society may be able to provide accommodations at a nominal cost. Proposals are reviewed twice annually with deadlines of 1 December and 1June with award notification in approximately eight weeks. For application guidelines and further information write or e-mail: Gwen Brewer, MOS Research Committee, 9505 Bland St., Waldorf, MD 20603 or glbrewer@comcast.net THE MARYLAND YELLOWTHROAT Newsletter of the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. Norman C. Saunders 1261 Cavendish Drive Colesville, MD 20905 (301) 989-9035 (Home) (202) 691-5707 (Office) (202) 691-5745 (Fax) marshhawk@att.net Frances C. Saunders fcsaunders@att.net Ass't editor & MOS webmaster Les Eastman 4034 Wilkinson Rd. Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (410) 734-6969 (Home) (410) 436-3490 (Office) les@birdtreks.com Calendar editor: State Web Page: _ http:/ /www.mdbirds.org Bill Guion 8007 Martown Road Laurel, MD 20723 (301) 490-0444 (Home) guion@us.net Mailing List: Exec. Secretary: Eric Sprague 2619 Holman Ave. Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-588-1690 (Home) 202-566-2861 (Office) For information on advertising rates and dead- lines, contact the editor. Copy deadlines for the November/December issue are: Jan/Feb Calendar Activities: November 25 All Other Submissions: December 1 The Junior Duck Stamp Contest by Maria Vonderheid Youngsters in Maryland and throughout the United States are learning the importance of wetland environments to waterfowl and other wildlife while participating in the Federal Junior DuckStamp Art Competition. The national contest is sponsored by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In Maryland it is coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD. The Maryland Federal Junior Duck Stamp contest is open to all students in kindergarten through 12" grade. Public and private school teachers utilize the Junior Duck Stamp curriculum to conduct classroom activities relating to conservation and wildlife art. Students then create a stamp design featuring a North American waterfowl species in its native habitat. Junior Duck Stamp entries are judged by grade groups, there is a total of 100 winners. All First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention winning entries receive show ribbons, and all entries receive a certificate of appreciation. One Best of Show is chosen from the first place winners and it competes in the national contest in Washington DC. The national winning entry is produced into a commemorative stamp. In 2003 the First Place National winner will receive the grand prize of $4000.00 and a trip to Washington DC. in the fall to the Federal Duck Stamp judging for him/herself, a parent, and art teacher, the Second Place National winner receive $2000.00, and the Third Place National winner receive $1,000.00. The 2002 First, Second, and Third Place National Winners can be viewed at http://duckstamps.fws.gov For the past two years Maryland’s winning entry was created by Lucas Badger of Frederick, MD. In 2002 Lucas’ depiction ofan American Wigeon won an honorable mention at the national contest. To learn more about this exciting program and to view all 100 winners from Maryland visit http:patuxent.fws.gov The First, Second, and Third place winners in the national contest are at: duckstamp.fws.gov The contest deadline each year is March 15. Maryland entries are sent to: Maria Vonderheid, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop, Laurel, MD 20708- 4027. MARYLAND CHRISTMAS Counts, 2002 Saturday, December 14 Allegany County — John B. Churchill (Morgantown, WV), 304-29205072 (H), jchurchi@wvu.edu. Denton — Steve Westre (Denton), 410-479-0338. Oakland — Connie Skipper (Oakland), 301-387-5227. Triadelphia Reservoir — Jay & Diane Jones (Derwood), 301-670-0516, jayrjones@juno.com. Washington, DC — John Bjerke, compiler. New participants call the Audubon Naturalist Society (Chevy Chase), 301-652-9188. Sunday, December 15 Catoctin Mountain — Mike Welch (Frederick), 301-874-5828, mdjvwelch@aol.com. Jug Bay — Sam Droege (Hyattsville), 410-798-6759 (H) & 301-497-5840 (O), sam_droege@usgs. gov. Lower Kent County — Paul Toulson (Chestertown), 410-778-4123. Port Tobacco — George Wilmot (Bryans Road), 301-375-8552, gwilmot@radix.net. St. Michaels — Frank Lawlor (Royal Oak), 410-745-6039 or Bill Novak (Easton), 410-822-2432. Seneca — Steve Pretl (DC), 202-726-5378, spretl@erols.com. Sunday, December 22 Bowie — Fred Fallon (Bowie), 301-249-1518, fwfallon@mnsinc.com. Point Lookout — Bob Boxwell (Dameron), 410-394-6153, bobboxwell@hotmail.com. Salisbury — Sam Dyke (Salisbury), 410-742-5497. Saturday, December 28 Baltimore Harbor — Peter Webb (Baltimore), 410-486-1217, pwebb@bcpl.net. Central Loudoun, VA — Joe Coleman (VA), 540-554-2542, jandkcoleman@erols.com. Maryland section includes White’s Ferry portion of the C&O Canal. Rock Run — Jean Wheeler (Bel Air), 410-879-7424. Washington County — David Weesner (Boonsboro), 301-432-7718. Sunday, December 29 Elkton — Gary Griffith (Elkton), 410-392-4491. Fort Belvoir, VA — Carol Ghebelian, Maryland Coordinator (Indian Head), 301-753-6754, gheb@bellatlantic.net. Ocean City — Jay Sheppard (Laurel), 301-725-5559, jmsheppar@aol.com. Patuxent River — Doug & Lisa Lister (St. Mary’s), 301-994-2582 (H) or 301-342-3670 (O) and Andy Brown (Calvert), 410-586-9490 (H) or 410-535-5327 (O), brownaj@co.cal.md.us. Monday, December 30 Crisfield — Allen Deward (Bishopville), 410-352-5590. Tuesday, December 31 Southern Dorchester County (Blackwater) — Chan Robbins (Laurel), 301-725-1176, chan_robbins@usgs.gov. Sunday, January 5 Annapolis/Gibson Island — Sue Ricciardi (Arnold), 410-647-9513, susier@starpower.net, or Hal Wierenga & Lynn Davidson (Arnold), 410-647-7439, hal.lynn@erols.com. Sugarloaf Mountain — Compiler urgently needed, contact Rob Gibbs (Gaithersburg), 301-253- 6903, robgibbs@starpower.net. Page 3 DNR REPORTS (continued from page 1, column 1) Yellow is the only male of the four birds. He has moved a lot during the first four months of tracking. After a few weeks in Maryland, he has spent most of his time in Virginia along the Rappahannock River and other concentration areas in that state. He also spent a few weeks in the Lake Gaston area of North Carolina. During most of September, he stayed in the vicinity of the upper Rappahannock River. Green has moved the least. After her release at Sandy Point, she spent a few days along the Severn River near Sherwood Forest. On June 3", she moved to the Parkers Creek area of Calvert County along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. After several weeks of the satellite locations staying in the same spot, we thought this immature eagle may have died. DNR biologist Dave Brinker went looking for the bird and found it alive and well. He observed the eagle flying along the Bay shoreline with the antenna sticking out of its feathers on the back. The bird stayed in this area until September 224 when it was recorded further south in Calvert County. On September 24", she was in Virginia near Colonial Beach. Red has spent some time near Colonial Beach as well. So has yellow. Red moved north to Aberdeen Proving Ground after her release at Sandy Point. She was in southern New Jersey for a few days in early June, then moved back to the northern Chesapeake Bay area. On July 12", she was in Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River. After spending the end of July at Aberdeen, she moved south to Virginia spending most of her time between Colonial Beach and the upper Rappahannock River. Blue also moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground shortly after release. She then moved east to the Delaware River in New Jersey. She stayed there for nearly two months, then moved to the mouth of the Susquehanna River for a day or two. She then moved south to the Potomac River, along both the Maryland and Virginia shorelines. She also frequented the upper Rappahannock River area. Three of the four immature eagles have visited this important eagle concentration area in Virginia during the first four months after release. We will be following the movements of these four lucky eagles for at least one year. You can follow them too. Check out the DNR webpage for weekly updates. Keep your fingers crossed that they do not go back to the mud pit from where this story began. CHAPTER CHATTER (continued from page 1, column 3) also involved in the organizing of an Orthodox mission church in Harford County. She and Les have hosted numerous bird club gatherings in their home, including the popular “Hummingbird Happy Hour” every August. Subscribers to the MD Osprey recall with pleasure the annual winter trips to Harford County hotspots led by Les Eastman. Norm Saunders says, “What made those trips especially memorable though wasn’t just the good birds and birding friends that were made, but also the wonderful chili gatherings afterwards at Les’ house, hosted by his wife Jan. Her ungrudging, cheerful hospitality earned our gratitude year after year. Indeed, about five years ago, we gave her a framed certificate, awarding her the title 'Frau Meisterbirder'.” Donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, P.O. Box 43025, Baltimore, MD 21201, or the Four Evangelists Orthodox Mission, 1008 Jackson Boulevard, Bel Air, MD 21014. Opportunity to See Raptors AND Be a Real Help—tThe Cecil Chapter sponsors the Turkey Point Hawk Watch, located in Cecil County Maryland, at the tip of the Elk Neck Peninsula, in the Elk Neck State Park. The watch began in 1995, and the site is staffed by volunteers from the Cecil Bird Club and other affiliated clubs in the area. Last season they had a total bird count of 5,233, representing over 16 raptor species. The watch is maintained daily from 7 or 8 a.m. until noon, later during peak flight dates, Labor Day through Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed. Tobe one, even for one date, contact Leslie Fisher at gonbrdn@dol.net or 410-658-2427 or see the web site, http://www.udel.edu/cecilbirds. The leadership team of Leslie and David Kimball says, “Tf you are a birder, nature lover, hiker, butterfly- ist. wildflower lover, or just enjoy the view from the overlook -a visit to the Hawk Watch at Turkey Point will not leave you disappointed!” Howard Birder Whistles Up Bluebirds— Bonnie Ott has been amusing herself lately by training bluebirds to come toa whistle. She started by whistling when a female was eating the mealworms which she put out daily. After a week of this Bonnie tried whistling when she stepped out on the deck. The first morning she tried that cue, the female bluebird flew in from about 70 yards away and perched on the deck a few feet from her. Bonnie says, “It has now become our morning ritual and she shows up within 20 seconds of my whistle! Now if it would only work on LeConte’s Sparrows.” Tri-County Reports on Naval Maneuvers— Donald and Carol Broderick hosted a great first year “Atlas Wrap-up Picnic” on September 7. Twenty six field atlasers attended, sharing birding stories while hearing the results of the project. Several prizes were handed out. The first was the Purple Heart Award, which was an atlas T-shirt presented to volunteer recorder Dave Ganoe for contracting Rocky Mountain Fever while helping canvass a Wicomico County block. Even after spending two nights in the hospital, he insisted the birding had been great. The Best Bird Award, an atlas hat, went to Mike Walsh for confirming a Least Bittern nest in a face to face encounter with the bird and chicks while kayaking the Nanticoke River. Indonning the cap. Mike accepted Captaincy (continued on page 14, column 1) 2003 MOS Conference Pin Contest Rules & Other Considerations by John Malcolm * The design itself shall include a bird and the phrases “MOS” and “2003.” No other wording shall appear on the front of the entry (species, artist’s name, etc). * The bird must be appropriate for the 2003 conference site, Montgomery County (European Starling, e.g.). * Submissions shall be rendered in color as finished artwork, and not be framed or matted. ° The entry must be submitted in “hard copy” (i.e., not electronically). * The artist’s name, phone number, chapter affiliation; and the species of the bird shall be on the back of each entry. ° Artists may not use others’ work, or copyrighted material. ° Artists may submit more than one design. ® Artists must be members of MOS. Allentries will be returned to the artists, except for the winning design, which becomes the property of MOS. By entering the contest the artists agree that if their design wins it becomes the property of MOS, which has the right to use the design to promote the conference, and for other MOS promotional and historical uses. On rare occasions the pin company may ask the winning artist for permission to make minor changes in the design to accommodate the manufacturing process. Ifthe artist is unwilling to make these minor accommodations we will select another design. The deadline for entries is January 13, 2003 and the decision of the judges is final. Send your entries to: John Malcolm, 10205 Kindly Court, Montgomery Village, MD 20886. If you have questions contact John at 301-977-5788, or at smudgie@comcast.net. 2003 Scholarship Program Reminder by Jean Fry Incase you missed the article in the September- October Yellowthroat, this is just a reminder that MOS sponsors about ten or twelve scholarships each year to Audubon camps in Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Each is valued at between $600 and $900 and covers tuition, room and board for six days at an ecology or ornithology workshop at the above locations. Candidates should be teachers, park rangers, naturalists, community volunteers, or environmental educators. A major criteria is that the winner should be in a position to pass on knowledge gained to young people. All applicants should be eighteen years of age and submit a letter of intent, a current resume, and two letters of recommendation, one of which should be from an MOS member or chapter. For further information, please contact your local MOS chapter president or scholarship representative or Jean Fry, scholarship chairperson, at 410-452-8539 or e-mail: ffryjl@aol.com Deadline for receipt of applications is January 31, 2003. Page 4 MAcryland/DC Breeding Bird fos = TF rH 2002 tt | tira Project co % 2 (oe 2006 When I decided to write this article, it was mostly for selfish reasons. How was I going to find owls in my own blocks? Worse, what would I say when my fellow Anne Arundel County atlasers asked me, their county coordinator, how to atlas for owls? How would Ibe able to answer in a way to make me look like I knew what I was talking about? Beyond that, these largely nocturnal birds were inadequately surveyed during the first Atlas, and most of us could probably use some guidance in finding owls. So I set about reviewing the literature and asking successful owlers for their suggestions. What follows, I hope, will provide you some good techniques and enthusiasm for finding owls. A Cautionary Note Be sure to keep the owls’ well-being your top priority. Ticking off an owl for the atlas while harassing it enough to cause breeding failure must not be considered an option. Do not visit a suspected nesting site too frequently. Let a few weeks go by before returning. Keep a safe distance. If you’re using tapes, do so cautiously and judiciously. Do not repeatedly play tapes in the nesting area. Finding the actual nest location is not necessary. Besides, you will have another opportunity for confirming breeding with the appearance of fledged young later on. If, after a reasonable amount of effort, you’ve achieved “Probable” status for one species in one location, quit for that species in that block. Also, keep nest sites to yourself. Well-meaning friends may not be as careful as you in safeguarding the owl. General Tips What time of night is best? Before dawn and at dusk are likely to be the optimal times to search. Pete Jeschke, in an article written for the first Atlas, said that his most successful owling came between 3 a.m. and dawn on a moonlit night, when owls tend to be more vocal, and noisy traffic is ata minimum. At dusk, many owls will come to forest edges to begin hunting. Look for “headless lumps” on bare tree branches. For listening purposes, still, calm, moonlit nights are best, but cloudy or foggy conditions can work too. Windy or rainy nights are rarely productive. Be sure to get out of your vehicle to maximize your ability to hear calls. If you're playing tapes or doing your own imitations, start with a continuous series of calls for several minutes; then be silent for a few minutes. If necessary, repeat the calls. Although many owls will respond within the first few minutes, others will wait until you’ve just about given up. Owls? - You want ME to find Owls?!? (Part I) by Sue Ricciardi, Anne Arundel Atlas Coordinator Remember, however, not to overdo the tape playing and once you get a response, quit. Some sources say to start with the small owls first on the premise that calling up, say, a Barred Owl first will silence nearby prey species such as an Eastern Screech-Owl. Others counter with the argument that calling up the screech-owl first reveals its location to predator owls, which is obviously not preferable either. However, Barred Owls will often respond to screech-owl tapes (and vice-versa). I would say that whatever you do, try to minimize stress on the owls. Also, while playing tapes, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for silent fliers. Owls will often fly in noiselessly and perchnearby. A Barred Owl did just that to me on last season’s Christmas Count. But, owls will fly directly away from you too, so consider taking along a partner so that one of you watches while the other walks ahead. Usea flashlight to investigate movementin nearby branches or rustling leaves. Finally, inquire of utility and tower maintenance workers, lumbermen, bridge tenders, farmers with out- buildings, church custodians and others who may know of nests (or unfortunately disposed of them). Great Horned Owl - This owl will nest in a wide variety of habitats, from open country to forests to wood lots. It prefers medium to extensive stands of upland forest with fields and edges nearby for hunting. Typically it will appropriate old nests of other large birds such as hawks, crows, ravens, and herons, and will even occupy old squirrel nests. Great Horned Owls begin nesting in December, so you can start listening for their calls and looking for possible nest sites then. This is a good thing, because the leaves have fallen, letting you search for nest sites in daylight! This worked on Hart-Miller Island this past winter when at a scope distance, a large, former Fish Crow nest could be seen high in a tree. Gene Scarpulla later found a pair of Great Horned Owls using it. The earliest egg date in Maryland is in early January, but eggs also have been found as late as May. Adult Great Horned Owls tend to be vocal during the breeding season and beyond, and you may hear the young giving loud raspy calls when begging for food. They seem to be less responsive to taped calls and more likely to vocalize spontaneously, a little more frequently at dawn than at dusk. Their beginning safe date of December 15 is the earliest for any of our breeding owls, and their ending safe date is August 31. Eastern Screech-Owl - Screech-Owls may very well breed in almost every block in Maryland and the District of Columbia. They are cavity nesters and utilize many habitats, including forest perimeters, thick second-growth woods, wood lots, parks, groves and orchards, in ravines, near lakes, rivers, and bay shore, and even in suburban neighborhoods and urban areas. How many of us know of anactive nest box insomeone’s residential backyard? Old woodpecker holes, natural cavities, and artificial structures such as American Kestrel and Wood Duck boxes, are also used. However, finding a nest hole in the wild is not easy. You would do better by staking out screech-owls during Christmas Bird and winter counts, which are well in advance of their beginning safe date of April 1. They are also more responsive to tape-recorded calls then as compared to the peak breeding period from mid-April through June. Moreover, early searches mean less stress on them during nesting. In July and August, your chances of finding a screech-owl increase when fledglings are out and about. At this time they may even respond to calls during the day. Their ending safe date is August 15. If this is too much for you, try putting up a screech-owl nest box in your block! Barred Owl - Look for this owl in wooded settings with mature trees, especially wooded swamps, and river and stream bottoms. Rick Blom observes that Barreds like the interiors of big woods with trees over 100 years old. This type of forest provides flight lines through the trees for “perch- and-drop” hunting, and knotholes for nesting. Barred Owls will use natural hollows in trees or broken tree stubs as well as old hawk, crow, or squirrel nests, and occasionally nest boxes. Their safe dates run from January 15 through August 31 and they lay eggs in Maryland generally from March through much of May. Try searching for them just prior to and again after the height of the breeding season; that is, late winter through early April, and then the middle of June up to September when the young have fledged. The Barred Owl is the one most likely to respond in the daytime to tape-recorded calls or your own vocalizations. I’ve been told by others that your hooting may even do better than tapes, so practice up! Ed. note: Watch for Part II in the next issue of MD Yellowthroat, accompanied by an extensive list of references for further study. Until then, here is a basic reference for finding owls in the field: Sutton, P. and C. Sutton. 1994. How to Spot an Owl. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Massachusetts. Page 5 Conservation News by Maureen F. Harvey MOS Submits Comments on DNR’s Draft Mute Swan Management Plan Date: Friday, September 20, 2002 To: customerservice@dnr.state.md.us Subject: Draft Mute Swan Mgmt Plan The Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. (MOS) supports the basic tenets of DNR’s Draft Mute Swan Management Plan in that Mute Swans are an exotic species that has gotten out of control. These swans presently are causing damage to the Bay’s ecosystem. The time has come to make some hard decisions about reducing their numbers, particularly in those specific areas in which significant ecological damage or change has occurred. In February 2001, MOS wrote to the Mute Swan Task Force that we supported the complete elimination of Mute Swans from Maryland (full text of this letter appears below). However, we realize that the Mute Swan Management Plan must be science-based, defensible, and ecologically sound. We agree that control decisions should be based on the best scientific information coupled with DNR’s legislative mandate to protect native species and their habitats. DNR states that the damage caused by Mute Swans has not yet been adequately measured as to scope and potential. How many studies does it take to prove what is obvious? Who benefits from the delay for more studies while Mute Swan numbers increase and more damage is done? Specifically, we support a plan that would immediately extirpate the birds in those areas like the Eastern Bay where damage is present and severe. For other areas of the Bay, the exclusion- zone criteria must be tightened up, DNR’s research must be done, and decisions made to either extirpate the birds or reduce them to such numbers that they no cause ecological damage. The arbitrary “negligible” number of 500 Mute Swans appears to be too high; the diligent effort required to maintain this high number, presuming reproducing adults are present in the population, would result in a perpetual control expense and effort for Maryland. The cost and effort to control this one exotic species is of concern because there are many other invasive and exotic plant and animal species that are going unchecked or have minimal control. For example, we note the continually failing efforts to secure adequate funding for control of nutria, an introduced species that has been around for a long time and is probably causing far more ecological damage than Mute Swans have to date. How likely is it that a perpetual Mute Swancontrol program will be adequately funded, particularly if many hundreds of birds are permitted to continue and reproduce? This is the fundamental reason that MOS favors complete elimination of the birds. There will always be new Mute Swans arriving in Maryland from other states. Why make control any harder than it has to be by keeping 500 of them around? Maureen F. Harvey, MOS Conservation Chair a The Conservation Connection (MOS’s Letter to DNR providing comments on the Mute Swan Task Force Recommendations is not reproduced here; it appeared in the May/June 2001 Maryland Yellowthroat.) DNR’s Response to MOS Comments September 26, 2002 Dear Mrs. Harvey: Thank you for your letter regarding the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Draft Mute Swan Management Plan. We appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts with us. Wecertainly appreciate your frustration in the time and effort it has taken to date to manage Maryland’s mute swans. Mute swans present one of the most difficult wildlife management issues facing Maryland today. The Department not only hasa mandate to protect native species and habitats; it also must provide for the enjoyment of Maryland ’s natural resources for its citizens. The state does have a very vocal constituency of folks whoenjoy mute swansas well as vocal constituency that shares our concerns about the bird’s impact on the Chesapeake Bay and native species. We are often faced with balancing the needs of different interests and in this case, our larger task has been to involve and educate our constituents so that we can move forward with both science and a reasonable consensus. We believe we are moving in that direction. While we have sufficient evidence to suggest that mute swans currently threaten certain listed species of colonial waterbirds, this particular mute swan population is managed more aggressively by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because the site is on federal property. We don’t have scientific data on the actual impact that mute swans have had or may have on Chesapeake Bay submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The data we have available to us even within the United States is limited and most of our data has come from Europe. All of our current data has come from birds in lagoons and ponds, not in estuaries. In the Bay, SAV have moved, accumulated, and declined continuously over the past 200 years, that we know of, and we cannot explain all of the factors that cause these changes. There is no scientific correlation between the presence of mute swans in the Bay and the decline in the wintering Bay tundra swan population. We believe it is responsible to conduct research on these issues, specific to the Bay, but this is not a bar to action and is not meant to be presented that way in the plan. Rather, it is information that we will use to continuously modify our management plan, so that it more specifically addresses the real impacts that mute swans have or may have on these resources. Another area of knowledge that is currently unavailable to us is why the Maryland Bay’s population of mute swans remained at 500 for so long and why it suddenly exploded. We can correlate the increase in citizen complaints with the increase in the population, but 500 isa relatively arbitrary number until we understand more about whatan “unsustainable” population number might be or what number of birds we can manage with minimum public resources. We certainly share your concerns about the resources necessary to keep a mute swan population at a particular level until we have this knowledge. This plan is a work in progress; our efforts to learn how to manage mute swans in “swan free areas” will help us understand what resources will be needed and give us a better sense of population numbers that are manageable. The Maryland Nutria Project received a little over $1 million in the last fiscal year-quite sufficient funding to wrap up the first data-gathering phase of the project and to start the eradication phase. This brings our total federal allocation to about $2 million out of the $2.9 million that was authorized through a special bill crafted by Congressman Gilchrest in 1998. The state has put in close to $300,000 so far, as well, and we have received substantial contributions from private sources and from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. We are currently working with Congress on a number of funding legislative vehicles that could fund the project to completion. There are never any guarantees, but we have reason to be hopeful. I must disagree that we have been unable to secure inadequate funding so far, although there were some unsure moments and a lot of work goes into securing those funds. I do agree that the cost of containment, for any invasive species, has been historically very high. It also must be recognized that the entire invasive species issue has been human, that is, politically driven. We must all consider, as a society, how much of our public resources we will spend on any of these species or on the protection of the ecosystems, economic interests, or public welfare priorities that they impact. From zebra mussels to snakehead to nutria to purple loosestrife to mute swans and the hordes of other invaders, we will have to make real choices between spending resources on prevention and rapid response or containment and between spending resources on containment or losing the existing public priorities that are impacted. None of this has proven to be easy for any of the invasive species impacting ecosystems across the U.S. and mute swans are one of the more charismatic species. We hope you will continue to work with us on this particularly tough issue. The Wildlife and Heritage Service Mission is to “Conserve Maryland’s Diverse Native Wildlife, Plants, and the Natural Communities that support them, using scientific expertise and informed public input.” Once again, thank you for writing. If you would like more information on the mute swan in Maryland, please visit the DNR website at www.dnr.state.md.us Sincerely, Paul A. Peditto, Director, Wildlife & Heritage Service (continued on page 15, column 1)) Page 6 Birds & Boating (continued from page 1, column 2) but often several miles from shore, as are pods of Common Loons. A few Wilson’s Storm Petrels frequent the shipping lanes as far north as Talbot waters from late May into August. If you go watch out for the huge freighters steaming along faster than you are, although they don’t look it. Gannets are a growing presence, all the way up to the Bay bridge to Annapolis. Hummingbirds and Merlins shoot over the widest expanses of the Chesapeake. MAPS & CHARTS. (see also under REFERENCES below). The DeLorme atlas (combined for MD & VA) plus the excellent ADC (Alexandria Drafting Co.) county atlases are very useful for boaters just as the nautical chart books (“Chesapeake Bay Chart Book” combined for MD & VA; also by ADC) are nice to have when you are on land poking around. Get them all whether you boat or drive. Too bad there is no ADC atlas for Somerset County, one of the state’s most alluring boating counties, and underbirded. The ADC atlases have excellent indexes. The ADC “Maryland /Delaware State Road Atlas” is much more generalized than the county ones but still useful. It obviates somewhat the need to buy their numerous county atlases. These printed aids are available in good gas stations, book stores, marinas, and boating supply stores. All show launching ramp locations. Even if you never leave home a good map is a thing of beauty and feeds the imagination. Most of them overstate the extent of shoreline and land. Their indications of water depths near land should be used with caution. The Talbot County ADC atlas still shows Sharp’s, Nelson’s and the Royston Islands, beloved places that went under the waves decades ago. The official Maryland “Highway and Natural Resources Map” is good considering its genre (a folding, glove compartment aid) doing a fine job of showing state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s) but merely lists launching site addresses instead of showing them on the map per se. None of these maps indicate that Barren, Spring and Watts (in VA) islands as well as Bishops Head Point are part of Blackwater N.W.R. OWNERSHIP. You havea perfect right to boat just about anywhere in tidal waters except for a few places, suchas the waters of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Be aware of where you are and do not land on any areas that are part of National Wildlife Refuges. Be discreet if near or ina WMA during the hunting seasons. Bloodsworth Island is lovely but was anaval bombing range for decades. Under no circumstances should one walk around on Bloodsworth - an admiral once wrote me that there are “countless rounds of unexploded ordnance” there. Most shorelines and islands everywhere else are privately owned. Use the same common sense as when you are exploring by car or on foot. FOOD & DRINK. For some reason to many people peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or ham and cheese (both on plain white bread) taste terrific in a boat, especially at sea. Pringles potato chips, mediocre at best, nonetheless provide salt on hot days, come in a container that keeps them intact, and taste good on a boat. Sweet Pepperidge Farm sugar and ginger cookies as well as wheat thins are great also. I find iced tea unsurpassed as a thirst quencher. Most of the old wives tales and conventional wisdom about water and thirst have recently been largely refuted (i.e., if youare already thirsty it is too late to get rehydrated; you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day; caffeine is totally dehydrating, etc.). We get a lot of the water we need from food, especially fruits and vegetables, but even from bread. However, it is still crucial to stay well-hydrated with liquids and itis surprising how dehydrated one can get in winter. When it is cold chocolate bars with almonds, pepperoni, chocolate chip cookies, trail mix type stuff, and Golden Fruit provide energy. I can eat healthy when I get back on shore. MAL DE BAY. Small boating, except for very rare individuals, is not at all conducive to seasickness. I get sick often at sea on 40' head boats and the like but have never felt sick on the Bay in 50 years of small boating. POSITIONING. The greatest stability is in the center of the boat or towards the stern. Sit up in the bow and if there are sizeable waves you get pounded. Try not to be too close to the noisy engine. If you have to stand be just aft of the grab rail around the center console. If the boat is pounding your rear will get pounded, too, if you sit on the gunwales or are forward of the center console. Better to stand, spread your feet some, and hold on to the grab rail, with both hands if it is rough. Otherwise, try not to stand too much in small boats. APPROACHING BIRDS. Approach birds slowly and obliquely in order to get close to them and so as not to flush them. This is as true for a great raft of sea ducks as it is for a group of terns, gulls, and shorebirds on a sandbar. If you are a Long-tailed Duck it is a long haul to Axel Heiberg Island and you need your rest, Chesapeake mollusks, and unfettered, quality courtship time before you take off overland for the high Arctic. It is illegal to deliberately disturb groups of waterfowl. Doing so during the idiotic sea duck hunting season (“target practice”) may expose them to even more steel shot than usual as they fly hither and yon. Unless you have legitimate banding or censusing responsibilities stay away from colonial birds. Flush them and predatory Fish Crows, gulls, and Boat-tailed Grackles will sometimes return to their nests before they do, not to mention the ill effects on eggs and young of cold or heat. In addition, while you are there is that much time that adults bearing food are kept from feeding their youngsters. SUPPLIES. anchor. beverages. 7X or 8X binoculars. cell phone. companion. compass. dark glasses. dip net. first aid kit. fishing rod & a few lures. flares. flags. flashlight. fly swatter. food. food chest. fuel tanks full. garbage or waterproof bag. gloves. hammer. hat witha broad brim. insect repellant. knife. life preserver. maps & charts. matches. basic medications plus any prescribed for you. notebook. oil (for the engine or, as with 3 in 1 oil, for lubrication). pen & pencil. pliers. pole/ boat hook. rag. rain gear. reef shoes. rope. sun screen. sponge. swim suit. tissue. towel. trash bag. water. weather radio. Wet Ones. whistle. Some of these are optional. Obviously a canoer or kayaker doesn’t have room for all this. However, many of these will fit together in a small bag. By flags I mean the thin metal rods with orange flags used at construction sites, or to mark anything. Place one at the waterline when you go ashore. If you come back an hour or more later you should be able to tell which way the tide is going. When I spent three days in my 16’8" boat over Labor Day Weekend visiting 11 Bay islands I had a checklist of over 70 items. When a totally unforecast, moderately powerful storm struck at 2:45 A.M., September 2, 2001, I was glad to have all of them, especially an extra anchor, rope, cell phone, flashlight, and rain gear. The garbage bags and the waterproof food chest were useful. In the distance then from Watts Island I could almost see one of the weather reporting sites at Accomac, which made no mention of this storm, reporting clear, calm conditions only 15 miles distant. If all politics is local, so sometimes is the weather, especially on the Eastern Shore in the warmer months, when thundershowers or lack of them can be extremely local. Simple supplies can make a huge difference. I once helped a waterman in a near wilderness setting who was idled and drifting. A cord had become wrapped around his propeller and, unbelievably, he had nothing to cut it with but I had my trusty Swiss Army knife. In the 1970’s extra rope helped me tow in the man who sells fuel on Smith Island whose boat a broken down a mile from his town. Take enough food, drink and clothing for a day longer than you intend to stay, an extra change of clothes, too. Weather forecasts often are not as accurate or detailed for watery areas as for the mainland. Weather forecasts for the Eastern Shore often differ markedly from those west of the Bay both in accuracy and with respect to the level of detail of the actual weather conditions. Landlubbers get much more detail. In the colder months expect the weather offshore to feel at least 10 degrees colder than on land, much more so if there is considerable wind. If there is no wind, if you are rooster tailin’ along at 20 m.p.h. the wind chill is huge. One aspect of Chesapeake boating is reassuring. Often the water is shallow enough so that if something goes wrong you can slide overboard and wade ashore. The moderate tidal range of a few feet and the relative lack of rocks makes for safer boating than, say, in Maine, as does the warmer water. Fog is relatively uncommon. Of course, the extremely shallowness can also be a hazard, prohibiting boating in some areas, and conducive torunning aground. Always carry fresh, extra spark plugs, cotter pins, and shear pins if you use an outboard motor, and know how to change them. SAFETY. Two years in the army and I got good and sick of safety lectures before every big weekend. You had to attend or you didn’t get a pass. However, being on the water has an element of danger. It is probably not as dangerous as driving but when things go bad you may be alone in a remote place. Once on Adam Island I stepped on a big nail while wading ashore early in the morning. Off Cedar Island, VA, on a Christmas count our boatman, highly experienced, nevertheless hit a submerged sand bar during a storm. Thrown on my side, my arm required 17 physical therapy sessions. I helped carry the litter of a man with a propeller wound at Kiptopeke once whose right chest muscle was hanging by a thread. Fall overboard in winter you may have 15 minutes to live if you can’t get out of the water. Leave your boat on a falling tide you may not get afloat for six hours or more. Summer thunder storms can come up very unexpectedly. Some such storms on seemingly lovely, benign June days on the Bay have had winds in excess of 100 m.p.h. If the weather, or tide, or loosing your balance and falling overboard don’t pose dangers, then colliding with a (continued at top of next page) Page 7 Birds & Boating (continued from previous page) submerged log or some moron on a jet ski or ina cigarette boat may. Don’tbe afraid butbe respectful, cautious, and informed of the Bay environment. Aim to return to land with at least an hour of sunlight remaining. WIND. Can be your friend or enemy. Refreshing in summer. Chilling in winter. There are many dangers to a following sea. It wafts you along but can come swamping over the transom. Be aware of the prevailing forecast wind direction. But out around the Bay islands wind is deceptive. Coming to a major island point you think when you get around it and change your course, say, 25 degrees, the wind direction you are subject to beforehand will change accordingly. Often it doesn’t. The land mass, even a low marshy one, effects the wind direction. Nevertheless adjust your course to the prevailing wind direction and the tide. Going out to Bloodsworth Island ona high tide and moderate SW wind I will go south along the east and shallower side of Bloodsworth when the tide is up and be able to skirt the shore, on the island’s protected lee side. My afternoon with the tide ebbing I can then return north in the deeper west side water and have the SW wind pushing me along some, even against the ebbing tide. If the tide to start with is low and the wind is easterly I can go down the deeper west side and be in the lea. Returning I may want to wait until the tide turns to have it behind me and return on the east side beating into that easterly wind. However, watch out for the east wind. Itcan mean bad weather is on the way. Some days may be tricky enough so that I visit only about half this island’s shoreline. TIDE. Usually a full or new moon means a higher tidal range. East, southerly, or southwest winds keep water in the Bay and create above normal tides. A cold front with northwest winds, especially if one lasting a day or more, means lower, often much lower, than normal tides. On April 5, 1975, after several days of strong NW winds the closest water to the end of our dock was 168 paces from its end, 235 from our point, Lucy Point. Watch a cold front. It may mean winds too strong for safe boating. When you launch (or “put in”, as boaters love to say) ask a waterman about conditions if there are workboats in the neighborhood. Most of us are weekend warriors. Watermen live (and sometimes die) on the water. They are usually helpful, friendly, and informed. Tides are sometimes affected by distant weather systems. The so-called Perfect Storm off the coast of New England created tides so high that they even impacted the Chesapeake. The small fresh water stream (“Prothonotary Place”) on Egypt Road north of Blackwater flowed backwards. The Little Blackwater River was so high then that it gently surged up the stream right into the Red Maple swamp there. When boating be humble, cautious, and careful. Whether you are humble or not there will be times when any boater is humiliated and made aware that there is a lot they do not know or understand. The more experienced the boater the more they admit and realize this. Clichés often help. If there are crab pots it is deep enough to boat in. If there are duck blinds it may not be. If you see waves breaking at aspot and none breaking near it that will be a shoal area, probably a sand bar. Conversely, just to confuse things, calmer areas often indicate shallows. Lightness of color under the surface, often a pale brown, usually means shallows. Visible sessile vegetation obviously indicates shallows. If it floats on the top partially the tide is low. If itis completely submerged the tide is high. A falling tide leaves a diffuse, deep, wet area on pilings and to a lesser extent on rocks. On a rising tide the waterline at the top of these wet areas is indicated by a much neater, thin demarcation line. In still, shallow water if the tide is rising off of exposed mud there will usually be a dusty, scummy surface or film with floating particles. This is absent on a falling tide. Look at the shoreline. If the water is up several inches above the base of the marsh grass obviously the tide is high. If there is exposed sod bank it is low. If there are rocks or rip rap and the tide is out a distinct black band a foot or more high will appear above the water surface on the rocks, often visible for hundreds of yards. Watch the buoys, crab pots, and floating markers. In the case of buoys, anchored from their base, they lean the way the tide is going, making a small but significant “wake”. Pots have a wake also but if tied by their pointy end they face into the tidal current. Channel markers do not lean but still have this kind of wake. Pass crab and eel pots on their “downstream” side, otherwise you may involve your propeller with their cords. At slack tide (full low or full high) when the tide is still, which doesn’t last very long, most of these clues do not apply. Under some conditions (to name one: when a tropical storm is stalled off the Atlantic coast for a few days, the storm surge trapping water in the Bay) the day’s two low tides may be so high they are as high, or rarely higher, than a normal high tide. The opposite can also be true, as for example after two or three days of a powerful northwesterly cold front, there can seem to be no high tide at all. High or low tides are relative. Far up protected tidal guts where there may be at low tide exposed, very flat sandy or muddy areas you can actually see the tide coming in at about a horizontal inch a second. In completely protected water away from any winds if you watch floating particulate matter or underwater grasses you will see them gently wafting in the direction the tide is going. There will be other times when you (or anyone else) will not know what the Hell is going on. In some of the more complex tidal guts, if one is unfamiliar with them, it may not be evident which way the tide flows out or in. Why is tide so important? Chesapeake Bay is so shallow that the tidal range of a few feet makes atremendous difference. Runaground and become fast at high tide and you are in trouble. It’s not going to get any deeper. Run aground at low tide and it will. There are places where I have hit bottom with my small skiff over a mile from the nearest land. Some of what is said above may seem like an insult to the intelligence. Is it really that difficult to tell what the tide is doing? Sometimes. Often. HUNTERS, ANGLERS & WATERMEN. Most of these folks are more heavily invested in what they are doing than you are. Give them a wide berth. Watch the other boats. If they are chumming for rock they may attract birds. A gunshot or two and those wigeon you didn’t see are in the air, high, calling. If the boats all go off towards port give the sky another look. For some reason Eastern Shore summer thunder storms often appear in the distant west at midday, move gently north and east deceptively and almost imperceptibly, and then sometimes descend south upon you. There is nothing sweeter than hearing Seaside Sparrows and Marsh Wrens singing and Willets calling early on a June evening in the renewed, bejeweled sunlight following an afternoon downpour when everything is clean and dripping with dewy water drops and shining in the bright light ... as long as you made it to shore safely before the storm hit. FATIGUE. Fatigue leads to errors of judgment, plain old mistakes. You will become more fatigued ina boat than in an equivalent time period on land, even though (because, actually) you will often be more stimulated. The constant motion of boats and your body’s reaction to it, continually balancing, is a subtle but inexorable, true exercise and is fatiguing. So is being out under the sun. The glare tires the eyes. Often you will postpone eating or drinking, a bad situation, being distracted by the scenery or because you are concentrating on a safe passage and looking for landmarks. The drone (or roar?) of the engine is tiring. This translates into drowsiness when it is over and you may have to drive an hour or more to get home. As an analogy, driving a car ina heavy wind and/or slanting rain is fatiguing and the many adjustments you have to make on the steering wheel to compensate for the wind are demanding. Driving a car in a strong wind shares many similarities with boating. You’re in air rather than water currents. CLOTHING. Keep the sun off you. The rate of melanomas and some other skin cancers is skyrocketing. Due to ozone problems? Who knows? Wear long-sleeved shirts and full-length trousers. Put on sun lotion before you start and every few hours afterwards. My dermatologist tells me that even though I am under my boat canopy and wear a wide-brimmed hat the glare reflected from the water can cause skin damage. A tan looks great and I used to love it. Do it enough and it can kill you. I like to wear low cut rubber “Wellington” boots. Flies love boats and they love ankles, especially wet ones, and can get you right through cotton socks. Cheap white cotton gloves, sold in every supermarket, protect your hands from bugs and the sun and are quite comfortable in all but the hottest days. “Reef shoes”, available in stores with diving supplies, stretch over your feet if you go wading in our Bay, which is full of oyster shells, crabs, Cow-nosed Rays, glass, and nails. Take clothing along that will keep you comfortable at 15 degrees colder than the forecast. You can always take it off. Most important of all, and something I am often guilty of not doing, is to try not to boat alone. Take a partner along. On the other hand, it is uplifting and stimulating to be alone on the water, a little scary, a little dangerous. But it can be very dangerous. At least let someone know when and where you are going. I always call home midway through the day as well as when I have returned to the landing. If you are boating for more than a day leave a note on your dashboard saying where you are headed, what your boat looks like, and when you expect to return with an emergency phone number and contact. Once when I went out for a week after a few days the watermen called in my car license plate to the state police, thinking I was in trouble. (continued at top of next page) Page 8 Birds & Boating (continued from previous page) REFERENCES. See also MAPS & CHARTS above. Armistead, Henry T. “Summer birds of lower Chesapeake Bay islands in Maryland.” Maryland Birdlife 34:3 (1978) pp. 99-151. Fishing Bay Water Trail. Water Trails of Dorchester County, Maryland. These 2 good- quality, folding pamphlets are available gratis from/at Blackwater N.W.R. or Dorchester County Dept. of Tourism, 2 Rose Hill Pl., Cambridge, MD 21613 (410-228-1000; 1-800-522-TOUR) and elsewhere. By the time you read this Blackwater (410-228-2677) will have a pamphlet for sale on kayaking in the refuge area. Gertler, Edward. Maryland and Delaware canoe trails. 5th ed. Seneca Press. 2002. 304pp. paperback. $13.95. Has 96 maps. Very detailed. Harp, David W. & Tom Horton. The Great Marsh: an intimate journey into a Chesapeake wetland. Johns Hopkins U. Press. 2002. 122pp. hardbound. $29.95. Describes kayaking in the greater Blackwater N.W.R. & adjacent Bay areas. Splendid photography. MacKay, Bryan. Hiking, cycling, and canoeing in Maryland. Johns Hopkins U. Press. 1995. 535pp. paperback. $18.95. Canoeing section is pp. 359 to 519. Dozens of maps. Very detailed. Lots of essays on natural history topics. Williams, John Page, Jr., & William S. Portlock. Exploring the Chesapeake in small boats. Tidewater Publishers. 1992. paperbound. 190pp. Full of good advice. Describes the Bay’s major shoreline sections. I sing of the Bay. my song is of the islands ere they wash away. What creatures lived on Sharp’s, Long, the Roystons, Nelson’s, vanquished by the waves? But gentle tides sough Spartina and Juncus marsh, skies full of Willets. from ‘Chesapeake haiku’ by the author. Minutes of the MOS Board Meeting June 22, 2002 President: Karen Morley Vice President: Paul Zucker Treasurer: Shiras Guion Secretary: Janet Shields Executive Secretary: Eric Sprague Past President: Norm Saunders Library: Joy Wheeler Long-range Planning: Marcia Watson- Whitmyre Research: Gwen Brewer Sanctuary: Dotty Mumford World Series of Birding: Norm Saunders Allegany: Gwen Brewer, Barbara Gaffney Anne Arundel: Linda Baker, Janelle Dietrich, Dotty Mumford Baltimore: Anne Brooks, Adriana Frangos, Helene Gardel, John Landers, Peter Webb, Joy Wheeler Caroline: not represented Carroll: not represented Cecil: Marcia Watson-Whitmyre Frederick: Michael Welch Harford: not represented Howard: Mary-Jo Betts, Paula Ecker Kent: Walter Ellison Montgomery: Sam Freiberg, Helen Gray, Don Messersmith, Janet Millenson Patuxent: Fred Fallon, Tom Loomis Talbot: not represented Tri-County: not represented Washington: Judy Lilga President Karen Morley called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Minutes of Previous Meeting: There were no corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting and they stood approved as read. Treasurer’s Report: Shiras Guion presented the Treasurer’s report and the Financial Report for Fiscal Year May 1, 2001 through April 30, 2002. Shiras announced that she is now using the new software, QuickBooks Pro. Bank of America, our MOS banking facility, has offered us free online bill paying. Shiras received a call from Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge asking to rent Irish Grove while doing research on Diamondback Terrapins. She received a check from them this week for $1,872 to rent Irish Grove from mid June through July. President’s Remarks: Karen Morley thanked the Baltimore chapter for hosting the meeting at Cylburn Mansion, the headquarters building for MOS. She announced that Mark Hoffman resigned as head of the Investment Committee. Martha Waugh, Howard County chapter, has agreed to take on the Investment Committee job. Other committee chairs are need for the Publicity, Sales, and Conference committees. Review of Action Items: Paul Zucker announced the following items are still pending: 1. Norm Saunders received comments from one person regarding the written text on the privacy issue and has given the slightly amended version to Karen Morley. It will now be put on the website and made part of the Manual of Operations in the future. 2. The Atlas Committee is working on the MOU for Patuxent on the issue of data entry and associated questions. It should be finished within the next few weeks. 3. The new Investment Committee will address the issue of an investment philosophy for MOS and make a proposal in that regard to the board. 4. There are three crucial committees who have not submitted their long-range plans. Those are Investment, Publication and Research. The Publications Committee has partially done a report. Investment and Research both have new chairs that are working on their reports. 5. A merchandise sales policy, which includes a Birdlife CD, is on the agenda with a draft report included in today’s meeting package. 6. Fred Fallon has a copy of the Partners in Flight report on our MOS sanctuaries and will send it to Fran Saunders to have it included on the MOS website. Note: The report was already up on the MOS website. COMMITTEE REPORTS Conference: Mike Callahan was unable to attend. Janet Shields reported that everything went very well. There has been a lot of positive feedback. This year we have again had young people participating and would like to continue to encourage this. Barbara Gaffney reported that the three youth groups who were recipients of the silent auction and raffle proceeds were thrilled with the monetary help they received from MOS. Janelle Dietrich informed the board that the silent auction made $855.35 and the raffle made $1,280. Shiras Guion noted that overall the conference was in the black. Conservation: Maureen Harvey could not attend the board meeting but wanted to extend her thanks to all of the people on her committee from each of the chapters. Maureen wanted to give a very special thanks to the Baltimore chapter which she thinks has a really effective chapter conservation committee. Sanctuary: The Strategic Planning Committee for the Sanctuary Committee has reviewed the Partners in Flight report on the MOS sanctuaries and decided which points were applicable to our mode of operation Dotty Mumford reported. The committee will put their recommendations up on the MOS website along with the PIF report. The committee is now planning to have meetings with the local chapters involved with our various sanctuaries and go over the Partners in Flight recommendations. There will be a meeting in the west with Carey Run people. There will then be a separate meeting for Mill Creek and Pelot and Marango and another for Irish Grove to talk about PIF recommendations for these sanctuaries. At these meetings we will be reevaluating how the sanctuaries are to be managed. The PIF report shows how much work needs to be done at all of our sanctuaries. There have been workdays since the last board meeting. A new roof has been installed over the bathhouse at the back of Carey Run. At Irish Grove all the siding is up on the tool shed and that project will be completed in the fall. We are still looking for a person to fill the State Sanctuary Coordinator position. There was discussion as to whether we need one person or two to adequately cover the state. The Sanctuary Strategic Planning Committee should look into the actual workload of the coordinator and make a recommendation to the board. (continued on page 11, column 1) 2002 MARYLAND/DC LOCALITY LIST COMPILATION Each year, the MOS compiles and publishes totals from members' state and local bird lists. Forms for submitting your 2002 locality lists are provided in this issue of the Maryland Yellowthroat. You are invited to submit your totals for any of the following list categories: STATE/COUNTY CUMULATIVE LISTS: This category is for your “lifetime” species totals identified anywhere in the state of Maryland, DC, or within any of the 23 Maryland counties. You may submit totals for any of these localities. Due to space limitations, please only submit totals which exceed 50% of the “maximum” number for each locality. The form contains the latest maximums and the 50% threshold for each locality that we're aware of. STATE/COUNTY 2002 ANNUAL LISTS: This category is for total species identified only in 2002 for the same localities as above. These totals may be reported at any threshold. “YARD” LIST: This category is for cumulative yard list totals, and 2002 totals. You may count any species you have identified while in your “yard” (that is, your property contiguous to your home). “Flyovers” and other birds identified from your yard (evenif they were not in your yard) also count. Additional information is requested on your “yard”. “ALL-COUNTY” LIST: This category is for counting the number of species you have identified in each of the 23 Maryland counties. For example, if you have identified a Northern Mockingbird, an American Crow, a Downy Woodpecker and a Red-tailed Hawk in each of the 23 Maryland counties, your list total would be eA “TOTAL TICK” LIST: This category is the sum of your county and DC list totals. The maximum possible is 7,269. We will accept all-time high submissions at any level greater than or equal to 2,400 (an average of 100 species per county and DC). Annual “Total Tick” levels (for 2002 only) will be accepted at any level. “ALL-TIME HIGH” ANNUAL LISTS: This category is used to track all-time high annual lists from the current and previous years. Annual prior year totals for the various reporting localities may be submit- ted. For Maryland, submitted totals should equal or exceed 289 (70% of the “maximum possible” num- ber). For individual counties, totals submitted from previous years should exceed either 50% of the “maximum possible” or exceed one of the top totals previously published for that county. See the MOS website (www.mdbirds.org) for previously published totals. Members' totals that have not been updated within the previous five years (1998-2002) will be dropped from the database. Questions ??? Contact Norm Saunders at marshhawk@att.net or (301) 989-9035. Please return the form BEFORE January 20, 2003 to: Norm Saunders 1261 Cavendish Drive Colesville, MD 20905-7030 We hope that all who have participated will do so again, and that others will join in, especially those from localities which are currently less than well represented. If you have any comments, thoughts, or anecdotes, please include them. Specifics on your yard habitat and size will also be of interest if your yard list total is especially high. If you have any other categories of Maryland bird lists that are appropriate (for example, all-time or 2002 state /county “Big Day” totals), send them in. We’d like to hear from you. And remember, this is for fun! Results will be published on the MOS website: www.mdbirds.org MOS 2002 MD/DC LOCALITY LIST REPORTING FORM Report List Totals as of 12/31/2002 Name: |. PERSONAL INFORMATION A Locality List Max/50% Maryland State ll. STATE/COUNTY LIFE AND 2001 LISTS Locality List District of Columbia Max/50%/ Life | 2001 312/156 MD Yard List* Allegany County 418/209 282/141 DC Yard List* Howard County 293/147 Anne Arundel County 331/166 Kent County 300/150 Baltimore City/County 333/167 Montgomery County 309/155 Calvert County Caroline County 304/152 293/147 Prince George's County Queen Anne's County 317/159 302/151 Carroll County 278/139 St. Mary's County 319/160 Cecil County 294/147 Somerset County 303/152 Charles County 284/142 Talbot County 312/156 Dorchester County Frederick County 316/158 290/145 Washington County Wicomico County 260/130 291/146 Garrett County 276/138 Worcester County 373/187 Harford County 299/150 All-County List 226/--- Total Tick 7,269/2,400 * Yard List Information: County: Location: Home: Work: Brief Description: (size, habitat, etc): Other? (specify): lll. ANNUAL ALL-TIME HIGH LISTS (for previous years Locality List aa ee Locality List Year; # i i (Please use one form per person) Page 11 June 2002 Board Meeting (continued from page 8, column 3) Atlas: Walter Ellison gave the Atlas Committee report. They added $700 more to the $400 Jane Coskren collected earlier in the year. The Howard County matching grant is almost matched with $810. Fred Fallon announced that the Patuxent Chapter is donating $700. There have been applications for five grants. So far, one of the grants was rejected, not because of lack of merit, but because of lack of funds. DNR is working on federal CARA money trying to get $20,000 for the atlas. This would require $8,000 in matching funds to be paid in volunteer hours at $14.83 per hour. This can be matched with atlas volunteer hours. Apparel sales added up to $2,400, of which $1,800 was at Wisp. Jim Stasz is doing a challenge on MD Osprey to raise money for the Atlas project. Walter gavea report on Atlas coverage. He has reports from 19 counties and D.C with over 500 volunteers participating. Over 600 blocks have been assigned and approximately 60 percent of the blocks in the state are covered. World Series of Birding: Norm Saunders reported that expenses this year were only $620. He had pledges of $3,400, of which $3,300 has been collected. The net total collected for the Atlas program was $2,700. Additionally from the prior four years MOS has had a WSB team, Norm announced that we have $2,214.48 that has not been spent. Our team this year came in second with 177 species. Norm announced that, after doing it for five years, this is his last year as manager of our WSB team. Karen Morley and the board thanked Norm for the amazing job he has done with WSB. Website: Fran Saunders could not attend the meeting. Karen Morley explained that on the MOS website there is a nature store tied in with Thayer Birding. If you buy things through the Nature Store, MOS receives the money for the item. There is also a button on the website for Eagle Optics. Now there will be a third button on the website which will just be for MOS items from our Logo Shop. Karen handed around a prototype of what the MOS Logo Shop will look like. The logo shop will include MOS items, Atlas items and will also include chapter items. Chapters need to get information about any items they wish to sell to Fran so that she may include them in the Logo Shop inventory. Karen explained that we are trying to find an MOS sales manager to accept orders, mail out orders, and maintain inventory. Research: Gwen Brewer thanked the people at the conference that stopped by to speak with the poster presenters. She would like to hearif members liked combining the poster presentations with the wine and cheese reception at the conference. Gwen announced that a research grant was awarded to Jessica Kerns-McClelland for work on habitat restoration at Rocky Gap Golf Course this summer. Two requests have been received for work with orioles, which will probably be funded. Library: Joy Wheeler explained that many years ago the committee invested in The Birds of North American (life histories) and The Handbook of the Birds of the World, which are housed at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. There are three book collections belonging to MOS: one at Carey Run, one at Irish Grove and one at Cylburn. All of thejournals received by MOS are stored at Cylburn. Karen Morley’s goal is to make a list of all these exchange journals and put it in the Yellowthroat so everyone knows the extent of our library and what journals are available. There are archives at Cylburn that chapters may use to store material. OLD BUSINESS Long-range Planning Report/Decisions for the Future — Marcia Watson-Whitmyre explained that the strategy of the Long-range Planning Committee was to ask the MOS committees to produce plans for their committee and send it to Long-range Planning. The goal was to review these committee plans and extract from them major themes that would then become goals for the organization. Three main themes became apparent from these reports. These themes are: membership issues, committee structure issues, and funding issues. These are operational issues but do not address the values of our organization, why we do what we do. Looking at the materials that he Long- range Planning Committee received from the committees, it could not get a sense of values. This issue was not addressed in the plans submitted by the committees. The one thing Long-rang Planning thinks is missing is a statement of the values of our organization. There were four things that came out in the various committee plans: conservation, research, learning, and bird-related recreation. Marcia’s committee could not determine how important these four things were relative to one another and whether there were other things that simply did not come out. Therefore, the Long- range Planning Committee recommended spending a day having a retreat in order to formulate astatement of MOS values and prioritize them. The value statement would then become the centerpiece for the long-range plan for MOS. This would be a retreat for the entire board and should be opened up to the general membership. An outside facilitator would be very valuable to help with this process. It was moved and seconded to have aretreat for the purpose of making a statement of values and priorities for the organization as a whole to be planned for sometime in October, place and other logistics to be determined later with a top budget amount of $1,000. The motion was approved. Long-rang Planning feels task forces should be formed to study the issues of membership, committee structure and funding. The Executive Committee will be meeting to address these issues. Board members should take them back to the local chapters for discussion during their September meetings. The feedback from these meetings will be discussed at the October retreat. MOS Merchandise Sales Policy (Including Birdlife CD): At Karen Morley’s request, Larry Fry put together a report on MOS merchandise. Karen went over the report with the board. She noted that we are generally not trying to make money by selling these items but are trying to generate enough income to be able to buy new merchandise. The main reason for selling these items is to generate good willand name recognition. The question is: What are we going to do with the sales in the future? Larry gave us several options to consider. Option 1 was to sell it at cost. Option 2 was to sell it at a little more than cost. Option 3 was to sell ata fairly large increase in the cost of the merchandise. From the board discussion Karen Morley felt the general philosophy was to break merchandise down into three categories and price each differently. The three categories were: (1) Publications category to be priced at cost except to distributors. (2) General MOS merchandise should be sold at cost plus a small amount of profit. (3) The Atlas fundraising merchandise should be sold to make a larger profit. Karen moved that these three categories be accepted as defined. This motion was seconded and approved. Question B was acceptance of credit cards. Karen explained we that we don’t accept credit cards because the sales volume is not great enough to recover processing costs. A variety of opinions were given but when Karen took a poll of the members present, only five were interested in using them. It was thought it might be best to defer this decision until a sales manager is found and we can look into this in more depth. Question C was the question of archival copies of Maryland Birdlife being placed on compact disc. Doing this will enable people to scan and search the CD for retrieval of information. There were four options to consider. Option 1 was that it will be produced and distributed free to all members and other parties. Option 2 was that it will be produced and distributed free to members and other parties by request only. Distributing it free to libraries would be a good thing. If it is a distributor such as ABA, then we should charge for it. Option 3 was that it will be produced and distributed at cost to members and other parties by request only. Option 4 was that it would be produced and distributed at a price which will cover the cost and provide additional income to finance future CD stock and support MOS activities. The CD would be distributed by request only. Janet Millenson gave a report on the cost of producing the CD. The production cost was under $7,000 to make a master disc and then they were going to charge us $3.85 per disc. By using one company to make the master disc and another to make copies several board members at the last meeting felt it would prove to be less expensive. Janet checked into this and tracked down a number of places that do the reproduction themselves as opposed to sending it out, which did prove to be cheaper. For a low quantity of 250 the average price is about $1.65 per disc. At 501 discs the average price was $1.18. At 1,600 the average price was about 93 cents. If we had 501 made, the average price counting the production of the master disc, the reproduction, postage, and handling would be about $15 per disc. It was moved and seconded that we produce 501 copies of the Birdlife CD to be sold to members at request for approximately $15 or whatever the cost of the CD plus postage and handling. Libraries and educational institutions within Maryland should receive a copy free. The motion was approved. ANNOUNCEMENTS Cost of Printing the Yellowthroat: Norm Saunders commented that last June at the board meeting it was said that the Yellowthroat was going to cost $10,700 to publish for the year. At the September board meeting an estimate of $2,400 per issue was bandied about. At the annual meeting statements were made implying that the editor of the Yellowthroat was irresponsible, that the printer was dishonest, that the board of directors incompetent for not having carefully thought through the issues surrounding the dues request. The overall budget for Maryland Yellowthroat was $8,500 last year. It cost us $7,838 to publish it and mail it; $662 under the budgeted amount. Norm would hope that people take this information back to their chapters and tell them Maryland Yellowthroat is not the cause of the dues increase. (continued on page 11, column 1) Page 12 June 2002 Board Meeting (continued from page 8, column 3) Montgomery County Chapter Conference Committee Members: Sam Freiberg said that he had been in touch with Mike Callahan in regard to the annual conference, which will be held in Montgomery County next year. A committee has been formed with Mike Bowen as the local coordinator. Linda Friedland will be in charge of arranging the field trips. Lydia Schindler, Rick Sussman, Lou DeMouy, and Frank Witebsky will also be on the committee. September Board Meeting: Paul Zucker informed us that the next board meeting will be Saturday, September 14. He is looking for a place to hold it and would appreciate a group volunteering to do so. NEW ACTION ITEMS 1. The Sanctuary Committee needs to work with Fran Saunders to publish on the website information in response to the Partners in Flight report, including updated maps. 2. The Sanctuary Planning Committee is to make recommendations regarding the tasks and job load for the new sanctuary coordinator. 3. The chapters are to publicize the opening of the sanctuary coordinator to their membership. 4. If the chapters wish to put local items into the Logo Shop, they need to respond to Fran Saunders with any items they wish to have included. 5. Karen Morley is going to produce a summary of the new insurance coverage. 6. The Atlas Committee needs to get copies of insurance information to atlasers. 7. Karen Morley is going to make a list of exchange journals and put it in the Yellowthroat. 8. Marcia Watson-Whitmyre will prepare an announcement on the retreat to go in the Yellowthroat. 9. The chapters are to discuss the retreat with their memberships. 10. The Executive Committee will review the Long- range Planning Committee recommendations. 11. The Yellowthroat deadline is August 1. President Karen Morley declared the meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Janet Shields, Secretary MOS Calendar, Nov & Dec 2002 (continued from page 16) Friday-Sunday, November 8-10 FIELD TRIP. Carroll. Spend all or part of the weekend with us for a Rarity Roundup in Worces- ter County. One of the target birds is the Cave Swallow. Contact trip leader Mark Hoffman at 410-549-3598 for details on where & when to meet. FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Easton Waterfowl Festival. Les Roslund (410-763-8169, Lroslund@bluecrab.org) is the display and activity coordinator. Friday, November 8 FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Saw-Whet Banding Station. 1/2 night. Visit banding station at South Mountain, MD, to see saw-whet owl banding by Steve Huy. Meet at 9:00 p.m. at Route 80 Park & Ride (off Interstate 270). Limit 15. Call leader for reservations (required) and more information. Rain date is November 9. Leader: Gemma Radko 301- 607-4374. Saturday, November 9 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Horsehead Wetlands Sanc- tuary. Half-day trip to see wild ducks, captive breeding birds and birds of prey in rehabilitation area. Walk trails and boardwalk over the marsh. Observation towers overlook east side of Kent Island. Easy walking. Telescopes useful. Entrance fee waived for BBC members. Option to meet there 8:00 a.m. or at 7:00 a.m. at the Nursery Rd.- Hammonds Ferry Rd. Park & Ride at Beltway exit 8. For further information, contact the coordinator, Pete Webb, at 410-486-1217 or email: pwebb@bcpl net. FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Audrey Carroll Cleanup. Help with chores and squeeze in some birding too. Bring heavy gloves and binoculars and meet at the Park & Ride, Rte. 75 just south of I-70 at 7:30 a.m. Contact David Smith (410-549-7082) for informa- tion. FIELD TRIP. Harford. Falling Branch. If Deborah Bowers (410-692-9741) didn’t have enough with the night-owlers, now she’s charging off to this beautiful Harford County landmark. Meet her at the Eden Mill parking lot at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, November 10 FIELD TRIP. Allegany. Allegany County Ponds. JB Churchill will lead us to the Terminus, McCagh’s Pond, Lake Gordon and Rocky Gap searching for migrating ducks and other waterfowl. Meet at the terminus in Cumberland at 8 a.m. Contact JB Churchill at 304-292-5072 for info. FIELD TRIP. Howard. Annual Fall Foray at Cen- tennial Park. Walk the paved path around the lake for waterfowl and woodland birds. Great for be- ginning birders. Waterfowl migrants expected along with raptors. Meet at the west end lot at 8:00 a.m. Facilities available. Call Bonnie for info- 410- 461-3361 Tuesday, November 12 MEETING. Baltimore. “Colorado Chicken Trek” by Bob Ringler. 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood House at Cromwell Valley Park. Follow signs in the park off Cromwell Bridge Road 1.3 miles north of 1-695 Beltway exit 29A. MEETING. Patuxent. “Ten Days On and Off-Road in Iceland” by Greg Kearns. 7:30 p.m. at College Park Air Museum Annex, off Paint Branch Park- way in College Park. For further info call Maureen Blades at 301-262-5148. Thursday, November 14 MEETING. Howard. “Impacts of the El Nino Cycle on Migratory Song Birds,” by Scott Sillet, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Programs are held at Longfellow Elementary School, 5470 Hesperus Drive, Columbia. Hospitality session and club bookstore at 7:30 p.m. Meeting / Program begins at 8:00 p.m. For further information contact Kurt Schwarz at 410-461-1643. MEETING. Talbot. “Kathmandu to Talbot County” by Mark Price. Meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Maryland Room (basement) of the SunTrust Bank, Goldsboro and Harrison Streets in Easton. Saturday, November 16 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Blackwater NWR. All-day trip to see ducks, thousands of Canada and Snow Geese, and possible Bald Eagle or Brown-headed Nuthatch. Meet at the refuge Visitors Center. Birding mostly from cars, one short level walk. Telescopes useful. Meet 9:30 a.m. at visitor center. For further information, contact the leader, Taylor McLean, at 410-377-7622. FIELD TRIP. Carroll. Bird walk at Hashawa look- ing for Fox Sparrows & whatever else we might see. Meet 8 a.m. at the Bear Branch Nature Center, John Owings Rd, Westminster, MD. For more in- formation, call Jerry Tarbell at 410-857-1109. FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Avalon Seawatch (w/ possible side trip to Cape May Hawk Watch). Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Big Elk Mall Dunkin Doughnuts Park- ing Lot Area. For further information contact the leaders, Leslie Fisher, at 410-658-2427, or Marcia Whitmyre, at 410-398-0125. FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Hawk Mountain. This time of year is good for Northern Goshawks. Meet at Culler Lake Boathouse in Baker Park (2nd Street just west of College Terrace) at 6:00 a.m. Bring lunch and we will stop for dinner on the way home. For information contact Helen Horrocks (301-831-6315). FIELD TRIP. Harford. Eastern Neck NWR. Excel- lent winter birding area on the Chesapeake Bay in Kent County. Highlights may include swans, bay ducks, Northern Harrier, and Horned Larks. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the I-95/MD 155 Park & Ride. Leaders are Jean and Larry Fry (410-452-8539). Bring lunch; all day trip with easy walking. FIELD TRIP- Howard. Waterfowl of Howard. Af- ter checking the lake expect to carpool to check the area lakes and ponds for migrant waterfowl. Meet at concession stand of Centennial Park at 8:00 a.m. Facilities available. Scopes useful. Leader: Jane Coskren 410-381-7344. FIELD TRIP. Kent. Eastern Neck NWR for fall migrants Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Dollar General Store parking lot at the intersection of Rt. 213 and Spring Avenue, Chestertown. For further informa- tion, contact the leader, Howard McIntyre, at 410- 778-2222, or howardm@crosslink.net. (continued at top of next page) Page 13 Sunday, November 17 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Blackwater NWR for waterfowl and eagles.. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking lot of the Bay 50 Shopping Center off Rt. 50 on White Hall Road. For further information, contact the leader, Bobbi Reichwein, at 410-451-2671. FIELD TRIP- Howard. Fall Foray at Centennial Park. Walk the paved path around the lake for waterfowl and woodland birds. Great for begin- ning birders. Ducks and grebes likely along with late migrant raptors. Meet at the west end lot at 8:00 a.m. Facilities available. Call Bonnie for info 410-461-3361. FIELD TRIP. Montgomery. Lilypons - New Design Road, 1/2 day. Wintering field birds, targeting fox and tree sparrows and possible Loggerhead Shrike. Call leader for reservations (required) and more information. Leader: Gail MacKiernan 301-989- 1828 FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Dyke Marsh and Hunting Creek area, Alexandria. Early waterfowl and late shorebirds. Leader: Fred Fallon (301-249-1518). Meet at Bowie Park & Ride at 2 p.m. for favorable light. FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Sunday Morning Walk. Horsehead Wetland Center for waterfowl galore. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Acme in the Tred Avon Shopping Center on Marlboro Road in Easton. For further information contact the leaders, Karen and Bill Harris, at 410- 643-1947 or keharris@myshorelink.net). FIELD TRIP. Tri-County. Truitt’s Landing and Vaughn WMA. Prime time for late passerine mi- grants, raptors and wintering sparrows. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the north parking lot of the Asbury Methodist Church in Salisbury. For further infor- mation, contact the leader, Alan Deward, at 410- 352-5590. Tuesday, November 19 MEETING. Kent. “The Galapagos” by Glen Dulmage. 7:30 p.m. at the Kent County Public Library, Chestertown. For further information, contact Peter Mann at 410-648-5205, or pmann@epIl- inc.com. MEETING. Washington. The topic for our Mem- bers’ Night will be atlasing. Meet at Mt. Aetna Camp & Retreat Center starting at 7:30 p.m. Call Janet Shields, 301-416-7109, for additional infor- mation. Wednesday, November 20 MEETING. Cecil. Middleton Evans, a Maryland nature photographer, will present a slide show and tips on taking great bird photos. Meet at 7 p.m. at the Elkton High School located in Elkton, MD. For further information, contact Rick Lee at 410- 287-0415. MEETING. Montgomery. “Rare Birds of Mary- land” by Mark Hoffman, Baltimore County Chap- ter, MOS. 7:30 p.m. at the Potomac Presbyterian Church, 10301 River Road, Potomac, MD. Thursday, November 21 MEETING. Caroline. “Whooping Cranes of Florida” presented by Tom Miller. 7:30 p.m. at the Choptank Electric Cooperative, corner of Bus 404 & Rt. 328, Denton. Saturday, November 23 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Sandy Point State Park for a variety of fall and wintering birds. Half day. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot of the Bay 50 Shopping Center off Rt. 50 on White Hall Road. For further information, contact the leader, Hal Wierenga, at 410-647-7439. FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Saturday monitoring walks at Fort. McHenry wetlands. Canceled if raining. Meet 8:00 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the en- trance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. For further information, contact the leader, Jim Peters, at 410-429-0966. FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Blackwater Wildlife Ref- uge for Snow Goose, (maybe Ross’ Goose), Bald Eagles, Brown-headed Nuthatch, waterfowl and late migrants. Bring your lunch and meet at Ur- bana Park & Ride South Lot at 6:00 a.m. Call Lois Kauffman (301-845-6690) to confirm. Sunday, November 24 FIELD TRIP. Harford. Swan Harbor Farm. Walk the open fields and bayside pasture of this lovely Harford County park for field birds, sparrows, and waterfowl. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Roye-Williams Elementary School, on Oakington Road just south of Old Post Road (MD 132). For information con- tact leader June Mundis (410-939-8007) FIELD TRIP- Howard. Fall Foray at Centennial Park. Walk the paved path around the lake for waterfowl and woodland birds. Ducks and Grebes expected. Meet at west end lot at 8:00 a.m. Facilities available. Call Bonnie for info 410-461-3361. Leader Richard Orr. FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Sunday Morning Walk at Cambridge waterfront for Redheads and “skunkheads”. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Acme in the Tred Avon Shopping Center on Marlboro Road in Easton. For further information, contact the leader, Shirley Bailey, at 410-943-8925 or sjbbirds@dmv.com. Monday, November 25 MEETING. Tri-County. “Where the Taiga Meets the Tundra — Birding at Churchill” by Sam Dyke. Meet at 7:00 p.m. in the Fox Room of the Asbury Methodist Church in Salisbury. For further infor- mation, contact Sam Dyke at 410-742-5497. Saturday, November 30 FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Eagle Watch - Conowingo Dam. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Fisherman’s Park. For further information contact the leaders, Charlie Gant, at 410-398-3554, or Sean McCandless, at 410- 392-3407. FIELD TRIP. Harford. Conowingo Dam Gull Watch. Conowingo is one of the best locations for mid-Atlantic birding at this time of year. The dam hosts dozens of Bald Eagles and thousands of gulls. Other possible sightings include Golden Eagle, Black-crowned Night Heron and Pileated Woodpecker. Scopes are helpful. Meet trip leader Dennis Kirkwood (410-692-5905) at 8:00 a.m. at Fisherman's Park Tuesday, December 3 MEETING. Baltimore. “2002 Birder’s Odyssey: Is There a Scottish Crossbill?” by Hank Kaestner. 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood House at Cromwell Valley Park. Follow signs in the park off Cromwell Bridge Road 1.3 miles north of I-695 Beltway exit 29A. Wednesday, December 4 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man-made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Can- celled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833-7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410- 435-9569. MEETING. Carroll. “Spring in Ontario: Birds of Algonquin Park, Point Pelee, Long Point & Rondeau” presented by Ralph Geuder. 7:30 p.m. at Carroll Community College, Rt 32, Westminster, MD. Thursday, December 5 CHRISTMAS DINNER AND MEETING. Frederick. Doug Gill from Chino Farms Grass- lands Project will give a presentation on “A Field of Dreams - Restoring Native Grassland Birds at Chino Farms.” Cocktail punch at 6:00 p.m and dinner at 6:30 p.m at the DanDee Restaurant. Please make reservations with and send money to Presi- dent Dave Smith or Treasurer Nancy Parker before 11/29/02. Friday, December 6 MEETING. Anne Arundel. Topic TBA. 8:00 p.m. at the DNR Conference Room, Tawes Building, cor- ner of Taylor Avenue and Rowe Boulevard, An- napolis. Saturday, December 7 FIELD TRIP. Anne Arundel. Eastern Neck NWR for winter waterfowl. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot of the Bay 50 Shopping Center off Rt. 50 on White Hall Road. For further information, con- tact the leader, Stephen Hult at 410-956-3392. FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Ft. McHenry Clean-up. Help restore this mitigated marsh by removing debris and planting native vegetation. Rain or shine. Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Register in advance with the Aquarium volunteer office at 410-576- 3886 Sunday, December 8 FIELD TRIP. Harford. Loch Raven. Accompany Dr. David Larkin for a half-day trip in search of wintering waterfowl, finches, and woodpeckers. American Widgeon, Redhead, and Coots are prob- able. Scopes are helpful, but not required. Meet at the Rt. 152/147 Park-n-Ride at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact the leader at 410-569-8319. Tuesday, December 10 MEETING. Patuxent. Members’ slide show and pot-luck party (in conjunction with Herb Society and Bee-keepers Association). 7:30 p.m. at Watkins Park Nature Center off Watkins Park Drive, Kettering. For further info call Maureen Blades at 301-262-5148. (continued at bottom of page 15) Page 14 CHAPTER CHATTER (continued from page 3, column 2) of the Wicomico Atlas Navy. The team looks forward to another great year. Cecil Honeymooners Honeymoon on a Hiking/Biking Tour—Lisa Bellamy and Robert MacElderry married on April 5 and left for a planned hike-and-bike honeymoon trip in Southwest Utah and the Grand Canyon. Both are avid bicyclists but modestly hesitate to call themselves birders. Lisa reports that she loves birds but rarely has time to bird. However, they identified many birds on the honeymoon trip. In July they enjoyed another biking and camping trip in Wyoming. They were impressed with the White Pelicans they found first with their guide in Utah and again on their tour in Wyoming. Great Opportunity for a Chapter Program: But can he cook?—Talbot Chapter member, George Armistead, enjoyed an adventurous summer as the lead guide on St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs (islands in the Bering Sea) beginning May 1. He returned home in mid-September after stops on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait and then Oregon. From St. Paul Island he worked ona Paul Lehman WINGS tour to St. Lawrence Island from August 23 to 28. Coincidentally, Sam Dyke of the Tri-County Chapter arrived on August 16 and joined George on the WINGS tour. On that tour, George served as the cook. OnSt. Paul, the birding highlights included seeing such rarities as Smew, Common Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Skylark, Siberian Rubythroat, Gray-spotted Flycatcher and McKay’s Bunting. George reports: “The wildflowers have also been spectacular as has the thousands of Northern Fur Seals that breed here. Arctic Foxes and their pups have been irresistibly cute and seeing the Killer Whales patrolling the waters offshore has been impressive. I have accumulated a good collection of photographs from this summer if ever you think anyone would want a slide presentation on the Pribilofs.” Birder Claimed by Two Chapters (Howard and Carroll) Hits the Big 600—Maureen Harvey found her 599" North American species, a Sedge Wren, near McHenry during the MOS Convention in June. She then found her 600" North American species, a Black-headed Gull in August at Bombay Hook NWR. The bird had been spotted there by others a month earlier when it was in juvenile plumage. Maureen felt especially lucky to see it in much prettier first winter plumage. She says, “It was a pleasure to have a distinctive, pretty gull for my number 600.” Cecil Birders Love New Mexico—William and Rye Bailey have promised themselves they will visit the Bosque del Apache NWR at least once a month this year, in order to see the changes in birds and nature that occur with the seasons. Socorro, the nearest city to the Bosque is about 80 miles south of Albuquerque. They use Ken Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds and a copy of the Bosque bird list as their favorite references. They report that the Bosque is similar to Bombay Hook in having several water impoundments regulated throughout the year and roads that circle these ponds. Lesser and Greater Sandhill Cranes, large numbers of pintails and shovelers, and light geese, Snows and Ross’, winter there. Since 1940, 377 species of birds have been recorded at the Bosque. The Baileys also advise eating at their favorite Socorro restaurant, Martha’s Black Dog Café. Baltimore Birder Adopts Quail—Jeanne Bowman started out with 15 three-month old quail given her by a co-worker who raises them to release though-out the farm lands of Baltimore County. Jeanne resettled them on her farm, over a hill and down by a stream that had a flat area so they could easily find water. Their favorite place is among the roses and other brambles for protection. This area adjoins a small pine forest on one side and an alfalfa field on the other. Jeanne is hoping to hear their call in the spring- Bob White. More recently, her benefactor offered to lend her an incubator and just happened to have twenty more eggs. “Mother Jeanne” is to turn the little eggs twice a day for 21 days, then leave them alone for three days watching for signs of their starting to hatch. After hatching, they must be raised on a sawdust covered flooring so that their legs develop properly. At two months they will be ready to go on their own. Jeanne will wait for a warm spell to give them a better chance for survival. The due date was Monday, Sept 30. As of our publishing deadline, October 1, the quail eggs are not quaking. To be continued.... Talbot Chapter Donates Atlas Copies— The Talbot County Chapter has donated copies of the Breeding Bird Atlas of Maryland and the District of Columbia to several public libraries of the mid- shore region. There are two public libraries in Talbot County; one in Easton and one in St. Michaels. Both were given Atlas copies. Many Talbot Chapter members live in either Queen Anne’s County or Dorchester County, but neither county has a separate chapter. So, Breeding Bird Atlas copies were also given to the Dorchester County Library in Cambridge and to the Kent Island Library in Stevensville. All of the librarians graciously accepted these beautiful books and promised to place them in reference rooms where they can be used and enjoyed by the library patrons. Howard Member Birds in China—In June, Howard County chapter member Dave Holyoke served as a chaperon for a Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) trip to Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, China (Dave's daughter Leticia plays first violin). While keeping a watchful eye on hordes of teenage musicians didn’t leave much time for birding, Dave managed to see some beautiful Azure-Winged and Black-Billed Magpies on the grounds of the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo. While urban birding in China is not great, it was a real treat to see Crested Mynahs, Red-Rumped Swallows, Large-Billed Crows and Fork-Tailed Swifts. Around the Six Harmonies Pagoda, Dave saw Light-Vented Bulbuls and was happy to see a reminder of home: Black-Crowned Night Herons. Dave was very pleased with his reference; A Field Guide to the Birds of China by John MacKinnon and Karen Phillipps,and he would love to go back without all the kids. He advises anyone taking the trip that the twelve-hour time difference after a 14-hour flight was a real killer. Dave’s advice is, “Plan some recovery time at the beginning of the trip and after you get back.” Baltimore Chapter Member Alarms a Friend— Adelaide Rackemann reports that while waiting for a friend she heard a familiar bird song in her friend’s yard. “You havea warbler in one of your trees,” said Adelaide. Her friend responded with a worried expression, “Is that a disease?” Cecil Alum Visits Chapter Program on Hummingbirds—Robert Hickman of West Grove, Pennsylvania, a Cecil Chapter alumni, visited the May meeting and posed for a Chapter newsletter picture with his brother-in-law, Charlie Gant. Charlie’s wife, Jimmie Hickman Gant, is Robert’s sister. Robert and Charlie have been birding together for over 75 years. They enjoyeda program on hummingbirds presented by another member, Ross Hawkins, president of The Hummingbird Society, a worldwide organization of over 2400 members, and his wife, Beth Kingsley Hawkins, a gifted professional wildlife photographer. Montgomery Chapter’s Presidential Awards—At the Chapter’s May meeting, out-going president Mike Bowen presented the following awards: Linda Friedland for “jump-starting” the Montgomery Site Guide and becoming its editor- in-chief; Cyndie Loeper, as “hostess with the mostess,” greeter at Chapter meetings and New Members Chair; Janet Millenson, retiring State Director and long-time editor of the chapter’s newsletter; Lydia Schindler, retiring State Director and Past President, editor of the chapter newsletter and the Voice of the Naturalist; Rick Sussman, retiring State Director, important contributor to the Site Guide and indefatigable trip leader and count coordinator; Sybil Williams, former membership chair, secretary of the State4 MOS, and super Silent Auctioneer for both the Chapter and the State. Sybil has just retired and is moving to be near her family in Tennessee. If a Hawk Falls—Jeanne Bowman of the Baltimore Chapter reports that on July 27 she was awakened at about 6 a.m. by a neighbor who actually saw a big bird fall out of a tree and believed the bird needed help. He and Jeanne returned to the site, an open field by a large cornfield, and found a Red-shouldered Hawk standing but making no attempt to fly. Jeanne called Helene Gardel who arrived promptly with a friend. Then all the volunteers managed to capture the hawk by tossing a blanket over it. They took him to the Phoenix Center for Raptor Rehab where Kathleen Woods examined the bird and felt there might be a neurological problem. She took him on to a veterinarian for special care. After four days in the infirmary, he started to move around. By day six, he began eating well and seemed to have regained his strength. Kathleen took him to the Prettyboy watershed area to test his willingness to fly. He achieved an instant liftoff and never looked back. Montgomery Member Shares a Birding Story—Janet Millenson reports, “There’s been a migrant Black-and-White Warbler in my yard the past few days. It’s one of my favorite birds, but it brings back very unpleasant memories for my husband. The first time I saw one was in the late 1970s. Herb and I were rock-climbing in Massachusetts; he was ascending while I belayed him with the safety rope. Suddenly I spotted an unfamiliar bird making its way along a tree trunk. “There’s a bird striped just like a zebra!” Ishouted, before securing the rope to a nearby rock and running off into the woods for a better look — leaving Herb stranded halfway up the cliff clinging with his fingertips as he stood on a tiny ledge. (Honestly, it’s not like he was in any danger; I mean, I HAD tied off the belay rope...!) Well, over (continued on page 15, column 2) Page 15 Conservation Connection (continued from page 5) Thanks Received from ABC: The American Bird Conservancy’s President George H. Fenwick emailed thanks to MOS for participating in their campaign to cancel the pesticide fenthion (Baytex) in Florida. He stated, “Fenthion is acutely toxic to birds and is only used in certain Florida counties, where it is aerially sprayed to kill adult mosquitoes. Its use has killed hundreds of birds including an Endangered Piping Plover, and also jeopardizes Florida’s aquatic resources and butterflies. They wrote that more than 16,000 emails to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other regulators have been generated. Jeb Bush, Florida’s Governor, has set up a web site to address the issue, and ABC has held several meetings with EPA officials to press for cancellation of fenthion. Despite the overwhelming evidence, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service criminal investigation into the bird kills, the EPA has so far given no indication that it intends to do this, and instead has proposed mitigation measures that ABC has rejected as inadequate. While we continue to press EPA for full cancellation, we have joined with Defenders of Wildlife and the Florida Wildlife Federation to file a notice of intent to sue EPA under the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act unless the chemical is withdrawn. Florida Wildlife Federation has been a tireless advocate working with us in Florida. We will keep you informed of any litigation should the EPA fail to withdraw fenthion.” “In a separate legal action, a federal grand jury in Florida issued a subpoena to Collier County Mosquito Control District on April 25 demanding information relating to the use of fenthion from July 1997 to December 2000. This was done as part of the U.S. Attorney’s office acting on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s criminal investigation into the bird kills on Marco Island from fenthion.” “Atthe present time we are continuing dialogue with EPA while keeping legal options open. Once again, thank you for your efforts to help save Florida’s unique wildlife from the dangers of fenthion. Pressure from the public has been a key element in convincing regulators to focus on the need to control this dangerous pesticide and we are deeply grateful for your help.” MOS CALENDAR (continued from page 13) Thursday, December 12 MEETING. Howard. “2002 Birdwatching Odys- sey. Does the Scottish Crossbill Really Exist?” by Hank Kaestner. Programs are held at Longfellow Elementary School, 5470 Hesperus Drive, Colum- bia. Hospitality session and club bookstore at 7:30 p-m. Meeting/Program begins at 8:00 p.m. For further information contact Kurt Schwarz at 410- 461-1643. Sunday, December 15 FIELD TRIP. Harford. Black Hills / Seneca State Park. Join Phil Powers and Bill Collins ona full day trip to Black Hills Lake in Montgomery County. This lake is a wonderful place to spot waterfowl, loons, and grebes. The surrounding park is known for resident Red-headed Woodpeckers. Meet at the I-95/Rt. 152 Park-n-Ride (north lot) at 7 a.m. For questions, call Phil at 410-679-4116. CHAPTER CHATTER (continued from page 1, column 3) the intervening years I suppose he’s forgiven me, though not forgotten. And I still get a thrill every time I see a Black-and-White Warbler. Howard Chapter has Contributed Nearly $51,000 to Benefit Habitat Projects—The annual autumn Howard County Seed Sale profits have made it possible for the Chapter to give nearly $51,000 to local, state, national, and international organizations to benefit bird habitat. Among major donations have been $6,000 for The Nature Conservancy’s projects and $5,300 for the MOS Breeding Bird Atlas. More than $11,000 went to the Monteverde Cloud Forest (Costa Rica), Sierra de las Minas (Guatemala), and the Bladen Mountains Nature Reserve (Belize). In 1994 the Chapter sent $2,500 to Cerro San Gil Ecological Reserve (CSGER) on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala. That ecological reserve is a wintering ground for neotropical migrants. In 1995, the Chapter responded to the challenge grant of the Patuxent Bird Club and sent another $1,000 to CSGER. In 1996 $1000 was sent to CSGER and $750 to the Little Patuxent Oxbow Sanctuary. In 1997, $2,000 was contributed to the Belt Woods Natural Environmental Area, here in Maryland. It was followed the next year by a $2500 grant shared by Belt Woods and CSGER which marked the Chapter’s 25" Anniversary. In 1999, $1,500 was granted to Mexico’s “River of Raptors,” a gift that was matched by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In 2000, the Chapter sent $1,250 for the “Old Growth Forest Project” at Frostburg University, and in 2001, contributed $1,100 to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area in Howard County to create one acre of warm- season grassland in the memorial area to be called after a deceased member, the “John Clegg Meadow.” In 2002, $2,200 was sent to the El Chorogo Refuge in Panama. Tuesday, December 17 MEETING. Kent. “Bird Books before Audubon” by Janet Millenson, Montgomery County MOS. 7:30 p.m. at the Kent County Public Library, Chestertown. For further information, contact Pe- ter Mann at 410-648-5205, or pmann@epl-inc.com. Wednesday, December 18 MEETING. Montgomery. “Field Identification of Sparrows” by Frank Witebsky, Montgomery County Chapter, MOS. 7:30 p.m. at the Potomac Presbyterian Church, 10301 River Road, Potomac, MD. Saturday, December 21 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. Saturday monitoring walks at Fort. McHenry wetlands. Canceled if raining. Meet 8:00 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the en- trance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. For further information, contact the leader, Jim Peters, at 410-429-0966. FIELD TRIP. Kent. Post-CBC Cleanup. Come help us find those birds we missed at the Christmas Bird Count. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Dollar General Store parking lot at the intersection of Rt. 213 and Spring Avenue, Chestertown. For further information, contact the leader, Nancy Martin, at 410-778-9568, or rossgull@crosslink.net. Page 16 Friday, November 1 MEETING. Anne Arundel. “Ospreys of the Chesa- peake Bat” by Steve Cardano. 8:00 p.m. at the DNR Conference Room, Tawes Building, corner of Tay- lor Avenue and Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis. FIELD TRIP. Cecil. Turkey Point Owls. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Turkey Point Parking Lot. For further information contact the leader, Scott Pow- ers, at 410-658-2369. MEETING. Harford. Program TBA. Meet at 7:00 p-m. at Churchville Presbyterian Church, MD 22 & MD 136. For further information, call 410-879- 0642. Saturday-Sunday, November 2-3 WORKDAY. Irish Grove Sanctuary, Somerset County MD. The MOS Sanctuary Committee hosts this fall workday-weekend each year to afford members the chance to visit and help maintain this 1600 acre sanctuary. It’s an ideal opportunity to see this lovely sanctuary with its woods and marshes. Members contribute time to improve- ment projects at the site and participate in some birding. Saturday lunch and evening meal are provided. It’s always a good time. Call Dotty Mumford at 410-849-8336 to sign on for the week- end by October 28. Saturday, November 2 ANNUAL BANQUET. Allegany. The speaker is Dave Weesner. Please call Charlotte Folk at 301- 689-6587 to make reservations. Silent auction be- gins at 5:30 p.m.; Dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the Frostburg Community Center. Contact Charlotte or Barbara Gaffney at 301-895-4646 for info. FIELD TRIP. Frederick. Mike Welch will lead us to Point Lookout And Environs for Kelp Gull, Brown- headed Nuthatch, Red-headed Woodpeckers, waterfowl and late migrants. Bring your lunchand meet at Urbana Park & Ride South Lot at 6:00 a.m. Call Mike for further information (301-874-5828). FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. All day trip to Waggoner’s Gap, PA hawk-watch. Date was chosen to maxi- mize possibility of Goshawk and Golden Eagle. The copy deadline for the Jan/Feb issue of the Yellowthroat is November 25 for chap- ter activities and December 1 for all other submissions. Send calendar entries for September & Oc- tober to: Les Eastman 4034 Wilkinson Rd. Havre de Grace, MD 21078 W: 410-436-3490 H: 410-734-6969 Please send all other submissions to the editor: Norman C. Saunders 1261 Cavendish Drive Colesville, MD 20905 H: 301-989-9035 W: 202-691-5707 MOS Calendar, Nov-Dec 2002 Leader: Fred Fallon (301-249-1518). Meet at 7 a.m. at Beltway Plaza. Bring lunch, water, and cushion. FIELD TRIP. Patuxent. Bird walk at Fran Uhler Natural Area. No reservation needed. Meet at 7:30 a.m. For further information, contact Fred Fallon at 301-249-1518. FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Saw-whet Owl Banding Project at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely, MD. Visit project web site: www.projectowlnet.org. Meet at 5:00 p.m. All participants are expected to stay for the complete evening, which will end after 9:00 p-m. The leaders are Wanda Cole (410-822-8311; wcole@dnr.state.md.us) and Lori Byrne, MD De- partment of Natural Resources. Advance sign-up is required; contact Wayne Bell (410-820-6002, wayne.bell@washcoll.edu). Special instructions, including back-up date(s), will be sent to regis- trants. Sunday, November 3 FIELD TRIP- Howard. Annual Fall Foray at Cen- tennial Park. Walk the paved path around the lake for waterfowl and woodland birds. Great for be- ginning birders. Looking for lingering migrant passerines. Meet at west end lot at 8:00 a.m. Facili- ties available. Call Bonnie for info 410-461-3361. Leader: Ralph Cullison. FIELD TRIP. Talbot. Sunday Morning Walk. Wye Island with habitat from hedgerows to old growth. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking lot in front of the Acme in the Tred Avon Shopping Center on Marlboro Road in Easton. For further information, contact the leader, Danny Poet, at 410-827-8651 or by email at dannypoet@hotmail.com. Monday, November 4 FIELD TRIP. Washington. Black Hill Regional Park is the destination. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Rt. 66 Park & Ride. Call Judy Lilga, 301-432-2276, for more information. MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC. Cylburn Mansion 4915 Greenspring Avenue Baltimore, MD 21290-4698 Tuesday, November 5 MEETING. Kent. Special Lecture. The Joseph H. McClain Program in Environmental Studies, and the Center for Environment and Society are pleased sponsor a lecture by Chan Robbins at Washington College at 5:00 p.m. Details about this special event will follow. Wednesday, November 6 FIELD TRIP. Baltimore. First Wednesdays at Ft. McHenry. Our monthly visit to assist Jim Peters in the National Aquarium’s project of surveying bird activity around a 10-acre man-made (mitigated) wetland. Folding chair and telescope useful. Can- celled in bad weather (high winds, fog, rain). Meet 9:30 a.m. at Fort McHenry. From the entrance, the wetlands are to the right. Meet just past the statue of Orpheus. Coordinators Gail Frantz 410-833- 7135, guineabird@aol.com, and Catherine Bishop, 410-435-9569. MEETING. Carroll. Program TBA. 7:30 p.m. at the Carroll Community College, Rt. 32, Westminster, MD. For more information, call Laura Tarbell at 410-857-1109. Thursday, November 7 MEETING. Frederick. Paul Zucker, our new MOS President will give his presentation on “Birding the West: Alaska to Arizona; Colorado to Califor- nia.” Meet at Monocacy Elementary School at 7:30 p-m. Call Marcia Balestri (301-473-5098) for details. FIELD TRIP- Howard. Weekday Walk at Wilde Lake. Easy walking on the paved path along the lake and along the wooded stream. Migrant water- fowl and gulls, woodland birds. Great for begin- ners. Meet at the boat dock at 8:30 a.m. No facili- ties. Call Bonnie for information. 410-461-3361. (continued on page 13, column 1) Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID at Hagerstown, MD Permit No. 184 POSTMASTER: TIME-DATED MATERIAL--PLEASE EXPEDITE!