Date: 9/2/25 4:50 am From: Lynn Erla Beegle (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Please TURN OFF your NC Bird Atlas project on your ebird app -- the breeding season is over.
Time's up! Please TURN OFF your NC Bird Atlas project on your ebird app -- the breeding season is over (we do have one more Winter season coming in November). The Atlas project does not need data from September and October. And, the five-year Breeding Survey portion of the NCBA ended August 31, 2025, so any data added at this point will only have to be ignored in the database.
It's been a very active five years of collecting data, and we made great progress, even with severe damage from Hurricane Helene in the NC mountains and several storms along the Coastal Plain. The data is being examined and you can check it out, too. For example, here are all the locations where the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was CONFIRMED as breeders. Go to: https://ncbirdconservation.shinyapps.io/shinyapp_public/_w_492ee3a7/_w_e6d34889/_w_dc8e2aaa8cee4caba32464ae18805c40/? Then click on Species Map in the upper black bar, then type in the bird name. Remember, the Atlas project only collected data from the Priority Blocks, as the state is so large. But the blocks show the trends of breeding. Plus, we had a small percentage of devoted volunteers who followed all the guidelines, keeping their lists inside the Priority Blocks and keeping them under 1 mile and 1 hour, and carefully coding the breeding behavior (and not coding obvious migrants as 'singing', for example).
We have one more WINTER SEASON to collect data for the NC Bird Atlas, so we encourage you to turn your NCBA Project on again from November 1 through February 28, 2026. Remember, however, do not add breeding codes during this time (except for owls and a few year-round breeders). Wintering waterfowl are not considered to be breeders in North Carolina, and adding breeding codes to birds such as Tundra Swans has to be corrected.
For more information on the NC Bird Atlas, please visit http://ncbirdatlas.org/ and scroll down to the helpful links. And thank you to all the staff and volunteers who gave so much time to this worthy project!
Lynn Erla Beegle Raleigh, North Carolina (I'm a volunteer for the NCBA)
Date: 9/1/25 7:10 am From: James Hancock (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Wilmington birding
I may be in Wilmington NC the third week of September, October or November this year.
Any suggestions on where to bird and which month might be more productive would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Skip Hancock
Coinjock NC
Date: 9/1/25 6:31 am From: Tim Lewis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Chickadee Elevation - again
It would help if those reporting Black-capped Chickadees would also report the elevation - of course there is an app for that. Mike Tove's research shows that over 5000' it is most likely Black-capped and we have confidence that if it is under 3500', Carolina. In between they certainly learn/sing each other's songs and interbreed. Is it likely that during post-breeding dispursal (now) and hard winters (temporary elevation migration), nearly anything goes?
There have been reports from Swain Co. that are clearly not high enough. As everyone knows, Merlin'a guesses don't tell us much about DNA. Photos may show variation/crosses at best.
Waterrock Knob is over 5,000' with frequent reports of Black-capped. Kituwah/Ferguson Fields is closer to 2,000' so more evidence should be needed.
Date: 8/26/25 4:19 am From: Dennis Forsythe (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Reminder of Dove Season Start
Dove Season 1Sept-4 Oct, 15-29 November and 20 Dec-31 January
Dennis
On Tue, Aug 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM Dennis Forsythe <dennis.forsythe...>
wrote:
> Deer Seasons opened 15 August Dove Season opens in early September.
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM Christopher Hill <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> https://www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting/SCMigratoryBirdSeasons.pdf >>
>> MOURNING DOVE
>>
>> Sept. 1--Oct. 4, 2025
>>
>> Nov. 15--Nov. 29, 2025
>>
>> Dec. 22, 2025--Jan. 31, 2026
>>
>> 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset
>>
>> Chris Hill, Ph.D.
>> Professor
>> Biology Department
>> Coastal Carolina University
>> Office: Douglas 207H
>> (843) 349-2567
>> email: <chill...>
>>
>> On Aug 25, 2025, at 9:14 PM, Sophia Cox <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens,
>> SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've
>> never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding
>> spots as well where this
>> *External sender* <carolinabirds...>
>> Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions.
>> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens,
>> SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've
>> never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding
>> spots as well where this is a concern.
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM scompton1251 <scompton1251...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Steve,
>>>
>>> Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South
>>> Carolina?
>>>
>>> Steve Compton
>>> Dorchester, SC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my Galaxy
>>>
>>>
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: Steve <sshultz...>
>>> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00)
>>> To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
>>> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
>>>
>>>
>>> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early
>>> taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and
>>> another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being
>>> seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet,
>>> but they are at least oozing.
>>>
>>>
>>> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of
>>> weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other
>>> avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting
>>> season for doves begins September 1.
>>>
>>>
>>> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other
>>> outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get
>>> that reminder out.**
>>>
>>>
>>> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those
>>> not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load
>>> trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting
>>> on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>>>
>>>
>>> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend
>>> wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is
>>> extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why
>>> risk it?
>>>
>>>
>>> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp
>>> in Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately
>>> due to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a **very** popular dove
>>> hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout
>>> September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter
>>> presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get
>>> between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other
>>> behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>>>
>>>
>>> Good luck and good birding!
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve Shultz
>>>
>>> Apex NC
>>>
>>>
>>> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has
>>> not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons
>>> earlier in the year.
>>>
>>>
>>
>
> --
> Dennis M. Forsythe PhD
> Emeritus Professor of Biology
> The Citadel
> 171 Moultrie St,
> Charleston, SC 29409
> 843.795.3996-home
> 843.953.7264-fax
> 843.708.1605-cell
> <dennis.forsythe...>
>
--
Dennis M. Forsythe PhD
Emeritus Professor of Biology
The Citadel
171 Moultrie St,
Charleston, SC 29409
843.795.3996-home
843.953.7264-fax
843.708.1605-cell
<dennis.forsythe...>
Date: 8/26/25 4:15 am From: Dennis Forsythe (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Reminder of Dove Season Start
Deer Seasons opened 15 August Dove Season opens in early September.
On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM Christopher Hill <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> https://www.dnr.sc.gov/hunting/SCMigratoryBirdSeasons.pdf >
> MOURNING DOVE
>
> Sept. 1--Oct. 4, 2025
>
> Nov. 15--Nov. 29, 2025
>
> Dec. 22, 2025--Jan. 31, 2026
>
> 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset
>
> Chris Hill, Ph.D.
> Professor
> Biology Department
> Coastal Carolina University
> Office: Douglas 207H
> (843) 349-2567
> email: <chill...>
>
> On Aug 25, 2025, at 9:14 PM, Sophia Cox <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens,
> SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've
> never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding
> spots as well where this
> *External sender* <carolinabirds...>
> Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions.
> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens,
> SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've
> never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding
> spots as well where this is a concern.
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM scompton1251 <scompton1251...>
> wrote:
>
>> Steve,
>>
>> Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South
>> Carolina?
>>
>> Steve Compton
>> Dorchester, SC
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Galaxy
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Steve <sshultz...>
>> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
>> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
>>
>>
>> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early
>> taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and
>> another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being
>> seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet,
>> but they are at least oozing.
>>
>>
>> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of
>> weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other
>> avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting
>> season for doves begins September 1.
>>
>>
>> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other
>> outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get
>> that reminder out.**
>>
>>
>> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those
>> not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load
>> trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting
>> on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>>
>>
>> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend
>> wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is
>> extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why
>> risk it?
>>
>>
>> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in
>> Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due
>> to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a **very** popular dove
>> hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout
>> September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter
>> presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get
>> between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other
>> behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>>
>>
>> Good luck and good birding!
>>
>>
>> Steve Shultz
>>
>> Apex NC
>>
>>
>> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has
>> not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons
>> earlier in the year.
>>
>>
>
--
Dennis M. Forsythe PhD
Emeritus Professor of Biology
The Citadel
171 Moultrie St,
Charleston, SC 29409
843.795.3996-home
843.953.7264-fax
843.708.1605-cell
<dennis.forsythe...>
MOURNING DOVE
Sept. 1--Oct. 4, 2025
Nov. 15--Nov. 29, 2025
Dec. 22, 2025--Jan. 31, 2026
1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset
Chris Hill, Ph.D.
Professor
Biology Department
Coastal Carolina University
Office: Douglas 207H
(843) 349-2567
email: <chill...>
> On Aug 25, 2025, at 9:14 PM, Sophia Cox <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> External sender <carolinabirds...>
> Make sure you trust this sender before taking any actions.
> That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens, SC, which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding spots as well where this is a concern.
>
> On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM scompton1251 <scompton1251...> <mailto:<scompton1251...>> wrote:
>> Steve,
>>
>> Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South Carolina?
>>
>> Steve Compton
>> Dorchester, SC
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Galaxy
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Steve <sshultz...> <mailto:<sshultz...>> >> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> >> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
>>
>>
>>> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet, but they are at least oozing.
>>>
>>>
>>> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting season for doves begins September 1.
>>>
>>>
>>> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get that reminder out.**
>>>
>>>
>>> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>>>
>>>
>>> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why risk it?
>>>
>>>
>>> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a *very* popular dove hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>>>
>>>
>>> Good luck and good birding!
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve Shultz
>>>
>>> Apex NC
>>>
>>>
>>> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons earlier in the year.
>>>
Date: 8/25/25 6:15 pm From: Sophia Cox (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Reminder of Dove Season Start
That would be very helpful. I frequently bird at Nine Times in Pickens, SC,
which I believe allows hunting (at least on part of the land), and I've
never been sure when the season(s) are. And I know there are other birding
spots as well where this is a concern.
On Mon, Aug 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM scompton1251 <scompton1251...>
wrote:
> Steve,
>
> Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South
> Carolina?
>
> Steve Compton
> Dorchester, SC
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Steve <sshultz...>
> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...>
> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
>
>
> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early
> taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and
> another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being
> seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet,
> but they are at least oozing.
>
>
>
> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of
> weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other
> avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting
> season for doves begins September 1.
>
>
>
> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other outdoors
> people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get that
> reminder out.**
>
>
>
> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those
> not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load
> trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting
> on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>
>
>
> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend
> wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is
> extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why
> risk it?
>
>
>
> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in
> Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due
> to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a **very** popular dove
> hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout
> September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter
> presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get
> between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other
> behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>
>
>
> Good luck and good birding!
>
>
> Steve Shultz
>
> Apex NC
>
>
>
> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has not
> been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons
> earlier in the year.
>
>
Date: 8/25/25 4:49 pm From: scompton1251 <scompton1251...> Subject: RE: Reminder of Dove Season Start
Steve,Thanks. Can someone reply with dates for hunting seasons here in South Carolina?Steve ComptonDorchester, SC Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: Steve <sshultz...> Date: 8/25/25 2:30 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Carolinabirds <carolinabirds...> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start @font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet, but they are at least oozing. Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting season for doves begins September 1. It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get that reminder out.** And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting on the first you may encounter hunters in the field. Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why risk it? This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a *very* popular dove hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other behavior that could lead to confrontation. Good luck and good birding!Steve ShultzApex NC **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons earlier in the year.
Date: 8/25/25 11:30 am From: Steve <sshultz...> Subject: Reminder of Dove Season Start
> Happy Monday out there in Carolinas (and wherever). We’ve had an early taste of full already with a cool front that moved in late last week and another that came through last night. And indeed, fall migrants are being seen all across the states. They may not be dripping from the trees yet, but they are at least oozing.
>
> Folks will likely be planning birding outings over the next couple of weeks to catch up with some of those “confusing fall warblers” and other avian wonders. I wanted to remind my good birding friends that **hunting season for doves begins September 1.
>
> It’s been several months since sharing the environment with other outdoors people has required being cognizant of hunting so wanted to get that reminder out.**
>
> And while dove hunting has a pretty low likelihood of injury (for those not aware, shotguns with relatively small pellets are used and load trajectories are up, not horizontal), it’s good to be aware that starting on the first you may encounter hunters in the field.
>
> Bow season for deer starts September 13. I would definitely recommend wearing blaze orange while in areas where bow hunting occurs. It is extremely unlikely that a bow hunter would mistake you for a deer, but why risk it?
>
> This is especially important on game lands and areas like Transis Camp in Chatham County, which is getting a lot of traffic and attention lately due to the nearby wader roost. Transis Camp is a *very* popular dove hunting location, and you will see or hear multiple hunters throughout September. In order to promote harmony, please de respectful of hunter presence, don’t wander through the fields over which they are hunting, get between hunters and targets, scare the game, or other engage in other behavior that could lead to confrontation.
>
> Good luck and good birding!
>
> Steve Shultz
> Apex NC
>
> **yes, there is always something in season, but practically, there has not been significant hunting since end of the deer and waterfowl seasons earlier in the year.
Date: 8/24/25 2:12 pm From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: 2025 Article on Clapper and King Rails
Thanks for sharing that article Kevin.
However, it seems to gloss over the fact that significant numbers of King
Rails breed / reside in brackish managed tidal impoundments, especially in
South Carolina. In terms of South Carolina, I estimate that about as many
King Rails reside in (grassy areas of) managed brackish impoundments in
places like Bear Island WMA, Santee Coastal Reserve, Yawkey Wildlife
Center, Donnelley WMA, MANY private plantations, etc. - as occur in inland
freshwater marshes or riverine brackish marshes.
The article states "Rallus elegans is a primarily freshwater species,
although coast-adjacent freshwater and oligohaline marshes serve as
important habitat." No mention of King Rails in managed tidal
impoundments, there or anywhere else in the paper. I think this is a
significant omission.
I wish they had sampled King Rail genetics in as many locations (and
individuals) as they did Clapper Rails, and included brackish managed
impoundments in South Carolina. Heck, they were even at Nemours Plantation
(sampling Clapper Rails), where King Rails occur in grassy brackish tidal
impoundments.
The paper opines that with sea level rise and human-driven hydrology
changes, King and Clapper Rails will be pushed more into proximity which
would increase competition and hybridization. But King and Clapper Rails
have ALREADY been residing in SUPER close proximity in these brackish
managed impoundments for many decades. In many many cases, they reside in
the same impoundments - or adjacent marshes with only a ten foot wide
ricefield dike between them and both forage back and forth into adjacent
salt marsh and brackish/fresh marshy impoundments.
So the future the authors opine about has already been happening for a long
time - but in very specific locations. Every year during shorebird field
work I have multiple sightings of King and Clapper Rails next to each
other, interacting, or in the same binocular view. For example:
flickr.com/photos/offshorebirder2/51158250461/
Also, I see almost as many "Cling" Rails as pure King Rails at places like
the Yawkey Wildlife Center, Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Bear Island
WMA, and other similar locations in South Carolina.
I expect that if the authors had sampled in tidal managed brackish
impoundments in coastal South Carolina, they would have found a higher
degree of hybridization than the existing study (which may have only
included a handful of birds from fresh/brackish impoundments at Mackay
Island NWR).
So it's a neat paper but I wish it had sampled 50+ more King Rails from the
Yawkey Wildlife Center, Santee Coastal Reserve, Bear Island WMA,
Cheeha-Combahee Plantation, etc.
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more
skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle
shot." -- Bror Blixen
On Sun, Aug 24, 2025 at 11:18 AM Kevin Kubach <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> I thought I'd share a relevant article published this year featuring
> Clapper and King Rails from the Carolinas.
>
> Genomic data support interspecific divergence but reveal limited
> population structure and cryptic hybridization in *Rallus elegans* (King
> Rail) and *R. crepitans* (Clapper Rail)
>
> https://academic.oup.com/auk/article/142/3/ukaf011/8118077 >
> Kevin Kubach
> Greenville, SC
>
Date: 8/24/25 8:18 am From: Kevin Kubach (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 2025 Article on Clapper and King Rails
I thought I'd share a relevant article published this year featuring Clapper and King Rails from the Carolinas.
Genomic data support interspecific divergence but reveal limited population structure and cryptic hybridization in *Rallus elegans* (King Rail) and *R. crepitans* (Clapper Rail)
Date: 8/23/25 11:09 am From: Lynn Erla Beegle (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Dont forget to register for the Oct 2-5 2025 CBC meeting to Beaufort SC. Registration is now open.
Don't forget to register for the Oct 2-5 2025 CBC meeting to Beaufort SC. Registration is now open as of 2 pm Aug 23.
Date: 8/20/25 6:18 am From: Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Dominica vs. St. Lucia birding & sightseeing
Harry gave a good overview. With the recent splits of House Wren and White-breasted Thrasher, Dominica has three endemics and St Lucia seven. Both islands have several near and Caribbean endemics. But Dominica has Imperial Amazon which was nearly done in by Hurricane Maria a few years ago. Chance to see the rarest parrot in the world so I would opt for it if I had to choose. Plus Dominica has better beaches and snorkeling and you can take a boat with a good chance for sperm whales (April might be a bit late?).
I have contact info for good local guides on each island if you are interested. Ryan Chenery has recently published a photo guide to birds of the Lesser Antilles that is available online. Like Harry said, if I had a week I would consider splitting time between the two islands.
Derb Carter
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> on behalf of Jeremy Wrenn <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 10:01:17 PM
To: Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...>
Cc: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: Dominica vs. St. Lucia birding & sightseeing
Thanks, Harry! Very thorough summary, and kind of reinforces what I was wondering.
--Jeremy Wrenn
Wake Forest, NC
On Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...><mailto:<hlegrandjr...>> wrote:
I have been to essentially all of these Lesser Antilles islands in 2024. All are rather small in size and most are mountainous, like these two.
For birding you would want or need about 2 days, and you or a non-birder will get bored after about 3 days, as these are not really places US tourists go for a week for a vacation. I went on a guided Lesser Antilles trip and visited 10 islands in about 15 days and got all of the 30+ endemics. My recommendation, as I know you aren’t going to want to travel that far for just 3 days and back home, is to visit both or a third island for 7-9 days total.
Each of these two has 2-3 endemics but maybe 15 or more of the 30 Antilles endemics, as most occur on two ir more islands. And to see the endemics, you may want or need to have a local guide. Seeing the critically endangered Imperial Parrot on Dominica, which we did, is a big deal and is easy to miss owing to maybe 35-40 birds left. There is another endemic parrot there and Saint Lucia also has another. These are all Amazona species and I think the Imperial is the largest of the several dozens of this group.
And make sure you know how to pronounce these islands correctly — dom-i-NEE-ca and Saint LOO-sha.
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 19, 2025, at 9:05 PM, Jeremy Wrenn <carolinabirds...><mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
>
>
> Folks, do any of you have any experience with either/both of Dominica or St. Lucia for birding and/or sightseeing?
>
> Next spring, the first week in April, my wife (who is NOT a birder, but tolerates my obsession and lightly participates) and I are planning a trip and are considering these two locations.
>
> Anyone been there or have any feedback?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Jeremy Wrenn
Date: 8/19/25 7:02 pm From: Jeremy Wrenn (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Dominica vs. St. Lucia birding & sightseeing
Thanks, Harry! Very thorough summary, and kind of reinforces what I was
wondering.
--Jeremy Wrenn
Wake Forest, NC
On Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 9:54 PM Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...> wrote:
> I have been to essentially all of these Lesser Antilles islands in 2024.
> All are rather small in size and most are mountainous, like these two.
>
> For birding you would want or need about 2 days, and you or a non-birder
> will get bored after about 3 days, as these are not really places US
> tourists go for a week for a vacation. I went on a guided Lesser Antilles
> trip and visited 10 islands in about 15 days and got all of the 30+
> endemics. My recommendation, as I know you aren’t going to want to travel
> that far for just 3 days and back home, is to visit both or a third island
> for 7-9 days total.
>
> Each of these two has 2-3 endemics but maybe 15 or more of the 30 Antilles
> endemics, as most occur on two ir more islands. And to see the endemics,
> you may want or need to have a local guide. Seeing the critically
> endangered Imperial Parrot on Dominica, which we did, is a big deal and is
> easy to miss owing to maybe 35-40 birds left. There is another endemic
> parrot there and Saint Lucia also has another. These are all Amazona
> species and I think the Imperial is the largest of the several dozens of
> this group.
>
> And make sure you know how to pronounce these islands correctly —
> dom-i-NEE-ca and Saint LOO-sha.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Raleigh
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Aug 19, 2025, at 9:05 PM, Jeremy Wrenn <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Folks, do any of you have any experience with either/both of Dominica or
> St. Lucia for birding and/or sightseeing?
> >
> > Next spring, the first week in April, my wife (who is NOT a birder, but
> tolerates my obsession and lightly participates) and I are planning a trip
> and are considering these two locations.
> >
> > Anyone been there or have any feedback?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > --Jeremy Wrenn
>
Date: 8/19/25 6:54 pm From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Dominica vs. St. Lucia birding & sightseeing
I have been to essentially all of these Lesser Antilles islands in 2024. All are rather small in size and most are mountainous, like these two.
For birding you would want or need about 2 days, and you or a non-birder will get bored after about 3 days, as these are not really places US tourists go for a week for a vacation. I went on a guided Lesser Antilles trip and visited 10 islands in about 15 days and got all of the 30+ endemics. My recommendation, as I know you aren’t going to want to travel that far for just 3 days and back home, is to visit both or a third island for 7-9 days total.
Each of these two has 2-3 endemics but maybe 15 or more of the 30 Antilles endemics, as most occur on two ir more islands. And to see the endemics, you may want or need to have a local guide. Seeing the critically endangered Imperial Parrot on Dominica, which we did, is a big deal and is easy to miss owing to maybe 35-40 birds left. There is another endemic parrot there and Saint Lucia also has another. These are all Amazona species and I think the Imperial is the largest of the several dozens of this group.
And make sure you know how to pronounce these islands correctly — dom-i-NEE-ca and Saint LOO-sha.
Harry LeGrand
Raleigh
Sent from my iPhone
> On Aug 19, 2025, at 9:05 PM, Jeremy Wrenn <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> Folks, do any of you have any experience with either/both of Dominica or St. Lucia for birding and/or sightseeing?
>
> Next spring, the first week in April, my wife (who is NOT a birder, but tolerates my obsession and lightly participates) and I are planning a trip and are considering these two locations.
>
> Anyone been there or have any feedback?
>
> Thanks,
>
> --Jeremy Wrenn
Date: 8/19/25 6:05 pm From: Jeremy Wrenn (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Dominica vs. St. Lucia birding & sightseeing
Folks, do any of you have any experience with either/both of Dominica or St. Lucia for birding and/or sightseeing?
Next spring, the first week in April, my wife (who is NOT a birder, but tolerates my obsession and lightly participates) and I are planning a trip and are considering these two locations.
Birders.Lex Glover was one of.my first birding mentors and colleagues. We were on Big Day team led by Robin Carter, served on the Rzs Bird Records committee, and spent numerous days together in the field. I remember how proud he was of his breeding hornbills in tne Colimbia Zoo, when he was Curator of Birds there. He found Yellow Rail in a weedy field near Andrews, SC, and showed up at my downtown Charleston house to look for the White- winged Dove that was coming to my feeders. We shared a room at a Carolina Bird Club Meeting. Since he was a bird rehabilitation, someone brought him an injured Red- tailed Hawk. He quickly found a cardboard box and drove down the road until he found a freshly killed Hognose Snake. confident that the hawk would take it. When we returned a few hours later the snake was nothing but perfectly clean bones. As others have said he was unfailingly kind and patient, but no.one had greater passion for birds.Steve ComptonDorchester, SCSent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: "Jeff Pippen(via carolinabirds Mailing List)" <carolinabirds...> Date: 8/18/25 9:24 PM (GMT-05:00) To: CarolinaBirds <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Lex Glover I just wanted to chime in as well on Lex’s passing. As others have already stated, Lex’s sense of humor, passion for birds and habitat conservation, generosity, and genuine interest in people were unsurpassed. I am so very sad that he is no longer with us, but I’m truly privileged to have spent many, many hours, days, weekends, and more birding, joking, chatting, and just hanging out with him. Miss you brother.Jeff
--Jeffrey S. PippenMebane, NCResearch Specialist, Georgetown UniversityDirector, Carolinas Butterfly Monitoring Program | N. Am. Butterfly Monitoring Network | Jeff’s Nature Pages
On Aug 18, 2025, at 4:59 PM, Mike Turner (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
Carolinabirds and friends,I am extremely
sad to hear about Lex's passing. Lex did not get me started in birding,
but without his early involvement in this budding passion of mine, I
would be a much worse naturalist and person. Lex, along with Robin Carter and his guide to finding birds in SC, were instrumental in my passion for birding. I think Lex and I met on a field trip to one of the famous granitic outcrops in SC or GA, which I think was led by Robin Carter and Caroline Eastman. When I learned he basically birded for a living for the SCDNR I was shocked that someone could have a job like that!For a few years early on in my birding journey, we spent a lot of time in the field; Santee NWR including the Bluff and Pine Island Units, Yawkey Wildlife Center, Francis Marion National Forest, and just going out in the field to work on our Saluda County Lists. My most memorable trip with Lex was the first time he took me into the FMNF, probably very soon after we met. Before this trip I never dreamed I would see some of the birds in my Peterson or Audubon field guides. On this trip he showed me Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Baltimore Oriole (this name will tell you how long ago this trip was), Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, and the best of all, Swallow-tailed Kite!I wish I was better at checking in on people who I love, and better at staying in touch with them. Especially with Lex. He was a good person, a funny person, and a good friend.
Mike TurnerFayetteville, NCOn Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM Bert Fisher <carolinabirds...> wrote:Steve,Thanks for sharing the sad news about Lex Glover's passing with everyone. Lex and I spent many, many hours birding together 30 (yikes!) years ago. One year we even surpassed 600 ABA birds. That year included trips to Alaska, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, just to name a few of the states we birded. Over those years we spent time in many fabulous birding locales, relying heavily on Lex's excellent birding skills. He was, indeed, the consummate birder!In thinking back, the things that stand out beyond the birds are the humor, the laughter, and Lex's willingness to go out of his way to share his passion for birds and his friendship.Lex will be sorely missed by all who knew him.Bert FisherHillsborough, NCOn Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...> wrote:Birding friends across the Carolinas,Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness, dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself. I will deeply miss that unique and special self. He was a friend, mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increa
sing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded. Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence. Lex's impact on the community culture of our Carolina birding scene is incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging, and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not belittle or embarrass tho
se who were still learning. He knew that we are all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape. May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you, Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."Your friend, SteveSteve PattersonSouth Carolina
I just wanted to chime in as well on Lex’s passing. As others have already stated, Lex’s sense of humor, passion for birds and habitat conservation, generosity, and genuine interest in people were unsurpassed. I am so very sad that he is no longer with us, but I’m truly privileged to have spent many, many hours, days, weekends, and more birding, joking, chatting, and just hanging out with him. Miss you brother.
> On Aug 18, 2025, at 4:59 PM, Mike Turner (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
> Carolinabirds and friends,
>
> I am extremely sad to hear about Lex's passing. Lex did not get me started in birding, but without his early involvement in this budding passion of mine, I would be a much worse naturalist and person. Lex, along with Robin Carter and his guide to finding birds in SC, were instrumental in my passion for birding. I think Lex and I met on a field trip to one of the famous granitic outcrops in SC or GA, which I think was led by Robin Carter and Caroline Eastman. When I learned he basically birded for a living for the SCDNR I was shocked that someone could have a job like that!
>
> For a few years early on in my birding journey, we spent a lot of time in the field; Santee NWR including the Bluff and Pine Island Units, Yawkey Wildlife Center, Francis Marion National Forest, and just going out in the field to work on our Saluda County Lists. My most memorable trip with Lex was the first time he took me into the FMNF, probably very soon after we met. Before this trip I never dreamed I would see some of the birds in my Peterson or Audubon field guides. On this trip he showed me Scarlet Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Baltimore Oriole (this name will tell you how long ago this trip was), Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, and the best of all, Swallow-tailed Kite!
>
> I wish I was better at checking in on people who I love, and better at staying in touch with them. Especially with Lex. He was a good person, a funny person, and a good friend.
>
> Mike Turner
> Fayetteville, NC
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM Bert Fisher <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
>> Steve,
>> Thanks for sharing the sad news about Lex Glover's passing with everyone. Lex and I spent many, many hours birding together 30 (yikes!) years ago. One year we even surpassed 600 ABA birds. That year included trips to Alaska, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, just to name a few of the states we birded. Over those years we spent time in many fabulous birding locales, relying heavily on Lex's excellent birding skills. He was, indeed, the consummate birder!
>>
>> In thinking back, the things that stand out beyond the birds are the humor, the laughter, and Lex's willingness to go out of his way to share his passion for birds and his friendship.
>>
>> Lex will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
>>
>> Bert Fisher
>> Hillsborough, NC
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...> <mailto:<carolinabirds...>> wrote:
>>> Birding friends across the Carolinas,
>>>
>>> Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness, dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
>>>
>>> I will deeply miss that unique and special self. He was a friend, mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increa sing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded. Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
>>>
>>> Lex's impact on the community culture of our Carolina birding scene is incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging, and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not belittle or embarrass tho se who were still learning. He knew that we are all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
>>>
>>> May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you, Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
>>>
>>>
>>> Your friend, Steve
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Steve Patterson
>>> South Carolina
I am extremely sad to hear about Lex's passing. Lex did not get me started
in birding, but without his early involvement in this budding passion of
mine, I would be a much worse naturalist and person. Lex, along with Robin
Carter and his guide to finding birds in SC, were instrumental in my
passion for birding. I think Lex and I met on a field trip to one of the
famous granitic outcrops in SC or GA, which I think was led by Robin Carter
and Caroline Eastman. When I learned he basically birded for a living for
the SCDNR I was shocked that someone could have a job like that!
For a few years early on in my birding journey, we spent a lot of time in
the field; Santee NWR including the Bluff and Pine Island Units, Yawkey
Wildlife Center, Francis Marion National Forest, and just going out in the
field to work on our Saluda County Lists. My most memorable trip with Lex
was the first time he took me into the FMNF, probably very soon after we
met. Before this trip I never dreamed I would see some of the birds in my
Peterson or Audubon field guides. On this trip he showed me Scarlet
Tanager, Hooded Warbler, Baltimore Oriole (this name will tell you how long
ago this trip was), Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, American Redstart, and the best of all, Swallow-tailed Kite!
I wish I was better at checking in on people who I love, and better at
staying in touch with them. Especially with Lex. He was a good person, a
funny person, and a good friend.
Mike Turner
Fayetteville, NC
On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM Bert Fisher <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Steve,
> Thanks for sharing the sad news about Lex Glover's passing with everyone.
> Lex and I spent many, many hours birding together 30 (yikes!) years ago.
> One year we even surpassed 600 ABA birds. That year included trips to
> Alaska, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, just to name a few of the
> states we birded. Over those years we spent time in many fabulous birding
> locales, relying heavily on Lex's excellent birding skills. He was, indeed,
> the consummate birder!
>
> In thinking back, the things that stand out beyond the birds are the
> humor, the laughter, and Lex's willingness to go out of his way to share
> his passion for birds and his friendship.
>
> Lex will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
>
> Bert Fisher
> Hillsborough, NC
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> Birding friends across the Carolinas,
>>
>> Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had
>> been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness,
>> dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
>>
>> I will deeply miss that unique and special *self*. He was a friend,
>> mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was
>> the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding
>> encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increa
>> sing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For
>> decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species
>> studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and
>> directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer
>> service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the
>> Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded.
>> Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
>>
>> Lex's impact on the *community culture* of our Carolina birding scene is
>> incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging,
>> and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of
>> correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable
>> way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not
>> belittle or embarrass tho se who were still learning. He knew that we are
>> all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved
>> people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various
>> inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
>>
>> May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a
>> better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who
>> knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you,
>> Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
>>
>>
>> Your friend, Steve
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Steve Patterson
>> South Carolina
>>
>
Steve,
Thanks for sharing the sad news about Lex Glover's passing with everyone.
Lex and I spent many, many hours birding together 30 (yikes!) years ago.
One year we even surpassed 600 ABA birds. That year included trips to
Alaska, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, just to name a few of the
states we birded. Over those years we spent time in many fabulous birding
locales, relying heavily on Lex's excellent birding skills. He was, indeed,
the consummate birder!
In thinking back, the things that stand out beyond the birds are the humor,
the laughter, and Lex's willingness to go out of his way to share his
passion for birds and his friendship.
Lex will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Bert Fisher
Hillsborough, NC
On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Birding friends across the Carolinas,
>
> Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had
> been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness,
> dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
>
> I will deeply miss that unique and special *self*. He was a friend,
> mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was
> the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding
> encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increa
> sing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For
> decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species
> studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and
> directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer
> service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the
> Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded.
> Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
>
> Lex's impact on the *community culture* of our Carolina birding scene is
> incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging,
> and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of
> correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable
> way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not
> belittle or embarrass tho se who were still learning. He knew that we are
> all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved
> people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various
> inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
>
> May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a
> better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who
> knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you,
> Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
>
>
> Your friend, Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve Patterson
> South Carolina
>
Date: 8/18/25 7:58 am From: Steve Patterson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Lex Glover
Correction to my original message:
The date of Lex's passing was Saturday, August 16, not Tuesday.
Steve
On Monday, August 18, 2025 at 08:06:22 AM EDT, Steve Patterson <scbirder...> wrote:
Birding friends across the Carolinas,
Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness, dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
I will deeply miss that unique and special self. He was a friend, mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increasing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded. Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
Lex's impact on the community culture of our Carolina birding scene is incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging, and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not belittle or embarrass those who were still learning. He knew that we are all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you, Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
Date: 8/18/25 7:06 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Lex Glover
Steve and others, yes, this is very sad. Anyone passing away before their
70th year hasn't quite lived a long and completely fulfilled life. I knew
Lex from many meetings of the Carolina Bird Club, and our correspondence
regarding issues, records, and other matters relating to the South Carolina
and North Carolina Bird Records Committees, as each of us was very
passionate about the SC (Lex) and NC (me) state bird lists.
He will be sorely missed.
I Googled "Lex Glover birder", and under Images, there is a photo of him
with his dog. When you click the link, it already has a Memoriam written
about him, on the Powers Funeral Home site.
On Mon, Aug 18, 2025 at 8:06 AM Steve Patterson <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Birding friends across the Carolinas,
>
> Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had
> been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness,
> dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
>
> I will deeply miss that unique and special *self*. He was a friend,
> mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was
> the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding
> encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increa
> sing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For
> decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species
> studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and
> directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer
> service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the
> Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded.
> Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
>
> Lex's impact on the *community culture* of our Carolina birding scene is
> incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging,
> and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of
> correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable
> way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not
> belittle or embarrass tho se who were still learning. He knew that we are
> all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved
> people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various
> inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
>
> May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a
> better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who
> knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you,
> Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
>
>
> Your friend, Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Steve Patterson
> South Carolina
>
Date: 8/18/25 5:07 am From: Steve Patterson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Lex Glover
Birding friends across the Carolinas,
Yesterday I learned that Lex Glover died on Tuesday, August 16. He had been very sick for months, battling cancer with grace, seriousness, dignity, and a little humor, all while authentically being himself.
I will deeply miss that unique and special self. He was a friend, mentor, colleague, confidant, and the best sort of travel buddy. Lex was the consummate birder. He kept meticulous written records of his birding encounters. He devoted his life to studying and enjoying birds, increasing knowledge that would hopefully contribute to their preservation. For decades he operated banding stations, conducted concentrated species studies (wintering Baltimore Orioles in SC, Painted Buntings, etc.), and directed ornithological interns in his work with SC DNR. His volunteer service terms with groups like the SC Bird Records Committee and the Executive Board of the Carolina Bird Club are always highly regarded. Enough cannot be said here of the importance of his influence.
Lex's impact on the community culture of our Carolina birding scene is incalculable. He helped make birding an experience of personal belonging, and not just competition and critique. When he raised a point of correction regarding identification or practice, it was done in a teachable way, protective of the tender enthusiasm of new birders; he did not belittle or embarrass those who were still learning. He knew that we are all still learning. He was not ashamed to be a scientist who also loved people, and he appreciated all the good that they brought to the various inclines and plateaus of the birding landscape.
May his memory and personal momentum now invite us forward to make this a better environment for birds and those who enjoy them. And I hope all who knew him well will forgive the inadequacy of my attempt to say "Thank you, Lex, for being true to yourself in a way that made us all better."
Date: 8/16/25 2:04 pm From: KEN LIPSHY (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Diagnostic Challenge with a flock of Cowbirds
At first glance from a distance, I assumed a large flock of brown birds on the power lines and fields below were first red winged black birds then Cowbirds. On second glance I considered Brewers black birds and then after seeing yellow patches on the neck considered Bobolink. My Photos confirmed they were Cowbirds but my IPhone AI tool also called them brewers, bobolink, Shiny Cowbirds, European blackbirds and at least a dozen other species.
Date: 8/14/25 1:20 pm From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Black-throated Blue Warbler, males, females, and immature all lack any
black streaking on the back, and also in the flanks. The hybrid has very
strong black back stripes that come close to matching that of a Myrtle, and
you can see some short black streaking on the flanks of the hybrid, which
Myrtles also show. So, it's mostly in the black streaking on the
hybrid that is the issue.
Harry LeGrand
On Thu, Aug 14, 2025 at 3:28 PM <badgerboy...> wrote:
> Not being very experienced with hybrids, I just wondered, after viewing
> the excellent photos on the CBC photo gallery, whether this might just be a
> full blooded Black-throated Blue Warbler with some male and some female
> plumage characteristics? The pocket handkerchief is shaped like a typical
> female BTBW's, the female BTBW has a fairly well defined supercilium like
> this bird, and otherwise it looks like a male BTBW that is missing some of
> its black on the throat and sides. Otherwise the brown smudges on the sides
> just below the wing remind me of a chestnut-sided. Like I said just asking
> and please refrain from abusive or sarcastic remarks-- I already know I'm a
> block-headed Irishman.
>
> Guy (McGrane, Boone NC)
> On 8/13/2025 12:29 PM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Jack and Kay (Grinnell). NOW we are getting somewhere! So, Jack
> has pointed out to us two eBird checklists that show the bird was reported
> on 5 February by Andy Jones and Bob Speare, and the earlier and more
> significant one on 2 February by the photographer, Mary Alice Tartler. As
> Kay has sent me her email address, I will send a message to Mary Alice (and
> Kay), hoping that she will post several of her photos to the eBird report.
> She already has several photos of a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on the
> eBird list:
>
> eBird Checklist - 2 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle - 19 species (+2 other
> taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S211892393> >
> and thus it seems hopeful that she can post photos on this eBird list, for
> permanent documentation. And, I will encourage her to add details in "new
> world warbler sp.", to indicate that the bird has been determined by
> experts to be a hybrid between Black-throated Blue Warbler and
> Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yes, the second eBird list says that:
>
> eBird Checklist - 5 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle (PRIVATE) - 23 species
> (+1 other taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S212105216> >
> but without a description or a photograph, there is no documentation for
> such a unique record.
>
> Harry LeGrand
>
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM <k.grinnell...> <
> <k.grinnell...> wrote:
>
>> Mary Alice and Harry,
>> I'm introducing you via this email.
>> MA, see email below.
>> Harry, Mary Alice is the birder who sighted this bird, and I believe she
>> is the best person to answer your questions.
>> Best Regards,
>> Kay Grinnell
>> (President, Hilton Head Audubon)
>>
>>
>> Kay Grinnell
>> <k.grinnell...>
>> 10 Pelican Watch Court
>> Hilton Head Island SC 29926
>> 843 597-3633 cell
>>
>>
>> ----- Forwarded Message -----
>> *From:* Harry LeGrand" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <
>> <carolinabirds...>
>> *To:* Will Cook <cwcook...>; Harry LeGrand <
>> <hlegrandjr...>
>> *Cc:* "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11:57:06 AM EDT
>> *Subject:* Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid
>> at Hilton Head, SC
>>
>> Will,
>>
>> Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting bird/record. I'm
>> currently working (i.e., struggling) on the Summer Briefs for *The Chat,*
>> but I can always include out-of-season records like this, so that it will
>> get into printed literature. It has now been added to my draft, which
>> right now is just into the waterfowl.
>>
>> I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the date
>> right now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a color photo in The
>> Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton Head Island
>> newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I suspect that most of us
>> will be unable to access this report.
>>
>> If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be
>> excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be helpful, as
>> this is too significant to just appear one time only in a town's
>> newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again.
>>
>> Harry LeGrand
>> Briefs for the Files editor
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook <cwcook...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> This bird was observed last winter, but the article is recent.
>>
>> https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/environment/article311621106.html >>
>> It doesn't appear to have been ebirded as far as I can tell.
>>
>> --
>> Will Cook - Durham, NChttp://www.carolinanature.com/
>>
>>
>
Date: 8/14/25 12:28 pm From: <badgerboy...> Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Not being very experienced with hybrids, I just wondered, after viewing the excellent photos on the CBC photo gallery, whether this might just be a full blooded Black-throated Blue Warbler with some male and some female plumage characteristics? The pocket handkerchief is shaped like a typical female BTBW's, the female BTBW has a fairly well defined supercilium like this bird, and otherwise it looks like a male BTBW that is missing some of its black on the throat and sides. Otherwise the brown smudges on the sides just below the wing remind me of a chestnut-sided. Like I said just asking and please refrain from abusive or sarcastic remarks-- I already know I'm a block-headed Irishman.
Guy (McGrane, Boone NC)
On 8/13/2025 12:29 PM, Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) wrote: > Thanks, Jack and Kay (Grinnell). NOW we are getting somewhere! So, > Jack has pointed out to us two eBird checklists that show the bird was > reported on 5 February by Andy Jones and Bob Speare, and the earlier > and more significant one on 2 February by the photographer, Mary Alice > Tartler. As Kay has sent me her email address, I will send a message > to Mary Alice (and Kay), hoping that she will post several of her > photos to the eBird report. She already has several photos of a few > Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on the eBird list: > > eBird Checklist - 2 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle - 19 species (+2 > other taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S211892393> > > and thus it seems hopeful that she can post photos on this eBird list, > for permanent documentation. And, I will encourage her to add details > in "new world warbler sp.", to indicate that the bird has been > determined by experts to be a hybrid between Black-throated Blue > Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yes, the second eBird list says that: > > eBird Checklist - 5 Feb 2025 - Honey Locust Circle (PRIVATE) - 23 > species (+1 other taxa) <https://ebird.org/checklist/S212105216> > > but without a description or a photograph, there is no documentation > for such a unique record. > > Harry LeGrand > > On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM <k.grinnell...> > <k.grinnell...> wrote: > > Mary Alice and Harry, > I'm introducing you via this email. > MA, see email below. > Harry, Mary Alice is the birder who sighted this bird, and I > believe she is the best person to answer your questions. > Best Regards, > Kay Grinnell > (President, Hilton Head Audubon) > > > Kay Grinnell > <k.grinnell...> > 10 Pelican Watch Court > Hilton Head Island SC 29926 > 843 597-3633 cell > > > ----- Forwarded Message ----- > *From:* Harry LeGrand" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) > <carolinabirds...> > *To:* Will Cook <cwcook...>; Harry LeGrand > <hlegrandjr...> > *Cc:* "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...> > *Sent:* Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11:57:06 AM EDT > *Subject:* Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue > hybrid at Hilton Head, SC > > Will, > > Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting > bird/record. I'm currently working (i.e., struggling) on the > Summer Briefs for _The Chat,_ but I can always include > out-of-season records like this, so that it will get into printed > literature. It has now been added to my draft, which right now is > just into the waterfowl. > > I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the > date right now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a > color photo in The Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton > Head Island newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I > suspect that most of us will be unable to access this report. > > If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be > excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be > helpful, as this is too significant to just appear one time only > in a town's newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again. > > Harry LeGrand > Briefs for the Files editor > > On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook > <cwcook...> wrote: > > This bird was observed last winter, but the article is recent. > > https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/environment/article311621106.html > > It doesn't appear to have been ebirded as far as I can tell. > > -- > Will Cook - Durham, NC > http://www.carolinanature.com/ <http://www.carolinanature.com/> >
Date: 8/13/25 11:40 am From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: South Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan Survey
Carolinabirders,
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is soliciting feedback on their draft State Wildlife Action Plan. In theory, this plan guides SC DNR in its conservation activities.
They have an online survey they are asking folks to complete. I recently reviewed the plan and completed the survey. In my response, I noted that the current SWAP omits several bird species that SHOULD be included, some as Species of Highest Conservation Concern.
I urge folks to review the SWAP online and make comments on the survey. I noted that while species like Black-bellied Plovers are listed (moderate concern), species of much higher ACTUAL concern are not included - like Common Nighthawk (rapidly disappearing even from former strongholds in coastal areas), Stilt Sandpiper, LeConte's Sparrow, and others.
You can access the survey here, and it has links to the draft State Wildlife Action Plan:
PS My theory is that beach dune-nesting Common Nighthawks are losing nests to Coyotes. Even at no-public-access preserves like the Yawkey Wildlife Center, I have not seen a Common Nighthawk in a few years.
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle shot." -- Bror Blixen
Date: 8/13/25 9:30 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Fw: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Thanks, Jack and Kay (Grinnell). NOW we are getting somewhere! So, Jack
has pointed out to us two eBird checklists that show the bird was reported
on 5 February by Andy Jones and Bob Speare, and the earlier and more
significant one on 2 February by the photographer, Mary Alice Tartler. As
Kay has sent me her email address, I will send a message to Mary Alice (and
Kay), hoping that she will post several of her photos to the eBird report.
She already has several photos of a few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds on the
eBird list:
and thus it seems hopeful that she can post photos on this eBird list, for
permanent documentation. And, I will encourage her to add details in "new
world warbler sp.", to indicate that the bird has been determined by
experts to be a hybrid between Black-throated Blue Warbler and
Yellow-rumped Warbler. Yes, the second eBird list says that:
but without a description or a photograph, there is no documentation for
such a unique record.
Harry LeGrand
On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM <k.grinnell...> <k.grinnell...>
wrote:
> Mary Alice and Harry,
> I'm introducing you via this email.
> MA, see email below.
> Harry, Mary Alice is the birder who sighted this bird, and I believe she
> is the best person to answer your questions.
> Best Regards,
> Kay Grinnell
> (President, Hilton Head Audubon)
>
>
> Kay Grinnell
> <k.grinnell...>
> 10 Pelican Watch Court
> Hilton Head Island SC 29926
> 843 597-3633 cell
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message -----
> *From:* Harry LeGrand" (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <
> <carolinabirds...>
> *To:* Will Cook <cwcook...>; Harry LeGrand <
> <hlegrandjr...>
> *Cc:* "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 11:57:06 AM EDT
> *Subject:* Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid
> at Hilton Head, SC
>
> Will,
>
> Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting bird/record. I'm
> currently working (i.e., struggling) on the Summer Briefs for *The Chat,*
> but I can always include out-of-season records like this, so that it will
> get into printed literature. It has now been added to my draft, which
> right now is just into the waterfowl.
>
> I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the date right
> now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a color photo in The
> Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton Head Island
> newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I suspect that most of us
> will be unable to access this report.
>
> If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be
> excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be helpful, as
> this is too significant to just appear one time only in a town's
> newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Briefs for the Files editor
>
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook <cwcook...>
> wrote:
>
> This bird was observed last winter, but the article is recent.
>
> https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/environment/article311621106.html >
> It doesn't appear to have been ebirded as far as I can tell.
>
> --
> Will Cook - Durham, NChttp://www.carolinanature.com/
>
>
Date: 8/13/25 9:07 am From: Jack Rogers <jack...> Subject: Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Will and Harry-
The bird was eBirded at least once, but as "warbler sp." because
Black-throated Blue x Yellow-rumped is not yet a valid eBird taxon (though
I believe it will be added in the upcoming taxonomy update). See this list
<https://ebird.org/checklist/S212105216> for an undocumented report noting
the ID. I believe this <https://ebird.org/checklist/S211892393> is the
original report (see checklist comments). I thought I remembered seeing
the photos of the bird on this checklist, but they appear to no longer be
on the list. Maybe a local eBird reviewer could reach out to the observer
once the taxon is added to eBird so that she could upload her photos.
Would be very valuable to have in ML!
Best,
Jack
On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 10:57 AM Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Will,
>
> Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting bird/record. I'm
> currently working (i.e., struggling) on the Summer Briefs for *The Chat,*
> but I can always include out-of-season records like this, so that it will
> get into printed literature. It has now been added to my draft, which
> right now is just into the waterfowl.
>
> I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the date right
> now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a color photo in The
> Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton Head Island
> newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I suspect that most of us
> will be unable to access this report.
>
> If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be
> excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be helpful, as
> this is too significant to just appear one time only in a town's
> newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Briefs for the Files editor
>
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook <cwcook...>
> wrote:
>
>> This bird was observed last winter, but the article is recent.
>>
>> https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/environment/article311621106.html >>
>> It doesn't appear to have been ebirded as far as I can tell.
>>
>> --
>> Will Cook - Durham, NChttp://www.carolinanature.com/
>>
>>
--
Jack Rogers
M.S. Student
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
*Kingsville, TX/Mt Pleasant, SC*
Date: 8/13/25 8:57 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: article about Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Blue hybrid at Hilton Head, SC
Will,
Thanks for bringing up this scientifically interesting bird/record. I'm
currently working (i.e., struggling) on the Summer Briefs for *The Chat,*
but I can always include out-of-season records like this, so that it will
get into printed literature. It has now been added to my draft, which
right now is just into the waterfowl.
I do see the observer, the "species", and the location, but the date right
now for me is just "winter 2024-25". I can cite a color photo in The
Island Packet, which appears to be the Hilton Head Island
newsletter/newspaper. However, in a few days I suspect that most of us
will be unable to access this report.
If anyone reading this can provide a particular DAY, that would be
excellent. And, also, any other news source/outlet would be helpful, as
this is too significant to just appear one time only in a town's
newsletter/newspaper, never to be heard from again.
Harry LeGrand
Briefs for the Files editor
On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 11:23 AM Will Cook <cwcook...>
wrote:
Date: 8/13/25 8:44 am From: David Grandgeorge (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Kites at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
They fly low over the grassy areas. The Swallow Tales are beautiful.
Sent from my iPhone
Rev. David Grandgeorge, Retired
(803) 614-5524
119 Wellsgrove Lane
Orangeburg, SC. 29115-3393
> On Aug 13, 2025, at 8:54 AM, Craig Watson <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> I was speaking to a biologist at the Savannah NWR yesterday at 2pm and he said there were nearly 1000 kites in the air over the refuge at the Laurel Hill Wildlife Loop Road. He said they were mostly Mississippi Kites, but a fair number of Swallow-tailed Kites in the air as well. I recall from years past this happening in August prior to the migration, a great show!
>
> --
> "to live will be an awfully big adventure" - Peter Pan
>
> Craig Watson
> Mount Pleasant, SC
Date: 8/13/25 5:54 am From: Craig Watson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Kites at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
I was speaking to a biologist at the Savannah NWR yesterday at 2pm and he said there were nearly 1000 kites in the air over the refuge at the Laurel Hill Wildlife Loop Road. He said they were mostly Mississippi Kites, but a fair number of Swallow-tailed Kites in the air as well. I recall from years past this happening in August prior to the migration, a great show!
--
*"to live will be an awfully big adventure" - Peter Pan*
Date: 8/9/25 9:43 am From: Hibbard Home (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Cape May, End of September
We will be driving near Cape May on our way to VT, and have decided to stop over and bird a little. We have not been there before, and there is certainly plenty of information available on the web, but I thought I’d ask here for any words of wisdom as to lodging, and birding spots we should consider. We’ll unfortunately only have a day or two there before we need to move on. We’d appreciate any information you are willing to pass on. Thank you.
On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM J. Merrill Lynch <jmerrilllynch...>
wrote:
> I would recommend one of the lodges in the Amazon or southeastern Brazil
> which is a hotspot for endemics. Birding Brazil is an excellent birding
> tour company that I would highly recommend.
>
> J. Merrill Lynch
> Echo Valley Farm
> Watauga County, NC
> Elevation: 3,400 feet
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM Helen Kalevas <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi to all,
>> I am going to the Pantanal region of Brazil next summer. After that tour,
>> I would like to go to another region of Brazil to bird and see wildlife. So
>> if you had to choose one place in Brazil (other than the Pantanal region),
>> where would you recommend? Amazon? Costa Verde? Any advice will
>> be appreciated.
>> Helen
>>
>
I would recommend one of the lodges in the Amazon or southeastern Brazil
which is a hotspot for endemics. Birding Brazil is an excellent birding
tour company that I would highly recommend.
J. Merrill Lynch
Echo Valley Farm
Watauga County, NC
Elevation: 3,400 feet
On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM Helen Kalevas <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> Hi to all,
> I am going to the Pantanal region of Brazil next summer. After that tour,
> I would like to go to another region of Brazil to bird and see wildlife. So
> if you had to choose one place in Brazil (other than the Pantanal region),
> where would you recommend? Amazon? Costa Verde? Any advice will
> be appreciated.
> Helen
>
Date: 8/8/25 8:15 am From: Helen Kalevas (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Birding Brazil?
Hi to all, I am going to the Pantanal region of Brazil next summer. After that tour, I would like to go to another region of Brazil to bird and see wildlife. So if you had to choose one place in Brazil (other than the Pantanal region), where would you recommend? Amazon? Costa Verde? Any advice will be appreciated. Helen
eBird Central is saying that the Clements taxonomy that will be implemented in eBird in October will be 99.35% the same as the AviList taxonomy that was published in June. One of the 0.65% differences concerns Warbling Vireo. Apparently they have inside information that the mysteriously still unpublished AOS check-list supplement is going to split Warbling Vireo into Western Warbling Vireo and Eastern Warbling Vireo. Clements is going to go ahead and accept this split, which will presumably be picked up by AviList next year. So if you have seen Warbling Vireo both in the east and in the mountain states or west coast, you can look forward to an armchair lifer.
Kent Fiala
On 7/30/2025 10:33 AM, Kent Fiala wrote: > > I share Steve's mystification over what is happening with the AOS > checklist committee. But note that the AviList taxonomy is published > and is pretty definitely what eBird will follow in its October update. > The AOS committee is generally seen as stodgy and slow moving so I > think it's unlikely that they will lead the way on any changes that > AviList has not made. > > So you can rest easy about the changes that Steve suggested: the > titmice are not lumped and Warbling Vireo is not split. Not this year > anyway. I'm sad to say that Myrtle and Audubon's Warblers likewise > still are not split. I'm a little surprised that even Green-winged > Teal is not split since that is a split that other taxonomies have > made in the past. > > I see about three changes that do apply in the ABA area: > > Fea's Petrel split into Cape Verde Petrel and Desertas Petrel > > We get Coppery-tailed Trogon back (those of use old enough to remember > it); split from Elegant Trogon. > > Northern Yellow Warbler and Mangrove Warbler split. > > Kent Fiala > On 7/30/2025 9:57 AM, Steve wrote: >> >>> Hi all- >>> >>> I think many are aware that in the world of check-lists this is a >>> big year as a “new” unified list of birds (AviList) will become the >>> backbone of eBird, replacing the Clements list that many of us are >>> “used to”. >>> >>> eBird/Cornell offers a webinar tomorrow morning to discuss the new >>> checklist. Information below on registering/attending. >>> >>> Along the same lines, folks may have noticed that the normally >>> standard July release of the AOS Check-List committee decisions >>> appears to be delayed. We typically see these in July, but it will >>> soon be August, and I have not seen any concrete info on when the >>> 66^th supplement will be publicized. It seems possible that due to >>> the AviList changes, the AOS update could be affected, but I am just >>> speculating. While most of the anticipated changes affect Middle and >>> South American birds, or realign order, etc, the two potential >>> changes that might be most recognized by U.S. birders are the >>> suggested split of Warbling Vireo and the suggested lump of Tufted >>> Titmouse. Many US listers would experience a net zero (one split, >>> one lump) if both of these are accepted. >>> >>> Happy listing, >>> >>> Steve Shultz >>> Apex NC (not likely to be split soon) >>> >>> *Introducing AviList: a unified global avian checklist* >>> >>> *Date/Time: 31 July 2025 at 9:00 am ET* >>> *Speakers: Members of the AviList Executive Committee: Paul Donald, >>> Pamela Rasmussen, and Marshall Iliff* >>> Registration link: >>> https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MUWY_wwMSlqcLYm7q4WLUg >>> >>> Join us for a deep discussion about AviList, a unified global avian >>> checklist that provides the most current and authoritative taxonomy >>> of birds. AviList was released in June 2025 by experts in taxonomy, >>> nomenclature, and bioinformatics, including researchers from the >>> Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Ornithological Society, >>> BirdLife International, International Ornithologists’ Union, and >>> Avibase (Birds Canada), among others. >>> >>> The new checklist recognizes 11,131 species of birds in the world, >>> classified within 252 families. This effort was the culmination of >>> thousands of hours of effort over four years to harmonize the global >>> checklist of birds with the aim of providing a single list of >>> species names that will make it easier to compile and share >>> information on bird species to improve conservation and scientific >>> outcomes. This massive collaborative effort resulted in a single >>> current consensus taxonomy for the birds of the world, along with >>> key information on taxonomy and nomenclature. >>> >>> THIS WEBINAR WILL COVER: >>> What were the goals of AviList? How will it affect scientific >>> progress in ornithology? What problems does it solve? And what are >>> some interesting species concepts the team had to resolve to reach >>> this new consensus? And finally, how will AviList impact and improve >>> birding tools and resources such as eBird and Birds of the World? >>> >>> PANELISTS INCLUDE: >>> Members of the AviList Executive Committee will join us: *Paul >>> Donald* (BirdLife International), *Pamela Rasmussen* (The Cornell >>> Lab, Birds of the World), and *Marshall Iliff* (The Cornell Lab, eBird). >>> >>> For more information: >>> AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025. >>> <https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025> >>> Birds of the World YouTube Playlist >>> <https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgSpqOFj1Ta7bnCNBAlWcN76UbnLthyO1> >>>
Date: 8/6/25 12:36 pm From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Reminder: Summer season reports for Chat Briefs
Fellow birders,
Now that the Summer (Breeding) Season is over (June-July), as *The Chat'*s Briefs for the Files editor I would like to hear from any of you who have not posted important records for the season already on eBird. The great majority of the Briefs over the past decade have come from the editor perusing the eBird database, species by species, and picking out the most signficant reports. This is tedious, but I need to wait for a few more days to start so that any and all rarity sightings (as seen on the Carolina Bird Club Sightings page) have hopefully been approved as valid. For this short 2-month season, I will spend much time going to the North Carolina Bird Atlas website, to check out important records, especially confirmed nestings, to add to the Summer Briefs. But, *a few of you might have some important records that were not on eBird, so please let me know what notable birds you saw or what notable increases or decreases in breeding species populations you might have noticed. *
One feature of this summer season was the good to relatively good rainfall in most places -- sadly including floods -- though that meant most reservoirs were full and very few lake and pond margins contained mudflats. Thus, notable shorebirds in early fall migration, plus notable numbers of post-breeding waders, found little suitable habitat inland.
I'd like to hear from folks by August 25. *Again, almost all of you submit eBird reports, so those data are already available to me.* Thanks for posting such records!
Harry LeGrand, Briefs for the Files editor Raleigh
FWIW, saw a slightly odd crow in the apt. complex today: with a solid brown nape, but everything else normal — I assume crows have lots of random mutations, though bopping around the Web a bit didn’t find an example of this.
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.....
Date: 8/6/25 5:54 am From: Chris Marsh (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Beidler Forest under attack-letters needed
Everyone,
Santee Cooper proposes to widen a pre-existing powerline right-of-way by
cutting down hundreds of trees in the core area of Beidler Forest where the
ancient trees are and close to the pre-existing boardwalk.
For those of you who have birded Beidler Forest and found it a magical
place, please take time to click on the link below and submit your
comments. My letter emphasized that Beidler Forest is a national treasure
so comments from out-of-staters are just as important as those from SC
residents.
Thanks,
Chris Marsh
Winston-Salem
<cmarshlci...>
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary <audubonconnect...>
Date: Tue, Aug 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Subject: Ancient Forest, Modern Choice
To: Christopher Marsh <cmarshlci...>
The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest is one of South
Carolina’s most remarkable natural places – home to centuries-old trees,
threatened species, rich cultural history, and a boardwalk that brings
thousands into the heart of an ancient swamp each year.
Now, a proposed utility project could bring large-scale tree clearing to
this special landscape and vital habitat – some even within view of
Beidler’s iconic boardwalk. While infrastructure upgrades are important,
they shouldn’t come at the expense of one of the state’s most unique,
sensitive and celebrated ecosystems.
Date: 8/5/25 11:05 am From: Susan Campbell <susan...> Subject: Upcoming hummingbird programs in NC
All,
It is that time of the year! As the hummingbirds reach peak abundance, our hummingbird programs really get fired up!!
We have several opportunities to see and hear about hummingbirds around NC coming up:
*On Thursday, August 7, I will be at Parie Ridge Ecostation (Raleigh) from 8:30-10am for a Hummingbird Morning. It is free and open to the public with no registration required. We have offered this program in the past and are now hoping it will become an annual event. Plan to hike the wonderful trails afterward
*This weekend, August 9&10 our team will be once again at Danile Stowe Conservancy (was Botanical Garden) in Belmont. There will be hour-long sessions from 9am-noon both days. There is a fee and registration is required. Go to their website for details. This large property has lots of good hummingbird plants as well as numerous beautiful gardens and a world class orchid conservatory.
*Next Tuesday I will have another Hummingbird Morning at Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville from 9-11am. This event is free with admission. Although it is not a large area, it has beautiful plantings, exhibits and a small man-made lake. Check out the website for the program description.
*The weekend of August 16 &17 we will be featured once again as the finale to Mecklenburg County's Hummingbird Week. Sign up for a free session either Saturday or Sunday morning at Reedy Creek County Park, east of downtown Charlotte. The program is free and open to anyone but advanced registration for one of the 45-minute session is necessary. Other family-friendly events will be going on there these two days. See the website for more details.
*As always, I am banding hummingbirds at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines, in the Sandhills, Wednesday mornings from 8:30-10:30am. Come learn about my research, see hummers up close and learn not only about their ecology and movements but how to attract them to your yard. Free and open to the public-- no reservations required.
Hope to see some of you at one of these fun and informative events in the coming weeks!
Susan Campbell Co-founder and Science Director Cape Fear Bird Observatory and Research Affiliate NC Museum of Natural Sciences Apex, NC
