Scientists Use Data Collected by Citizen Scientists and Bird Watchers to Map Bird Migration

This may be of interest to local bird watchers.

From the article at All About Birds:

Scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have documented migratory movements of bird populations spanning the entire year for 118 species throughout the Western Hemisphere using millions of observations from the eBird citizen-science database. 

Read more about the work at [All About Birds], by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

REFERENCE

La Sorte, F.A., D. Fink, W.M. Hochachka, and S. Kelling. 2016. Convergence of broad-scale migration strategies in terrestrial birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 10.1098/rspb.2015.2588.

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Published at 4:44pam on Tuesday, March 30, 2021

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Weather Photo of the Morning 08-26-2020

Feeding the Family Photo by Bobby Coggins

It was 72° Fahrenheit in the Town Square at the corner of Main Street and Iotla Street in Franklin, NC at 11:00am on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.



CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.



Become a Patron!
Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia

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A Cardinal Outside My Window

A Cardinal outside my window. The only thing that is missing is some snow.

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Tufted Titmouse

A Tufted Titmouse in a tree above one of my bird feeders.

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Autumn 2011 Franklin Bird Club Activities

From my friends at the Franklin Bird Club:

Bird Friends,

Don't forget our last meeting of the year:  

October 17 at 7:00 at the Macon County Public Library

We have a special program:  Karen Lawrence and Barbara McRae will talk about "Birding Through the Camera:  Tips on Photographing Birds and Using Photos for Identification." We should see lots of bird photos and be inspired to do our own.

Our Greenway walks will continue though October so come out on Tuesdays/Wednesdays to watch for last migrants and other interesting birds.

And you can always check our bird happenings at our blog:  http://franklinbcb.wordpress.com/

The time is NOW to consider joining Cornell University’s PROJECT FEEDERWATCH which begins Nov. 12, 2011. This project is a fun way to learn about and enjoy the many birds that come to your feeders as well as other birds that visit the feeder area. It gives you a chance to “go birding” in the winter without leaving the warmth of your home, and you are also contributing to the research of scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. To join you can sign up online at http://www.feederwatch.org OR you can call (800)843-2473. There is a $15 fee to join and you will receive in the mail a kit which includes a beautiful bird poster, a birding calendar, a Handbook and Instructions, tally sheets, as well as a subscription to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology newsletter and Birdscope. You also have the option of sending in your bird lists by mail or entering the data online. LAST year there were 2 of us in Macon County involved in this project–hopefully we can have YOU and many others as well!!!!!

UPCOMING BIRD EVENTS (Events are free unless otherwise noted)

October 11

8:00 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Karen Lawrence. Walk will begin at the Greenway entrance

adjacent to the Macon County Public Library parking area.

October 12

9:30 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Paula Gorgoglione will begin at Salali Lane. Park in the lot off

Fox Ridge Rd., just south of the Flea Market on Highlands Rd.

October 17

7:00 pm

Franklin Bird Club meeting at Macon County Public Library. Karen Lawrence and Barbara

McRae will discuss photographing birds.

October 18

8:00 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Karen Lawrence. Walk will begin at the Greenway entrance

adjacent to the Macon County Public Library parking area.

October 19

9:30 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Paula Gorgoglione will begin at Salali Lane. Park in the lot off

Fox Ridge Rd., just south of the Flea Market on Highlands Rd.

October 21

9:00 am

The Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (LTLT) will host a nature walk at Tessentee Bottomland

Preserve in Macon County just south of Franklin. The walk will feature different forest stands,

historic farmhouse and silo, rivercane patch, and a great time to view the fall leaves. Tessentee

Bottomland Preserve is stop #53 on the NC Birding Trail with the preserve’s bird list at 126

species and butterfly list at 43 species and counting. The walk will be led by Jason Love, LTLT

board member and Site Manager for Coweeta Long Term Ecological Research. To get to

Tessentee Bottomland from Franklin; take the Georgia Rd. (US 23/US 441) south for

approximately 5.2 miles, turn left onto Riverside Rd and follow for 0.5 miles, turn right onto

Hickory Knoll Rd and follow for approx. 1.9 miles — the Preserve is located off a private drive

(2249 Hickory Knoll Rd) on the right-hand side of the road; parking area is on the left, before the

farm gate. For directions from other locations and to RSVP, contact Jill Wiggins at

outreach@ltlt.org or by calling 828-524-2711 x209.

October 25

8:00 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Karen Lawrence. Walk will begin at the Greenway entrance

adjacent to the Macon County Public Library parking area.

October 26

9:30 am

Bird walk along the Greenway with Paula Gorgoglione will begin at Salali Lane. Park in the lot off

Fox Ridge Rd., just south of the Flea Market on Highlands Rd.

October 28

7:30 pm

Highlands Plateau Audubon Society meeting. Program by the Eagle Lady.

Highlands Civic (Rec) Center

November 12

9:00 – 10:00 am

Fall Seminar provided by Blue Ridge Bird Seed Company: “Successful & Economical Bird

Feeding.” At Harvest on Main Restaurant, Blue Ridge, GA.

December 10

9:00 – 10:00 am

Fall Seminar provided by Blue Ridge Bird Seed Company: “Our Winter Birds.” At Harvest on

Main Restaurant, Blue Ridge, GA.

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Franklin Bird Club on the Greenway: July 12th and 13th Walks

From the mailbag:

The weekly Greenway walks continue

Both will begin at Salali Lane this week.  Park in the lot off Fox Ridge Rd., just south of the Flea Market on Highlands Rd. [see map at right for location]

Karen Lawrence's walk will be on Tuesday (7/12) at 8:00 am.  Check the blog for the species seen last week (total of 32):  
Bring your binoculars and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Greenway.

Paula Gorgoglione will begin her walk at 9:30 am on Wednesday (7/13).

Hope to see you on the Greenway this week.

Don't forget to check our blog for other events.

Franklin Bird Club Blog
Little Tennessee Greenway

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Critter Diner

When I quipped earlier today "film at 11", I had no idea that the Commissioners Meeting would last as long as it did. That meeting lasted for 4 hours, and I'll post it in sections as I can.


This video is of a Cardinal, Chickadee and a Chipmunk as they visit my bird feeder in quick succession...

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365 Photos Project

This is one of the photos from my 365 Photos Project on my photoblog. I've committed to posting a photo a day throughout 2010. You can see the ones I taken so far at WNC Citizens Blog.

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Shake Your Tail Feather

I have no idea what kind of bird this is or even who sings the song, but this dancing bird is adorable!!!

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Miracle Landing on the Hudson by Flight 1549

Just wow! What quick thinking by the pilot, the crew and passengers as they reacted to the situation with calm purpose. And kudos to the commercial ferry pilots, crews and passengers as they rendered aid to those on US Airways Flight #1549.

As you undoubtedly already know, an Airbus A.320 crash-landed on the Hudson River yesterday afternoon. Us Airways Flight #1549 took off from La Guardia on a flight to Charlotte, NC.

Reports indicate that several large birds (geese) were sucked into one of the engines and the turbine disintegrated, forcing the pilot [his webpage] to seek a place to put down in a hurry. He chose to put it down in the Hudson River, and warned the passengers to prepare for impact. The Smoking Gun has more on the pilot. 

Radar Data Courtesy Flight Aware

There were 150 passengers, 3 Flight Attendants and 2 Pilots on board, and all survived the crash. [Plane Spotter data on plane] [Airliner Gallery]

Immediately after the water landing, every available boat on the Hudson River made for the crash to render assistance to the passengers and crew. People were plucked from the frigid waters and from the wings on the slowly sinking plane. 

More information from the Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre is in this pdf download.

New York Times article and an article in the New York Daily News.

Here is a video of the plane in the water:

NBC Special Report

The flight left La Guardia at 3.26pm and landed in the water at 3.32pm.

Here is the text of a Press Release by US Airways:

Latest statement regarding flight 1549

(Released 6:38 PM Eastern Time)

US Airways CEO Doug Parker makes statement regarding flight 1549

TEMPE, AZ - January 15, 2009

US Airways (NYSE: LCC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker made a statement regarding flight 1549 this afternoon. Parker spoke at US Airways headquarters in Tempe. His remarks follow:

"Thank you for joining us so quickly. US Airways flight 1549 has been involved in an accident. The Airbus A320 was en route to Charlotte from LaGuardia with 150 passengers onboard. The flight was operated with a crew of 5 (2 pilots and 3 flight attendants). Our preliminary report is that everyone is off the plane. 

We have activated our 'US Airways Care' team of specially trained employee volunteers to assist those affected by this accident. Individuals who believe they may have family members on board flight 1549 may call US Airways at 1-800-679-8215 within the United States. This number can be reached toll-free from international locations through AT&T’s USADirect®. To contact an AT&T operator, please visit http://www.usa.att.com/traveler for USADirect® access codes. 

Others are asked not to call this number so the lines can be kept available for those who truly need them. It is premature to speculate about the cause of this accident. Out of respect for those affected by these events, we would ask that you, the media, also resist the temptation to speculate. 

The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the probable cause with our complete support and the support of many others. Further, we are working with and will continue to cooperate fully with the NTSB, local, state and national authorities and answers will emerge in the course of the investigation. 

I will be heading to New York shortly. Right now, we're working to care for those who have been touched by this accident. Members of our airline family will come together with these families to help however we can. 

In closing, safety is, has been and forever will be our foremost priority. All of us at US Airways are committed to determining the cause of this event and to assist in every way possible in preventing a similar occurrence."

US Airways will continue to release information as it becomes available. Please monitor usairways.com for the latest information. 

Parker made his statement before departing for LaGuardia. He will join the US Airways Care Team, which is already en route to look after the needs of those involved in today's accident. 

US Airways will continue to release information as it becomes available. Please monitor usairways.com for the latest information. (LCCG) 

- LCC -
Contact: Media Relations 480-693-5729

Statement 3 (released 5:43 PM Eastern Time) 
Statement 2 (released 4:49 PM Eastern Time) 
Statement 1 (released 4:12 PM Eastern Time) 

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Who Are You Looking At?

Cardinals sure are skittish creatures. About half a second after I snapped this shot, he was gone.

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