Found your list info on GABO-L last week.  I'm still waiting for my
confirmation message to reply to so I'm not sure if I can post yet,
guess I'll see now.  Carolina Wrens are nesting on my carport again this
year but they keep throwing their eggs out of the nest.  Maybe soon they
will find one that they like.  I still have plenty of golgfinches and
siskins at thr feeders.  This is a magic time of year when winter
visitors are still here and our nesters are arriving too.  I love it!
--


                                             regards,
                                                      Billy

                   ^V^ Watkinsville, Ga. U.S.A. ^V^


      American Birding Association <http://www.americanbirding.org>
      Georgia Ornithological Society <http://www.gos.org/index.html>

Guess for some reason, I did not receive a copy of the etiquette policy.  It
would be nice to see/read this.  How about it, Larry?

Thanks.
Betty Garmon

Steve:
Thanks so much for enlightening me as to what is/has been going on on the
West end of Dauphine Island.  Hopefully in the near future, there will again
be access for birders to at least be able to walk out on either side - beach
side and the inlet side - to see all the great birds again.

Looking forward to the Spring migrations now!!
Betty

Hello ALbirders~

Put up hummer feeders yesterday, but have not seen any yet here in Auburn.
Have a pair of chickadees with a very nearly complete nest in one of the
boxes in my yard (yay!).  A pair of bluebirds began a nest in another box in
my yard on Feb. 20 and completed it several days later, but I've not seen
them even in the yard since Feb 26....I hope they come back and use the
nest!

Shelly Ducharme  Auburn, AL
mducharme@...

how to get access to the beach legally was included in the new birding
etiquette policy sent out to AOS board members. You might ask Larry if he is
planning to put it in the new newsletter, because it sounds as if it should
be.

----- Original Message -----
From: <Swmavocet@...>
To: <albirds@onelist.com>
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: [ALBIRDS] D.I. West End


> From: Swmavocet@...
>
> Betty,
>
> Great to hear from you!  Welcome to AL-BIRDS!
>
> What you see on the west end of Dauphin Island is mostly a result of the
"devastation" caused by Hurricane Georges in the fall of 1998.  Basically
the west end was wiped clean of much vegetation and what was not uprooted
was covered with several feet of sand.  The roadside ditches will take many
a year to recover to their previous birdy state.
>
> Once the insurance money came rolling in, folks began rebuilding - seems
like I remember that >50 houses were totalled and around a dozen basically
disappeared.  I assume that the group (family?) who owns the west end took
this opportunity to assert the right to restrict access.  I can certainly
see their side - I have seen many things going on out there that I wouldn't
want happening on MY property.  Only time will tell if this is a prelude to
more building beyond the current fence...
>
> I am certainly not a lawyer, however, I have had at least two tell me that
landowners whose property touches coastal waters CANNOT restrict public
access to the beach.  I would sure appreciate it if someone would take the
lead and clear up this point once and for all.  I have personally seen "the
public" crawling over the new fence to gain access to the beach.  While the
marsh habitat may be non-existent out there right now, the west end has
endured hurricanes much stronger than Georges and returned to a more "birdy"
state in due course, i.e. to have access is desirable.
>
> If a person stays on the beach per se, are they really trespassing?  For
that matter, what is the legal definition of a "beach"?  The west end seems
narrow enough in some spots to qualify as complete "beach", in my mind.
>
> I certainly am not suggesting that any birder cross the fence, and
possibly run afoul of Dauphin Island's finest, until some sort of
determination is made here and the word put out.
>
>
>
> Steve McConnell
> Trussville, AL
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds!  Get rates as low as 0.0%
> Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees.  Apply NOW!
> http://click.egroups.com/1/937/1/_/684316/_/952974941/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This list is sponsored by the Alabama
> Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided
> as a service to the birding community.  AOS
> does not endorse the views or opinions expressed
> by the members of this discussion group.  Nor
> does AOS support or endorse the advertising
> provided by the OneList list service.
>
> Visit AOS on the web at:
> http://www.bham.net/aos
>
>

Good afternoon,
Does anyone know  where I can rent a small outboard motorboat at or near
Dauphin Island?
Gilbert Foster
Nashville, TN

Betty,

Great to hear from you!  Welcome to AL-BIRDS!

What you see on the west end of Dauphin Island is mostly a result of the
"devastation" caused by Hurricane Georges in the fall of 1998.  Basically the
west end was wiped clean of much vegetation and what was not uprooted was
covered with several feet of sand.  The roadside ditches will take many a year
to recover to their previous birdy state.

Once the insurance money came rolling in, folks began rebuilding - seems like I
remember that >50 houses were totalled and around a dozen basically disappeared.
I assume that the group (family?) who owns the west end took this opportunity to
assert the right to restrict access.  I can certainly see their side - I have
seen many things going on out there that I wouldn't want happening on MY
property.  Only time will tell if this is a prelude to more building beyond the
current fence...

I am certainly not a lawyer, however, I have had at least two tell me that
landowners whose property touches coastal waters CANNOT restrict public access
to the beach.  I would sure appreciate it if someone would take the lead and
clear up this point once and for all.  I have personally seen "the public"
crawling over the new fence to gain access to the beach.  While the marsh
habitat may be non-existent out there right now, the west end has endured
hurricanes much stronger than Georges and returned to a more "birdy" state in
due course, i.e. to have access is desirable.

If a person stays on the beach per se, are they really trespassing?  For that
matter, what is the legal definition of a "beach"?  The west end seems narrow
enough in some spots to qualify as complete "beach", in my mind.

I certainly am not suggesting that any birder cross the fence, and possibly run
afoul of Dauphin Island's finest, until some sort of determination is made here
and the word put out.



Steve McConnell
Trussville, AL

Three cheers to ALBIRDS for starting right out with an easy identifier at
the front of the Subject line!  That sure makes it easy to sort out!  Thanks!
Could the other state list owners do that, too?  I hope so. Thanks to all of
you for what's usually a thankless but worthwhile job.

Hazel Cassel
Nashville,TN

In a message dated 03/13/2000 11:12:26 AM EST, vankirk@... writes:

> Ditto.  I'm one of those whose email traffic is so heavy that I must delete
>  msgs. whose content/origin is not immediately obvious.  One solution when
>  the identifier is not available:  everyone precede subject headings with a
>  short code, e.g. TN.
>  --shannon
>
>  >I have sent this request before, but I thought I would try again since
I've
>  >never gotten a response.
>  >
>  >Many people are like me and subscribe to more than one list.  When the
>  >lists are not set up with an option to place an identifier in the subject
>  >heading, it can lead to confusing and important missed messages.  An
>  >example of this occurred last week for me, when I missed a post about a
>  >White-winged Crossbill in Tennessee, because I deleted it assuming that it
>  >was referring to the White-winged Crossbills in Virginia this winter.
>  >
>  >I have examined the list commands and haven't found this option available,
>  >but if it is and I missed it, I will gladly be corrected.  Otherwise, I
>  >would like to hear from the listowners as to whether there respective
lists
>  >can be configured this way.  Many lists already have this, e.g.
>  >id-frontiers, Birdchat, etc., and I believe it would be very helpful here
>  >as well.
>  >
>  >Chris Sloan
>  >chris.sloan@...
>  >Nashville, TN
>  --------------------



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 3/13/00 12:15:14 AM Central Standard Time,
wellsjimmy@... writes:

<< Fred- according to the Migration Map page of http://www.hummingbirds.net/
,
  it looks like they were spotted at Gulf Shores on 2-27, Panama City on 3-7,
  and Pensacola and Dothan on 3-9. Won't be long!

  Jimmy Wells
  Cullman, AL >>

Jimmy and Alabama Birders:
Gleaned from over 100 reports from our network of hummingbird lovers:
The first reported Ruby-throated of the year were all along the Gulf Coast
(Cedar Key Florida to western Mississippi near Waveland) on February 25th.
All were adult males.  Despite the fact that a very few will winter on the
Gulf Coast, these reports were of apparently "new" birds at new locations.
All except one were adult males.

As of yesterday, the most northerly reports of adult males were from the
Clanton and Tuscaloosa area.  It appears that the first in the Birmingham
area will likely be about March 15th-17th, almost exactly as expected.  It is
unlikely that the arrival of Ruby-throated in the US is related to a "warm
winter" as many suggest.  I don't think that the Ruby-throated in Central
America have any way of knowing that it has been unusually mild in the
Southeastern US.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do love hummingbirds.

Bob Sargent
Trussville, Alabama

To Suzanne, AOS, and ALL the others who had a hand to getting this list
created and 'up and running':

Thanks a million!!!  It is wonderful that Alabama birders now have our own
'special place'.  Great job!!

Looking forward to being able to 'keep up' with what's going on in our 'neck
of the woods'!!

I was at Gulf Shores all of last week, but unfortunately, not with a REAL
birding group - the group I was with were after the 'Birdies' all right - but
with golf clubs and a small white ball!!!  So I did not get to concentrate
nearly enough on the 'birdies' using my binocs!!!

I did, however, locate an Osprey flying low and in circles over the Visitor
Welcome Center in Orange Beach.  There is a platform erected there in the
parking lot with the remains of a previous nest still on it.  I was told by
the ladies who work in the Visitor's Center that 'during the last hurricane,
the pair of Osprey who was there flew off, and since then have not come back
to nest, but do fly around the nest and area quite a lot, but have not taken
up residence there again'!!  Sad.

I also did get over to Fort Morgan to take the ferry to Dauphine Island one
day, but saw very little.  There was a male Red-breasted Merganser in the
water at the ferry dock, which was close-up, and we did watch him for quite a
while. Spectacular!!!

There was a Palm Warbler on a shrub next to the Ferry ticket building.  So enj
oyed a close-up view of that bird while waiting our turn to purchase ticket.

Not many birds to see at the Shell Mounds.  Tho we did get a fleeting glance
of a male Parula Warbler who was feeding in the trees bordering the mounds
next to the street near our car.  One hummer flew by so very fast, then
disappeared immediately into the dense shrubs that we did not have a chance
to ID it.

The most disturbing thing to me was at the West end of the Island -- no way
to get down to the water's edge anymore that we could find - without going
thru a partially opened gate and walking past 'No Trespassing' signs!!!  I
was quite disturbed to see near the end of the road, and next to where we
always parked, the marsh area had been totally bulldosed up, and the land
recontoured - with a new house sitting right next to it - and it looked as
though the land was being prepared for other houses on either side of that
one!!  What will happen to all the birds that used to be there??!!!!!   Did
not see even the first Great Egret in the ditches along the roadside on the
way out there, as we usually see several.  Will there ever be a way to access
this area again?  Major disappointment and looks like major habitat loss for
the birds - what a waste!!!

Betty Garmon
Decatur, AL

Jimmy and All,

I just found out about the list yesterday myself.
When I visited the OneList web page to check it
out ALBIRD had 25 subscribers. As of 9:30 PM tonight
it has 73.

I announced the list to SABA Members last night and
suggested that they could visit one of the SABA Web
Pages to subscribe. That was at about 7 or 8 last night
and since that time the page has had 217 hits. There
are probably others who will be checking in.

There is quite a bit of info on the ALBIRD Page at
the OneList site. The number of subscribers is posted
as well as other characteristics of the list. You can
determine how many we are but not who we are. You can
visit the page at:  http://www.onelist.com/group/albirds

If there are any shy ones out there (and I doubt it)
why don't you break the ice by dropping a note to just
say hi and introduce yourself. It would be nice to
know who we are as well as how many we are.

The best to all,

Charles Kennedy
Greenville, Alabama

Fred- according to the Migration Map page of http://www.hummingbirds.net/ ,
it looks like they were spotted at Gulf Shores on 2-27, Panama City on 3-7,
and Pensacola and Dothan on 3-9. Won't be long!

Jimmy Wells
Cullman, AL


ALBIRDS,

What's the word from further south.  Any ruby-throats yet??

Waiting impatiently here south of Birmingham.

Fred Moore
Pelham, AL

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Jimmy,

My experience is that the red-shouldered builds a moderately
substantial nest using twigs and sticks.  I have heard that they
may even recover material from an old nest as they build a new
one.  It also appears, at least my local pair, that they build a
new nest each year. In the last three years, they have used three
different sites within an aprox 300-400 foot circle.  I have not
found the nest this year, have to be careful and not get shot
roaming thru the neighbors yards with binoculars :-).  From the
calling, they are still within the same circle.

Fred Moore
Pelham, AL

Charles K wrote:
Ya'll must have been listenin' to grandma. This
is the quietest discussion group I've ever been
a part of.

Well, since I just found out about this list and subscribed, I wasn't sure
how old it is or how many subscribers it has. I was wondering if there were
just too few of us on it yet to make a big squawk yet, or if everyone was
just shy. I'll post about my AM trip just to help get the ball rolling.

I went to Sportsman's Lake Park in Cullman this morning. It's a 60 acre
lake, 160 acre park in the northwest part of the City of Cullman, operated
by the Cullman County Park and Rec Department. Nice little refuge in a town
that is rapidly growing and losing habitat to "Progress". There is a beaver
dam downstream from the lake that is a wonderful birding area. During the
winter, about 60 Canada Geese resided on the lake, along with Mallards, Ring
Neck Ducks, Gadwalls, and assorted other aquatic birds. Today, the numbers
of the were greatly reduced, with only one Canada Goose (awful friendly, I
believe he is a resident, injured and unable to fly any distance). Today's
new sightings for the season included Purple Martins and Barn Swallows. At
the eastern edge of the park, (close to the beaver dam) a pair of Red
Shouldered Hawks continue to give their shrill cries, proclaiming their
territory. Three weeks ago, I discovered what I think is their nest in a
pine tree. Any input on their nests? This looks pretty flimsy, with dead
pine boughs with brown needles still attached. I don't have my Delorme's
handy to give the coordinates, but here is the URL for Topozone.com 's topo
of the park-
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=34.1883&lon=-86.8655&s=25&size=s


Jimmy Wells
Cullman AL
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

ALBIRDS,

What's the word from further south.  Any ruby-throats yet??

Waiting impatiently here south of Birmingham.

Fred Moore
Pelham, AL

ALBIRDS

Welcome to all.  I hope that this list proves helpful and useful to
all of us here in Alabama.

Cliff & others,

I have Wrens (Carolina) putting the finishing touches on their nest.
It is in its usual place.  A canoe suspended under my deck.  A pine
warbler pair have been collecting plant down and feathers to line
their nest in the top of a Long-leaf pine in the front yard.  Things
are certainly heating up.

My old grandmother used to tell me stuff like
"Children should be seen and not heard"  and
"Silence is Golden".

Ya'll must have been listenin' to grandma. This
is the quietest discussion group I've ever been
a part of.

Had a pear tree full of Cedar Waxwings in the
backyard this morning. They were eating the blossoms.
House Finches in the garden doing the same on the
bolted broccoli.

Cheers,

Charlie K.

Hi Cliff,

I have about 50 Bluebird houses in Autauga and Elmore  Counties.  Some have
nest and afew with eggs.

TP

Greetings To All,

I just sent the message inserted below to the 500+
subscribers to L.A. BirdNews. Most of you probably
got it.

Maybe this will help get the ball rolling.

Charles Kennedy
President - South Alabama Birding Association
Greenville, Alabama

To L.A BirdNews Subscribers - 3/11/2000 - 8 PM CST

Greetings To All,

The Alabama Ornithological Society has launched
ALBIRDS an automated list serve devoted to birds
and birding in Alabama and the surrounding area.

You are invited to subscribe. Subscribers can send
to and receive messages from all list members.

Although this is an unmoderated list which means
messages are not screened before they are sent,
the list is owned by AOS and monitored by Suzanne
Owens, webmaster for the AOS Website.

You can subscribe by visiting the SABA Contents Page.

http://www.alaweb.com/~kenwood/saba/contents.htm

On the top left of the page is an icon and a line of
text that says "click to subscribe to albirds". This
click on will take you to the home page of the
service provider where you can get complete details
about the operation of the list to help you decide
if you want to join. There are 3 options to choose
from concerning how the messages are delivered to
you including the option to read the messages on the
service provider's website.

There is a brief advertising message at the bottom of
each message but you are able to read the complete
message before you get to it.

I've already signed on. Hope you will too.

Charlie

Hi Cliff,

Lots of Bluebirds down here in lower Alabama.
Many have started nesting. I've also seen wrens
and nuthatches carrying nesting material.

Charles Kennedy

I was wondering if the nesting cycle for bluebirds has started yet. The
Bluebirds present around this area south of Birmingham last year are not
present now. I haven't seen any in a while.
	 Also have some of the goldfinches headed north already. I went from having
a lot at the feeder to only a couple.

Cliff Somers

Greetings To All,

Thanks to Suzanne, Greg, and all the rest who got AL Birds going!

This should prove to be a good forum for all of us and for Alabama
Birding. I am looking forward to hearing your news.

I will publish the news in the next issues of L.A. Field Notes and
L.A. BirdNews and will post the info. on the SABA Website.

Cheers,

Charles Kennedy
President - South Alabama Birding Association
Greenville, Alabama 36037

Hi Jean!  Welcome to the Alabama Birds list.  We just started this list a
week ago and have not even started publicizing it yet, so we only have a
couple of members for the moment.  Once we are sure we have everything set
up like we want it, then we will begin publicizing it to the birding
community.  Hopefully we will get some good conversations going then, so
stay tuned!

We would love for you to publicize the AOS website and our organization on
your About.com site, if it is appropriate.  We have numerous members in our
organization from the Huntsville area and always welcome any new birders who
would like to join up with us!

Suzanne Owens
AOS webmaster
http://www.bham.net/aos

Hi--I just joined the list.  I'm the local guide for the About.com site for
Huntsville and joined this list to become more informed about what is going
on regarding birding in the Huntsville area.

If anyone has a website or event that they'd like me to publicize on my site
or in my Huntsville Highlights bi-monthly newsletter, please email me the
informaiton.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all.

Jean Brandau
About.com guide to Huntsville AL
http://huntsville.about.com
email:  huntsville.guide@...

Suzanne,

         So far, so good.  I thank you for getting this going so quickly.  The
next test is to start using it to give quick information about some
interesting bird sightings or other birding notes.

         Early this week, I had some great birding sights.  Approximately 1000
Snow Geese in the air at once only several hundred yards from me at Limestone
Bay Monday, 8 Northern Harriers cloisng out the day near Autaugaville - with
a few remaining in the air as a Short-eared Owl started flying.

See you in a week in Navarre,

Larry Gardella

Suzanne,

	 I just noticed that my email address is automatically posted at the top of
my message.  Do you think that may be objectionable to some folks?  Can
that be changed?

Greg

Suzanne,

	 Thanks for getting this set up so quickly.  I think the format and the
disclaimer look fine, and the sign-up procedure seems easy.  Let's drive
this jalopy around a week or so with several people on board, and make sure
potential kinks (if any) are recognized and fixed.

											 Greg

I just noticed that you both had signed up to the list so I thought I
would send out a message and see if you receive it.  Replies to
any messages automatically go back to the entire list.

Suzanne

what happens here??