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| Mecklenburg Audubon field trips are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Please remember to contact the Field Trip Leader to let him/her know you are coming. This will insure that you are notified of any changes in meeting locations/times and/or cancellations. Plus it is less likely they will leave without you. Please read this Bird Walk guidelines. |
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| Beginner Bird Walks |
| Are you considering picking up one of the most popular hobbies in the world? Bird watching can be relaxing and challenging all at the same time. Join Audubon members as they lead small groups in the beginning basics of this sport. We will teach you bird calls, songs and identification techniques. Some birds we expect to see and hear are cardinals, wrens, chickadees, titmice, and mockingbirds. We’ll be using binoculars to look closely at their beak, wing bars, shape and size. |
| Everyone is well but the walks will be limited to 10 people. So don't forget to contact the trip leader to make sure there is room. We encourage families and children to “bird” together. |
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Schweinitz's Sunflower
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| August Field Trips |
| Sunday - Aug. 26, 2007: Orangeburg Sod Farms, Orangeburg, SC |
| Full Day Field Trip |
Trip Leader: Judy Walker. |
Upland Sandpiper |
| The Super Sod Farms just outside Orangeburg, SC is an amazing place in August and September. The large expanse short grass is a magnet for migrating shorebirds. Upland, buff-breasted and pectoral sandpipers are particularly fond of this place and if we are really lucky a golden will be lurking in the grass. And as the morning heats up we usually find ourselves looking at a lot of really neat dragonflies and beautiful butterflies. |
| There won't be a lot of walking but it will be HOT!! So you should bring a hat, sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of water and as always snacks are encouraged. |
| We will meet at 6:00 AM in the Crossroads Mall parking lot located on the right hand side of the main entrance into Carowinds Theme park off HWY 21. It will take us about 1.5 hours to get down there. Bring a snacks, plenty of water, bug repellent, sun screen and hat. |
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| September Field Trips |
| Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007: McDowell Prairie |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Dave Lovett |
Grasshopper Sparrow |
| The prairie this time of the year is a live with wildflowers, butterflies and of course birds. Blooming endangered Schweinitz's Sunflowers and abundant Variegated Butterflies will make a walk through the prairie on a Saturday morning enjoyable and rewarding. Birds will probably include a mix of resident and migrants. |
| There is little shade on the prairie so make sure you bring a hat and plenty of water as the September sun can still be pretty intense. We will be doing a lot of easy walking so comfortable shoes are a must. Snacks are also recommended. |
| Since parking is very limited, please meet us at 8 AM in the Harris Teeter parking lot at the corner of Hwy 160 (Steele Creek Rd.) and Hwy 49 (S. Tryon) so we can carpool to the site. |
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©Brad Kuntz |
| Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007: Butterflies at McAlpine Creek Greenway |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Taylor Piephoff |
Map to Greenway |
Birds are not the only beautiful winged creatures that can be found in the Charlotte area. Butteries are at their peak in September when a wide variety can be found. The Mecklenburg Park and Recreation Department has created wonderful habitat for butterflies at McAlpine Greenway. We will take a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll around the greenway to see what we can find. Of course we will look at any feathered fliers that cross our path as well.
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| We will meet at 2 PM at the Monroe Rd. entrance to the Greenway. |
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Female American Redstart
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| Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007: Huntingtowne Farms Greenway |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Vivian & Dean Sprehe |
Map to Greenway |
| Meander with us along Lower Sugar Creek as we join fellow MAS members Dean and Vivian Sprehe at this lovely urban greenway. We will be looking for permanent creek side inhabitants along with any fall migrants passing thru. Huntingtowne Farms Park, runs beside Little Sugar Creek, and is part of the county greenway system. With a great blend of habitats, anything could turn up during Fall migration. |
| Meet in the parking lot at the end of Huntingtowne Farms Road off of Park road at 8:30 AM. |
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Carolina Wren
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| Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007: Colonel Francis Beatty Community Park (Matthews) |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Andrea Owens |
Directions to Park |
| This park in the southeast corner of the county has just recently discovered by folks living in the Matthews area. Its variety of habitats should yield many local residents as well as fall migrants. |
| We will meet at 8 AM in the main building parking lot. It is the left turn that leads you to the paddle boat rentals. |
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Swainson's Thrush |
| Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007: Latta Park (Dilworth) |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Dave Lovett |
Map to Park |
| Latta Park in Dilworth, traditionally a spring migrant hotspot, can also be a good location in the Autumn for early migrants and resident county birds. |
| After studying up on your 'confusing fall warblers', meet at the park (the parking lot is near the shelter & playground) at 8:30 AM and we will try and match the pictures to the birds. |
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Magnolia Warbler - Fall Plumage |
| Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007: Jackson Park, Henderson, NC |
| Full Day Field Trip |
Leader: Judy Walker |
Meeting Place Map |
| You may have heard about how fabulous spring migration is in Central Park, NYC. Well Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC is a close rival, especially in the fall. In past years birds were dripping off the trees. Hopefully, we will hit one of its wonder-ful waves of warblers and if the birding gods are smiling on us we may run into something as exciting as a Philadelphia Vireo or Mourning Warbler. |
| We will meet at 7:30 AM at the McDonalds on Four Seasons Blvd. (Exit 49 off I-26). It's on the right as you are heading into Hendersonville. Rt. 74 makes this a quick 2 hour drive from Charlotte if you plan to drive out in the Saturday AM. |
Best Western Hendersonville I-26 64 East (828) 692-0521
Comfort Inn 206 Mitchell Dr (828) 693-8800
Days Inn 102 Mitchell Dr (828) 697-5999
Hampton Inn 155 Sugarloaf Rd (828) 697-2333
Quality Inn 201 Sugarloaf Rd (828) 692-7231
Quality Inns & Suites 201 Sugarloaf Rd (828) 692-7232
Ramada Limited 150 Sugarloaf Rd (828) 697-0006 |
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Eastern Blue Bird |
| Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007: McAlpine Creek Greenway (Beginning Birder Walk) |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Lucy Quintilliano |
Map to Greenway |
| To kick-off our new series of Beginner Bird Walks specially structured for the novice birder, we have selected this park as a great all-around spot for the program. McAlpine Creek Greenway has easy trails, a lake, beaver flooded area, and grassy fields providing a variety of habitats and birding opportunities. |
| Binoculars would be helpful as would a field guide if you have one. Participation is limited to the first ten registrants so sign up early. |
| We will meet in the parking lot off of Monroe Rd. at 8:30 AM. |
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Red-tailed Hawk |
| Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007: Mountain Island Educational State Forest, Gaston Co. |
| 1/2 Day Field Trip |
Leader: Steve Tracy |
Meeting Place Map |
| Steve Tracy, one of our Gaston county members has discovered a new and potentially excellent birding just across the river in Gaston & Lincoln counties. It’s called Mountain Island Educational State Forest and runs along the west side of Mt. Island Lake. Birds already discovered are Great Horned Owl, turkey, Bobwhite and Osprey. The forrest habitats consisting of mixed hardwoods, pine plantation, open planted fields, and a beaver dam pond, should provide some great birding potential. In addition, there are large stands of elderberry and pokeweed with more feeding possibilities for migrants. A cove of the Catawba River will allow us to look for waterfowl or other shorebirds in the vicinity. |
| We will meet at the Sunoco gas station at the corner of Killian Rd and NC Hwy 16 near Lucia at 8 AM. Note: If coming up NC-16 make sure you stay on old 16, don't get on the new road. There will be a fair amount of walking so sturdy shoes are recommended. Bring snacks & water. A hat and insect repellent are also recommended this time of the year. |
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