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by Helene Gardel
I finally made the time to accompany Gene Scarpulla for a stroll on Hart-Miller Island on November 29, 1997.
Misconceptions: Smell, intolerable wind, only one habitat, an easy walk in a park.
Reality: No smell (the dump is not my garbage, duh, but mud and shells from the shipping channel); some wind on higher points of the dike, but on a mild winter day very tolerable, many habitats, a very challenging level walk for those without experienc e, and, for women, only one facility.
Physical outcome of this adventure: tremendous headache, exhaustion, uneasy stomach for five hours after I got home, and very minor joint and heel awareness. The hardest part of the day for me was standing and walking for nine hours over six miles. Any one have any ideas on different ways to carry a scope? Gene says that weekly visits to the Island have done wonders for his stamina. I certainly can see why.
Would I do it again? You bet! Gene told me to not expect too much, as this was the in-between season. But for an intermediate birder (I have upgraded myself from a beginner) it was great. I had my first close view of an Oldsquaw, and my first very clos e looks at Snow Buntings. I heard Pipits but might not recognize them again. I saw both Lesser and Greater Scaup but still couldn't get the beak-nail difference. Everyone should pray for the injured Lesser Scaup: Gene doesn't think it can make it through the winter.
I returned to Hart-Miller with Gene on February 28, not expecting much between seasons. What a surprise: thousands of Canada Geese and Tundra Swans flying over. My first view of a male Harrier; now I know there are three belly colors to look for: mama, papa and juvie. I didn't expect there to be shorebirds, nice surprise. Now with thousands of Greater Scaup heads to compare to the Lesser Scaup heads, I may notice a little difference. Still can't see the beak difference. About my body's ability to survi ve: no headache, no pains, a little tired of standing, and the sling for the scope worked relatively well. Debbie Terry and I will try to invent a strap or harness for such walks in the future.
For those of you who have not had this experience: do try it. In a few years this wild untamed island may have electric golf carts, benches, port-a-pots, and the crowds that invade Brigantine in New Jersey and other marshes near industrial sites.
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by Jim Highsaw and Linda Prentice
In January 1998 we returned to the Rio Grande Valley in south central New Mexico to repeat a trip we did in January 1994. Our goals were to spend time at the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge near Socorro, visit some areas we missed in 1994, photograph as many birds as possible, and hopefully see a few new birds.
As in 1994, the Bosque del Apache Refuge was fabulous both for birding and photography. In addition to the large numbers of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese, the refuge was loaded with Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks and Kestrels. There were also ten species of ducks, Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons, Eared and Pied-billed Grebes, shorebirds, and an assortment of passerines. Photo opportunities were excellent - we were able to photograph Common Snipe, Western Meadowlark, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant, Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose, and White-crowned Sparrow. We were also able to observe the resident coyotes attempting to catch snow geese. One change since our 1994 visit was that the number of visitors has noticeably increased, especially at the visitor center.
After two full days at Bosque del Apache, we headed down the Valley to Percha Dam State Park. This was a productive spot, and even had a new bird for us - Phainopepla. Other highlights were three different phoebes, Western Bluebirds, Pyrrhuloxia, and R ufous-Sided Towhee (western form). As in 1994, there were few people in the park, so we were able to wander through the camping and picnic areas without distractions.
The following two days we stayed in Las Cruces and did day trips to the nearby Organ Mountains. On the way to the Aguirre Springs Recreation Area we encountered a flock of sparrows in the scrub, including another new bird - Brewer's Sparrow. Aguirre Sp rings had Cactus Wren, Black-throated Sparrow, Canyon Towhee and Pyrrhuloxia, among others. At the Dripping Springs Recreation Area we found Roadrunner, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curve-billed Thrasher and Loggerhead Shrike, among others. The prize find wa s a Canyon Wren (another new bird) at the old hotel site at the end of a 1½-mile hike.
From Las Cruces we headed back up the Valley. At Elephant Butte Reservoir we found a large group of Western Grebes (another new bird) with a few Common Mergansers mixed in. An unexpected sight was a group of White Pelicans in flight. From Elephant Butt e we returned to Bosque del Apache for another half-day before returning to Albuquerque and the flight home.
Although we saw many of the same birds as in 1994, we found four new species, got some great photographs, and thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent landscape. We would not hesitate to do this trip again.
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by Alan Bromberg and Mary Paul
January 12
The board considered favorably a suggestion to move the January covered-dish supper and Mid-winter Count to later dates next year to allow more time between the supper and the holidays and put the Midwinter Count further from Chris tmas Count.
The board also discussed a proposal to place a professionally developed, permanent display of the Web of Life at Cylburn for educational purposes. Action was deferred until the board could be given a better idea of what the display would depict.
The board defeated a motion to have the BBC pay the five-dollar fee for members who participate in the Christmas Count to have their names published by the National Audubon Society.
Bob Rineer reported the following nominations for next year:
Joy Wheeler is working with Graham Egerton and the Alder company to make a Web of Life display that will focus largely on birds and other animals and plants around Cylburn. It will be available for everyone, especially school groups, visiting the secon d floor of Cylburn. The Board approved the funds to make this endeavor possible.
Roberta Ross reported that we have 463 members. That is down from 475 members in 1997 and 483 members in 1996.
by Joy Wheeler
Three Black Vultures, or was it four? From the other side of the trail I had already seen one Black Vulture earlier in the morning. So it could be four Black Vultures, maybe five. But by the time I'd raised my binoculars there were only three Black Vul tures in the tree. How black they were perched among the top branches of a bare locust tree with a cluster of dark spruces behind.
It was hard to take my binoculars and walk on. Just as if I had nothing else more important to do, I continued to stand and gaze giving me time to become aware of some commotion at the shrubby base of the tree. Out of that weedy disorder was ascending unhurriedly a large black form to match those at the top, long pale yellow legs and feet stepping deliberately, one at a time up the gently sloping tree trunk. At each step the large black wings flapped powerfully, lifting the creature to join the other m embers of the species into the bare angled branches above. Now there were four bulky black bodies each with a black head, a pointy black beak and two beady black eyes huddled together in silent conference.
In this brief slow-moving moment I found myself transported backwards through countless millennia to where wings and feathery scales had begun the lift up from the earth's cumbrous surface to the lightening skies above. How inspiriting to remember that at that moment it did the same for me.
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Compiled by Steve Sanford
January 18 - Conowingo Dam. The weather was dreary with clouds and drizzle and temperatures about 35-40°. Gull numbers were low, but included 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. No "raptures" (as referred to in the Program Book) were seen, but some goo d raptors may have induced rapture: 26 (!) Bald Eagles, and one Peregrine Falcon. Leader: Gene Scarpulla. 6 participants.
January 31 - New Design Road and Lily Pons. Leader Pete Webb reported mainly frustration. The New Design Rd. area (Frederick Co.) produced only a few Horned Larks. The group moved on to Pine Knob Road in Carroll Co. in hopes of seeing some of th e crossbills that were gracing that area, but none were found. Then, they went to western Carroll Co. for field birds, but got only a flock of Horned Larks that scattered quickly.
February 14 - Cape Henlopen to Ocean City. The trip began slowly in Cape Henlopen with a surprising lack of waterfowl: just a few scoters and mergansers. Crossbills had been seen that day: but not by the group. The temperatures, in the 30's, wer e lower than expected, and made worse by penetrating wind. Things picked up at Silver Lake, Rehobeth Beach, with large rafts of Canvasbacks and Lesser Scaup, and a few Redheads. Ocean City Inlet, however, was surprisingly calm and tolerable. And it provid ed the best birds: 11 beautiful Harlequin Ducks, some Common Eider, many close-up Purple Sandpipers and Ruddy Turnstones, with two Red Knots, and a Peregrine Falcon perched on the water tower. Leader: Pete Webb. Participants: 18.
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by Michele Melia
The Annual North American Migration Count and 1998 State May Count will be held this year on Saturday, May 9th. Volunteers are need
ed to help count birds in Baltimore City and County. No prior experience counting birds is needed, and you need not be an "expert" at identification. If you can identify most of our common birds then we can use your help! You can help by counting birds at
your favorite local hotspot, in your neighborhood, or at your backyard feeder for as many hours as you can commit. Last year, 71 birders from the Baltimore Bird Club tallied 172 species of birds in Baltimore City and County! If you would like to particip
ate, please call Michele Melia at (410) 358-5920. Also, please look for and save the May Count Form that appeared in the March issue of the Maryland Yellowthroat.
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by Roberta Ross
Please don't forget to notify us of address changes, so we will be able to send you information about the 1998-99 membership year, which will begin September 1, 1998.
If you know people who would like to join the Baltimore Bird Club, tell them to join now. If they pay a full year's dues ($20 for an individual or $30 for a household) now, this amount will be applied to the 1998-99 year, so their dues will actually cover the period from May 1, 1998 to September 1, 1999.
Address changes or applications for membership should be sent to
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This is a reminder that we do have a Baltimore birding hotline, and we need your reports.
Let us hear about your sightings. Naturally we want to hear about uncommon birds and "rarities." But also let us know about highlights of your birding in the region, as well as interesting yard birds, seasonal arrivals, and nesting. We urge field trip leaders especially to report trip highlights directly to the BirdLine in addition to mailing in your reports. You can call in your sightings to (410) 467-0653. You can also e-mail your sightings to the BirdLine at . For best results, please include the specific words: "BBC BirdLine Sighting" on the subject line.
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Back Yard Birding
Baltimore City
"In the for what it's worth column, on the evening of the Jan. 17 (Baltimore County and City Mid-Winter count), just before dark, I observed a Peregrine Falcon (yeah, I'm sure!) on Stamford Road in the Ten Hills section of Baltimore: well seen, at close range, both perched and flying. I saw her right out our front door! Seemed to be avoidi ng the County like the plague!"
Baltimore County
Ruxton
Woodensburg
"All the other yard birds are present as well: Titmouse, Chickadee, Dove, White-breasted Nuthatch, Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Cardinal, Blue Jay, House Finch, Brown Creeper, and Carolina Wren. Cowbirds, Grackles and Starling s are in very small numbers. Thank goodness! I also have a good flock of Goldfinches on my thistle feeder and I'm hoping for a Redpoll before winter's end.
"I'm feeding black oil and striped sunflower seed, thistle and peanut butter suet cakes thus far and having good success in attracting a variety of birds. I also attract 6 squirrels which I would be willing to share with anyone in short supply."
Reisterstown
Carolyn was also curious and excited about the "Robin-sized yellow, black and white bird with yellow eyebrows -- kind of like a very big Goldfinch." She wanted to know what kind of bird it might be. Do you agree that her vivid description has to be a m ale Evening Grosbeak?
Randallstown - What is a "winter finch"?
In and Out of State
Winter Finches & Red-breasted Nuthatches
This page presents an overview of the current winter finch invasion along with bios and sound samples of Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-winged and Red Crossbills, Siskins, Common Redpolls, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. For those of you who would like to contribute to the web page, Cornell has a form you may fill out with your observations of the exciting winter finches we've been privileged to observe this year.
Let us hear about your Back Yard birding too. Call or write
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