Tag Archives: birds

To See Chincoteague Ponies, Wildlife Assateague Bus Tour Is Best Bet

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By Cyndel Brunell

”What kind of bird is that?”

“How much smaller are the Chincoteague ponies from regular sized horses?”

“Are there any foals this time of year?”

“How deep is the water they swim in?”

If you want answers to these questions and many more you should take the bus tour out into the wilderness of Assateague Island on the East Coast of Virginia. On this ride you will see the world famous Chincoteague ponies and other wildlife in their natural habitat. 

The tour bus begins it 2012 schedule April 6 with a Friday trip at 4 p.m. For current information regarding wildlife tours, or to purchase tickets, inquire at the refuge visitor center or call the CNHA office at (757) 336-3696

The CNHA offers visitors the opportunity to tour the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge during the months of April to November. The tour accesses areas of the refuge that are normally only open to foot traffic. The tour covers approximately 15 miles and lasts about 90 minutes.

Depending on the time of year, foals may be frolicking in the vast forest and bush of the island or mares may be grazing in the saltwater grasses. Always standing guard nearby, is the stallion who commands a band of mares and foals. The bus leaves from near the information center and has now been in operation for a little over six years. In October I went on my first bus tour. The tours are ran by the Chincoteague Natural History Association, a large group of volunteers that supports agencies that run this national park in many ways.

The bus takes you 7 ½ miles out into the wilderness. Inside the bus there is a wheelchair lift, two double seated flip up benches, and individual seats two next to each other going down the aisle. Each seat has a very large window with hatches so you can take pictures without the interference of glass. Some drivers will tell you not to open the hatches, however. Many people from around the world go to the refuge to experience this tour of the island trails.

You can see many ponies of the larger northern herd on this trip, the herd that is kept out of sight of the public until Pony Penning. This is the big event that draws thousands to Chincoteague and Assateague each July. Ponies are not the only animals you will see on this relaxing yet exciting nearly two-hour journey. The smaller southern herd of wild ponies is sometimes seen right from your car on the right side of Beach Road, on the way out to the Atlantic Ocean.

On your bus trip you may also see sika elk, white tailed deer, turtles, egrets, snow geese, hawks, eagles, Canada geese, the glossy ibis and other migrating birds. With any luck you might see a Delmarva fox squirrel, an endangered animal that gets lots of attention from park managers. And in the nesting season you might get a distant look at a piping plover cage that provides protection against predators. The piping plover is a small at risk bird. Each trip promises something new.

The driver will stop or slow down whenever they see something and will normally give you a description of the animal. On rare occasions however, there can be a few surprises that you may not see regularly. Horses sometimes interact with other animals, or a predator bird catching food in a near-view. There are always unexpected happenings on this tour.

One thing is for certain though, you are sure to learn a lot about this historic barrier island from the driver-tour guides. The drivers are very well informed and just full of interesting details. You will most likely be with people from all over the country and even other countries. The questions above the first paragraph were asked on a tour this past summer by guests from Annapolis, Md., Long Island, New York; Michigan and Accomack County.

This is not a rushed tour and it is not expensive. For tour times and prices go to www.assateague.com. One word of caution, there are nice, clean restrooms at the information center where you buy your tickets, but this is the last one you will see until you return. Passengers are not allowed to get off the bus.

The information center which now runs the bus tours is where you buy tickets. It is a good idea to call in advance, because many trips are sold out. Officials of the historical association have talked about getting another bus. Also they run special tours upon request in advance. I hope I have inspired some readers to consider going on this tour. It is the only way, really, to be sure you will see the wild ponies up close by traveling on land. Unless, of course you want to hike the seven miles out, which some people do. The drivers and tour guides are well informed. I will assure you that you will at least be stunned, marveled, fascinated or surprised at things you may see or learn. I know I enjoyed this wilderness adventure and hope you will too.

 

Refuge Staff Goes All Out for ‘A Celebration of Migration’

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By Robert Boswell

Publisher, Wild Pony Tales

This is the time of year when the outstanding work of the biologists and park rangers at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the National Park Service is showcased, helped along of course by the arrival of the snow geese and other migrating waterfowl.

I sometimes worry that the year-long fallout from the alternative beach parking controversy will overshadow all that is good about having the Refuge so close, about having a place we can go where it is quiet and we can, at least for a few hours, give our minds a break.

No matter what our views are on the future of beach parking and refuge management let’s not forget to give credit to the highly qualified and dedicated staff members who keep the place running every day of the year. I do not say this tritely or lightly.

I have taken our writers to Assateague many times to gather information for the stories on this website and I cannot recall an instance when our sources – I mean Lou Hinds, his managers, the biologists and park rangers – were not helpful and knowledgeable. Most of the people at the Refuge have degrees it took them years to obtain.

When I was teaching journalism in middle school I would sometimes have a student working on a class assignment call Amanda Daisy, the wildlife biologist, right from class, a real life interview by a 6th or 7th grader.

On a sad note I want to mention a park ranger who was especially helpful to us, Barry Brookshire. Barry was at the Refuge for 16 months until his contract ran out and then he returned to his home in Texas. But soon after he was found to have a malignant tumor in his colon. Doctors were successful in treating Barry but he has been unable to return to work. While at the Refuge he answered many questions for our young writers with all the patience of the teacher that he once was. At the Refuge Barry was what he called a “roving ranger,” moving around the pathways, talking to people, answering questions. If he didn’t know the answer he would go and find it.

Waterfowl Week is a special time at the Refuge. We have the event highlights in another story but what follows are more details, the times, places and descriptions of the activities coming up over Thanksgiving. Every single event is worth attending.

One of the big issues I have with the whole Assateague show is how easy it is to come here and never see a pony, or see them only at a great distance. When our niece, Marcy, was little I don’t think we got to see any ponies, except the ones at McDonalds for which I was thankful, until her third visit. And she only made it here once a year. We did see plenty of evidence, but few ponies.

Naturalist: Details Count When Watching Birds

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By Betsy Muente

Many types of ducks feed with tails up and heads below the water. Skimmers glide with uneven bills just below the surface of the water waiting to feel the touch of food on their bills. Osprey and eagles soar gracefully through the sky then catch their food with their powerful talons.

George Budd, Naturalist

These are some of the details about birds on the Eastern Shore presented by George Budd, a master naturalist, to an audience at the  Herbert H. Bateman Visitor Center of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The “talk” is one in a series to be sponsored this year by the Chincoteague Natural History Association

The audience was shown intriguing up-close pictures of local birds in their natural habitats. Everyone’s eyes seemed glued to the screen as Mr. Budd showed his pictures and talked about how to tell one warbler from another. He played audio clips  of some birds as their pictures were shown. Other types of birds were shown and details were pointed out so we could see the differences to help us recognize Eastern Shore birds.

 Mr. Budd didn’t always have such an eye for spotting, or as he says, seeing birds. Identifying them came later.

Mr. Budd retired to the peninsula a few years ago. An interest in birds and trips into the marshes and woodlands with friends helped him see what was there but had been hidden from his eyes. More sound clips of bird calls were played showing our ears can be very helpful as well.

Mr. Budd’s interest in sharing his knowledge of Eastern shore birds with refuge visitors prompted him to become a master naturalist focusing on local birds. “Nature is just too broad a topic to not focus on a special interest,” he said. People interested in more information about master naturalists can try virginiamasternaturalist.org

While the audience viewed the array of colors, Mr. Budd pointed out differences in types of warblers, woodpeckers, waterfowl, raptures and more. “Main body color is a good start,” he said. “Look at beaks, size, body types and tail shapes. The smaller details can be key to identification.”

Look carefully at egrets, the naturalist said. The great egret, not only has its size, but also a long yellow bill and black feet. The snowy egret is smaller,  black bill, black legs with yellow feet. The cattle egret sometimes seen on the horses has patches of yellowish feathers on head, chest and beak. Beware though, because I just found out that the little blue heron has a whitish phase. Noticing details can make identification a lot of fun.

In each marvelous photo, one also saw part of the bird’s habitat. Mr. Budd joked about his property originally having lots of rose bushes which attracted Japanese beetles. As the roses died, his wife replaced them with perennials creating a new habitat. Suddenly the yard became alive with life, especially birds. He stresses being aware of what birds like to eat and other needs.

The bills are a key for what birds eat. Short and sturdy identifies seed eaters; while those with a little longer and thinner beaks are insect eaters. He began to see varieties of acrobatic woodpeckers, insect catching warblers and beautiful indigo buntings. “Plant your yard for attracting insects, such as butterflies, and/ or growing seeds.  Be patient, watch and ‘see’ what you couldn’t before.”Mr. Budd said.

 

The talk was filled with details and differences about Eastern Shore birds. Yellow rump warblers dance in the air. Great blue herons stand still or move in slow motion looking for food form such interesting curved poses. “Listening to some birds, we learned that their calls actually gave them their names,” said Mr. Budd. He admitted thinking of all gulls as sea gulls until friends pointed out differences in types of gulls and terns.   

Mr. Budd asked people to remember there’s more out there than birds. Flowers, dragonflies, frogs, butterflies and so much more are to be watched and enjoyed. Some equipment can help, he said. One of the first is a pair of binoculars. The Bateman Center has some that can be signed out at the visitor’s desk. Field guides are a must to identify new birds. Mr. Budd uses a Nikon 70x 300 zoom that he got free for points. He likes the smaller lens for mobility. He suggests that a big money investment isn’t necessary especially to start.

The history association sponsors events and activities promote a better understanding and appreciation of the Chincoteague refuge. The association may be reached at www.cnha@verizon.net or 757 336-3696. The association website is www.piping-plover.org.

Betsy Muente is a staff writer for Wild Pony Tales.

Ducks Swim Into Traps But Find Friendly Captors

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By Sarah Taylor and Robert Boswell

If you were one of the black ducks that stops over for rest in the winter at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge you might find a welcome meal of corn waiting for you along one of the waterways.  No problem getting to it, just swim through an open space in some wire and there it is.

But guess what. You have just been trapped. That open space you swam through to get to the corn only goes one way. You cannot swim back out.

You will, however, get to help from the biologists at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge who are trying to learn more about black ducks. Chances are you will be taken out of the trap, a big wire cage, the next morning and cuddled safely in someone’s arms. You will be written up in a special record book. Then you might have a small metal band carefully attached to one of your legs before you can fly away to another spot on the refuge, to wait for spring and the long journey north to feeding grounds in Canada.

We got a ride out to the duck catching area from Janelle Walters, a biological science technician at the refuge. She took us on the service road that runs nearly eight miles out into the northern part of the refuge. On the way we saw the famous ponies, egrets and other birds, and even a baby box turtle.

On the way out Ms. Walters explained that capturing the black ducks helps keep track of their population within the salt marshes of Assateague Island. “The grasses in the salt marshes are very critical habitat for black ducks to feed and rest during their migration,” she said. “We capture them to gather scientific data,” said Ms. Walters.

On the day we were along with her we didn’t actually see any ducks. She said they had stopped coming the week before, near the end of the catching time, March 20. But she showed us how the whole process works.

To band the ducks they first have to catch them. So they build big cages out of wire and metal. The cages are made so the ducks can get inside but can’t get out until they are taken out.  The cage is placed in shallow water and the biologists then trick the ducks to come in by adding  corn as bait.

The bait the biologist use to capture the black ducks will catch the duck’s eyes and, while the duck is swimming. it will go to the corn which is inside the cage. Soon other ducks swim in and all of them will become part of the research. 

Traps, she said, are baited either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Either way the biologists show up within hours. Ms. Walters showed how they can close the top part of the trap and lift it by a handle out of the water onto a nearby location on land. Then, one by one, the ducks can be taken out and calmed by cradling them. “They really calm down once you are holding them. They feel relaxed.”

The tools and record books used by the biologists are kept in a backpack, including a string of metal bands.  The first job, said Ms. Walters, is find out if you have a “clean” duck. This is a duck that has not already been banded. Next they check their sex, age and if they are  healthy.

  Then, using a special tool called a crimper, they open the right size band and place it on a duck’s leg. The crimper is set to allow just the right pressure to close the band without injuring the duck.

Ms. Walter said they work in teams. They double check each action, calling out, for example, “Putting on band 56.” Each band has a unique number.

She said the information collected is used by a lot of people. “Migratory information is really important,” she said.

Black duck banding also takes place on Fisherman’s Island on the lower part of the Eastern Shore. Wildlife specialists from the state also help out with banding on the Assateague refuge.

Kevin Holcomb, the supervisory wildlife biologist, told about another way of catching ducks. The wire cage is called a “confusion trap” but they also use “rocket traps.” With this method ducks go to the bait and then small rockets are fired which carry a net over the ducks.

Mr. Holcomb said other bird banding takes place on Assateague. He said Dick Roberts has been catching and banding small birds for years. “He has a wealth of knowledge and is a volunteer not affiliated with the state.”

All of the information collected by Mr. Roberts and by the refuge biologists is sent to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

Sarah is a 5th grade student at Kegotank Elementary School near Chincoteague Island and Mr. Boswell is publisher of Wild Pony Tales.

BLACK DUCK FACTS:

·       The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is on the Atlantic Flyway, the main north-south migration route for birds.

·       The first record of a metal band attached to a bird’s leg was about 1595 when one of Henry IV’s banded Peregrine Falcons was lost in pursuit of a bustard, a large bird, in France. The falcon showed up 24 hours later 1350 miles away.

·       In 1899 a Danish school teacher, Hans Mortensen, began placing aluminum rings on the legs of European teal, pintail, white storks, starlings and hawks. He wrote his name and address on the bands in hopes they would be returned to him. His system of banding became the model for banding done by biologists today.

·       Between 1909 and 1939 a pioneer in bird banding,  Jack Miner,  established a waterfowl sanctuary in Ontario, Canada and banded 20,000 Canada Geese. Many bands were returned to him by hunters.

·       The North American banding program grew out of work by the Bureau of Biological Survey and Canadian Wildlife Service. Bird banding data from North America is now sent to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

·       Banding research has revealed that some species of birds go south in one pathway and return north by another pathway.

·       The Arctic Tern makes the longest migration flight of any living species, making an annual round trip of 25,000 miles.

·       Bird banding allows researchers to reconstruct the movements of the individual bird.

Children, Parents Enjoy International Migratory Bird Day at the Refuge

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By Misty Thornton

Co-Editor, Wild Pony Tales

On an hot early morning on Assateague Island, VA, bird-lovers, park rangers and visitors gathered to enjoy a day full of family learning as well as some games and entertaining exhibits.

As we crossed the Assateague Channel Bridge to the beautiful island of Assateague, the air was moist and the sun was hot, but nothing was going to stop the excitement that was fluttering in the hearts of children and their parents. At the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge parking lots were filling up fast as people from all around came to enjoy themselves at the International Migratory Bird Day Festival.

Tee shirts and carving lessons were available just ouside the refuge information center, along with hotdogs and bottles of water.

Walking through the first set of doors to the information center four exhibits lined the lobby’s walls. Carver Bill Cowen had on display about 20 of his best power carved birds of all shapes and sizes from an arrangement of owls to a bright red cardinal.

Mr. Cowen said one of his birds made second best in the world at a competition.  As a carving teacher of about 30 years he said, “I love carving. It’s just something you can sit back, relax, and not even think about it. It’s like everything around you disappears and only you and your carvings are left.”  Mr. Cowen has a place on the island but mainly lives in New Jersey with his family and his business.

Then, there was an assortment of birds, ducks, and fish carvings on the next table done by Ed Kuhn of Onancock, VA., and there was also an exhibit that had photographs of birds, sunsets and wildlife taken by Robert Wilson.

The next exhibit was by Donnie Thornton. His had bird feathers with hand painted fine art on the front. He’s lived on the island all his life and painting feathers is just what comes natural. He’s been painting island houses, ponies, birds and plants on feathers for 17 years now. “When I’m not painting, I’m playing with my horse, Nugget,” said Mr. Thornton.

Inside the information center there was plenty more for visitors to experience. The conference room was the place for children. There was face painting, woodcarving for kids, experts to talk about birds and fuzzy, live birds that would later get center stage in the Scales and Tales program in the auditorium.

Coming out of the conference room and back into the main center, were two main exhibits. Residents Wayne and JeanBonde had on exhibit a large variety of duck stamps representing each year since 1934.

“The migratory bird stamps have been around since the first one in 1934. We decided to collect them which meant we had to go back and get all the other stamps in the series that we didn’t have from 1934 until 1977, ” said Ms. Bonde. “We went to stamp shows trying to find as inexpensive  used ones as we could fine. It took us a while, maybe about 20 years.”

In the meantime, in 1977, they started buying a migratory bird stamp each year which keeps them up to date. The older used stamps, 1934 up to 1977, are all signed by the hunters using them.  “It is a requirement,” explained Mr. Bonde, “if you are going to hunt waterfowl, that you have one of the migratory bird stamps signed by you in your possession for that year. From 1977 on, all the migratory bird stamps I have are unsigned.

Right now a migratory bird stamp costs $15. “They can also be used to gain entrances onto refuges and state parks,” said Mr. Bonde.

Further along in the information center was an artist, Jenny Somers, who had hand painted over 50 pictures. She lives on Chincoteague. “Every moment of free time I have I’m usually painting the scenery and the world around me. What a better place to do that then right outside of my home.”

There were exhibits of photographs and more paintings. One thing that attracted the most attention wasn’t an exhibit at all. It was the live eagle cam which brings the eagles and on that day just-born eaglets right onto a TV screen in the information center. The actual nest is high in the pines just off the Wildlife Loop. With visitors and Wild Pony Tales cameras looking on the first of two eggs hatched right before our eyes. Visitors were overjoyed to see the mother caring for her baby. The two eggs were special to the refuge staff because the first three eggs had been destroyed in a wind storm.  (See separate story on the site.)

When the excitement died down it was time for the Scales and Tales presentation where Erica Mcgrath and Samantha Ford from the Conservation Corp. in Maryland gave detailed information on their animals they brought with them from Pocomoke River State Park. Their animals all have been wounded at some point in their life and have been taken under the park’s wing. The animals included from owls, turtles, falcons and even an Eastern King Snake. (See a separate story.)

The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the National Park Service both hold events and programs for families and children throughout the summer.