Painting a portrait
C of C researcher tracks colorful birds to determine their preferred habitats
By Diane Knich
She trudges through the brush and along the edge of Kiawah Island's marshes almost every day, holding a large metal antennae in the air and listening for the beeps to grow louder from the tracking machine belted to her waist.
A male painted bunting with a tracking antennae extending beyond its tail sits on Sarah Latshaw's finger.
If they do, College of Charleston graduate student Sarah Latshaw knows she's getting closer to a painted bunting she previously equipped with a "mini-backpack" tracking device.
A student in the Master of Environmental Studies program, Latshaw recently landed a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship to continue her studies of the brightly colored birds that are on the National Audubon Society's watch list. She's tracking them to learn about the kind of habitats they prefer. She thinks that when her research is complete, she'll be able to recommend to homeowners how to best landscape their yards to encourage the birds to nest in them.
"The buntings like the areas people like," Latshaw said. "They're attracted to the barrier islands."
But that's a disadvantage for them as the population on the islands swells, she said.
Citadel biology professor Paul Nolan is Latshaw's research advisor. Citadel biology professors often advise graduate-student research at the College of Charleston, he said, because graduate-level research in biology is limited at the military college.
The Post and Courier
College of Charleston graduate student Sarah Latshaw and technician Will Lemon use a receiver to track the movements of painted buntings to study their habits on Kiawah Island. When Latshaw's research project is complete, she will be able to recommend to island land owners how best to landscape their yards to encourage the birds to nest there.
Nolan, who studies bird and other animal behavior, said that the number of painted buntings has been declining since the mid-1960s. He thinks that's probably because of increased development on the east coast, which eliminates places the birds are likely to nest. He also said many of the birds are captured and sold as pets, especially in Mexico where many painted buntings spend the winter. Little research has been done on painted buntings and their habitats, he said. So he was excited to advise Latshaw on her research.
Latshaw said that along the South Carolina coast, the birds nest and have their young from early April to September or October. They spend the winter in Mexico and Cuba.
She will catch about 15 to 20 birds over the summer and attach tiny tracking devices to their backs. The devices are attached with a biodegradable type of thread, she said. She will remove them from the birds once she is done tracking them. But if she's unable to find a bird, the thread will decay naturally and the bird will be free of the device.
Each day, Latshaw or her technician Will Lemon track the birds with the large metal antennae. When they find one, they mark the spot. Then they note the type of vegetation around and above the spot where the bird was perched.
So far, she said, the birds seem to like vacant lots adjacent to developed lots. She also often finds them along the edge of the woods where it meets the marsh, she said. But those are simply early observations and she doesn't know what she'll ultimately find in her research, she said.
After the tracking phase of her research, Latshaw will analyze her data, then decide on her next steps.
The Post and Courier
College of Charleston graduate student Sarah Latshaw holds the type of transmitter that is tied to the backs of painted buntings as part of her tracking study on Kiawah Island.
As a fellow, she will receive a three-year annual stipend of $30,000 along with a $10,500 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees, a one-time $1,000 travel allowance and the freedom to conduct their own research.
She said she doesn't think she would have landed the award had she not done previous research and pilot studies on painted buntings, work that was paid for by the Kiawah Conservancy.
Jim Chitwood, chairman of the conservancy's environmental science committee, said the group tries to preserve some vacant land on the island and promote environmentally sound development practices.
Most people on Kiawah are going to landscape their yards, he said. Latshaw's research will help them do it in a way that encourages buntings to nest. "We want to understand what we need under the trees," he said. "And it's just really fun to understand what makes them tick."
Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.
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nighteyes (anonymous) says...
What a beautiful bird! I have never seen one here before...
July 13, 2009 at 1:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
maeko (anonymous) says...
i see them sometimes when i'm doing field work in mt p. last time, i was talking to a home owner. when i pointed it out, she gave the most bored espression. she obviously couldn't be less interested in something so mundane as a songbird. i thought it was a real treat to see such a pretty bird.
July 13, 2009 at 6:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatmorecollards (anonymous) says...
I see one occasionally in my back yard. Now I know what they are. I would like to know what they nest in. Do they like bird houses or a certain kind of bush?
July 13, 2009 at 7:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
They're all over the marshes. People don't see them, because they don't take the time to stop and observe the beauty around themselves. Pet cats are as big a problem to wild birds as loss of habitat. I have a hard time paying $100K for this in these times.
July 13, 2009 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
To parrot (no pun intended) nighteyes--what a beautiful bird!! Not that I'm a wing-nut (oooo another no pun intended), but I just love all creatures, because to me everything about other creatures (other than humans) is fascinating.
(Does my post mean I need more coffee?)
Just be patient with me peeps!
July 13, 2009 at 8:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
I agree that the beauty around us goes unnoticed by many people, but you could be a nature lover and still miss this bird.
They are not all over the marshes because they are not a marsh bird. Instead, for our eastern population, they prefer barrier islands, sea islands, and hummock islands where they have plenty of shrubby habitat. They can sometimes be seen flying across the salt marsh to nearby areas, often to feed and bring back food or nesting materials to the nest (known to sometimes nest 3x).
In bird feeders, they prefer millet. If you live close to the salt marsh in a suitable area, filling a feeder with millet is a good way to get them into your yard.
Some of the best places for public viewing in this area include Botany Bay Plantation, Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (Folly), Palmetto Islands County Park, and the parking lot at Beachwalker County Park. First, listen for their song -http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Painted_Bunting/id - then indirectly approach the sound. Very often they will be singing out on the perimeter of their territory, which is often marsh borders. Only the males sing, but this includes juvenile males which are greenish like the female.
Populations are declining! Our painted bunting is a "species of special concern". You can contribute by submitting your observations here: http://paintedbuntings.org/
(and by preserving shrubby habitat and keeping your cats inside!!)
July 13, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Slick50 (anonymous) says...
I saw more of them in Georgia than SC, but my limited experience is they prefer wooded areas ajacent to open fields. I had many of them at my bird feeder in St. Marys, Ga. The last one I saw in SC was along the Sawmill Branch Canal in Summerville.
July 13, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Well, I was not trying to be scientifically accurate, mind you. But I ain't lying either. When I want to get a picture or two, I find a marsh and walk the woody area around it. I can almost always find at least one. Hence, figuratively speaking, my use of "all over the marsh" as opposed to "hard to find".
July 13, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
Umm, ok. Sounds like you are looking for them in some good places, between spring and fall migrations. I never get tired of seeing these birds.
July 13, 2009 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LocalHero (anonymous) says...
You can often find them along the marsh trails at James Island county park.
Do a google search for "listen to painted bunting" and you'll be able to hear what their song sounds like. then go to the park and walk around til you hear one. The males like to perch high up and sing out!
July 13, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flatpickit (anonymous) says...
I agree. That's a good place to look as well. I've also seen painted buntings at the feeders at Caw Caw. See my previous post for a good website that gives general info and a good sound byte. Well, it didn't show as a link, so i'll give it again:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pa...
July 14, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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