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Next meeting: September 20th!
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Grasshopper Sparrow by Mike Moore.
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Letter from the President
 It’s Fall again! This marks the start of a new year for DOS and the beginning of what can be the most exciting time of the year for birding. I call September through October “rarity season”, although I should probably extend that to August. July and August were big for rarities at Bombay Hook highlighted by Little Egret, Curlew Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, and a female Ruff.
The new lineup of speakers for DOS meetings is nearly complete featuring a nice mix of local and national speakers and even one international talk from an Italian birder! Ashland Nature Center is installing upgraded A/V equipment as you read this for what should be a better viewing experience. Check out the lineup of speakers at the DOS website and come join us at Ashland Nature Center for some great talks and a chance to socialize and find out what DOS is up to.
The Falcon Watch had some big excitement this year. A new pair of falcons, Whitman and Bridget, raised a single chick named Solo. In addition, DOS used funds provided by Chemours to purchase two new cameras that show the falcons outside the nest box. Many thanks to camera operator David Neugebauer for using these cameras to great effect to create videos to tell the story of the falcons which he posted to Facebook. These posts garnered tremendous attention, and some gained over 35,000 views and nearly 4000 “likes” from around the world.
Due to some hard work by DOS Citizen Science Chair, Andrew Ednie, DOS is now a Local Organizing Partner (LOP) for the Master Naturalist Program run by the University of Delaware. DOS will be recruiting volunteers and developing service opportunities as well as providing some scholarship money. See announcement below.
Finally, DOS ran a successful fund-raising campaign to support the “Frontiers in Ornithology: A Symposium for Youth”. This brainchild of the late Bill Stewart will hold its second annual conference at Ashland Nature Center on 04 November 2023. The appeal to DOS members to support this worthy cause raised over $5000 from DOS members to help support this opportunity to help young birders get a start on pursuing their passion as adults. It is not too late to contribute. See the DOS home page for more details or go directly to the conference website.
-Michael Moore, DOS President
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September 20th Meeting:
“What’s new with avian flu” by Joe Francis
Avian influenza was identified as a viral disease of poultry and wildfowl over a century ago. Researchers have tracked it among migratory bird populations in the Delaware Bay for decades. But never has it had the public’s attention as in the last few years. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has caused havoc on the commercial poultry industry and raised the specter of the next pandemic. Threats to wild bird populations are further concerns. How worried should Delaware birders be? Come and hear the latest from scientific and public health studies about the impact of bird flu on wild birds, the likelihood of spread among humans and other mammals, and the critical role of ecosystem health in mitigating harm.
 Joe is a public health physician, a birder for over 40 years, and a frequent volunteer at the Ashland Hawk Watch. Joe earned his medical degree at Washington University in St Louis and completed his residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of Pittsburgh. There he obtained a master’s in public health in Chronic Disease Epidemiology and conducted NIH-funded research on delirium in older patients. He currently serves as the Executive Director for the Office of Analytics and Performance Integration in the Office of Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Joe will be retiring next year and has graciously volunteered to be the next President of DOS starting in July 2024.
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First State National Historic Park with Declan O’Neil
September 24 @ 7:30 am – 11:00 am EDT
Connecticut Warbler by Declan O'Neil
Explore the exquisite Brandywine Valley tract of First State National Historical Park in search of some delightfully confusing fall warblers and sparrows. As the morning sun first hits the trees, we’ll take a slow stroll along the creekside trail to see which birds appear. In addition to the usual suspects, specialty targets seen in past seasons include Lincoln’s Sparrow and Connecticut Warbler.
The main trip will wrap up between 10 and 11, but feel free to pack a lunch and join Declan for some post-trip hawkwatching atop the hill.
Please note that this walk involves a small, but potentially muddy stream crossing, so dress appropriately.
Meet in the parking lot on Ramsey Road across from Ramsey’s Farm. There is overflow parking (if necessary) in the lot down the road on Brandywine Creek Road.
Contact Declan at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
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Red Knot Youth Birders
Sunday, October 15th 8:00-10:00am
Delaware Wild Lands’ Hangmans Reserve
The Hangman’s Impoundment supports a highly diverse freshwater ecosystem. It is well-vegetated with species such as wild rice and pickerel weed that support wildlife. The impoundment supports a variety of wildlife species including songbirds, Sandhill cranes, turkeys, mink, muskrats, and waterfowl. DWL is involved in a multi-institution research project for wood ducks, and there are several wood duck boxes that have been in place around this impoundment for years. DWL staff will join us on this trip to share all of the conservation projects that they have been working on! Meet at Delaware Wild Lands’ office. 315 Taylors Bridge Road, Townsend DE
Friday, November 17th , 7:00-8:30pm*
Rushton Woods Preserve- Owl Banding
*Note the evening meeting time!
It’s time for another fun evening with owls! Join the banding crew at Rushton Woods Preserve as they work to catch and band Northern Saw-whet Owls, to help researchers discover more about their amazing annual movements and unique nocturnal adaptations.
911 Delchester Road, Newtown Square PA 19073
Spaces are limited, so pre-registration is required!
Sunday, November 19th , 8:30-10:30am
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
This trip is all about waterfowl! Join us to explore the diversity of duck and geese species that move into the Mid-Atlantic region for the winter each year. We’ll be bringing scopes to make sure we get great looks, so don’t miss out!
2591 Whitehall Neck Road, Smyrna DE 19977
*Annual Duck Stamp or Daily Pass required
Saturday, December 16th 8:30-10:30am
Wilmington Christmas Bird Count
Join us for the 124th annual Christmas Bird Count! We will be counting all of the birds we can see and hear to help track continent-wide trends in bird diversity and abundance. The data collected is used by scientists working to protect bird habitats and populations. Meeting location TBD. Please RSVP to [email protected]
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Sign up at [email protected] to receive field trip schedules and other updates for the fall.
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Fair Hill Field Trip Report
Equestrians at Fair Hill by Ian Stewart.
Read the full report here.
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Killens Pond Trip Report
Blue Grosbeak by Mike Moore.
Read the full report here.
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Bombay Hook NWR - July 29, 2023
Field Trip Report
Curlew Sandpiper by David Brown
Read the full report here.
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Access Pass Reminder
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.
The cost to renew your annual pass is $32.50 for Delaware vehicles and $65.00 for out-of-state vehicles. Click here to get your pass!
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Wilmington Falcon Watch
Parents Whitman and Bridget successfully fledged Solo last month! Thank you to everyone who viewed the Falcon cams this year!
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Delaware Master Naturalist
Program Partnership
The DOS is now partnering with the Delaware Nature Society and the University of Delaware’s Master Naturalist Program. This is a 1-year course to increase volunteer ecological activism. DOS has agreed to become a Local Organizing Partner (LOP) to recruit volunteers and developing service opportunities. The program involves 60-hours of class work including on-line lectures, hands-on learning, and field trips. Program participants are required to conduct 80 hours of volunteer work per year to maintain their Master Naturalist certification. Volunteer hours may include participation on the Hawk Watch, Christmas Counts, monitoring Bluebird trails, censusing, and working on council.
For further information on the program, click here.
Classes will restart January 2024. The cost to apply for the program is $250. Two yearly scholarships are now established through the Bill Stewart Endowment funds. Contact Andy Ednie, chair of the Citizen Science committee for more information.
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HAWK WATCHING 2023
Ashland Nature Center and Cape Henlopen Hawk Watches need volunteers!
You are invited to help with raptor counts and provide our in-kind matching contribution to earn continued funding for next year. Please consider spending an hour or the day (9-4) at the hawk watch. No registration is required. Show up at either hawk watch and identify yourself as a volunteer to someone on the platform or hill.
Volunteers do not need to be experts in raptor identification. All are welcome. The counts start Thursday September 1 and continue daily through November 30. Extra help is especially needed on Sundays and Mondays.
Please welcome back David Brown and Jen Ottinger as our professional counters for another successful year!
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The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia is presenting their part gallery and part studio exhibit, Illuminating Birds.
"Illuminating Birds celebrates the enduring appeal of drawing and writing about birds. Requiring prolonged observation and deep curiosity, drawing — in its ability to distill — contributes to creative insights and scientific understanding.
Experience avian artworks by Alexander Wilson, Elizabeth and John Gould, John James Audubon, Edward Lear and Louis Agassiz Fuertes from the Academy’s Library and Archives, all documenting the beginnings of the scientific study of birds — and the complex cultural and historical aspects that they carry. Examine colorful, early birding field guides and hand-painted magic lantern slides that demonstrate the role illustration played in popularizing birding and advancing the conservation movement."
All exhibits are included with the purchase of a general admission ticket.
More details here.
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- Your backyard bird feeding specialist -
"Feed the Families of Birds That Call Your Yard Home."
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
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What's this bird?
Check your answer here. Photo by Katie Bird.
We'd love more quiz photos! Send yours to [email protected]
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DOS Backyard Birding Challenge
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Andrew Dunn continues his lead, gaining 14 species since the last Flyer. Migration is heating up again, who knows what rarities might fly over your house?!
Compete by submitting eBird checklists from your own yard.
Learn more here.
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*Rankings as of September 6, 2023.
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Immature Cedar Waxwing by Shannon Modla. Swamp Sparrow by Mike Moore.
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Want to see your photos in the Flyer? Send them to [email protected]!
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DOS Flyer Archive
Click here to read digital copies of past Flyers.
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