Transylvania
County Bird Club
Welcome
to the Transylvania County Bird Club's web site. We hope to post
information of interest to members and other interested parties as
well. We welcome your comments and suggestions for improvement of
our web page.
We have the pleasure
of living along the southern escarpment of the Blue Ridge on the
southern edge of the county where it borders Pickens County, SC.
Perhaps someone will break it to the NPS about renaming their scenic
road near the delightful Pisgah
Inn.
Weather
Forecasts | Weather
Maps | Weather
Radar
Fall migration
is fast approaching. Our first Fall field trip is Sept. 6. Don't miss out! Click on the link Fall 2008 birding
to find the Fall schedule. All the Fall field trips start at 9:00.
Some notes on birds seen on our outings.
Transylvania County Bird Club welcomes
birders of all levels. All field trips involve easy walking and
will end
by noon unless otherwise noted. Questions?
Call 884-5443. Field trips
are typically held on Saturday mornings except during spring and fall
migration
seasons when additional trips occur on Wednesday mornings to view the
variety
of new arrivals and migratory species that use this area for their
passage.
Membership
in TCBC is $10 per calendar year per address.
To
join send your check (made out to
TCBC) to:
Marvin
Barg, Treasurer 265
Sylvan Byway
Pisgah
Forest, NC 28768
Here
is the most current (September 20, 2006) list of the Birds of
Transylvania County with indications about when they are
apt to be seen locally as well as their relative ease of sighting --
which I for one have come to learn is not the same as their actual
abundance. Also noted are those
species that are known to have bred here since 1990.
To
obtain a copy of the list (titled BirdListedited.doc)
1) use the link above
2) save the file to your computer hard drive
3) open the list in MS Word
4) Print the list to make your own
copy.
Take a look to review what species are present here during various
periods of the year to help pinpoint what you may have seen.
Updates
are added to the list as they become available.
And don't forget to call Norma
at
884-5443 with any unusual sightings!
Participate
in the Cornell Lab's recently launched CamClikr.
Not only will you see fascinating in the nest bird behavior but you may
also help them sort the many thousands of photographs they are
accumulating once their Beta version is fully functional. Check
it out!
A
nice shot of a nesting mourning dove courtesy of Camille Ziegler
near her office in Brevard
A
very worthwhile project to monitor winter survival of neotropical
migrants is now supported by TCBC. Take a
look here & see some of
the results and the pictures of the good folks at work at the field
station in El Salvador.
Local birders in
the field...what bird could hide from this effort?
Well actually,
a few manage the trick...
Recent
sightings (November) of Ross's Goose at Deer Lake & a female
Brewer's Blackbird on Hooper Lane are noteworthy and thanks to Wayne
Forsythe we have some photos to show.
Why folks in NC would consider visiting
Florida in February.
Kathy
and Dennis Allen tempted one or more Red-Breasted Nuthatches
to their feeder last fall. Also on show a nice purple finch.
Now it turns out they are putting out special attractants for this
American Bittern and Green Heron.
Not
all creatures at my bird feeders in Brevard are birds! The battle
is unending it appears as other local residents come under the mistaken
notion that the food I am putting out is in fact for
them! Oh, the horror...the horror....
A
fascinating piece on crow
behavior recently published in Science, a news headline here from
BBC. Well OK, they are New Caledonian crows.
Fall
often brings interesting migrants to the area, especially welcome are
the fine hummingbirds that appear. Wayne Forsythe has captured
this image of a Rufous Hummingbird in Brevard featured in a
recent column by Norma and Bill Siebenheller.
This
fine photo courtesy of John Arrington shows an industrious
yellow-throated warbler gathering dog hair from the porch which was
then transported to a nearby nest.
The
2007 Christmas Bird
Count was a wet affair yielding 67 species and
10 more for count week. Not bad considering the fairly dreadful
rainy weather encountered by the hardy 22 observers in the field and 10
at feeders. Current results are posted on the Audubon
CBC
website. Kind
thanks and regards to all
participants and once again to Norma and Bill for their wonderful
hospitality in hosting the round-up at their lovely Glen Cannon home.
Question: Would it make sense to create a rain day for CBC which
would be activated by telephone tree? Both the day before and the
day after December 28 had much better weather and would likely have
yielded better birding. What do you think? Let Norma
know.
The
results of the very successful 2006 at Christmas
Bird
Count. Historical counts are at the Audubon web site.
The 2006 North
American Migration Count are posted for Transylvania County.
This is an annual count by number and species that are able to be
located within a
given county on a specific day in May. Specific attention is paid
to migratory species that (with some luck) tend to be more
visable.
Valuable information about population trends, etc. can be gleaned from
this data.
Results of the 2007 North American
Migration Count. A
plucky if
limited group of birders took to the
fields and feeders and did their best.
2008 Spring Count - not quite the
NAMC noted above as it occured a week earlier in order to attempt to
maximize our possibilities.
I
was fortunate enough to visit Australia for two months in the
spring. Here are some pictures of some of the birds that we were
actually
able to identify as well as get close enough to get at least a passing
photo.
Here
is a great way to build and maintain your
vocabulary! Click on
this link to Free Rice.com and play the game
while you earn rice for hungry persons through the United Nations food
program. Don't think 20 grains of rice per correct answer can't
add up? Play more and tell your friends and young students.
So far Cheri and I can't get past level 46, how about you?
And
while you are at it...want to start NOT GETTING all those catalogs in
the mail? Use Catalog
Choice to discontinue, its easy and effective.
Keep an eye out
in Transylvania County for for
the Eurasian
Collared
Dove - Wayne
Forsythe has
documented nesting in Henderson County already .
A new
county
record occurred in September 2006 with a sighting and
photo of this Lark Sparrow thanks to Jeff Beane. He spotted the
bird at
the Pisgah
Center for Wildlife Education near the fish hatchery.
According to the National Audubon
Society "Breeding Bird
Surveys from 1947 through the 1970s,
revealed that the yellow-billed cuckoo and yellow-throated vireo -- as
well as the northern parula, black-and-white warbler, Kentucky warbler,
and hooded warbler -- were disappearing. Six
other migrant song birds -- Eastern wood-pewees, Acadian flycatchers,
wood
thrushes, red-eyed vireos, ovenbirds, and scarlet tanagers -- had
declined
by more than 50 percent." The take home message for many of us
living
in urban and suburban settings is that we are altering the environment
by
destroying nesting and foraging habitat and by introduction of cats
which
are not kept indoors. Perhaps the city fathers and mothers of
Brevard could see
their
way to requiring some justification in the form of permitting before a
perfectly
healthy tree is cut down as well as approving an ordinance that would
require
that predators such as house cats are not allowed to roam at will
outside
where they are such excellent predators on songbirds and other
wildlife.
See more of the story at the audubon
web site.
There will always be plenty of native
predators on songbirds such
as this black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoleta) captured
for us here by Camille Ziegler. We can continue to live in peace
with these natives and encourage more responsible stewardship by our
human neighbors.
How
about this great Pine Warbler courtesy of Bill Thomas up at Sherwood
Forest on Cedar Mountain?
I
rarely could find in the trees overhead much less get this kind of
close-up look at a Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo. Thanks to Dr.
& Mrs.
John Allen for this great photo of a window crasher. One who did
well with a bit of TLC and was able to fly off again.
Known
as the land of waterfalls since 1912 for its 250+ named
waterfalls, much of Transylvania County, NC enjoys a rather unique
temperate rain forest atmosphere. Rainfall is said to be
higher here than anywhere else east of the Pacific Northwest and is
documented in excess of 80" at
some sites such as Cedar Mountain, Rosman and Lake Toxaway. The
county
seat Brevard receives an average of 67" per year which is substantially
wetter than nearby Asheville (47") and Hendersonville (56").
You will notice however the effects of the ongoing drought that
bring lower stream levels and apparent numerous downfalls of large
seemingly healthy trees.
With
elevations ranging from 1265' to 6000' Transylvania
County
exhibits a varied assemblage of life zones and habitats utilized
by flora
and fauna alike. At least one specie of bird is able to
accomplish
the equivalent of a 2500 mile south to north migration by simply moving
from the relatively low 2100' elevation of Brevard's Hospital Fields to
the
upper reaches of the Parkway at and above 5000' elevation. This
migration
is less than twelve miles as the junco flies! The southern
Appalachian
mountains are known to house probably the greatest variety in terms of
biodiversity in North America north of Mexico. For many types of
plants and animals, for instance salamanders there is a tremendous
amount of diversity among species. This can occur in
a relatively short distance due
to micro climates and other factors established by steep
mountains,
broad rushing rivers and a vast array of soil types determined by the
very
ancient geology of the area. A very wide variety of deciduous
trees,
mushrooms, flowering plants and smaller vertebrate animals inhabit the
various reaches of these mountains.
The
French Broad River originates in
Transylvania County and is believed to be the third oldest river in the
world.
Africa's Nile River and Ashe County's New River are said to be
first
and second in age, though some geologists question the ability to age
any
rivers with certitude. This ancient stream cuts through the
southern
Appalachian Mountains. The French Broad river is also known to
form
a barrier between certain animal species. At
least two
instances
of the eastern Continental Divide occur in the county, with some
streams
flowing to the Gulf of Mexico and those on the opposite slope passing
along
more directly to the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaking
of county records and other noteworthy factoids:
Transylvania County
enjoys the distinction of having the most pairs of nesting
Peregrine
Falcons of any county in NC! The 4 pairs currently
followed
by Chris Kelly Mountain
Wildlife Diversity Biologist at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission
(and others in the know) use sites at Devil's Courthouse, Panthertail
Mountain, Looking Glass & Dunn's Rock(s).
Photo courtesy of Wayne Forsythe.
Photos to follow of the Looking Glass Rock eyrie courtesy of Chris Kelly.
She states that "Pluton type rocks
(big, round granite domes) don’t
usually have good ledges. Looking Glass is a pluton, but happens
to have
1 really good
ledge. The
birds nest on this
ledge every
year, whereas at sites with many good ledges (such as Whitesides), they
move
around on the cliff face from one year to the next." Locals also
enjoy watching the Peregirnes each year at Devil's Courthouse along the
Blue Ridge Parkway.
Speaking of falcons, hawks, harriers, etc. the
annual fall hawk migration is often lively here! 2007's
numbers appear to be smaller than 2006 per Elizabeth Galloway.
She sadly reports that increases in the pollution level in South
Carolina make viewing impossible for longer periods of time; this
likely results in lower numbers seen. A close
locale to observe is nearby Caesar's Head State
Park. Check
out national efforts at the Hawk
Migration
Association.
Drinking shade coffee is
for the
birds. Thanks to the good folks at the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church
on Main Street in Brevard you can purchase Fair Trade
coffee &
tea at very reasonable prices . Purchased via grower
co-ops
through Ten Thousand
Villages
your purchase brings more money to the grower at the local level and
encourages the use of sustainable agriculture. Traditional
shade-grown coffee requires much less in the way of fertilizer, water
and pesticides/herbicides/fungicides than coffee grown in sunny fields
in a monoculture and is much easier on the existing flora and fauna.
This benefits birds in numerous ways. You can do well while doing good with this
great coffee and tea!
We
are happy to report that eight hardy souls joined in to clean up the
hospital fields area on 9/20/06. This is the first installment of
an
ongoing
commitment by TCBC to improve the area, better identify this area as a
true birding resource in Brevard, as well as garner a bit of
goodwill.
Many thanks to all who were able to participate. The next such
visit
will be broadcast on this same web page at a time when less vegetation
will make accessing some of the stream trash easier.
A
Call To Action! The imported Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
continues to kill vast amounts of Eastern and Carolina Hemlock trees as
it spreads south along the east coast. It is rampant now in
Western North Carolina and thousands of acres are currently
infested. This is simply a very small insect that feed upon and
if unchecked will kill hemlock trees.
THE GOOD NEWS IS: In our yards and cherished sites
it is possible to provide affordable and effective treatment that will
protect local hemlock trees from this scourge. A systemic
insecticide imidacloprid sold under various trade names and as close as
your local Lowe's, Home
Depot or Ace Hardware will carry the product ready mixed for use.
The treatment is affordable for individual trees and unless the tree is
directly adjacent to stream run-off can be easily applied by any
reasonably
adept homeowner. If located next to a stream a trained and
well-equiped
arborist can be used. Oil-based and detergent spray is even
cheaper
and may be effective for smaller trees. Check out the information
at http://www.saveourhemlocks.org/index.shtml
The
Pisgah National Forest encompasses 36% of the county. The
Dupont State Forest bordering Transylvania and Henderson Counties
protects over 10,000 acres and Gorges State Park on the southern
escarpment of the county consists of nearly 8000 acres as well.
In spite of the relatively
significant amount of public land in Transylvania County that is
committed
by law to be protected and maintained for the benefit of the public and
the wildlife therein, we wish to note that owners of private land in
this
and other regions provide tremendous support and protection for the
wild
lands of this country which in turn protect increasingly significant
populations
of threatened and endangered plants and animals in North Carolina and
elsewhere.
Without their dedication and willingness to cooperate with public
efforts
to preserve our cherished bio-diversity the battle would be
finished.
Our hats are off to you.
If
you have a question or comment about bird sightings in Transylvania
County please contact Norma &
Bill Siebenheller tel: 828.884-5443. You may also enjoy their
frequent columns about local birds in The
Transylvania Times, Transylvania County's bi-weekly
newspaper. A May
2006 column provides excellent commentary about the wealth of bird
species found at a special location right here in Brevard. Such
spaces become increasingly precious as more development occurs in our
county and elsewhere.
Marvin & Michele Barg serve as
club president, treasurer, newsletter editors of the quarterly club
bulletin Chip Notes and are all around enthusiastic birders. Like
most of the membership they are patient teachers to those of us less
experienced with birding.
Box turtles are quite lovely
creatures but they are hardly birds. OK, it's true. Yet it
is also thought by scientists now that birds are so closely related to
early reptiles that some even consider them simply a group of
feathered, flying reptiles! So...there is a relationship
there. The point being that eastern
box turtles Terrapene carolina
are apparently diminishing in numbers throughout their range in the
southeastern
USA. They are currently being surveyed in several states
including
North Carolina. If you see one please let Lori Williams of the NC
wildlife commission know. Many thanks! For
further
information about these interesting creatures, check out this
site.
We
are pleased to post photography by club members on our web site.
Please send us your digital photographs.
Up
at Lake Wanteska in Connestee Falls member Dick Thorsell has found and
had confirmed an immature Sabine's Gull. Photo by Wayne
Forsythe.
This great shot is a willow flycatcher - one of those denizens of
nearby Hospital Fields - courtesy of Wayne Forsythe
Some links to other sites of
interest:
The
annual Transylvania County Christmas
Bird Count is part of the Audubon Society's long term
commitment to
the study of avian population trends
The
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
at Cornell University provides a treasure trove of information for
birders of all levels
Carolina
bird clubs provides a nice listing of various Carolina
bird clubs.
Further information about birding
throughout North Carolina can be found at The
Carolina Bird Club
main
site
Had the pleasure of running into this web site's founder while birding
in near Gainesville FL early 2008. Check out The Critical Decision.
The Pisgah National
Forest maintains an active educational program including
the Cradle of
Forestry which was the site of the nation's first school of
forestry under the leadership of Dr Carl Schenck and where Gifford
Pinchot trained. He was appointed the first
head of the US Forest Service and was later fired from that position
for his
diligence
Check
out the web site for the
nearby
Dupont State Forest
which is sponsored by the Friends of Dupont State Forest.
Take a look at the Gorges
State Park
web site
The French Broad River
is a treasured resource of great age
Biodiversity of the Southern
Appalachian mountains can be appreciated at this
site
We are fortunate to have life-long Transylvania County residents who
provides tremendous leadership for semi-annual river clean-ups, river
bank restoration as well as canoe, kayak, rafting and tubing
experiences along the French Broad River
An excellent guide
to native wildflowers can be found at this site
Did
you know Transylvania County was struck by a hurricane as long ago as
1916? This event led to the failure of the Lake Toxaway Dam with
a considerable change to the topography and loss of three lives.
To see what happened visit 1916
hurricane
To review historic rainfall and temperature records in Western North
Carolina
visit this useful site at world
climate.com
The
Carolina Mountain
Land Conservancy works tirelessly to protect pristine land
as well as critical habitats in Western North Carolina for the
generations to come
The North Carolina Natural
Heritage Program inventories, catalogues, and supports
conservation
of the rarest and the most outstanding elements of the natural
diversity
of our state. We have been fortunate to have naturalist Ed
Schwartzman working in our county.
The Blue Ridge
Parkway Association and the National Park Service maintain
web sites describing the Blue Ridge Parkway, created in the 1930's and
extending from the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park in
North Carolina to near the Shenandoah
National Park in Virginia. Before you go check out
the map
See how the Transylvania County Bird Club was formed written by Norma Siebenheller.
Updated
July 1, 2008
return to top
Correction and additions please to Marvin
Barg