I have been thinking a lot lately about bird migra-tion, for a variety of reasons. Recently, I presented a pro-gram about the subject using Google Earth as a means to illustrate the various pathways our migrants travel as they wing their way north from their wintering grounds in South and Central America. I read a few books to help me under-stand the topic better and what I learned gave me even more of an appreciation for the majesty and challenges of bird migration. Google Earth is a wonderful tool to go spanning the globe in search of places near or far, and perhaps some of you have utilized its features to peer down from space on your house or neighborhood, or to glimpse at a favorite campsite or birding destination. Take a look at Dauphin Island and you will appreciate its tenuous nature, shaped as it is by the forces of tides and winds against its sandy shores. American Swallow-tailed Kites are a personal fa-vorite of mine so I chose to feature them in my Google Earth program. Utilizing the resources of the Internet I found a web site (http://www.adoptabird.org/kitesite/) that illustrated the southbound migration of this species, with a map based on satellite tracking data. The data from two birds are shown on the maps; one makes it all the way to South America while the other disappears off the Yucatan coastline. I wondered why the one disappeared. Island hop-ping across the Florida Keys to Cuba and from there to the Yucatan seems like an easy path to follow, so why would it stop so far short of its goal? Following a hunch, I went to the Internet again and found what I had feared. Hurricane Gordon had passed northward over the Yucatan peninsula the same time this bird was headed south. Kites may be the most graceful bird to ever fly above God’s green earth, but strong and powerful flyers they are not. The minute this bird left the safety of the Florida Keys its fate was sealed by an unknown, unseen enemy.

Google Earth is a wonderful way to follow migration and its satellite images are breathtakingly beautiful, but it paints an incomplete picture at best. The unpredictable nature of storms like Hurricane Gordon, a ditched and drained swamp, a clear cut woodlot and the latest mega mall serviced by a must-have northern beltline are among the myriad insults that conspire to make a bird’s migration a challenge without equal. Another reason migration has been on my thoughts lately is due to the epic journey being undertaken by a 15-year-old birder named Malkolm Boothroyd and his parents, Ken and Wendy. Last June they began a 12,000-mile bike ride across America from their home in the Yukon territo-ries, in effort to raise awareness about the plight of migra-tory birds. As I write, they are winding their way through Florida and eventually their itinerary will bring them back to Dauphin Island, where they will be part of our International Migratory Bird Day celebration. See accompanying article in this issue, and be sure to read a few of the blog entries on their web site. One of Malkolm’s requests is for people to take his Bird Day Challenge and make a contribution to support bird conservation efforts. You can either select one of Malkolm’s designated projects or one of your own choos-ing. I have chosen to make a contribution to DIBS, my pledge being based on the total number of birds Malkolm has seen by the time he returns to the island in early April. I hope you will use the pledge form in this newsletter and make a similar contribution. Thanks to the ongoing support of members and friends like you DIBS has made great strides in protecting the special places on Dauphin Island that provide vital habi-tat for birds and people alike. As I mentioned in an e-mail to Ken, Malkolm’s dad, the island is indeed a critical stop-over site for migratory birds, but it also offers a place to fil-ter the detritus from our lives. Please join us on April 5th for IMBD as Malkolm, Ken and Wendy share their adventure with us, and we share our birds with them.

President’s Message Greg Harber

Volume 14 No. 3 Winter 2008

We have a fabulous program planned for you for our International Migratory Bird Day Celebration this year. Malkolm Boothroyd, a 15 year old native of Whitehorse, Yukon began a 12,000 mile bird trek last June to do a Big Year. Only his trek will be “fossil fuel free,” by “bikes, boots, and boats.” Check it out at http://www.birdyear.com/. As of February 1, Malkolm’s species count was at 442. The current Big Year record is 745 species set by Sandy Komito who traveled some 100,000 miles at a cost of some $60,000! Malkolm’s “fossil fuel free” trek has limited his ambition to a more modest goal, possibly 500 species.

Kenn Kauffman, author of Kingbird Highway, The Story of a Natural Obsession That Got A Little Out Of Hand, made the following comment:“Just wanted to tell you how much I admire your current pro-ject. There’s a proud tradition of serious teenaged birders making big bird year attempts that spanned the North American continent. For example, Ted Parker embarked on such a quest the year he turned 18, and I did one the year I turned 19. But without a doubt, what Malkolm is engaged in now is the most impressive big year ever!”

Starting down the Alaska Highway, he and his parents Ken Madsen and Wendy Boothroyd, have now completed the journey down the west coast, crossed the Southwest through Texas, Louisiana, Mis-sissippi, and Alabama and are now in Florida. We were fortunate to have them visit us on their way through Dauphin Island as they headed to Florida. His trip is not only for fun and birds but is dedicated to promoting conservation activities through a challenge program, raising funds for bird conservation as they travel the country and promoting fossil fuel free activities.

We are fortunate to have Malkolm share his experiences with us Saturday night, April 5, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the Parish Hall, St. Francis Episcopal Church, here on the Island.

In support of Malkolm’s Big Year Challenge we are encouraging you to return the attached Chal-lenge Pledge, where you agree to make a donation to DIBS based on the number of species you count on Dauphin Island, April 5, 2008, before his program at 6:30 pm. Winners will be announced at the end of his program and there will be two categories, fossil fuel free and otherwise! Send an email to Malkolm describing your Challenge at http://www.birdyear.com/Protect%20Birds/FFF_big_days.htm for inclusion in his report.

Name___________________________________________ __Pledge $0._____ __per species

Address_________________________________________ Telephone: _________________

City_______________________________ State___________ ZIP_____________________

E-mail__________________________________________________________________

Fossil fuel free____ Conventional vehicle____ Please make checks payable to DIBS, Inc. and mail this pledge from and check to Mary F. Porter, DIBS Treasurer, P.O. Box 1295, Dauphin Island, AL 36528-1295

International Migratory Bird Day

Habitat Protection We continue to concentrate on the Steiner block in our efforts to protect habitat by acquisition. 300 Grant Street. We purchased Lot 4 of the original Steiner Subdivision in 2005 in spite of a question in the

deed. Due to a conflict in surveys, the mobile home is located 97 feet further south than the original survey of the Steiner Block would have allowed. It is, in fact, in the middle of Lot 4 rather than the south half of Lot 2, the Ani Tree lot. Additionally, in an adverse possession suit the court awarded an addi-tional 35 feet of the property to the owner of the mobile home. We have been negotiating with the heirs of the original owner in an effort to settle the prob-lems caused by the conflicting surveys. To this end, we have made an offer to the heirs for a deed swap in which we would deed to them the property shown as B in the plat and they would deed to DIBS the property shown as A. The offer has been verbally accepted and we are now waiting for all the paper work to col-lect the needed signatures for com-

pleting the deed transfer. White Property. This will fit in very well with our plans as shown in the second plat. The gray areas represent the DIBS holdings as of January 2008 assuming the above deed swap. Purchase of the two lots marked A is the object of our grant partnered with the Nature Conservancy with funds from the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. After sev-eral years of negotiation the owners have agreed on our original offer of $35,000 for the northern most, wet lot, 500 Grant St. Subsequent to our original appraisal, they had a new appraisal on the lot at 610 Bienville Blvd., the southernmost lot and agreed to accept that as a purchase price, $62,500. I have sent them renewed purchase agreements and expect to consumaute the deal soon, possibly by the end of May. Geo-graphical dispersion of the owners lengthens the process of acceptance. Lot 99, across the street from the Goat Trees, is now on the market. According to our latest information the asking price is $225,000. It is a perfect place for a birder’s Island Retreat. We hope a bird friendly pros-pect will take advantage of the location. If any of our readers are inter-ested contact me and I will put you in touch with the right folks.

Executive Director’s Report John F. Porter

The following article is adapted from an article that appeared in our fall newsletter, encouraging members to sub-mit their bird sightings to the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory eBird web site. As spring unfolds from winter’s grip, millions of migratory songbirds will soon be visiting a park near you. Add to your fun while contributing to the body of scientific knowledge about bird migration. The migration season is almost here; please consider contributing your spring sightings to the eBird/GCBO site. Visit http://ebird.org/content/gcbo/. There you will find that the Shell Mounds is already listed as one of the sites in Alabama, and thanks to efforts undertaken last fall we have begun to accumulate some data from the island! I am asking you to help build the database for the Shell Mounds by contributing the data from your trips to the island. Given that most of you cover the park quite extensively when birding there, register your sur-vey as an “area survey” when entering your data. Shell Mounds Park is 11 acres in size. Visit any other favorite birding places while on the island? At the eBird/GCBO site you can create a new profile for any place you wish, as I have done with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens near my home. The eBird web page is very user friendly, simply click the SUBMIT YOUR DATA tab at the top of the page, and be sure to utilize the other features at the site.

eBird/GCBO Reprise

~ Membership Application ~ Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries, Inc.

Name:___________________________________ Address:_________________________________ City: State:_____ Zip:_____ Phone: (____)_____________________________ E-mail: __________________________________

Membership Levels: My check for $_________is enclosed Cardinal, $25 Please make check payable to: DIBS, Inc. Indigo Bunting $50 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, $100 Snowy Egret, $250 Mail this form and check to: Great Egret, $500 Mary F. Porter, DIBS Treasurer Life Member, $1,000 P.O. Box 1295 Family Life Member, $1,250 Dauphin Island, AL 36528-1295

The past several years Dauphin Island Bird Sanctu-aries, Inc. has participated in the America’s Birdiest City/County (ABCC) competition, a fun nationwide effort to proclaim America’s Birdiest Places. Thanks to your diligent efforts, Dauphin Island has been able to claim and defend its title as America’s Birdiest Small Coastal City! This year we expect serious competition from Cape May, NJ so we’ll need all hands on deck if we are to successfully defend our title. DIBS will host the America’s Birdiest City birding competition the weekend of the AOS Spring Meeting – April 18-20, 2008. Participating is easy and the rules are simple. At compilation on Sunday we will total the species list for each team and award prizes to the mem-bers of the winning team. We’ll then tally a grand total for Dauphin Island and pray that it will withstand the challenges from small coastal cities nationwide!

1. Our 72-hour window starts Thursday, April 17 at 12:00 noon and runs till noon Sunday, April 20, when the compilation will be held. 2. Teams of 2-4 people will have the entire 72-hour period to count birds, i.e., they don’t have to adhere to a 24-hour window. 3. All birds recorded must be seen from dry land within the Town Limits of Dauphin Island. This includes Sand/Pelican Island but birds must be seen from dry land, and not from a boat while in transit. There is no need to record individual numbers of birds, only bird species. It’s as simple as that! To facilitate keeping track of your checklist for the weekend DIBS will provide copies of the island bird list, printed on colored paper, at the Friday night AOS gathering (Mary’s Place, Coden, AL). Or, you may wish to download a copy in advance from the DIBS web site: http://coastalbirding.org/

America’s Birdiest City/County Competition

Thanks to the generosity of several donors and art-ists, a Silent Auction benefiting Dauphin Island Bird Sanctu-aries will be held April 18 & 19 at the Spring Meeting of the Alabama Ornithological Society. Several original works and some very fine limited edition prints are among the items being auctioned. While the spring meeting will take place on Dauphin Island as always, Mary’s Place in Coden, AL will host the Friday and Saturday night AOS activities since the Chamber of Commerce Hall on the island is no longer available. Currently, we plan to display the artwork on Friday night at

Mary’s Place, with the Silent Auction taking place on Satur-day night. Beginning on March 15th images of the artwork will be available for viewing on the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctu-aries’ web site at http://coastalbirding.org/. Please visit to the site to view the pieces, and then come to the spring meeting prepared to take home your favorite!

Silent Auction to Benefit Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries April 18 & 19, 2008

Special Gifts: Shades Mountain Independent Church From: Sharon O’Dair

Gayle & Sandy Barnett AOS Fall Meeting Contributors: For: Monty Dees

Emery E. Baya Gussie Arnett From: Plia Dees Preston

Duane & Lynn Brown Jinksie & Denson Burnum For: Jack & Emily O’Neill

Lester & Dorothy Burroughs Bobby Doris Cherones From: Erin R. Wheeler

Marion C. Bush Ron & Betty Douglas For: Debbie & Bryan Sturges

Barbara Ann W. Byrd Bob & Lucy Duncan From: Lesley & Jim Wheeler

Eugenia Carey Jessica Germany For: Nancy Kelleher

Amy & Irvin Christian Emmel B. Golden From: Frances M. Young

Walter H. Clifton Jean Golden For: Mary A. Young

Nancy I. Cox Chazz Hesselein From: Frances M. Young

Linda L. Fagan Jim & Sharon Hiett For: Jean Y. Henwood

Mr. & Mrs. Paul Freeman, Jr. Sandra F. Kendall From: Frances M. Young

Ed Senter & Jessica Germany Randy & Cheryl Kittinger For: John P. Young

Sarah Gillespie Bobbie Meade From: Frances M. Young

Arthur Green, Jr. Anne G. Miller Honorariums:

Darlene & Ron Hansen John & Mary Porter For: Bianca J. Allen

Mr. & Mrs. Stephen G. Harber Elberta G. Reid From: Rodger & Patsy Larsen

Lida Hill Maureen Shaffer For: Bianca J. Allen (Happy Birthday)

Celeste Hinds Tom & Joan Siegwald From: Mary Frances Stayton

Anne H. Isbister Eric & Jennifer Soehren For: Stella Anderson

Greg & Debi Jackson Rick L. West From: Emmel Golden

Frank & Stella McPhillips Harriett H. Wright For: Edie Baker

Annabel Markel Gift Memberships: From: Sandra Kendall

Charles Morgan For: Cheri Kaplan For: Martha & Pat Dagg

Barbara Meade From: Bianca Cox From: Jessica Germany

Linda Percival For: Melissa Doswell For: Jeanette Hancock

Charles Person From: Bruce Holbert From: Mary Lou Miller

James A. Pittman For: Ed & Pat Hall For: Sandra M. Lefstrap

Mr. & Mrs. Otto F. Ramsey, Jr. From: Bill & Kathy Hutchison From: Judith S. Crittenden & Philippe Lathrop

Edwina & James Robertson For: Erin & Ryan Killion For: Dr. & Mrs. John Nofzinger

Alice Shelley From: Mr. & Mrs. James W. Killion From: Mary Clare

Tom & Joan Siegwald For: Kristin Jesenko For: Margaret & Jerry Pennington

Jane & Donald Smith From: Claire Krusco From: Carl & Gene Billian

Rosalind Bogo Swart For: George Thurlow For: Mary & John Porter

Ann & Donald Sweeney From: Nancy L. Lillard From: The Greg Waldrip Family

Harriett H. Wright For: Lynn Benson For: Elberta G. Reid

BP Fabric of America Fund From: Albert S. Norris From: Douglass Rushton Corey

BellSouth Corp. Matching Gift Center For: Robert & Diane Propster For: Kristen & Daryl Russo

Memorials, Honorariums and Special Gifts for—September 1, 2007—January 31, 2008

From: Joan King New Family Members: Indigo Bunting Level:

For: Ann G. St. Clair Dr. & Mrs. John Nofzinger New Level

From: Bill & Carol Suffich Great Egret Level: Joel & Jeanne Lunsford

For: Porters & Stowers New Members: Allen & Marilynn Sullivan

From: Lida Hill Butch & Connie Baggett Renewed Members

For: Julia & Thomas Robert Willis Sandra M. Lefstap Dallas & Jimmie Baillio

From: Linda Nichols & Robert Burns Snowy Egret Level: Mary M. Bledsoe

For: Erin Ryan Wheeler Renewed Members Jinskie & Denson Burnum

From: Jack & Emily O’Neill Ketti Miller Lester & Dorothy Burroughs

For: Harriett H. Wright (Happy Birthday) Linda & Dick Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. Marion C. Bush

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock Ann G. St. Clair Christie Crutcher

For: Dale J. Carruthers Bob & Ann Tate John Tullo & Lucy Harber

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock Larry F. Warren Peggy King

For: Mary Lou Miller Rose-breasted Grosbeak Level: Charles & Pamela McDermott

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock New Members David M. Clothier & Angela McGuire

For: Elberta G. Reid Betty R. Bashinsky Noel Merkel

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock Debbie Booher Sally & Frank Milstead

For: Frances Shepherd Glen & Debbie Coffee Jay & Lisa Murray

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock Bill & Nancy Cox Sharon O’Dair

For: Lynne Woehle William & Cindy McFadden Millie Page

From: Jimmie & Jeanette Hancock Renewed Members Charlene & Thomas Pettey

Memorials: Marsha & David Barnett Carol J. Pierman

For: Percy Thigpen Douglass Rushton Corey Barbara Rancour

From: Gussie Arnett Robert & Angela Dixon Rufus & Merilu Rose

For: Maxie Bryant Earl & Dorothy Eggers Mr. & Mrs. Charles M. Shirk

From: Charles J. Fleming Andrea Menyhert & Larry Gardella Mary Frances Stayton

For: Owen Fang Terry & Jennifer Hartley Les & Pat Stinson

From: James & Carolyn Henning Sue C. & Charles R. Hutchison Jean & James Sullivan

For: John Grenier Nancy Hutton Russell & Jeanne Voisin

From: Jennie & John Stowers Frank & Stella McPhillips Frank M. Wilson, M.D.

For: Drs. Ralph & Mary John Tiller Mary Elizabeth Perry Cardinal Level:

From: Drs. Karl S. Ulicny and Tracy Tiller Charlie Burke & Betsy Rogers New Members

For: Helen Ebnet Bill & Karen Schneller Cary M. Adams

From: Beverly & John Winn Mr. & Mrs. James W. Shepherd Fred M. Amos

For: Joseph Krystosek Dennis & Eva Strickland James L. Early

From: Beverly & John Winn A. J. Stringer Pam & Ricky Ebel

For: Gaylord Mons Twite Dr. Claude & Carolyn Warren Tom & Lynn Howes

From: Beverly & John Winn Amanda & Nathaniel Winstead Albert J. Isacks

Tyson B. Inc. David Keeler

New and Renewed Members for Sept. 1, 2007 — Jan. 31, 2008 Cont’d from previous page

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED A non-profit Organization dedicated to the Preser-vation of the Dauphin Island Audubon Sanctuary and other ecologically valuable Habitat on Dauphin Island

PLEASE CHECK YOUR MAILING LABEL FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP EXPIRATION DATE

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 361 Birmingham, AL

John G. McCall Carl & Kathy Ellenburg Edwina Mullins

Connie Mallon Blanche S. Emerson Joyce E. Newlin

Edwina & James Robertson Linda L. Fagan Roy & Barbara Price

Renewed Members Peter & Terry Finlay Vidmantas & Maria Raisys

Stella Anderson Gregory J. Harber Augusta Robinson

Edith & Thomas Baker Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Harlin Phil Sankey

Paula & William Belmont Terry P. Harris Ivan & Lawrence Trotter

Roy & Joyce Bonilla Jim & Carolyn Henning Mark & Carroll Uithoven

Bobby Doris Cherones Julie Kenney Randy Venhaus

David C. Chaffin, M.D. Joan M. King Susanne Wadsworth

Michael DeLaney Sybil Lawson Bill & Lynn Wildberger

John & Teddy Dismukes Lynne B. Lovoy

Jimmy & Virginia Dunn Laura Meeds

Cont’d from previous page