Audubon Society of Forsyth County

September-October Newsletter is Online!

Summer is coming to an end, which means Chapter Meetings are back! We have a lot of events coming up, with plenty of opportunities for volunteers, like our annual Hawk Watch and Swift Watch, Apple Fest, Black Walnut Festival and the Reynolda Meadow Celebration, so please sign up if you can!

Chimney Swift Watch!

Come watch this amazing spectacle at our annual Swift Watch. This event will be held Wednesday, September 14, at a NEW LOCATION: Vienna Elementary School (1975 Chickasha Drive, Pfafftown, NC 27040). The event starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. Feel free to bring a lawn chair! There will be a small Audubon table there with information as well as Chimney Swift quizzes and fact sheets. Principal Andy Lester-Niles is planning to be there, so be sure to give him a friendly Forsyth Audubon welcome. This is a fun, informal event, so bring your smile and enthusiasm for birds.

Miller Park

Members of Forsyth Audubon have been meeting with WS City Parks officials and contractors regarding the stream restoration and renovation of one of our favorite parks. I am happy to report the collaboration has been most pleasant and productive. The stream restoration will include all the plants on the Native Plant List developed by our members and will address the problem of invasive plants. Work is scheduled to begin late September/October. FA members are also working with the City to develop high quality signage to tell the story of the park and the importance of nature. Mr. William Royston, Capital Projects Manager with the City of Winston Salem will be speaking at an upcoming chapter regarding Miller Park in particular and City Parks in general. Plan to attend, ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Contact Don Lendle with any questions.

Habitat for Humanity and Audubon

Forsyth Audubon continues to be active in this partnership planting Native Plants at the campus and individual homes, offering educational events regarding birds and conservation, installing bird houses, and leading discussions regarding solar energy for Habitat homes. The rain garden and wetland project has been a success with the vast majority of plants surviving and thriving through this hot summer. Plant adjustments will be made this fall as we see the need. It is functioning as expected to hold storm water and filter it before entering a stream.

All involved have been quite pleased including our bird, butterfly, and pollinator friends. Another planting is scheduled in October ,exact date pending. We are looking into building a chimney swift tower on the campus, and will expand our educational efforts in the neighborhood. Plan to join in with your fellow members in these activities. Contact Don Lendle for information or to offer suggestions.

Bird Friendly-Planting Day

Our recent planting day at Habitat Forsyth was truly a community partnership, with volunteers from Wells Fargo, Habitat Forsyth, Audubon North Carolina, and Forsyth Audubon. This video shows how rewarding these partnerships can be, and the importance of of bird-friendly gardening.Check out the video.

Become an Audubon Ambassador on Climate Change!

Audubon North Carolina is looking for Ambassadors on Climate Change. Can you volunteer five hours a month for the benefit of our birds, other wildlife and people? There are a host of things you can do, and you probably already do some of them: take part in Christmas Bird Counts, add bird-friendly native to your garden, talk to your neighbors about birds and climate change, write legislators about it. Look for a future Audubon Ambassador workshop soon to learn more about the issue and how you can help.

To read a summary of the National Audubon Society's report on "Birds and Climate Change," visit climate.audubon.org

Snavely Award Recognizes Royce Hough!

Royce Hough has received the 2015 Ramona Snavely Award for his continuing service to Forsyth Audubon. Royce was honored at the October 27th chapter meeting and presented with a David Disher photo of a Snowy Owl framed on canvas. Along with Ramona, Royce was a charter member of the chapter when it grew out of the Forsyth Bird Club in the early 1970s.

Developing an interest in birds as a child, Royce has encouraged many new birders to follow his passion. He has been a board member, organized field trips to some of our favorite destinations, and always been a strong supporter of Audubon conservation efforts.

Order "Birding Guide to Forsyth County"!

The fifth edition of "Birding Guide to Forsyth County," by David Disher, is now available. David's book, in a handy 6 x 9 paperback format, compiles documented observations for 280 bird species in Forsyth County. Learn what birds can be seen here and during which weeks of the year you are most likely to see them. Photos of uncommon sightings are included. Information on local birding spots also is included. For $15, this is a great gift for your favorite birder. All profits go to our chapter. Copies are available at Wright's Backyard Birding Center, 3906 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem, and at Wild Birds Unlimited, 1589 Skeet Club Rd, High Point, or send email to Howard Coston. Copies also are available for sale at our monthly chapter meetings. If you have a smart phone or tablet, download the electronic version available for $4.99 from www.lulu.com.