Are you interested in learning what our Forsyth Audubon Education Team has been up to lately? Come to the Forsyth County Central Library on November 16th and find out! You are invited to a special presentation of this special program, created by Forsyth Audubon and the Piedmont Environmental Alliance. The program is designed for school groups, grades 3 - 5, but everyone will learn and enjoy this lively presentation. You may even be inspired to become part of Forsyth Audubon's Education Team.
Monday Bird Walk at New Location!
Our Monday Bird Walk, on Monday, November 25th, will explore a new birding location - Long Creek Park. Long Creek Park is a future city park. Forsyth Audubon has been working with the city to ensure habitat is preserved for birds and other wildlife. It is already listed as an e-bird hotspot. Recent ebirders have reported White-Crowned Sparrows, Bald Eagles, Cedar Waxwings, Pileated Woodpeckers, Kinglets, and many other treasures. Join Walk Leader Jean Chamberlain at 9:00 AM on November 25th to explore this new area. Long Creek Park is located on Bethania-Tobaccoville Road north of Bethania.
November Chapter Meeting
Our November Chapter meeting will feature wildlife biologist Lindsay Addison who will speak to us about Audubon North Carolina's Coast Islands and Sanctuaries Program. Lindsay was born and raised in Florida, and has been with Audubon North Carolina for 9 years. We are pleased that is joining us for this presentation. Our November Chapter Meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 19th. Our social time begins at 7:00 PM, we begin our meeting at 7:15, and Lindsay will begin her presentation at 7:30. We meet at the Historic Bethabara Visitor Center.
Winter Trip Announced
Registration is now open for the 2020 Winter Trip.
If you would like to register, please email Jesse Anderson.
Please read the full details and let me know if you have any questions!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2020 Winter Trip - Outer Banks / MacKay Island NWR
The Outer Banks of North Carolina remain to be one of the hotspots in the Eastern United States for winter bird diversity. With its premier location, lying closest to the Gulf Stream, boat trips out from Hatteras, NC have provided prime viewing of wide diversity. Pea Island and MacKay Island National Wildlife Refuges offer excellent opportunities for viewing diversity, year round, especially during the winter.
DAILY ITINERARY BREAKDOWN
Friday, February 7th
Meet at Pettigrew State Park visitor’s Center boat ramp at 10:00 a.m. for introduction to Phelps Lake. Travel to Cypress Point and scope lake. Walk trail along Cypress Point and “Sparrow Fields.”
Late lunch at 1:00 p.m. at Sugar Shack Seafood Market, Nags Head, NC
Travel down Pea Island and go birding at the Old Lighthouse Station, Oregon Inlet, and Pea Island. Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Cape Point Ponds. Drive out / Shuttle out to Cape Point scope ponds and point.
Check into hotel at 5:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Housing: Breakwater Inn
Saturday, February 8th
Pelagic Boat Trip with Brian Patteson (Leave accommodations by 5:30 a.m.)
Bird highlights: close and abundant views of Northern gannet, razorbill, dovekie, Manx shearwater, Red Phalarope, and Great Skua. Amazing variety of gull species including common rarities such as Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Little Gull, and Black-legged Kittiwake. Potential for rarities such as Atlantic Puffin, Great Shearwater, Black-capped Petrel, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Northern Fulmar, and the very rare occurrence of an Albatross.
Other highlights: humpback whale, spotted dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, loggerhead sea turtles, and other marine mammals, fishes, and curiosities.
Return to port at approximately 5:00 p.m. - Dinner and highlights following
Late checkout from Breakwater Inn, then transport to Comfort Inn Oceanfront, Nags Head, NC
Housing: Comfort Inn South Oceanfront
Sunday, February 9th
Trip to MacKay Island National Wildlife Refuge (Leave Accommodations at 7:00 a.m.)
Contact with Refuge manager to for access to “Closed” back areas, Point, and west ponds. Amazing diversity of waterfowl, likely 3+ species of rail, abundant winter sparrow diversity [historically a good place for LeConte’s Sparrow]
Knotts Island Ferry Departure: 4:45 p.m.
Dinner and highlights in Nags Head, NC
Housing: Comfort Inn South Oceanfront
Monday, February 10th
Check out of the hotel and meet at 8:00 a.m.
Flexible day depending on weather, group, and potential nearby bird records. Otherwise we will explore Pea Island/Coquina Beach/Alligator River NWR
Depart OBX around 1:00 p.m. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Total cost for registration is $200, which includes payment for the winter pelagic boat trip - a highlight not to be missed. If you would like to register, please email me at jandersonwildlife@gmail.comand I will follow up immediately with details on payment options and discounted group accommodation locations.
Thank you and happy birding!
Jesse
Forsyth Audubon Promotes Local Conservation
Members of Forsyth Audubon and Piedmont Land Conservancy recently met with members of the Forsyth County Commissioners to promote revisions to forest management plans for two county parks. The County Commissioners have agreed to the revisions to their plans for C.G. Hill Park and Horizons Park. The revised plans promote plant and wildlife diversity.
It was featured in the Winston Salem Journal and can be found here.
Mark your Calendar:
November 16: Special Presentation of the Story of a Wood Thrush
Forsyth County Central Library 10:30 AM
November 19: Chapter Meeting
Historic Bethabara Visitor Center
7:00 PM Speaker: Lindsay Addison Topic: North Carolina's Coast Islands and Sanctuaries Program
November 20: Birds and Beer
Bleu Restaurant 6:00 PM Join us for a drink and bird talk!
November 25: Monday Bird Walk
Long Creek 9:00 AM
December 14: Second Saturday Bird Walk
Tanglewood Park 9:00 AM
December 18: Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Hanging Rock Park
December 30: Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Pilot Mountain State Park
January 4: Audubon Christmas Bird Count Forsyth County
Order "Birding Guide to Forsyth County"!
The fifth edition of "Birding Guide to Forsyth County," by David Disher, is now available. David's book, in a handy 6 x 9 paperback format, compiles documented observations for 280 bird species in Forsyth County. Learn what birds can be seen here and during which weeks of the year you are most likely to see them. Photos of uncommon sightings are included. Information on local birding spots also is included. For $15, this is a great gift for your favorite birder. All profits go to our chapter. Copies are available at Wright's Backyard Birding Center, 3906 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, and at Wild Birds Unlimited, 1589 Skeet Club Rd, High Point. Copies also are available for sale at our monthly chapter meetings. If you have a smart phone or tablet, download the electronic version available for $4.99 from www.lulu.com.
Forsyth Audubon T-shirts are here! They are available now at most of our chapter events, or you can pick one up at Wright's Birding Center during business hours. There are two different styles to choose from, both with our fabulous brown-headed nuthatch logo. The soft cotton poly blend shirts are $20.00 and the polyester tech tee with the cool dri wicking fabric is $25.00.
