Laurie Fowler, of the Institute of Ecology at UGA, will discuss issues involved in the current changes proposed for the Athens/Clarke County Land Use Plan, including riparian buffers and the implications of transferable development rights on the residential density in the proposed green belt. Birders should note that riparian buffers and open space directly impact species diversity and abundance. Laurie’s research involves federal, state, and local environmental protection laws and policies; watershed protection strategies, growth management and open space preservation. Past projects include developing the framework for a regional river conservation organization on the Upper Etowah River, drafting conservation subdivision and transferable development rights legislation at the state and local level, and drafting conservation easements to protect riverfront land.

    As you read this newsletter, millions of birds are beginning to leave their northern breeding grounds to start a long and perilous migration back to their neotropical overwintering sites in South and Central America. Tis the season to be outside with your binoculars and field guides, enjoying the colorful beauty of Autumn. Oconee Rivers Audubon has planned several fall bird walks to local migration hotspots that will focus on the identification and natural history of birds. We encourage nature enthusiasts big and small to join us and share in the excitement. For those beginners out there, the opportunities for seeing exciting new birds are great. Veterans, celebrate the migration season by sharing your birdwatching secrets with fledgling birders. Bird walks are open to all ages and skill levels and no pre-registration if required. We generally maintain an easy pace and stop frequently. Waterproof footwear and raingear are wise precautions. For more information contact David Galewski at 543-1988.

September 30th: State Botanical Garden; same place; same time.

October 14th: Sandy Creek Nature Center; meet at the Allen House across from the ENSAT building.

October 28th:  State Botanical Garden; Callaway Building.

November 11th: Whitehall Forest, intersection of Milledge Ave. and Whitehall Rd., meet at the front gate.

Walks are ongoing every Tuesday and Thursday morning at the State Botanical Garden from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. until October 12th. Meet at the small parking lot at the power line cut (all the way down the main road toward the river). Come out and get a good start on the morning with an hour or so of birding.

October 7th: Trip to the Little Tennessee River in the North Georgia Mountains. Meet to carpool at 7 a.m. at the Allen House at the Sandy Creek Nature Center. Please call David Galewski for more information and to confirm your interest at 543-1988.
 
 
 

President
          Elizabeth Little                                                                  795-5017
          E-mail: elittle@arches.uga.edu
Vice-President
          Mary Case                                                                        548-3848
Treasurer
          Tom Shelton                                                                    795-3959
Secretary
          Page Luttrell                                                                     788-2973

Conservation
          Marta Daniell                                                                   546-9808
          Carrie Straight
Education
          Maggie Nettles                                                               543-8823
Field Trips
          David Galewski                                                               543-1988
Hospitality
          Mary Case                                                                       548-3848
Membership
          Sarah Cliett                                                                      795-3927
Programs
          Gary Crider                                                                      543-8823
Publicity
          Deirdre Allen                                                                  769-4628
Yellowthroat Editor
          John Posey                                                                     769-1417

Articles, artwork, notices, and sighting reports welcomed.  The deadline for submissions is the 15th of each month.  All articles and artwork or copyrighted, and all rights are reserved by the authors. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the respective authors, and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Oconee Rivers Audubon Society.

Templeton Hill and Mark Dalusky saw adult and immature Black-crowned Night-herons at Dyer’s Pasture in Greene County. Templeton also saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Mississippi Kite in Clarke County in late August. John Willis saw a White Ibis, White Stork and Snowy Egret at Dyer’s Pasture on 8/13. Terry Russell saw several Nighthawks in late August at his home. David Galewski observed a Worm-eating Warbler, Canadian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, and a Great Egret in early September. On a wonderful trip to Newfoundland, Liz Conroy saw her first Puffins. Carolyn observed Roseate Spoonbill in Florida and Roadrunners in Arizona. A Yellow-crowned Night-heron was observed by Mark Freeman. Marianna Happek observed a Kestrel on the way to Dyer’s Pasture on 8/19 and 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks at her home on 9/12. Scott Gold, while canoeing on the Broad River, observed an Osprey on 9/10. Tim Homan was canoeing on Brush Creek Lake, about 3 miles from Colbert, in Madison County on 9/22 and saw the following: Pied-bill Grebes, Great-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, and a group of teal-sized ducks.

Britta Hanson, graduate student in the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at UGA, discussed her research on the incidence of shorebird influenza at study sites from the Texas shoreline to Cape May. The purpose of her research is to determine the role of avian influenza on human epidemics, livestock health, and the impact of the virus on wildlife. Avian influenza is found primarily in juvenile waterfowl in the fall and in shorebirds in the spring. Thousands of birds were captured and samples were 
taken without harming the birds. The shorebird capture was completed in cooperation with banding stations at the various sites. A low incidence of influenza was found at a few of the sites. In addition, Britta related interesting facts about shorebird life histories and statistics regarding shorebird declines in recent years. Forty-one species of shorebirds are commonly found on eastern shores and population declines have occurred in many species. For instance, Sanderlings have declined 80% in recent years. This was an enjoyable and fascinating talk with many great photos of the netting and sampling operation as well of the shorebirds.
 

Twenty bird enthusiasts were treated to a magnificent, cool, dewy, late-summer morning of birding. Forty species were noted including Tennessee Warbler, White-eyed, Yellow-throated, and Red-eyed Vireos, a raucous Belted Kingfisher, American and Fish Crow, and Brown-headed Nuthatch. An unusual sighting was a Peach-faced Lovebird that quickly ducked inside a shirt when spotted. We were especially pleased to have many birders new to our walks.
 
 

In 1999, the Athens/Clarke County commission unanimously approved the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and a set of Guiding Principles. One component, Zoning and Development standards, has yet to be passed by the commissioners. Throughout this year, these standards have been eroded and a final vote is still pending.
    In September 2000, the Athens Grow Green Coalition was formed by concerned citizens and local organizations to urge the commissioners to pass Zoning and Development standards that will protect the environment, limit sprawl, and preserve a high quality of live in Athens/Clarke County. A critical Guiding Principle of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan addresses the protection of our water by maintaining a buffer with a width of 75 feet on either side of streams and 100 or 200 feet on either side of rivers. Currently, there are efforts to reduce the buffers to either 25 or 50 feet on all streams unless state law requires a wider buffer. The Athens Grow Green Coalition is advocating buffer protection that includes a minimum buffer width of 75 feet on all perennial streams and 50 feet on all intermittent streams. Several other counties in Georgia are either proposing to change or have already adopted similar buffer widths in an effort to stop the degradation of their water resources.
    Why are stream buffers so important? They filter sediment and pollutants from runoff which helps maintain good water quality. Buffers provide habitat for birds and other wildlife, and can provide wildlife corridors that connect fragmented habitats as the surrounding land is cleared and developed. In addition, buffers reduce flood damage and the effects of erosion in and around streams. A recent scientific study at UGA (Wenger and Fowler, Institute of Ecology) found that 50 feet is the minimum effective buffer width but that the most effective buffers are at least 100 feet.

Monday, October 2nd 7:30 p.m. at the Student Presbyterian Center on Lumpkin St. across from the UGA track…. another special Federation of Neighborhoods meeting. This time it will be a Candidates' Forum, in which those candidates running for election to the Athens-Clarke County Commission will talk directly with the public.

Please keep those letters flowing to Senators Zell Miller and Max Cleland to ensure that CARA reaches the floor of the senate for a vote before the October 6th adjournment deadline.