March-April 2010 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society

8/9/2019 March-April 2010 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society

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VOLUME 59, NO. 3 & 4 Inspirin Cnservatin Thruh Birdin March/April 2010

SinaSkeThe Newsetter f Travis Audub

Thursday, Mar 18 7:00 pm

Insect Diversity

Speaker: Dr. David Kattes

T rav i s A ud u b o n

LBJ Fire Science students.Photo credits: Nancy M

TRAVIS AUDUBON SANCTUARY:

BLAIR WOODS

Travis Audubon is pleased to announce a new, regularly

occurring feature in Signal Smoke highlighting our third

sanctuary; Blair Woods.

A big thank you goes out to the Shield-Ayres Foundation

for their recent grant of $15,000 to support our work and

programming at Blair Woods. The Shield-Ayres grant will

be used to create a small parking area, secure our smallhistorical barn, provide signage and fencing to delineate our

area from that used by Wildlife Rescue, and to provide the

supplies, materials and equipment for Blair Woods educational

programming. Work on the parking area and trail from the

parking area to the pond, began on January 18, 2010.

On January 18, 2010, Martin Luther King Day, 55 volunteers

heeded the call to volunteer on this National Day of Service

by committing their time and energy to Blair Woods. Larry

Thursday, Apr 15 7:00 pm

The Aransas Prject

Speaker: Ji Backburn

Cpete eetin detais n Pa

Westinster Presbyterian Church3208 Expsitin Bvd. Austin, TX

Drs pen at 6:30 p fr scia tie

TA Monthly Meetings

McKee, President of the Stonegate/Oaklawn neighborhood

association, of which Blair Woods is a part, is a retired reghter

and current instructor of Fire Science at LBJ Science Academy.

Fire Science is a two-year program for junior and senior high

school students, culminating in certication as reghters. Larry

committed several of his junior and senior Fire Science students

to our Martin Luther King work day at Blair Woods. As an added

bonus, ve other reghters/instructors provided muscle to that

ligustrum. The results were phenomenal. Thank you, Larry!

Dustin Howell, the co-chair of the Community Service Committ

of the Young Lawyers Association, rounded up eight lawyers whcontributed their energy to the work at Blair Woods on MLK day

Rounding out the phenomenal group of workers were several

members of the Windsor Park Neighborhood Association and

Karon Smutzor, the Norman Elementary After School supervisor

who brought several of her family members.

We have reached a milestone in the restoration of Blair Woods.

To see pictures and a report of the work completed on January 18

2010, go to www.travisaudubon.org/new_blair.html.

Nancy Mann


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SIG NAL SMOK E / March/April 2010 TRA VIS AUD UBO N

TRAVIS AUDUBON COMMITTEE CHAIRS

ABOUT SIGNAL SMOKE

Mission StatementTravis Audubon promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation

of native birds and their habitats.

From the Travis Audubon President

TAS Rare Bird Alert Eric Carpenter [email protected] Vacant

Bird Records Lawrence Buford 452-6344Ethel Kutac 346-7659 Habitat Conservation Laurie Foss 300-BIRD

Education Byron Stone 970-5154Frances Cerbines 300-BIRD

Field Trips Jeff Patterson 300-BIRDTerry Banks 300-BIRD

Hornsby Bend Julia Balinsky 300-BIRDHospitality Susan Moak 925-4590

Latin America Bob Warneke 300-BIRDFundraising/Membership/Outreach Nancy Manning 300-BIRD

Programs Ann Gardner 306-0737 Property and Finance Vacant Publications Tess Sherman 300-2473Sanctuary Chair Terri Siegenthaler 263-2237 Youth Education Nancy Manning 300-BIRD

Urban Habitat Jane Tillman 794-0058

Travis Audubon

General Address

3710 Cedar Street, Box 5

Austin, TX. 78705

Phone numbers listed below withoutan area code are local numbers in the

512 area.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

2009-2010

PresidentValarie Bristol 300-BIRD

Vice PresidentChris Masey 300-BIRD

TreasurerVacant 300-BIRD

SecretaryClaude Morris 300-BIRD

DirectorsRobin DoughtyBill Edwards

Ann GardnerShelia HargisClif LaddKelly LoganMarsha MayJeff Mundy

Executive DirectorNancy Manning 300-BIRD

Ofce AdministratorGail Buxton 300-BIRD

Volunteer/Membership DirectorJocelyn Taijeron 300-BIRD

BAKER SANCTUARY STEWARD

Derik Caudill 219-8425

CHAETURA CANYON SANCTAURYSTEWARDS

Georgean & Paul Kyle 266-3861

ACT REPRESENTATIVESTony Wood (interim state president)

210 408-1284Bryan Hale (state treasurer) 474-5599

SIgNAl SmoKE EDITORTess Sherman 300-BIRD

TRAVIS AUDUBON TELEPHONEThe ofce number is 512-300-BIRD

(2473).

TRAVIS AUDUBON WEB SITEwww.travisaudubon.org

TRAVIS AUDUBON [email protected]

Signal Smoke (ISSN 1931-9282)

Subscription InformationSignal Smoke (ISSN 1931-9282), was pub-lished 11 times yearly through Volume 56,No.4, and beginning with Volume 56, No.5,is published 6 times yearly. Subscription is aTA membership benet. To join, use the formon the back page of this issue or go to www.travisaudubon.org for an online form. Foraddress or subscription changes, please call512.300.BIRD (2473) or e-mail [email protected]. The USPS does not forwardSignal Smoke. Copyright 2010. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced

Newsletter DeadlineThe submissions deadline is the rst day of themonth preceding the rst month of publication(for example, June 1 for the July/August issue).Submit uncopyrighted articles, announcements,and art to Tess Sherman, [email protected]; or mail to 210 E. Walnut Dr., Austin,TX 78753. Submissions by email or on a CDare preferred but not required. Call Tess at 300-BIRD if you have questions.

without permission in writing from TravisAudubon.

Sina Ske is printed

on recycled paper with soy ink.

Fellow birders and conservationists, we have been given a wonderfulchallenge! The Malcolm C. Damuth Foundation has presented TravisAudubon with a $40,000 challenge grant to expand Chaetura Canyon

Sanctuary. Every dollar raised by Travis Audubon will be matched dollar

for dollar up to $40,000.

Paul and Georgean Kyle have lovingly stewarded this remarkable place

from cedar brake to a thriving habitat for birds and other critters for

over thirty years. There is some remaining undeveloped land adjacent to

Chaetura, but houses are being built all around it.

Now is the moment to secure Chaetura Canyons amazing diversity of

native plants, birds and geology. Thirty bird species nest on the property

and over 150 species have been documented using it. Chaetura is atreasure. Help protect this precious land for generations by donating to

the Chaetura Canyon Challenge when the appeal is launched in March.

Valarie Bristol

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/Apr

INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

From the President...........................2

Naturalists Calendar........................4

TA News and Notes.........................5

Bird-a-thon 2010...............................6

Monthly Meeting Informatio

Travis Audubon Regular Monthly Meeting - 7:00 pm(doors open at 6:30 pm for social time, 7:00 pm for announcements, speaker at 7:30 pm)

NOTE: New permanent location for general membership meetings - Westminster Presbyterian Chur

3208 Exposition Blvd. Austin TX 78703 512-459-5497

Directions: From Mopac, take the 35th street exit and go west on 35th to Exposition Blvd. Turn left on Exposition

approximately two blocks to Carlton Lane. The church sits on the corner of Carlton and Exposition. Drive down Car

the church to the parking lot on your left. The Fellowship Hall is the large building just east of the parking lot. The b

identied with the words Fellowship Hall on the outside of the building. Refreshments provided. No monthly mee

June, July, or August.

March 18, 2010

Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church

3208 Exposition Blvd. Austin TX

Guest Speaker: Dr. David Kattes

Topic: Insect Diversity

It is common knowledge that insects are an important component

of any ecosystem. Insects feed on plants, eat other insects, andserve as food for birds and other animals. They are also important

pollinators and in the recycling of organic matter. But have you

ever really considered the diversity of these tiny creatures? In this

program, we will explore the vast niches that insects occupy and

discuss how they can survive in this peril-lled world.

The program will begin with an overview of the importance of

insects in the food web and the interdependence of these creatures

with other organisms. We will then explore the numerous methods

used by insects to nd food and to keep from becoming food

themselves.

Dr. Kattes is a full professor at Tarleton State University as wellas the author ofInsects of Texas; A Practical Guide , published

by TAMU Press. His current research covers a variety of topics

including insects, wildlife, native and exotic grasses throughout

Texas.

April 15, 2010

Location: Westminster Presbyterian Chu

3208 Exposition Blvd. Austin, TX

Guest Speaker: Jim Blackburn

Topic: The Aransas Project

In the winter of 2008 2009, 28 Whooping Cranes starv

on their wintering grounds here in Texas. There is a sign

more starving to death this winter. The root cause of the

is the lack of adequate freshwater inows into the bay s

lack of adequate water ow into the bay causes a crash

which are the primary food for the cranes.

In light of the extremely serious threat to the cranes, the

Travis Audubon Society voted to join with Houston Au

International Crane Foundation, Aransas County, and ot

groups to seeking court intervention to protect the Guad

watershed and inows into the bay. This effort is known

Aransas Project.

Attorney Jim Blackburn is the lead attorney for the The

Project. He will brief t he TA membership on the efforts

cranes. In 2004, Texas A&M Press published The Book

written by Jim, with photos by renowned Houston phot

Olive. He is an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in Envir

in the Environmental Sciences and Engineering Departm

University.

Our Donors........................................7

Hornsby Bend News.........................8

Committee Corner ..........................9

Notes from Chaetura Canyon.....10

Baker Sanctuary News...................11

TA Events....................................12-

TA Classes........................................

Brunch with the birds....................1

Travis AudubonMembership Form ...........Back pag


3/9

SIGN AL SMO KE / March/April 2010 TRA VIS AUD UBO N

NATURALISTSCALENDAR

by Bill Reiner

bert Baumgardner

The displays are accompanied by loud cackling, or, especially

at dawn and dusk, by the dawn song, which has been effectively

described as pup-pup-pup-pup-pup-pup-perLEEP. The last note

is loudest and highest in pitch. (This helps t o distinguish it from

the similar dawn song of the related Western Kingbird, which

accents the third or fourth note from the end, then drops in pitch.)

As showy as it is, the tail may be a bit of a handicap when the

birds try to chase down their insect prey. One study found that

the shorter-tailed females have a higher success rate on aerial

sallies. The females also tend to forage from lower perches than

the males, though this may not be a deliberate attempt by the pair

to avoid competing with each other. Rather, the males may choose

higher foraging perches so they can also more effectively defend

their territories.

Grasshoppers are by far the favored prey of Scissor-tailed

Flycatchers. They consume a higher percentage of these insects, so

abundant in their habitat, than any other ycatcher. They are also

more likely than any of their kin to drop to t he ground, bluebird-

like, to snatch it up.

Scissor-tails are most at home on the prairies and savannas, and

are rarely seen in woodlands, except as they migrate overhead.

The female generally chooses a large, isolated tree for her nest,

and is particularly likely to pick a mesquite. She will use a variety

of twigs, rootlets, grasses, and other small plants, especially the

low fuzzy-white plants called rabbit-tobacco (Evax sp.). She will

commonly also incorporate cotton, twine, horsehair, or bits of

rags.

The birds are quite adaptable to articial environments. They

frequently make their homes in trees around shopping-center

parking lots, though they are less likely to thrive in urban areas

than their Western Kingbird cousins. Their adaptability even

earned them a footnote i n Austin history. George Finlay Simmons,

in his 1925 publication,Birds of the Austin Region , wrote that

Scissor-tails were building nests in the light towers around Austin,

a mere 30 years after the rst moon towers were constructed in

1895.

Perhaps the reason was the wealth of moths and other ying

insects drawn to these lights after dark. Scissor-tails have learned

to exploit this bonanza, staying up well past sunset to do so.

Wasnt it nice of us to provide them the equivalent of an all-night

diner?

In addition to the sources cited within the article, references

includedLife Histories of North American Flycatchers,

Larks, Swallows, and their Allies, by Arthur Cleveland Bent,

and Foraging Patterns of Male and Female Scissor-tailed

Flycatchers, by Kevin Teather, in The Journal of Field

Ornithology, vol. 63, no. 3.

The scissor-tail has the philosophic self-assurance of an elite,

the aplomb of a settled and unchallenged aristocracy whose

ancient privileges it is bad form even to question. He takes

umbersome prey on the wing in playful mood, and ghts as if

ere breaking a lance more in sport than in anger. He simply

s hawks, vultures, and crows especially crows, enjoying

y the impotence of their anger. Roy Bedichek,Karankaway

ntry.

per, graceful, amboyant, and seemingly f earless, Scissor-

d Flycatchers are favorites of birders and non-birders alike.

etimes called the Texas bird-of-paradise, the Scissor-tailed

atcher breeds nowhere else but on the southern plains of the

ed States and adjacent Mexico. The birds can be found nearly

ghout Texas, but only Oklahomans were savvy enough to

nate this delightful species as their state bird.

or-tails return to Austin from their Central American winteringnds about mid-March, soon after the Golden-cheeked

blers, and along with some of the other early migrants such

ue-gray Gnatcatchers, Ash-throated Flycatchers, and Black-

ned Hummingbirds. But unlike these other migrants, which

rimarily nocturnal, you may see small groups of Scissor-tails

ing their way north during the day, when their long, banner-like

make them instantly recognizable.

l the birds that breed in North America, Scissor-tails have

ongest tails in proportion to their bodies. Males sport 9-inch

mers, at the end of a 6-inch body. Females have more modest 6-

5-inch tails, but these are still greater than half their total length.

outermost feathers are much longer than the other tail feathers,

at when the tail is fanned, the resemblance to a pair of scissors

ite remarkable.

after he arrives in central Texas, a male Scissor-tail will put his

l to use in a spectacular, tumbling, courtship display. Powering

up to maybe a hundred feet above the ground, he dives,

climbs again, dives again in roller-coaster ight, all the

while snapping his tail open and shut as if he could

be pruning a hedge with it. He also shows off

the stunning salmon-pink coloring under

his wings, as Bedichek notes: The

sides of these birds are are

in the setting sun. Neverbefore have I felt the

real glory of

pink.

Photo credit: Jim deVries

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/Apr

N e w s a n d N o t e s

TRAVIS AUDUBON ANNOUNCES

NEW VIP FIELD TRIPAs a special thank you to our members who support Travis

Audubon with annual donations totaling $250 or more,

Travis Audubon has instituted a special VIP Field Trip just

for you! The total amount donated will be calculated from

all donations made between January 1 and December 31,

including membership fees, annual appeals, and any other type

of donation. The eld trip leaders will be awesome and the

location will be special. So, dont miss out on this! Leaders and

location will be announced toward the end of the year.

The Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

cordially invite you to join them for the 10 th annual Balcones

Songbird Festival, April 23 26, 2010. This year there are more

ways than ever to experience the refuge and the birds, so dont

delay. Register today at www.friendsofbalcones.org.

SIGNAL SMOKECHANGESAs you can see we are experimenting with some changes to our

newsletter. We have gone to color, thanks to a grant we recently

received. Some of you have asked questions about the type of

paper we have chosen. Here is everything you ever wanted to

know about paper.

Paper is either coated or uncoated. Coated means it is coated

with a clay base, which gives it its sheen once it is calendared.

What is calendared you may ask? Calendaring is when the

paper is put through steel rollers, which smash it down. The more

it is calendared the glossier the paper. The paper we used for

our newsletter before the glossy January/February 2010 edition

was uncoated. So, it just didnt have a clay base and wasnt

calendared.

In terms of bleach, all paper contains bleach. Every piece ofpaper sitting on your desk, in your house, or that comes in the

mail, contains some bleach. All re-cycled paper contains some

bleach. The only paper not bleached is newsprint. The difference

in amounts of bleach between our old uncoated paper a

glossy paper is insignicant.

There is the issue of chlorine. If there is ANY amount

consumer waste (recycled material) in your paper, then

is chlorine free. Both our old issues and new glossy iss

10% post consumer waste. Therefore, there is no chlor

the papers we use to print the Signal Smoke, dull or glo

So, why use glossy? Uncoated paper absorbs the colo

a somewhat blurry look. Whereas, the color will sit on

coated paper and look cleaner and crisper.

Why paper at all? Our survey results indicated that 66%

our respondents prefer the paper version of Signal Smo

Additionally, we provide our newsletter to specic reta

which provide Travis Audubon more exposure in the co

When you receive your eblast with the link to the surve

us know what you think of this issue ofSignal Smoke.

Nan

Annual Meeting on March 18Please join us for our annual business meeting on March

Well be reporting on our successes from the prior year a

talking about upcoming goals. Also, current TA members

on a slate of candidates for the Board of Dir ectors. The n

will begin on April 8, 2010.

The slate, along with brief biographical information, is av

on our website. Make sure your membership is current so

vote in this election and have a voice i n the governance o

Audubon.


4/9


Bird-a-thon 2010Save the dates: MAY 1, 2010 MAY 8, 2010

This year participants have a full eight days in which to have their Bird-a-thon. A Bird-a-thon is still a 24-hour event, but

now you can plan for the weather or nd a day within that range that ts your schedule. It is also possible to have more

than one Bird-a-thon during that period and compete for prizes with more than one team. First, second, and third place

prizes will be awarded in two categories:

Most money raised by a team (overall)

Most money raised by a team thats never participated in Bird-a-thon

Prizes include seven fabulous eld trips! Brief descriptions appear below; see website for more details.

A morning bird walk at the Laguna Gloria Art Museum grounds, led by Sam Fason (the younger). Expect to nd

migratory birds, Barred Owls and Red-shouldered Hawks.

Field trip at Acacia, on the banks of the Pedernales River. Acacias nesting specialties include several pair of Golden-cheeked Warblers, plus Red-shouldered Hawks, Ash-throated Flycatchers, hummingbirds, and a variety of sparrows,

buntings, woodpeckers, tanagers, warblers, vireos, wrens, etc.

7 Oaks Ranch on the banks of the Lampasas River will be the site of a eld trip. Recorded species include warblers,

vireos, sparrows, painted buntings, and the occasional Bald Eagle.

Field trip on one of the BCP properties led by Laura Zebehazy, natural resource specialist for Travis County. Laura

will choose a property with the largest Black-capped Vireo colony on the BCP and surrounded by Golden-cheeked

Warbler habitat.

Two eld trips are being offered to Cherry Springs Ranch, which was purchased from J. Frank Dobie and has been in

the Edwards family for more than half a century. In addition to the excellent birding, you will also see dinosaur tracks

that have been in the creek for 100 million years.

Full day eld trip offered by Jeff Mundy as a Bird Guide t o help you track down those elusive life birds in Central

Texas and/or on the Central Texas coast.

Winners in other categories, such as for the best team name, most of one species of bird, will be given recognition in Signal

Smoke and at the awards Pot Luck on May 22, 2010. For a full listing of our categories, see our Bird-a-thon webpage at

www.travisaudubon.org/Birdathon2010.html.

Mark your calendars for the May 22, 2010 Bird-a-thon celebration party at Baker Sanctuary

ON OUR WEBSITE - www.travisaudubon.org/Birdathon2010.html

You can download a packet of information on our Bird-a-thon page.

The packet includes:

Introduction to TAS Bird-a-thon and invitation to participate

Rules for the TAS Bird-a-thon

Tips for having a successful Bird-a-thon

Sample emails/letters

Timelines (including deadlines for getting money back)

Pledge Form and Report Form

If you are putting together a team, make sure to let the ofce know so we can add you to our Bird-a-thon web page.

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/Ap

Our Donors

Business Members

Travis Audubon is delighted to

recognize its Business Members:

Powell, Ebert & Smolik, PC

To learn about the benets of supporting Travis Audubon

Business Member, please go to www.travisaudubon.org

click on Business Members, or c ontact Travis Audubo

512.300.BIRD (2473).Annual AppealMargaret and Heinz Aeschbach

Barbara Anderson

Robert and Margaret Ayres

Judith Bailey

Linda and Gary BergAnn Bishop and Penny Potter

Valarie Bristol

S. Bruce Brown and Mary Braunagel-Brown

Nancy Charbeneau

Jo Clifton and Roger Duncan

Cinda Crosley

Fred Dalbey

Marjorie Dearmont

Jon Devries

Anne and John Donovan

Olive Forbes

Michael and Joan Foster

Chris Funke

Margaret Gorton

Beth Gross and David Wolfe

Chris and Alice Gunter

Sheila Hargis and Laurie Foss

Jim Hargrove, Jr.

Kay and Joseph Hart

John and Dorothy Hendrick

George Holmgreen

Ulo Kiigemagi

John Lacy and Marianne Mulrey

Clif Ladd

Dan Levine

Nancy Manning

Bert and Louise Marcom

Chris Marcum

Ron and Susan Martin

Elizabeth Maxim

Suzanne McAnna

Kim McKnight

Leslie Anne Morris

Rusty Osborne and Cecilia Green

Kristy Ozmun

Mary Thorpe Parker

Nancy PodioJoan Pratt

Rose Ann Reeser

Martha Renfroe

Leland and Sue Roberts

Phillip and Beverly Scott

Stuart Shipnes

Steve Sigman

Winifred Simon and Shirley Danforth

Ernest Smith III

Ray Toburen

Daphne Vaughan

Marvin Veselka

Maria Weber

Andrea Weissenbuehler

Larry and Jane Wilson

Annual Appeal in Memory of

Ed KutacMichael Gagarin and Donna Carter

Lucy Jalbert

Annual Appeal in Memory of

Jim MarkleSandy Barling

Annual Appeal in Tribute to

Homer RushingTodd Jermstad

UnrestrictedJames Cousar

Priscilla Dickenson

Ingrid Huskey

Barbara Kyse

Kelly Logan

Painted BuntingJudith Bailey

Lawrence Buford

Barbara Felkins and Jimmy Sta

Norma Grubert

Barbara Kyse

Wayne and Rachel Lindsay

Julia Marsden

Jorjanna Price

VireoThomas and Gelya Camp

Lee Decker and Faye Harris

Patrick Dillon

Nancy Sue and Carroll Ray Hal

Cheryl and Richard Hazeltine

Jill Hinckley

Bev Hoffman and J. Paul Como

Ron and Susan Martin

Anna Faye Peterson

Joan Pratt

Jim Walker

Nancy Webber

Memorial Gift in Honor of

Bert W. LindsayWayne and Rachel Lindsay

Chaetura CanyonDon and Ann Connell

Tess Sherman

GTBC TowheesJudith Bailey

Jim Walker

We gratefully acknowledge the Shield-Ayres

Foundation for their generous grant which will

fund several projects (see the Blair Woods article

on the cover). We also acknowledge the Jacob and Terese

Hershey Foundation for awarding us a grant for our Education

and Outreach Programming. We extend our deepest thanks

to all our donors. Your support is critical to the ongoing

conservation and education efforts of Travis Audubon.

Many

thanks!


5/9

SIG NAL SMOK E / March/April 2010 TRA VIS AUD UBO NTRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/April 2

Travis Audubon Committee Corner

This issue we highlight and recognize the Urban Habitat

Committee. This committee has a long and active history

with Travis Audubon. It is chaired by Jane Tillman with co-

chair Anne Bellomy.

This active committees broad reach has

a tremendous impact in our community.

Their primary goal is to engage,

encourage, and share with the public,

their enthusiasm for gardening for birds.

They do this in a number of ways such as

giving presentations and stafng tables at

various events eight times per year. They

provide information, advice, and links to

valuable resources.

Along with the Wildlife Austin program

of Austins Parks and Recreation

Department, the committee co-sponsors

(hosts) the National Wildlife Federation

Habitat Steward training annually.Stewards, once trained, serve their

community to help restore wildlife habitat

in backyards, school yards, and other

private and public areas. The training

covers native plants for wildlife, invasive

plants & habitat restoration, attracting

birds and butteries, landscape design

Hornsby Bend News

Two of the three Chimney Swift kiosk towers at Hornsby Bend got a face-lift by

the folks who constructed them in 2000: Paul and Georgean Kyle. They covered

the old, weathered wood with Hardi panel, which will last much longer and will

require much less maintenance. The third Tower, on Platt Lane, had already

been constructed with Hardi panel. On hand to help paint the towers were three

volunteers from the Hornsby Bend Committee, Julia Balinsky, Andy Balinsky, and

Julia Heskett.

The tower at Pond Two did have a nest, but there was no indication that any eggs

were laid. The tower on Platt Lane did not show any evidence of nesting last

summer.

At the tower near t he CER, there was one nest discovered. Georgean was able to

ascertain, by the debris at the bottom of the tower, that there were three eggs that

hatched. There was one small edgling skeleton in the debris, which meant that

one edgling did not make it. But Georgean was heartened by evidence indicating

that two edglings might have survived in a year with such a catastrophic drought.

Funding for the materials and for the new interpretive displays was made possible

by a grant to Travis Audubon by Texas Audubon.

Julia Balinsky

2010 Purple Martin Season

Underway at Hornsby BendPurple Martin scouts leave their wintering grounds in Brazil during Janu-

ary and reports of them being seen in Texas begin trickling in. Sometime

'round mid-month Andy and I head to Hornsby not only to see what great

winter birds are on the ponds and in the woods, but also to get the Purple

Martin colony ready for another season of nesting.

In early 2009 we installed a fourth nest rack making 50 compartments for

these sweetest of all songbirds to raise their young. They used all but four

of these for nesting, and we are expanding again this year. The Hornsby

Committee is spending some of the money we raised at the 50th Year of

Birding at Hornsby Celebration on another gourd rack, this time with a

capacity of 32 more compartments! It's a circular wagon wheel design.

We invite you to come out and see it.

Purple Martins nest near water and humans, which makes Hornsby the

perfect spot. Andy and I go every week to lower the housing units so

we can count and record nests, eggs, and young while removing the

unwelcome House Sparrow nests. Last year we had the largest numberof edglings since the colony was established in 1999, a whopping 170.

Come on and lend a hand with Purple Martin monitoring out at Hornsby

Bend, 2210 South FM 973, Austin, TX. We go every 5-7 days into early

June. You can email me and we'll arrange to meet you there to show you

the ropes. Literally. Happy Spring, y'all.

Julia Balinsky

P.S. The rst Purple Martin scout showed up in freezing temperatures on

January 31 just after we put nesting material i nside the clean gourds. We

are delighted!

principles and many other topics. Anne Bellomy says th

Exceptional; its fun and inspirational. The next train

offered in September 2010.

Most of the Urban Habitat Com

members are trained stewards. T

the Urban Habitat Committee de

helped to install a buttery gard

Elementary, our adopted scho

Woods.

On the Travis Audubon website

Habitat Committee has created a

to backyard birding. They are in

of developing what they feel wi

resource to foster habitat for bir

Habitat Plant list for Travis Cou

be added to t heir web page when

can see their web page at: www

org/urbanhabitat.html.

To get involved with this active

committee, contact Jane Tillman

mail.utexas.edu. Let h

you have a group that

talk on Backyard Bird

Gardening.

N

Pictured: Back row from left to right: Jane Tillman, Mary

Martin, Joan Rivers. Seated from left Julie Sanford, Anne

Bellomy. Not pictured: Jeanette Sweson, Cathy Gattuso,

Kim McKnight. Photo credit: Nancy Manning

Photo credits: Andy Balinsky

The towers before lookPhotos courtesy of Paul & Georgean Kyle

Time for new siding. A fresh coat of paint. The towers great new look

Tower Transformation


6/9


Notes from Chaetura Canyon

Avian species number 158 for the Sanctuary was

discovered on January 17. El Nino rains had

increased the water table level in the canyon enough

allow the wet weather creek to nally ow again after two

ars of drought conditions. Water bubbling and gurgling

er the rocks could be heard from the deck. We donned

r binoculars and followed the trail downhill. Dozens of

hipping Sparrows were taking turns bathing in the owing

ater on the large at rocks, then ying up to preen on

n drenched tree branches. Northern Cardinals and House

nches chose the deeper depressions to drink, wade and

lash. A pair of Carolina Wrens scolded continuously. They

ere totally ineffective in deterring the bathing party or our

proach. A Canyon Wren crept into cracks and crevices

the dry rocks toasting in t he sun above creek level. He

rted off uttering high-pitched skreet calls when we

sed our binoculars. We continued down the steps toward

e footbridge crossing the creek. With the rst step onto

e structure, a small brownish bird shot out from under thedge. It stopped in the shadow of a large boulder about

enty feet away. From the behavior, we were certain that

was a wren. However, the size and shape of the bird was

fferent from the Carolina and Canyon that we had just

served and it was not a long tail wagging Bewicks. We

ined our binoculars on it and hoped to get a better look.

he bird popped up to a branch, turned away from us and

sappeared, but not before revealing a slight eye stripe and

sparkling grayish back: Rock Wren. We hope there are

o!!

veryone who feeds birds is keenly aware that goldnches

ve thistle seed. The small niger seed can be offered to the

ds using a variety of specialized feeders

at efciently dispense the expensive treat.

ou can create your our own thistle feeders

recycling a common packaging product.

he Nature Sweet tomatoes arrive packaged

a red mesh bag. Take two empty bags (one

too porous). Cut the paper label off of the

ds. Insert one bag inside the other and tie a

ht overhand knot into one end of the double

g. Fill the bag with thistle seed and use a

cycled twist tie to secure the top. Take a

ece of wire or coat hanger and bend a Uape onto each end. Thread one end through

e seed bag just below the twist tie and hang

e other end over a hook or branch. Stand

ck and wait for the nches to feast!

Georgean and Paul Kyle,

Sanctuary Stewards

Bridge across the creek where the Rock Wren was spotted

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/April

Baker Sanctuary News

Winter is slowly giving way to spring and that means

Baker Sanctuary is again open t o all Travis Audubon

members to enjoy the Golden-cheeked Warbler nesting

season from March through August. The warblers spend the

winter months in southern Mexico and Guatemala, but every

year in March they begin their l ong journey to Central Texas to

nest and reproduce. Baker Sanctuary is a nationally recognized

Important Bird Area that literally attracts birders from around

the world hoping to catch a glance of the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

This is because the Golden-cheeked Warbler is a federally listed

endangered species and nests only in about 30 counties in Central

Texas and nowhere else in the world. Baker Sanctuary represents

a habitat that is suitable for these birds but also close to a major

urban center, a situation that is truly rare.

From November until February the sanctuary is normally closed to

visitors for the annual White-tailed Deer harvest; an important part

of managing the Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat because White-

tailed Deer eat young oaks and damage other plants that hostinsects and caterpillars that are food for the warblers.

The beginning of nesting season also marks the beginning of the

Baker Sanctuary volunteer season; Travis Audubon members and

volunteers get together every year to help get the Sanctuary ready

for the annual migration by clearing trails and brush and giving

the sanctuary a facelift before the birds arrive. Travis Audubon

encourages people to come to the sanctuary to help manage the

habitat and to attend our special events. Several of these events

and volunteer days are scheduled or will be scheduled this year,

and will be posted on our website. Since the arrival of the Golden-

cheeked Warbler is such a rare and unique experience to witness,

several days are also set aside for guided hikes. These

amateur birders to follow trained biologists and birdin

can provide interesting information about the native

and identify the many species of birds that call Baker

their summer home. We are all exited to open the gateSanctuary again and hope you will all join us in welco

annual migration.

DTravis Audubon Baker San

A BIGGER BAKER OPEN HOUS

SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 10, 201Whoop it up with t he warblers. This year we again inv

to join in the fun. We will provide kid-friendly activiti

Williamson County Native Plant Society of Texas (NP

host a booth displaying the native plants which can be

Baker Sanctuary. Many of you may remember t he gre

activity sponsored by NPSOT last year and they plan a

for this year.

Baker Sanctuary is a 690-acre tract of pristine woodlan

located just north of Austin and is one of the only plac

worldto see the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler

natural habitat.

Guided tours will take place from 9 am to noon. Tours

focus on ecology and feature Golden-cheeked warbler

butteries, and bugs.

Light snacks will be served but we encourage you to b

lunch for those longer walks. Please contact Travis Au

with any questions at 300-BIRD or info@travisaudub

For directions and a map to Baker Sanctuary, please g

website: www.travisaudubon.org and click on Sanctua

Admission is FREE!

Lesser Goldnches on a home-made thistle sockPhoto credits: Paul Kyle


7/9

Beginners Bird Walks at Zilker ParkDirections: turn onto Stratford Drive from Barton Springs Road, park i n the lot under the Mopac Bridge, walk up

the hill and meet at the Zilker Nature Center. Led by Stan VanSandt. No registration required.

The Outer Limits Caldwell Coun ty Bird Survey (one day only).Contact Stan at [email protected] to register. We will explore Lockhart State Park and possibly some

private property we might get access to. Plan on barbeque in Lockhart for lunch.

Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby BendSponsored monthly by the Hornsby Bend Bird Conservatory. Contact Eric Carpenter at [email protected] for

more information.

Chimney Swift Tower Workshop at Chaetura CanyonFull details for this workshop appear on page 14.

Two Hour Tuesday at Camp MabryRegistration required. Contact Jake [email protected] for more information. Like many military

bases, Camp Mabry has some good bird habitat that is rarely birded, at least by us civilians. Take advantage of

this unique opportunity.

Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby BendAustins premier birding site. Field trip leaders for March are George Kerr and Ken Zaslow. Go to www.horns-

bybend.org for more information no registration required.

Two Hour Tuesday at Brushy Creek Greenb elt, led by Dan CallawayFrom Interstate 35, go west on 734 (Parmer Lane) for nine and 3/4 miles. Turn right onto Brushy Creek Road,

then take an immediate right into the park. No registration required.

The Outer Limits Llano County Bird SurveyContact Stan at [email protected] to register. Limit of 12 participants. Group and area assignments will

be made beforehand so that groups can choose their own meeting place for carpooling. Countdown restaurant to

be announced.

The Outer Limits Llano County Field TripContact Stan at [email protected] to register. Limit of 12 participants (but not necessarily the same 12 as

the day before). We may break into two or more groups: I promise we wont all go to Enchanted Rock.

Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby BendEvery last Saturday of the month, for more i nformation: Julia Balinsky at [email protected] or Kevin

Anderson, 972-1960.

Super Tuesday! Fayette County, led by Stan VanSandtContact Stan at [email protected] to register. Limit of 12 participants. Plan to have lunch at a restaurant in

La Grange, then bird for another hour or two.

2 SIG NAL SMOK E / March/April 2010 TRA VIS AUD UBO N

TA Events - March 2010Saturday, Mar 6

9 am to 10:30 am

Tuesday, Mar 97 am to

mid-afternoon

Saturday, Mar 137 am & 4 pm

Sunday, Mar 141 pm to 4 pm

Tuesday, Mar 168 am to 10 am

Saturday, Mar 20

7:30 am to noon

Tuesday, Mar 238 am to 10 am

Saturday, Mar 27all day

Sunday, Mar 287:30 am to

mid-afternoon

Saturday, Mar 279 am to 1 pm

Tuesday, Mar 307:30 am to

mid-afternoon

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/Apri

TA Events - April 2010Saturday, Apr 3

6:30 am to lunchtime

Saturday, Apr 3

9 am to 11 am

Tuesday, Apr 67:30 am to

mid-afternoon

Saturday, Apr 10

7 am and 4 pm

Sunday, Apr 11

6:45 am to noon

Tuesday, April 137:30 am to

mid-afternoon

Saturday, Apr 177:30 am to 11:30 am

Tuesday, Apr 207:30 am to

mid-afternoon

Tuesday, Apr 27

7:30 am tomid-afternoon

Saturday, Apr 249 am to 1 pm

Saturday, May 17 am to

early afternoon

Field Trip to For t Hood led by Rich KosteckeLimited to 12 participants. To register contact Stan at [email protected]. Fort Hood contains one of the larg

tions of Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos anywhere, thanks to the successful conservation effo

his co-workers at the Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Army. We can almost guarantee you will see these birds if

enough on the draw. Almost. These are really shy and sneaky little birds.

Beginners Bird Walk at Riata Pond, led by Virginia RoseExcellent for beginning birders of all ages. Join Virginia to see what turns up at Riata Pond in North Austin. The t

walking and wheel chair accessible. Driving Directions to Riata Pond: F rom 183 at MOPAC, take 183 north to th

exit. Take the Oak Knoll exit. From the 183 access road, turn right onto Riata Trace Parkway. After the road bear

pond will be on your right. Meet in the business parking lot on the right just after you go past the pond. Alternativ

intersection of MOPAC and Parmer Lane, take Parmer Lane west about 2 miles to the light at Riata Vista Circle. T

Riata Vista Circle. Take Riata Vista Circle to the stop sign at Riata Trace Parkway. Turn right onto Riata Trace Pa

pond is a short distance on your left. Meet in the parking lot near the pond on your left.

The Outer Limits Bird Survey Guadalupe CountyLimited to 12 participants. To register contact Stan at [email protected]. Home of the famous War

which some of us will visit while others search less-explored habitat in Seguin. Draw straws?

Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby Bend

Sponsored monthly by the Hornsby Bend Bird Conservatory. Contact Eric Carpenter at [email protected] for mtion.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, co-sponsored by TAS and Friends of Balcones CanyoThis trip will focus on nding Golden-cheeked Warblers and spring migrants at the refuge. Shelia Hargis and Lau

lead participants to an area of the refuge not open to the public. Due to the narrow trail that we will be following,

number of participants will be kept very small, so that all participants will have a good opportunity to see t he bird

limited to eight participants and reservations are required. The steep and rocky trail will require good hiking boot

physical condition. Bring water and snacks. If youre interested, contact Laurie at lauriefoss@ywayadventure

751-3677, for more details and to make reservations.

Super Tuesday! in Gillespie Coun ty, led by Stan VanSandtContact Stan at [email protected] register. Limit of 12 participants. Lets add some migrants an

residents to the list we started in January. Well have lunch in Fredericksburg I hate to eat a sandwic

so many good restaurants around

Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby BendAustins premier birding site. The walk will be led this month by Stu Wilson and Jim Hargrove. For more informa

www.hornsbybend.org no registration required.

Super Tuesday! Kendall County, led by Stan VanSandtContact Stan at [email protected] register. Limit of 12 participants. We will concentrate on Cibola Natur

Boerne, but might hit another possible migrant trap or two after lunch.

Super Tuesday! Lee and Burleson Counties, led by Stan VanSandtContact Stan at [email protected] register. Limit of 12 participants. If Flag Pond and Nails Cree

as I hope, we may not get out of Lee County.

No eld trips scheduled for the weekend of April 24 - see yall at the Balcones Songbird Festival! See

details.

Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby BendEvery last Saturday of the month, for more i nformation: Julia Balinsky at [email protected] or Kevin Ander

Bastrop County and Back Again, led by Barry LyonHooded Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrushes, and Yellow-throated Vireos nest east of Austin in Bastrop

Alum Creek. We will begin the morning searching for these and other eastern birds, then work our wa

Hornsby Bend to catch the migrating shorebirds, swallows, raptors, and whatever else might be aroun

15 participants contact Stan at [email protected] to register.


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14 S IGNAL SMOKE / March/Apr il 2010 TRAVI S AUDUBO N SOCIET Y

ravis Audubon ClassesChimney Swift Tower Workshop

at Chaetura CanyonChimney Swifts are now listed as an endangered species

n Nova Scotia, and the future for these aerial insectivores

s also uncertain in the remainder of

heir breeding range. Georgean and

Paul Kyle will conduct a workshop

n building and maintaining new

abitat for this declining species on

unday, March 14th, from 1-4 pm.

The workshop will begin with an

ntroduction to Chimney Swifts

hat includes a slide presentation

nd video highlights from a typical

esting season.

Participants will then construct

n actual Chimney Swift Tower. After the project isompleted, participants will take a one-mile walking

our of the Chaetura Cany on Bird Sanctuary. There are

urrently 16 Chimney Swift towers on the property that

emonstrate a variety of designs and materials. One of the

owers will be opened, and the class will be shown how

o evaluate the nesting productivity of last years season.

Refreshments will be served on the deck overlooking the

Canyon following the tour.

Chaetura Canyon has been the epicenter for Chimney

wift conservation and research world-wide for more

han 20 years. Master Naturalists and property owners

with wildlife exemptions may nd this workshop useful

n their conservation efforts. Chimney Swift towers

lso make great Eagle Scout projects, so Scout Masters,

Eagle candidates and their parents should consider taking

dvantage of this unique opportunity.

Registration is limited to ten builders (16 years of age

nd older). The cost of this workshop is $35 for Travis

Audubon members and $50 for non-members. The fee

ncludes a copy of the Kyles bookChimney Swift

Towers: New Habitat for Americas Mysterious Birds.

For more information or to sign up for the workshop,

lease contact Anne Donovan at 472-3030 or email her at

[email protected].

For a preview of the walking tour, visit www.

ChimneySwifts.org and click on the Chaetura Canyon

Bird Sanctuary link.

Bird Songs and VocalizationTravis Audubon is offering a new class for intermediate

birders beginning in March and extending into May: Bird

Songs and Vocalization. Learning birdsong is a difcult,

but rewarding undertaking. Highly skilled

birders rely on bird vocalizations for many

eld identications. Some closely related

species are only distinguishable in the eld by

the differences in their songs. However, with

over 380 species listed on the Austin Region

checklist, even learning local birdsong can be

an intimidating proposition. Jeff Patterson will

be teaching this class intended to improve your

skills at bird identication through birdsong.

The class is intended for intermediate

birders who want to begin to develop, or to

sharpen their skills with birdsongs and other

vocalizations. The class will focus on the breeding birds andwinter Texans that regularly vocalize in the Central Texas

area. While learning bird songs, ight calls, contact calls,

scolds, and other vocalizations for eld identication is the

primary goal of the class, topics such as: why birds sing;

the vocal anatomy of birds; preparation for Texas eld trips;

dialects; diagnostic birdsongs; resources; and other subjects

related to birdsong will also be discussed.

The classes will be held at 6:30 pm on the Wednesday

evenings ofMarch 24, March 31, April 21 and May 5 with

eld trips on the Saturdays following each class (March

27, April 3, April 24, and May 8). Class location will be

announced at a later date. An optional out-of-town eld trip

will also be considered, depending on class preferences.

Field trip locations may include Hornsby Bend, Webberville

Park, Reimers Ranch, Balcones NWR, Pedernales Falls

State Park, and Choke Canyon State Park.

Jeff is a life-long birder who developed a curiosity for

birdsong during the mid-1980s. With the current availability

of a variety of birdsong resources, he has been able to

improve his birdsong knowledge over the past few years

and is eager to interact with interested students. Jeff isemployed as a technical specialist at the state environmental

commission where he often teaches work-related technical

classes.

The class tuition is $60 for Travis Audubon members and

$75 for non-members.To register for the class, please

contact Frances Cerbins at [email protected] or by

phone at 512-372-9039. Registration is limited to 12

participants.

TRA VIS AUD UBO N SIG NAL SMOK E / March/Ap

Join us for Brunch with the Birdsat Baker Sanctuary

You are cordially invited to one of the most memorablemornings at Baker Sanctuary this Spring:

Date: Saturday, May 8th, 2010Time: 7am to noonPlace: Baker Sanctuary

JoinVictor Emanuel, ounder o the acc laimed Victor Emanuel Nature ours, and retired Universityo exas Botany proessor Marshall Johnston, and experienced VEN tour guide Barry Lyon ona unique tour o Baker Sanctuary.

You will be serenaded by the morning songs o the birds and enjoy shade-grown coee, homemade

mufns and resh ruit beore the tour. At 11:30, ater working up an appetite, participants will easton an exquisite gourmet brunch prepared by Che Heidi Wittenborn.

MENUBacon and Mushroom Quiche

Rich custard o eggs and cream lled with bacon and mushrooms

omato, Zucchini, and Black Olive QuicheRich custard o eggs and cream ll ed with tomatoes, zucchini, and kalamata olives

Cranberry Coconut SlawCabbage, carrots, coconut, and cranberries in a light sour cream dressing

Greek Pasta SaladArtichokes, roasted red peppers, bowtie pasta, kalamata olives, and eta cheese

dressed with a dill vinaigrette

Mufn rioPoppy seed sour cream, rich lemon, and cinnamon sugar doughnut mufns

BeveragesMimosa Maiden

Lemonade

Pomegranate Passion

Admission is $125 per person with all proceeds going into the ravis Audubon Baker Sanctuaryund. Te und is used or maintenance and ongoing conser vation projects at Baker Sanctuary.Te event is limited to 15 participants, so dont wait too long!

o secure your reservations, call: (512) 300-2473 or email [email protected]. ravisAudubon is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.


9/9

16 SI GN AL SM OK E / March/April 2010 TR AV IS AU DU BO N

Nonprot Org.

U.S. Postage PaidPermit No. 2301

Austin, Texas

Travis AudubonYES! I want to enjoy the benets of Travis Audubon chap-ter membership. Enroll me as a member of Travis Audubon.Enclosed is my check for:

$10 Youth Membership (up to age 18)

$25 Individual Membership

$35 Family Membership

$75 Painted Bunting Membership (embroidered patch ofPainted Bunting)

$100 Vireo Membership (Embroidered patch of Vireo, TAcar decal)

$250 Warbler Membership (Embroidered patch of War-bler, TA car decal, 1 free class, VIP eld trip)

$1,000 Lifetime Membership (Special Lifetime Memberembroidered patch, T-shirt, TA car decal, Invitationto special events, VIP eld trip)

T-shirt size (for premium memberships) ________________

This is a gift membership from________________________

Name __________________________Phone _____________

Address __________________________________________

City ______________________ State ____ Zip __________

Email ____________________________________________

Visit the Travis Audubon Web site:www.travisaudubon.org

Travis Audubon3710 Cedar Street

Box 5Austin, TX. 78705

Dated Material - DO NOT DELAY

Join your local Audubon chapter, Travis Audubon, by using theform at the right. Your dues will be put to use supporting lo-cal conservation, education, research projects, eld trips, andother Travis Audubon activities right here in Central Texas.We seek your support through your membership in our lo-cal chapter. (To become a member of the national Audubon,please go to their website at www.audubon.org. Dont forgetto include the National Audubon Source Code of 79M7 andthe Travis Audubon Chapter code of W03, so Travis Audubonreceives credit.)

Join Travis Audubon now and supportlocal birds, wildlife, and their habitats.

Travis Audubon chapter members receive six issues of thisSina Ske newsletter, priority sign-ups on local eld trips,discounts on our educational classes, the opportunity to par-ticipate in our e-mail group and attend our wonderful monthlylectures, and more!

To join Travis Audubon:Make your check payable to Travis Audubon and send it withthis form to Travis Audubon, 3710 Cedar St., Box 5, Austin, TX78705, or join on-line using any major credit card by going towww.travisaudubon.org and clicking on Membership.

T rav i s Audubo n

March-April 2010 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society

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