September. The start of my favorite time of the birding year – fall migration. While many birders revel in spring migration with birds sporting bright colors and singing loud songs, I look forward most to fall migration with its identification challenges and potential for rarities. Young birds are more likely to get lost and wind up somewhere they are not supposed to be so fall is ripe with possibilities. We already started off the southward migration with a bang in July with the appearance of a White-winged Tern at Big Stone Beach and the first state record Masked Booby at Fenwick Island. There is an article on the latter by Matthew Halley in the upcoming Delaware Ornithologist which will be mailed to members only in December.
 
September is also the start of the DOS year, with monthly meetings resuming this month with a Zoom presentation by our own Katie Bird. We are hoping the October presentation by Holly Merker can be held in person at Ashland, but we will continue to play it by ear and make that decision shortly before the talk.
 
The two hawk watches supported by DOS have begun and return our two favorite professional hawk watchers, David Brown at Ashland and Jen Ottinger at Cape Henlopen. I strongly encourage you to visit either of these sites this fall, especially when winds are out of the north. It is extremely pleasant to enjoy a beautiful fall day scanning the skies for tiny dots that David and Jen identify to species!
 
This is the start of my last year as DOS president because the bylaws limits presidents to 3 consecutive one-year terms. It is very important that DOS select a new president with the qualities to lead the organization in its ambitious and multifaceted mission. The greater number of members that get involved with this, the more successful it will be. Please give some thought to who would make a good next leader for DOS. We will formally call for nominations in January, but it is not too early to be thinking of possibilities.
 
Thanks so much to Katie Bird for the GREAT job she does each month with the newsletter. I hope you all have a great fall migration season and I hope to see you in the field. Good birding.

 -Michael Moore, DOS President

 

 

 

Do you know kids who enjoy being outside and love birds? Join the DOS Red Knot Youth Birders today!

This month, the Red Knot Youth Birders will be exploring the Dupont Environmental Education Center to celebrate fall migration as we look for waterfowl, wading birds, and warblers! Youth birders must be accompanied by an adult. Loaner binoculars will be available.

Please email [email protected] to RSVP. Sunday September 18th, 8am to 10am. We will meet at 1400 Delmarva Ln, Wilmington DE 19801 Sign up at [email protected] to receive field trip schedules and other updates for the fall.

Brandywine Creek State Park in conjunction with the DOS will be hosting monthly bird walks in Delaware’s oldest state park. The walks are on the last Saturday of every month (except December) and start at the Nature Center at 8:00 am. The park entrance road is from Addams Dam Road near the intersection of Routes 100 & 92. This will be a 3-hour walk through rough terrain, bring boots and bug spray. The walks are free but parking fees are in effect.

Dates are: September 24^th , October 29^th, November 26^th, December – pending for Wilmington CBC date.

 

 

Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept 17. DOS typically sponsors Port Mahon Road. Anyone interested should contact Anthony Gonzon by email at [email protected].
 

Katie Bird is a final year Wildlife Ecology Master’s student at University of Delaware, under the mentorship of Dr. Jeff Buler. Katie is also the DOS Flyer editor. Her research involves tracking Purple Martins with radio telemetry to answer questions about when and where they go while they are in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Katie’s project involves several martin colonies located at Bucktoe Creek Preserve, Curtis Mill Park, Longwood Gardens, and Ashland Nature Center. For this presentation, she will cover the individual stories of tagged martins at Ashland Nature Center, giving DOS members a closer look at the summer lives of these charismatic birds.

The meeting is held online via Zoom software. Members will receive an email with Zoom login info prior to the meeting.  If you are not a member and would like to attend, please click here to request login info which is available a few days before the meeting.

Don't forget: Conservation Access Passes are required to visit state wildlife areas such as Augustine (including Ashton Tract), Assawoman, Cedar Swamp, and Woodland Beach.
 

- Your backyard bird feeding specialist -


"Are you ready for migrating birds? Stop by Wild Birds Unlimited for all your birding needs."



Wild Birds Unlimited-Hockessin 
Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm.

Lancaster Pike & Yorklyn Road
Hockessin, DE
(302)-239-9071
www.wbu.com/hockessin

Andrew Dunn now leads with 128 species, gaining 7 species this summer! With the summer doldrums almost over, will the rankings shift with fall migration? Time will tell!

Compete by submitting eBird checklists from your own yard. 

Learn more here.