RESULTS OF GOS FALL 2001 MEETING
AND SPECIES COUNTDOWN
5 - 7 October 2001
Savannah/Skidaway Island, GA
Eugenia Thompson and Gail
Russell, Meeting Planners
111 Registered
Participants
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 Some folks were a little apprehensive about a meeting where all the action was a 15-minute drive
from the motel but it worked out beautifully. At reasonable rates, the LaQuinta was a clean, well lighted place with plenty of amenities nearby; while the Group Shelter at Skidaway Island State Park had just the right Spartan-rustic atmosphere for a meeting of serious birders. The banquet Saturday night was a catered affair on paper plates but the food was delicious, featuring perfectly prepared salmon as one of the entrees. Kudos to (former) Second Vice President, Gail Russell, for a splendid job on arrangements!
One Hundred eleven members and guests were registered for the meeting, which is par for the course.* Paul Sykes spoke Friday evening on his extensive studies of the Atlantic coast population of Painted Buntings, with some great photos of these striking birds. Diana Churchill, President of the Ogeechee Audubon Society, briefed the weekend's field trips and introduced their leaders, Larry Carlile (Harris Neck NWR); Diana Churchill & Matt Ryan (Sterling Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility); Dot Bambach & Carol McClelland (Chimney Beach Creek & North Tybee); Lauree San Juan (Savannah NWR); Beth Roth (Skidaway State Park); Pat Metz & Steve Calver (Savannah Spoils Site); Lydia Thompson (Tybee North Beach on Sunday). Sunday also added a boat trip to Little Tybee Island led by Rene Heidt & Deb Barreiro. After the meal Saturday evening, President John Swiderski led a short business meeting during which he thanked First Vice President Eugenia Thompson and Second Vice President Gail Russell for a great job of setting up the meeting, and commented on the exceptional support of the Ogeechee Audubon Society in conducting the field trips. He also thanked Eugenia and Secretary Marie Amerson, who are completing their terms in office at this time for their years of valuable service to the society. Other business included presentation of the Earl R. Greene Award to Past President Ken Clark, and the election of officers for the ensuing two years. Todd Schneider gave an update on the Breeding Bird Atlas project, and Jim Wilson did the same for the Important Bird Areas program, followed by the principal speaker, Brad Winn, Waterbird Biologist with the Department of Natural Resources, who spoke of the special connection that both nesting and migratory shorebirds have with the Georgia coast. The countdown, led by John Swiderski as his last official act as President and recorded by incoming First Vice President Bob Sargent, logged 163 species. Ten more species were added by Sunday's birders, bringing the total to 173, a record count for a GOS weekend!** Noteworthy sightings included Reddish Egret, Glossy Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Bald Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Sora, American Golden-Plover, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, Lesser Black-backed Gull, White-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-winged Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole. *The average attendance at fall meetings for the past 8 years is 107, ranging from 80 to 137. Spring meeting average for the same period is 83, ranging from 70 to 100. **Fall meetings usually produce the best counts. The 1997 fall meeting in Tallahassee, field trips coordinated by Brad Bergstrom, produced the previous record count of 172 species. Submitted by Kenneth B. (Ken) Clark |
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FIELD TRIPS AND LEADERS
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SPECIES COUNTDOWN The following table contains a list of the species reported from the various field trips:
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