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Review of the 1999 Spring AOS meeting

by Steve McConnell, Trinity AL

The spring 1999 Alabama Ornithological Society meeting at Dauphin Island [AL] ended today with incredible results! The total species list reported at compilation was 224!!! This has to be a record of some sort! The total warbler species count for the 2.5 days was 34!  The only non-boldface warblers on the Alabama list NOT found were Mourning and Canada!

The passage of a strong cold front on 4/15 resulted in high north winds coaxing the many, many birds which arrived to stay through the weekend - a very rare occurance. By refilling a small watering hole located in the Shell Mounds, many birds were attracted down to eye level for drinks and baths.  Once, I had seven species of warbler in one binocular view at one time! WOW!

An excellent singspiration was provided by our guest speaker, Julie Zickefoose (artist, writer, and naturalist), along with our own AOS President, Charles Kennedy. The slide program which followed showed how Julie and family have transformed a previously "sterile" tract of land into a bird friendly oasis. Her musings on the appetite of her resident bull frog was a highlight of the presentation.

Click here for a full list of the 225 bird species that were seen.

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Rare birds and reports of interest:

	Eared Grebe, Bayou La Batre ponds (BLBp), 4/15-17
	Ross' Goose, private (?) pond in Fairhope, all weekend
	Greater Scaup, BLBp, 4/16-17
	BLACK RAIL, D.I. Airport, day unknown
	Am. Golden-Plover (x2), Blakely Island, 4/14
	Upland Sandpiper, Ft. Morgan, 4/15
	Whimbrel, Ft. Gaines jetties & D.I. airport, 4/15-17
	White-rumped Sandpiper, BLBp, 4/16-17
	Buff-breasted Sandpiper (x3), Craft Sod Farm, off Baldwin Co. 12, 4/14
	Wilson's Phalarope (x2), BLBp, 4/16-17
	ICELAND GULL, following trawler, seen from ferry on two different trips, 4/15
	BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, Mobile Pt., Ft. Morgan, 4/14
	Black Tern, Mobile Pt., F.M., 4/15
	White-winged Dove, location and date unknown
	"Trail's" Flycatcher, Shell Mounds, 4/17-18
	Yellow-bellied FC, Shell Mounds, 4/15
	Least FC, Shell Mounds, 4/15
	Scissor-tailed FC, D.I. airport, 4/16
	Red-breasted Nuthatch, location and date unknown
	Black-whiskered Vireo, several locations through weekend
	"Brewster's" Warbler and possible backcrossed individual (appeared as a Blue-winged with golden-toned wingbars), Shell Mounds, 4/15-17
	Painted Bunting, many-many-many, all weekend!
	Grasshopper Sparrow, Ft. Morgan, 4/15