Lower Neuse Bird Club · Jan 26-27, 2018 Wrightsville Beach, NC April 27-28, 2018 Flat Rock, NC Other Events of Interest Wings Over Water Oct 17-22, 2017 Nags Head, NC LNBC Membership

October Meeting Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 6:30 pm

Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia: Birding/ Wildflowers/ Gorgeous Scenery Presentation by Club Member Olwen Jarvis Meetings are held at Garber United Methodist Church, Country Club Road, New Bern, Room 123 of the Ministry Center, across the street from the main church. Parking and entrance are at the rear of the building.

Join us for refreshments & conversation for the first half hour; meeting begins at 7 pm.

Refreshments for this meeting are being provided by Mike Brooks.

Editor: Carol Oldham, [email protected]

Lower Neuse Bird Club

Club Officers President Bob Gould 288-4615 Vice President Secretary Mike Brooks 649-1200 Treasurer Christine Root 745-4488 Field Trips Al Gamache 675-8376 Newsletter Editor Carol Oldham 876-1620 Refreshments Captain Volunteer Needed

October 2017 Volume 26

Issue 2

Welcome Back and Happy Anniversary! By Bob Gould, President

Did you know the September meeting marked the start of year 26 for the Lower Neuse Bird Club? Our humble little club celebrated its 25th anniversary on August 25. A little history might be in order.

The first organized birding in the New Bern area occurred in the 1960s when a small group of locals got together to participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Counts were done from 1963-1966 and again in 1968. The current run of New Bern Christmas Bird Counts began in 1983.

The Lower Neuse Bird Club, however, was founded at an organizational meeting held on August 25, 1992. The name was selected in an effort to appeal to birders throughout the area, avoiding the impression it was just a ‘New Bern’ club. It was the intent of the founders that the atmosphere at meetings and in the field be one of cordial informality. I believe that atmosphere still exists and has likely contributed to our club’s longevity.

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Mark your calendars with the following dates for this season’s bird walks. Most trips end by noon and do not require much walking. Remember to bring: binos, scopes, field guides, insect repellent, rain gear, snacks, water.

Unless otherwise announced, all trips depart from the parking lot of the Bridge Pointe Hotel at 7 am sharp. Carpools can be arranged as we meet up. The planned destination may be changed at the last minute if a special sighting or different location gives us a better opportunity for birding. Information will be updated with each newsletter.

September 30 New Bern Quarry (Fall Warbler migration) Meet-up location is the parking lot next to the Burger King at Glenburnie and Neuse Blvd.

October 7 Shackelford Banks Meet-up as usual at the BridgePoint Hotel. We’ll need to leave promptly at 7am to catch the Ferry at Shell Point on Harker’s Island, which leaves at 8:45 am. The fee is $16 per person.

November 4 Simmons Street Project, New Bern

November 14-15 Pea Island overnight (see page 10)

December 2 Pamlico County

January 6 New Bern area for ducks

February 3 (?) Mattamuskeet

March 3 Voice of America—Sparrows

April 7 Croatan

May 5-6-7 Spring Mountain Trip

May 19 Camp Brinson

June 2 North River Preserve

Saturday Field Trips & Other Birding Opportunities

Page 2 Lower Neuse Bird Club

CBC Meeting Dates

Sep 29-30-2017

Litchfield, SC

Jan 26-27, 2018

Wrightsville Beach, NC

April 27-28, 2018

Flat Rock, NC

Other Events of Interest

Wings Over Water

Oct 17-22, 2017

Nags Head, NC

www.wingsoverwater.org

LNBC Membership Dues Lower Neuse Bird Club dues are $15 per person and cover the program year from September 2017 thru May 2018. Your dues provide for our room rental, monthly programs and field trips, our newsletter, our holiday party and any additional projects and donations undertaken by the club.

Dues may be paid at a monthly meeting, or you may send them directly to Christine Root, LNBC Treasurer, 651 Quail Road, Merritt, NC 28556. Checks should be payable to LNBC.

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Minutes from September 2017 By Mike Brooks

Over 25 attendees, four of which are new to the club, kicked off the 26th year of the Lower Neuse Bird Club. President Bob Gould welcomed all and reminded members to renew their memberships. He explained that the LNBC program year begins anew on September 1st and runs to the summer of next year. Those who do not pay by January will no longer receive the newsletter.

The LNBC was founded at a meeting held back in August 1992. Bob Holmes and Joanne Harley are generally considered the founders and Wade Fuller was the first president. The name of the club was chosen to appeal to birders throughout the area.

Bob reminded us that all members can submit articles for the newsletter. Submissions are due to the newsletter editor, Carol Oldham, by the 25th day of the month.

The Refreshments Captain, Sue McCrocklin, is stepping down and the club needs a successor. The job mainly involves coordinating with members to bring refreshments to the monthly meetings. Contact Bob Gould or Sue McCrocklin if you're interested in this job.

Olwen Jarvis informed the club that the NC General Assembly recently enacted legislation to enhance opportunities for Sunday hunting. The legis-lation (Outdoor Heritage Enhanced Law) gives the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, and other public land owners, the authority to implement new

New Members

Jura Hill

Monica Nees

Kevin O’Kane

Volume 26, Issue 2

Wade Fuller was the first president. The earliest newsletter I could find is from April 1993 (copy attached). The membership roster listed 88 members.

Our planning group met in August to kick off our new birding year and came up with an outline for the year’s activities. Our programs are set for the first part of the year but I will need your help to fill in a few holes after the New Year.

September has been a bonus month for our bird walks. The first Saturday trip to Cedar Island for shorebirds was windy, but turned out to be quite productive. The September 23rd quarry trip started in the fog yet evolved into one of our better birding days. We’ll be visiting the quarry again Sep 30th to see more migrating warblers. Coming up in November, plan for an overnight trip to Pea Island on the 14th-15th (more details about this trip can be found on page 10). Even the best of plans are subject to change, so pay close attention to the newsletter and visit our website to stay up to date.

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Welcome Back…. By Bob Gould, President


options for hunting on public and private lands. To learn more, visit the NC Wildlife Resources Commission web site at http://www.ncwildlife.org/Blog/New-Sunday-Hunting-Regulations-Outdoor-Heritage-Enhanced-Law.

Bob Gould presented the plan for the upcoming bird walks at the New Bern Quarry and the walk at Shackelford Banks. For the October 7th trip to Shackelford Banks, we will take a ferry from the Harker’s Island Cape Lookout Visitor Center and the per person, round trip cost will be $16. See the Saturday Field Trips section of this newsletter for more information.

In Show and Tell, Olwen brought a Red-bellied Woodpecker that died on her property. Chris Root saw a Swainson's Warbler in Pamlico County, and Liz Lathrop has a Black-and-white Warbler residing in her yard. Dick Barmore and Elizabeth White have seen a Cape May Warbler near their home, and Jim Oldham has heard many reports of Baltimore Orioles in the New Bern area.

The program for this meeting was a 40-minute presentation by Les Coble entitled "The Cardinal: Be Surprised by Your State Bird." Most of us see cardinals daily, so we don't give much thought to them. The cardinal is the state bird for NC and six other states, and there are many surprising things about this beautiful bird. For example, the female cardinal sings, often while sitting on the nest and it is common for a mated pair to share song phrases; i.e., they exhibit duet singing. Females are the primary nest builders, and they always build a new nest for each brood. The male defends the territory; however, the male and his mate will both attack predators. Cardinals rarely migrate, generally live only three years, are omnivorous, and there are 19 subspecies.

We were all surprised by what we learned in this entertaining presentation. Thanks, Les!

Jeff Hall Named Conservationist of the Year by NC Wildlife Commission Jeff is a herpetologist and has spoken at our bird club and at Cool Springs on several occasions. Congratulations may be sent to:

Jeff Hall Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biologist NC Wildlife Resources Commission 405 Lancelot Dr Greenville, NC 27858 www.ncparc.org

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Page 5

The Cardinal – A Follow-Up By Les Coble

Some great questions were asked at our last meeting, truly great questions. I had to research for both myself and for answers.

Jeannie asked the most intriguing question. “Why is the female Cardinal not all red given both she and the male can synthesize carotenoids?” In my opinion, after reviewing numerous research articles, no one is studying this specific question. Studies do show females with more ornamentation; e.g., redder crests in Cardinals, more golden feathers on the head of Prothonotary Warbler females, etc., confirm higher success in providing food for the nestlings. So, what if the lack of all red plumage is still the old assumption the female is less visible to predators? Well, clearly these females are more cryptic. Then why be “cryptic” as in the Wood Duck, or Bufflehead, or Goldeneyes, when they nest inside a tree? The upshot – this is a doctoral thesis for a bright mind. Jeannie’s brilliant question makes her a fine candidate for this task. At least this “reliable” bird is in our back yards.

Al Gamache asked for examples of differences in the bird lists between the ABA and AOU. It has been decades since I viewed the differences. The quick answer, nowadays, is almost none. The occasional difference is when one group accepts an ultra-rare sighting and the other does not, usually based on the argument these highly odd sightings are due to a possible farm escapee or ship assisted bird. The AOU previously published revisions rarely, and the differences between the two lists grew with time. That has now changed with yearly updates.

Do note there is a huge difference in the area covered by the two lists. AOU includes Mexico and continues as far south as the border

between Panama and Columbia, and Hawaii and the West Indies. The totals, today, are 993 on ABA and 2143 on AOU.

My quick research did identify some valuable information for many birders. The Cardinal is called the Northern Cardinal because the AOU says so. Note it

is capitalized, because the AOU says so! It is also Cardinalis cardinalis because the AOU says so, and so on. So, why does eBird, who follows the ABA list, have check boxes for “groups” of birds? See below.

The following is by John Kricher. It gets to the heart of that of which you so often are now hearing - that of subspecies.

“The AOU admits that species-level decisions are often thorny issues. The guiding principle remains the Biological Species Concept (BSC), in which species are defined (at least in theory) on the basis of reproductive isolation. For example, although Alder and Willow Flycatchers look alike, they sound distinct and recognize each other as unique species. Thus Willows mate with other Willows and Alders with other Alders. For this reason, they qualify as distinct species under the BSC.

But there are difficulties with the BSC. Most obvious is that species do hybridize on occasion, seemingly in defiance of the core concept of the BSC: that they recognize each other as separate. Blue-winged Warblers, for example, readily hybridize with Golden-winged Warblers in the eastern part of their range. And the Black-capped Chickadee hybridizes in part of its range with the Carolina Chickadee, but the hybrid zone is considered sufficiently narrow not to lump the two species. But of course, such decisions are ultimately judgment calls.

Volume 26, Issue 2


Another problem with the BSC is that more and more research using molecular data such as mitochondrial-DNA (mt-DNA) is changing our understanding of taxonomy. Experts in the field look to genetic distance, rather than mating preferences or reproductive isolation, to establish relationships among species.

For example, molecular data suggest that Bullock’s and Baltimore Orioles are not each other’s closest relatives, even though they occasionally hybridize. The same is true of Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees. Now scientists are attempting to use molecular markers to barcode bird species and thus determine which species are most closely related.

Their data has driven the development of the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC), which is challenging the BSC. The PSC focuses on the most recently evolved traits, including DNA differences, between populations. The resulting genetic distance designates species. Most ornithologists admit that under the PSC, many current subspecies need to be elevated to species status, presumably to the delight of listers.

In contrast to the AOU’s North American Check-list Committee, the ABA’s Checklist Committee has a different mission. It is, first and foremost, not the decision-making body regarding species designations. Indeed, the ABA committee always adopts the AOU’s species-level decisions. Likewise, the ABA always adheres to the AOU’s scientific and common names of birds.

Even more important are the decisions of which rare-bird records to accept. The AOU normally, but not always, defers to state records commit-tees and to the ABA Checklist Committee.”

And now another list! We also have The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World,

authored by the late James F. Clements. As the most commonly used global checklist, it is essential to world birders. It lists more than 9,800 species and is currently updated on a regular basis by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It isn’t an official list in the sense of the AOU Check-list but more in a moment.

Checklists are essential for comparative purposes and for documentation of sightings. Because of the lure of the list, amateurs have made immense contributions to the under-standing of avian distribution since the first Christmas Bird Counts in the early 1900s. Listing has real value to ornithology because it is so tightly linked to the study of species distribution. In the face of climate change and other factors affecting bird habitat, it has never been more essential that birders pay attention to trends and changes in where and when species occur.

From Thomas S. Schulenberg and Marshall J. Iliff, Managers of eBird, which uses a Clements checklist, basically the ABA list, we get this enlightening info:

“The purpose of the Clements Checklist is to make it as easy as possible for anyone, especially non-specialists and professionals alike, to keep track of the ever-changing “master list” of birds of the world. Clements has died, so now have moved to providing the eBird/Clements Check-list and its updates entirely online. This allows the list to stay more current and to be used more easily by numerous partners and constitu-encies. Importantly, the eBird/Clements Check-list forms the backbone taxonomy for eBird and for sharing your sightings with others, including scientists, conservationists, and educators.

We have several goals in providing regular updates to the eBird/Clements Checklist: 1) to maintain a correct, relevant, clear and

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current taxonomy to be used by eBird and similar projects; 2) to provide downloadable spreadsheet versions to be used by anyone; 3) to update the taxonomy annually based on published technical research in peer-reviewed literature and vetted in the avian systematics community; and 4) to correct any errors intro-duced by us or persisting from the Sixth Edition.

Ornithology has entered an extraordinary period of discovery in systematics and taxonomy. Revelations from genetic studies are shifting some of our most familiar bird species into different families and even orders. (One need only study the recent peregrinations of the New World Vultures, Carthartidae, within the AOU taxonomy to get an idea of what lies ahead.) As a result, the sequence of families, genera, and species will be fluid for many years to come.

In December 2009, version 6.5 of the eBird/Clements Checklist adopted the concept of the group, which initially was developed by

eBird. A “group” is a distinctive (field identifi-able) subspecies or group of subspecies. The group is not a formal taxonomic unit, but often represents a potential future split (and so groups are a valuable taxonomic tool for the savvy birder). Birders that faithfully enter groups in eBird will be rewarded by automatic updates to their lists if and when splits occur.

We now identify all groups as monotypic or polytypic. This allows the user to distinguish easily between the groups that contain multiple subspecies, and those groups that consist only of a single subspecies. The entries identified in the spreadsheet as “subspecies” and as “group (monotypic)” together comprise the entirety of subspecies in the list, whereas the polytypic groups are a secondary level between subspecies and species.

Finally, Pauline asked for a definition of altri-cial. Simply, helpless as opposed to birds like the Killdeer, whose young run within a few hours of hatching; that is, precocial.

Coastal Cleanup Scheduled: 9 Oct 2017 Information provided by Sara Schweitzer, NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Waterway clean-up after the Morehead City Seafood Festival is scheduled for Monday, Oct 9. Meet at the 10th Street dock to sign a waiver and get pick-up supplies and data collection gear. One block down is the 11th Street kayak launch.

The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores will also have a recycling center DURING the Seafood Festival at Big Rock Station (the Dock).

A symposium on marine debris will be held October 16-17. Check this link for more information: http://www.ncmarinedebrissymposium.com/2017-symposium.html.

See also: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/international-coastal-cleanup-ocean-conservancy.

Volume 26, Issue 2


Cedar Island Bird Walk: 9 Sep 2017 By Al Gamache

As Hurricane Irma was turning its wrath onto the Florida Keys, we were driving from New Bern out to Cedar Island and its beach that spreads out into the Atlantic Ocean. The weather forecast predicted winds 10 – 20 mph, although all attendees estimated the winds much closer to 30 mph. It was blowy and tough, indeed (spotting scopes were chattering endlessly).

At first we stalled, wondering whether this was even worth doing. Our huddled group of nineteen birders then bravely pressed on through heavy winds onto the beach, and instantly the group had somehow dispersed in every which way direction. But, despite the unpleasant windy conditions we covered the entire area with its variety of habitats, (i.e. most ocean shorelines do not provide you with a pond right behind you, and a bit farther along the beach, now a mud flat just on the other side of a sand dune). A neat mix of habitats, and we were so fortunate as to get a total of 37 species:

No. Gannet Semipalmated Sandpiper Double-crested Cormorant Pectoral Sandpiper Brown Pelican Dunlin Dowitcher (long or short billed?) Great Blue Heron Great Egret Laughing Gull Snowy Egret Herring Gull Little Blue Heron Lesser Black-backed Gull Tricolor Heron Great Black-backed Gull Green Heron Least Tern Turkey Vulture Caspian Tern Osprey Royal Tern Bald Eagle Mourning Dove Rail Belted Kingfisher Fish Crow Black-bellied Plover No. Mockingbird Semipalmated Plover Euro. Starling Killdeer Red-winged Blackbird Spotted Sandpiper Boat-tailed Grackle Lesser Yellowlegs Sanderling

A few of these birds were found on our drive out to Cedar Island, but mostly they were seen in the habitats found along the Cedar Island beach. Highlight bird of the trip? A toss-up between the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the Caspian Tern, although this was a rather late date for the several Least Terns as well.

Photos courtesy of

Michael Creedon.

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New Bern Quarry Fall Warbler Migration: 23 Sep 2017 By Al Gamache

Here’s a quick trip list of birds seen and/or heard on the Glenburnie Quarry bird trip. There were 14 birders and 49 species of birds.

Canada Goose Carolina Chickadee Pied-billed Grebe Tufted Titmouse Double Crested Cormorant Carolina Wren Anhinga Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Great Blue Heron Gray Catbird Green Heron No. Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Turkey Vulture Cooper’s Hawk Black-and-white Warbler Red-shouldered Hawk Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Clapper Rail Cape May Warbler No. Parula Laughing Gull Magnolia Warbler Forster’s Tern Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Mourning Dove Yellow-throated Warbler Ruby-throated Hummingbird Prairie Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Scarlet Tanager Red-bellied Woodpecker No. Cardinal Downy Woodpecker Blue Grosbeak Eastern Phoebe Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Kingbird American Goldfinch White-eyed Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow

Oops, I just counted my list and only 48 species are listed. I must have missed something. Perhaps it was the Northern Flicker? Most likely I’ve missed a couple of other things as well. C’est la vie. See you next Saturday.

Volume 26, Issue 2

Photos courtesy of

Michael Creedon.


Annual Pea Island Field Trip: November 14-15 By Bob Gould

Plans are being made for our annual overnight field trip to the Outer Banks. We have done this for many years, and I believe most of the participants consider it the highlight of our club year. As you will see, there is much more to it than our visit to Pea Island.

We will depart the Bridge Pointe Hotel parking lot promptly at 7:00 am on Tuesday, November 14th. It is highly advisable to plan carpooling in advance so as to not leave a car overnight. Those departing from Pamlico County or certain spots east of New Bern can rendezvous with the group at the “Liberty” gas station located on Highway 264 in downtown Washington.

From there we will caravan to the state research farm near Roper and see the largest concentration of Bald Eagles in North Carolina. Then on to the Lake Phelps area to look for sparrows and whatever is on the lake.

Next will be a brief ride into the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to survey the impoundments for waterfowl. We also hope to see a good variety of raptors here. We will then continue on to Nags Head and check in to our hotel.

My favorite part of the day comes when we leave the hotel and drive to the pond at Bodie Island Lighthouse to see a variety of “puddle ducks,” wading birds and shorebirds. A splendid fall sunset will signal time to return to the hotel for a social hour before heading out to some nearby restaurant for dinner. A full day of birding!

On Wednesday, we will have an early breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive down to the Pea Island Refuge for a look at many more shorebirds and ducks – usually including something rare or unexpected. We’ll begin the journey home around 11 am, with a possible side trip to Lake Mattamuskeet. Finally, home to New Bern where we usually arrive just before dark.

For overnight accommodations, you will need to make your reservations at the Ramada Plaza at Nags Head. The rates are $75.00 for oceanfront and $55.00 street side. These reduced rates are valid until October 30th. You must identify yourself as a member of the “Lower Neuse Bird Club”. Phone: (252) 441-2151.

Be prepared for 2 full days of birding. Carry your lunch for Tuesday and have some snack items and/or water or other beverages on hand.

Bring something to share at our social hour before dinner

Bring your usual birding supplies: binos, scopes, insect repellant, field guide, sun screen and/or rain gear….

Lower Neuse Bird Club · Jan 26-27, 2018 Wrightsville Beach, NC April 27-28, 2018 Flat Rock, NC Other Events of Interest Wings Over Water Oct 17-22, 2017 Nags Head, NC LNBC Membership

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