Chapter Highlights
The Board of Directors has remained active over the holidays in planning a series of activities for 2010 that will build on our recent successes. We remain focused on fulfilling several long-term goals, including expanding and more fully engaging the Chapter's membership, initiating programs of educational outreach, and establishing partnerships with other conservation-based organizations. We have been fortunate in more than doubling the number of our local members through a successful membership drive over the past 2 - 3 years. The benefits of a larger and more engaged Chapter membership were quite evident in your especially generous response to our appeal for funds through our revised membership renewal in 2009. We are hoping for a similarly generous response in 2010. Part of the additional funds were spent on binoculars and other birding equipment that was subsequently used on a hike with 34 students from the Summit Charter School in Cashiers, in bird conservation classes now being offered through the Highlands Nature Center, and while teaching a Beginning Birding class for 33 adults through the Center for Life Enrichment (CLE) last May. Other collaborative partnerships included the Chapter's recent adoption of the Mill Creek section of the Highlands Plateau Greenway Trail, continued offering of a Birding Ecotour for the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT), and our highly successful collaboration with the Land Stewards of the Highlands Plateau, the Highlands Biological Station and the HCLT in developing a widely used traveling exhibit stressing native plant/insect/bird connections. Twenty-two chapter members will attend our third annual trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama in April to greet the returning neotropical migrants. However, much of our time and effort over the next few months will be focused on preparations for successfully hosting Audubon North Carolina's Annual Meeting at The Mountain from May 20 - 23. Please consider joining us in showcasing the especially rich biological diversity, unique avian communities and striking natural beauty of the southern Appalachians during the extended three-day meeting. Don Shure - President
Adopt-A-Trail
We have adopted a section of the Highlands Plateau Greenway and have agreed to inspect it monthly to remove trash and also do major maintenance such as clearing the trail of branches, etc. four times a year. If needed, tools, garbage bags, and safety equipment will be provided by the Highlands Plateau Greenway. We will schedule our quarterly clean-up at a later date. If you would like to volunteer for a monthly inspection or to help with the quarterly work day, contact Edwin Poole - 526-2775 or kaywick@nctv.com.
2010 Calendar of Events
Programs
Programs are held at the Highlands Civic Center. Join us at 7:00 p.m. for
conversation & refreshments, with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m.
May 20-23 - Audubon NC Annual Meeting - The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center, Dillard Road
June 14 - Annual Meeting - Members sharing pictures & stories. Be thinking about what you can contribute!
Potluck dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. will precede the program
June 16 - Owl Prowl at The Nature Center, 8:00 p.m.
July 12 - "How to Be a Better Birder" by Georgann Schmalz, formally with the Fernbank Science
Center, Atlanta - now president of Birding Adventures, Inc.
July 16-17 - Mountain Wildlife & Wilderness Days - at Sapphire Valley
August 15 - Annual Picnic - Cashiers Village Green, 5:00 p.m.
September 13 - "Black Bears" by Appalachian Bear Rescue, Townsend. TN
October ?? - "Save Our American Raptors" - Doris Mager, The Eagle Lady, Date to be announced later
We all enjoy refreshments at our programs, so please volunteer to donate cookies or some other goodies to one of our meetings. If you would like to help, please contact Pat Davis at 828-526-0252. Thank you!
Field Trips
Meet in the Parking Lot next to the Highlands Town Hall at 7:30 a.m. (unless otherwise noted)
We will carpool to the various areas.
April 11- - Dauphin Island, AL - To be placed on the waiting list contact Brock Hutchins, 787-1387
May 8 - Lonesome Valley Development, Cashiers
June 1 - Hale Ridge Road & Rabun Bald area
June 19 - Local hotspots around Highlands
September 18 - Biological Station & Sunset Rock for fall migrants
September 23 - Blue Ridge Parkway for fall migrants - meet at 7:00 a.m. (Rain Date - September 25)
December 17 - Christmas Bird Count
Since all of these dates are subject to change, be sure to check future newsletters for possible changes.
Highlands Hosts Audubon NC Annual Meeting
We hope you all have your calendars marked for the Audubon NC annual meeting, which we will be hosting at The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center on May 20-23, 2010. For more information about the annual meeting check the Audubon NC website - http://nc.audubon.org/events/1000.
Bird IQ Test
Answer to Last Quiz - Most woodpeckers have barbed tongues which curve backward all the way around their skull and attach near their nostrils. New Quiz - How many chapters are there in Audubon NC and which is the smallest?
Bird Feeders
Remember to feed the birds during this cold weather and also to clean up the seed hulls from under the feeder once in a while. You can stock up on seed at the Bird Barn in Highlands from 10 to 5 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and Audubon members receive a 10% discount.
