text:
Authored by Jeff Beane, trip leader.
15 April 2023 (9:00 a.m. – ca. 5:30 p.m.)
NC Sandhills (Moore, Richmond, and Scotland counties)
Participants: Jeff Beane, Louise Belk, Mary Frazer, Ernie Hahn, Stephanie Horton, Michelle Measday, Tess Moody, Dave Powell, Stephen Prior
We had a great time.
We saw many wildflowers.
Unusual find of the day: Mary spotted this Venus Flytrap in an area west of the species' known range, in a county that has been intensively surveyed by botanists for decades. Flytraps are transplanted by well-meaning but misguided plant enthusiasts, and given that this is an extremely well-known botanical site, several the state's botanists agree that this occurrence probably represents an introduction.
Vertebrate Species Observed (list is probably incomplete)
Elassoma evergladei Everglades Pygmy Sunfish (at least 2)
Necturus punctatus Dwarf Mudpuppy (several juveniles)
Notophthalmus viridescens dorsalis Broken-striped Newt (1 adult)
Eurycea arenicola Carolina Sandhills Salamander (1 larva)
Pseudotriton m. montanus Eastern Mud Salamander (1 adult)
Acris gryllus Southern Cricket Frog (several seen and heard)
Hyla andersonii Pines Barrens Treefrog (a few heard)
Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper (tadpoles seen)
Rana [Lithobates] clamitans Green Frog (a few heard; a few tadpoles seen)
Rana sphenocephala Southern Leopard Frog (many tadpoles seen)
Kinosternon s. subrubrum Eastern Mud Turtle (1 juv.)
Sceloporus undulatus Eastern Fence Lizard (1 adult)
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus Six-lined Racerunner (1 dead adult)
Eumeces [Plestiodon] fasciatus Five-lined Skink (1 adult)
Eumeces [Plestiodon] inexpectatus Southeastern Five-lined Skink (1 juv.)
Heterodon platirhinos Eastern Hognose Snake (1 adult female DOR)
Pituophis m. melanoleucus Northern Pine Snake (1 telemetered adult male)
Aix sponsa Wood Duck
Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove
Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker
Dryobates pubescens Downy Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus Red-bellied Woodpecker
Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird
Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike
Vireo flavifrons Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo
Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow
Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay
Baeolophus bicolor Tufted Titmouse
Poecile carolinensis Carolina Chickadee
Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow
Sitta pusilla Brown-headed Nuthatch
Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina Wren
Polioptila caerulea Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
Turdus migratorius American Robin
Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird
Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird
Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebird
Haemorhous mexicanus House Finch
Spinus tristis American Goldfinch
Peucaea aestivalis Bachman's Sparrow
Pipilo erythrophthalmus Eastern Towhee
Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow
Spizella pusilla Field Sparrow
Icterus spurius Orchard Oriole
Parkesia motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush
Setophaga americana Northern Parula
Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler
Setophaga dominica Yellow-throated Warbler
Setophaga pinus Pine Warbler
Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart
Cardinalis cardinalis Northern Cardinal
Sigmodon hispidus Hispid Cotton Rat
authored by Erik Thomas
On June 15, I conducted some bird counts at the Lumber River Important Bird Area (IBA), which the Wake Audubon Society monitors. Counting consists of stopping for ten minutes at designated spots and making a record of all birds seen or heard. All of the sites in the Lumber River IBA are wetland habitats. This time, however, I decided to do something a little different. I counted at six of the designated sites along Ashpole Swamp, which parallels the South Carolina border a few miles away, and six other spots at nearby upland sites that are not designated locations.
The contrast in birdlife between the bottomland sites and the upland sites was striking. Down in the bottomlands, birds of wooded swamps were plentiful. I heard Yellow-billed Cuckoos at several sites, Red-shouldered Hawks at a few, and various kinds of woodpeckers. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were easy to find, and I heard—but only occasionally saw—quite a few Carolina Wrens and some Acadian Flycatchers. Prothonotary Warblers, Northern Parulas, and Yellow-throated Warblers were actively defending territories. Here and there a White-eyed Vireo chattered. There was even a flock of Wood Storks passing overhead.
Just up the hill from the swamp, however, the birds changed dramatically. Three members of the icterid family—the Eastern Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole, and Red-winged Blackbird—appeared there. Indigo Buntings were singing at several spots, and Northern Mockingbirds guarded yards throughout. Mourning Doves sat on power lines or flew by nearly everywhere. Cattle Egrets were attending a group of steers at one site and a Chipping Sparrow was singing heartily at another. Most impressively, a congregation of Mississippi Kites—I counted nine, but there may have been more—was sailing over some fields.
If you'd like to see more details, I've uploaded all the counts I did to eBird. One additional sighting I had was a series of realtor signs in Ashpole Swamp. It seems that most of the swamp is for sale. It's too wet to develop for housing (fortunately!), but logging interests may want to pounce on it. It would be desirable if the state or an environmental organization could acquire this valuable and extensive habitat, perhaps to be added to Lumber River State Park at some future date.
–Erik Thomas
Authored by Jeff Beane
Date: 10-11 May 2016
Team: Jeff Beane, Ed Corey, Bob Davis, John Finnegan, Stephanie Horton ("24-Hour Dream Team") [Also, Nathan Shepard set minnow traps for us in the Sandhills on Tuesday, resulting in three species we did not encounter otherwise.] Species counted: Vertebrates
Time spent: 24 hrs. We officially began our count at 8:11 a.m. on 10 May and ended at 8:11 a.m. on 11 May. Beane, Corey, and Davis participated for the entire 24 hours; Finnegan and Horton participated for about the first 8-9 hours and rejoined us for about the last 2 hours.
Area covered: Our search included portions of Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Hoke, Moore, New Hanover, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland counties, NC. We began at 1208 Canal Drive (ca. 1.0 airmi. NNE Carolina Beach) in New Hanover County and ended on the Sandhills Game Lands (ca. 5.2 airmi. NW of Marston) in Richmond County.
Weather: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy with a high temperature around 90F and lows in the low 60sF. Techniques: Most species were observed via visual and auditory searches, while walking and driving. Binoculars and a spotting scope were used to assist in viewing many species. Several species were taken in dipnets, a 12-ft. seine, and minnow traps; and several were found by turning natural and artificial surface cover. Several species were observed only as road-kills or otherwise dead specimens; these are noted by an asterisk (*).
Lepisosteus osseus Longnose Gar
Amia calva Bowfin
Brevoortia tyrannus Atlantic Menhaden *
Umbra pygmaea Eastern Mudminnow
Esox americanus Redfin Pickerel
Esox niger Chain Pickerel
Notropis maculatus Tailllight Shiner
Notropis petersoni Coastal Shiner
Cyprinodon variegatus Sheepshead Minnow
Fundulus heteroclitus Mummichog
Fundulus lineolatus Lined Topminnow
Fundulus majalis Striped Killifish
Lucania parva Rainwater Killifish
Gambusia holbrooki Eastern Mosquitofish
Heterandria formosa Least Killifish
Poecilia latipinna Sailfin Molly
Aphredoderus sayanus Pirate Perch
Chologaster cornuta Swampfish
Pomatomus saltatrix Bluefish *
Opsanus tau Oyster Toadfish *
Labidesthes [sicculus] vanhyningi Southern Brook Silverside
Chaenobryttus gulosus Warmouth
Enneacanthus chaetodon Black-banded Sunfish
Enneacanthus gloriosus Blue-spotted Sunfish
Enneacanthus obesus Banded Sunfish
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill
Lepomis marginatus Dollar Sunfish
Lepomis microlophus Redear Sunfish
Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass
Elassoma boehlkei Carolina Pygmy Sunfish
Elassoma evergladei Everglades Pygmy Sunfish
Etheostoma olmstedi Tessellated Darter
Perca flavescens Yellow Perch
Lagodon rhomboides Pinfish
Leiostomus xanthurus Spot
Menticirrhus americanus Southern Kingfish *
Micropogonias undulatus Atlantic Croaker
Mugil curema White Mullet
Eleotris pisonis Spinycheek Sleeper
Scomberomorus cavalla King Mackerel *
Scomberomorus maculatus Spanish Mackerel
Necturus punctatus Dwarf Waterdog
Amphiuma means Two-toed Amphiuma
Notophthalmus viridescens Eastern Newt
Eurycea n. sp. "Sandhills Eurycea"
Bufo [Anaxyrus] terrestris Southern Toad
Acris gryllus Southern Cricket Frog
Hyla chrysoscelis Cope's Gray Treefrog
Hyla cinerea Green Treefrog
Hyla femoralis Pine Woods Treefrog
Hyla gratiosa Barking Treefrog
Hyla squirella Squirrel Treefrog
Pseudacris crucifer Spring Peeper
Pseudacris ocularis Little Grass Frog
Gastrophryne carolinensis Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Rana catesbeiana [Lithobates catesbeianus] American Bullfrog
Rana [Lithobates] clamitans Green Frog
Rana sphenocephala [Lithobates sphenocephalus] Southern Leopard Frog
Rana [Lithobates] virgatipes Carpenter Frog
Reptiles (including crocodilians and chelonians)
Alligator mississippiensis American Alligator
Chelydra serpentina Common Snapping Turtle *
Kinosternon baurii Striped Mud Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus Eastern Musk Turtle
Deirochelys reticularia Eastern Chicken Turtle
Pseudemys concinna River Cooter
Trachemys scripta Yellow-bellied Slider
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback
Anolis carolinensis Green Anole
Sceloporus undulatus Fence Lizard
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus [Aspidoscelis sexlineata] Six-lined Racerunner
Eumeces [Plestiodon] inexpectatus Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces [Plestiodon] laticeps Broadhead Skink
Scincella lateralis Ground Skink
Ophisaurus ventralis Eastern Glass Lizard
Coluber constrictor Black Racer
Diadophis punctatus Ring-necked Snake
Elaphe guttata [=Pantherophis guttatus] Corn Snake *
Elaphe obsoleta [=Pantherophis obsoletus, etc.] Rat Snake *
Farancia abacura Mud Snake
Nerodia fasciata Banded Water Snake *
Nerodia taxispilota Brown Water Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata Red-bellied Snake
Tantilla coronata Southeastern Crowned Snake
Agkistrodon contortrix Copperhead *
Aix sponsa Wood Duck
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard
Branta canadensis Canada Goose
Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite *
Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey
Gavia immer Common Loon
Morus bassanus Northern Gannet
Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga anhinga Anhinga
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican
Ardea alba Great Egret
Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron
Butorides virescens Green Heron
Egretta caerulea Little Blue Heron
Egretta thula Snowy Egret
Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron
Nyctanassa violacea Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Eudocimus albus White Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis
Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture
Pandion haliaetus Osprey
Buteo lineatus Red-shouldered Hawk
Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle
Rallus elgans King Rail
Rallus longirostris Clapper Rail
Charadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius vociferus Killdeer
Charadrius wilsonia Wilson's Plover
Pluvialis squatarola Black-bellied Plover
Haematopus palliatus American Oystercatcher
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone
Actitis macularia Spotted Sandpiper
Calidris alba Sanderling
Calidris alpina Dunlin
Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla Least Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla Semipalmated Sandpiper
Limnodromus griseus Short-billed Dowitcher
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel
Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa semipalmata Willet
Tringa solitaria Solitary Sandpiper
Larus argentatus Herring Gull
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull
Leucophaeus [Larus] atricilla Laughing Gull
Gelochelidon [Sterna] nilotica Gull-billed Tern
Rhynchops niger Black Skimmer
Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern
Sternula antillarum Least Tern
Thalasseus maximus [Sterna maxima] Royal Tern
Thalasseus [Sterna] sandvicensis Sandwich Tern
Columba livia Rock Pigeon
Streptopelia decaocto Eurasian Collared-Dove
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove
Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Strix varia Barred Owl
Caprimulgus carolinensis Chuck-Will's-Widow
Caprimulgus vociferus Whip-Poor-Will
Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk
Chaetura pelagica Chimney Swift
Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker
Dryocopus pileatus Pileated Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus Red-headed Woodpecker
Picoides borealis Red-cockaded Woopecker
Picoides pubescens Downy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus Hairy Woodpecker
Contopus virens Eastern Wood-Pewee
Empidonax virescens Acadian Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus Great Crested Flycatcher
Sayornis phoebe Eastern Phoebe
Tyrannus tyrannus Eastern Kingbird
Lanius ludovicianus Loggerhead Shrike
Vireo flavifrons Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo
Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow
Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow
Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay
Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow
Progne subis Purple Martin
Stelgidopteryx serripennis Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow
Baeolophus bicolor Tufted Titmouse
Poecile carolinensis Carolina Chickadee
Sitta pusilla Brown-headed Nuthatch
Cistothorus palustris Marsh Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina Wren
Polioptila caerulea Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Catharus ustulatus Swainson's Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush
Sialia sialis Eastern Bluebird
Turdus migratorius American Robin
Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird
Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird
Toxostoma rufum Brown Thrasher
Sturnus vulgaris European Starling
Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing
Cardellina canadensis Canada Warbler
Geothlypis formosa KentuckyWarbler
Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat
Icteria virens Yellow-breasted Chat
Limnothlypis swainsonii Swainson's Warbler
Mniotilta varia Black-and-White Warbler
Parkesia motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush
Protonotaria citrea Prothonotary Warbler
Seiurus aurocapillus Ovenbird
Setophaga americana Northern Parula
Setophaga citrina Hooded Warbler
Setophaga discolor Prairie Warbler
Setophaga dominica Yellow-throated Warbler
Setophaga palmarum Palm Warbler
Setophaga petechia Yellow Warbler
Setophaga pinus Pine Warbler
Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart
Setophaga striata Blackpoll Warbler
Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager
Piranga rubra Summer Tanager
Aimophila aestivalis Bachman's Sparrow
Pipilo erythrophthalmus Eastern Towhee
Spizella passerina Chipping Sparrow
Spizella pusilla Field Sparrow
Cardinalis cardinalis Northern Cardinal
Passerina caerulea Blue Grosbeak
Passerina ciris Painted Bunting
Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird
Icterus spurius Orchard Oriole
Molothrus ater Brown-headed Cowbird
Quiscalus major Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula Common Grackle
Carpodacus mexicanus House Finch
pinus [Carduelis] tristis American Goldfinch
Passer domesticus House Sparrow
Fishes: 41
Amphibians: 18
Reptiles: 25
Birds: 138
Mammals: 9
Total Vertebrate Species: 231
Tuesday, 1:57 p.m. By far the highlight of this year's Wildathon was the sighting of several Leatherbacks—one from the Kure Beach pier and
several off the beach at Ft. Fisher. A very unique species, the Leatherback is the most massive reptile in the world, occasionally weighing over a ton. Many of them were passing through the area to feed on cannonball jellyfish. This spectacular sea turtle was a lifer for everyone on the team.
Tuesday, 2:10 p.m. Gull-billed Terns at Ft. Fisher. Not always an easy species to see in NC.
We counted only those species which we could positively identify to the agreement of our team. We recorded several species not found on any of our previous Wildathons. Leatherback and Spinycheek Sleeper were lifer species for everyone on the team. We omitted from the list a few species that we were uncertain of.
Our total species count was the fourth-highest of the 24-hour Dream Team's 17 Wildathons to date (our record was 248, in 2014). Our bird list was our second-best ever. For the 10th straight year, it was a pleasure to begin the event with two Ophisaurus ventralis at Carolina Beach in New Hanover County, in the backyard of the former home of the late Ms. Myrtle Curry, mother of team member Bob Davis. The last species recorded was Sceloporus undulatus, on Sandhills Game Lands in Richmond County with less than 30 seconds remaining. Two road-killed snakes were salvaged, and one fish was collected, for the collections of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, and swabs were taken from a few amphibians and reptiles for a study on four emerging pathogens in amphibians and reptiles. Many observational records for various species were added to the Museum's files and the NC Natural Heritage Program's database.
We dedicate this Wildathon to our teammate John Finnegan, who is battling cancer; to the late Dave Lenat, who recently lost his fight with it; and to all wild, free things everywhere.
We wish to thank everyone who pledged our team this year. At this point, our pledged sponsors include Sunny and Lee Allen, Rudy Arndt, Jeff Beane, Erla Beegle, Ann Bilobrowka, Colleen Bockhahn, Hal Broadfoot, Alan Cameron, Sue Cameron, Angelo Capparella, Ed Corey, Bob Davis and Judy Morgan-Davis, Kelly Davis, Angie and Bill DeLozier, Janet Edgerton, John Finnegan and Stephanie Horton, Lena Gallitano, Jim Green, Luke and Shannon Groff, Jeff Hall, Diane Hardy, Andy Harrison, Julie Horvath, Ted Kahn, Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, Roland Kays, Susan Kelemen, Sam Kennedy, Jane and Craig Lawrence, Tony Leiro, Greg Lewbart and Diane Deresienski, Lloyd Lewis, Gerry Luginbuhl, Jeff Marcus, Bob Oberfelder, Justin Oguni, Linda Rudd, Annie Runyon, Melody Scott, Megan Serr, Olivia and Jill Slack, Kim Smart, Dorothy Stowe, Leslie and John Watschke, Jan Weems, Kari Wouk, Steve Zimmerman, and almost certainly some others we may have inadvertently left out. Special thanks to Nate Shepard for help with trapping, to Ed Corey for the use of his vehicle, and to Jeff Beane and Bob Davis for providing their houses as bases of operation and lodging for the very tired. All monies raised will be used to support the same projects as previous years (Audubon's Coastal Island Sanctuaries, local Wake Audubon projects, Project Bog Turtle, and Project Simus). Your generous support is greatly appreciated! You are the reason we keep doing it every year.
It's not too late to make a donation! If you haven't already done so, please send your pledges to the address below (or give them to any of our team members or to Wake Audubon Treasurer John Gerwin) as soon as possible. Make checks payable to "Wake Audubon" (or "NC Herpetological Society" if you want to donate only to those projects). You can also use the PayPal option on Wake Audubon's website (under "donate" on the home page), but please indicate that your donation is for the Wildathon, and let us know that you've paid via that option. Please contact one of us if you have any other questions.
We thoroughly enjoyed the event, and we are already looking forward to participating again next year. Sincere thanks from all of us!
Tuesday, 7:42 p.m. A Little Blue Heron rookery at Lake Waccamaw.
Tuesday, 8:55 p.m. A Mud Snake near Lake Waccamaw kicks off the long night. After finding three of these beautiful semiaquatic serpents road-killed, we were pleased to see one alive.
Wednesday, 4:08 a.m. Minnow traps yielded a Two-toed Amphiuma. This unique, eel-like salamander is North America's longest amphibian and supposedly has the largest red blood cells of any animal.
Wednesday, 7:29 a.m. We saw many Killdeer during this year's Wildathon. We could only hope our resolve during the final hour was as strong as that of this tenacious female protecting her eggs.
Wednesday, 3:02 a.m. Sneaking up on nightjars is a fun way to stay awake in the wee hours. Much more often heard than seen, Chuck-Will's-Widows have shown up on all of our Wildathons to date.
Wednesday, 7:20 a.m. Less than an hour remaining; exhaustedly scrambling for a few more species. Luckily, we knew where to find Tree Swallows.
Authored by John Connors
The Raleigh Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19, 2015. It was clear and chilly…a marked change from what had been an extended mild autumn season. Sixty-seven participants were distributed in twenty teams scattered across the top birding spots in southern Wake County. Our Raleigh Christmas Bird Count has taken place in this same 15-mile diameter circle since 1937. The Count Circle center is at the Farmer's Market along Lake Wheeler Road.
This year we had groups owling at Schenck Forest, Mid-Pines and Lake Raleigh; and one pair of intrepid birders took a pre-dawn paddle into the upper reaches of Lake Benson. Most groups assembled around 7 am and birded through the morning. For those who could make it, we got together for our mid-day Countdown at Yates Mill Pond County Park.
All told we tallied 99 species of birds for the Raleigh Christmas Bird Count- a pretty good count for our area these days. Years ago the Raleigh CBC would regularly top 110 species, but nowadays we hope for 100.
Highlights for this year's Raleigh Count include:
1 Red-necked Grebe seen by boat at Lake Benson, 3 Redhead Ducks at Lake Wheeler, 1 Northern Harrier at Schenck Forest, 1 Horned Lark and 40 American Pipit along Mid-Pines Road, 2 Common Raven at Umstead State Park, 1 Blue-headed Vireo at Walnut Creek Wetland Center, and 1 Orange-crowned Warbler at Lake Raleigh. The American Bittern made an appearance at Prairie Ridge Eco-station, and an incredible 11 Bald Eagles were seen at various locations across the Count Circle. Other notable species which may have lingered in our area during the warm fall weather include: 2 House Wren, 1 Gray Catbird, 2 Palm Warbler, and 1 Common Yellowthroat. A total of 11 Fox Sparrow (mostly at Schenck), 3 White-crowned Sparrow, and 13 Rusty Blackbird were also seen. In addition, 12 Baltimore Oriole, most at Lena Gallitano's feeders, were tallied. Winter finches were noticeably absent- only 3 Purple Finches were seen.
More worrisome were the low numbers for Loggerhead Shrike (1), and Eastern Meadowlark (7). Bobwhite Quail may have disappeared from the count circle entirely. Perhaps the oddest miss was for the Fish Crow- the first time in many years where none was reported. Of course years ago the species was very rare here. Not to worry, they are now a common breeding bird and as I finish writing this post I can hear some outside my office window.
Thanks to all those who participated and particularly to those who worked as site leaders. John Connors
All Christmas Bird Count data can be viewed at:
Authored by John Connors
Report from the Field
The Raleigh Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 19. After an extended warm spell, Saturday was clear but seasonably cold with early morning temperatures below freezing, and the wind picked up as the day advanced.
Twenty-one groups with more than 70 participants surveyed the same southern Wake County parks, reservoirs and farmlands that bird counters have been visiting since the Raleigh Count was initiated in 1937. As compiler, I organize the group leaders and assign participants before the count, and then I tally and submit the results to a national database afterward.
I haven't received all the count tallies yet, but preliminary results list 95 species of birds sighted by our groups. Many counters reported low overall bird numbers, and some species were noticeably uncommon, for example, Goldfinch. But diversity and numbers for most species was comparable to other years.
Some highlights include:
Redhead Duck (2) at Lake Wheeler, Northern Harrier (1) near Schenck Forest, Horned Lark (1) and American Pipits (45) at Mid-Pines, Loggerhead Shrike (1) at Schenck Forest, Blue-headed Vireo (1) at Walnut Creek, Common Raven (2) at Umstead State Park, as well as singles and multiple sightings of the following: House Wren, Gray Catbird, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole and Purple Finch.
The best bird of the day might be a Red-necked Grebe that was seen at Lake Benson by our paddling birding team of Kyle Kittelberger and Brian Bockhahn. This might be the first ever reported on our count.
Notable misses up to this point include: Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Screech Owl, Herring Gull, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Siskin.
Have a happy, safe and peaceful Holiday season.
by Jeff Beane
Every holiday season, tens of thousands of volunteers, mostly in the U.S. and Canada, but also in at least 15 other countries, brave cold, rain, wind and snow to participate in the Christmas Bird Count. The data they gather are used to assess the health of bird populations and guide conservation actions.
What they are
Sponsored by the National Audubon Society, Christmas Bird Counts are held each year between December 14th and January 5th. Their basic purpose is to census bird populations. Each regional count covers a "count circle" 15 miles in diameter, or about 177 square miles. Participants divide into small groups, and each group covers a specific assigned portion of the circle as thoroughly as possible. They identify and count, to the best of their ability, every bird seen during their 24 hour count date. Participants may count birds all day, or for only a few hours. Some prefer to watch their feeders and report those results. Usually one person serves as coordinator, organizing participation, compiling data, and submitting final results to National Audubon.
How they started
Attitudes toward, and appreciation for, wildlife and conservation in this country have changed drastically over the years. In the 19th century, before there were laws protecting migratory birds, "side hunts" were a popular holiday tradition. Contestants would choose sides and see how many birds and other animals a team could shoot in a single day. Frank M. Chapman, a young ornithologist and early officer in the newly formed Audubon Society, was outraged by this senseless killing and waste of wildlife. In protest, on Christmas Day 1899, he counted live birds for three hours, publishing his results in the newly created Bird-Lore magazine (which later became Audubon), and encouraged other bird lovers to do the same. The next year, 1900, the first national count was held, with 27 participants counting in 25 locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Each year since then, the Christmas Bird Counts, or CBCs, have grown. Well over 2,000 regional counts are now held, with over 70,000 participants. About 40 are held in North Carolina. This year's 116th annual count promises to be the biggest yet. The Raleigh CBC, sponsored by Wake Audubon, will be held on Saturday, 19 December 2015. Contact John Connors [email protected] or John Gerwin [email protected] if you would like to participate.
Why they're important
CBCs are among the best data sources we have on bird populations. They can depict trends and population fluctuations over time. They are also the best-known citizen science projects in the world—allowing ordinary citizens to gather data that contribute to the overall body of our knowledge about birds. The counts certainly have their flaws and shortcomings. Not every part of a count circle can be covered. Certainly not every bird gets seen or identified. Large flocks can't be counted precisely. It's hard to be sure that some birds don't get counted more than once. But the sheer volume of information and the consistency of holding the counts in the same places, during the same seasons, often with the same participants counting in the same fashion, year after year, make the data very valuable. Studies have shown that CBC data correlate closely with those gathered using more rigorous scientific methods. Hundreds of peer-reviewed articles have been published in scientific journals using analyses done with CBC data. State and federal agencies also use the information to make important bird conservation decisions.
Why they're fun
CBCs are good opportunities to learn about birds from skilled and knowledgeable birders. They are also social events, where birders can make new friends, or spend time with old ones. These are the biggest reasons that many people participate. Many counts have special traditions, including lunches, dinners, and countdown parties during which data are compiled and stories are shared. Some even have their own T-shirts. The Raleigh CBC's annual potluck dinner, the venison chili and pralines usually to be had at the Southern Pines count, and the Key lime pie and seafood featured at the tally rally following the Ocracoke and Portsmouth counts, will be enough to keep you coming back. But even better are the things you'll see and learn, and the friends and memories you'll make.
If you don't know birds very well, you can still be placed with a team of good birders and help by spotting birds for them to identify, or by helping them keep their list. Birding with experts is one of the best ways to learn. Even if you don't participate in an organized count or project, birding is fun and educational in its own right, and is one of the easiest outdoor activities to get interested in, because you can watch birds anywhere. A pair of binoculars and a good field guide are all you need to get started. And you have all year to learn and practice for those Christmas Counts!
Further Reading
Atlas of Wintering North American Birds: An Analysis of Christmas Bird Count Data by Terry Root, University of Chicago Press, 1988.
"Out for the Count" by Jeff Beane, Wildlife in North Carolina, December 2006.
National Audubon Society: Christmas Bird Count:
A group for bird lovers in the Carolinas:
Birding with a purpose—learn about bird citizen science projects:
An online checklist program to count, report, and keep track of birds anytime, anywhere:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and information on many bird projects:
Authored by Jeff Beane
On Friday-Sunday, 13-15 November, Wake Audubon held its Alligator River Adventure trip, a joint field trip between and Wake Audubon and the Museum of Natural Sciences, usually offered every two to three years. Trip leaders were Jerry Reynolds and Jeff Beane. Also participating were Herb Amyx, Pat Amyx, Betty Lou Chaika, David Chaika, Dan Harvey, Sue Harvey, Cindy Lincoln, Mary Martorella, Ann McCormick, Betsy McCormick, Betty Ann O'Brien, Adair Pickard, Louise Romanow, Mary Ann Rood, and Bill Swallow.
Our itinerary included Alligator River, Pea Island, and Pocosin Lakes national wildlife refuges; Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve; Cape Hatteras National Seashore; Pettigrew and Jockey's Ridge state parks; and a few other stops.
We left from the Museum's Research Lab at 10 a.m. Friday morning, and returned at about 6 p.m. Sunday evening. We had good weather—sunny to partly cloudy and somewhat unseasonably warm. We identified 107 vertebrate species, including at least 83 birds, nine mammals, seven reptiles, five amphibians, and three fishes. A few other species were glimpsed but not positively identified. Highlights included good looks at several black bears, at least a dozen species each of waterfowl and shorebirds, good looks at American white pelicans and bald eagles, a few late-season reptiles basking, and a fresh road-killed mink. Bill glimpsed a short-eared owl, but he was the only one to see it. We stayed at the Comfort Inn in Nags Head, where some of us could see many species from out our motel room windows, and we enjoyed picnic and fast food lunches and fine dinner dining at Basnight's Lone Cedar and La Fogata Mexican restaurants. Good times were had by all.
* = observed only as dead-on-road (DOR) or otherwise dead specimens.
Not all species were seen by all members of the group; some may have been seen by only one or two people.
Strongylura marina Atlantic Needlefish (at least 2)
Cyprinodon variegatus Sheepshead Minnow (many)
Gambusia holbrooki Eastern Mosquitofish (many)
Ambystoma opacum Marbled Salamander (4 adults)
Bufo [Anaxyrus] [cf. americanus x terrestris] "American/Southern Toad" (1 adult female)
Acris gryllus Southern Cricket Frog (at least 2)
Hyla cinerea Green Treefrog (a few)
Rana catesbeiana [Lithobates catesbeianus] American Bullfrog (at least 2 or 3)
Chrysemys p. picta Eastern Painted Turtle (several)
Clemmys guttata Spotted Turtle (at least 1)
Pseudemys rubriventris Red-bellied Cooter (many)
Trachemys s. scripta Yellow-bellied Slider (many)
Nerodia erythrogaster Red-bellied Water Snake (1 adult)
Nerodia fasciata Banded Water Snake (1 adult)
Thamnophis s. sauritus Eastern Ribbon Snake (1 small adult male DOR) *
Aix sponsa Wood Duck (at least 7)
Anas acuta Northern Pintail (several)
Anas americana American Widgeon (many)
Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler (many)
Anas crecca Green-winged Teal (many)
Anas discors Blue-winged Teal (at least 1)
Anas platyrhynchos Mallard (many)
Anas rubripes American Black Duck (many)
Anas strepera Gadwall (many)
Branta canadensis Canada Goose (many)
Cygnus columbianus Tundra Swan (many)
Lophodytes cucullatus Hooded Merganser (a few)
Oxyura jamaicensis Ruddy Duck (many)
Colinus virginianus Northern Bobwhite (at least 6-7)
Meleagris gallopavo Wild Turkey (at least 27)
Podilymbus podiceps Pied-billed Grebe (many)
Morus bassanus Northern Gannet (many)
Phalacrocorax auritus Double-crested Cormorant (many)
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican (many)
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican (many)
Ardea alba Great Egret (many)
Ardea herodias Great Blue Heron (many)
Egretta thula Snowy Egret (a few)
Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron (a few)
Eudocimus albus White Ibis (many)
Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture (many)
Coragyps atratus Black Vulture (several)
Accipiter cooperii Cooper's Hawk (at least 1 or 2)
Accipiter striatus Sharp-shinned Hawk ( at least 2 or 3)
Buteo jamaicensis Red-tailed Hawk (many)
Circus cyaneus Northern Harrier (many)
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald Eagle (several)
Falco sparverius American Kestrel (many)
Fulica americana American Coot (at least 1)
Rallus limicola Virginia Rail (several heard; at least 2 seen)
Charadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plover (at least 1)
Charadrius vociferus Killdeer (many)
Pluvialis squatarola Black-bellied Plover (many)
Haematopus palliatus American Oystercatcher (at least 2)
Recurvirostra americana American Avocet (many)
Arenaria interpres Ruddy Turnstone (several)
Calidris alba Sanderling (many)
Calidris alpina Dunlin (many)
Calidris canutus Red Knot (1)
Tringa flavipes Lesser Yellowlegs (many)
Tringa melanoleuca Greater Yellowlegs (many)
Tringa semipalmata Willet (many)
Chroicocephalus philadelphia Bonaparte's Gull (several)
Larus argentatus Herring Gull (many)
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull (many)
Larus marinus Great Black-backed Gull (many)
Leucophaeus atricilla Laughing Gull (many)
Sterna forsteri Forster's Tern (many)
Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern (several)
Columba livia Rock Pigeon (many)
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove (many)
Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl (1)
Megaceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher (at least 2)
Colaptes auratus Northern Flicker (several)
Melanerpes carolinus Red-bellied Woodpecker (several)
Sayornis phoebe Eastern Phoebe (a few)
Corvus brachyrhynchos American Crow (many)
Corvus ossifragus Fish Crow (at least 1)
Cyanocitta cristata Blue Jay (at least 2)
Tachycineta bicolor Tree Swallow (many)
Poecile carolinensis Carolina Chickadee (several)
Cistothorus palustris Marsh Wren (at least 1)
Thryothorus ludovicianus Carolina Wren (several)
Troglodytes aedon House Wren (at least 1)
Turdus migratorius American Robin (several)
Dumetella carolinensis Gray Catbird (a few)
Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird (many)
Sturnus vulgaris European Starling (many)
Bombycilla cedrorum Cedar Waxwing (several)
Setophaga coronata Yellow-rumped Warbler (many)
Melospiza melodia Song Sparrow (a few)
Passerculus sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow (many)
Zonotrichia albicollis White-throated Sparrow (at least 1 or 2)
Cardinalis cardinalis Northern Cardinal (a few)
Agelaius phoeniceus Red-winged Blackbird (many)
Quiscalus major Boat-tailed Grackle (many)
Sturnella magna Eastern Meadowlark (many)
Carpodacus mexicanus House Finch (a few)
Didelphis virginiana Virginia Opossum (many DOR en route) *
Ursus americanus American Black Bear (at least 6-7)
Procyon lotor Common Raccoon (several DOR) *
Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk (1 adult DOR en route) *
Neovison [Mustela] vison Mink (1 adult female DOR) *
Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox (at least 1 or 2 DOR en route) *
Sciurus carolinensis Eastern Gray Squirrel (several alive and DOR)
Odocoileus virginianus White-tailed Deer (many alive and DOR, mostly en route)
Megaptera novaeangliae Humpback Whale (remains of 1 dead on beach) *
Fishes: at least 3
Amphibians: at least 5
Reptiles: 7
Birds: at least 83
Mammals: at least 9
–Jeff Beane
Authored by Rick LaRose
Greetings Wake Audubon members and friends! As board member John Connors wrote in the previous post, we're terrifically excited to Celebrate Swifts and the completion of our Chimney Swift Roost Tower with you the weekend of August 21-23. Friday night, join us downtown at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for a forum with swift experts from across North America. On Saturday, late afternoon through dusk, join us at Prairie Ridge Ecostation — the site of our tower — for family fun and games and the tower dedication. Bring a blanket or chairs, hang out with us as the sun sets, and let's see how many swifts join in on the celebration! Meet us out and about Sunday at dusk for more swift viewings at urban chimneys you might not know exist, some in possible peril.
Thank you to all of you who have helped to make this tower a reality through your generous donations, many in support of our Buy a Brick for Swifts campaign. With the tower installed, your future donations will help fund technology to study swift activity at the tower and to landscape with native plants around the tower and viewing patio. See your inscribed bricks on display when you join us on August 22.
I also want to express my sincere appreciation for your ongoing support of Wake Audubon — as participants in our advocacy, conservation, and education initiatives; as volunteers; as members; as donors — in fulfillment of our mission.
Together we've successfully advocated to protect land in Eastern NC for endangered Henslow's sparrows. Locally, we're helping to conserve monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, the American woodcock by maintaining nesting grounds, and native landscape by removing invasive species — these among many other conservation efforts. And together we're providing education to families as exhibitors at community events throughout the year. We enjoy your fellowship through all these activities, at monthly educational program and chapter meetings, on bird walks and field trips, and at bird counts. Thank you.
While we've had a busy year thus far, we have much more in store for this summer, including our August 11 chapter meeting, where members will show and tell about an array of experiences and adventures. Always entertaining! Bring a potluck dish to share and have a slice of cake in celebration of Wake Audubon's 40th anniversary, with a preview to our August swift celebration!
While on our web site, see our calendar for summer and fall activities. Read recent blog posts. Visit our Flickr photostream. At the top right of any web page, find us on Facebook, and join our Wake Audubon Meetup group.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Rick LaRose
President, Wake Audubon
Authored by John Connors
Friday, May 22, after a morning of banding birds, Eddie Owens and I were getting ready to hop in our cars when he pointed to a small group of swifts circling above the Chimney Swift Roost Tower at Prairie Ridge Ecostation in west Raleigh.
As we watched, one of the birds took a quick turn and disappeared down the mouth of the chimney. We were thrilled to confirm reports from others that swifts had discovered our tower. But this wasn't the first bit of good news Wake Audubon had received about swifts this spring.
Earlier in May, I watched four chimney swifts circle over an information kiosk at Anderson Point Park in east Raleigh. The swifts were noisy and clearly eyeing the structure. Of course this wasn't just any old information kiosk; it was one Wake Audubon had commissioned several years ago to be built by an Eagle Scout, and it had a swift nesting chimney installed as its center.
Soon the birds circled higher, and I was able to watch a swift fly through the top of a tall maple to grab dead twigs. They returned to the kiosk. One of the swirling swifts raised its wings high, slowed down, and descended into the chimney's center. It was the first confirmation that swifts are using the kiosk for nesting!
All of this began with Wake Audubon's ambitious undertaking to install the Chimney Swift Roost Tower at Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a field research and education center for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
We spent three years planning and raising funds for the $36,000 project. More than 150 of you bought inscribed bricks. We secured donations from the Carolina Bird Club and the estate of Vicki Weiss, as well as grants from the Toyota TogetherGreen by Audubon program. Frank Harmon Associates donated design services and Custom Brick & Supply of Raleigh donated the bricks. Installation of the tower was completed in November.
The tower is one of just a few large brick chimneys that have been built specifically for roosting swifts in the eastern U.S. We think it is, in fact, one of only three. Our tower is large: 30 feet tall with a 5-foot by 5-foot opening, designed to accommodate thousands of roosting swifts. There are portholes for looking inside the tower and for installing cameras and scientific equipment. We are hopeful, but there are no guarantees with these things.
Of course we did our homework, which meant contacting Paul and Georgeann Kyle in Austin, Texas, who established a chimney swift research center in Austin and spearheaded the chimneyswifts.org website. They have years of experience experimenting with the design of swift nesting structures, including the practical swift nesting information kiosk that proved successful at Anderson Point Park. And they have had some success with small roosts.
With the tower completed, our attention turns to celebrating it with you, together with experts from across North America who have tirelessly worked to conserve this species of concern. In March, Wake Audubon received a Toyota TogetherGreen Alumni Award to host a chimney swift conservation forum and workshop.
When we began thinking about hosting a forum, our first invitation was sent to the Kyles, who agreed to be our featured speakers and will give an overview of their decades spent working with swifts. But there will be more, much more.
Researchers from UNC Chapel Hill will offer a three-dimensional look at the flight patterns of swift flocks filmed flying above downtown Raleigh; Amy Weidensaul and Brian Shema from Audubon Pennsylvania will discuss educational programming at swift roosts; Charles Collins, a retired biologist from California, will compare swifts from around the world, and Larry Schwitter will describe Vaux's Happenings in Washington state. Audubon NC plans to highlight chimney swifts across the state next year.
Join us Friday evening, August 21, at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for the symposium. On Saturday, August 22, Wake Audubon will partner with the museum to host the Chimney Swift Family Festival at Prairie Ridge Ecostation — our official celebration of the completion of the Chimney Swift Roost Tower. This will be a family-friendly event starting mid-afternoon. The festivities will include games for all ages, such as a roost-hole corn-hole contest, swift nest and mask making, and catch-a penny stealer bug chase games. (Intrigued? We know you are!) We will also have educational tables, arts and crafts, food trucks, music, guided hikes, and a roost viewing as the sun sets. Sunday at dusk, join us for swift roost viewings at other county sites.
Details on these events will be posted here, on our Celebrate Swifts page. All are free admission.
We can use volunteer help at Family Festival. Please contact us at [email protected] if you are able to help. And please plan to attend the Friday chimney swift forum the Saturday family festival and the Sunday swift viewing the weekend of August 21-23.
By John Connors and Bryan England
All photos by Bryan England
Hi Everyone.
In the last week I've heard reports of Monarch caterpillars feeding on previous milkweed plantings at Horseshoe Farm, Monarchs flying at Anderson Point, and I saw one flying Saturday at Yates Mill Pond. All good news! So the time has come to add to the inventory of milkweed available at public parks around Wake County.
The Common Milkweed seedlings have arrived and we have flagged the planting zones at both Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve and Harris Lake County Park. The sites look good…Wilkerson has a clay loam soil and lots of open meadow which was formerly cow pasture- once established milkweed should thrive here and attract many monarchs; Harris Lake has easy to dig sandy loam in a meadow that was once farmed- it will be a good late summer breeding site for monarchs. The Wilkerson meadow was mowed maybe a month ago, so we'll be planting in openings among the grasses. Harris Lake had a prescribed burn across their meadow…it will be a little easier working there.
We will clip openings in the grass, dig the planting holes, add a little soil improvement, plant the seedling, add a little mulch and water. It may take 3-5 minutes to plant each seedling. We will work in teams.
I imagine we should finish our work by noon, although Wilkerson may take a little longer as the soils will be more difficult to work.
You are part of a nationwide effort in trying to restore Monarch habitat- thanks for your willingness to help. See you in the meadow.
-John Connors
5/16/2015 from Bryan England, Assistant Manager, Wilkerson Nature Preserve
I want to thank everyone who came and helped with the planting last Thursday, and especially John for organizing it. I hope I will be able to send you all some pictures of monarchs here visiting "your" milkweeds in the seasons to come. We gave all 96 seedlings a drink of about a quart of water each today. The soil was starting to dry, and soaked the water right up, but all the plants looked healthy, with no post-planting wilting at all (although a couple seemed to have been nibbled by something). The flags and plantings in squares really helped us find them all, and made watering a pretty simple job.
5-23-2015 From Bryan England, Assistant Manager, Wilkerson Nature Preserve
Here's the Milkweeds for Monarchs update from Wilkerson.
Nine days after your planting, we have Monarch eggs!
Several of the new plants had eggs like these when I checked today, so we may have caterpillars by sometime next week.
Overall, of the 96 plants, we've only lost 4 to browsers, and they may still re-sprout from the root. Of the 92 visible plants, 16 have had their top leaves browsed but are recovering with side branch growth.
None of the plants appeared diseased or drought-stressed, so the overall cohort appears strong. Thank you all for making these eggs possible!
5-24-2015 John Connors Wake Audubon Society
Well I didn't see that coming! I did find three medium to full grown Monarch caterpillars at Raleigh's Anderson Point Park yesterday, on milkweed I had planted several years ago- and that was without looking very hard. So maybe its going to be a good year for Monarchs.
It certainly will be a better future for Monarchs for the work all of you put in to get the milkweed planted at Wilkerson Preserve and Harris Lake…and for the efforts of staff and volunteers to keep the seedlings watered.
Thanks everyone, and thanks Bryan for keeping us informed.
6-2-2015 Bryan England, Wilkerson Nature Preserve
Here's the Milkweeds for Monarchs update from Wilkerson–
Nineteen days after your planting, we have Monarch caterpillars!
Several of these brightly-striped caterpillars were observed on "your" milkweed plants today, all were about 10mm long (they say the camera always adds 10 lbs…). At one caterpillar per plant, they plants seem to be growing faster than the caterpillars can eat them (for now).
Overall, of the 96 plants, we've currently "lost" 5 to browsers. Of the 91 remaining visible plants, 27 have had their upper leaves browsed, but most are recovering well with side branch growth. Some of the browsed stems are obviously deer damage (rough, stringy bites), but the majority are rodent/rabbit damage (clean-cut, angled bites). The "wild" milkweeds at Wilkerson have also been browsed over the last week, mostly by deer, so that's just a natural part of the food chain, too.


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A new study revealed that people who worked 11 or more hours a day ran a 67 percent greater risk of having a heart attack than those who worked seven or eight hours a day. What do you think?
"On the other hand, if I put in those hours, not only can I make partner, but I'll also have saved enough to afford the bypass operation."
Carl Licht • Attorney
"I work 11 hours a day, but my boss only pays me for eight—what does that do to my heart?"
Steve Magnuson • Mechanic
"Yeah, but when I stop to think about it, shaving a few extra years off my life is a small price to pay to be able to enjoy the nonstop thrills and inner fulfillment of my normal 8-to-8 workday cold-calling elderly people and trying to persuade them to buy supplementary life insurance."
Jean Kramer • Insurance Salesperson

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Shopping malls database
Hollywood & Highland Center is located at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. & Highland Ave., Hollywood. It is a Entertainment Center which opened in 2001. It is an Open shopping mall with 3,500 parking spaces and a food court with 350 seats.. It covers an area of 687,000 sqft. and has about 100 stores.
Shopping mall's name: Hollywood & Highland Center
Address: Hollywood Blvd. & Highland Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028
State: CA
Number of stores: 100


text:
An All-on-4® dental implants procedure can help you replace missing teeth in your upper and/or lower jaws in a way that is less complicated and costly than some other dental implant placements. It can also be a good option if your jaw doesn't have enough bone strength to support more implants.
During the procedure, our dentists angle the implants in a way that allows them to use just four of them to support a full arch of replacement teeth. Our implant dentists are so confident in the quality of their work, they back it up with a written warranty!
While an All-on-4 dental implants procedure will work for many people, it isn't for everyone. Take our quiz to see if you're a good candidate for All-on-4. No matter your score, though, the best way to determine if this procedure is for you is to visit our Middlesex, NJ office for a consultation with our implant dentists. Call 732-506-2876 to schedule one.


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I saw an interesting Horizon documentary on BBC iPlayer the other night called 'Clean Eating The Dirty Truth''. The documentary featured Dr. Giles Yeo, an eminent Cambridge biochemist, who's quest it was to unearth if there was the real truth behind claims made by healthy eating bloggers such as Deliciously Ella, the Helmsley & Helmsley sisters and Natasha Corrett, the author of Honestly Healthy. He was also trying to find the origins of the blogger's inspiration, which took him to the US where he met the authors of three influential tombs, Wheat Belly, The China Study, and The PH Miracle Diet, to find out just how these medical doctors reached their conclusions. Some of his findings turned out to be quite problematic and highlighted that even in the healthy eating sphere you will find unscrupulous operators mainly interested in profit – not unlike any other area of business.
But let's take a step back to look at why people start blogging about health to begin with. More more often than not it is borne out of some sort of eureka moment. Like overcoming or easing an illness, such as Deliciously Ella or Kris Carr, the UK and American faces of veganism. They realised that by changing their diet and going plant-based, vegan and organic they were able to manage their symptoms and live normal lives despite having a serious illness. Pretty mind blowing stuff for them – it changed the quality of their lives. Which is why they decided to share it with others and that, people, is why they started blogging.
But unfortunately, therein lies the root of the backlash directed at healthy, or 'clean' eating and that is why I find Dr. Yeo's documentary uncomfortable. When you link young enthusiastic bloggers, who inspire a whole new generation (and old) to eat healthier and take responsibility for their well-being, together with bogus doctors cashing in on desperate patients, you sort of lose the baby with the bath water. Documentaries like these look for flaws, the holes in the arguments, the lack of science and in the process questions the validity of those whose faces grace the cookbooks. Is it not a shame? Why not instead celebrate the plethora of plant-based food bloggers and cookbook writers who post inspirational food pics and videos to help us make delicious meals out of ingredients that we may previously not have known how to make interesting. We are talking fresh, organic vegetables here, not toxic drugs after all. We need to get this into some sort of proportion.
Where are the undercover documentaries of those making the processed smiley potato faces aimed at kids? Where are the public faces of the makers of turkey twizzlers and sugary baked beans and all the other rubbish which is consumed daily in this country? Where is the Horizon documentary about them? Where is the shock horror of knowing that kids in our country eat this sort of junk? Is that not much more worrying than health bloggers extolling the virtue of massaged kale? One's mind boggles.
One thing is for sure – health is a serious business and highly political. It is also intensely personal. The fact that I feel better without gluten in my diet makes a gluten-free lifestyle the best way forward for me. I do not need to wait for Dr Yeo's scientific studies pertaining to gluten to know that. Only I know what works for me. And since I started juicing and eating more green, leafy vegetables three years ago my immune system has been transformed and I simply don't catch stuff like I used to. And on the rare occasions that I do, it is directly related to me taking my foot off the pedal, i.e eating less greens, more processed foods, drinking coffee and consuming sugar – stuff which slowly but surely weakens my immunity. I don't need a scientist to tell me that either. I know. As soon as I return to my green ways it does not take very long for me to feel energised and bug free again. Works everytime. Rant over.
Stay healthy, eat your greens, juice your veg, stay calm, love each other, move your body, be kind and let people blossom. I wish you a wonderful friday.
Much love,
Birgitta x


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The Association of World Citizens (AWC), International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP) and the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) sponsored the Peace Deliberation titled Moving Beyond War To Global Community. The event was held at the University of San Francisco a private Jesuit run university from August 2-5, 2005.
On the first day the theme chosen is Bringing War and Organized Violence to an end. The next day August 3, 2005 the themes to be deliberated is the People Parliament, Nuclear Disarmament and the War Industry.
On Thursday August 4, 2005 there will a workshop on United Nations Reform. The Human Manifesto Project will be discussed. Dr. Hong Tao Tze the Present of FOWPAL will speak on a theme titled: Wisdom and Philosophy of Life. The Introduction and contribution of cultural exchanges in modern times.
On Friday there will be a special workshop on Youth.
This World Citizens Peace Conference held at the University of San Francisco from August 2-5, 2005 has drawn people from all over the world. It has given opportunities to many great leaders that espouse peace to come together to share the sisterhood and brotherhood of peace.
All Islanders Gathering As One were able to perform and highlight the contributions of Polynesians towards World Peace. John Nauer the President of All Islanders Gathering As One spoke about the contribution of youth towards World Peace.
San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom was invited but was a no show. It is a shame that the Mayor cannot choose those important events that are important. I suppose his priorities lie elsewhere.
Fr. Privett S.J. addressing opening the conference.
Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy.
Attendees at the Conference.
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Filmmakers Cecilia Peck and Inbal B. Lessner set out on a journey to tell the story of a young woman who was the victim of a horrific rape crime. That woman, Linor Abargil chose to speak up, take a stand, help others and turn her experience into a positive. Brave Miss World, now streaming on Netflix, and in consideration in multiple Emmy categories, became so much more than just one woman's journey and aims to gather an international community with the strength to rise up and say "NO" to rape. They hope that all survivors of sexual assault -- and their friends and families -- will use the film's website as a place to connect find resources for support. If victims are encouraged to speak out and seek help, the silence will end. Together we can change the global dialogue regarding sexual assault.
We met former Miss World Linor Abargil at a coffee shop in West Hollywood in 2008. She had come from Israel to talk about a film on the subject of rape. As a young beauty queen, she had been abducted, stabbed and raped in Milan, Italy, and she had been able to convict the serial rapist. She wanted to tell her story, hoping that it might help other survivors. She was determined to transform herself from being the victim of a horrific crime, into someone who could encourage others to speak out.
During her reign as Miss World, Linor had to testify against the rapist in a difficult, public trial. When the guilty verdict came in, Linor turned to a news camera in the courtroom and said to all the women in Israel that if she could do it, they could too. If something had happened to them, not to be afraid to report. The calls to rape crisis centers rose dramatically that year, and Israel passed legislation protecting the rights of rape victims. Now, 10 years later, Linor was launching a website for other survivors, and was ready to speak publicly again. She wanted to document her journey to see if she could bring about global change. She seemed empowered but still haunted, a kind of wounded hero.
Linor could be any of us. Every day in every city, it happens to someone. Her story is the story of every survivor. The trauma doesn't go away, but you can pick up the pieces and move forward, with the right support. Linor was able to see justice done, but you can't help but wonder: Would she have been able to convict the rapist if it wasn't for the Miss World crown, and the public interest in her case?
We didn't know the film would take five years, or that it would take us to South Africa, Europe, Israel, and college campuses in the United States. A big part of our financing fell out early on, and we had to piece together the funds for every shoot. We were joined by phenomenal EP's: Regina Kullik Scully, Geralyn Dreyfous, Lati Grobman, Irv Bauman, Orna Raiz. We received grants from the Artemis Rising Foundation and the Kroll Documentary Fund. The Women In Film Finishing Fund enabled us to complete the film. Later on, the Fledgling Fund, the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, the Embrey Foundation and the Marc Rich Foundation all provided outreach support.
Things got very challenging along the way. Telling her story and listening to the plight of so many women, men, girls and boys was bringing up Linor's own trauma. She began to experience PTSD, and her hard-fought stability was suddenly in real jeopardy when she learned that her rapist was up for parole. She shut down filming and took a long break. But six months later she came back, determined to carry on. Linor's fight to keep the rapist in prison, while helping other survivors speak up, became the narrative of Brave Miss World. Weaving the diverse voices of those survivors into the narrative was the most challenging editorial balancing act. They act as a Greek chorus, whose stories reflect and comment on Linor's journey.
Brave Miss World premiered at AFI Docs in Washington, and we were invited with Linor to meet Lynn Rosenthal, the President's Advisor on Violence Against Women, at the White House. We've since screened at over 50 college campuses through our #IAmBrave Educational Screening Series. Campus safety is a primary concern of Linor's, who was 18 when she was raped. In the film, a brave Princeton student speaks up about being discouraged from reporting her assault. At UCSB, Linor meets the victim of a very controversial case of rape -- the first time her voice has been heard publicly.
Our screenings give college students a safe space to discuss issues of awareness, prevention, intervention, and reporting. We're hearing from across the country that students do not feel safe at their schools. Mandatory appropriate training for those responding to reports of rape is essential. The first words a survivor hears are so important -- they need to feel support and reassurance that resources are available. We're very encouraged by the recent White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and by the work being done by our colleagues Annie E. Clark, Andrea Pino, and the other brave students around the country who have mobilized to hold university administrations accountable.
Awareness of the pandemic of rape is growing, and it's time to shed light on rape crimes. Linor's decision to speak out coincides with a global urgency for more attention to the lack of access to justice for many victims of rape. The outcry in Mumbai, the spotlight on rape in the U.S. military, and the high-profile cases on our college campuses reflect the institutional sanctioning of rape, and underscore the need for more attention to this issue in films, news media, and by law enforcement worldwide.
We set out to follow one woman's story, which led to other stories, and horrors, occurring on our college campuses and around the world. As mothers, daughters, fathers and sons watch Brave Miss World, we hope they follow the path of Linor's outspoken advocacy, and we believe that the film will impact the way colleges, police departments, justice systems, and families around the world respond to reports of rape and assault.


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Production Support Agent
Join our growing team!
If you're looking for a career within a dynamic company poised for success, if you're incredibly motivated, and if "impossible" isn't in your vocabulary, then we have just the place for you!
What you'll do:
- Define the steps of manufacturing and repair of various aircraft components;
- Generate work instructions;
- Develop repair procedures;
- Ensure the procedures inspection;
- Ensure the production process advances according to procedures and intervene with modifications if necessary;
- Participate in the continuous improvement of production processes and cost reduction;
- Modify bill of materials to optimize the production sequences;
- Examine and optimize manufacturing and repair methods of aircraft parts and sub-assemblies;
- Identify tooling needs;
- Ensure sound workplace ergonomics and identify health and safety guidelines;
- Provide technical support to production;
- Develop and maintain a database of the parts, documentation, and processes;
- Carefully study the customers' orders, estimates, plans, and drawings and choose the ideal method to be used for production;
- Interpreted and validate technical drawings (engineering, assembly, repair, etc.)
- Understand and implement engineering changes;
- Ensure deadlines, cost, and quality standards are met throughout the production process.
Your ideal background:
- College diploma in aerospace or equivalent or other relevant training;
- Several years of experience;
- Bilingual (English & French), fluent in English and French with strong communication skills (oral and written);
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook);
- Knowledge of structural repair manuals (SRM) and components maintenance manuals (CMM) on composite and/or sheet metal structure (an asset).
What you'll need:
- Attention to detail;
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and manuals;
- Proactive with problem solving skills;
- To be meticulous in your workmanship and documentation;
- Initiative, resourcefulness, and sense of responsibility;
- Ability to work well in a team, as well as alone with little supervision.
10 reasons why you should join the M1 Composites team:
- Competitive salary;
- Employee benefits/insurance;
- Training to accelerate your development & unlock your full potential;
- Opportunity for advancement;
- Clean working environment;
- A dynamic team in a growing business ready for success;
- Passionate, dedicated, hardworking, and happy colleagues;
- Respectful workplace;
- Bonus system;
- You have a future & you matter to us!


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Big Data Expo 2018
19 Sep 2018 | 10:00 BST - 20 Sep 2018 | 17:00 BST
The Apteco Benelux team will be exhibiting at this year's Big Data Expo held at Jaarbeurs Utrecht, in the Netherlands from 19 - 20 September 2018.
Come and visit us on stand 86 to learn all about the Apteco Marketing Suite™ and for a demo of the latest features available in our new Q3 2018 software release.
The Big Data Expo is the perfect event uniting the supply and demand of big data, driven by innovation and sharing expertise. Dozens of exhibitors from different fields will present new solutions and innovations to visitors. Additionally, there will be numerous lectures during the expo where specialists will share their experience. All this aims to provide visitors with both the outlines, as well as in-depth information regarding big data solutions and trends.
Registration is FREE, so sign-up now and visit the Apteco Benelux team at stand 86
"Big data is the future. It gives insights into the past and present, but also for the future. It is the basis through which you, as a person and as an organization, can take the right strategic decisions and be actively involved in smart solutions and yield improvements." Big Data Expo
Jaarbeurs Utrecht, Hal 4
Jaarbeursplein 6
3521 AL Utrecht
The Netherlands
For more information contact the Apteco Benelux team.


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With Cat 5E structured wiring in your home, you can get high-speed access from any outlet on the system.   You can access e-mail while your kids work on their school assignments online and your spouse talks on the phone. Each computer can get full internet or modem speed and share any files and equipment on the same network.  And, yes, that means taking the laptop al fresco for those all too common work-at-home weekends.
Key Benefits
Send mail to
firstname.lastname@example.com with questions or
comments about this web site.


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Airline Ground Staff Training Program
(In Academy/Online-Live sessions)
Our Program focuses on Preparing Candidates for the upcoming interviews. The best part is that the opportunities are many!
As per the latest survey and estimates (Dec 2019) of ICAO- (International Civil Aviation Organization),
The Aviation industry is going to grow manifolds and bring along endless employment opportunities…
India has the fastest-growing Aviation industry!
but the demand is totally based on competency!
So, Boys and Girls, Prepare to Perform!
Our programs are Pragmatic in nature and based on your unique intellectual capacity.
Competency-based Training and Performance-oriented -
Because we want to be behind your success story!
Highlights of our programs:
Conducted by Industry experts with more than 2 decades of experience.
100% Job assistance
Certified Program
Hardcore interview preparation of all Rounds
Our Program Prepares candidates for interviews of other domains too!
Curriculum Includes:
Self-Introduction: What to include in your answer, how to make it impressive and most importantly - what NOT to include. The answer shall be prepared by the trainer with essential points that can add weightage to the intro.
Impromptus: The candidates have to be ready for random topics given at the time of interview. They have to speak on those topics without any preparation time. The Trainer shall help the candidate prepare for it through practice sessions on daily basis. Candidate shall be provided tips and tricks on the content that fits best for such rounds.
Grooming: From Hygiene rules to skincare and makeup- The trainer shall help the candidate get the Perfect look that leaves a remarkable impression at the time of interview.
Attire and Dress Code: What to wear!? Well, Dress for Success! Attire that matched your overall personality, your body structure, is decent comfortable yet Professional and according to the code of conduct.
Communication skills: with special Focus on the enhancement of English-speaking skills. The candidate will be able to enjoy personalized attention and regular practice of Spoken English. Grammar, MTI, Tone, Volume, Fluency, Pace and Voice Modulation - all aspects shall be covered.
Social Skills and Professional Etiquette: Social grooming is of utmost importance to enter the world of professionalism. The professional world has a code of conduct, sets norms and principles which every individual has to adhere to if he/she wants to be a part of it. Knowing them and being ready to face them is what we prepare candidates for.
Development of Social intelligence: Customer-oriented job is always very demanding, brings along a lot of expectations. However, once you know the psyche of the customers and learn Human interaction tricks, you will not face any socializing issues. We make that easy and interesting for you. You will love to interact and take up customer service challenges once trained because it is always a delightful experience to make someone smile and you will learn that art with us.
Aptitude, General Awareness and Verbal ability tests: Certain Airlines also conduct written tests. The Trainer shall give sample tests and discuss the type of tests that could be conducted by the airlines. (You can even buy a separate Test kit at a very nominal cost which contains various tests that have been conducted by the airlines in various Cabin Crew interviews).
Resume/CV building: The Cabin Crew resume is simple, yet has to be prepared with interesting information about the candidate. It can make a lasting impression! The Trainer can guide you on all the necessary ingredients for a good resume…However, in this Training program; we also offer Resume building facility. If you wish to get the resume prepared, with this training it shall be done at a cost of INR 499 only. Free of cost.
Role-plays and Activities: When candidates are given role plays and scenarios, they must know what the interview panel is expecting from them. The trainer shall put the candidate into various scenarios and discuss the relevant answering/performing techniques.
Group discussions: The candidates must know how to handle a Group discussion. The trainer will teach techniques with tricks and tips required for the same.
Personal interview: HR Round/Management can be very jittery for candidates. The Candidates can be asked random questions by the panel; therefore, they should be prepared to answer them tactfully. There would be regular questions and answers to practice with the trainer.
Duration -
Cost -
1 Week
1 Month
2 Months
5 days
5 days per week
5 days per week
₹ 8999/-
₹ 25000/-
₹ 38000/-
₹ 4999/-
₹ 15000/-
₹ 28000/-
To know more, meet us at Special Persona Learning gallery - New Delhi.


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News & Media
UNCG's New Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness Opens Its Doors
The Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness has officially opened its doors, ushering in a new era of recreation and wellness at UNCG focused on lifelong well-being for the campus community.
The new, 216,000-square-foot facility, part of UNCG's master plan for growth along W. Gate City Boulevard, features more than 20,000 square feet of weight and fitness space, seven basketball courts, lap and activity pools (slated to open on Aug.19), and a 54-foot climbing wall, among other wellness spaces and classrooms.
The facility also offers new programming, including nutrition services with UNCG's registered dietitian, aquatic programs, and outdoor activities – such as sunrise yoga – on the 4,100-square-foot Spartan Terrace.
"As soon as you walk in the door, you have access to everything – the pools, Outdoor Adventures programs, and all the other activity spaces. That's something we didn't have in the other facility," said Dr. Jill Beville, director of recreation and wellness at UNCG. "We're really excited about the variety of equipment, programing, and educational opportunities that are going to be offered."
In conjunction with the opening of the building, UNCG's Wellness Center and Campus Recreation have merged to create the Department of Recreation & Wellness, a unification that reflects a national trend of aligning recreation and wellness. UNCG's Wellness program, which provides education on areas such as sexual health, mental health, sexual violence and relationships, alcohol and other drugs, nutrition and body image, is now housed in the Kaplan Center, a move that allows for greater focus on overall well-being.
Additionally, the facility will hold classes for a variety of academic departments, including kinesiology and community and therapeutic recreation.
"The Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness benefits our campus and community in multiple ways," said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. "In addition to promoting the health and well-being of our students, staff, and faculty, this facility expands our capacity for state-of-the-art instruction and research and plays an important role in the development of Spartan Village along the Gate City Boulevard corridor."
The Kaplan Center, which is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, also offers a variety of social spaces and seating areas where students can relax with friends and play billiards, shuffle board, video games, and table tennis.
"It's important for students to leave their residence halls and apartments and have a space where they're surrounded by their peers," Beville said. "Research shows that when students are connected to campus through recreation and wellness programs, they're more successful both inside and outside of the classroom."
Kaplan Center memberships are available for UNCG faculty, staff and alumni, and members may sponsor one additional person for membership. Parking will be available in Lot 49 located on Neal Street next to the Kaplan Center. The lot is designated as an "A" lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The lot is open to all members outside of these hours. Shuttle services from campus to the facility will also be available.
The building is currently open to students enrolled in summer session courses or those who purchased a summer membership, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni members. All students who are enrolled for the fall semester will be able to access the facility on Friday, Aug. 19. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Friday, Sept. 16, and is open to the public. For more information about the facility, upcoming events, and membership options, visit recwell.uncg.edu.
Story by Alyssa Bedrosian, University Communications
Photography by Martin W. Kane, University Communications
[Read Original Story]


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We would like to introduce you to this incredible foundation that touches hearts. The"Will Santa Find Me?" Foundation™, a non-profit (501)(c)(3), consists of two divisions; "Will Santa Find Me?" National (holiday gift giving) and Hopes & Dreams International (child sex trafficking). We reach out to suffering children who are battling each and every day of their lives. Their childhoods have been stolen and their voices have gone unheard.
Our mission is to keep "Hopes and Dreams" alive through the "miracle" of a compassionate and loving Santa.


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Apple has struck a deal with Amazon to expand its product listings on the marketplace, including the latest smartphones, tablets and wearables. Apple's HomePod is noticeably missing from the contract, as the virtual assistant would clash with Amazon's Alexa-clad Echo range.
In the coming weeks, listings for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR will begin appearing, as well as the iPad Pro, Apple Watch Series 4 and Beats headphones, according to CNET. The deal will span across the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, India and Japan, with the potential to expand to new territories in the future pending the deal's success.
"Amazon is constantly working to enhance the customer experience, and one of the ways we do this is by increasing selection of the products we know customers want," explained the retail giant in a statement. "We look forward to expanding our assortment of Apple and Beats products globally."
Officially, Apple's presence on the platform was previously limited to its MacBook line of laptops and outdated smartphones. Apple's latest line of products was only available via Amazon's third-party marketplace, often featuring a marked-up price or diminished condition.
The new deal does restrict third-party sellers not authorised by Apple from selling any Apple or Beats-branded product moving forward. Amazon has already contacted businesses with listings to apply for Apple's authorisation or risk losing all related listings by January 4th, 2019. It's not clear what criteria Apple has put in place, but a business of its stature is unlikely to give the go-ahead to just anyone.
"We're working with Amazon to improve the experience for Apple customers on their site," added Apple spokesman Nick Leahy added. "And we look forward to those customers having another great way to buy iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and more."
KitGuru Says: The deal will indeed hurt smaller sellers on Amazon, however it will hopefully stop scalpers from flipping a device for twice the price when availability is choked. Would you prefer to buy your Apple device from Amazon?


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MSU President's column for Traill County Tribune
June 4, 2016
Mayville State will recognize distinguished alumni at June 24 dinner
We're very excited about plans that are being made for Alumni Day, Friday, June 24. With all the good things happening at Mayville State, there is much to celebrate. We hope you'll join us in the festivities, which are being held in conjunction with Mayville-Portland's annual Summerfest on June 23, 24, 25, and 26.
A highlight of Mayville State's plans for Alumni Days will be the annual Alumni Association Awards Dinner. It will be held Friday, June 24, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. It will be a pleasure to recognize this year's Alumni Association honorees. They are Distinguished Alumni Award recipients Dr. Nannette Bagstad, Randy Eken, Al Larson, and Dale Norton. Jerold Bietz will be recognized posthumously as a distinguished alumnus. Doug Petersen will receive the Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Nannette Bagstad, Mayville, N.D., served as a faculty member in the Division of Education and Psychology at Mayville State from 1989 to 2012. During her career, she became fully tenured and served as chair of the division. Upon her retirement in 2012, she was granted the distinction of professor emeritus. Nannette was instrumental in the addition of the applied psychology and special education minors at MSU, and she was co-coordinator of the Bush Grant that taught students and faculty the research-based methodology of critical thinking and cooperative learning.
Jerold Bietz was a world-renowned researcher of wheat proteins. A prolific author and co-author of significant articles for noted professional journals, he was a frequent contributor to conferences, both at home and abroad. He was widely acknowledged to be a world leader during his brilliant scientific career in cereal science. He was named a fellow of the American Association of Cereal Chemists and received the William F. Geddes Memorial Award for service to his profession, and the Thomas Burr Osborne Medal, the association's highest award for distinguished contributions in the field of cereal chemistry. Jerry passed away in 2014. His character was memorable in many ways, but particularly for his humility, honesty, generosity, friendliness, and great sense of humor.
Randy Eken, Grand Forks, N.D., is Associate Dean for Administration and Finance at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), where he is known as a dedicated, conscientious, hardworking, trustworthy, intelligent, kind, diligent, and loyal employee. Eken began as an accountant at SMHS in 1979 and has earned several promotions and awards during his time there. He is currently the building chair for the new School of Medicine and Health Sciences, which is nearing completion, He was instrumental in securing the $124 million in funding needed for this state of the art facility, and has worked tirelessly to ensure the effective planning and execution of the design for this unique facility.
Alan Larson, Tempe, Ariz., the original Captain Comet, is the executive director of the Maricopa Skill Center and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Innovation at GateWay Community College in Arizona. He and his wife, Rhonda, own Leaps and Bounds Pediatric Therapy Center, an organization that provides services for children with disabilities.
Dale Norton, Pahrump, Nev., lives by the motto "lead by example." He has been a school administrator in Nye County School District (NCSD), the nation's largest geographical school district, located just outside of Las Vegas, Nev. for 26 years. He has just completed his fourth year as the superintendent of schools. He started out in NCSD as principal at Amaragosa Valley Schools for kindergarten through eighth grade. He opened a brand new building when he was principal of Rosemary Clarke Middle School, NCSD's largest middle school, with more than 1,200 students in attendance. During his four years at Rosemary Clarke, Dale was selected as Nevada's Middle School Principal of the Year, and he received his state award in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2005.
Douglas Petersen, Mayville, N.D., continues to be a Comet through and through, years after his graduation from Mayville State in 1993. He was active while he was a Mayville State student and has continued that action into his role as an alumnus. A member of the MSU Foundation board of directors since 2014, Petersen is a staunch supporter of Mayville State University, attending events, providing financial assistance, and assisting in any way he can. Petersen is president of Citizens Insurance Agency, headquartered in Finley, N.D.
I hope you'll plan to join us in honoring our 2016 recipients of the Distinguished Service and Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday, June 24. Tickets for the Alumni Association Awards Dinner may be purchased online at www.mayvillestate.edu/alumniday or by contacting the MSU Foundation at 701-788-4864 or firstname.lastname@example.com. RSVP deadline is Monday, June 6.


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December 7, 2017
Across the Front! An interdisciplinary perspective
Posted by larryohanlon
By Bonnie Teece, Macquarie University; Emma Gale, Charles Darwin University; Ines Richter, University of New South Wales
Greetings from the inaugural CAPSTAN (Collaborative Alliance Postgraduate Sea Training Alliance Network) voyage, where we are travelling aboard the RV Investigator across the Great Australian Bight. After spending the first few days hugging the coast of the southern parts of Western Australia it is now time to let go of the protection of the land and venture further south. The first feature we're expecting to cross is the subtropical front, a front that brings together the cold dense water from the Southern Ocean with warmer waters from the coastal Australian and water and the Leeuwin and Flinders current.
Bonnie: BA/BSc; MSc (Res); Organic Geochemist and Palaeobiologist; Ship Specialty area: Sedimentology
Crossing the front was not a particularly defining moment in the sedimentology laboratory – we had already taken all our samples. However, I was on the overnight shift (1.30am -7am) down in Observations, and was digitally (and manually) logging our latitude, longitude, depth, air and sea surface temperature, ship heading and speed, wind speed and direction, and gravity every 15 minutes.
I knew I would have to wake two of the trainers if we the sea surface temperature decreased below 16°C. And, at 19.45 UTC time (~4.45am local ship time) we crossed below 16°C – a full degree of longitude earlier than expected (35°11'45'' S) – and I woke two sleepy academics who organised an early morning CTD, and Plankton Haul, on the cool side of the front, and then we reversed track an hour to take replicate within the warm side. We soon discovered that we were in eddy territory, and would exit and enter the front a few more times before exiting it completely.
Emma: B.Sc. (Hons), PhD (Env. Eng); Coastal Scientist; Ship Specialty: Hydrochemistry
I awoke in the morning, expecting us to cross the Sub-Tropical Front at some stage during that day, only to be told that we crossed it earlier than expected, during the night. The Sub-Tropical Front is a water mass boundary in the Southern Ocean that roughly separates the more saline sub-tropical waters (on the northern side) from the fresher sub-Antarctic waters (on the southern side) and is identified by a sharp temperature gradient over a short spatial scale. For our voyage this sharp gradient occurred around the 15-16 C mark (Fig.4) and was followed by an increase in dissolved oxygen and fluorescence (Fig.5). These were hopeful figures given the lower levels of fluorescence observed on the northern side of the front. So now we look forward to investigating the data from the CTDs and plankton haul nets, either side of the front, to hopefully confirm the premise that the sub Antarctic waters are more nutrient rich.
Ines: BSc Marine Science, currently honours in marine microbial ecology, ship speciality: plankton
Signing up to a voyage that crosses the Southern Ocean, by many I was called brave before boarding the ship. I've once experienced Southern Ocean swell south of Tasmania and crossed my fingers the RV Investigator was a very stable ship. To our surprise leaving the coast didn't bring the big swells we expected and so far it has been smooth sailing. Thanks to our trainer in all things physical oceanography, Professor Matthias Tomczak, we learn, that the high pressure system that is currently sitting right across the Great Australian Bight is actually a summer pattern for this area. Typically, during winter, and also through this time of year, strong storms sweep through this part of the world, bringing with them big swells, in fact one of the biggest around the world. Lucky for us this is not the case and we can smoothly sail into the next sunrise towards Hobart.
Want to hear more about the CAPSTAN voyage or the CAPSTAN initiative?
CAPSTAN website: https://goto.mq/6g
CAPSTAN voyage blog: https://voyage9181.wordpress.com
CAPSTAN director's blog: https://aprilabbott.wordpress.com


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Information about M&A advisory fees can be surprisingly difficult to track down. To address this issue, Divestopedia recently released its annual M&A Fee Guide 2017 report prepared in conjunction with Firmex.
Lack of transparency makes it difficult for business owners to determine whether the fees they are being asked to pay when hiring investment bankers are fair and appropriate.
Without baseline guidance on fee structures, it is also challenging for M&A professionals to assess their own fees relative to their peers.
Download the M&A Fee Guide 2017 to get full results and key findings based on a survey of over 470 investment bankers and M&A advisors.
Attend our Webinar on M&A Fees
Join us on November 2nd, 2017 at 1 pm EST for a webinar on the key findings in the M&A Fee Guide 2017. John Carvalho of Divestopedia will moderate a discussion with Adam Mallon and Ryan Farkas of BDO Canada, Shane Stevenson, Dentons, and Jeff Deacon, IAM Group.
To sign up for the webinar here.


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Join our team!
Work smarter, not harder-No Saturdays-Join our Staff
Blackhawk Veterinary Hospital is constantly on the lookout for team members who enjoy the constant change and challenge our practice brings. We search for individuals who will aid in our continued quest towards excellence. We need team players who are outgoing, enthusiastic and are willing to learn and excel. We pride ourselves in a strong team-oriented culture and encourage continued learning. You will enjoy working with wonderful employees.
Blackhawk has been stable in the community since we opened 17 years ago. We are currently a 2/3 doctor companion animal practice that always strives to provide compassionate high-quality care, superior customer service, positive communication, and attitude all within an optimum work environment. We are a progressive, well-equipped, Fear Free Certified hospital. By offering services and equipment including our Abaxis in-house lab suite, digital radiography, and dental radiology, we are able to provide our clients with the best medical options, and our patients with the best medical care.
FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US YOUR RESUME: firstname.lastname@example.com
Full-time benefits include:
4-day work week
Medical expense plan
CE allowance/education benefit-
Fear Free Certification
401k and Roth IRA
Discounted pet medical services


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Hyperledger Adds Alibaba Cloud, Citi, and 14 other New Members at Hyperledger Global Forum
Hyperledger, an open source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies, today announced Alibaba Cloud, Citi, Deutsche Telekom, we.trade and 12 more organizations have joined the project. This news came during day one of the inaugural Hyperledger Global Forum in Basel, Switzerland.
"We are starting Global Forum off with a bang with this impressive line-up of new members," said Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director, Hyperledger. "The growing Hyperledger community reflects the increasing importance of open source efforts to build enterprise blockchain technologies across industries and markets. The latest members showcase the widening interest in and impact of DLT and Hyperledger."
Hyperledger is a multi-project, multi-stakeholder effort that includes multiple enterprise blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. These projects are the result of the hands-on, collaborative efforts of contributors around the world who strive to develop and maintain the code for the frameworks and tools as well as provide governance and organizational resources.
Hyperledger enables organizations to build solid, industry-specific applications, platforms and hardware systems to support their individual business transactions by creating enterprise-grade, open source distributed ledger frameworks and code bases. The latest general members to join the community are: Alibaba Cloud, BlockDao (Hangzhou) Information Technology, Citi, Deutsche Telekom, Guangzhishu (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Technology Innovation Space Information Technology Co., Ltd, KEB Hana Bank, HealthVerity, MediConCen, Techrock (formerly Walimai), we.trade and Xooa.
Hyperledger supports an open community that values contributions and participation from various entities. As such, pre-approved non-profits, open source projects and government entities can join Hyperledger at no cost as associate members. Associate members joining this month include Association of Blockchain Developers of Saint Petersburg, Business School of Hunan University, Sun Yat-sun University and Wall Street Blockchain Alliance.