| MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY CASPER, WYOMING |
| VOLUME 39 - ISSUE 2 MONTHLY PUBLICATION MARCH 2005 |
CALENDAR
Strategic Planning Meeting - 6:30PM - ARLC - March 3
General Meeting - March 4
Field Trip - March 5
Board Meeting - 7:00PM - ARLC - March 8
Bird ID Class - 7:00 PM - Audubon Center at Garden Creek - March 17 (Info. click here)
Bird Class Field Trip - March 19 (Info. click here)
Click HERE to return to Welcome Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Click on title to go directly to article. Click on Sage-Grouse at end of article to come back
HERE)
Three Years of Monitoring Wyoming's Birds
MURIE AUDUBON BIRD HOSPITAL AND REHABILITATION REPORT
AUDUBON WYOMING HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SEARCHING FOR FLAMMULATED OWL AND PURPLE MARTIN
2005 Birding Classes and Field Trips
MAS EXTENDS SYMPATHIES TO KURTZ FAMILY
Doug Faulkner will be the guest speaker at our March program. Doug has always had a passion for the outdoors, but didn't "get into" birding until late in his college years. While taking an ornithology class, he became obsessed with birds (and birding) and has done nothing else since! He received his B.S. and M.S. in biology from Ball State University in Indiana. His master's thesis was on the impact of winter prescribed burning on nesting bird species in the long-leaf pine savanna of southern Mississippi. After graduation, he spent three years traveling the country working on several bird-related jobs, as well as two months in Costa Rica banding birds as part of a long-term migration study. Doug joined Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) in early 1999 where his last job was coordinator of the Monitoring Wyoming’s Birds project. Doug is beginning a new project and will soon be leaving RMBO. He has been asked to take the lead in writing a book on the birds of Wyoming. This won't be a bird-finding guide, but will have more emphasis on taxonomy, distribution, habitat, historical records, and conservation issues. The book will be jointly written with Dave McDonald and Craig Benkman at the University of Wyoming. Publication is anticipated in three years.
Summer
2002 marked the inaugural field season of the Monitoring Wyoming's Birds program
coordinated by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. This first year involved
the establishment of habitat-based transects throughout the state of Wyoming,
all of them on public land. In all, a total of 185 surveys were conducted and
an additional 128 river miles on the North Platte and Green rivers were
surveyed
by canoe. ColonyWatch volunteers also monitored
Great Blue
Heron and
Burrowing
Owl colonies.
The program's goal is to collect long-term data to monitor the health of bird
populations in the state. In this first year, they focused on seven habitats
(aspen, grassland, juniper-woodland, mid-elevation conifer, montane riparian,
shrubsteppe, and low-elevation riparian) setting up at least 20 survey transects
in each habitat type. Repeated surveys along these transects over many years
will allow the monitoring of species populations effectively. This data can
then be used by public land managers in developing better land-use plans to
address the concern for species with declining populations.
Our program will be March 4, 2005 at the new Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. As always, the program is free and open to the public, so bring a friend and join us.
Bruce Walgren - Program Chair
Our 19th Annual Banquet was a great success due to all who organized it (THANKS A BUNCH TO ALL OF YOU), those who donated, and those who spent their monies at the raffle, bird box raffle and silent auction.
Your board has been busy in February, first with the banquet, then at the two Strategic Planning meetings (Jim Herold and Mary Hein also attended) and meeting with Andrew Beamer of the City of Casper to discuss easement across Murie’s property (the Piggery) to install a relief sewer line.
We have a Mission Statement - The Mission of Murie Audubon Society is to promote the conservation of birds and other wildlife through education and enhancements of natural habitats.
We have a Vision Statement - The Vision of Murie Audubon Society is to instill a passion for nature in present and future generations through awareness, enjoyment, understanding, appreciation, conservation and advocacy.
Our next Strategic Planning meeting will be March 3rd at 6:30 at the ARLC Bldg. to continue working on our Goals, Objectives, and Actions. Please plan to attend!
The board has sent a letter to Andrew Beamer discussing our “terms” for allowing access across our property. We will keep you posted as to the outcome. Rose-Mary King, President
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Thank you to Jim Brown, Whitney Bradley, Jean and Elmer Parson and Jim Potter for sponsoring two classrooms for this school year. And to Donna and Terry Cleveland for sponsoring a classroom. These donations bring the sponsors up to 62 of the 69 classes using Audubon Adventures this year. Thank you all for your support of this program. Ann Hines, Education Chairman
Because of your generosity, our fund-raising effort was a great success - Thank you - Jim Banzenbaker (Brunton), Irene Brooks (Goose Egg Inn), Johnny Johnson (Eggington’s), June Calmes, Chuck Lyford, Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Linda Wilson (First Interstate Bank), Sheila Ross (Flower Gallery), Frank & Joann Odasz, Peg Cullen, Ann Hines, Paula Knudson, Heather Carter (Blue Heron Books & Espresso), Tom Fields (Linton’s Big R), Tammy Fleetwood (Ralph’s Book & Cards), Audubon Wyoming, Lucy Mott (Finishing Touch Gallery), Betty Rickman, Bart & Liz Rea, Shirin Hola, Whitney Bradley, Merlyn & Lynn Herold (Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc.) Dick & Jane Vander Weyden (Trail Lake Ranch), Martha Rakestraw (Kitchen’s Etc.), Charlie Scott, and Bob Yonts.
Thank you, Charlotte Levendosky, for folding the paper origami cranes. Thank you, Mrs. Grogan and Art Club students, for decorating our placemats.
Pied-billed Grebe (1) – DBT
California Gull (1) – EOA
Osprey (1) – expired
Cooper’s Hawk (1) - DBT
Red-tailed Hawk (4) – 2 EOA, 2 euthanized during care
Rough-legged Hawk (1) – released
Ferruginous Hawk (4) – 2 released, 2 holding for spring release
Golden Eagle (9) – 2 released, 2 holding for spring release, 4 EOA, 1 euthanized during care
Bald Eagle (2) – 1 released, 1 holding for transfer permit
Prairie Falcon (2) – EOA
Am. Kestrel (6) – 4 released, 1 holding, 1 expired during care
Merlin (2) – DBT
Long-eared Owl (2) – 1 DBT, 1 expired during care
Great Horned Owl (2) – 1 EOA, 1 euthanized during care
Short-eared Owl (1) – holding for transfer permit
Mourning Dove (1) – EOA
Common Nighthawk (1) – EOA
Belted Kingfisher (1) – expired
No. Flicker (1) – DOA
Downy Woodpecker (1) – expired
Western Kingbird (1) – released
Winter Wren (1) – expired
Black-billed Magpie (1) – EOA
Mountain Bluebird (1) – released
Bohemian Waxwing (1) - released
Yellow Warbler (1) – released
Black-headed Grosbeak (1) – released
Western Meadowlark (1) – released
Bullock’s Oriole (1) – euthanized
White-winged Crossbill (1) – expired
Little Brown Bat (1) – released
DBT – died before treatment, EOA – euthanized on arrival, DOA – dead on arrival
Audubon Wyoming is pleased to announce that Brian Rutledge has been hired as our new Executive Director.
Brian has served as an instructor and interpreter since childhood, leading Eco-tours to many corners of the globe.
Brian brings a wealth of knowledge of non-profit organizations and conservation to the Audubon team. He served for five years as the President/Chief Executive Officer of Zoo New England and was Executive Director of the Maryland Zoological Society for thirteen years. He has designed and developed entertaining and exciting exhibits, interpretive graphics, and innovative, interactive devices for the general public.
For many years Brian and his wife, Kathleen, have made their permanent home on the Front Range of the Rockies. Fascination with cutting horses, sled dogs and cattle has melded well with their love of the outdoors.
Brian will officially begin his duties with Audubon Wyoming on March 1, 2005.
This year we are going to count as many sage-grouse leks as possible, and we are going to try to look for all the old leks that no one has looked at recently. Murie has been counting leks in the Bates Hole area, the Hat-6 lek and other areas, and we are going to add more leks if we can find enough people to be counters. Counting a lek requires arriving at the site one half hour before sunrise and counting until at least 1 hour after sunrise. We would like to count the lek three times in April through early May. The Game and Fish data base has many leks that have not been looked at for many years. The Game and Fish wants to have people look at the lek area to see if the lek is still being used. This can be done in the middle of the day because an active lek will have lots of droppings and some feathers.
Daryl Lutz at the Casper Game and Fish office is coordinating the lek counting. If you are interested in helping this year, please contact Daryl at the Game and Fish, or Stacey Scott at 265-6213.
SEARCHING
FOR FLAMMULATED OWL
Last year after Rich Levad and I found the Purple Martins in the Sierra Madres, we came up with the idea of doing a more intensive survey for both that species and Flammulated Owls. We found a right-sized cavity in the vicinity of a territorial Flammulated, but did not confirm nesting. We aim to change that this year. So, after talking with Barb Gorges about likely dates, we would like to invite everyone to join us for a weekend (July 8-10) of searching the Sierras for the Flammulated Owls and Purple Martins.
Someone will visit the area before that weekend to locate a territorial Flammulated Owl so that on the first night (Friday) we can take everyone to SEE one. Saturday will involve driving to the Purple Martin nesting site, seeing those birds, then canvassing the mountains the rest of the day for other nesting colonies. That night we will do the same for owls, with tape players used to solicit responses from territorial males.
On previous surveys in that area in 2002, other owls found included Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet. My guess is that Northern Pygmy-Owl should be up there somewhere as well.
Sunday will be a day to drive back, but for those interested, I think a visit to the Centennial area for Boreal Owl could be worthwhile (if staying over until Monday). We could also bird Saratoga and the Laramie Plains as well.
This is about as organized as it has gotten to this point. As the summer approaches, I'll send more information about meeting places, etc. Doug Faulkner, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
Wayne and I received 180 yard bird selections from 21 states and Trinidad for the first month of 2005. Raptors continue to be seen in neighborhoods, but this time Bald Eagles and Merlins were more prevalent. Other frequent yard visitors were Common Redpolls, Pileated Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, and Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatches, but the top-reported species was the Brown Creeper. Bohemian Waxwing was again in second place, with Bald Eagle coming in third.
Casper: Jim Herold – Steller’s Jay, Pat Classen – Black-capped Chickadee, Joanne Odasz – A. Goldfinch, Frank Odasz – Song Sparrow, Chris Michelson – Red-breasted Nuthatch, Jim Lawrence – Bald Eagle, Gloria Lawrence – Brown Creeper, Liz Rea – Great Horned Owl, Bart Rea, Bruce Walgren – Black-billed Magpie, Donna Walgren – House Sparrow; Buffalo: Deane Bjerke – Brown Creeper; Dubois: Anna Moscicki – Steller’s Jay; Lovell: Glen Olsen – N. Goshawk.
Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project last month!! To take part, pick the species you most enjoyed seeing in, over, or from your yard during the month of February and send your choice to Donna Walgren (ph. 234-7455), 4311 S. Center St., Casper 82601, or email to bwalgren_ AT_ coffey_ DOT_ com.
To find out what birds have been seen, call Murie Audubon’s Bird Hotline: in Casper, 265-BIRD, outside of Casper, 1-888-265-BIRD.
Donna Walgren
January 22, 2005
Dear Senators:
The mission of Audubon Wyoming is "to be a strong, unified voice for an ethic of conservation in Wyoming, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of present and future generations."
On behalf of the 1500 members of Audubon in Wyoming, we urge the committee to pass Senate File 41 out of committee and send it to the full Senate for further consideration.
In view of Wyoming's expected budget surplus, Audubon Wyoming believes that we have a rare opportunity to preserve Wyoming's wildlife heritage for generations to come, and that the Wildlife and Natural Resources Funding Act is the vehicle that can accomplish this goal. Wyoming's wildlife, both game species and non-game species, are a unique heritage for our state, unequaled anywhere else in the country. Healthy wildlife populations are extremely important to Wyoming's economic development and our unique quality of life. However, increasing human needs are putting new pressures on Wyoming's wildlife and Wyoming's wildlife habitat. But the old model of hunting and fishing license-funded wildlife management is insufficient for protecting our wildlife from these pressures.
The Wildlife and Natural Resources Funding Act gives the people of Wyoming the tools we need to protect and enhance wildlife habitat in the state, now and for the foreseeable future.
Accordingly, we request that the Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee give its support to Senate File 41, and the full $75,000,000 funding currently proposed in that bill.
Thank you for your careful consideration of this important legislation.
George Jones
Audubon Wyoming Board Chair
(Note - A letter from the Murie Board was sent to 58 House Representatives {2 did not have email addresses} on Feb. 25, 2005 asking them to support SF41 Wildlife and Natural Resources Funding Act by restoring funding to a reasonable level.)
March 5 - Grey Reef with Doug Faulkner - leave from Piggery at 8:00
March 19 - Bird ID class field trip to Grey Reef/Alcova Lake - call Bruce Dudley at 473-1987 for meeting time and place
April 9 - Greater Sage-grouse at Hat 6 lek - meet at Eastside Safeway and leave by 5:30 - carpooling encouraged to limit impact on sage-grouse
April 23 - Bird ID class field trip to Soda Lake - call Bruce Dudley at 473-1987 for meeting time and place
CO-SPONSORED BY AUDUBON WYOMING AND MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY
March 17 – Class - Birds of the Alcova/Grey Reef Area - 7:00 pm – ACGC
March 19 – Field trip – ID birds at Alcova/Grey Reef
April 9 – Field trip to Hat Six Greater Strutting-grouse Lek. Meet at 5:30 am at eastside Safeway, carpool to lek
April 21 – Class - Birds at Soda Lake - 7:00 pm – ACGC
April 23 – Field trip – ID birds at Soda Lake
May 5 – Class – Migrating birds and summer residents at Edness Kimball Wilkins (EKW) State Park – 7:00 pm ACGC
May 7 – Field Trip – ID birds at EKW
May 12 - Class – More migrating birds and summer residents at EKW State Park – 7:00 pm ACGC
May 14 – Field Trip – ID birds at EKW State Park
June 9 – Class - Casper and Muddy Mountain birds – 7:00 pm - ACGC
June 11 – Field trip – ID birds on Casper and Muddy Mountain.
July – Bats – Time and Date to be announced.
ACGC – Audubon Center at Garden Creek, 101 Garden Creek Road.
Non Audubon Members can attend all classes & field trips for $25.00. Audubon Members can attend all classes & field trips for $10.00. For more information about any of the classes or field trips, call Bruce Dudley at (307) 473-1987.
Murie Audubon has lost several of our steadfast members in the past few years. On January 31st, we lost another loyal supporter when Ken Kurtz died. I first became acquainted with Ken when he joined the board several years ago. He and Arlene were regular attendees at the monthly meetings and the banquet as long as he was able to attend. I remember his excitement in showing me where House Finches had nested on their porch. The board met in their home on several occasions and were shown with great enthusiasm his collection of clocks. He was a regular sponsor of Audubon Adventures for many years. HE WILL BE MISSED. Ann Hines
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
EASTER BLESSINGS!
