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Next meeting: February 21st
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Pileated Woodpecker by Mike Moore.
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Letter from the President
 I usually think of November as rarity month, but this year that was delayed until December and January which have featured quite a parade of rarities including: Slaty-backed Gull (first state record), Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Lark Sparrow, Pacific Loon, many storm blown Dovekies, TWO LeConte’s Sparrows, TWO Snowy Owls, and a Barnacle Goose. There are still many rarities to be discovered so now is a great time to get out birding.
Everyone should have received their 2023 issue of the Delaware Ornithologist by now. This great benefit of DOS membership is supported by you, our members. It would not exist without articles written by our members. We are always looking for authors and I encourage you to think about whether you have something to contribute. Articles can be any length about any subject relevant to Delaware birds. Got something interesting to share? Think about publishing an article in the 2024 Delaware Ornithologist.
I also want to encourage you to take advantage of DOS monthly meetings. We have some great talks coming up and there is ample time to socialize with and meet other birders before the talk begins. The February talk will be on Zoom only and will feature Scott Harris talking about his quest to see all North American Raptors in one year. The next two talks are in-person only. In March, we will hear from Blake Goll about the banding program, including Saw Whet Owl banding, at Rushton Woods. Then, in April, we feature the spectacular photography of our own Hank Davis and his quest to photograph every species of hummingbird. I would love to see you there!
Lastly, I want to thank Katie Bird for doing such a great job filling in for me last month.
~Michael Moore, DOS President
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February Meeting:
“Raptor Quest, Chasing America’s Raptors” by Scott Harris
February 21 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm EST
RaptorQuest, Chasing’s America’s Raptors is about my journey to find all 53 of the Raptors (hawks, falcons and owls) that call the Lower 48 states home. I found all 53, along with a Bat Falcon, a Steller’s Sea Eagle and an Eurasian Eagle Owl. It is filled with stories about each bird and dozens of color photographs.
I took 17 months and more than 100,000 miles of travel across 34 states. In my presentation, I share my adventures, misadventures, successes and failures. From -36 degree days, to one over 100, to getting stuck in the mud, to barely missing a bird, to just arriving in time. It’s about the Raptors, of course, but it’s also about the people I met, the things I learned and why I’m already in the middle of my next big birding adventure.
Scott Harris and his wife Randi retired to South Carolina in March of 2020.  It was also when he first started birding – a hobby he never imagined himself participating in, but now can’t imagine living without. They sold their long-time home and business, Mustang Marketing, a marketing/branding company they had owned for 35 years. They are blessed that both their children and their grandson are also in South Carolina. His book, RaptorQuest: Chasing America’s Raptors, is the story of his year-long adventure tracking down every species of Raptor in the Lower 48 states.
The meeting is held online via Zoom software.
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Raptors in Winter with Jim White (DOS Members Only)
February 11, 2024 @ 8:00 am – 4:00 pm EST
Red-shouldered Hawk by Carolyn Holland.
Join us for a full day quest for raptors that may be found in our area during the winter months. We will visit several areas in Delaware and while we will include owls in our search, no tape recordings will be used to call them in. Bring snacks, lunch etc. There is typically a stop around lunchtime at Wawa/Royal Farms/etc. to refuel. Be sure to dress appropriately for extended periods of time in the mid-winter elements!
DOS members only: This trip will be limited to 16 participants. You must fill out and submit the registration form by clicking here. Each form registers one participant so each participant must fill out a form. If the trip is full, the form will not be displayed.
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
Meet in the parking lot at Ashland Nature Center, Hockessin, DE.
Auburn Valley State Park with Declan O’Neil
February 17 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am EST
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Declan O'Neil.
Join us for a morning walk at Auburn Valley. This scenic park provides great habitat for many overwintering species, from woodpeckers to raptors to sparrows. Bring comfortable hiking shoes and a sense of adventure.
Contact Declan at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
Meet at the Yorklyn Bridge Trail Parking Lot by the pavilion.
Late Afternoon Bird Walks at the DuPont Environmental Education Center/Russell W. Peterson Refuge
with Joe Francis
February 18 @ 4:00 pm – 5:41 pm EST
Fox Sparrow by Mike Moore.
End the week on a positive note with a leisurely walk at the Russell W. Peterson Refuge. These walks will begin roughly 2 hours before sunset, allowing opportunity to check out roosting waterfowl, shorebirds, rails, wrens and blackbirds as well as early spring migrants. Crepuscular sightings of muskrat, beaver and river otter are possible. We will walk about two miles, mostly on boardwalk. Beginners are welcome, so bring a friend who is new to birding. Thanks to regular pedestrian traffic and security patrols from the Wilmington Riverfront, this has been a safe area even after dark.
Meet by the Russell Peterson statue in the parking area for the DuPont Environmental Education Center. Those interested in more information may contact Joe at [email protected].
Waterfowl on the Susquehanna Flats with Andy Ednie
February 25 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Redheads by Mike Moore.
Join Andy Ednie for an opportunity to observe hundreds of Tundra Swans & ducks while studying a diversity of species. We’ll look for Canvasbacks & Redheads, Greater & Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded & Common Mergansers, Buffleheads & Ruddy Ducks just to name a few! If you have a spotting scope, bring it along.
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
Meet at the Rodger’s Tavern Museum parking lot, 259 Broad Street, Perryville, MD.
Sea Watch I with Chris Bennett & Anthony Gonzon
March 17 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Long-tailed Duck by Mike Moore.
Join Anthony Gonzon and Chris Bennett for 3 brisk birding adventures at the Indian River Inlet this winter!
To be enjoyed at the Southside Day Use Area (parking lot on the south side of Indian River Inlet along the ocean). Come prepared for cold conditions and the seashore wind and bring your scope if you have one.
Participants should monitor the DOS website and social media for last minute changes due to weather or other conditions.
Contact Carolyn at [email protected] if you have any questions about this trip.
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Red Knot Youth Birders
Sunday, February 18th, 8:30-10:30am
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
On this field trip, we will explore all that this fascinating urban wildlife refuge has to offer, which is also the largest remaining tidal freshwater marsh in Pennsylvania! Raptors, waterfowl, wading birds, and other water birds are all possibilities. We will bring scopes and binoculars to borrow. There are no entrance fees for this refuge.
Meet at the Visitor Center parking lot- 8601 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia PA 19153
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Sign up at [email protected] to receive field trip schedules and other updates for the fall.
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Seeking volunteers to help with advertising!
The youth birding committee is looking for individuals to help with distributing the Red Knots' new rack card. We are especially in need of people who would be able to drop off a pack of cards at their local libraries in any county. If you have suggestions for other family-friendly locations that allow outside advertising materials, we would love to hear those suggestions as well. Contact Jessica at [email protected] if you would like to help out!
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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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Red-headed Woodpecker by Mike Moore.
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Confused by 4 Letter Bird Codes?
Have you seen bird reports with AMAV, DUNL and SNGO and wondered what those mean? These are standard 4 letter codes developed by the USGS so banders could quickly record species names on band record sheets, but they are widely used by birders as shorthand for bird names.
While they are convenient and quick, they are also easy to misuse. Many are the first two letters of the bird’s two names (AMAV for AMerican AVocet for example). However, what do you do in the case of Barnacle Goose and Barrow’s Goldeneye? In this case BAGO is used for the Goldeneye, but the Goose gets BRNG.
Because of cases like these, you can’t just guess at these abbreviations. If you want to use one or do not recognize one, they are easy to look up. You can find them on the web here or even easier there are is an app called ABA/AOU Bird Codes that you can put on your phone. (This app costs $0.99 but it is more up to date unlike the free apps that are available.) They are also listed in the Sibley app if you have that. Beware these codes also change constantly as bird names are revised. The website has the most current information. However, if you use these resources, you will never be confused by one of these codes or misuse them again! |
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Milford Neck Birders, happy after seeing an Ash-throated Flycatcher on the CBC. Left to right: Kris Benarcik, Scott Northey, Andy Ednie, and Melissa Lafferty (photo by Melissa).
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Lazy Birder's Trip Report
Read the full January 27th report from Joe Francis here.
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- Your backyard bird feeding specialist -
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 Carolyn Holland.
We'd love more quiz photos! Send yours to [email protected]
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DOS Backyard Birding Challenge
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2023 Backyard Champion Andrew Dunn is starting out 2024 with a strong 19 species lead, including a yard Ross's Goose. What a bird! Who will bring him down this year?
Compete by submitting eBird checklists from your own yard.
Learn more here.
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*Rankings as of Jan 30, 2024.
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Bird Valentines by Shannon Modla. See even more here! Share with your friends!
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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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