Subject: Cape May Nature Notes, 20 April, 1995

From: Hank Brodkin <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:49:18 -0700

The following Nature Notes have been excepted with permission from the
transcription of the Cape May Rare Bird Alert.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Hank Brodkin <[email-masked]> Marina Del Rey, CA
                        33.58'24"N 118.27'39"W
 finger <[email-masked]> for information about the Calbird-L Mail List

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 95 18:56:59 EDT
From: Laurie Larson <[email-masked]>
Subject: RBA: Cape MAy, April 20 1995

- Transcript
Hotline:      Cape May Birding Hotline
Date:         Apr. 20, 1995
Number:       609-884-2626
To Report:    609-884-2736
Coverage:     Cape May, Cumberland and Altantic Co., NJ
Compiler:     Cape May Bird Observatory staff
Transcriber:  Laurie Larson ([email-masked])

You have reached the Cape May Birding Hotline, a service of
the New Jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory.
Highlights for the week ending Apr. 20 include sightings of
LAPLAND LONGSPUR, MARBLED GODWIT, COMMON BLACK-HEADED GULL,
spring migrants, returning breeders, local nature notes,
and announcements.

(Bird stuff deleted -HB)

Local nature notes follow.

After last year's lack of PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES due to
the severity of the previous winter, it is obvious that
they've rebounded and are on the move northward to
repopulate our area. Migrations of PAINTED LADIES and
AMERICAN LADIES were witnessed April 19 and 20, passing
over the South Cape May Meadows and inland to Belleplain
Forest. The first MONARCH was seen on April 9, and another
on the 16th, and 2 on April 20. These individuals are the
grandchildren of the Monarchs that migrated through here
last Fall and spent the winter in Mexico.

CMBO'S first Spring Butterfly walk on April 19 enjoyed 14
species, including FALCATE ORANGE-TIP, HENRY'S BROWN, and
PINE ELFIN, and JUVENAL'S DUSTY-WING. FROSTED ELFINS are
out in Belleplain, and HOARY ELFINS are out in the Pine
Barrens, where their hostplant, Bearberry, grows. Nectar
sources in the spring are often scarce; many of the
butterflies we've seen have been coming to Purple
Bed-nettle, Dandelion, Wild Mustard, and budding trees like
Red Maple.

Some of the large Silk Moths are emerging. A LUNA MOTH was
seen on the night of April 18. Huge GREEN DARNER
dragonflies have arrived from the south. PINE BARRENS
TREEFROGS were heard calling on April 20, and FOWLERS TOADS
are heard in the State Park ponds and the Meadows.
CARPENTER FROGS can be heard hammering. Shadbush is in
bloom, a small tree with clusters of creamy white flowers
which bloom when the Shad are running.

[program announcements omitted]
Fine print: Cape May Bird Observatory is a research and
education unit of the New Jersey Audubon Society. Our aim
is to perpetuate and preserve the ornithological
significance of Cape May. Your membership supports these
goals and this birding hotline. For more information
regarding Cape May birding, our programs and field trips,
phone our office or write to CMBO, PO Box 3, Cape May
Point, NJ 08212. If you're in the area please stop by our
headquarters at 707 East Lake Drive, Cape May Point.

The Cape May birding hotline [(609) 884-2626] is a service
of Cape May Bird Observatory and includes sightings from
Cape May, Atlantic, and Cumberland counties and adjacent
areas. Updates are made on Thursday evening, more often if
warranted. [Compiled by CMBO staff; transcribed by L.
Larson ([email-masked]).] Please report
sightings of rare or unusual birds to CMBO at (609)
884-2736. Thank you for calling; good birding.

- End transcript