Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 21:30:33 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Kurt Gaskill Subject: Special Kiptopeke Challenge Opportunities! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Special Team Birding Opportunities for the Kiptopeke Challenge In an effort to increase participation in the Kiptopeke Challenge 2003 fundraiser, the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory has arranged with several land-use managers special, one-time only access to important natural areas that are often closed to the public. These areas are available to Special Teams that agree to spend at least a portion of their day birding these locations and raise at least $100 for the CVWO. The Special Teams are asked to keep a list of species and estimated numbers to be shared with the land-use manager and the CVWO. In this fashion more information about the extent of avian migration on the Virginia coastal region is obtained. Acknowledgement of the Special Teams' efforts will be made at the Eastern Shore Birding Festival. Captains of Special Teams should contact Kurt Gaskill (kurtcapt87@aol.com or 703 768 2172) in the near future to sign up for these locations and get the associated information packets. Act quickly - these are all limited opportunities and will go to the first to sign up! Migration Wave at Wise Point, ESVNWR The Wise Point area of ESVNWR is well known as an outstanding location to view migrants early in the day, especially during significant flights as the birds move through the Southern Tip. It consists of conifer forest, bushes, some grassy edges, salt marshes, meadows, and seasonal streams. Through special arrangement with ESVNWR, this normally closed area will be opened up to a Special Team for the day. The Special Team may also visit other normally closed areas in the refuge in the Southern Tip region. The ESVNWR is known to have ticks and chiggers and participants should come prepared. The information gathered will be used by the ESVNWR to document avian usage of the area. It will also be made available to the CVWO banding effort at Kiptopeke State Park for comparison with net data. The Team could combine this location with others to concentrate on the Southern Tip region (nearby preserves also available) to build up a sense of the day's migration events. Wreck Island NAP and Smith Island (TNC) Wreck Island NAP lies within the chain of barrier islands that parallel the seaside of the Eastern Shore and is 7 miles due east of Oyster, VA; the preserve is only accessible by boat. One of the most productive nesting sites on the Eastern Shore for colonial shorebirds, Wreck Island supports large colonies of Black Skimmers, a variety of Terns, and a large mixed-species heronry during the breeding season. The extensive marsh provides food and shelter for a variety of waterbirds throughout the year. Exposed peat banks, a dynamic barrier beach and sand bars on the east side of the island support diverse species of sandpipers and other beach foragers. Seaside Sparrows and other grassland species can be found within the dune grassland communities. Data collected during the Kiptopeke Challenge will be used to supplement the Natural Heritage stewardship inventory database and to direct future management decisions for the preserve. Smith Island (TNC) is approximately 3 miles from ESVNWR and is only accessible by boat. Similar to Wreck with extensive breeding shorebird colonies and key habitats for migratory birds, it is one of the few places in Virginia where Snowy Plover has been observed. Data collected will be shared with TNC to aid in management decisions. For strong paddlers, this location can be accessed by sea kayak (see Salt Marsh and Barrier Island Kayak Adventures for details). Brownsville Farm The Nature Conservancy of Virginia has kindly granted a Special Team access to Brownsville Farm. The entire 1200-acre reserve will be available and includes extensive sea-side salt marshes, tidal creeks and marshes, forest, and fields. These areas are critical to migrating birds for "fueling up" for southbound migration. This reserve also has a good population mix of local passerines, rails, and owls. The Team will meet with TNC staff at the property office located near Nassawadox before the KC for additional details and guidelines about the property. The TNC and CVWO would consider short stories or photographs of the Team's day on the farm for publication. This location could form a core portion of a Big Day (if desired) for specialization in Northhampton coastal habitats. First Landing State Park Dedicated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965, First Landing State Park possesses exceptional value as an illustration of the nation's natural heritage and contributes to a better understanding of Man's environment. Participants will have an opportunity to explore the park's fourteen natural community types, ten of which are considered rare or exceptional and, one, the maritime forest, is globally rare. Information collected during the event will be shared with the Virginia Beach chapter of the Audubon Society for refinement of their bird list that shows the probability of observing a particular species in any given month. If desired, this location could form the core of a "Big Day" focused on southeast coastal locations. Savage Neck Dunes NAP Savage Neck Dunes NAP, located near Eastville, VA, is a 299 acre preserve encompasses a variety of coastal habitats, including exemplary maritime forest, dune shrub and grassland communities and a mile of undeveloped Chesapeake Bay Shoreline. Holocene inland dunes of up to 50 feet, for which the preserve is named, are among the highest elevation points on the Eastern Shore. A large natural pond provides excellent habitat for wintering waterfowl. In addition, the preserve contains 84 acres of old agricultural fields, currently being restored to migratory songbird habitat. Data gathered during the Kiptopeke Challenge will be combined with an ongoing monitoring study of migratory and resident bird populations to guide future restoration and management decisions. This location can easily be combined with other Southern Tip locations for a full day. Parker's Marsh NAP Parker's Marsh NAP is located on the Chesapeake Bay in Accomack County. Bordered by Onancock and Chesconessex Creeks, this 750 acre preserve provides exemplary habitat for marsh birds and waterfowl, including the state rare Sharp-tailed Sparrow. The series of small creeks that wind through the marsh permit access to the interior of the marsh by kayak or canoe. Encircling the marsh are areas of sandy beach intertwined with exposed peat banks, providing foraging habitat for a variety of shorebirds. A thorough species inventory is being compiled for Parker's Marsh NAP. Data collected during the Kiptopeke Challenge will supplement the inventory and be used to guide future management decisions. (For those without canoe, sign up for Salt Marsh and Barrier Island Kayak Adventures for access.) Salt Marsh and Barrier Island Kayak Adventures The salt marshes and adjacent areas of the Eastern Shore are not only nurseries for millions of breeding birds, but also migratory and wintering grounds for countless others - herons, waterfowl, hawks, rails, shorebirds, warblers and sparrows. Through the special sponsorship of Southeast Expeditions, a limited number of sea kayaks will be made available to Special Teams focused on birding bay and coastal salt marshes such as the ESVNWR marsh and nearby Raccoon Island and the bayside Parker's Marsh (or your own location). And, thanks to the kind permission from TNC, strong paddlers may travel to and land on Smith Is. on the Atlantic side. Plus, you will enhance our knowledge of avian usage of these key habitats on Virginia's Eastern Shore during fall migration. This is the ideal opportunity for birders who love paddling - or paddlers who love birding! Whatever the case may be, sign your team up for a unique birdathon adventure! Overhead Migrants at the KSP Hawk Watch Platform Come out to one of the best spots on the east coast for watching migrating raptors (the record east coast Merlin flight was noted here!) - with the added benefit of observing migrating passerines! Located in Kiptopeke SP, the hawk watch platform will be staffed by pro-counter Jennifer Ottinger this year. This is a great location for visiting birders to participate in the Kiptopeke Challenge, if only for a short time. Assist Jennifer in counting hawks and find nearby passerines to make a list for the "Platform Potoos". All skill levels are welcome! Be sure to include your name and address with your donation for inclusion into the Official Summary of the Kiptopeke Challenge - and so we can mail your gift if you cannot attend the awards ceremony at the Eastern Shore Birding Festival! ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================