Upcoming Events
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Sat, Apr 11, 8am, Jackson Park Birdwalk.
Sat, Apr 18, 8am, Black Mountain Birdwalk, Fletcher Park Birdwalk.
Tue, Apr 21, 7pm,
Heather Hahn, "Save the Songs: Birds and Climate Change," EMAS monthly program, Reuter's Center, UNCA, Asheville.
Sat, May 2, 8am, Beaver Lake Birdwalk.
Sat, May 9, 8am, Jackson Park Birdwalk.
Sat, May 16, 8am, Black Mountain Birdwalk, Fletcher Park Birdwalk.
Tue, May 19, 7pm, EMAS General Meeting. Benjamin Skolnik, Director of International Program Development for the American Bird Conservancy.
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| Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary: Many thanks to all who came out for our March 20th workday at Beaver Lake: Doug Johnston, Gary Schenk, Tom Bush, Pat McKee, Terry Lee, Diane Matheson, Jay Wherley, Esther Pardue, Len Pardue, Tom Tribble. Special thanks to Phoenix Richardson, age 11. Yes it was a school day (Friday) but it was a teachers work day and Phoenix decided he would work too. |
For the latest schedule and any changes:
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North America's birds  are and
will continue to be affected by the impact of climate change on their habitats. Many species that breed, nest, migrate or winter in North Carolina are
among those at risk. According to a landmark study released by the National Audubon Society, Brown-headed Nuthatches, American Oystercatchers, Golden-winged Warblers, and hundreds of other species will be threatened or endangered in our children's lifetime.
Of the 588 continental U.S. and Canadian bird species examined in the seven-year study, 314 species are at risk. Of those, about 1 in 5, or 126, species, are at risk of severe declines by 2050 if global warming is allowed to erase the havens birds occupy today. Just like the canaries in the coal mines, these birds are sounding the alarm that it's time for people to act before it's too late.
Audubon Chief Scientist Gary Langham and other Audubon ornithologists analyzed more than 40 years of North American climate data and historical bird records from the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the Audubon Christmas Bird Count to understand the links between where birds live and the climatic conditions that support them. Understanding those links then allows scientists to project where birds are likely to be able to survive - and not survive - in the future. Audubon's study shows how climate conditions including rainfall, temperature and humidity - the building blocks for ecosystems and species survival - may have catastrophic consequences when those balances are tipped.
In North Carolina, citizens have a unique opportunity to protect a wide range of bird species threatened by climate change from the mountains to the piedmont to the coastal plain. Audubon NC scientists are integrating the report results into existing conservation programs and projects to support birds through conservation of crucial habitat.
From the NC Audubon Society newsletter
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"Save the Songs:
Birds and Climate Change"
EMAS General Meeting, April 21, 7pm
Reuter Center, UNC Asheville
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Audubon North Carolina  Executive Director Heather Hahn will present "Save the Songs: Birds and Climate Change." Join Heather to learn how Audubon's recently released Climate Report is addressing the greatest threat to our birds. Ms. Hahn will walk us through details of the study and help us learn what we can do to reduce the threat of climate change in our community. As the voice for North Carolina's birds, Audubon NC is building conservation programs across our state to help birds survive climate change.
All EMAS programs are held at the Reuter Center on the UNCAsheville campus. Programs are free and open to the public.
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| EMAS Spring Birdathon Fundraiser |
Every spring, members of  EMAS compete in a friendly Birdathon to raise money for conservation. The Birdathon is the chapter's major yearly fundraiser, with a goal to raise money for the Cerulean Warbler Reserve in Columbia and for an UNCAsheville environmental studies student scholarship. The Birdathon teams strive to identify as many species of birds as they can in one day. Sponsors donate an amount per species or simply a fixed amount. The 2014 highest team count of 130 was tallied by the winning Beaver Lake Bluebirds and a total of $7,356 was raised by all three teams.
We welcome your generous support! Follow this link
to download a Birdathon donation form, and to learn more about the Cerulean Warbler Reserve. Please plan to attend the EMAS May 19th meeting, our biggest program event of the spring. We request a $5 admission donation, all of which goes to the Birdathon. We're very excited to have Benjamin Skolnik from the American Bird Conservancy as our guest speaker. See you there!
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EMAS News
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Dr. Ed Hauser, professor of biology emeritus, has resigned from the EMAS board after over 20 years of service. Ed joined the board in April 1992 and served as the wetlands coordinator for the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. In 1999, he helped obtain a grant from the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund and coordinated the construction of the Sanctuary's ecofilter wetland. Now known as the "Dr. Ed Hauser Ecofilter Wetland," it serves to collect storm water runoff and helps prevent the deposit of pollutants into Beaver Lake. During the recent upgrade to the Sanctuary, Ed oversaw the creation of a new meadow habitat and the planting of more than 300 native plants. For EMAS, he led many field trips and work days and presented more educational programs on a diverse array of topics than any other person. He had the respect of EMAS Board members and was instrumental in keeping the Board focused and productive. We will dearly miss his wisdom.
We are happy to announce that Steve Yurkovitch is the newest member of the EMAS board. Steve is professor emeritus at Western Carolina University where he was an educator in the geosciences program and a researcher in Appalachian geology. He has worked with the Southern Environmental Law Center and Mountain True on mountain conservation issues and presently teaches geology classes at the NC Arboretum. Welcome to the board, Steve!
Check out the April issue of the Laurel of Asheville magazine. Alan Lenk wrote an article on bird photography that is illustrated by his amazing bird photos. Alan has been writing a series on bird photography for our newsletter; we're most grateful for his submissions. |
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 Common Spring Moth This moth is about 3/4 inch wide and, unlike most moths, is often seen during the day. Their larval host plant is locust trees, and as caterpillars they provide a food source for birds.
Blue Corporal  This dragonfly is about 1 1/2 inches long. The males are blue, while females are mostly brown. Note the distinctive dark areas near the wing base. This dragonfly is one of the earliest to emerge in spring and can often be seen perched on or near the ground.
 Yellow-throated Warbler An early arriving warbler, try to learn its song and then search the tree tops for this often difficult to spot but colorful bird. No other eastern warbler has this combination of a bright yellow throat, and black, white, and gray plumage.
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