NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2009

www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org/cgas
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Bring binoculars for all field trips/lawnchair birding, & chairs for lawnchair birding!
For all trips: bring snacks, water, bug repellent, sun and bug protection. Long-sleeved shirts & long leg pants recommended!
N0V 4th (WEDNESDAY) LAWNCHAIR BIRDING @ CHAMPNEY ISLAND observation
tower (Altamaha WMA). Meet@ 9AM at the public landing parking lot on the right of US 17 north of
the bridge over the S. Altamaha River. Follow the yellow sign to the parking lot. We will carpool from
the parking lot since Champney Road currently requires a 4-wheel drive. Since the parking lot is close
to the birding area, people can leave early or late as they choose. Contact John Galvani @ 912-638-3986.
NOV 11 (WEDNESDAY) LAWNCHAIR BIRDING @ HONEY CREEK, DOVER BLUFF. To
carpool, meet @ 9:15 AM @ Harvey's which is south on US 17 and west of Exit 29 (I-95) on the left. We will
return to Harvey's by noontime. People coming from south on I-95 should take Exit 26 and head east for ~4.5 miles
to Honey Creek. Follow the yellow sign near the site. There are no bathroom facilities or other conveniences near
the birding site. Contact person: John Galvani@ 912-638-3986.
NOV 14th (SATURDAY) FIELD TRIP TO ALTAMAHA WMA. Meet @ 7:30 AM at public
landing parking lot described above under Nov. 4. Follow the yellow sign to the parking lot. First we’ll check
Massman Rd early and then move on to the rice dikes on the east side of US 17. Expect a fair amount of walking.
Bring binoculars, scopes, water and bug spray. Bring a friend. Contact Mike Chapman @ mikelchap@bellsouth.net.
N0V 17th (TUESDAY) MEMBERSHIP MEETING @ 7PM @ DNR BLDG. LESLIE ROYCE
FROM DUVAL COUNTY AUDUBON WILL DISCUSS THE BIRD STEWARD PROGRAM AT
HUGUENOT PARK, FLORIDA. Included in the presentation will be the role the docent program plays
in protecting the nesting area of the royal terns and laughing gulls during their nesting season. Bring a
friend.
NOV 21ST (SATURDAY) FIELD TRIP TO TOWNS BLUFF PARK. Meet @ 7:30 AM to
carpool from Winn Dixie just west of Exit 36 on Highway 341. This park is part of Bullard Creek WMA. Two miles
of hiking trails are in the park. Great reviews were received from the Okefenokee Bird Club which visited the area
recently. Contact Lydia Thompson @ 912-634-1322.
NOV 28th (SATURDAY) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CGAS TABLE. Jekyll Island Tree
Lighting Ceremony. Hours are from 4-7:30 PM. Volunteers will be helping children make pine cone
bird feeders with peanut butter and bird seed. Bring personal handi-wipes. Any amount of time you can
give will be helpful. Contact: Lydia Thompson @ 912-634-1322.
DECEMBER 5TH (SATURDAY) FIELD TRIP TO ASHANTILLY HOUSE IN DARIEN @
8:30 AM. We will be helping the keepers of the house to identify the birds with GPS locations on their 30 acres
of diverse land and 40 acres of marsh. This will be one of several trips to the house for bird identification during
the 4 seasons of the year. For a bit of history: Ashantilly was originally built by Thomas Spalding in 1820. Spalding inherited
the property from his mother, Margery McIntosh. The house was named after an ancestral home in County Perth, Scotland. The
Haynes family moved to the house in 1918. The house was restored in 1939. Restoration was interrupted because of shortage of
building materials during WWII. After 1954, the Haynes Family donated Ashantilly House and property to Ashantilly Center,
Inc. to create job training and community center for the people of Coastal Georgia. There is room for plenty of parking.
After the field trip we will treat ourselves to lunch at the Purple Pickle at 102 Screven Street which is on the
same street as Darien News, but on the right. It’s a purple building.
 Directions to Ashantilly: after going over the last bridge on Rte. #17 North to Darien, take the 2nd right onto Rte
#99. Follow this curvy road (approximately 2.5 miles) to St. Andrew Cemetery Road. A sign for Ashantilly is at this
corner. Follow the yellow signs.) Turn right here. At the ‘T’ intersection, make a left and drive right onto the
grounds of the house and park your car. Contact: Carole Lyons @ 912-638-6134.
DECEMBER 6, SUNDAY @4-6 PM FOR OUR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY @
PRANZO’S RESTAURANT ON 1430 NEWCASTLE AT GLOUCESTER STREET (HISTORIC
BRUNSWICK). Bring lots of cheer, a covered dish and a wrapped gift for a raffle. The gift should be valued
between $5-$10 dollars and preferably something to do with birding. Utensils, non-alcoholic drinks and a main dish
will be provided. Alcoholic drinks may be purchased at the restaurant, or bring your own from home. Contact:
Harriet Roberson @ 265-6729.
DECEMBER 16TH (WEDNESDAY) BOARD MEETING @DNR @ 7 PM. All members are
welcome.
PLANNING AHEAD:
JANUARY 3rd (SUNDAY) GLYNN COUNTY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT ALL DAY.
Every year, at Christmas time, all over the country, groups of experienced and novice birders gather together to
count birds in assigned areas. The period set by National Audubon this year extends from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5. (See
website http:www.gos.org/cbc/110schedule.html if you want to also participate in other counts in GA). Mike
Chapman, organizer of the Glynn County CBC, assigns volunteers to specific regions within the counting circle. The
data compiled is analyzed and used to study bird populations from year to year. Bring snacks, a packed lunch and
water. The species countdown takes place at a (self-treat) celebratory dinner around 6 PM. @ a local restaurant.
Novices and experienced birders please volunteer by contacting Mike Chapman @mikelchap@bellsouth.net.
JANUARY 16TH (SATURDAY) FIELDTRIP TO GLENNVILLE WATER TREATMENT
PLANT.
JANUARY 19TH (TUESDAY) @ DNR @ 7 PM MEMBERSHIP MEETING.
SPEAKER:MARGE INNESS, CO-ORDINATOR OF SEANET.ORG.

IN MEMORIAM: distress who called on him after having a flat

DON
YOUNGBLOOD
Died Too Young
Don Youngblood with his
Mom in the foreground
after a fun and busy, hot
morning building bluebird
houses in August 2009
Don Youngblood died
suddenly of a heart
attack on Oct 22, 2009. Don was a hard working
member of Audubon. He readily volunteered for
the heavy jobs: loading the 18 wheeler truck
with newspapers, building bluebird houses, and
tying and stacking recycled newspapers. Don
readily substituted for others at the recycle
building and even helped an Audubon member in
tire on a deserted road. We will miss his
extended kindness which he showed to many of
us in different ways. In memory of Don, the
family has requested that contributions be made
to your favorite charity. If you wish to make a
donation to Audubon in Don’s memory, you may
do so by sending a check to: Coastal Georgia
Audubon Society, PO Box 21726, St. Simons
Island, GA 31522. Condolences to Don’s mother,
Charlotte Youngblood, may be sent to: 912
Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527.
RECYCLING PAYS OFF
The wait to recycle newspapers and
magazines until the financial climate improved
did pay off. The rate for a ton of newspaper
neared $50/ton (instead of the low $7/ton 9
months ago). Audubon recently made over $1000
dollars for 22 tons of collected
newspapers/magazines. Thanks to all of you who
donated newspapers, etc and esp to those of you
who donated your time to help load the truck.
We are hoping the rate for recycled paper will
continue to improve in the future so that we can
earn more money to help support
Audubon educational programs. We
are in need of more volunteers to work
on Saturday at the Recycle Center in Jekyll, esp.
since the passing of Don Youngblood. Please call
Harriet Roberson @ 265-6729.
OUR WEB SITE HAS BEEN
RECHARGED!
Our coastalgeorgiabirding.org/cgas website has
been reinvigorated. Information on the site is
reportedly current. Hopefully, there is or will
soon be a link so that perspective members can
view the current ‘PIPER’ on-line and join us in our
local adventures. Thanks so much to Mike
Chapman for his continued efforts in conquering
the internet!!
BIRD COUNT COMPETITION
NEARING ITS END FOR 2009
Only 2 months to go until the
end of the year! Participants in the friendly
competition continue their enthusiastic counts.
We can’t wait for the ducks to arrive and with
them the elevation in species counted. Here are
the results so far. Participants can select
whatever counties they choose, so that is why a
‘snow bird’ counted in MA this summer. Chris
Daughtry: Camden Co. 80; John Galvani: Glynn:
150, McIntosh: 148; Barnstable, MA: 202; Gene
Keferl: Glynn: 201, McIntosh: 135;Camden: 100;
Carole Lyons: Glynn: 145; and Lydia Thompson:
Glynn: 185. Maybe next you will think of joining
in the fun!
A CALL FOR ECOLOGY SOLDIERS
– SUBMIT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!
Please, please help us save our trees
(and$) by receiving the Piper by email. Yes, we
are pleading. Send your email address to Marge
Inness at minness@comcast.net.
ALL LOCAL MEMBERSHIP
RENEWALS - DUE IN JANUARY
Many LOCAL memberships have long
expired. Dues were due last January and
again this January. Please renew or we will
have to remove you from our mailing list.
Renew today. Form to do so is on the mailing
page. Don’t miss out on coming exciting
birding adventures. Renew for several years.
if you tend to procrastinate like many of us.
If you are not interested in reenrolling,
please contact Marge Inness at
minness@comcast.net.
Officers:
President: John Galvani (912-638-3986)
jgalvani@comcast.net
V. President: Robert Churi (912-437-4477)
rchuri@darientel.net
Secretary: Trish McMillan (912-729-4004)
trishmc@tds.net
Treasurer: Gene Keferl (912-265-0143)
epkeferl@comcast.net
Board of Directors Carole Lyons (912-638-6134); Lydia Thompson (912-
634-1322); Marge Inness (508-728-9599); Fredi Fenster wldwd1@yahoo.com
Birding/Field Trips: Lydia Thompson – (912-634-1322)
artworksbylydia@bellsouth.net
Conservation: Debra Mumford (912- 265-8046)
Education:
dmumford67@bellsouth.net
Chris Daughtry (912-265-0515)
chrisdaughtry@bellsouth.net
Hospitality: Fredi Fenster (413-885-1015)
wldwd1@yahoo.com
Recycling: Harriet Roberson (912-265-6729)
wilwave@innova.net
Publicity/Newsletter: Carole Lyons (912-638-6134)
cyclinghard@comcast.net
Membership: Marge Inness (508-728-9599)
minness@comcast.net
Lawn Chair Birding: John Galvani (912-638-3986)
jgalvani@comcast.net
Webmaster: Mike Chapman (912-262-6370)
mikelchap@bellsouth.net
JOIN AUDUBON!

$10.00 - Coastal Georgia Audubon Society OR $20- National Audubon Society

P.O. Box 21726
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
(Includes local ‘Piper’ Newsletter)
P.O. Box 51001
Boulder, CO 80322-1001
(Includes full Audubon benefits,
Audubon Magazine & ‘Piper‘
Newsletter)

Name:___________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________
City:____________________________________________
State/Zip:________________________________________
Email address:_____________________________________
(Pay by check or money order) F017XCH

Coastal Georgia Audubon

Non-Profit Organization
P.O. Box 21726
U.S. Postage Paid
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Brunswick, GA 31520
coastalgeorgiabirding.org/cgas
Permit #312

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