MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY                                              CASPER, WYOMING
VOLUME 40 - ISSUE 7                   MONTHLY PUBLICATION           OCTOBER 2006

CALENDAR

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Environmental Aspects Affecting Wind Farm Development 

Wind energy is the world’s fastest growing energy-generation technology.  Commercial wind energy systems are installed in 27 states, including Wyoming.  Installed wind energy generating capacity now totals 9,149 megawatts in the United States and is expected to generate about 24.8 billion kilowatts of electricity in 2006.  That represents less than 1 percent of U.S. electricity generation.  Wyoming ranks seventh in the top twenty states for wind energy potential.  Wind turbines in Wyoming give the state the seventh largest capacity for generating wind power.  California is first, followed by Texas, Minnesota and Iowa.  The Foote Creek Rim wind project was Wyoming’s first commercial facility to generate electricity from wind.  Located near Arlington in Carbon County the project came on line in 1999.  There are eleven projects in Wyoming either pending or already approved related to wind power.

 

With the proposal by Chevron -Texaco to explore the potential for a wind energy project on their property near Casper, we wanted to explore the aspects associated with wind farm development.  Therefore, our guest speaker this month is Dan Leach, founder and CEO of HTH PowerSHIFT, a company that is dedicated to developing renewable energy products that create a healthier world.  Mr. Leach’s overall business management experience has encompassed a variety of industries for more than 25 years, including renewable energy, commercial construction, large-scale wind projects, and electrical transmission.  His sole focus since 1995 has been on renewable energy, where he has been a leader in building a successful and large portfolio of wind, biofuel, and renewable power generation projects under various stages of development.  Dan’s presentation of a “virtual” wind energy project promises to be informational as well as entertaining.

 

Join us on Friday, October 13, 2006 at 7 pm at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  The program is free and open to the public.    Bruce Walgren-Program Chair

 

(Information Sources: American Wind Energy Association,  U.S. Department of Energy)

PLASTIC RAFFLE CONTAINERS NEEDED

Referring to the picture below, you will see an example of the kind of containers I need to sit beside each raffle prize to hold the raffle tickets (replacing past paper sacks) at the banquet in February.  This goes hand in hand with PNP's articles on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  We will be “Reusing” plastic containers that might otherwise end up in the land fill.  Please contact me at 577-0568 and I will get the containers from you or bring them to the general meetings.  Thank you!

From L - R - hand wipes container or any cleaning wipes container; powdered drink mix container; 1lb. size coffee container.  If you have similar plastic containers that held a different product than listed above, they will work as well.  Approx. size is 6” - 8” in height and 3” - 4” in diameter.

 

Rose-Mary King - Banquet Chair

 

BRUCE'S BRANCH

I’ve always felt that as an Audubon Chapter, Murie Audubon is reasonably successful.  We are quite good at some things that we do, and not quite as good in other aspects.  For example, we have an annual Banquet that I believe is educational, raises some money for the chapter’s projects, recognizes our volunteers and is fun.  On the down side, we’re not as organized as we could or should be when it comes to membership recruitment. 

 

We are still tweaking our Strategic Plan and hope to have it finalized by the end of the calendar year.  As part of this planning process, we have set up a Financial Planning Committee to help us with our yearly planning and to give us some long term planning on the financial side of our operations.  We did approve a budget for our fiscal year at our last Board meeting.  Thanks to Chris Michelson, Merlyn Herold and Stacey Scott for their work on the Budget Committee.

 

Something new this year for Murie Audubon is a simple worksheet to help our volunteers keep track of the hours they spend on Murie Audubon activities.  If you are spending time volunteering for Murie, we would appreciate you letting us know what activity and how many hours you spend.  The forms will be available at monthly membership meetings or I can mail them to you.

 

On the lighter side, fall migration continues as our summer avian visitors head south.  Again this year we observed a flock of Turkey Vultures around Casper.  They seem to hang around for a few days on their way to their winter homes.  I’m not sure where they roost at night, but it would be interesting to see.  Donna and I were treated to a flock of 10 Great Blue Herons as they flew over our house.  We had never seen them in a group before and they were even flying in formation like geese or ducks!  We were also visited (on different days) by Wilson’s, MacGillivray’s, and Yellow-rumped Warblers in our yard.  One day, Clay-Colored Sparrows fed on fox-tail barley and weed seeds on the ground in our garden.  Blue Jays have also visited our neighborhood this time of year – probably just youngsters out exploring.

 

A scruffy looking American Kestrel paused briefly just this last week, either just to take a break or perhaps hunting for food.  In all we had quite a variety and we had fun seeing all these fall birds.  Until next month – Bruce Walgren, President

WHAT ARE YOUR BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS?

If you could only have five bird-related books, what would they be?  In the last issue of Birder’s World, Pete Dunne wrote an article about 9 ways to become a better birder.  In it he included his list of his 10 favorite bird-related books.  Most of us have umpteen bird books, but which ones are the “must-haves”?  The answer will vary depending on interests, location, and a bunch of other things.  But I thought it would be fun to see what everyone recommends – and educational, cuz many of you will have books that the rest of us are not familiar with.  So, send me your list of 5 books someone interested in birds should have; and feel free to include descriptions and reasons why you would recommend your favorites.  This can be a learning experience for us all, and will help us become better observers.

We’ll compile the results and put them in the newsletter. 

Mail to 4311 S. Center St., Casper WY  82601, or email to Piranga_AT_bresnanDOTnet.      Donna Walgren

The Summer is Past

With the start of Murie Audubon meetings in September, one can rest assure that summer is past and winter has begun. Although the Autumnal Equinox isn’t until September 23, I had a reminder that seasons don’t always hold true weather-wise as I sat in the cabin on Saturday, September 16th.  First off, it was a gloomy day; secondly, the temperature inside the cabin was at 58 degrees; and thirdly, the only birds to be seen were the "grey-headed" juncos. To add to this sorry day, a hailstorm made its presence known. It wasn’t a great hailstorm but one would have gotten peppered if they had been out in it. As I debated whether or not I was going to stay around any longer, the snow began to fall. I thought I might as well enjoy my first snow of the season and reminisce on the spring and summer that has just passed.

Spring didn’t seem like a good season at the cabin this year for birds. We weren’t able to get into the cabin until the middle of May, just in time to put out the first hummingbird feeder. The usual build up of hummingbirds didn’t materialize and for most of spring and a bit into July we ran only 2-3 feeders. We never did get above five and that occurred as the hummingbirds started their trek south. At that time, we were blessed with a storm that must have set a black-chinned hummingbird off course and there it was at our feeder. I got many good looks at an immature from roughly 25-30 inches. What can be said for this particular bird? What I said was, "It looks just like its picture in the "guide book", National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America Fourth Edition.

During the spring, broad-tailed hummingbirds were the main visitors, but spring storms can dump almost anything. Southward migration of hummingbirds in summer is when we get a chance to see the other species of hummingbirds. This year we were blessed with both rufous and calliope hummingbirds. Migration began roughly on July 10th. Dr. Scott, on a visit to the cabin one day in the past, felt that surely one season we would see the magnificent hummingbird. That hasn’t happened, but we still hope.

Brigid and I were coming home from a visit to the Art Festival at Loveland, CO on August 14th and we were just west of Douglas when I spied the suspicious cloud over Casper Mountain and I thought to myself, "The whole mountain is on fire. The 100 year fire must be coming true". Of course that didn’t come true for which I am forever grateful. However, we couldn’t get to the cabin for a week and was that ever disastrous. When we were finally allowed to get to our cabin we found the hummer juice and birdfeed entirely gone. The water holders were completely dry. The hummingbirds deserted us with only about five staying around. I’d say we lost all the other birds that frequent the cabin, but that wouldn’t be true. We never did have a great population of birds at the cabin this year. Populations of Steller’s jay, Cassin’s finch, and woodpeckers were really low in number. Pine siskins seemed normal until the fire when they moved elsewhere. We saw very few of the nuthatches (red-breasted, white–breasted, and pygmy). We had a low number of mourning doves, usually we have 10-20 birds. Even the dark-eyed juncos numbers were low until just the last week when they blossomed to 10 - 15 birds. Mountain chickadees were almost non-existent. Blue grouse (now split into two species, so what’s the new name for our species?) have been rare. We’ve not had a good, steady count of wild turkey, but it would seem the little red fox is depleting their numbers. It is great to be able to see 4-8 wild turkeys at the moment. I’m going to blame the bear(s) for a low population of nuthatches. The birds attracted to suet like the real thing, as does the bear(s). I do put out imitation (commerce) suet, but it doesn’t get the same attention as the real suet.

I must admit to not doing much birding this year, including at the cabin. I guess more than ever I miss my birding companion. She helped me so much with seeing birds and knowing where to locate them in the brush or trees. It certainly hasn’t been the same since she has been gone. I didn’t even do an overnighter at the cabin this year and one should be at the cabin in the early morning in order to really see the birds. I'll be hopeful for a better year, next year.      The Hummer

AUDUBON ADVENTURES

hat a wonderful group of supporters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I haven't sent out a single reminder and have twenty classroom sponsored for this school year.  We certainly are off to a good start.

A great BIG thank you to the following people:

Two or more classrooms sponsored:  Jim Brown, Chris Michelson, Audrey and Jim Bailey, Jim Potter and Gloria and Jim Lawrence.

Those faithful sponsors who have paid for one classroom are:  Bob Yonts, Betty Rickman, Beecher Strube, Rose Mary King and Miguel and Sandy Leotta.    Ann Hines, Education Chair

(Click here for the form to send your sponsorship to Ann at 1600 Linda Vista Drive, Casper, 82609)

The Soap Box

Department of Interior officials perhaps got to hear more than they wanted recently at a three hour “listening session” September 19 at the Sublette County Library in Pinedale.  Comments varied from health issues, environmental issues, NEPA, wolf re-introduction and complaints about excessive bureaucracy.  According to an article in the Casper Star-Tribune, Dr. Tom Johnson, Sublette County health officer, said that the federal Government should look more closely at the aggregate effects of policies.  Specifically, he said that the BLM continues to approve more and more projects that “are environmentally unsound and present human health risks.”  Johnson said increased energy development and air pollution, combined with permitting of development at Fremont Lake – Pinedale’s source of water – shows a “federal stubborn refusal” to listen to local will and health issues.  “This suggests to me that Washington supervisors are less concerned with the near-or-far term public health issues than they are with economic gains,” the doctor said to applause.

 

I would agree with Dr. Johnson; too many projects in Wyoming are being OK’d by the BLM at the urging of the administration without sufficient forethought to the consequences.  If you would like to have your say, written comments on Cooperative Conservation may be submitted though http://cooperativeconservation.gov  Click on Contact us, use Listening Session Comments in the subject line or by mail to Cooperative Conservation Assistant, U.S. Department of Interior 1849 C Street NW, MS5258, Washington DC 20240.

 

Closer to home, The BLM office in Casper is updating their Resource Management Plan for public lands under their jurisdiction.  As with all plans from the BLM, there are several alternative plans presented in the draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.  The preferred plan (the alternative that the BLM prefers), calls for disposal of all BLM public land in Platte and Goshen County as well as the majority of BLM lands in Converse County.  Lands adjacent to Guernsey State Park, Ft. Laramie National Historical Site, lands along historic trails, the Table Mountain Wildlife Area and others are all slated for disposal.

 

The number of acres protected as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), a special designation to protect environmentally sensitive lands, decreased from 217,253 in the existing plan to 19,988 in the preferred alternative plan.  Many deserving areas were not given ACEC protection including the Southern Bighorns/Red Wall, Muddy Mountain, Cedar Ridge, North Platte River and the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Complex.  The existing Jackson Canyon ACEC is retained and the Alcova Fossil Area ACEC is designated under the new proposed plan.

 

The BLM is still using timing limitations that allow industrial development (i.e. drilling for oil and gas) in sage grouse breeding and nesting habitats, big game winter range, and raptor nesting areas if it’s done in the off-season, even in the face of mounting scientific evidence that wildlife is declining when these measures are applied.  At the very least, the BLM needs to disallow surface occupancy of these areas.

 

The plan has not yet been approved and you may submit comments to this plan until October 19.  Submit your comments to Casper RMP/EIS, Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office, 2887 Prospector Drive, Casper WY 83604 or at the following website: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/casper/comments.php.    Bruce Walgren

BIRD NOTES

Fall migration continues; reports abound of warblers, sparrows, and shorebirds moving through.  Highlights include Tennessee Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Clay-colored Sparrows.  Lots of Gray Catbirds and a high count of 3 Ovenbirds out at EKW.  Turkey Vultures are also definitely on the move – several kettles reported, Whitney Bradley observed 20-25 high in the air near his house.  Small groups of Great Blue Herons have also been reported flying overhead.  An unusual sighting was reported in Sioux City, Iowa in early September – a Green Violet-ear Hummingbird.  This is what makes migration so interesting – you never know what might show up in the most unexpected places!!

 

August Yard Birds – For the month of August, Wayne and I received 173 yard bird selections from 19 states and the Yukon with 85 different species reported.  Hummingbirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and American Goldfinches have typically been the most reported yard birds in July; and that was again the case in July ’06.  5 species of hummers were reported with the Rufus coming in at first place.  Second place was a tie between Black-headed Grosbeak and American Goldfinch.  Black-chinned Hummingbird was third, and the Calliope was fourth.  The warblers are starting to make appearances and the August yard bird report usually has a lot these little guys; we’ll see if that holds true for August ’06. 

Casper:  Jim Herold – Eurasian Collared-Dove, Bob Yonts – Common Nighthawk, Chris Michelson – Lark Sparrow, Sandy/Miguel Leotta – Spotted Towhee, Jim Brown – Eurasian Collared -Dove, Rose-Mary King – Blue Jay, Bruce Walgren – MacGillivray’s Warbler, Donna Walgren – Wilson’s Warbler; Cheyenne:  Barb Gorges – Belted Kingfisher; Evanston:  Patti Gorman – Pine Siskin, Tim Gorman – Calliope Hummingbird; Lovell:  Glen Olsen – Rufous Hummingbird; Riverton:  Suzanne Hargis – Brown Thrasher, Bob Hargis – Greater Yellowlegs.

 

Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in August!!  Fall migration is becoming more evident every day – may your yard provide interesting sightings in September and the coming months!!  Send your yard bird for September to Donna Walgren (ph. 234-7455), 4311 S. Center St., Casper  82601, or email to Piranga_AT_bresnanDOTnet.    Donna Walgren

WYOMING WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS SPOTLIGHT

Northeast Wyoming Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation

Location: Gillette, WY

License Holder: Diane Morse

 

 

First in a series on Wyoming Bird Rehabilitators is Northeast Wyoming Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation (N.E.W. Bird) which was formed in 1990 in response to the need for bird rehabilitation, public education, and wildlife conservation in the NE Wyoming area. Founder Diane Morse and volunteers of N.E.W. Bird Rescue and Rehab are dedicated to the care and potential release of injured and orphaned raptors.  A native of Midwest, Wyoming, Diane credits her interest and passion for birds to her early years on the ranch where “every injured or orphaned critter that ended up on our porch was cared for to the best of our knowledge and abilities.”  She then acquired experience with cage birds through her work in a pet store in Gillette in addition to keeping birds in her own home. She also credits her early volunteer work with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, specifically Olin Oedekoven, and also Murie Bird Hospital’s Lois Layton for help in getting N.E.W. Bird up and running.  For a decade, the rehab program cared for small mammals and all migratory birds, including threatened and endangered species.  In the year 2000, due to an overwhelming number of "patients", a difficult decision was made to focus N.E.W. Bird's limited resources on birds of prey.

 

The rehab center has served northeast Wyoming for 16 years and works closely with local law enforcement, state and federal agencies, landowners, and various industries in the area. The increase of industrial and residential development in the region has led to a corresponding increase in affected raptors, adding to the rehab center's objective of raptor assistance.  For their continuous efforts, Diane and her volunteers have received recognition from the Wyoming Wildlife Federation as well as Wyoming Game and Fish. 

 

These cooperative efforts were very apparent this past season when a Snowy Owl was discovered in a container of molasses based cattle feed.  (Perhaps the owl had been attempting to catch a rodent that was attracted to the feed.)  After a long recovery the Snowy Owl was ready to be released in late May 2006.  Since the Snowy Owl is normally found in arctic region of North America, it wouldn’t be wise to release the bird in Wyoming.  Arrangements were made to get the bird to Denver International Airport – Diane’s husband Doug Lambert would take time off work to drive the owl down to be placed on a direct flight to Anchorage, Alaska.  Once in Anchorage, the bird was picked up by staff from a local rehab center.  Still the journey wasn’t quite done, the owl, accompanied by someone from the rehab center, then traveled to Purdoe Bay aboard a Conoco-Phillips corporate plane, where it was released.  It was reported that the owl made the trip without “breaking a feather”.

 

Dr. Keith James of Casper, N.E.W. Bird's primary veterinarian and surgeon since 1991, donates his time and skill as needed. In addition, N.E.W. Bird has formed partnerships with local veterinarians to obtain professional medical services at reduced costs to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured raptors. N.E.W. Bird has also enlisted the help of local scout troops and other volunteers to upgrade the facility in an effort to improve the care provided by the rehab program.  Two flight barns (40’ X 60’ and 30’ X 40’) as well as a treatment center have been built to replace an old garage and outbuildings that were originally used when N.E.W. Bird was first formed. 

 

N.E.W. Bird is a non-profit, all volunteer organization, and no salaries are paid to anyone associated with the rehab center.  N.E.W. Bird is funded by private and corporate donations. The generous donations of money, time, services, and materials allow N.E.W. Bird to care for an average of one hundred raptors each year.  Diane Morse, Bruce and Donna Walgren

A BIRDER FROM CHILE

While browsing in the library, I found a book of poetry titled Art of Birds, by Pablo Neruda.  Mr. Neruda was a Nobel Laureate from Chile, but he also was a birder.  Art of Birds, first published in 1966, is filled with his impressions of some of the avian inhabitants of his native Chile – Grassland Yellow-Finch, Andean Condor, Ringed Kingfisher, and Red-breasted Meadowlark, to name a few; plus some fanciful species – like Mooncracker, Hieroglyphic Bird, and Rosescratcher.  Neruda had said, “Poetry in South America is a different matter altogether.  You see, there are in our countries, rivers which have no names, trees nobody knows, and birds which nobody has described…… Our duty, then as we understand it, is to express what is unheard of.”  It seems to me that this “duty” to express or learn about what is unknown is what we as birders and naturalists strive for. 

 

It was a change of pace from what I usually read, and I found some passages that you might enjoy.  The first is from a poem that is appropriate for this time of year, titled “Migration.” 

         

All day, column after column,                         I kept looking as far as

a squadron of feathers,                                  the eye could see and saw

a fluttering airborne                                        nothing but orderly flight,

ship                                                                  the multitude of wings against the wind:

crossed                                                           I saw serenity multiplied

the tiny infinity                                                 in that transparent hemisphere

of the window where I search,                      crossed by the obscure decision

question, work, observe, wait.                      of those birds in the firmament.

 

This is from “The Poet Says Good-bye to the Birds.”

          Yes yes yes yes yes yes,                                yellow-rumped siskins,

          I’m an incorrigible birder,                                dark fishing cormorants

          cannot reform my ways—                               or metallic cowbirds,

          though the birds                                               nightingales,

          do not invite me                                               vibrant hummingbirds,

          to the treetops,                                                quail,

          to the ocean                                                     eagles native

          or the sky,                                                         to the mountains of Chile,

          to their conversation, their banquet,              meadowlarks with pure

          I invite myself,                                                   and bloody breasts,

          watch them                                                       wrathful condors

          without missing a thing:                                   and thrushes. . .

 

These excerpts do not do justice to the overall feeling of Neruda’s works, but we can still identify with his passion for birds and the world we live in.     Dana Spizella

EAGLE FINES DISBURSEMENT REPORT

In the fall of 2005, the Murie Audubon Society was named as the disbursing agent of restitution payments from two judicial court cases involving migratory bird violations.  These funds came to a total of $8,000 which was to be used in support of bird rehabilitation in Wyoming.   Licensed rehabilitators in the state were to submit requests for funds meeting certain requirements each quarter beginning in October of 2005 along with income statements.  The funds were disbursed as follows:  Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc., Casper - $2,694.46; Laramie Raptor Refuge, Laramie - $1,631.70; North East Wyoming Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation, Gillette - $1,998.23; The Raptor Fund, Jackson - $1,704.58; total amount disbursed was $8,028.97 ($28.97 was the interest earned while in the bank).       Chris Michelson – Treasurer

Wind Power – Choices and Consequences

Wind power is referred to as a renewable, ecofriendly source of energy for the modern world.  Renewable – yes.  Ecofriendly – hmmm . . . . . maybe not as much as we’d hoped.  Slower moving turbines and enclosed towers have helped reduce the bird and bat mortality rates at wind farms.  And it is said that mortality rates for birds and bats have been relatively low.  However, in June at a conference in Toledo, Ohio, those statistics were looked at more closely.  In recent studies, dogs have been used to find collision victims.  Results showed that in searches in all types of habitat, dogs found 73% of the dead animals, while humans found only 37%.  Plus, in dense cover, the results favored dogs more (the dog’s nose can easily find what people cannot see).  In the case of bats, they are small and hard to see, even on bare ground – the dogs definitely have the edge there.  And in some areas not reclaimed after construction, it was found to be virtually impossible for a person to search effectively without a dog.

 

That study also found that a spike in mortality often occurred within 2 days after a front went through. 

 

Paul Kerlinger, with Curry and Kerlinger Consultants (author of How Birds Migrate), noted that fragmentation of forests via wind turbine erection can adversely impact interior nesting birds.  Consequently, the size and number of wind farm constructions is of concern with respect to habitat loss.  He feels that this may become the primary ecological consideration in future wind power development.

 

A Minnesota study at Buffalo Ridge Wind Resource Area on CRP grasslands found that the CRP areas without turbines supported mean densities of nesting birds that were 4 times higher than those in CRP grasslands located less than 180 meters (591 feet) from the turbines.  The presence of wind turbines may indirectly affect local grassland bird populations by decreasing the area of grassland habitat available to breeding birds.  Research in the Netherlands has also indicated that the presence of turbines has prevented waterfowl and wading bird species from using otherwise suitable habitat.

 

The Buffalo Ridge WRA study recommends placing wind turbines within cropland habitats that support lower densities of grassland birds than those found in CRP grasslands.

 

Humans also have had some problems with the wind turbines.  There have been problems with radio and television reception; and some “neighbors” have compared the noise from the turbines to a dripping faucet – not that loud, but the continuous sound “is very irritating!”

 

Another factor to consider – larger turbines in the future; General Electric is predicting that turbines with 394 to 525 ft. rotor diameters may soon be available.

 

As with other energy sources, as well as various technological advances, there are pros and cons and trade-offs.  The number of wind power development projects is going to increase; we need to look at all advantages and all the impacts.  Choices and consequences!!! Bruce and Donna Walgren

THIS ~N~ THAT

PNP FOLDERS - Thank you so much for helping me fold the newsletter.  If you would like to be added to this once-a-month one hour time commitment, call me - Rose-Mary - 577-0568.

BIRDING CLASSES - We are in the planning stage of classes for next year, but would very much like your input as to what kind of classes you would like Murie/AW to co-sponsor.  Call us with your ideas - Ken Keffer - 235-3485, or Rose-Mary - 577-0568.  Let us know if you would also like to be on the planning committee.

BIRD LUNCH - Take an hour, bring your lunch, watch the birds at the feeders and visit with other birders. Does this sound like your cup of “bird tea”?  Let Ken (235-3485) know of your interest and he will get the ball rolling to have “Lunch with the Birds at ACGC”.

Remember to bring your used printer cartridges to the October 13th Meeting!      Editor

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE 

 

 

In an effort to highlight individuals, organizations and companies in Wyoming that are recycling or reducing the amount of waste going into our landfills, we are continuing our series of articles about recycling in Wyoming.

Tatooine Electronic Systems in Cheyenne was established in 1996 by Jeff Stumpf and focused on specialty markets such as printer repair and arcade games.  During this time, growing concern regarding the disposal of aging electronic equipment caused Jeff to look to the future, and he created the first licensed e-waste recycling facility in the state of Wyoming. Tatooine works closely with the EPA and Wyoming DEQ to develop procedures that are both safe and cost effective. Tatooine recycles ONLY electronic waste, and they are the only licensed, permitted, and bonded e-waste facility in the State of Wyoming

Tatooine offers professional e-waste recycling services for the complete “cradle to grave accountability” required by today’s environmental concerns.  Whether you are a business or an individual, you can bring your old, out-of-date, or broken electronic equipment to them for recycling.  There is a charge for this recycling service.  A typical computer monitor will cost $25 to be recycled, while a computer will cost you $5.  They also have bulk rates if you have a large amount of equipment to dispose of.  They have contracts with schools, companies and agencies throughout Wyoming.  Basically, if you plug it in, or if it operates on batteries, Tatooine can recycle or dispose of it for you – including the batteries. 

 

Because this type of recycling is relatively new, it is appropriate that an electronics company lead the way to encourage early development of proper handling techniques and documentation of proper disposal.  Tatooine’s personnel are specifically trained to deal with the hazards and complications specific to processing such equipment.  Because Tatooine only processes electronic equipment, the tools, equipment, processing areas and sorting procedures used are specialized and dedicated to that end.  Workbenches and staging areas are designed to provide a flow from equipment holding pads to equipment staging to equipment disassembly stations to material sorting, where an item is broken down into one of hundreds of possible categories.  After sorting, equipment is then placed into large corrugated pallet boxes. These boxes are then shipped to various “finishing” facilities nationwide.
 

Tatooine uses an electronic inventory system to register all incoming material.  Each item that is picked up or brought to the facility is documented as to origin, make, model, serial number and weight.  This process allows each piece of equipment to be tracked through the recovery or dismantling process and generates recycling certificates to ensure accountability.  Tatooine will also provide destruction certificates that guarantee that any sensitive data has been permanently removed from end-of-life storage devices.

In addition to the recycling division, Tatooine continues to serve the electronic needs of Cheyenne and the surrounding communities – they specialize in office equipment and computer repair.  They are located at 6529 Hinesley Road in Cheyenne.  For more information call them at 307-632-2321 or visit their website: http://www.tatooineinc.com/index.html

 

Attention readers: If you know of someone who is Reducing, Reusing or Recycling in Wyoming or would like to submit an article on this topic, please contact Bruce Walgren or Rose-Mary King.                    Bruce Walgren

(Editor's Note:  Star Wars buffs will recognize the word Tatooine.  For those of you who are not Star Wars buffs, here is a description of the planet Tatooine.  "Tatooine has a seemingly endless desert environment cooked by the intense energy of twin yellow suns. Rocky mesas, canyons and arroyos break up the monotony of kilometers of shifting dunes. The days are hot and the nights are frigid. The air is dry and the soil is parched. Yet life persists on Tatooine, in varied, hardy forms. Indigenous sentient life includes the scavenging Jawas and the fearsome Tusken Raiders. Creatures found roaming the desert include banthas, rontos, dewbacks, scurriers, womp rats, krayt dragons and eopies."  Tatooine's website makes no mention of the Star Wars planet but Jeff might have thought Wyoming's scape was similar?  I'm sure he doesn't think we resemble the indigenous lifeforms!)

SCWR, Inc. - January 1 – September 11, 2006 REPORT

 Songbirds - American Crow - 2, American Robin - 38, Blue Jay - 1, Brewer’s Sparrow - 1, Brown headed Cowbird  - 1, Bullock’s Oriole - 2, Chipping Sparrow - 1,  Cliff Swallow - 1, Common Grackle - 22, Horned Lark - 3, House Finch - 26, Meadow Lark - 1, Mourning Dove - 15,  Mountain Bluebird - 1, Night Hawk - 3, Northern Flicker - 3, Red Crossbill  - 1, Western Wood Pewee - 2, Yellow Warbler - 1, Eastern Kingbird - 1, Poorwill - 1

Raptors - Bald Eagle - 1, Ferruginous Hawk - 2, Golden Eagle - 3, Prairie Falcon - 1, Red tailed Hawk  - 1,  Swainson’s Hawk - 3, Cooper’s Hawk - 1, American Kestrel - 1

 

Owls - Burrowing Owl  - 1, Great Horned Owl - 1, Long eared Owl  - 2

 

Waterfowl - Blue-winged Teal - 1, California Gull - 4, Canada Goose - 2, Herring Gull - 1, Mallard  - 15, Western Grebe - 1

 

Mammals - Cottontails - 162, Fox Squirrels - 10,  Hoary Bat - 1, Least Chipmunk  - 1, Little Brown Bat - 1, Wyoming Ground Squirrel - 2

 

Non-native Species - 133 including a Ring-necked Pheasant, Helmeted Guineafowl, domestic chicken, Rowen Ducks, House Sparrows and European Starlings.

SCWR’s release of 2 Red-tailed Hawks was pictured in the Casper Journal in August.  K2TV came to SCWR to interview the Herolds regarding their Golden Eagles in rehabilitation which was on the news that evening and K2TV was present filming the release of one of the Golden Eagles on Sept. 24, also on the news program that evening.  Call SCWR (234-0196) to volunteer to help them with their rehab program and be a part of these exciting and gratifying (almost spiritual) experiences.     Rose-Mary King - SCWR Volunteer

 

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