Reposted from Jacksonville.com

TERRY DICKSON/The Times-Union

JEKYLL ISLAND -Darlington School senior Ian McKenzie looks at birds in the distance during the school’s birding trip to the Georgia coast.

A windy morning with temperatures in the 40s would seem a bad time to be outdoors.

But not if you’re looking for birds.

Eleven students from the Darlington School in Rome braved the elements Saturday to climb into the observation tower on the Jekyll Island causeway to spot birds in the distance and list them.

Bundled against the cold in stocking caps, fur ear flaps, heavy coats and gloves, the students peered through telescopes and binoculars. Faculty members offered some help in identifying what the students saw.

With the wind blowing his ear flaps away from his head, senior Ian McKenzie said, “I’m going inside.”

It wasn’t long before the whole bunch followed, but it had been a good morning for Owen Kinney’s environmental sciences class.

Phil Titus, chairman of the school’s science department, called it a great birding experience partly because of the sometimes punishing weather.

“The birds have to eat when it’s cold so they move quite a bit,” Titus said.

The four-day trip includes watching from several spots on Jekyll Island, Andrews Island in Brunswick, Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge in McIntosh County and the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

“It’s a great birding experience,” Titus said. “We often see 100 species in this one trip.”

If the cold makes birding good, it should remain fine in the coming days. The National Weather Service says it will be cold well into this week.

terry.dickson@jacksonville.com
(912) 264-0405

Tags: bird watching georgia, georgia beaches, great atlantic flyway, jekyll island beach, jekyll island birding, Jekyll Island birding platform
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By Lydia Thompson

The south end beach of Jekyll Island is a major resting area for a wide variety of birds. They spend their time here resting as they prepare for their next feeding time. Many of these birds migrate for miles and miles.

Every time these resting birds are disturbed, or sent flying by unleashed dogs or by people coming close to them, they lose vital energy that is necessary if they are to find food.

If they don’t have the energy to find food, they die!!!

Please be aware of the needs of these birds.

Obey the leash law! ! ! !

Keep all dogs on a short leash.

Push bikes and/or walk slowly around these birds.

You will be rewarded for your efforts by knowing that

You are making a very important contribution toward the welfare of these wonderful creatures! ! ! ! !

Do your part to contribute to the life cycle of these beautiful birds ! ! !

Happy Birding ! ! ! ! and Thank You ! ! ! ! !

Click here for the lates birds spotted on Jekyll Island!

You can read Lydia Thompson’s blog at http://coastalgeorgiabirding-lydia.blogspot.com/

Tags: audubon, Birding on Jekyll Island, georgia beaches, georgia coast, jekyll island, jekyll island birding, lydia thompson
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The Jekyll Island Salt Marsh Wildlife Viewing Platform officially opened on November 10, 2008. Located next to the Visitor Information Center on the Jekyll Island Causeway, the Wildlife Viewing Platform is a two-story structure built to provide the public with an extended view of the expansive salt marsh adjacent to Jekyll Island. By providing a better view, the platform will bolster an appreciation for this rich habitat. Among the many wading and shore birds that guests can view from this spot are the beautiful Roseate Spoonbill, Bald Eagle, Woodstork, and Clapper Rail.

“Providing non-invasive access to natural areas is a key component of the Jekyll Island Authority mission,” said Christa Frangiamore, Conservation Manager for the Jekyll Island Authority. “We are proud to have the Wildlife Viewing Platform as part of this mission.”

The Jekyll Island Salt Marsh Wildlife Viewing Platform is made possible by the monetary support and in-kind donations from: The Atlanta Audubon Society, The Coastal Georgia Audubon Society, Shearouse Lumber Company, The Georgia Ornithological Society, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Wildlife Resources Division.

For more information on the Wildlife Viewing Platform, as well as other birding and nature walk opportunities on Jekyll Island, please call the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: atlanta audubon society, bald eagle, birding and nature festival, birding platform, clapper rain, coastal georgia audubon society, Coastal Georgia Birding, coastal georgia wildlife, georgia department of nature reasources, georgia ornithological society, golden isles wildlife, jekyll island birding, Jekyll Island birding platform, Jekyll Island viewing platform, Jekyll Island wildlife, roseate spoonbill, salt marsh, shearouse lumber, viewing marsh wildlife, Wildlife Viewing Platform, woodstork
Posted in January/February 2009 | No Comments »

Binoculars are a very important, if not essential, part of birding. Aside from our own eyes and ears, they are the primary tool by which we can differentiate between birds at a distance. There are many brands and models to choose from, and picking a pair that is well suited to your needs is key. Here we hope to provide you with some pointers on choosing, using, and caring for your binoculars.

WHY ALL THE NUMBERS?
Most binoculars bear two numbers printed somewhere on the body, separated by an “x” (such as 7×35 or 8×40). The first number in front of the “x” (7x, 8x, 10x, etc.) tells you what level of magnification (or power) the binoculars will deliver. A pair of 7 power binoculars will make the goldfinch at your feeder seem 7 times closer. However, the higher the magnification, the smaller the area (or field of view) you’ll get to see through the binos, and the steadier you have to be while holding them. Although a pair of 10 detail than a pair of 7 or 8 power binos, you will end up seeing less of the area around the bird, and may find the image a little shaky. These factors can make it powered binos.

The second number (after the “x”) tells you the width of each the front lenses in millimeters. Why would you want to know such technical details? Experiment by comparing an object through 7×35 and 7×40 binoculars to find out. You should notice a difference in the clarity of images you see. The larger the front lenses, the more light they will “gather,” and the brighter and crisper the image should be.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH BIRDING?
Generally speaking, 7×35 or 8×40 are the most practical binoculars to have for birding. They work well in the forest or in the backyard, gather a fair bit of light and have a relatively large “field of view.” Although 10 power binoculars tend to be heavier and have a narrower field of view, many experienced birders prefer the higher magnification they provide.

OTHER FACTORS
When purchasing your binoculars consider weight, durability, degree of weatherproofing and overall size. The price will vary with brand name, lens quality, magnification, lens size, weather proofing, and other more technical design matters. Hold and look through as many different types of binoculars as you can before purchasing. Keep in mind what you will do with them. Will they be comfortable to carry around? Will they fit in your glove compartment or backpack? Can you hold them up for more than 10 minutes? Does the bird you’re looking at seem to be sitting in the fog on a sunny day in Reno, Nevada? Take your time, and get the pair of binoculars best suited to your needs and your budget.

AND NOW, FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE…
Once you’ve bought or borrowed some binoculars, you’re going to want to do a little practicing. To some, spying a Purple Finch at the top of a pine tree and easy as can be. To others, locating a bird through binoculars can be a little more difficult. The key is to practice finding and focusing on fixed objects various different angles and positions. There are a number of other little tricks to learn as well.

HERE ARE SOME QUICK TIPS:
1) The “Two for One”
Most binoculars have a hinge joining the sides together. This hinge allows people to adjust the binoculars according to the distance between their eyes. (We all have different sized heads.) If you don’t adjust the binoculars correctly, you may end up seeing large black spots when you look from side to side, or see two blurry images of the same bird. Just push or pull the sides apart until you see one circular image.

2) “What Eye-Ring?”
Focusing binoculars is a two-part process. The main focusing wheel (usually at the top near the hinge) will bring the image into general focus. You may, however, have to adjust your binoculars to accommodate for differences in the strength of each eye. In order to correct for your eyes, put your hand over the front lens on the side with the adjustable eyepiece (which is usually the right eyepiece), and focus on something in the middle distance (like your feeder at 30 feet). Then move the eyepiece as far as you can in a clockwise direction and look at your feeder through both sides of your binoculars. The image will now seem a little blurry. Now, while still observing the feeder, move the eyepiece in a counterclockwise direction. This should start to bring the image into focus. Keep turning until the image you see is as crisp as you can make it. Keep your eyes as relaxed as possible while doing this. You should not have to strain them to see small details such as an eye-ring on a flycatcher or the company logo on your feeder. When you’re done adjusting, take a look at where you’ve ended up on the eyepiece’s scale, and be sure to keep it at that number whenever you use these binoculars.

3) “A Good Look at a Bush”
Now we’re ready to tackle the most crucial part of using binoculars: getting them to your eyes while still keeping track of the bird. This can be more difficult than it
sounds, and only becomes “natural” with practice. Again, find a stationary object, such as an empty coffee can or
your bird feeder, and focus on it. Then move and try it again from a different angle. Could you find it? Ignore the binoculars as you’re bringing them up, and keep your eyes on the object. Chances are, you’re not going to
bring the binos up to your mouth or bonk your nose. If you keep an eye on the feeder, as opposed to your hands, your binoculars will automatically be pointed in the right direction when they pass over your eyes. Try it. Look at the feeder, don’t move your head, and raise the binoculars up to your eyes. There it is!

Article reprinted courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.birds.cornell.edu.

Tags: binocular tips, bird viewing, coastal georgia birds, Georgia Coast Birding Festival, jekyll island birding, Jekyll Island wildlife, marsh birds, purple finsh, testing binoculars, using binoculars, wildlife viewing
Posted in January/February 2009 | 1 Comment »

By Lydia Thompson

It was a very interesting article. I stopped to read it because of the picture on the first page. There in the picture was a pale Red-Tailed Hawk sitting on a gray cement building. The bird was the only living thing in the picture on that page. There were no living plants, no blue sky, just the bird sitting on the gray hard surface. Pale Male, the Red-Tailed Hawk, is a celebrity. He became a controversial celebrity when he was evicted from his home. He had lived on that building for years but the people he lived with were not happy with the wildness of their hawk neighbor. After all, he was messy, but they had to live with him. The nest of this bird was protected. But with the loosening of an environmental law the nest itself could be removed when the bird was not using it for nesting.

So on December 7, 2004 Pale Male’s nest was removed from its exclusive address in New York City. The fact that Pale Male had lived and nested at this address for eleven years didn’t matter to this law. The only fact that mattered was that the nest was vacant. Never mind that for eleven years he was watched, monitored and cheered by a large group of admirers, some were birders, others were just fans of this wild bird in their large city. This group was stunned to see the nest heartlessly removed. Then Pale Male started coming back with sticks to rebuild his nest and those sticks would roll off the building. You see the neighbors had removed the pigeon guards as well as the nest. The pigeon guards are what held the nest in place. This incensed the group of admirers. The fight was on. The crowd of admirers had watched for years as this wild aristocratic bird sailed on and off this building. They had watched this bird bring sticks, then food, to this nest year after year. Each year the chicks would be watched and cheered as they left the nest.

This living symbol Pale Male had to reclaim this home. The result was, not only did Pale Male get his home back, he got an architect to build him a more stable structure to hold the nest. The article goes on to ask the question “why this particular bird”? While reading the rest of the article I stumbled on a new word for me. The word was biophilia. It is a fascinating new word. It was invented by Harvard etymologist E. O. Wilson in 1984. He uses it to describe an innate human yearning to connect with nature. This word is meant to describe what you can see, touch and be a part of. Not an abstract idea of nature. Pale Male is a bird that the crowd of admirers could see, not just a bird perched on a tower out in the country somewhere never seen or caringly watched. These city people had a connection to Pale Male.

“Wild America” is a book by Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher published in the late 1940’s. In this book James Fisher concludes that with the new invention of the air conditioner for buildings that people would become more cut off from the out of doors. In doing more research on this word biophilia I came across a definition that includes and expands on James Fisher’s idea to say that this alienation started with the industrial revolutions, which moved more people indoors. With more people working indoors sealed off from the elements, rain, wind, cold, and hot, the connection with nature is suppressed, canned and we lost our sense of interdependence with our wild neighbors.

Here, on Jekyll Island, there is a unique opportunity to reconnect with our wild neighbors. In fact Jekyll is a little of both worlds. Jekyll Island can offer a comfortable place to stay and the opportunity for any person, to go outside. We can walk the beach, a trail in the the marsh. We can connect to that natural real world. Now nature isn’t clean and neat. It can be very hot. It can be cold. But a walk will also allow you to connect to creatures that that balances out those messy elements. This reconnection to the wild side inspires us, and renews us. Oh, by the way, on the facing page from the photo of Pale Male on the building was an out of focus area of greens and blues. The two pages seemed to be two separate images connected only because they were side by side. It was the living bird, Pale Male, that connected the shape edged, man made façade of building to the distant blurred greens of trees and blue of the sky beyond. It was an image of biophilia. The bird connected us back with nature.

If you would like to read the article on “Understanding Pale Male”, it is in November/ December 2005 “Bird Watcher Digest.” It was written by Paul J. Baicich. Paul Baicich has been one of the people who inspire me in the bird conservation work I do. Enjoy nature and take some time to watch birds while on Jekyll Island.

About Lydia
Lydia’s major focus is to intertwine her bird studies and her art. In 1983 she left her safe job and for over a year she traveled and learned about birds. She has traveled widely in US, Canada and Mexico. Now living in the Golden Isles of Georgia she continues her studies of birds & the art of the intaglio print. Preservation and Conservation of bird habitats are her major concerns. Visit Lydia on Wednesdays at the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop in the Jekyll’s Historic District or visit her web site www.lydiabirdsinart.homestead.com. She is blogging at: www.coastalgerogiabirding-lydia.blogspot.com.You can also go on a Thursday Morning Bird Ramble from 8 am to 11 am. Seating is limited. Please call for reservations. 912-634-1322.

Photographs of Pale Male and Lola are courtesy of Lincoln Karim.

Tags: biophilia, bird nesting, bird viewing, birdchat, Coastal Georgia Birding, e.o. wilson, etymology, Georgia Coast Birding Festival, golden isles bird watching, golden isles birds, jekyll birds, jekyll island birding, jekyll island historic district, lola and pale male, lola hawk, lydia thompson, marsh birds, marsh wildlife, natural habitats, new york hawk, pale male hawk, red tailed hawk, urban birds, wild america, wild birds unlimited, wildlife viewing
Posted in January/February 2009 | No Comments »

Reprinted from the Savannah Morning News

Every fall, millions of birds from hundreds of species fly through Coastal Georgia.

They’re winging it, but you don’t have to if you want to get a closer look at them and other local wildlife.

Inexpensive, expert-led trips are available during Georgia’s Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival. Registration for the October festival begins Saturday. The popular trips fill up fast, said Skidaway Island birder and festival organizer Beth Roth.

The festival, now in its sixth year, drew about 300 people last year. Some traveled from as far as England and Canada to attend.

They and festival director Lydia Thompson, of St. Simons Island, know something about the Georgia coast that many locals may not: It’s bursting with birds, especially during the fall migration.

Thompson, who calls herself a “bird gypsy” because her travels and birding go hand in hand, once spent 18 months just traveling and bird watching.

“I discovered the Georgia coast is a great place for birds, but nobody knows it,” she said.

Registration for the festival begins next week and ends Sept. 22. Events include lectures, a free family nature day at the Jekyll Island Convention Center and 53 field trips, many of them to places that are ordinarily inaccessible.

For example, you can see the Satilla River through the eyes of the Satilla Riverkeeper, Gordon Rogers, or explore the bird life of the Altamaha delta with expert ornithologist Brad Winn, of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Don’t let the stereotype of nerdy birders put you off attending a festival, said Bill Thompson, who’s no relation to Lydia but who is editor of Bird Watching Digest, a 30-year-old national publication.

“People are surprised when they come to a birding event,” he said. “There are people with piercings and tattoos. We’re not all doddering professors in tennis shoes or Miss Hathaway from ‘The Beverly Hillbillies.’ “

While it was the travel that hooked Thompson on birding, she still marvels at what she sees close to home. Like the shorebird called the red knot, an amazing long-distance flyer.

“The red knot weighs about a couple ounces,” she said. “He has already flown to the Arctic and is headed toward the Antarctic. If you think about it, they live in eternal spring. You do see a wide part of the world when you start to bird, and you start to appreciate how it’s all tied together.”

Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival

Festival dates are Oct. 9-13, but registration starts Saturday. Trip prices range from free to up to $85 for paddle or motor boat trips that include lunch.

The best field trips go fast. This year, they include trips to outstanding natural areas such as Little St. Simons Island, the Altamaha Waterfowl Management Area, St. Catherine’s Island and four National Wildlife Refuges: Blackbeard Island, Harris Neck, Okefenokee and Wassaw.

To register for festival field trips and seminars, or for more detailed information, go to the festival Web site at www. coastalgeorgiabirding.org or call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: georgia coast, georgia's colonial coast birding and nature festival, jekyll island beach vacation, jekyll island birding, jekyll island birding festival
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