Predicted stormy and wet weather did not materialize and the GOS Spring Meeting weekend (April 25-27) turned out to be just fine for all involved. Including those registered, field trip leaders and program and poster presenters, nearly 100 participated in the weekend events. Kudos to Bob Sargent and Anne Mursch for their efforts in planning and making arrangements for the meeting.

Six field trips were scheduled to five locations on both sides of the Savannah River. As of this writing, 148 species were located during the weekend. Highlights included a lengthy look at an adult Peregrine Falcon at the entrance to Phinizy Swamp Nature Park on Saturday morning as well as numerous Painted Buntings, 25 warbler species, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bald Eagle and many others. Calvin Zippler and Anne Waters toured the Merry Brothers Brickyard. Dan Connelly led the trips to the Audubon Silver Bluff Sanctuary. Paul Champlin and George Reeves provided the long distance trip to Clark’s Hill Reservoir, Stevens Creek and other locations as they were out all day Saturday. Two field trips each morning went to Phinizy Swamp, the first out led by Ruth Mead and Paul Sykes. Carol Lambert and Jeff Sewell piloted the second group. Lydia Thompson and Gene Howard led the field trips to the Augusta Levee and Lover’s Lane area. Thanks to all of these birders for sharing their time and knowledge that made the field trips so interesting.

On Friday evening, Larry Bryan, a research coordinator with the Savannah River Ecology Lab (SREL) presented a program focused on the Wood Stork in which he described the status of the bird from historical times when they were located mostly in Southern Florida to the present day distribution. His program was illustrated with numerous Wood Stork photos and informative maps and distribution information.

Late Saturday afternoon program activities kicked off with three displays. Dr. Joe Meyers, UGA, presented a poster describing continuing Swainson’s Warbler nesting studies in the Bond Swamp near Macon. Beth Wright, a former Howe Grant recipient, has been assisting with the field research. Gina Zimmerman, also a previous Howe Grant recipient, presented a poster about her continuing work on the Swallow-tailed Kite migration and distribution. Their use of radio telemetry tracking of the kites is beginning to identify the previously unknown migration path used by the kites including a Florida-Cuba-Yucatan route. On the lighter side, Dick Parks, presented a display of 19 color studies of various birds. Dick explained that he prepares color studies and renditions of proposed paintings before he executes the actual painting.

Following a very lively social hour a plentiful and delicious buffet dinner was served as fellowship carried over from the social hour. As the dinner wound down Gail Russell, President, asked John Swiderski to come up for the presentation of the 2003 Earle R. Greene Memorial to James R. Flynn, Jr., our GOS webmaster. She then asked Bill Van Eseltine, Chair of the Howe Grant Committee to identify the three recipients of research grants this year.

The evening program was presented by John Kilgo of the US Forest Service. His program focused on changes in habitat in the Southeast over the past 50 years and described his research into songbird response to changes in habitat, forestry practices and wetland restoration.

The evening closed with the traditional countdown of species found. Paul Champlin conducted the countdown which he enlivened with the call or song of a number of the species.

This was the 128th semi-annual meeting of GOS since the first meeting in Milledgeville in April of 1937. Augusta, always a good place for birding, hosted its 9th GOS meeting, the most recent being 1995.

Submitted by John Swiderski