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Battery Island cruise and bluebird boxes



Hi Carolinabirders,

Two recent e-mail gleanings below. First, a notice of a cruise to Battery
Island, a heron rookery and one of the NC Audubon Coastal Sanctuaries;
arranged by the Cape Fear Garden Club, proceeds to benefit the sanctuary.
Second, some tips on placement of bluebird houses, which I think came by
way of a Triangle gardening listserv. Read on...

Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry disturbing to hear about the proposed navy airfield.
We were standing at the edge of a big farm field just north of Pungo Lake
on the first day of the winter CBC meeting last month and watched in awe
as nearly 50,000 Snow Geese flew out of the refuge and swirled in a
massive whirlpool of birds over the field, filling the air for probably
more than half an hour. Given how much money the military has invested in
mechanisms to keep birds away from their runways to avoid destroying
planes and killing pilots, the idea that they would intentionally place
runways next to such a huge bird aggregation strikes me as extremely dumb.
Definitely write to the Navy secretary cited in Karen and Lena's e-mails,
because if the military makes up its mind, I doubt either of our gung-ho
senators will make even a token effort on our behalf to dissuade them...

Good birding,

Josh


Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Biology (Zoology, R.I.P.)

jsr6@duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/

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>==========================
>7th Annual Battery Island Cruise to observe nesting herons, egrets and
>ibises. Apr. 27, 2 pm Carolina Beach Municipal Dock, Depart 2:30 pm.
>Disembark: Approx. 6pm. Cost $35. Sponsored by the Cape Fear Garden Club.
>All proceeds from the Battery Island Cruise are givn to the Audubon Society
>for maintenance of Batery Island. Battery Island is the largest nesting site
>in North America fo ibises, egrets and herons. Questions, call 910-686-9038
>or email beckyluv2cook@ec.rr.com.
>
>The Audubon Society does not allow anyone to actually go onto the island
>from April 1-October. However, the vessel actually anchors on the sand of
>Battery Island with highly visible birds dotting the trees, almost as though
>decorated in white for Christmas. Many on board bring their cameras. This
>year, we will have a special area set aside for photographers with their
>tripods, to take photos.  This is a wonderful photo opportunity.  Dr.
>Parnell, our ornithologist traveling with us, has taken some excellent
>photos of the birds from the vessel.
>Questions, call 910-686-9038 or email beckyluv2cook@ec.rr.com.
>Becky Phillips

Battery Island's website:
http://www.ncaudubon.org/nccas_sanc3.html

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> An important point on placing the boxes:  30 - 50' apart is right if they
> are all out in the open and placed 4-6' above the ground level.  If they
> are at wood's edge or in the woods, please only expect nuthatches,
> chickadees, Carolina wrens and titmice.  Although last year I did have a
> pair of bluebirds nest in the box that I put up for the Carolina wren that
> insists on nesting inside of my garden shed (until I screened her out).
> This particular box is placed under the eaves--where I have the hay for my
> ponies and next to the dog run under trees.  I can't figure why it was so
> appealing to them, especially when I walk past and get things there a
> minimum of twice a day.  The wren was sure glad when they fledged their
> group and could move in for their traditional two broods.