Audubon Society of Forsyth County

Our Mission: "To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, wildlife and their natural habitats for the benefit of humanity and North Carolina's biological diversity."

State of the Birds 2010

Contact Your Congressperson

ASFC Local Initiatives

Bethania Conservation Properties

For 2010, the primary focus of ASFC's conservation efforts is on protected properties in the Town of Bethania. The town, community members, Piedmont Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund of Arlington, Virginia, and the State of North Carolina partnered to acquire several tracts of land that now are owned by the State and managed by Bethania. ASFC, through a committee comprised of Shelley Rutkin, Lois Schneider and Lisa Gould, is working with Bethania to develop a plan of conservation that embraces some of this land.

Walnut Bottoms is the largest of these properties, comprising about 35 acres along the Muddy Creek floodplain. A trail begins at the Bethania Visitor Center and winds through bottomland woods and fields. Another 20 acres called Walnut Bluffs overlooks the creek nearby. Across Bethania-Rural Hall Road, the 60-acre Southwest Bluff and Bottomland tract is the most recent acquisition.

One project area centers on land management issues such as removal of foreign invasives and replacement with native species. Another area will focus on educational activities and materials for the general public. Inventories of flora and fauna will provide the foundation for these efforts. You can help build these inventories by sharing your bird and butterfly lists and photos with commitee members. We also will need volunteers for work days, bird walks and other activities. Contact Shelley if you would like to help.

Our initial efforts have focused on improving the area at the Visitor Center parking lot near the entrance to the Walnut Bottoms trail. We have planted native flowers and shrubs and have begun efforts to remove exotic and invasive Multiflora Rose in order to encourage the growth of native plants (see more photos). Watch for announcements of future work days and area walks in search of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. Come join us.

Bethania

Native Plantings at Bethania by Phil Dickinson

Historic Bethabara Park

Breeding Bird Survey. In Spring 2009, ASFC members conducted an initial Breeding Bird Census at the park. The Census was conceived and organized by Kim Brand and Katherine Thorington, volunteer park naturalist. It followed established survey procedures and took place over a 10-week period from mid-April through late-June.

The park was divided into five walking routes, and volunteers covered each route throughout the 10-week period with visits spaced approximately seven days apart. Observations were conducted between sunrise and 11 a.m. On route maps, volunteers charted the location of each bird seen or heard during the visit, and noted specific behaviors or activities such as call-and-response, gathering nesting material, feeding young.

Preliminary analysis of 2009 data indicated at least one territory for 63 different species. Of course, there were our year-round residents, such as Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Red-shouldered Hawks. In addition breeding territories were located for several migration species, including Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, White-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager and Wood Thrush.

Breeding activity of the Wood Thrush was of particular interest given the declining numbers of this species due to habitat loss, cowbird parasitism and other factors. At Bethabara, observers located 22 Wood Thrush territories and found a number of nests. This indeed was an encouraging result.

The survey was repeated in Spring 2010. Data analysis is not yet complete, but of special note are successful breeding by a pair of Tree Swallows at the wetland and a pair of singing Acadian Flycatchers on territory along Monarcas Creek throughout the census period.

Lotus Removal. In 2009, ASFC embarked on a project to remove Sacred Lotus plants from the wetland near Reynolda and Bethabara Park Roads. This non-native invasive plant has been spreading rapidly across the wetland, affecting the habitat for native plants, birds and other wildlife. Volunteers from ASFC and the Sierra Club's Foothills Chapter embarked in canoes and kayaks on two separate days, collecting dozens of trashbags of cut plants.

Last year was pretty much a test run, and we will tackle the lotus again on workdays scheduled for August 7 and 16, 2010, from 7:45-11:30 a.m. We will team up with Sierra Club, Tarheel Paddlers and Triad River Runners. Meet at the day care center parking lot at Reynolda and Bethabara Park Roads. We need for volunteers to handle kayaks and clip plants below the surface, to transport cuttings to shore in a canoe, and to work on shore bagging the clippings or transporting the watercraft to and from the parking area. We also need someone to transport a canoe to and from Bethabara. Bring clippers, work gloves, sunscreen, water and life vests (if you have them). To volunteer, contact Kim Brand (336-896-0923).

lotus

Lotus Removal at Bethabara by Susan Jones

Miller Park

ASFC performs a quarterly cleanup of Miller Park under the City of Winston-Salem's Adopt-a-Park program. Cleanups take place in January, April, July and October. Check our Calendar for scheduled dates. Bring gloves and a couple of trash bags. Bring your binoculars, too, since we always take time to check out the birds.

Audubon Important Bird Areas

The Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) program helps Audubon, its partners and landowners identify and protect natural areas and landscapes that are critical to maintaining bird populations, diversity and habitat. In North Carolina, 96 IBAs comprise some 4 million acres from the mountains to the coast.

Local chapters can adopt individual IBAs and can receive collaborative funding from Audubon to support citizen science, conservation or educational activities at these locations. ASFC was the first chapter in the state to participate in this program, adopting Hanging Rock State Park and New River Corridor, which is in Ashe County. With 2010 designated the "Year of the Bird" at North Carolina state parks, the Chapter plans to participate in several activities at these locations.

Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock is included in the adoption program, even though IBA status remains pending. Nesting of Peregrine Falcons in the park in recent years has made it an area of interest. In addition, passerine species such as Worm-eating and Black-throated Green Warbler breed in the park, even though they do not do so at the lower elevations here in Forsyth County.

ASFC conducts Christmas and Spring Bird Counts for the area in and around the park. It also conducts campfire programs and birdwalks for park visitors, and has supported the park with purchases of binoculars and field guides for children, reference materials relating to the falcons and signage promoting the park as a stop on the North Carolina Birding Trail.

New River Corridor

The New River Corridor IBA includes New River State Park and nearby habitat along the North and South Forks of the New River in Ashe and Allegheny Counties. The area is known as critical breeding habitat for such species as Golden-winged Warbler and Warbling Vireo.

For several spring seasons, ASFC volunteers have worked with NC Audubon's IBA Coordinator Curtis Smalling to conduct point count surveys along the New River at the state park's river-only Allegheny Access campground and elsewhere. This past May 15th,, we conducted our annual point count surveys and presented a program about area birds to park visitors. Chapter members also take part in Christmas Bird Counts for the area. With collaborative funds, the Chapter also purchased signage that promotes the IBA and Birding Trail status of the park.

NC Audubon and Conservation

North Carolina Audubon has been at the forefront of several habitat preservation areas in recent years. In addition to one of the most active IBA programs in the country, it has been working hard to protect vital habitat in the coastal regions of the state.

The North Carolina Islands Coastal Islands sanctuary system now protects 19 islands that support nesting shorebird species such as Brown Pelican, White Ibis, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Black Skimmersis one such initiative. ASFC and other state chapters contribute a share of their Spring Birdathon proceeds to support this program.

NC Audubon and partnering organizations also are involved in litigation and negotiations over the National Park System's policy regarding off-road vehicle access near important shorebird and see turtle nesting habitat at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. National Parks currently is under court order to develop a policy that balances commercial, recreational and environmental interests. Meanwhile, the order compels NPS to restrict access to specific areas during nesting season. Opposition to this order has been vocal and at times confrontational or threatening. Senators Burr and Hagan have filed a bill (S. 1557) to overturn the court order and return to previous management plan pending a negotiated settlement.

Replacement of the Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet also raises issues regarding the protection of nesting and migratory waterfowl near the inlet and at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. NC Audubon has supported a so-called long bridge option that would eliminate reliance on NC 12 through the Refuge area. While more expensive than other options in the short term, it likely would be less costly long term compared to continued efforts to maintain a road that highly vulnerable to flooding and shifting sands.

"No OLF" was the cry of many residents as the U.S. Navy sought to build an outying landing field for pilot training next to Pocosin Lakes National Widlife Refuge. NC Audubon and other groups joined the fight out of concern, not only for the thousands of wintering geese and swans at the Refuge, but also the danger those birds posed to the pilots.The proposed site has been blocked, but monitoring of alternative proposals continues.

State of the Birds 2010

On March10, the U.S. Department of the Interior released, “The State of the Birds: 2010 Report on Climate Change.” This follows a comprehensive report issued in 2009 indicating that nearly a third of the 800 North American bird species are endangered, threatened or in significant decline.

The 2010 report warns that the 21st Century threat of climate change could dramatically alter habitat and food supply, and push many species closer to extinction. As we know, birds are important indicators of the overall health of our environment. Now, they are telling us something about climate change.

Following are some of the key findings of the 2010 report, which was produced by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with National Audubon Society and several other conservation organizations. Please take time to read the entire report at State of the Birds.

• Oceanic birds are among the most vulnerable species because they don’t raise many young each year; they face challenges from a rapidly changing marine ecosystem; and they nest on islands that may be flooded as sea levels rise. All 67 oceanic bird species, such as petrels and albatrosses, are among the most vulnerable birds on Earth to climate change.

• Hawaiian birds such as endangered species Puaiohi and ’Akiapōlā’au already face multiple threats and are increasingly challenged by mosquito-borne diseases and invasive species as climate change alters their native habitats.

• Birds in coastal, arctic/alpine, and grassland habitats, as well as those on Caribbean and other Pacific islands show intermediate levels of vulnerability; most birds in aridlands, wetlands, and forests show relatively low vulnerability to climate change.

• For bird species that are already of conservation concern such as the golden-cheeked warbler, whooping crane, and spectacled eider, the added vulnerability to climate change may hasten declines or prevent recovery.'

• The report identified common bird species such as the American oystercatcher, common nighthawk, and northern pintail that are likely to become species of conservation concern as a result of climate change.

In North Carolina, rising sea levels on our coast and insect infestations in our mountain forests are among factors that likely will affect where birds live and the ongoing health of their populations. With changes in climate and habitat, migrating and breeding birds may not be able to find food sources they depend upon at the time or place they require. Some species may be able to adapt, but others may not.

Contact Your Congressperson

Whether it is Cape Hatteras, OLF or other state or national environmental issues, your opinions should count. Share them with your elected officials, including your U.S. representatives and senators. Click here for contact information. Phone calls and emails tend to be more effective than letters because of screening delays.