Upcoming Events
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Sat, Jun 13, 8am
Jackson Park Birdwalk
Tue, Jun 16, 7pm
"Bring Back the Monarch" EMAS monthly program, Reuter Center, UNCA, Asheville
Sat, Jun 20, 8am
Black Mountain Birdwalk Fletcher Park Birdwalk
Sat, Jul 4, 8am
Beaver Lake Birdwalk
Sat, Jul 11, 8am
Jackson Park Birdwalk
Sat, Jul 18, 8am
Black Mountain Birdwalk Fletcher Park Birdwalk
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For the latest schedule and any changes:
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The Birdathon is still under way!
This is Elisha Mitchell Audubon's major fund-raising campaign and our goal this year is to help Cerulean warbler populations by raising $5,000 for the Cerulean Warbler Reserve in Colombia, South America. Cerulean Warbler numbers have declined by over 80% since 1966. This bird faces significant habitat pressures here in North America, but research in South America shows that all but 7% of the habitat on the bird's wintering grounds has been destroyed. If we are to save the Cerulean Warbler from extinction, we must start by preserving and restoring its habitat on its wintering grounds.
Many of you joined us at our Birdathon program meeting in May and heard from Benjamin Skolnik on the American Bird Conservancy's important work in Latin America and with Pro Aves in Columbia. It was great to see how much progress has been made in acquiring land and in reforestation efforts there that should translate into healthier populations of neo-tropical migrants. Our thanks to all who donated $5 or more for the Birdathon at the program. If you missed the program but still want to make your tax-deductible contribution,
please click here for a donation form. Since the 2010 Birdathon, our chapter has raised over $22,000 and in addition received a matching grant last year of $6,500 from the American Bird Conservancy. We are most grateful for the generosity of our members in helping us in this cause.
Thank you all very much for your generous support!
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American Bird Conservancy News
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Important habitat for a rare bird,
Colombia's endangered Santa Marta Parakeet, will now be protected following the purchase of a property by ProAves, a leading Colombian conservation organization, with support from the American Bird Conservancy. The 148-acre tract, known as the La Cumbre property, expands the El Dorado Reserve, which was also created by ABC and ProAves, along with Conservation International. In 2006, the reserve was created when the groups partnered to protect 1,600 acres of key parakeet habitat beyond the nearby national park. Additional land acquisitions in 2010 and 2012 enlarged the reserve to its current 2,250 acres.
These mountains are a vital stopover point for declining neotropical migratory birds that breed in the United States and Canada, such as the Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers. "This property is a conservation jewel," said Dr. George Fenwick, President of ABC. "It is in an area that is ranked as the second-most important site for threatened birds and amphibians in the world. It also provides critical habitat for more than 40 neotropical migratory birds and holds exceptional levels of diversity and high levels of endemism for plants, amphibians, and butterflies," he added.
To read more, go to
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Bring Back the Monarch!
Tuesday June 16, 7 p.m.
Reuter Center UNCAsheville |
The monarch butterfly
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Photo of Monarchs in Mexico
by M. Mooney
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population has plunged dramatically in recent years. While the issues surrounding their decline are complex, simple local solutions can help monarchs survive. Come learn about ways to help Bring Back the Monarch Butterfly in this informational program by Nina Veteto, founder of Asheville-based Monarch Rescue. Participants will learn about the life cycle of the Monarch, its extraordinary migration, and the importance of milkweed to monarchs. As a bonus, free milkweed seeds will be given to all who attend.
A former classroom teacher with a master's degree in education, Nina Veteto has spent the last few years as an environmental educator, teaching students about the miracle of the monarch and its migration. Most recently, Nina has formed Monarch Rescue, a local non-profit organization dedicated to creating monarch habitat in and around western NC and to educating the public about the plight of the monarch. The program is free and open to the public.
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The EMAS Birdathon Teams Report
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Prothonotary Warbler
Photo by Simon Thompson
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The final tally for the three teams competing in this year's Birdathon has been a closely guarded secret....until now. The teams did their very best, getting up before dawn and birding to near exhaustion to see as many species as they could in one day. It's all great fun and for a wonderful cause---helping Cerulean warblers and other neo-tropical migrants survive. The team members encourage you to support the EMAS Birdathon fundraiser. Please make a pledge to your favorite team or simply write a check to Elisha Mitchell Audubon. This is our only fundraiser of the year and the money goes to a wonderful cause - helping to save the wintering habitat of so many of our beloved western NC birds.
To read the exciting accounts of each team, please click here. Thank you to all of our generous donors; we appreciate your support of our efforts. And, the moment you've all been waiting for, the winning team for the second year in a row was the Beaver Lake Bluebirds with 129 species!
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Photo Tip #5:
High Potential Birding Lens:
Tamron 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Test Drive
Text and photos by Alan Lenk
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Great Horned Owl
Alan Lenk
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For birders getting deeper into photography, one of the main dilemmas they face is which lens to purchase. To get quality bird photographs, a large lens is a necessity. But carrying a heavy lens can make photographing birds difficult and tiring, to say the least. Local bird photographer Alan Lenk will help potentially lighten your load with this article on his new Tamron lens, illustrated with some wonderful photos from his recent trip to Florida.
Please click here to read the article.
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The
Falcate Orangetip
can be seen at BLBS in the spring. The male (shown) has an unmistakable orange tip to the wing. The wingspan is about 1 1/2 inches. The female lacks the orange tip of the male. It is quite a treat to stumble upon this butterfly.
No mistaking this duck.  The male Wood Duck is very striking and is always a treat when spotted at BLBS.
The
Eastern Forktail
 is a common damselfly at BLBS, but finding one can be a challenge. The male (shown) has a black thorax, green shoulder stripe and a blue tip on the end of the abdomen. The size is around one inch in length.
Pictured is the Leconte's Hapola moth. A most striking moth with a length of about one inch. This moth can occasionally be seen at BLBS, in shaded areas.
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