News of Members

By Loice K. Lacy 

Arkansas Birds

  This was the day I meant to write my column for the newsletter but, not having gathered much news, I decided to go out and create some. Sterling and I have spent about three hours this morning listing birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Although nothing unusual has appeared, we've found a good variety with American Robin leading the field for numbers.
 Our feeder-watching has been good this winter - especially observing those species that feed on my homemade mixture in the suet feeders. Although all the birds partake of this offering from time to time, it seems to be the favorite of the woodpeckers. We see the Downy, Red-bellied and Red-headed frequently, but this winter the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is the one that just can't seem to get his fill.
  For several winters, Purple Finches have been scarce in our yard while House Finches have been well-represented year round. Not so this winter. We are seeing numerous Purple Finches but few House Finches; it's as if the former species is crowding out the latter. Anyone else observing this shift in populations?
  We were so glad that we were not away traveling at the time of the memorial service for Max Parker so that we were able to attend. It was such a befitting and beautiful tribute to him with the use of scripture verses relating to trees and birds. And I don't think anything could have pleased him more than having his talented granddaughter, Melissa, play during the service and at the reception.
  Our dear friend, Margaret Watson, died in January of this year. Some of you will remember her husband, Leon, who was once a member of AAS although he has not attended meetings for a great number of years. He is an excellent birder and an asset to our local Christmas Bird Count.
  Margaret was a devout Christian who taught Bible classes for over 50 years. Best described as a homemaker, she was noted for the homemade bread she shared with all fortunate enough to be among her many friends. She was also a talented seamstress who sewed for the public from the convenience of her home.
  Bill Shepherd reported on Jan. 27 that he was spending a week in Vancouver, British Columbia, finding the birds there very cooperative. He gives a fellow ABA member who lives in the area much of the credit for his success in seeking out some great species. Bill's first life bird for the trip, a Pacific Loon, showed up only a few hours after he had a good, close look at a Common Loon. Then a Rock Sandpiper in the middle of a flock of surf birds and a Clark's Grebe swimming with Western Grebes added two more lifers. Later in the day, a Varied Thrush that flew up out of a hotel's landscaping into a leafless birch tree, displaying his breast glowing in the light of the setting sun, stayed long enough for Bill to fully appreciate his beauty.
  I recently received the pictures and DVD of our Costa Rica trip with the Arkansas master gardeners. I was going to tell you all about how brave and daring I looked during my experience on the zipline, but I've been upstaged by Jack and Pam Stewart. After reading about their harrowing adventures in Guyana (see the article elsewhere in the newsletter), mine pale in comparison. However, I do see a similarity between the two trips with all the rain causing problems for their travel by plane as it did for our bus on narrow, muddy mountain roads.
  Sally Jo Gibson writes that two of her friends in the Disorganized Bird Club, Alan and Terri Gregory, are involved in voluntary "clean up" activities around Lake Harrison. Their focus is the mess left by dogs whose lazy or uncaring owners walk them in the area. These two applaudable citizens were international school teachers who retired to Newton County.
  Again I'm going to have to use some excuse for ending this column other than that I have to go pack. (It's close to mealtime; you know Sterling would approve that excuse.) Since we aren't scheduled for another trip until March 16, it's a little early to be packing. I do know some people who get so excited about a trip that they have their suitcase ready to go out the door long in advance, but if I did that I'd have to resort to a barrel in the meantime. However, when you read this we'll be cruising between Fort Lauderdale and Manaus, Brazil, stopping at several ports on the Amazon River in Brazil.