Wildlife Center 2003 News Archive
43rd
Annual Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count
Excerpts
from the Summer 2003 Wildlife Activist
Activist
Article: The Wildlife Center’s 2002 Transition
Member’s
Picnic Scheduled for May 3
Two
Birding Workshops Scheduled for Center
Student
Ecologists Honored at Wildlife Center
2003
Bake Oven Knob Feeder Watch Results
Press
Release: Congressman Kanjorski, Representative McCall Visit Wildlife Center
Press
Release: 2003 Bake Oven Knob Area Feeder Watch Needs Volunteers
Press
Release: 2003 Bake Oven Knob Area Winter Bird Survey
Wildlife Refuge Update
Find out
the latest information on the Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge with the following
articles taken from the Fall 2003 Activist:
Remarkable Progress of Wildlife Refuge Land
Fund by Dan R.
Kunkle
In this article, Executive Director Dan Kunkle reviews the funding behind the
Refuge
Watching Grass Grow II by Dan R.
Kunkle
The second article by Dan in his series describing the use of warm-season
grasses to restore the Refuge.
Around The Refuge Via Loop And Connector
Trails by R. E.
Hoopes
Bob's article is an invaluable guide to anyone wishing to visit or hike the
site.
Record Golden Eagle Count
Another
incredible day on Bake Oven Knob. On 8
November, despite the near freezing temperatures, we spotted 21 Golden Eagles,
shattering the 1987 record of 16 Goldens.
In addition, we spotted over 600 Red-tails. For details, go to the Hawkcount website.
Record Bald Eagle Count
Bob Hoopes sent out the following update on
the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count on 5 September:
For those of you who don't check Birdhawk
each evening...today (
It was an amazing day, set up by four days of poor flight weather
earlier in the week. Winds were from the NNW (averaging 6 mph) after a
front moved through last night. Scott Fisher recorded the first immature
BE at 0635 EST. The second bird passed at 0712 and we figured the morning
would be huge...but we only had one more eagle by
Right at 1400 the flood gates opened and the
Bald Eagles literally poured through. 29 birds were recored between 1400
and 1800 EST. Over these next four hours we counted 7, 8, 6, 8 Bald
Eagles respectives. We had one group of four immature birds and another
group of three immatures.
After 1500 we counted a total of 40
raptors: 2 RTs, 16 Osprey, and 22 BEs.
Since they flew until past sundown, there
should be some that set down not too far up ridge. Not sure what the
predicted 5-10 mph north wind tomorrow will do for these birds.
In all, it was great day at Bake Oven
Knob north lookout.
Bob
43rd Annual Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count
The 43rd
Annual Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count will take place daily from August 15-November
30. Bake Oven Knob is located along the
Excerpts from the Summer 2003 Wildlife Activist
Read "Watching Grass Grow"
by Dan Kunkle, the latest update on restoration activities at Lehigh Gap
Wildlife Refuge. Also, Bob Hoopes provides a
summary of wildlife and bird spotting at the Refuge in his article "Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge is Open for
Business." Be sure to check out the List of Wildlife
Sightings at the Refuge.
Activist Article: The Wildlife Center
2002 was a pivotal year for the
Member’s Picnic Scheduled for May 3
Mark your
calendar for Saturday, May 3. That is the day the Program Committee and Board
of Directors selected for a Members Picnic/Grand Opening Celebration to give
all our members a chance to come and see the Osprey
House. Come out from
Two Birding Workshops Scheduled for Center
The
The Beginning
Birding Workshop is for inexperienced birders or those who want to start
learning how to identify birds. There will be four Saturday workshop sessions
beginning on April 12 and continuing through May 3. The groups will meet each
week at
The Family Birding
Workshop is for families with children. There will be two sessions for this
workshop on April 26 and May 3. Each session will last from one to two hours
and begin at
Participants should bring binoculars and bird guides, plus a small note pad and pen. Binoculars and guides can be supplied by the Center if needed. To register, contact the Center by April 9 at wiclgap@ptd.net or at 610-760-8889.
In Memory of Jason Moore
“Hopefully, one day, the bird breaks free from the weight of its hardships and remembers the sweetness of flight.” --from Jason’s memorial note
Jason Moore was a
member of the
He warmed all our
hearts last November at our annual hawkwatcher’s dinner with a story about
Lyndsay. It was his day with his daughter, and Lyndsay had another idea in mind
for the day, but Jason convinced here to go to Bake Oven Knob instead. He told
her that a Bald Eagle was just passing over Sunfish Pond in
When the Center moved to the Osprey House last December, Jason showed up to help. He was very enthusiastic about the new property and house and when we asked him about replacing some broken tiles in the kitchen floor, he responded by saying he would replace the whole floor. He told his companion Susan about the house and all he hoped to be able to do there. That day, he presented us with an Audubon art print of a Snowy Egret and hung it in the kitchen.
Little did we know that was the last we would see Jason. On January 10, Jason’s depression led him to take his own life. Jason will be sorely missed at the Center, and especially on the rocks at Bake Oven Knob. We hope that his daughter Lindsay, and Susan, were consoled by the huge number of fiends who attended his memorial services, and by the the many people who made donations to our Lehigh Gap Fund in Jason’s honor. Jason will be forever with us in memory at Bake Oven Knob. We trust he has finally found peace.
IN LOVING MEMORY of JASON MOORE, 1954 –
2003
In January of this year, we lost a good
friend. Jason would pop up on the
mountain during hawk watching season to the warm welcome of those who knew him
and welcomed his company. He brought his sharp eyes, stabilized Canon’s and one
less layer of clothing than the day’s weather warranted. He was quick to share
his trail mix, how he was doing, and what his daughter Lindsay was up to. He was
also quick to spot the Northern Harriers, his specialty, out in the blue and
gray before anyone else. When Jason arrived on the ridge, we all knew that the
Harriers were on their way. We packed extra gloves and an extra sweater…in case
we got cold. But in the back of our minds we really packed them for Jason, just
in case he needed them. We will miss him. So when you are out in the natural
world that he loved, and you see a Gray Ghost coming down the ridge or coursing
over the salt marsh or open field…take a close look. It just may be Jason
smiling down at you…flying free.
--from his eulogy at Jason’s funeral by Bob Hoopes
Student Ecologists
Honored at Wildlife Center
Six 
John Becker, a
Joseph Ebner, a senior at Allentown Central Catholic High School was nominated by his Environmental Science teacher, Thomas Shive, for his work at and around the school. Ebner coordinates Central’s ink jet cartridge recycling program, which includes recycling cartridges from Air Products. Joe has also been instrumental in securing more than $3,000 in grants for environmental projects at the school, and he helped turn Jordan Creek from an eyesore to a community resource at the school grounds. Richard and Barbara Ebner of Northampton are Joe’s parents.
Kathie Meckes, a junior at Jim Thorpe Area High School, has been a volunteer at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center for three years, including serving as a counselor at their Conservation Camp each of those years. She has also helped run the annual Envirothon event at the Education Center and is constructing a bird blind at the Center as her senior project for graduation. Kathy’s parents are Lyman and Patricia Meckes of Jim Thorpe, and she was nominated for this award by her teacher, Leroy Skinner.
Thomas Scholl, a Saucon Valley High School senior was mentored by ecology teacher Lance Leonhardt and father Dennis, and has pursued an independent study project that resulted in creation of the Saucon Creek Environmental Education Site. He installed interpretive signs concerning the history, geology, chemistry, flora, and fauna of Saucon Creek in Hellertown. He is also developing an educational plan to teach students and adults about the creek and its surroundings. Kathleen Antonelli and Dennis Scholl are Thomas’s parents.
Forrest Zmoda, a junior at Pen Argyl High School was nominated by Aquatic Biology teacher, Charles Kopcho for his work in monitoring water quality in the Little Bushkill Creek, adding to the ongoing project to monitor the health of this stream. Forrest also attended the Marine Science Consortium program on Wallop’s Island, Virginia and completed the pre-college program in Marine Biology. Dan and Robin Zmoda of Pen Argyl are Forrest’s parents.
Parkland High School senior Kerry Lynott was granted a Special Achievement Award. Kerry has demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to wildlife and the environment. She has been a key members of the Lehigh River Project, a local “watchdog” group that monitors water quality in the Lehigh River, and she has specialized in identification of algae as well as macroinvertebrates in determining water quality. She has presented her findings at several technical forums. Lynott was a 2002 Student Ecologist Award winner. Her Special Achievement Award recognizes her for her river work, as well as her leadership at her school’s Environmental Club, and her outstanding academic achievement including attending Governor’s School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Kerry’s parents are Alice and Vince Lynott of Allentown.
In the awards ceremony, Wildlife Center president Dan Kunkle praised the students for their interest and activism on behalf of wildlife and the environment. Each student received a certificate of merit, a wildlife book of their choosing, and a one year membership in the Wildlife Center. Kunkle also praised the parents and teachers of these fine young people, for their roles in the lives of these outstanding young people. The students were invited to participate in the Center’s restoration activities at its new Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge.
2003 Bake Oven Knob Feeder Watch Results
A cold, snowy winter probably contributed to slightly higher than average numbers in the Wildlife Center’s 7th annual Bake Oven Knob Area Feeder Watch. The watch took place the weekend of February 14-16, with “citizen scientist” volunteers counting and reporting a total of 3335 birds visiting their backyard feeders. Residents living within a 10 mile radius of Bake Oven Knob can volunteer for the feeder watch. Fifty seven area residents participated in the watch, by far the most ever to participate in the project.
After two consecutive mild winters with low numbers of birds sighted, this year’s count produced better than average totals. An average of 58.4 birds per feeder was seen, slightly above the 55.0 bird per feeder average from the first six years of the project. The watchers reported 41 different species, which is the highest species total ever tallied for the count, with the average watcher reporting 12.1 species per feeder.
The most numerous birds reported were the Dark-eyed Junco (884), Mourning Dove (311), American Goldfinch (243), House Finch (241), European Starling (217) Black Capped Chickadee (177), and Tufted Titmouse (155). The junco was also the most widespread species, found at 49 of 57 feeder watch sites, with the Tufted Titmouse running a close second, seen at 48 sites.. Other widespread species were Northern Cardinal at 46 sites, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and Black-capped Chickadee at 33 sites, and Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch seen at 39 sites. A surprise in the count was the appearance of Red-bellied Woodpeckers at 33 of the sites. The once abundant House Finch was seen at only 37 sites.
Relatively few “northern” finches were reported again this year with 36 Purple Finches and 16 Red-breasted Nuthatches reported. 144 woodpeckers of six species were seen this year, with 78 Downy Woodpeckers, more that the total number of all woodpeckers last year. Three different raptor species, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk were seen trying to capture songbirds at the feeder watch sites this year. Ed and Judy Wanamaker of Emerald reported a Cooper’s Hawk taking a dove at their feeder. Center Executive Director, Dan Kunkle noted that “some watchers dislike hawks, but these predators play an important role in maintaining healthy populations of songbirds and other prey species.”
There were 26 Feeder Watch sites in Lehigh County, 20 sites were in Carbon County, eight in Northampton County, and three in Schuylkill County. Wildlife Center Board member Geryl Grilz coordinated the count, and student volunteer Sarah Sidor of Treichlers helped with entering the reports in the Wildlife Center’s database.
The Feeder Watch is one of the long-term research projects of the Wildlife Center, Since birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality, a long-term study like the Feeder Watch may provide valuable data about environmental quality in the study area. Also, it can be an indicator of population trends in individual species, such as the once superabundant House Finch, which has declined because of a contagious eye disease. West Nile Virus has been known to kill a variety of species, including raptors, jays and crows. The numbers of these species did not seem to be affected this year, but studies such as this can document changes that may occur in the future.
Anyone wishing to
be added to the list of Feeder Watchers for the 2003 survey should call the
Wildlife Center office at
|
2003 Bake Oven Knob
Feeder Watch Results |
|
|
Cooper’s Hawk - 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 8 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Wild Turkey – 39 Rock Dove -- 1 Mourning Dove - 311 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 39 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2 Hairy Woodpecker - 15 Downy Woodpecker - 78 Common Flicker - 7 Pileated Woodpecker - 3 Blue Jay - 149 American Crow - 69 Black-capped Chickadee - 177 Tufted Titmouse - 155 White-breasted Nuthatch - 84 Red-breasted Nuthatch - 16 Brown Creeper - 1 Carolina Wren - 18 Eastern Bluebird - 14 |
Northern Mockingbird - 14 European Starling – 217 Eastern Towhee -- 4 Tree Sparrow - 72 Fox Sparrow - 17 Song Sparrow – 43 Field Sparrow -- 1 White-throated Sparrow - 90 White -crowned Sparrow- 10 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco - 844 Northern Cardinal -171 Red-winged Blackbird - 2 Common Grackle - 14 Brown-headed Cowbird - 1 Purple Finch - 36 House Finch - 241 Pine Siskin -- 2 American Goldfinch – 243 Evening Grosbeak -- 1 House Sparrow - 123 |
|
Seven-Year Summary |
||||
|
Year |
# of Birds |
# of Species |
# Feeder sites |
Birds per feeder |
|
1997 |
1509 |
32 |
20 |
75.5 |
|
1998 |
1272 |
32 |
24 |
53.0 |
|
1999 |
1960 |
34 |
31 |
63.2 |
|
2000 |
2007 |
35 |
35 |
57.3 |
|
2001 |
1213 |
35 |
||