Field Notes
New Hope Bird Alliance
Co-editors: Norm Budnitz and Jim George.
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NHBA Partners with Durham Public Schools to Plant Native Plants
May 27th, 2024
NHBA Partners with Durham Public Schools to Plant Native Plants Author: Julie d’Ablaing, NHBA Bird-Friendly Team Published May 27, 2024 New Hope Bird Alliance volunteers such as Julie d’Ablaing have been reaching out to Durham Public Schools (DPS) to introduce and encourage growing native trees. This blog is about two of those projects that are… Read more »
Study Shows Neotropical Migrant Birds in Decline in New Hope Creek
March 31st, 2024
Author: Stephen Brooks In the 1980s the New Hope Floodplain and adjoining areas were identified as priorities for conservation. From 2021 to 2022, NC Biodiversity Project (NCBP) conducted a multi-taxa survey of the same area, which stretches north and west to Hollow Rock Nature Park and Mt. Moriah Bottomlands, east to Mud Creek Bottomlands, and… Read more »
FAQs About Changing Our Name to New Hope Bird Alliance
March 18th, 2024
In order to better serve our commitment to diversity and inclusion, New Hope Audubon is proposing a name change to New Hope Bird Alliance to better align our chapter’s name with our mission and vision. The purpose of our organization is to inspire people to love and protect birds, wildlife, and the natural environment upon which life depends. This is something that will not change, even if our name does.
Introducing Stephen Brooks, Blog Manager
February 28th, 2024
Introducing Stephen Brooks, Blog Manager Before I introduce myself, I want to thank Norm Budnitz and Jim George for managing the blog over the years, and Jim for helping me get up to speed as the new blog manager. My name is Stephen Brooks. I was motivated to join the New Hope Audubon Society recently,… Read more »
Carol Woods–A Beautiful Green Island
February 2nd, 2022
The residents at Carol Woods Retirement Community are working to remove invasive plants from our ‘beautiful green island.’
New Hope’s Newest Committee Advocates for the Birds
January 12th, 2022
New Hope’s Newest Committee Advocates for the Birds Author: Megan Cherry New Hope Audubon has a new fledgling committee – the Advocacy Committee was formed in 2021 to speak up for birds. This new group campaigns for local and state policies that will make our community a safer place for both birds and birdwatchers. Working… Read more »
NHAS Has a New Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
September 21st, 2021
New Committee Aims to Make Birding Accessible to More People. Author: Jessica Belsky Like so many others, Lynn Shapiro first discovered the joy of backyard birding when COVID-19 hit. She put up feeders and a bluebird box in her yard and began to learn the names and habits of the species that came to visit… Read more »
Bird Friendly Yards: Deanna’s Story
August 31st, 2021
Barb tells the story of one of the homeowners that she and Sally Heiney visited this summer as part of the New Hope Audubon Bird Friendly Yard Certification Program. -By Barb Stenross
Noticing the Little Things in the Summer Garden
July 18th, 2021
David explores Jim’s native plant garden with him and photographs many interesting little things. – by Jim George and David George
A Florida and Georgia Trip Report
June 18th, 2021
In March 2021, Vern Bothwell asked if I wanted to go on a birding trip, maybe to Florida; my immediate response was “I’m in.” Gail Boyarsky and Clarke French also joined us. We wanted to see a few specific birds and look for lifers, but we also wanted to see new places and start our post-pandemic lives. – by Tom Driscoll
Plant for Specialist Bees
March 17th, 2021
Bees, our most important pollinator, are either generalists or specialists. Roughly a third of our bees are specialists. – By Lynn Richardson
Evening Grosbeaks in a Winter of North Carolina Finches
March 1st, 2021
It was during my teenage years when I first met Evening Grosbeaks. I had been birding for 4 or 5 years, and I had finally convinced my parents that we should put up a bird feeder in the front yard near our old gray birch tree. – by Norm Budnitz
Trees Are for the Birds
January 22nd, 2021
Barb explores the role native trees play in the survival of our birds and the many other benefits of trees. – by Barb Stenross
Leveraging Biodiversity Benefits on a Working Farm
December 16th, 2020
Nick Harper manages a cattle farm to create create biodiverse, chemical-free pastures and a healthy ecosystem. – by Catherine Bollinger
Durham Is for the Birds! Working toward a Community Bird-friendly Designation
November 22nd, 2020
Find out about our work with Durham toward designating it a Bird-Friendly Community. -By Lynn Richardson
Help Build a Homegrown National Park
October 12th, 2020
How you can help create a Homegrown National Park starting in your own yard. – By Jim George
Keeping Up the Tradition of Passalong Plants
September 14th, 2020
Jim finds an old book on his bookshelf on passalong plants and encourages us to keep up the tradition. – By Jim George
Your Yard Is Your Pollinator Garden
August 29th, 2020
You need to think of your whole yard as part of your pollinator garden from canopy-sized trees to understory trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses. – By Catherine Bollinger
The Hoop House, a Healthy Mini Ecosystem
August 6th, 2020
In healthy garden ecosystems, plants can usually deal with occasional pests. – By Norm Budnitz
Jordan Lake Bird Counts, Part 4—Species That Are Increasing
July 13th, 2020
In Part 4, we look at the populations of several species we have been monitoring for 43 years in the Jordan Lake count circle that have been increasing. – Norm Budnitz
Jordan Lake Bird Counts, Part 3—Species in Decline
June 24th, 2020
In Part 3 we look at several species that we have been monitoring for the past 43 years that have shown signs of declining populations. – By Norm Budnitz
Jordan Lake Bird Counts, Part 2—Woodpeckers
May 20th, 2020
Part 2 in this series looks at woodpeckers, a group of birds that includes species that inhabit upland and river bottom habitats, deciduous and pine woodlands, wetlands, and residential areas. – By Norm Budnitz
Jordan Lake Bird Counts–Part 1
May 4th, 2020
This is the first in a series of blog articles presenting the bird count data from the Jordan Lake Spring and Christmas Bird Counts. – By Norm Budnitz
Neonics, Bee-Killing Insecticides that also Harm Birds
March 18th, 2020
Neonics are well-known as bee killers—honey bees and native bees alike—but they also kill birds. – By Elizabeth D. Hilborn, DVM
Preventing that Dreaded Thump
February 12th, 2020
Preventing bird-window collisions with a simple home-made solution. – By Barb Stenross
Jordan Lake Gulls Revisited—Revisited
February 4th, 2020
On January 5, 2020, New Hope Audubon held its annual Christmas Bird Count at Jordan Lake. The stars of the show, as they have been every winter in the past decade, were the gulls. – By Norm Budnitz
Restoring the Lower Booker Creek Trail to a Bird-Friendly Habitat
January 7th, 2020
A Burke grant from National Audubon was used to buy native plants, and volunteers did the planting and also removed invasive plants to help restore habitat along the Lower Booker Creek Trail. – By Barbara Driscoll
Living with Cats and Birds
December 19th, 2019
Catherine tells the story of how she is keeping birds and other wildlife safe while assuring a good life for an adopted cat. – By Catherine Bollinger
Deer Wars
September 13th, 2019
This article explores ways to keep the deer from eating all of your native plants. – by Jim George
Easing into Nightfall
July 23rd, 2019
It seems like a beautiful evening to sit on my deck and experience the waning day as it turns into night. As I sit still on my porch swing, the world settles down around me. – By Norm Budnitz
Saving the Birds, One Yard at a Time
May 11th, 2019
Find out how important insects are to the ecosystem and how they must be saved from decline to save the birds and ourselves. – by Jim George
Recovering with Birds
March 24th, 2019
As my doctor chuckled to himself, he said, “Do you really think you can slow down enough to bird watch?” – Tom Ferguson, Jr.
Spring Birding in Coastal Southeast Texas
February 14th, 2019
The Texas coast is a world-famous birding site during spring migration and a key area on the flyways for migrating birds. – By Tom Griffin
How Are Wild Animals Injured?
January 23rd, 2019
Cats and window collisions make up more than 50% of the injury cases the WCC sees each year, and both are preventable! – By Barbara Driscoll
Jordan Lake Gulls Revisited
January 11th, 2019
Gull numbers were down this year on the Jordan Lake Christmas Bird Count. – By Norm Budnitz
Leave the Leaves!
November 10th, 2018
Leaves provide nutrients for the trees they came from and also shelter for many insects. – By Barbara Driscoll
Tom Driscoll: “I’ll do it!”
October 27th, 2018
Tom is a man with a modest mission. Do good things for the Earth and for all the people who live there. – By Norm Budnitz
Creating Wildlife Habitat with Piedmont Patch
October 6th, 2018
Learn how Piedmont Patch is creating habitat for our local wildlife. – By Catherine Bollinger
The Invasion of the Asian Tigers
July 31st, 2018
How can you deal with the mosquitoes in your yard without harming the ecosystem? – by Jim George, Pete Schubert, and Barbara Driscoll
Potholes and Prairies Birding Festival
July 9th, 2018
Tom and Vern go on a quest for “life birds” at the Potholes and Prairies Birding Festival in North Dakota and in neighboring states and birding hot spots. – by Tom Driscoll
Did everyone get on that bird yet?
June 2nd, 2018
“Did everyone get on that bird yet?” A familiar refrain heard throughout the weekend on the New Hope Audubon Society Boone Birding trip in the Blue Ridge Mountains. – by Steve Buczynski
Can You Sing a Duet with Yourself?
May 16th, 2018
As a birder, I am fascinated, enthralled, and even overjoyed by the vocal capabilities of our feathered colleagues on this earth. – By Norm Budnitz
Creating a Pollinator Friendly Yard
March 14th, 2018
Bees and other pollinators are in trouble. You can help by providing habitat for pollinators in your own yard. – By Barbara Driscoll
The Alien Plant Invasion
February 26th, 2018
Why alien plants are a problem, which are the most invasive, and what you can do about it. – By Jim George
Life Is Good at Pine Island Sanctuary
February 14th, 2018
Over the weekend of February 9-11, 2018, the New Hope Audubon Society organized a group of 17 birders and nature lovers to go to the Pine Island Sanctuary in Corolla, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks. – By Norm Budnitz
Jordan Lake Christmas Bird Count–12/31/2017
January 22nd, 2018
The Jordan Lake Christmas Bird Count was held on December 31, 2017. The temperature stayed below freezing all day . . . – By Norm Budnitz
Feeder Watch – January 2018
January 5th, 2018
Our winter visitors including Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and other migrants from the north have been here for six weeks now, and they are hungry, especially with the very cold weather. – By Tom Driscoll
Gull Poop
December 1st, 2017
Each winter, Ring-billed Gulls gather by the tens of thousands at Jordan Lake – by Norm Budnitz
Invasive Plants Are NOT for the Birds
November 11th, 2017
Many invasive plants are spread by birds after they eat their fruit. – by Johnny Randall
Littering with Leaves
October 27th, 2017
Using leaf litter is a vital part of restoring native habitat for birds and other wildlife. – by Jim George
Swift Action for Conservation
October 11th, 2017
New Hope Audubon takes action to restore a chimney swift roosting site. -By Tommy Richey
To every plant there is a season
September 13th, 2017
A bird-friendly garden needs to provide sustenance in all four seasons. – by Jim George
How Do They Do It? The Magnificent Wandering Albatrosses
August 22nd, 2017
Consider the Wandering Albatross. I have watched Wandering Albatrosses follow a ship I was on for hours without ever beating their wings. — by Norm Budnitz
Summer Feeder Watch
August 2nd, 2017
The birds are still very active and are eating me out of suet and seed! – Tom Driscoll
Who Knew This about Bluebirds? – Not Me!
July 22nd, 2017
This year, a bluebird pair in my yard first had a nest with five eggs, which produced four fledglings. -by Maria de Bruyn.
The Piedmont Barn Owl Initiative Inspires a State Program
July 15th, 2017
The Piedmont Barn Owl Initiative, started with funds from New Hope Audubon, is about to fledge. – by Mark Kosiewski
Astonishing Tree Swallows
July 4th, 2017
The sky almost to the horizon was full of swallows as the author witnesses an astonishing event. – by David Anderson
Going Native
May 23rd, 2017
This is my story of “going native”. Not to disappoint, but this is a “native plants” story, although it does involve the birds and the bees! – by Jim George
Song of the South
May 8th, 2017
Spring is upon us, and for every southern birder, from novice to expert, there’s a marker that heralds the true arrival of the season. – By Mary Parker Sonis
Moving Martins
April 4th, 2017
Making a new home for displaced Purple Martins in Durham. – Mark Kosiewski
Feeder Watch
March 21st, 2017
Our veteran feeder watcher, Tom Driscoll, gives an update on what’s been happening at his feeders at winter’s end and gives advice about preparing for spring. – By Tom Driscoll
Now is the Time to Remove Invasive Plants
March 13th, 2017
This is a good time of year to remove those pesky invasive plants in your yard before too many native plants emerge. – By Barbara Driscoll
Winter Visitors
February 6th, 2017
Each winter I look forward to the return of the hermit thrush. – By Barbara Driscoll.
Fostering New Advocates for Birds
January 20th, 2017
What better place to start with promoting the conservation and enjoyment of birds and other wildlife than by educating our children. – By Tommy Richey
Mixed Flocks
January 8th, 2017
Chickadees and titmice, yes. But there’s a lot more going on in these woodland mixed flocks in winter. – By Norm Budnitz
How Many Sapsuckers?
November 19th, 2016
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers make the wells, but lots of other sap suckers take advantage of the sweet bounty. – by Norm Budnitz
Feeder Watch
November 4th, 2016
Our veteran feeder watcher, Tom Driscoll, tells us what to look for, offers advice, and answers your questions about feeding birds. – Tom Driscoll
Gray-cheeked Thrush Program
October 24th, 2016
Brian Pendergraft invites birders to his house to enjoy fall migratory birds, including the illusive Gray-cheeked Thrush. – by Brian Pendergraft
Youth Is Wasted on the Young!
October 6th, 2016
Vern finds his 1956 copy of the Golden Nature Guide entitled “Birds, A Guide to the Most Familiar American Birds.” Nostalgia is the sublime result. – By Vern Bothwell
Summer Days Looking Forward to Fall
August 29th, 2016
Soon fall will be here which is a great time for planting those bird-friendly perennials, shrubs and trees and for controlling invasive species. Learn more about what you can do to make your garden more bird friendly this fall. – by Barbara Driscoll
What We Did Last Year
August 21st, 2016
New Hope Audubon volunteers were very busy last year from May, 2015 to April, 2016, and we accomplished a tremendous amount. Read all about what we did last year. – by Tom Driscoll
Eastern Bluebirds
August 8th, 2016
This inaugural blog on our new website celebrates the Eastern Bluebird, an iconic species that exemplifies our mission and is featured in our new logo. – by Norm Budnitz