8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
1/16
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE ...From the President...........................2
Blair Woods.........................................3
Naturalists Calendar.........................4
The Dan Callaway Report...............5
Hornsby Bend News.........................5
TAS Classes.........................................6
Sabine Woods................. .... ...............7
TAS Monthly Meeting News...........8
Notes from Chaetura Canyon........9
Volunteers of the Month................10
Baker Sanctuary News...................11
TAS Events..................................12-13
Hawkwatch 2008.................. .....14-15
Travis Audubon Society
Membership Form ...........Back page
VOLUME 58, NO. 1 & 2 January/February 200
SIGNAL SmokeThe Newsletter f Travs Audubn Scety
AS Regular Monthly Meetings
Thursday, Jan 15, 7:00pm
rds of the Upper Texas Coast
Speaer: Ted Lee Eubansd
Thursday, Feb 19, 7:00pm
Bird Tours Across the WorldSpeaer: Vctr Eanuel
The Redbud Centerat 3601 Lake Austin Blvd. Austin TX
Please note venue is subject to change
Drs pen at 6:30 p fr scal te
see page 8 for
additional details on both events
Photo credits - group photos: Laura Auchterlonie
Photo of Sallie Delahoussaye and owl: Nancy Manning
7th Annual Youth Birding Camp a Success
On October 18th, we enjoyed perfect weather and meeting18 edging birders at Travis
Audubons Youth Birding Camp. We identied some 58 bird species at the ponds and
in the woods at Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research. We were delighte
by close up views of a colorful Yellow-headed Blackbird and circled by a ock of American
White Pelicans. The best mom moment was for our ED when her 20 year old daughter,
previously oblivious to birds, was the rst to identify a Green-winged Teal and talked
endlessly about the Killdeer running by the ponds.
Virginia Rose started theday with a wonderful
how to ID birds morning
presentation. Spider
Joe Lapp took us to the
greenhouses to nd bugs
and spiders. And the nale
was Sallie Delahoussaye
with her live raptors!
Thanks to our YBC
coordinator, Julia Balinsky,
for once again surviving
the coordination of somany adults and kids.
Thanks to all of our volunteers: Andy Balinsky,
veteran camper Jesse Huth, Marsh
May, Shelia Hargis, Laurie Foss,
Claude Morris, Martha Renfroe,
Kenneth Zaslow, Jeff Patterson,
Denise Dickey, Kellie Allen, Dian
& Bruce Calder, Bruce Atwell,
Jocelyn Taijeron, Sarah Garry, Ky
Torneten, Theresa Bayoud.
Special thanks to Kevin Anderson
at Hornsby Bend and to Susan
King for providing the Kaufman
Field Guides. A BIG Thank You to
our sponsors who included Travis
Audubon Society, Clif Bar, Papa
Johns on Oltorf, and Wheatsville.
We also thank our friends, Sandy
and Randy, of Naturally Curious.
Nancy Manni
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
2/16
2 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS
ABOUT SIGNAL SMOKE
Mission StatementTravis Audubon Society promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and
conservation of native birds and their habitats.
From the TAS President
TAS Rare Bird Alert Eric Carpenter 300-2473select option #3
Advocacy Jeff Mundy 334-4300Bird Records Lawrence Buford 452-6344
Ethel Kutac 346-7659 Habitat Conservation Valarie Bristol 300-BIRD
Education Byron Stone 970-5154 Field Trips Stan VanSandt 300-BIRD
Terry Banks 300-BIRDHornsby Bend Priscilla Murr 477-6192
Hospitality Susan Moak 925-4590Latin America Bob Warneke 300-BIRD
Fundraising/Membership/Volunteer Nancy Manning 300-BIRDPrograms Ann Gardner 306-0737
Property and Finance Kelly Logan 320-8000 Publications Tess Sherman 300-2473
Sanctuary Chair Terri Siegenthaler 263-2237 Society Historian John Kelly 331-8693
Youth Education Julia Balinsky 926-7312Urban Habitat Jane Tillman 794-0058
Travis Audubon Society
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 DIRECTORS2008-09
PresidentMarsha May 300-BIRD
Vice PresidentValarie Bristol 300-BIRD
Treasurervacant
SecretaryClaude Morris 300-BIRD
DirectorsRobin DoughtyBill Edwards
Shelia HargisKelly LoganChris MaseyJeff MundyTerri Siegenthaler
Executive DirectorNancy Manning 300-BIRD
Administrative AssistantJocelyn Taijeron 300-BIRD
BAKER SANCTUARY STEWARDJohn Wilcox 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
TAS TELEPHONE
The ofce number is 512-300-BIRD(2473). To leave a message for Board
President Marsha May, press 1. To report
sightings of rare or unusual birds in Cen-tral Texas, press 3. To ask a bird-relatedquestion, press 4.
TAS WEB SITEwww.travisaudubon.org
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 isa TAS membership benet. To join, use theform on the back page of this issue or go towww.travisaudubon.org for an online form.For address or subscription changes, pleasecall 512.300.BIRD (2473) or e-mail [email protected]. The USPS does not forwardSignal Smoke. Copyright 2009. No part of this
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 Society.
G
reetings! Travis Audubon Society needs your help there
are numerous ways for you to get involved in this wonderful
organization. Please go to our web site and check out the
descriptions for each committee at www.travisaudubon.org/comms.html.
I am sure that there is at least one that could greatly benet from your
expertise.
Winters cold winds soon warm into spring and with spring comes an
array of incredible avian migrants. Hurricane Ike destructively impacted
our Texas Coast last autumn. What will those migrants nd when
they arrive? Winnie Burkett, Houston Audubons Sanctuary Manager,
currently has work days scheduled for January 10, February 14 and
March 14. They may schedule more if needed. Please go to the Houston
Audubon Societys web site for information on what you can do to help:
www.houstonaudubon.org/.
Well, heres to a brighter future and I hope you all have a Very Happy
New Year! Enjoy the Birds!
Marsha May
Snal Se is printed
on recycled paper with soy ink.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
3/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009
Our Day at Blair Woods
BLAIR WOODS RESTORATION PROJECT
The Blair Woods Project Is Part of Nationwide Initiative to
Engage Volunteers in Conservation Efforts
S
tanding in awe at the top of the hill, we realized this had
not been the view on September 20th when we arrived with
our volunteers to begin restoration of Blair Woods. Only a
phenomenal amount of energy and dedication could be responsible for
the view at the end of the day on November 15, 2008.
With a grant received from TogetherGreen, a non-prot formed by
National Audubon Society and Toyota, we have managed to breath
life back into Blair Woods, our ten acre eastside sanctuary. This
project represents a new frontier for restoration of urban habitat on
the eastside of Austin. No less important is the success we have had
in engaging a new and diverse group of volunteers. Three 12-hour
work days have produced 70 brand new eager volunteers, working a
total of nearly 800 hours. On our last work day, we were proud to be
joined by 25 very talented kids (they even danced for us!) from Youth
Launch. If you dont know about these amazing kids, please check out
the Youth Launch website and learn about No kidding and Urban
Roots.
Thus far we have chipped and hauled about 195 yards of non-native
brush and never quite believe how much more there seems to be! We
have reached the halfway mark in terms of the grant, but not in terms
of the work. The future of Blair Woods is a hopeful one. Stay tuned
for more of this success story.
Nancy Manning
Photo Credit: Nancy Mannin
Photo Credit: Teri Siegenthaler
Annual Meeting & Board Member ElectionOur annual business meeting will be held March 19, 2009.
At the meeting, current TAS members will vote on a slate of
candidates for the Board of Directors. The new term will begin
on April 9, 2009. The entire slate, along with brief biographi-
cal information, will be published in the March Signal Smoke.
If you would like the information sooner, it will be available on
our website by February 15. If you dont have internet access
but would like the information before the March Signal Smoke,
call Shelia Hargis at 291-1861. Make sure your membership is
current so you can vote in this election and have a voice in the
governance of Travis Audubon Society.
Steve & Judy ScottBroker-Associates
Office: 512-637-8107Mobile: 512-656-4671
www.steveandjudyscott.com
Keller Williams Realty9430 Research Blvd. IV-180, Austin TX 78759
Watch for sponsors, donors, and fun
photos from the Holiday Fiesta 2008
in our next issue.
SparrowFest January 31, 2009Join us for a Sparrow Celebration! This ever-popular one-day
workshop returns to Balcones Canyonlands NWR! Led by
Sparrow Experts Byron Stone, Bill Reiner and Chuck Sexton.
Located about 30 miles NW of Austin, TX. Space is limited.
Online registration begins December 15, 2008
call: 512 965-2473
email: [email protected]
web: www.friendsofbalcones.org/sparrowFest.html
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
4/16
4 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
NATURALISTSCALENDAR
by Bill Reiner
o by Robert Baumgardner
Cold winter weather presents challenges for all animals.
Birds and mammals, including humans, have an advantage
over reptiles, amphibians, sh, and invertebrates, in that
we are homeothermic or warm-blooded. We can maintain
a stable body temperature from the food we eat rather than
depending upon external heat sources. A disadvantage is that
we must eat much more food to maintain that body temperature.
Through the winter, animals active during the day including
almost all birds native to Central Texas, except for the owls and
nightjars are particularly hard-pressed to nd food in the fewer
hours of daylight.
Many birds, especially those that depend upon insects, migrate
southward to avoid starvation as those food sources become
scarce. Birds that stay must protect themselves from the cold
while nding enough food to sustain their metabolism.
On average, birds must maintain a higher body temperature
(ranging from 100 to 110F) than do mammals. This
disadvantage is offset by the better insulating properties feathers
provide compared to mammal hair. Birds also lack eshy
extremities such as ears, tails, and toes that can dissipate body
heat. Their bills are composed of bone and keratin, which are
much more resistant to cold temperatures than the skin. The scaly
legs and feet of birds are mostly tendenous, so are less susceptible
to freezing than the rest of the body.
The feet and legs do have blood vessels. However, in many birds,
the arteries that supply warm blood to the feet are situated next
to the veins that return cooler blood to the body. Heat from the
arteries warms the blood returning through the veins. The blood
reaching the birds feet is cooler, sometimes nearly the same as
the surrounding air, but still warm enough to keep its toes from
freezing. This is especially helpful for ducks and gulls, which may
stand for long periods on ice without their feet freezing.
There is still some heat lost through the legs. A bird can reduce
the heat loss by standing on one leg and pulling the other up into
its belly feathers. It can also squat down to cover both feet with its
feathers. The thinly feathered (or bare) skin around the eyes and
bill can also lose heat, so a bird will tuck its bill and face into the
insulating feathers of the back to sleep.
Feathers are terric insulators, as anyone who has owned a down
vest or comforter knows. They work by trapping pockets of air,
which are then warmed by body heat. A sweater can help you stay
warm in much the same way, but, as with a sweater, the insulating
properties of feathers can be compromised by wind.
Winter weather forecasts often emphasize the wind chill, a way of
quantifying how air feels colder to us when there is a breeze. The
wind chills us by evaporating perspiration as well as by sweeping
away the body-warmed layer of air next to our skin. Birds do not
perspire, but they do lose body heat when the wind penetrates
their feathers. The outermost feathers offer some protection
much like a windbreaker over a sweater but the protection is n
absolute. Gaps in feathers are inevitable as a bird moves about i
search of food or to escape a predator.
Small birds are particularly vulnerable to heat loss, since they
have more surface area in relation to their body mass. This is whmany small birds seek sheltered valleys and the lee sides of ridg
and stands of trees on windy winter days. They must also pig
out every day on high-fat, high-calorie foods just to store enoug
fat to survive the night.
Shelter at night is even more critical than during the day. Some
birds may lose a third of their body mass just maintaining their
temperature during long winter nights. Chickadees, titmice, wre
bluebirds, and woodpeckers roost in cavities in trees. Sparrows,
warblers, kinglets, goldnches, and vireos seek dense thickets
or clusters of leaves to block the wind. A study of the winter
movements and roosting habits of juncos found that the roosts
primarily in densely-foliated crowns of conifers were notespecially warm, but effectively blocked wind. At ve of seven
of these roosts, air temperature within the foliage was only abou
2F warmer, but winds of 18 miles per hour outside the roost we
reduced to less than 2 miles per hour within the foliage.
Inca Doves will huddle together for warmth, sometimes even
piling, pyramid-like, on top of one another. A study of tiny
European Goldcrests (cousins to our Golden-crowned Kinglets)
found that two huddled together at 32F were able to reduce the
heat losses by 23% each; three together reduced the loss by 37%
The tiny Verdins of deserts and mesquite savannas roost in nests
built specically for winter shelter. The spherical clump of twigslined with feathers and other ne materials has a small entrance
hole at the side. It looks the same as a nest built for raising a
family, and sometimes it is the same structure, but it is usually
placed closer to the trunk of a tree or major limb. Though a
nest of twigs might seem poor insulation against winter winds,
particularly in windswept desert areas, a study in California
found that wind penetration inside the nests was only about 2%
outside conditions.
The researchers also calculated how much energy would be lost
by a Verdin roosting in the open compared to one in a nest. They
found that, on a clear night, at 50F, with a wind speed of only 3
miles per hour (rather mild conditions for winter), the exposedbird would likely lose more energy than it could store. The
sheltered bird would, in comparison, expend only 50 to 60% of
reserves. It would emerge in the morning probably very hungry,
but alive. That may seem an uncomfortably narrow margin of
error to us, but its a way of life for many animals in the winter.
Sources for this article included: www.ornithology.com, The AudubSociety Encyclopedia of North American Birds, by John K. Terres.
Energy Savings Attending Winter-nest Use by Verdins (Auriparus
aviceps), by William A. Buttemer, et al., in The Auk, vol. 104. Habit
Use and Flock Activity of Dark-eyed Juncos in Winter, by Bradley M.
Gottfried and Edwin C. Franks, in The Wilson Bulletin, vol. 87, no. 3.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
5/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E /January/February 2009
THE
DAN CALLAWAY
REPORTDan Callaway,photo by Robert Baumgardner
Participants: Ethel Kutac, Ingrid Huskey, Catsh Kelly and Dan
Callaway
We began birding at Bull Creek Park then headed West
on 71 and birded the county roads starting with Bob
Wire, (not barbed wire) and ending with Old Ferry
Road. Good sightings included Common Raven, American
Robin, Western Scrub-Jay, Chipping, Field, and White-crowned
Sparrow, Golden-fronted and Ladder-backed Woodpecker,
Carolina Chickadee, Black-crested Titmouse, Canyon, Bewicks,
and Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned
and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Red-tailed Hawk,
Hermit Thrush, American Goldnch, and Spotted Towhee. At
Pace Bend Park we added Osprey, Ring-billed Gull, American
Kestrel, Great Blue Heron, and Vesper Sparrow.
In the afternoon we birded Paleface Ranch and Haynie Flats
Roads. At the golf course we stopped to check a water hazard
next to the road. Catsh took pictures of what we rst identiedas a pair of Mottled Ducks. Since one had a shorter and not-so-
yellow bill as the other, we compared the pictures with Sibley.
The bill, head, and neck coloration resembled characteristics of
not only Mottled Ducks, but also Black and Mexican Ducks.
Sibley does note that all three do hybridize. If the ducks are
there later, we suspect they could be semi-domesticated.
Janene Rowan and Emil Levasseur birded Hornsby Bend
and South Park Meadows. Their interesting nds included
Bufehead, Common Goldeneye, Eared Grebe, Ring-necked
Duck, Coopers Hawk, Crested Caracara, Sora, Greater
Yellowlegs, American Pipit, Savannah, Lincolns and Song
Sparrow, and Lesser Goldnch.
Total species for Travis County: 71
Birding to Pace Bend - 11/26/08
Hornsby Bend News
This column shares my experiences on the monthly
bird survey at the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
(www.hornsbybend.org/). The survey has been going
on for close to ten years now, and I have been participating
on and off for most of that time. Ive lived in Austin since
1983 and have been birding in the Austin area since 1996.Unfortunately, these days I only visit Hornsby once a month
for the survey. Since 2006, most of my birding has been in
my neighborhood in far northwest Austin. (I blog about it
here: www.birdingonbroadmeade.blogspot.com).
November 8, 2008
For this months survey my group of three covered the ponds
and part of the river trail. The weather was excellent cool
and clear with little wind. It was a joy to be outdoors and
looking for birds. Fall and Winter bring many ducks and
sparrows to the ponds. Around Pond 1 West in the tall grass
we found Lincolns Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, dozens of
Savannah Sparrows, a single White-crowned Sparrow, and
we counted eight Marsh Wrens. American Pipits were also
back, ying over often. The only shorebirds we saw were
several of the year-round resident Killdeer, nine Spotted
Sandpipers, about sixty Least Sandpipers, and just two
Wilsons Snipe. At about 8:30 we saw a dark column of
smoke rising from the road and we wondered what it was.
Pond 1 East and Pond 2 had hundreds of ducks, mostly
Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, and Green-winged Teal.
We found smaller numbers of Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall,
Northern Pintail, Redhead, and Ring-necked Duck. (We
learned later that another group found some Canvasbacks,
which we missed.) There were a few grebes around too,
including a single Least Grebe which we were excited to see
in Pond 2.
At the southeast corner of Pond 1 we went into the woods
to see what songbirds we could nd. Right by the pond we
found some newly returned winter residents like Orange-
crowned Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped
Warbler and a Hermit Thrush. Walking downhill towards
the river we got to hear and then see a Blue-headed Vireo.
Then we entered the Black Willow Trail, one of my favorite
spots at Hornsby. The only bird we added to the list there
was a Red-bellied Woodpecker, but the tall sunlit tree canopy
was beautiful to see. So was the clear, glassy water in the
Colorado River with fallen leaves drifting on its surface.
We ended the morning with sad news. The column of smoke
over the road we had seen from the ponds earlier was from a
fatal trafc accident on FM 973. A young man had attempted
an illegal pass and had a head-on collision with an 18-
wheeler. The truck driver was OK but the young man died
at the scene. Please be careful on this road when visiting
Hornsby!
Mikael Behrens
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
6/16
6 SI GN AL SM OK E /January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
TAS ClassesWaterfowl Identication ClassBegin the new year by learning how to identify those ducks!
If youve been walking around Town Lake and wondering
what kind of ducks you see, this class will provide you with
answers. Travis Audubon Society is pleased to announce that
Jean Martin will again teach the Waterfowl Identication
Class. Jean also teaches the Beginning Birding Class, and has
almost 20 years birding experience. This course will focus
on ducks, grebes, geese and other waterfowl found in Texas,especially during the winter months. It is well suited for
birders who have completed the Beginning Birding Class or
for those who have ignored ducks because all those females
look alike.
The class will consist of two lectures (followed by eld
trips) plus a third eld trip on a different afternoon. Lectures
will be on Saturdays, Jan. 24 and Feb. 7, from 8 to 10 am.
at Hornsby Bend. The rst two eld trips will begin a few
minutes after the lecture sessions end and will last until about
2 pm.; locations will be announced at class time. A third eld
trip will be held Saturday, Feb. 21, from noon to about 7 pm.Participation in eld trips is considered an important part of the
class learning experience. Tuition is $45 for Travis Audubon
Society members and $60 for nonmembers. The class will be
limited to 14 participants. To register, e-mail waterfowlclass@
austin.rr.com, or call Jean Martin at 343-7053.
Beginning Birding ClassesIf you enjoy seeing birds in your yard and want to learn to
identify them, or if youve been looking for a new nature-
oriented hobby, perhaps a birding class is just what you need
to begin the new year right. Once again TAS will sponsor
both a daytime and an evening series of classes for beginning
birders. Participants may register for either series, and each will
include four lecture/slide sessions and four eld trips. Because
eld trips provide the opportunity to put into practice the skills
taught in the classroom, we strongly encourage registrants
to make a commitment to attend the eld trips as well as the
lectures.
Jean Martin is beginning her 10 th year teaching the classes,
which are designed to provide new birders with the techniques
and skills to help them identify unfamiliar birds. Participants
will receive a beginning birding booklet, plus many other
handouts. Among the topics to be discussed are choosing
binoculars and eld guides, identication tips, bird biology, and
migration.
The lecture/slide presentations will be held at a location in
northwest Austin. Field trips will be taken to various locations
in Travis and nearby counties later in the same week as the
classes. Trips begin early in the morning and end between noon
and 2 pm.
Schedule for the Tuesday Afternoon ClassLecture/slide presentations will be held from 1-3:30 pm on Feb.
24, Mar. 10, Mar. 17, and Mar. 31.
Field trips will be on Wednesdays beginning about 7 am. The
rst two eld trips will end about noon and the last two will
end about 2pm; the dates are Feb. 25, Mar. 11, Mar. 18, andApr. 1.
Schedule for the Thursday Evening ClassLecture/slide presentations will be held from 7-9:30 pm on Feb.
26, Mar. 12, Mar. 19, and Apr. 2.
Field trips will be on Saturdays beginning about 7 am. The rst
two eld trips will end about noon and the last two will end
about 2 pm; the dates are Feb. 28, Mar. 14, Mar. 21, and Apr. 4.
The class tuition is $55 for Travis Audubon Society members
and $65 for non-members. Class size is limited, so register
early, especially for the evening class, which always lls
quickly. To register, send e-mail to Jean Martin atbegbird@
austin.rr.com or phone her at 343-7053. Be sure to specify
whether you want to attend the class with the Tuesday
afternoon lectures and Wednesday eld trips or the class with
the Thursday evening lectures and Saturday eld trips.
Our DonorsWe thank these persons and groups who generously made re-
cent contributions to Travis Audubon Society (as of press time):
Painted Bunting
Larry Ringstaff
Barbara VinsonJill Hinckley
Claudia Hisky
Vireo
Frances & Oskar Cerbins
Cordelia Hanzlik
Joseph Acosta
Joanna Hitchcock
Thomas Linker
Thomas Camp
Penny Potter
Bill & Ann Edwards
Cheryl HazeltineAnna Faye Peterson
Warbler
Sarah Heather
Chimney Swift Tower in
Memory of Gray Jolink
Edward Travis
Mark Silverstone
Robert Groves
Michael Hatch
James WillsDonald Davis
Sally Mandell
Daniel Byrne
Jane Tillman
Larry Jones
Cleve Tandy Foundation
Memorial Gift in Honor of
Maribel Cullen
Loren J. Okrina
Chaetura Canyon
Steve Janda, in memory ofBettie Janda
Tess Sherman
Unrestricted Donations
Janice Summer & Kay Little
Mary Blackstock
Ingrid Huskey
Olive G. Forbes
The Powell Foundation
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
7/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009
Much of Texas Ornithological Societys Sabine Woods,
just over four miles west of Sabine Pass in southern
Jefferson County, is on an old beach ridge which
is between ve and eight feet above sea level, yet the woods
were inundated on September 13th, 2008 with six to eight feet
of salt water in the storm surge of the hurricane. Essentially
all the man made structures in the woods were destroyed bythe combination of wind and water. Boardwalk sections were
broken apart, and some deposited in various places around the
woods. Much of the former boardwalk is simply unaccounted
for, and presumably in small pieces somewhere in the marsh
north of the Woods. The picnic shelter is no more. Most, but
not quite all, of the benches are gone to places unknown.
Fortunately, there were no man made structures to the south of
Sabine Woods, and only marsh grasses came into the woods
from outside. The combination of the wind and salt water top
killed all the underbrush, and caused the leaves that remained on
the trees to turn brown. Many of the weaker trees in the Woods
had been felled by the winds in Hurricane Rita (September 25,
2005) and additional tree losses were only moderate at most.
Three large oaks were among the casualties. The ponds are lled
with salt water. The fence along the highway is now in relatively
poor shape; the fences on the other three sides were damaged,
but appear repairable. The water system is still intact, but we
have not been able to test it to see if there is any damage.
On the brighter side, almost all the trees have put out new green
leaves, and some of the underbrush is beginning to show new
growth. The Woods were completely brown when we were rst
able to check them a week or ten days after the storm. Now,
they stand out as a green oasis. There was a good rain two days
before the rst work day, but we still need many more such rainsto help wash the salt away, even though the rain did make the
going a little muddy on the work day.
With the much appreciated assistance of 29 volunteers, the rst
work day at Sabine Woods was held on October 18th to begin
the process of recovering Sabine Woods from the ravages of
Hurricane Ike in weather that could not have been better: little
wind, pleasant temperatures and decreasing humidity as the
day progressed. On this rst work day, essentially all the old
boardwalk sections were broken into pieces that can be moved
without heavy equipment. We considered attempting to salvage
portions of the boardwalk for reuse as boardwalk, but the more
we got into them, the clearer it became that is was not practicalto save any large sections. Most were wedged in and between
trees and many were badly buckled and otherwise damaged.
Many were in locations where it would likely be impossible
to bring in equipment without damage to trees. Boardwalks
section are very heavy! So, we broke and cut the boardwalks
into manageable sections and piled them out of the path of the
trails. When we had nished, the trails were almost all cleared,
save for three large trees that will need to be dealt with by
professionals.
Birds are already beginning to use the Woods again, and we have
no doubt that there will be food for migrants in the spring. The
ground and underbrush dwelling species may not be very happy
with the relatively open understory. White-throated Sparrows,
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are among the wintering species already
present.
For the immediate future, we are still looking for a viable way to
drain or dilute the salt water in the main pond. We still have some
fence repair to do on the west and north boundaries. The fence
along the highway will eventually need to be completely replaced,
which will involve clearing a path for it, and which will likely
require a contractor, but it is not as urgent as it does not serve to
keep cattle out as the fences on the other three sides will need to
do again when cattle are brought back to the area. However, we
maybe should replace the gates and gateposts sooner rather than
later. It would be nice to have a couple of picnic tables to replace
those lost, and replacement of the shelter would provide some
cover when it rains. We will need to work on the water system.
We dont currently know whether city water service is functional
at the location, although there is no obvious damage to our system
We will need to have the back ow preventer tested and we plan
to add additional outlets for use when we plant trees using the
Birding Classic grant funds next winter.
While we will need almost certainly need to pay a contractor
or contractors for some work at the Woods in the intermediate
term future. TOS (Texas Ornithological Society) will continue
to appreciate your nancial contributions towards such work.
Volunteer help on the work days is valuable way beyond anything
that you probably realize. Contracting for even simple tasks
means paying for travel time as well as the cost of the labor andthe very signicant overhead costs that contractors have. The
ability of volunteers to distinguish between an oak tree and a
tallow tree and similar environmental sensitivities reduces the
need for management and supervision to a minimum. Contracting
for any work in the somewhat out of the way location of Sabine
Woods is not easy in the current environment in which there is a
great surplus of available work. We have considerable difculty
in providing oversight of any weekday contractor work. In
short, TOS benets enormously from the contributions of time
and effort by volunteers, and thanks them most sincerely for it.
Tentatively, we are proposing February 28th for the next work
day, and considering the possibility of a further one on March 28th
if necessary. The latter might be necessary to deal with invasiveexotics. We have a unique opportunity to access some areas
that are normally inaccessible underbrush, and we will need to
aggressively deal with any exotics hopefully not many species
that prove to be more salt-tolerant than the native species we want
to encourage.
John A. Whittle
Golden Triangle Audubon Society
December 9, 2008
Hurricane Ike and Sabine Woods
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
8/16
8 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
Alamo InnLower Rio Grande * Lodging for
BirdersGuiding * Guides include Benton Basham
Artists studio * Grover Terry BeamanOptics dealer * Brunton & Alpen
956-782-9912www.alamoinnsuites.com
801 Main Street, Alamo TX
across from El Dorado Restaurant
Monthly Meeting InformationTAS 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)
Location: The Redbud Center, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd. Please note that this locaton is subject to change. Notication
will be made via the webpage and email blasts. Parking available in the adjacent lots. Refreshments provided. No
monthly meetings during June, July, or August.
January 15, 2009Guest Speaker: Ted Lee Eubanks
Topic: Faces of Flight - Birds of the Upper Texas
Coast
Teds presentation will cover aspects of the avifauna as
outlined in his two books (copies will be available). More
importantly, he will describe the impacts of Hurricane
Ike, and what we can expect as a recovery over the next
several years.
Ted Lee Eubanks, currently residing in Austin and
Galveston, received a BA in Journalism from the
University of Houston in 1978, and since 1984 has been
involved in the founding and development of a series of
businesses. Eubanks founded Fermata in 1992, and since
that time has been engaged in studying and promoting
experiential tourism and outdoor recreation as sustainable
approaches to community revitalization and conservation.
Eubanks frequently speaks and conducts workshops
on nature-based tourism and its economic potential
for communities, agencies, and landholders. Eubanks
addresses state tourism conferences, wildlife meetings,
and economic development forums. Eubankss natural
history writings and photographs are widely published.
His books, published by Texas A&M Press, include
Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas
Coast, coauthored with Bob Behrstock and Ron Weeks,
andFinding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding
Trail, coauthored with Bob Behrstock and Seth Davidson.
Business Members
Travis Audubon is delighted to
recognize its Business Members:
Capital Printing Co.
Jeff Baker Stanberry Realtors
Powell, Ebert & Smolik, PCTo learn about the benets of supporting Travis Audubon as
a Business Member, please go to www.travisaudubon.org and
click on Business Members, or contact Travis Audubon at
512.300.BIRD (2473).
February 19, 2009Guest Speaker: Victor Emanuel
Topic: Bird Tours of the World
Join us for Victors presentation on over 30 years of bird
tour leading, how his company, VENT (Victor Emanuel
Nature Tours), got started, and some memorable moment
along the way. VENT is the largest company in the
world specializing in birding tours. VENT has played a
pioneer role in helping develop ecotourism and is a strong
advocate of supporting local conservation organizations.
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 60 years ago
at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the
continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas,
Arizona, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. He is the founder
and compiler for 50 years of the record-breaking Freepor
Christmas Bird Count, and served a term as president of
the Texas Ornithological Society. Birds and natural histor
have been a major focus throughout his life. He derives
great pleasure from seeing and hearing birds.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
9/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 9
Notes from Chaetura Canyon
Grey Fox on the side deck
Photo credit: Paul D. Kyle
The primary remembrance for 2008 was the prolonged
drought. However, Chaetura Canyon did fair better
than many surrounding areas with a total of 19.95
inches as of December 1st. Comparing that total to the 45.49
inches in 2007 and 29.51 inches in 2006 (for the same time
period) is cause for concern.
In late October, the 153rd avian species was added to theongoing property list when a Downy Woodpecker spent
a few days on the Sanctuary. This brings the woodpecker
species count to six including Ladder-backed, Golden-
fronted, Red-bellied, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Northern
Flicker.
Although not a
new species, we
were graced with
the presence of a
young Grey Fox
who spent aninordinate amount
of time around
the residence. He
showed up on the
deck just outside
the kitchen to
partake of some pecans we had set out for the local Western
Scrub Jays.
In mid November our neighbor Ron Wood helped process th
pile of cedar branches that had been accumulating from our
habitat management since the rst of the year. There is now
nice pile of mulch to use on the trails of the Sanctuary.
Throughout 2009 we will be hosting many of the events
that have been popular and successful over the past two
years: Chimney Swift Tower Workshop, Habitat Stewards
Workshop and Lunch, Chalupas and Chimney Swifts
Mexican Food Buffet, Second Saturday Swift Watch (May
thru August), and the ever popular Dinner with the Swifts in
the fall. Check the TAS web site and calendar for dates and
specics.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge a very generous
donation to Chaetura Canyon in memory of Bettie Janda.
Bettie, her husband Laddie and all of their children werelong-time supporters of conservation efforts at Chaetura
Canyon even before Travis Audubon took over ownership o
the Sanctuary.
Happy New Year!
Georgean and Paul Ky
Sanctuary Steward
Gray Jolink Memorial Chimney Swift TowerWorkshop at Chaetura Canyon
In 2008, TAS Board Member and long-time conservationistGray Jolink passed away unexpectedly. Friends andcolleagues have donated generously to build a Chimney Swift
Tower as a memorial to Gray. This Kiosk Tower will be located
at Mayeld Park.
You are invited to attend a free workshop sponsored by the
Education Committee, the Chaetura Canyon Management
Committee and the Gray Jolink Chimney Swift Tower Fund. If
you have ever wanted to learn more about Chimney Swifts and
how to provide new habitat for this fascinating and benecial
species, there will never be a better time. Join Sanctuary
Stewards Georgean and Paul Kyle to participate in this unique
conservation opportunity.
The rst part of the workshop is scheduled for Sunday, March
15th from 1:00 pm til 4:00 pm at Chaetura Canyon Sanctuary.
Chaetura Canyon has been the epicenter for Chimney Swift
conservation and research world-wide for more than 20 years.
The workshop will begin with an introduction to Chimney
Swifts that includes video highlights from a typical nesting
season.
Participants will then construct the nest chamber for the ChimneSwift Tower. After the project is completed, participants will
take a one-mile walking tour of the Chaetura Canyon Bird
Sanctuary. There are currently 16 Chimney Swift towers on the
property that demonstrate a variety of designs and materials. On
of the towers will be opened, and the class will be shown
how to evaluate the nesting productivity of last years season.
Refreshments will be served on the deck overlooking the Canyo
following the tour. The second part of the workshop involves
installing the tower at Mayeld Park. This will include preparing
the site, pouring the slab, building the tower and attaching the
surrounding Kiosk. The date for the installation will be schedule
to have the tower completed by April 1st. The nishing touch wil
be a plaque to memorialize Grays commitment and contributionenvironmental conservation.
Registration is limited to 12 builders (16 years of age and older)
For more information or to sign up for the workshop, please con
Anne Donovan at 472-3030 or email her at ajdonovan@austin.
rr.com
For a preview of the walking tour, visit www.ChimneySwifts.org
and click on the Chaetura Canyon Bird Sanctuary link.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
10/16
10 SI GN AL SM OK E /January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
Volunteers of the Month(s)
More worms = More birdsFor A Natural lawn building approach
Call JR at 512-567-2024Early birds get the free assessment!
www.soilsalive.com
For the months of January and February we are honoring
two committed volunteers; Claude Morris and Julia
Balinsky. Yes, we just happened to get a shot of them
together at Youth Birding Camp.
Julia Balinsky coordinates Youth Birding Camp for us
each year and is the chair person of the Youth Education
Committee. In her past life she was a teacher and now lends
that wisdom to us as she patiently juggles kids, parents,
presenters, and volunteers in the weeks before Youth Birding
Camp, somehow managing to bring it all together just in time.
Less known is the fact that she brings and then takes home
the dishes to wash each year so the kids will learn that plates
shouldnt be thrown away!
Claude Morris is a current Board member, but you are
likely to know him because of his leadership of the monthly
Colorado River monitoring survey. Each month Claude and
his band of river birders collect data for Kevin Anderson at the
Center for Environmental Research. He also leads the oating
trips each September from Webberville to Big Webberville
Park and is known to help lead the Hornsby Bend Walks
several times a year. Claude is also the most likely person
to respond to requests for a bird survey and lets not forget
his willingness and patience to teach the young edglings at
Youth Birding Camp.
The 2009 TAS Copper Canyon OdysseyEaster in the CanyonJoin Fellow TAS members April 11 - 18, on a journey to
Barrancas del Cobre. Mexicos Copper Canyon, offers
something for everyone: spectacular scenery, Mexican history,
indigenous population, an incredible train ride known for its
challenging engineering feat as well as amazing vistas, and of
course, great birds.
The canyons are home to 290 recorded bird species,including
the Military Macaw, Thick-billed Parrot, Russet-crowned
Motmot, Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Sinaloa Wren, Bare-
throated Tiger-Heron, Eared Trogon, Red-faced Warbler and
numerous ycatchers, trogons, and hummingbirds. Your Copper
Canyon birding guide, Carlos Granados, is a native of the region
and while there are no guarantees to what you will see, he
looks forward to welcoming you to his hometown and showingyou around. Price per person in double room: $1895; Single
Supplement $300
WHATS INCLUDED?
Lodging for 7 nights with taxes and gratuities
All meals as listed
Local transportation including Chihuahua al Pacico trainbetween Chihuahua and El Fuerte
Guide services of certied local tour guide with experienceguiding birders
Escort from TAS
Dinner and presentation with representatives of Tierra Nativa
Basic gratuities for lodge staff and guide
Travel Guard Group Insurance Protection Plan
Tax deductible donation to Travis Audubon Society
Donation to Tierra Nativa
Checklist to the birds of Copper Canyon
Trip limited to 11participants (plus the TAS escort)
Sign up now & receive a detailed itinerary by e-mailing:[email protected], subject line TAS Copper CanyonOdyssey.
Photo credit: Nancy Manning
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
11/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 11
South Central Texas is still
experiencing drought conditions.
In fact, the average rainfall for
our area is 30 inches for the year, but the
Sanctuary has received just over 18 inches
of rainfall as of November 2008.
Several state and federal agencies such
as NOAA, the Texas Forest Service,
USDA and Texas A & M University post
information on their web sites that include
maps displaying the Keech-Byram
Drought Index, the US Drought Monitor/
South, and the Palmer Drought Severity
Index. The US Drought Monitor, issued through
the National Drought Mitigation Center on
October 30th, shows long-term drought conditions generally
ranging from abnormally dry to extreme across the region.
Rainfall decits for 2008 continue to increase and havereached as high as over 20 inches below normal in some areas.
Water usage remains high in our part of the state, so area
reservoir, lake and river levels continue to fall at a slow,
steady pace. Lake Travis normal pool elevation is 681.00
feet. As of October 31, 2008 Lake Travis was at 657.10 feet.
According to Texas Commission of Environmental Quality,
there are several public water supply systems with mandatory
water use restrictions in place across the Hill Country and
south Central Texas.
Baker Sanctuary News
The Climate Prediction Center
Outlook for January indicates
a higher likelihood for above
normal temperatures across Sout
Central Texas. The outlook also
shows higher chances for belownormal precipitation in January
across the region.
The Texas Forest Service uses
the Keech-Byram Drought Index
(KBDI) as a system for relating
current and recent weather
conditions to potential or expecte
re behavior. By way of refresher, th
KBDI is a numerical index calculate
daily for each county. Each number is an estimate of the amount of
precipitation in hundredths of an inch, needed to bring the soil back
to saturation. The index ranges from 0 to 800, with 0 representinga saturated soil and 800 a completely dry soil. At this time, all of
Travis County has a KBDI ranging from 600 to 700, which puts ou
part of the state under D3 Drought-Extreme conditions. In addition
as of October 30, 2008 the Texas Forest Service Fire Danger Impac
map shows 49 Texas counties under burn bans (this year, the Volen
Volunteer Fire Department has begun posting burn ban notices,
when in effect, on the Travis County rights-of-way on both 2769 an
Lime Creek Road as part of their community awareness program).
The Baker Sanctuary is currently served primarily by two re
department/rst responder agencies. The Volente Volunteer Fire
Department (Travis County Emergency Services District #14) serv
the part of the Sanctuary south of Lime Creek Road and North LakTravis Fire and Rescue (ESD #1) serves the Sanctuary north of Lim
Creek Road. Each year, because of the critical mission of the Baker
Sanctuary, I include a donation to each of these agencies in the
Sanctuary budget as a token of our appreciation for their dedication
and commitment to our community health and safety.
Baker Sanctuary Stewardship Day
A Stewardship Day at the Baker Sanctuary is scheduled for Februa
14, 2009 from 8:00 am until 12:00 noon. We will line trim the tall
grass out of the Orange and Blue Trails (the South side of Lime
Creek Road) in preparation for the Golden-cheeked Warbler SeasoIf you are interested in helping out and can donate your time and a
gasoline powered line-trimmer (the Sanctuary can furnish 50:1 gas
oil mix and .095 trimmer line), please meet us at the parking lot at
12221 Lime Creek Road that morning.
NOTE:
The Baker Sanctuary will remain closed until January 31, 2009.
John Wilc
TAS-Baker Sanctuary Stewa
Photo courtesy of John & Marcie Wilcox
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
12/16
12 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
TAS Events - Jan 2009Saturday, Jan 10
7:00 am & 4 pm
Tuesday, Jan 13
7:15 am to 1 pm
Saturday, Jan 17
7:30 am to Noon
Sunday, Jan. 18
3:30 5:45 pm
Tuesday, Jan 209am to 11am
Saturday, Jan 24
7:30 am to 2 pm
Tuesday, Jan 27
9am to 11am
Saturday, Jan 319 am to 1 pm
Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby BendSponsored monthly by the Hornsby Bend Bird Conservatory. Contact Eric Carpenter at ecarpe@gmail.
com for more information.
Super Tuesday! at Pedernales Falls State ParkMeet at the park-and-ride in Oak Hill (near Jims Restaurant) to carpool to the state park.
Bring picnic lunch, money for park entrance fee and for gas. Contact Stan VanSandt, empidider@yahoocom, for more information. No registration required.
Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby BendAustins premier birding site. Field trip leaders this month are Stu Wilson and George Kerr. No registra-
tion required - visit www.hornsbybend.org for information and maps.
Winter Bird Walk at Meadow Lake (Round Rock)There should be plenty of ducks to scope out in the late afternoon on this suburban lake. Directions:
From IH-35, take Exit 254 (FM 3406) and go east on Old Settlers Blvd. Go straight through two trafc
lights (Mays St. and Sunrise Rd.), then turn left onto Settlement Drive. Go about a quarter mile, and
park along the side of the road (the park and 65-acre lake will be on your right). No registration re-
quired. Contact Kathy McCormack ([email protected], 512-698-9880) for more information.
Two Hour Tuesdays!Seasonal eight-week series of free, accessible bird walks, perfect for students, seniors, newcomers to
Austin, or anyone who can spare two hours on a Tuesday morning. Most sites visited will be in the city
limits and convenient (on alternate weeks) to those who live north or south of downtown - its a great
way to explore your own neighborhood hot spots! No registration required, just follow the published
directions and spend a couple of hours birding with a group led by TAS eld trip leaders. Beginners
welcome, but bring your own binoculars! All winter walks will start at 9 am, one hour later than the fall
walks.
Two Hour Tuesday! at Walnut Creek ParkA large city park with 15 miles of wooded hiking trails off of North Lamar. Entrance to the park is onwest side of Lamar between Braker and Yeager, continue on entrance road to large parking lot on left
(across from ballelds). No registration required.
Field Trip to Granger Lake led by Tim Fennell and Byron Stone.This Trip is FULL.Mountain Plover, Spragues Pipit, McCowns Longspur, Grasshopper Sparrow, Sedge Wren and many
more - this trips possibilities are mouth-watering. Sign up early for one of TASs most popular outings -
limited to 14 participants. Bring water and snacks and gas money for carpooling. Contact Stan VanSandt
at [email protected] to register.
Two Hour Tuesday! at Mary Moore Searight ParkLocated in far south Austin off of Slaughter Lane. From I35, take Slaughter Lane west about two milesand turn south (left) onto Bilbrook. Go about one mile and turn right onto Watchful Fox, then take sec-
ond left onto Decker Prairie and drive to parking lot at end of road. Note: we do not meet in the main
parking lot off Slaughter. No registration required.
Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby BendEvery last Saturday of the month, For more information: Priscilla Murr at [email protected],or Kevin Anderson, 972-1960.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
13/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 13
TAS Events - Feb 2009Tuesday, Feb 3
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Saturday, Feb 7
10:30 am to after dusk
Tuesday, Feb 10
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Saturday, Feb. 14 through
Monday, Feb. 16
Presidents Day Weekend
Saturday, Feb 14
7 am and 4:00 pm
Saturday, Feb 21
7:30 am to noon
Saturday, Feb 289 am to 1 pm
Two Hour Tuesday! at St. Edwards ParkLocated on Bull Creek in northwest Austin, take Spicewood Springs Road about 2.3 miles from either Hwy
183 or Loop 360. Meet in main parking lot. No registration required.
Bell County Short-eared Owl Field Trip led by Rich Kostecke and Barry LyonStarting with a picnic lunch on Ft. Hood or at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, this trip will explore the lakes, elds
and woods of this area and culminate, hopefully, with sightings of the ghostly Short-eared Owl. Limited to
participants so sign up soon. Bring water, lunch, snacks for later, and gas money for carpooling. Contact KeZaslow at [email protected] to register and for more information.
Two Hour Tuesday! at Hornsby BendTake Hwy 71 east, turn left at rst light past airport (FM 973), continue north about one mile and take pave
left into Hornsby Bend. Turn right after rst gate into parking lot at Ecological Research Center. No registra
tion required.
Field Trip to Junction, Texas led by Kathy McCormackSeveral local birders will join at least two TAS eld trip leaders in exploring the Junction area, an easy 2.5-
hour drive from Austin. Four fully-stocked blinds at South Llano River State Park should be hopping with
sparrows, the WWTP ponds should have ducks, and Black Phoebes and all three species of kingshers shou
be found along the river in town. A one-hour bus tour is scheduled for Sunday afternoon through the turkey
roosting area at the state park, and we may also investigate the river bottom on the Texas Tech campus and grasslands around the airport. You will be responsible for arranging your own accommodations at a Junctio
hotel. Contact Kathy McCormack ([email protected], 512-698-9880) to register and for more details (e
recommended hotel, birding resources, daily itinerary, etc.) regarding this trip.
Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby BendSponsored monthly by the Hornsby Bend Bird Conservatory. Contact Eric Carpenter at [email protected]
more information.
Monthly Bird Walk at Hornsby BendAustins premier birding site. Field trip leaders this month are Gary Newgord and Eric Stager. No registrati
required - visit hornsbybend.org for information and maps.
Ecological Literacy Day at Hornsby BendEvery last Saturday of the month, For more information: Priscilla Murr at [email protected], o
Kevin Anderson, 972-1960.
About TAS Field Trips All TAS eld trips are open to members and nonmembers and to experienced and inexperienced birders. Wear appro-priate clothing and walking shoes, and bring binoculars and water. Unless otherwise noted, eld trips are free. Please see the new Field Trips Poli-
cies at www.travisaudubon.org/eldtrips.html. For complete, up-to-date information on eld trips, including cancellations due to weather or other
circumstances, please check the TAS website at www.travisaudubon.org. Because of the xed pub lication schedule of the newsletter, be aware that
event days and times may change after publication. If you do not have Internet access, please contact the person(s) listed with the event description.
About Hornsby Bend Maps and other information about the Hornsby Bend facility may be found on the Hornsby Bend website at www.hornsbybend.org
FIELD TRIPS Committee ChangesLaurie Foss has stepped down after a pioneering year and a
half at the helm of the eld trips committee. Lauries skill
and competence has been much appreciated by the Board
and staff. Her creativity in nding exotic birding locations
was only matched by her exchange program with Hous-
ton Audubon. We will miss her energy and creativity but
know she will stay involved with TAS.
Stepping up to the helm we have Stan VanSandt and Terry
Banks, chair and co-chair. We welcome them to this important
position and thank them for accepting the torch from Laurie.
Stans Two-Hour Tuesdays have been wildly successful and
provide an amazing opportunity for outreach. This type of
creativity and energy is exactly what ensures that this com-
mittee will take the lead in promoting the enjoyment and
understanding..of native birds and their habitats.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
14/16
14 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET
Hawk Watch 20082008 Hornsby Bend Hawk Watch
Final Report - October 31, 2008
The 2008 Hornsby Bend Hawk Watch was conducted fromAugust 20 through October 23, 2008. The hawk-watcher spent349.45 hours at the watch, averaging 5.46 hours per day. There
were 65 days in the watch period, including 9 days where no
watch occurred. The number of days where the hawk-watcher waspresent totaled 57.
Weather conditions, late August through October 23
Five days had no watch due to weather conditions. The Austin
area has been in an extreme drought situation for much of 2008,
and little rain has fallen recently. On several days, the watch
was not held because of extremely clear skies. No clouds create
a situation where birds are difcult to nd and to track, making
locating and identifying raptors very difcult. It was decided that
time and energy spent on these days was largely in vain, after a
few attempts were made to nd birds in these conditions. I decided
that I needed to rest up for days when conditions were better.
Hurricane Ike passed well east of the Austin area on Sept. 13, and
had little effect in Austin other than high winds for several days.
In general, winds were higher than usual for much of the watch
period, which may have inuenced bird movements. High winds
and the lack of rain also made it difcult to maintain the hawk
watch at the location previously used. This location is too close to
the Dillo Dirt production facility, and blowing dust and debris was
very heavy, especially on days with north or north-east winds. The
watch point was therefore moved to a spot between Pond 1-West
and Pond 2. I feel that this did not affect the number of raptors
observed, because the main track of most birds was over the watch
point, or slightly to the west.
Observations and comparisons to previous years16 raptor species were observed, which is average for Hornsby
Bend. In past years, species numbers ranged from 15 to 17. No
unusual species were observed in 2008.
Vultures
Numbers were up from last year. Turkey Vulture numbers were
higher than in 2007, but did not exceed the peak number of 5277
observed in 2006. Turkey Vulture migration occurred in October,
with the peak number occurring on October 17. Migration in
Black vultures is harder to observe. These birds do not pass in the
large numbers observed for Turkey Vultures, and although large
kettles of Black Vultures were seen on several occasions, thesebirds were not observed to leave the area. Only 68 Black vultures
were counted as migrants, with the highest number recorded on
October 9.
Kites
Mississippi Kites were low this year, especially compared to the
high number observed in 2007. Kites were observed on the rst
day of the watch, and were observed regularly in low number until
late September (Sept. 24). Two very late Mississippi Kites were
observed on October 17, bringing the yearly total to 360. No other
Kite species were observed this season.
Accipiters, Osprey and Northern Harrier
Compared to the average from 2001 2007, numbers of these
birds were down in 2008. Osprey and Harrier numbers were
almost half of what might be expected, while accipiters were
about 75% of what might be expected. Accipiter numbers peaked
in early to mid-October, with the highest numbers coinciding wit
high numbers of Turkey Vultures. Osprey and Northern harriers
passed through sporadically throughout the watch period. Osprey
numbers were difcult to judge, as two Ospreys moved into the
Hornsby Bend area relatively early, and were observed on an
almost daily basis thereafter.
Buteos
Five buteo species were observed during the watch period.
Numbers of buteos were down, compared to the average from
previous years. Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks are
difcult to count at Hornsby Bend, but numbers in 2008 were
about 1/3 to 1/2 of what are normally counted. Broad-winged
Hawk numbers were up in 2008 from the early years of the
watch, but were signicantly lower than in 2007. Swainsons
Hawks were also higher than 2007s dramatic low, but were
nowhere near the high numbers reported from 2002 2004. Asingle Ferruginous Hawk was observed in 2008, which is averag
for Hornsby Bend, and no Zone-tailed Hawks were seen this yea
Falcons
Numbers of falcons observed were generally down 50% from
previous years. Only three falcon species were observed in 2008:
American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregrine. No Crested Caracaras
were considered as migrants, although several were frequently
observed in the Hornsby Bend area. Prairie Falcon was not
observed in 2008.
Eagles
Bald Eagles were observed fairly often this season. A pair wasreported from the Webberville area, east of Hornsby Bend,
and these birds were observed somewhat regularly. Three Bald
Eagles were counted as migrants, including one adult and two
immatures. The highest number of Bald Eagles recorded in
migration over Hornsby Bend was 5 in 2006, so this is well
within the normal range. Eagles are considered rare in the Austin
area, so sighting them on a semi-regular basis was quite special.
General comments on the 2008 seasonMy general impression of this year is that of low raptor
movement through the Hornsby Bend area. The median number
of raptors observed per day was 9.5. The maximum number
of raptors in a single day between Aug 20 and Sept 29 was 78.This is quite low compared to what might be expected. Numbers
uctuated between 0 and 20 birds for 35 days during this period;
only 6 days had above 20 birds.
Between Sept 30 and October 23, there were 9 days with fewer
than 20 raptors observed, and 12 days with more than 20.
Maximum number of migrants during this period was 2628 on
Oct. 17. Most of these were Turkey Vultures. The second highest
day was October 4, with 2156 raptors, most of which were
Swainsons Hawks. Only 7 days had more than 100 birds; these
all occurred between Sept. 30 and October 18.
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
15/16
TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009
It is difcult to state whether the low numbers of migrating
raptors observed at Hornsby Bend in 2008 indicate any trend in
the overall populations of these birds. In general, Hornsby Bend
probably does not reect larger trends, but instead reects local
and regional conditions. Most hawk watches are located along
the coast, or along mountain ridges, where prevailing winds
and updrafts help the birds to achieve lift, and make migration
easier. Hornsby Bend is basically a random spot on the
map, especially as far as migrating birds are concerned, so any
movements probably reect local factors that the birds are eitherseeking or are trying to avoid.
Reasons for the uctuations in numbers of migrating raptors at
Hornsby Bend are not clear. Several possible factors include
the increased urban development near Hornsby and along the
I-35 corridor in general. We do not know if the raptors are
following any landmarks, or are guided by the Colorado River
through the Austin area. With the loss of habitat in and around
Austin, it is possible that the birds are steering around the
urban area, because the habitat they require for roosting is not
present any longer. This doesnt completely explain the lack of
birds on good-weather days, but the birds may be sensitive to
the possibility of having to stop, and may plan their routes
according to the potential habitat should a halt in migration
become necessary.
The recent pattern of extreme drought in Central Texas may also
have been a factor this year. In 2001 and 2002, I was privileged
to observe both Mississippi Kites and Swainsons Hawks stop
at Hornsby Bend to feed. Both species prey heavily on insects,
especially grasshoppers and dragonies.The numbers of theseinsects were down this year at Hornsby, and likely also across
the region. It may be that the raptors were avoiding drought-
stricken areas because of the lack of food available.
A third factor that may have contributed to the lower numbers of
birds observed was the difcult viewing conditions encountered
this year. Most of the season the weather was bright and sunny,
nice for sitting outside, but very bad for spotting distant raptors.
Sunny, cloudless days are especially difcult when birds are
coming through one or two at a time. Raptors can be virtually
invisible in a clear sky.
The lack of rain, and presence of a north to northeast wind for
many days also made conditions difcult in regards to blowing
dust and debris. I began the season at the usual Hawk Watch
corner, on the levee above the compost operations between
Pond 1-East and Pond 1-West, but I was forced to move back
between Ponds 1-West and Pond 2. Blowing Dillo Dirt made
it too difcult and unhealthy to remain at the old site. The new
position has a slightly different perspective, but I think that it
is perhaps better for several reasons. Most important was the
lack of dust getting in the observers eyes and nose. Second, the
track of most migrants was from the north, Platt Pond area, so
birds were observed that might have been missed from the old
site. Birds kettling in the hayelds were still visible, although
they were somewhat more distant, but since most eventually
went over the ponds, this did not seem to be a problem. Finally,
the presence of more cover near the Hawk Watch allowed for
more other migrants to be observed. While these did not gure
into the ofcial count, many more species of passerines were
observed than in previous years. Butteries and other insects
were also easier to observe, and helped the slow hours pass more
happily. Eighty-seven non-raptor species of birds, and thirty-
four species of lepidoptera, plus numerous other insects were
observed over the duration of the watch.
Final thoughtsIn general, I consider 2008 to be an interesting data-point for
migration of raptors over Central Texas. Overall numbers were
rather low, but this is likely to be due to climate conditions. I
think the Hornsby Bend Hawk Watch, while located in a non-
traditional place, is well worth continuing. Tracking trends of
migrants through the center of the United States might give
important information on where hawks are migrating when they
do not pass through the more traditional points such as Hazel
Bazemore and Smith Point. The Hornsby Bend Hawk Watch is
also a high-prole activity for TAS and the HBBO. I posted my
results on the TexBirds e-mail list, and received many replies
and began several interesting discussions regarding raptors and
migration. I also had many visitors from out-of-town stop by, and
was able to help in educating people on raptor migration, as well
as the importance of preserving habitats such as Hornsby Bend,
for both birds and birders.
AcknowledgementsThanks must go to Travis Audubon Society, and especially
Nancy Manning, for sponsoring the 2008 Hornsby Bend Hawk
Watch. The support from Travis Audubon made it possible
for me to sit out at Hornsby Bend for the two months. I
must also extend thanks to Kevin Anderson of the Center for
Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend for providing access
to the facilities, encouragement on slow days, and the foresightto establish the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory. I also want to
thank the workers of the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management
Plant, who made my time there much more productive and
comfortable by mowing the hawkwatch point, xing the roads
around the ponds and by stopping by to chat from time to time.
The time was also made easier by the many visitors who stopped
by, and who let me know what was being seen elsewhere on the
site.
Finally, I must extend my thanks to Arnold Pfrommer, who came
by almost every day to sit with me. Arnie helped nd birds, and
allowed me to take breaks without worrying about whether
the canopy would blow off into the pond (it didnt!), or that Iwould miss that kettle of 5,000 Swainsons Hawks or another
Swallow-tailed Kite (I didnt). Priscilla Murr was also a great
help, providing much encouragement (and pizza on Ecological
Literacy workdays!). And, to the many people from Austin and
elsewhere who stopped by or replied to my posts on TexBirds,
thank you all! It was gratifying to know that you were reading all
that, and really great to have met you.
Peg WallaceHawk Watch Coordinator and Ofcial Counter for 2008
8/9/2019 Jan-Feb 2009 Signal Smoke Newsletter Travis Audubon Society
16/16
16 SI GN AL SM OK E / January/February 2009 TR AV IS AU DU BO N SO CI ET Y
Nonprot Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 2301
Austin, Texas
Travis Audubon SocietyYES! I want to enjoy the benets of Travis AudubonSociety chapter membership. Enroll me as a member of
Travis Audubon Society. Enclosed is my check for: $12 Youth Membership (up to age 18)
$25 Individual Membership
$35 Family Membership
$75 Painted Bunting Membership (bonus Travis Audubon
T-shirt)
$100 Vireo Membership (bonus T-shirt and book)
$250 Warbler Membership (bonus T-shirt, book, and free
workshop) $1,000 Lifetime Membership (bonus T-shirt, book,
free workshop, and listing in annual report)
T-shirt size (for premium memberships) ________________
This is a gift membership from________________________
Name __________________________Phone _____________
Address __________________________________________
City ______________________ State ____ Zip __________
Email ____________________________________________
Visit the TAS Web site :www.travisaudubon.org
Travis Audubon Society
3710 Cedar Street
Box 5
Austin, TX. 78705
Dated Material - DO NOT DELAY
Join your local Audubon chapter, Travis Audubon Society, byusing the form at the right. Your dues will be put to use sup-porting local conservation, education, research projects, eldtrips, and other Travis Audubon activities right here in CentralTexas. We seek your support through your membership in ourlocal chapter. (To become a member of the national Audubon,please go to their Web site at www.audubon.org.)
Join Travis Audubon now and supportlocal birds, wildlife, and their habitats.Travis Audubon Society chapter members receive six issuesof this Snal Se newsletter, priority sign-ups on local eldtrips, discounts on our educational classes, the opportunity
to participate in our e-mail group and attend our wonderfulmonthly lectures, and more!
To join Travis Audubon Society:Make your check payable to Travis Audubon Society and sendit with this form to Travis Audubon Society, 3710 Cedar St.,Box 5, Austin, TX 78705, or join on-line using any major creditcard by going to www.travisaudubon.org and clicking on Mem-bership.
Top Related