• Ted Van Velsen 1972-1973
• Unknown 1973-1974
• Duncan MacDonald 1974-1975
• Tom Moyer 1975-1977
• Unknown 1977-1978
• Nanine Rhinelander 1979-1980
• Nicholas Short 1981-1983
• Eva Sunell 1983-1984
• Eileen Landry and Martha Chestem 1985-1986
• Martha Chestem, Jane Geuder, and Brenda Bell 1986
• Martha Chestem and Jane Geuder 1986-1993
• Jane Geuder, Kathleen Klimkiewicz, and Greg Van Nostrand 1993-1994
• Jane Geuder 1994-2019
• Sue Muller 2019-2020
• Mary Lou Clark 2020-present

• Bob Herndon – 1972-1974
• Erwin Klaas – 1974-1975
• Tom Moyer – 1975-1976
• Cathy & Leroy Williamson – 1976-1977
• Cathy Williamscon – 1977-1978
• Linda McDaniel – 1978-1979
• Delos (Chuck) Dupree – 1979-1980
• Eva Sunell – 1980-1981
• Roy Trudel – 1981-1982
• Eva Sunell – 1982-1982
• Joe Lutz – 1983
• Linda Harsy – 1983-1984
• None — Jan-Jun 1985
• Chris Ludwig – 1985-1986
• Roy Trudel, Jim Orgain, Joe VanAuker – 1986-1987
• Michele Wright – 1987-1990
• Bonnie Ott – 1990-2009
• Bonnie Ott and Joe Hanfman – 2009-2013
• Joe Hanfman and Bonnie Ott – 2013-2016
• Joe Hanfman – 2016-present

Here is a web page listing all Previous Field Trips.

The first newsletter (with a hand-drawn logo and drafted on a manual typewriter) was sent to members in December 1972

Regular masthead for the September 1973 issue.

Another change of masthead beginning with the Sep-Oct 1976 issue.

The masthead beginning with the Sep-Oct, 1982 issue is also used for the official club stationery. Pica AND Elite font in the Nov-Dec 1985 issue. (The club bought an electric typewriter.)

Entering the computer age with a word processor starting with the Sep-Oct 1988 issue.

Flexible layout thru Microsoft Publisher in Sep-Oct 1995 opens possibilities.

Optional delivery by email starting with the Nov-Dec 2011 issue.

Color printing of the hard copy began with the Sep-Oct 2012 issue.

Here is a list of the newsletter editors:

• Martha Chestem – Dec 1972 – Apr 1975
• Nanine Rhinelander and Joanne Solem – May 1975-Jun 1979
• Joanne Solem – 1979-June 1992
• Susan Setterberg – Sept 1972-Apr 1995
• Paula & Darius Ecker – May 1995-May 1997
• Paula Ecker – Sep 1997-Dec 2002
• Dave Holyoke – Jan 2003-Dec 2005
• (Sue Probst was graphic artist)
• Sue Probst – Jan 2006-June 2006
• Amanda Witt – Sep 2006-June 2015
• Howard Patterson – Sep 2015-May 2022
• Megan Bolcar – Sep 2022-present

During the HCBC’s first few years when a rare bird was sighted in the county, only those few people the birder contacted were aware of it. A better system was needed. By June 1976, the HCBC board authorized a Rare Bird Alert (RBA). It would be a telephone tree in which one individual called several people who, in turn, called others. David Holmes volunteered to be the initial contact. The annual membership questionnaire offered the option of adding one’s name to the list. Within a year the system was in place.

The observer of a rarity contacted David, providing a description of the bird, its location, and any other pertinent details. When David had determined the likely validity of the sighting and whether it was still visible, he called Martha Chestem, Eileen Clegg, and Joanne Solem. They then telephoned the other individuals on the list. Since only a small number of people had answering machines and cell phones did not exist, sometimes it was necessary to make multiple calls before reaching the interested birder.

By 1984, the number of people on the RBA list had become so large that it could no longer be handled by a few individuals. Bea Newkirk stepped forward to take responsibility for the “tree.” Each year, after the questionnaires were checked, she created a new list. Anyone wishing to activate the RBA called Bea, Marty, Eileen or Jo. By 1986, Bea had recruited 15 people to call the 70+ on the list.

A year later Bea had less time available; in June 1997, she asked to either be replaced or have a co-coordinator. Bob Solem suggested the club gradually move to email alerts instead of telephones and volunteered to set it up. Bea resigned as telephone coordinator in October 1999 and various people tried to fill in.

A discussion by the board in September 2001 clarified that the questionnaire would indicate that email contact was preferred and require that people choose email or phone, not both. As desired, during this decade, an increasing number of people opted for email alerts. By early 2009, Bob and Jo Solem requested a backup person in case they were unavailable when a rarity was sighted. Jeff Culler volunteered to be the alternate.

Multiple technologies were overtaking the RBA. Its limitations were exposed with the sighting of a Harris’s Sparrow on private property at a feeder outside an office window by a non-club member on March 19, 2009. The combination of eBird, MDOsprey, cell phones, and email created the perfect storm. The sighting was posted to eBird, which was being increasingly used by the expanding “listing” community. Through an eBird Alert, birders statewide were automatically notified of the rarity; questions were posted quickly on the MDOsprey listserv by people wanting to know the particulars of how to access the site. It took time to contact the observer who consulted the manager of the building in the business park to establish permission for access. Initially, there were some hard feelings until it was all sorted out. Fortunately, the bird stayed until early May so everyone interested was able to see it.

The HCBC’s RBA continues solely by email sent out by Webmaster Bob Solem. It no longer is the primary means of communication of rarities as eBird and various types of social media provide quicker contact.

The current instant sharing of sightings is a far cry from the weekly taped “Voice of the Naturalist” summaries of Maryland/Virginia/DC sightings provided by the Audubon Naturalist Society, Chevy Chase, MD from the early 80s until 2019. Birders could call the number 24 hours a day but it was only updated one a week. The system was always overloaded on Tuesday when the new tape was posted.

Mid-winter Count – This count was initiated in 1986, the first in Maryland. It was undertaken at the suggestion of Maryland Ornithological Society’s Long Range Planning Committee, Joanne Solem chair. It was a three-year experiment hoping to shed light on the question of whether the annual Christmas Bird Counts, conducted from mid-December to early January, truly reflected wintering species in Maryland. Howard County results would be compared with the Triadelphia Christmas Count. Traditionally, that Christmas Count is held on the first Saturday of the count period. This can place it as early as December 16. Three-years proved to be merely an introduction with no clear answers, so the count was extended to five years. By the end of that period, Mid-winter Count had become an annual event and continues to the present. Howard County’s count has been held as early as late January to as late as mid-February, but has settled on the first Saturday in February. Comparisons between the Triadelphia Count and the Howard County Mid-winter Count generally show a difference in waterfowl variety and numbers (particularly if much of the open water is ice-covered by early February). There is often a noticeable drop by February in the half-hardy species such as Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, and Brown Thrasher, as well as in the numbers of any lingering migratory warblers. Boreal species fluctuate, as is to be expected.

May Count – (This count coincides with North American Migratory Bird Day established in 1993.) May Count was established by MOS 25 years before the HCBC’s first year of participation in 1973. By 1975, Howard County had its own count compiler, Erwin Klaas. The count was held on the first Saturday in May as the second weekend of May was designated for the MOS’s annual convention. In 1988, May Count was moved to the second Saturday in May to better reflect the realities of migration in all parts of the state. MOS conventions no longer were tied to a single weekend.

Fall Count – Originally called Autumn Count, this count was first held in Howard County in 1994. Because migration in the fall is more extended than in the spring, choosing a date was a matter of some discussion. The third weekend of September was finally settled on. Howard County has always conducted this count on Saturday, but some Maryland counties have chosen the Sunday of that weekend to avoid a hunting day. This count has the distinction of having had the same co-compilers, Mike McClure and Chuck Stirrat, for its entire existence. Chuck also compiles the statewide results that appear in Maryland Birdlife.

Triadelphia Christmas Count – Because no more than one-third of the county is included in this count, it has always occupied a somewhat awkward position among Howard County counts. The center of the circle is on Triadelphia Reservoir which is part of the western boundary of the county. On the plus side, the choice of that center point provided much excellent habitat; on the negative side, it meant encompassing parts of three counties so no single MOS chapter felt a strong responsibility for it. Over its more than seven decades, this count has turned up numerous unusual species. Most recently, in 2017, it produced two King Eiders adding a new species to the Howard County bird list. David Holmes, a HCBC member, has been the compiler since 2009.

Mid-winter Count Coordinators

David Holmes – 1986
D. Holmes and Joanne Solem – 1987 – 1996
J. Solem – 1997 – 1999
J. Solem and Mary-Jo Betts – 2000 – 2004
J. Solem and Emmalyn Holdridge 2005
J. Solem and Joseph Byrnes – 2006 – 2010
Joe Hanfman and J. Byrnes – 2011 – 2014
J. Hanfman – 2015 – present

May Count Coordinators

State coordinators only – 1972 and 1973
Erwin Klaas – 1975
Venkataramap “Kris” Krishnamoorthy  and Tom Moyer – 1976
Venkataramap “Kris” Krishnamoorthy  and Kathy Williamson –  1977 and 1978
Linda McDaniel and John Clegg – 1979
Delos “Chuck” Dupree – 1980
Paul Zucker – 1981 – 1990
Mike McClure – 1991
P. Zucker 1992 – 2004
Jeffrey Friedhoffer and Emmalyn Holdridge – 2005
Kevin Heffernan – 2006 – 2019
Pandemic – run by MOS with no county coordinators in 2020
Amy Anderson and Gregg Petersen – 2021
Gregg Petersen – 2022

Fall Count Coordinators

Mike McClure and Chuck Stirrat – 1994 – present

Tally rallies (a.k.a. count tallies) have been a hallmark of seasonal counts from the Howard County Bird Club’s (HCBC) earliest days. Tallies are a gathering of count participants the evening of the count day. Birders turn in their tally sheets, share a meal, and the count compiler leads an oral tabulation of the species seen. After going through the printed list of species, each area leader is asked if there are additions. This part of the tally with its potential for special birds is the highlight of the tally—or so it used to be. . . .

Tally Rallies Then–

Long before the days of cell phones and website technology, Christmas Bird Count compilers needed to obtain the paper forms completed by each participant or party. Expecting individuals to mail the results to a coordinator was risky; the alternative of copying a phoned-in list was not practical for more than a few people. Collecting as many field sheets as possible at the end of the count day was the most feasible alternative. After dropping the sheet at the designated location, birders tended to hang around to chat and compare notes. Soon these gatherings began to include food, along with an oral tally of species. Tallies rallies served multiple purposes. In the cold, short days of winter, it was a convivial way of connecting with friends, perhaps not seen since the last count. It enabled people to find out what rarities had been spotted, as well as to see whether any species on one’s tally sheet might be the only one on the count. It was an opportunity to meet birders who may have been only a name previously. If you happened to be a new birder or new to the area, it was a chance to hear about new birding locales. It sometimes offered an opportunity to listen to the most experienced counters debate the validity of a record, a way to pick up valuable identification tips. As exhausted as you might be, you knew that skipping the tally meant potentially missing information about a good bird—as well as the camaraderie of an enjoyable evening. The fortunate birders who had spotted rarities were tight-lipped. Such species were not revealed until the end of the regular count when “birds not on the list” were requested, in turn, from each area leader. Careful write-ups were expected to accompany such sightings. If the bird was not a flyover, usually some birders made plans to try to find it the following day.

And Now

Tally rallies no longer hold quite the position of anticipation and enjoyment they once did. Change began in the 1990s with the exploding number of cell phones and the use of the internet. It became increasingly easy for any birder finding a rarity to immediately contact his friends or fellow counters. Even if phone calls or text messages were not exchanged, as birders began posting each location list on eBird, there were few surprises at the tally. Birds in specialized habitats or on private property might not be posted, but that tends to be the exception. Counts during the warmer months featured more daylight hours so there were some birders who were not ready to stop counting just to reach a tally site and meal by a certain time. It was also a challenge to find a location for the tally that did not involve a 30 minute one-way drive for some counters—a significant amount of time if one has been up since well before dawn. Because field sheets can be forwarded electronically or pulled from postings on the web, there is less need to deliver a paper copy. For portions of some counts, an area compiler arranges to meets counters at a designated site, collects the sheets, and then may be the only individual of that group who goes on to the tally. Birders still share a meal and an oral tally is held, but results from large chunks of the county may be missing and there are few surprise species.

Although in-person tallies have not been possible during the pandemic, Zoom meetings have, in some instances, become a substitute, although the number of people participating tends to be low. Birders can attend the tally from the privacy and comfort of their home.

May Count

But those changes were all in the future when Nanine and Fred Rhinelander hosted a tally for the 1975 May Count. It was the first countywide count that had a Howard County compiler, and this was the county’s initial tally rally. The Rhinelanders were the hosts through 1980. On short notice, Mike and Grazina McClure stepped in for 1981. By 1982, Jan and Don Randle volunteered and continued to host this tally through 2006, a remarkable run. Jan remembers Chan Robbins ringing her doorbell at 6:00 a.m. to hand her ice cream for the evening’s tally meal, though he had been told many times he was a guest. In 2007, June Tveekrem stepped forward for six years. She was followed by a combination of Kathie and Ralph Lillie and Linda and Al Hunt, who alternated from 2013 to 2019 as their schedules allowed.

Every setup was different, but birders are flexible and appreciative of whatever is available. Parking, seating, and buffet arrangements were dealt with in sometimes novel ways. Some attending birders always managed to check the birdlife in the vicinity of the tally site, frequently adding birds or species to the day’s list.

Mid-winter Count

Although early May’s weather can be highly variable, unless it was raining, May Count tallies often overflowed outdoors to decks and picnic tables, occasionally with tables and chairs on a screened porch. Mid-winter Count tallies were quite different. Cold temperatures, wind, and sometimes snow, as well as the short days, brought people inside to share the light, warmth, and camaraderie. Jane Farrell Coskren hosted the first Mid-winter Count tally in 1986. Since she preferred to spend the day birding rather than preparing to host a tally, the club immediately began looking for a different location for the 1987 count. Fortunately, Zelda and Hal Simon volunteered. Although their duplex was modest in size (and a grand piano occupied much of the living room), they utilized all available space efficiently. Birders entered through the garage where they hung their heavy jackets and shed their boots before entering the warm kitchen. Zelda and Hal hosted this tally through 1995, except for 1991 when weather forced a one-week postponement of the count. The Simons were unavailable on the new date so Bonnie Ott stepped forward opening her home. In 1996, Martha and Don Waugh became the count’s hosts and continued through 2005. At that point, Jeff and Karen Culler graciously offered to host these cold-weather tallies. With the exception of 2010, when the count was cancelled after back-to-back major snowstorms, counters gathered at the Cullers’ through February 1, 2020, just as rumblings of a worldwide pandemic were being heard. Little did those assembled that evening know it would be the last gathering of that kind for Howard birders for a number of years. Zoom Mid-winter Count tallies have served as a necessary, albeit pale, substitute since.

Autumn Count/Fall Count

Autumn Count (now known as Fall Count) tallies have met at four locations. Martha and Don Waugh hosted 1994 – 2013. For any tally rally, most of the planning and arrangements for the evening are completed prior to the event. Birders quickly learn the routine and the schedule. One year, not long before the count, the Waughs discovered they had a conflict that evening. With a gesture that was extremely generous, but not completely surprising, Martha simply contacted a birding neighbor, Michelle Stewart, and asked her to come in and arrange the meal–and the tally went on. Yes, the kitchen was cleaned prior to everyone leaving. (Michelle details the evening in Members’ Memories.) When the Waughs could no longer host the tallies, Eileen Clegg stepped in for the 2014 year; June Tveekrem came to the rescue 2015 – 2017; and, after June moved to Minnesota, Mary Lou Clark offered her home 2018-2019. No tally was held in 2020 or 2021 during the pandemic.

Chandler S. Robbins

An unusual advantage of many Howard County tallies was the chance to meet and chat with Chandler Robbins. Many of the count participants knew him only as the author of the Birds of North America field guide (it was not unusual for people to bring their guides to a tally for him to autograph). Fewer attendees appreciated his worldwide reputation in the ornithological world or realized he was an exceptional field birder, blessed with keen eyesight and legendary hearing. Decades before the HCBC was founded, Chan had consistently covered a large May Count territory in the southern part of the county. Although he lived in adjoining Prince George’s County, he assisted in Howard County because it still had much attractive habitat and few active birders to conduct counts. When the Rhinelanders began hosting May Count tallies, all participants were invited; everyone was delighted when Chan showed up. Likewise, when Howard County inaugurated a Mid-winter Count and a Fall Count, he participated as often as his schedule allowed. After the mid-1970s, he no longer needed to cover the large area he once had undertaken; instead, a hike along the Middle Patuxent River from MD 108 to MD 32 became a substantial segment of his territory. One of the May Counts was memorable for its prolonged, drenching rain. Chan  appeared at the tally with the comment that it was one of the worst count days he had ever experienced, “For 20 minutes this morning, I did not see or hear a single bird!” Despite his vast experience and knowledge of the distribution of Maryland birds, he rarely made any comments during the tally and went out of his way to gently lead the enthusiast who claimed an unlikely rarity to a more reasonable identification. A quiet, upward-inflected “Oh” was a signal to recheck one’s identification. During the May 13, 2000 tally, however, when the compiler reached rails, Chan did remark that he had seen something that day that he had never seen before. That got everyone’s attention. A Virginia Rail, perched in a shrub on the riverbank, was new, not only to Chan, but to the rest of us as well. At one tally, Common Nighthawk was called and soon a rough number was announced. Chan’s quiet comment to that total was, “as yet,” since the day was not over and all field sheets were not in. Tim Ray tells the story of accompanying Chan along the Middle Patuxent River on the May 11, 2002 count during the initial year of the Second Maryland/DC Breeding Bird Atlas. Tim was responsible for the atlas blocks they were walking through, so he was thrilled to be able to accompany Chan and to be the trip recorder. Tim, an experienced birder, was mesmerized as Chan gestured in varying directions while calling out the birds he was seeing and hearing as they hiked along the river. It had rained heavily the day before the count, and most of the many tributaries that they needed to cross were running between steep, muddy banks which usually meant a significant detour before finding a spot to cross. At one tributary, Tim relates, Chan slipped on a rock while crossing and fell forward on his knees banging one. He chuckled briefly, then quickly scrambled to his feet, checked his binoculars and himself to make sure nothing was broken, and almost immediately began calling out bird species again. Is it any wonder his favorite binoculars were covered with dents and scratches?

Over the years the features and usage grew, and it became more and more of a burden for Darius to continue to use his personal computer and second telephone line for this purpose. In 2000, the HCBC Board authorized a separate website using a web hosting provider, and Bob Solem took over the job of webmaster. In September, the site went live as howardbirds.org. Over the years, features were added that made it a more valuable reference tool. In 2019, the HCBC Board wanted to move the website to a new control management system (like WordPress) that was more flexible and secure; they authorized Bob to do the upgrade. As part of the upgrade, all of the content was moved to a new URL (howardbirds.website), and the previous one was retained but used only to redirect users to the new one.

Facebook Managers

• Amanda Witt May 2010 – June 2015.
• Anthony VanSchoor July 2015 – September 2020.
• Kristin Trouton October 2020 – May 2022.
• Kelsey Wellons June 2022 – present.

Naming the site was an easy decision. For more than 60 years Chandler Robbins was both preeminent in Howard County bird research and a mentor to the birding community. For more complete information, see Chandler S. Robbins

Dedication of the Chandler S. Robbins Skywatch took place at 9:00 a.m. on Earth Day, April 21, 2018. Present were members of Chan’s family, representatives of the Howard County Conservancy, and Howard County Bird Club members. In the spirit of the day, the ceremony was preceded by a bird walk, while a list of birds seen over the site during the dedication was also compiled.

Chan’s son George with his wife Andrea and daughter Michelle, and Chan’s daughter Jane attended the ceremony. See a video of the dedication ceremony by Sherry Tomlinson.

In 1974, Nanine and Fred Rhinelander offered to host a picnic in June as an alternative to the regular June meeting. Members were encouraged to bring some of their favorite nature slides to share. From this point on, a formal June meeting was dropped. In 1975 and 1976, the Jacksons hosted a June picnic on a Saturday afternoon. It provided an opportunity to hike, bird, and photograph along the river or stay in the yard and chat with friends. There was no program.

In 1977, the February meeting was designated as a potluck. It was held at the Rhinelanders with members’ slides after the meal. This idea proved so popular that, by 1980, attendance was capped at “the first 60 who called.” A potential problem was that, in case of a major snowstorm, the Rhinelanders’ lane became impassible and there was no space to park. (Parking on Folly Quarter Road was not an option.) In 1982 and 1983, storms did force a change of plans.

As part of the 10th anniversary celebration, the Rhinelanders volunteered to host an “adults only” gathering on Saturday, February 20, 1982. The extra time afforded by a weekend night allowed for an extended program after the potluck meal. Each photographer could present a 10-minute slide show. Members were also invited to display and/or make presentations about their nature-related arts and crafts. Eva Sunell was the coordinator. Unfortunately, a major snowstorm arrived a few days before the potluck. On short notice, Mike and Grazina McClure rescued the evening by offering their home as an alternative site. Attendees were advised of the change of plans—and the show went on. In 1983, the potluck again was scheduled at the Rhinelanders. And, again, snow disrupted the plan forcing the February event this time to be postponed into late March. After two dislocations, an effort was made to find a new venue. In 1984, the potluck was moved to the Florence Bain Senior Center in Columbia on a mid to late March date in an attempt to avoid winter weather-related problems. It was held there through 1997, although occasional scheduling conflicts sometimes required accepting a February date.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebration, a breakfast picnic was held on May 23, 1993 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab pavilion off Sanner Road. It was preceded by a walk on Lab property along the Middle Patuxent River.

For the 25th anniversary celebration, an all-day picnic-brunch was scheduled on June 27, 1998, once again, at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Tables were reserved in an area along the river. The bird walk began near the ballfield and ended at the picnic tables. The late morning meal was coordinated by Mary-Jo Betts.

The 25th anniversary potluck had been held on February 28, 1998 at the Owen Brown Community Center. It was there annually through 2011. By that time, the HCBC had moved to the Robinson Nature Center and arranged for use of the large meeting room. The potluck continued at that site until the pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020. Kathie Lillie had announced that it was to be her last year as coordinator. Unfortunately, cancellation meant that loyal attendees did not have an opportunity to give her a rousing thank you for her (and her husband, Ralph’s) years of service. With the continuation of the pandemic, no in-person potluck was scheduled for 2021. Coordinator Sherry Tomlinson salvaged the program portion of the evening by arranging for photographers to present their images in a Zoom gathering on Saturday, June 26.

One of the secrets to the long-standing success of this event has been the talent, dedication , and efficiency of the coordinator (or co-coordinators). The individual(s) handles the numerous details that go into making a successful social gathering seem effortless. The HCBC has been fortunate to have had a succession of highly capable members oversee this annual event. From the initial scheduling to directing the volunteer cleanup crew at the end of the evening, a coordinator almost always went above and beyond what was anticipated or expected. The names of all are listed below. Each put a unique and valuable stamp on the event.

• Pat and Dudley Jackson 1973 (picnic as part of a field trip).
• Nanine and Fred Rhinelander 1974.
• Jacksons 1975 and 1976.
• Rhinelanders 1977 – 1981.
• Eva Sunell 1982.
• Rhinelander 1983.
• Monika Botsai 1984.
• Botsai and Grazina McClure 1985 – 1991.
• Botsai 1992.
• McClure and M. Botsai 1993 – 1995.
• Helen Zeichner 1996.
• Mary-Jo Betts 1997 – 2004.
• Sue Probst 2005 – 2010.
• Kathie Lillie 2011 – 2020.
• Sherry Tomlinson 2021.

Potluck Coordinator Sherry Tomlinson scheduled a casual meet and greet at the Chandler Robbins’ Skywatch at Mount Pleasant. Members were invited to drop in between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with or without a lunch. The event was intended to be an opportunity for members, both old and new, to get together after more than two years of pandemic restrictions and Zoom meetings. Fortunately, the weather cooperated with sunshine, moderate temperatures, and a lovely breeze.

When Sherry was called away by a family emergency, people rose to the occasion. Chuck Stirrat arrived early, wiped down the tables and benches, set up a scope facing north, and put out a sign-in sheet. Clayton Koonce, Gregg Petersen, and Jo Solem took photos. Between periods of scanning the sky and chatting with fellow birders, John Harris pulled weeds helping to keep the mulched base looking good. Twenty-three people dropped in along with a few hikers who stopped to chat. We even welcomed Gregg’s mother visiting from the Midwest. Of course the birds were tallied. Ben Costello kept the list which totaled 24 species including a Cooper’s Hawk, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Prairie Warbler. (The bird list is at the end, following the pictures.)

Meet and Greet Bird List
June 4, 2022
Recorder: Ben Costello

3 Mourning Dove
2 Black Vulture
24 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper’s Hawk
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Eastern Kingbird
1 Red-eyed Vireo
5 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
2 Crow sp.
1 Tufted Titmouse
3 Tree Swallow
1 Carolina Wren
2 Northern Mockingbird
2 Eastern Bluebird
1 Song Sparrow
1 House Finch
1 Yellow-breasted Chat
2 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Prairie Warbler
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting3 Mourning Dove
2 Black Vulture
24 Turkey Vulture
1 Cooper’s Hawk
1 Red-shouldered Hawk
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
2 Eastern Kingbird
1 Red-eyed Vireo
5 American Crow
1 Fish Crow
2 Crow sp.
1 Tufted Titmouse
3 Tree Swallow
1 Carolina Wren
2 Northern Mockingbird
2 Eastern Bluebird
1 Song Sparrow
1 House Finch
1 Yellow-breasted Chat
2 Red-winged Blackbird
2 Prairie Warbler
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Indigo Bunting