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."

ASFC Local Initiatives Audubon Important Bird Areas NC Audubon and Conservation Hot National Issues State of the Birds Contact Your Congressperson

ASFC Local Initiatives

Bethania Conservation Properties

Currently, 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 Bottom 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.

Walnut Bottom Birdwalk - October 9, 2010, by Lois Schneider

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 Lois Schneider, our Conservation Chair, or Shelley Rutkin, if you would like to help.

Our initial efforts focused on improving the area at the Visitor Center parking lot near the entrance to the Walnut Bottoms trail. We planted native flowers and shrubs and began efforts to remove exotic and invasive Multiflora Rose in order to encourage the growth of native plants (see more photos). On subsequent workdays, we tackled the invasive roses and Caleri Pear in other parts of the preserve. Also, live stakes of native shrubs and trees were planted along the banks of Muddy Creek to protect against erosion. Watch for announcements of future work days and area walks in search of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. Come join us.

Native Plantings at Bethania by Phil Dickinson

Historic Bethabara Park

Park Cleanup. Under the City of Winston-Salem's Adopt-a-Park Program, ASFC has done quarterly cleanups at Miller Park for a number of years. Beginning in 2011, the chapter has moved its park adoption to Historic Bethabara Park. Cleanups take place in January, April, July and October. We will concentrate on the wetland and the Mill Creek area trails from there to Old Town Rd. 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.

Stream Bank Preservation. On March 19, 2011, volunteers from Forsyth Audubon, North Carolina Native Plant Society and other groups joint together to plant live tree stakes along Monarcas and Mill Creek. The plantings are intented to fortify the stream banks to limit the amount of erosion caused by stormwater runoff. Volunteers attended a workshop sponsored by the Forsyth County Extension Service. The Extension people provided live stakes of native trees and shrubs to all participants. We contributed most of our stakes to the streams at Bethabara. At last check, there was a lot of new green foliage along the banks.

Invasive Plants. Historic Bethabara Park is full of exotic invasive plants, including Chinese Privet, Multiflora Rose and the notorious Kudzu. The Chapter has a goal development of a plan to remove these invasive plants to encourage the growth of native habitat. As a first step, we currently are developing a process to map the location of areas of invasive plants that could be targeted for cleanup.

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.

We returned to the wetland in 2010 and held two more workdays in August. We took out many, many bags of pods, stems and leaves. However, the rapid growth of the lotus suggests that this is not an effective way to deal with the problem. The faster growth rate in recent years appears connected to higher water levels or possibly silting from the decay of fallen trees. The chapter board plans to investigate possible alternatives with the park and the city.

Lotus Removal at Bethabara by Susan Jones

Tanglewood County Park

Tanglewood County Park has begun development of native grassland habitat in a meadow area between the wetlands in the southwest portion of the park. Following removal of nonnative vegetation, plantings of native grasses should begin in 2012. The project stems from discussions that Ron Morris, Carol Gearhart and Cindy Thompson held with park managers and recommendations obtained from an independent consultant. A grant application has been submitted to help finance the effort.

Assisted by chapter members Bill Gifford and David Disher, park staff has repaired and reinstalled several Wood Duck boxes that had been in the wetland along the BMX road. Bill and Phyllis Smith, the park's Nature Education Director, removed the boxes, and park employee John Walker repaired them. David advised on relocating the boxes, with one remaining at the wetland and others being set up at the oxbow lake and in the moist area behind the BMX track. Park staff will monitor and maintain the boxes.

Currently under discussion is a plan to add Prothonotary Warbler boxes in moist woodland areas. These beautiful warblers have become difficult to find in Forsyth County but at least a couple of pair do nest in the park. We would like to attract more.

Tanglewood Prohtonotary Warbler by Phil Dickinson

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.

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. Common Ravens also nest on the cliffs. 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, museum display items 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. On May 15, 2010, we conducted our annual point count surveys and presented a program about area birds to park visitors. In late May 2011, Ron Morris and Kim Brand conducted a Golden-winged Warbler breeding bird survey along the New River. 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

Audubon North Carolina 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 Skimmers is one such initiative. ASFC and other state chapters contribute a share of their Spring Birdathon proceeds to support this program.

Beach Nesters. On June 23, 2011, Audubon North Carolina launched a pilot project to solitic beachgoers for pledges to "share the beach" with these nesting birds by not walking into nesting areas at Wrightsville Beach. Volunteers will hit the beach on June 22, July 2 and July 3 to talk to beachgoers and obtain pledges. If you would like to volunteer for a two-hour shift, contact Ida Phillips at the state office. You also may be a Good Egg by signing a pledge and passing the word on to others. You may download a pledge form and mail it to Ida at Audubon North Carolina, 123 Kingston Dr., Suite 206, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or pledge on line at www.goodeggnc.org.

Beach-driving. NC Audubon and partnering organizations also have been 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. The National Park Service has issued its final impact statement regarding an Off-Road Vehicle Policy for Hatteras beaches. Audubon NC and other groups will be reviewing the statement but are concerned that it fall short of what is needed. For Audubon NC's reaction, click here. Hatteras this past summer had record numbers of sea turtle nests and 15 surviving Piping Plover chicks, while enjoying increasted tourist business.

Bonner Bridge. 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. Unfortunately, authorities now seem intent on pursuing one of the short-bridge alternatives.

Navy Landing Field. "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.

Hot National Issues

Here are some of the habitat and environmental issues that currently are high on the agenda of the National Audubon Society.

Keystone Pipeline. The proposed Keystone Pipeline would transport "dirty" oil from Canada's tar sands some 1700 miles to Texas refineries through Midwest farm and ranch lands, across streams and rivers, and through the Ogallala acquifer, which provides clean drinking water for two million people. One spill could be catastrophic for people and for birds, and the recent Yellowstone River incident shows that these spills can, and will, happen. A State Department report recommends that the agency and the President approve the pipeline.

Gulf Restoration. The RESTORE Act would direct that 80 percent of Clean Water Act penalties collected from BP for the Gulf Coast oil spill go to the five states damaged by that spill. A bipartisan bill in the House closely parallels similar legislation moving through the Senate.

Arctic Drilling. In August, the federal government reversed course and approved a Shell Oil proposal to begin drilling in the Beaufort Sea off of Alaska in 2012. Audubon has joined other conservation and Alaska Native groups in challengint this action by the Bureau of Ocean Management, Regulation and Enforcement. Audubon points out the U.S. Coast Guard has said that resources to clean up oil spills in that area just don't exist..

State of the Birds

Greater conservation efforts are needed on public lands and in public waters, declares the 2011 State of the Birds Report. The Report, issued by the U.S. Department of Interior, stresses how public lands and waters provide vital nesting, wintering and migratory habitat for many declining bird species.

The 2010 State of the Birds Report emphased the impact of climate change on birds. It warned 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.

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.