Upcoming Events
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Jackson Park Birdwalk
Tue, Oct 20, 7pm
Monthly Meeting, "Bird-friendly Gardening: Your Yard Matters.!" Reuter Center, UNC Asheville.
Sat, Oct 17, 9am
Black Mountain Birdwalk
Fletcher Park Birdwalk
Sat, Nov 7, 9am
Beaver Lake Birdwalk
Sat, Nov 14, 9am
Jackson Park Birdwalk
Tue, Nov 17, 7pm
Monthly Meeting November 17 Program: "Bats of North Carolina" with Emilie Travis.
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Additional Events
Fri, Oct 4, 9:30am-3:00pm
Audubon Ambassador training Friday, October 9th at the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Rd.
Wed, Nov 4, 7pm
Sierra Club will present:
"The Impact of Climate Change on Food Production," by Dr. Laura Lengnick, retired professor of sustainable agriculture at Warren Wilson College at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place.
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Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary
October 24, 9am
Work Day at BLBS led by Tom Tribble and Doug Johnston.
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For the latest schedule and any changes:
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Become an Audubon Climate Ambassador!
The Audubon Birds and Climate Change Report predicts that we could
 lose half of North American birds by the end of this century without serious action on climate change. As bird-lovers, we should do all we can to help birds now. I invite you to join me in attending the Audubon Ambassador training here in Asheville at 10 a.m. Friday, October 9
th at the New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Becoming an Audubon Ambassador simply means talking with friends and family about how climate change impacts birds and sharing solutions that help birds become more resilient as our world changes. These solutions will be familiar to you - installing nest boxes, planting native plants for birds, reducing your carbon footprint. Some Audubon Ambassadors may choose to give presentations to community groups about birds and climate change, but you can spread the word in any way you like - even through something as simple as Facebook posts about ways to help birds.
A key goal of the training is to learn how to talk about climate change and how to view the climate conversation in North Carolina through the lens of birds. Together we can build the groundswell of support we need to make a real difference. That means connecting with what people care about, whether it's birds, their kids, or their favorite mountain hike. I think you'll find this positive, hopeful approach inspiring and helpful.
This event is free, and includes lunch, but registration is required. Go to
http://climate.nc.audubon.org/ambassadors, and fill in your contact information.
You'll receive an email inviting you to register for one of the trainings, including the October 9
th
event. I hope you'll come.
You don't really have to be an Audubon member - just a friend of birds. You can make a difference.
Cheers,
Tom Tribble, EMAS President
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 "Bird-Friendly Gardening:
Your Yard Matters!"
EMAS General Meeting and Program, October 20, 7pm |
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Black-throated Blue Warbler on American Beautyberry
by Will Stuart |
Your yard, and the kinds of plants in it, matters more than you may know. Native plants play a key role in providing food birds need to survive and thrive in a way that non-native plants cannot do. Shrubs provide high-fat berries birds need to fuel up for long migration flights, trees host caterpillars that become food for nestlings, and flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds. With native plantings, your yard can make a real difference for birds year-round. At this program, you'll find out which plants are best for birds and you'll also hear about Audubon's new Local Roots program.
Our presenter, Kim Brand, is the Bird-Friendly Communities Project Coordinator for Audubon North Carolina, a state program of the National Audubon Society. Kim has a master's degree in ornithology and has been a board member of Forsyth Audubon for five years. Bird-Friendly Communities is a partnership program led by Audubon North Carolina that focuses conservation efforts where most people live-in cities and towns. From planting the native plants birds need to succeed to putting up birdhouses, people can play a critical role in fostering healthy bird populations.
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| Hog Island Experience |
As part of Elisha 
Mitchell Audubon Society's educational outreach to children, EMAS sponsored Asheville Middle School teacher Donna Marcelo at the Educators' Week Workshop at National Audubon's Hog Island Camp in July. Teachers learned practical approaches and methods to add to their environmental education curriculum. EMAS was delighted to sponsor Ms. Marcelo's attendance and know that her students at Asheville Middle School will benefit from her experience. Our thanks to Ms. Marcelo for taking the time from her summer schedule to attend and to Ms. Cynthia Sellinger, Principal at Asheville Middle School, for her support of the program. To learn more about Hog Island, go to http://hogisland.audubon.org/
"Our students are so disconnected from nature. We must inspire ecological awareness with students and teachers alike by increasing contact with nature, and I don't mean just science teachers. We need to create living green spaces at schools and use them as regular learning centers. We need to connect students to ecological community organizations and encourage them to explore careers in environmental studies. I was asked if the Hog Island experience could be used in my classroom. The answer is yes, but it will require a fundamental shift in the mindsets of those who control the schools to accept the benefits nature brings to the whole child."
Read Donna's full article here. |
Audubon 2016 Calendars
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This year, EMAS will not be selling Audubon calendars but you can order one from Audubon at a discount. Workman Publishing's 2016 Audubon Calendars are now available. These annual favorites showcase stunning bird and nature photography, making them popular holiday gifts for friends and family. From now until the end of 2015, the coupon code "audcal" will save you 20% through the
online order form.
Order yours today!
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Beaver Bits
Text and Photos by Vin Stanton
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This colorful male  Wandering Glider dragonfly is often seen in parking lots in late summer and fall. Females will occasionally lay their eggs on car windows. The reason for this error is that reflected sun appears as a water source to this dragonfly. The length of this dragonfly is roughly 2 inches.
 The Hummingbird Clearwing Moth is only about 1 inch in length but it's a fascinating day-flying moth. It imitates a hummingbird in flight, nectaring at flowers, which often results in birders doing a double-take!
Here is a ventral  view of the Red Admiral, a striking butterfly about 2 inches from wingtip to wingtip. It's a common but colorful butterfly found at BLBS and in other meadow-like areas in our region.
 It's time to say goodbye to most American Robins who will be migrating to warmer climes soon. A few should remain through the winter, dining on holly berries and other fruits. This robin was photographed bathing in the stream at BLBS.
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