THE WOODPECKER POST

NEWSLETTER OF THE
COLUMBIA AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 5923 COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29250
May, 2001

Survivorship, Dispersal, and Diet

of Captive-reared and Wild-
reared Barn Owls (Tyto alba
pratincola) in the Southern
Piedmont of North Carolina

Marek K. Smith

Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department

Little is known about the post-release success of orphaned Barn Owls (Tyto
alba pratincola) reared in captivity or the effectiveness of captive-rearing processes
in preparing nestlings for the wild. Within a ten-county area of North Carolina in
1997-98, 15 captive-reared and 10 wild-reared juvenile Barn Owls were radio-
tracked from their release or natal sites, respectively. Diurnal roost sites were lo-
cated and pellets were collected.
Telemetric contacts ranged from less than 1 days to 116 days. Short-term
survivorship was similar among groups with only two documented deaths, one
captive-reared owl and one wild-reared owl. Captive-reared owls dispersed at sig-
nificantly greater rates than wild-reared owls and both groups dispersed in random
directions.
Prey composition was similar among groups with meadow vole (Microtus penn-
sylvanicus), short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), and hispid cotton rat
(Sigmodon hispidus) comprising the majority of prey items. Within-species tests of
prey size did not differ among groups, but captive-reared owls did take smaller
mammalian prey overall. Although the higher rates of dispersal of captive-reared
owls indicated low site fidelity to release sites and potential inexperience in locating
prey, the results of this study suggested that captive-reared owls can adapt to the di-
versity of prey in the natural environment and survive in the immediate weeks post-
release.

Tuesday, May 8, 7:30 PM

Swearingen Engineering Center, USC
Room 3C01
Main at Catawba Streets
 May Field Trip
For all field trips we suggest you bring binoculars, field guide, rain gear, water, food, and insect repellent (if you have them). Non-members and
novices are always welcome. The Columbia Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. The Columbia Audubon Society as-
sumes no responsibilities for injuries, personal or otherwise, that may occur while attending Society-sponsored events and will not be held liable
for any such injuries. Attend at your own risk. For more information, please call the InfoLine at (803) 748-9066.

Landsford Canal State Historic Park and is visited by many on their way along this 13
09:00 AM, Saturday, May 26 county route from the coast to the mountains.
The Audubon kiosk is dedicated to the memory of
Meet Steve Dennis (788-1854) at the Cracker Samuel L. Outen.
Barrel off Exit 19 (Farrow Road) of I-77 at 0730
AM, or if you can find the Park, meet at the Park On Sunday, May 20th at 2:00, the Francis
at 09:00 AM at the main park parking lot (at the Beidler Forest would like to invite the Columbia
picnic area, not the Nature Center or the down- Audubon Society to join them for a dedication
stream parking lot). We will bird and see (from a ceremony at the Four Holes Park, followed up by
distance) the rare Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies in a guided walk or canoe trip at the Sanctuary.
bloom. Former Columbia Audubon Society President
Phyllis Beasley will be among the speakers at
We will probably stay until lunch time. There this dedication.
is a nice picnic area at the Park, but it will proba-
bly be crowded since many people come to see So plan to make an afternoon of it and take
the Spider Lilies. advantage of this free opportunity. If you would
There may be a small fee to enter the Park. like to go on the canoe trip, you need to make
reservations as space is limited.
If there is interest afterward, we may make an Call (843) 462-2150 for information.
unofficial side trip to the Tom Mangum Bridge on
SC 200 to see the nesting Cliff Swallows. Upcoming Field Trips

We are planning a few summer field trips,

Dedication Ceremony at Francis Beidler which we will announce in the June Newsletter.
Forest Possibilities include Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctu-
ary, Mount Mitchell State Park, and Orangeburg
2:00 PM, Sunday, May 20 Super Sod Farm.

The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at the If anyone has suggestions for summer field
Francis Beidler Forest, is pleased to announce trip locations, please contact Steve C. Dennis at
the creation and installation of a new interpretive 788-1854, or stevecdennis@sc.rr.com.
kiosk located at Dorchester County's Four Holes
Park at the intersection of Route 78 and 178.
Working cooperatively with the Columbia Audu-
bon Society and the South Carolina National
Heritage Corridor, this exhibit highlights the
natural history of the greater Four Holes Swamp
Ecosystem. Other memorials in the park, feature
the human history of the area. Four Holes Park is
now an official Heritage Corridor Discovery Site
 Conservation News — Dan Tufford
Isolated wetlands legislation FY2001 eliminates funding for two scientific re-
search centers operated through the Smithsonian
This winter and spring the South Carolina Institute, including the National Zoo's Conserva-
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural tion and Research Center (CRC.) The reason be-
Resources has been considering various forms of hind the closure is the nebulous "modernization
a bill for the purpose of implementing regulatory effort," an explanation several lawmakers believe
protection of isolated wetlands in the state. This isn't good enough. In fact, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-
action was precipitated by a US Supreme Court Virginia) and a powerful member of the House
ruling early this year that ended federal protection Appropriations Committee, has demanded the
of these unique and important areas. The current Smithsonian reconsider its closure of the CRC,
bill, S.550, was passed out of the committee to calling it a "mistake." Upon release of this news,
the full Senate on April 12. At this writing there Rep. Wolf traveled to the CRC, where he prom-
has been no further action on the bill, and it is ised the employees he would "mount a strong re-
possible no more will be taken this year. sistance" to the closure.

Although S.550 is far from perfect protection, The CRC's captive breeding program pro-
it is clearly better than no protection at all. There vides hope for recovery of several highly endan-
are powerful constituents in South Carolina that gered bird species that are on the brink of extinc-
would prefer no protection. It was against these tion. CRC's programs are critical to the future of
that a loose coalition of environmental groups several Pacific Island birds, including the Mi-
worked long and hard to get what we have. The cronesian Kingfisher of Guam, the Guam Rail,
legislative session spans two-years, so more the Bali Mynah of Indonesia, the Marianas Crow
work will take place in 2002. and the Rota Bridled-White Eye of the Marianas
Islands, and the Iiwi and Amakiki of Hawaii. The
CAS (and the South Carolina environmental CRC's captive breeding programs lead to reintro-
community) owes a debt of gratitude to the stu- duction of endangered species to their native
dent attorneys at the USC Environmental Law habitats.
Clinic. Tara Allden, Amy Armstrong, and
Jeanette Ciabattari (along with their faculty advi- CRC partners with scientists throughout the
sor Kim Diana Connolly) worked well beyond world to recover such endangered species as the
any reasonable expectation on this project. TheirRed-crowned Crane from Russia and China, the
golden-lion tamarin, the Prezwalski's horse, and
contribution to this important effort was signifi-
cant. dozens of others. Closing the CRC would inter-
rupt or cause the cessation of several important
National Conservation Center Slated for programs and partnerships that promote the ex-
Extinction change of cutting-edge conservation technology.
The following is edited from material received That's why Audubon and our partners in conser-
from NAS: vation are working together to ensure the CRC
stays open and continues to produce and provide
One of the nation's most celebrated research species-saving data and information.
centers devoted to the preservation and restora- To encourage your lawmakers to weigh in on
tion of endangered species may be forced to shut this subject, use this link:
its doors, as yet another victim of the Bush http://www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/
Budget. President Bush's budget proposal for contact/default.asp?subject=33
 Directors & Chairs 2001 National Audubon Society
Volunteers are always welcome!! Chapter Membership Application
President: Robin Carter 782-8820
Vice President: Available! Yes, I’d like to join.
Secretary: Heidi Hoerman 695-2814 Please enroll me as a member of the National Audubon
Treasurers: Kevin & Gloria Kenney 432-8995 Society and of my local chapter. Please send AUDUBON
Conservation: Dan Tufford 782-6848 magazine and my membership card to the address below.
Programs: Caroline Eastman 782-8820 My check for $20 (introductory rate) is enclosed.
Field Trips: Robin Carter-Temporary name__________________________________________
Membership: Caroline Eastman-Temporary address________________________________________
Education: Paula Feldman 787-5818
city___________________________________________
Publicity: Cindy Woods 353-7135
Please make checks payable to the National Audubon Society
Newsletter: Steve C. Dennis 788-1854
Send this application and your check to:
Webmaster: T. Parkin Hunter
National Audubon Society
Chapter Membership Data Center
CAS INFOLINE: (803) 748-9066 P.O. Box 51001 Boulder, CO 80322-1001
CAS WEBSITE: ---------------------------LOCAL CHAPTER------------------------
www.columbia-audubon.org Columbia Audubon Society U52
NAS Website: P.O. Box 5923 Local Chapter Code
www.audubon.org Columbia, SC 29250 7XCHA

Nominees for CAS Board of

Directors Surveying Needed
Election at May Member Meeting

Nominees for the 2000-2001 Board are listed The boundaries are slowly becoming ob-
below. Please attend the Member Meeting and scured at Charleston Natural History Society’s
show your support for the new Board. Wannamaker Nature Preserve near St. Mat-
thews.
President, acting Field Trip Chair -- Robin Carter If you are a Surveyor who would like to donate
Vice President / President-Elect / some time and expertise, or know one who
Acting Treasurer -- Heidi Hoerman
Secretary -- Bob Ellis would, please contact Sanctuary Manager Norm
Newsletter -- Steve C. Dennis Brunswig at National Audubon Society’s Francis
Conservation Chair -- Dan Tufford Beidler Forest at (843) 462-2150, or e-mail
Education Chair -- Paula Feldman Beidler@infoave.net, or contact Steve C. Dennis
Membership, acting Program Chair -- Caroline Eastman at 788-1854 or e-mail stevecdennis@sc.rr.com.
Publicity -- Cindy Woods
Webmaster -- T. Parkin Hunter

COLUMBIA AUDUBON SOCIETY Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage
P.O. BOX 5923
P-A-I-D
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA 29250 PERMIT No. 1371
Columbia, S.C.

SOUTH CAROLINIANS COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION