MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY                                              CASPER, WYOMING
VOLUME 42 - ISSUE 5                   MONTHLY PUBLICATION          MAY 2008

CALENDAR

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SAGE-GROUSE, SAGEBRUSH, AND LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION

 

    Greater Sage-Grouse and the habitats that support them continue to be part of the news, not only throughout Wyoming, but also throughout the Rocky Mountain west where development has impacted this bird.  Kevin Doherty is the new senior sagebrush ecologist for Audubon Wyoming. Kevin comes to AW with a wide variety of biological research experience including, 4 years field technician experience with a wide variety of avian species, and 6 years graduate education leading to a M.S. in wildlife conservation with a minor in statistics from the University of Minnesota and a PhD. in wildlife conservation at The University of Montana that will be completed this winter. Kevin’s biological interests include: linking habitat selection to fitness, large scale habitat ecology and GIS methods, and the consequences of anthropogenic change. Kevin comes to AW to put these interests to good use by developing conservation planning tools and management decision support not only for sage-grouse, but also for other key species of the sagebrush ecosystem.  Kevin will tell us about his work and what he hopes to accomplish at our May monthly program.

      Please join us on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 7PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. and as always, the program is free and open to the public!  BRUCE WALGREN

 

BRUCE’S BRANCH

   

    As this is my last message to the members of Murie Audubon as President, I would like to take time to thank the board of directors for their service this past year.  For any of you that have served on a board of a non-profit organization, you know that board meetings alone can be quite a commitment.  There are lots of other projects and committees that take up your time as a board member and I have appreciated your time and commitment.

    I specifically thank Jim Brown and Bart Rea for serving on the nomination committee.  This committee can be tough duty, you sometimes get a lot of “no thank yous” before you get someone to agree to serve on the board.

    The deadline to get our newsletter articles to Rose-Mary, our newsletter editor, has past.  I’ve come to believe that perhaps she has more than one deadline – one that she gives us procrastinators and the ”actual” deadline that she has to meet her printing deadline.  Anyway – my apologies (and thanks for her work) to her for my being consistently being late.

    It has been a busy year for me already, though at times I can’t really account for my time.  Between helping with the bird hospital, regular Murie Audubon obligations, bird surveys, and activities at home, almost half of the year is gone already.  More and more FOY (first of year) bird species are showing up in our backyards, parks, lakes and streams.  This is always a fun time of year when we need to hone up on our birding skills so that we can identify the newcomers.  Get outside and enjoy spring.

    Thanks for letting me serve as your President.  BRUCE WALGREN

 

AUDUBON WYOMING

   

    Our Sagebrush Initiative (Sage-grouse) work continues at a fast pace reaching our first goal which was developing a spatial conservation strategy that designates core areas for sage grouse. We have built GIS based sage-grouse prioritization tools for MT, CO, UT, WY and the Dakotas with exceptional buy-in from state and federal land managers and politicians. The Wyoming core area model formed the backbone of the Wyoming Governor’s Implementation and Task Force core areas. The acknowledgement of Audubon Wyoming’s proven sage-grouse scientific analysis was evident in a letter Governor Freudenthal wrote to the BLM concerning oil and gas lease sales on March 27, 2008. Quote, “With the intense national scrutiny that has surrounded the sage grouse, I would hope that the Bureau is deliberate and maintains discretion to adequately condition development in sage grouse habitat. Such an approach would be consistent with the emerging “core area” concept being developed by the Sage Grouse Implementation Team, of which BLM is a member.”  The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has also requested to use the model in their decision process of whether sage-grouse should be considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. We have also completed a Wyoming-wide GIS based lek analyses that investigates the impacts of energy development on sage-grouse over a large extent and using the most current data. The paper is completed and is in the scientific review process and our Senior Ecologist is presenting these results at two national conferences to generate awareness.  We continue to maintain and build new relationships with other NGO, and state and federal biologists to increase capacity in our campaign.  We have initiated a study plan to incorporate Audubon’s GIS sage-grouse model with a TNC model that predicts oil and gas development into the future. Clearly we are starting to have wide-spread, high-level impact and the quality of our work is accepted as the scientific standard. AW OFFICE MANAGER—LYNN JONES

BIRD NOTES

 

    Here in Wyoming we are still expecting some intermittent snow squalls and flurries, but spring migration is definitely here.  Meadowlarks, Robins, House Finches, and Red-winged Blackbirds are singing on territory.  Warblers are moving north – Yellow-rumps are being reported, along with smatterings of Orange-crowns, and by the time you read this, Yellow Warblers will be here.  Birders are reporting their First of Year birds on the list-serves.  This is one of the most exciting times of the year for anyone interested in birds and wildlife.  (Though, I feel I should also mention another aspect of the outdoors that is enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts – wildflowers!!  Spring wildflowers should not to be overlooked!!)

    March Yard Birds – For the month of March, Wayne and I received 180 yard bird selections from 18 states plus Madagascar and Mexico with 76 different species reported.  Lots of Spotted Towhees were seen, especially in Montana, (none were reported in Wyoming); and that was March’s first place bird, followed by Western Meadowlark in second place.  Coming in third – American Robin.  There was a tie for fourth place between Dark-eyed Junco and Mourning Dove.

Casper: Jim Herold – Cedar Waxwing, Rose-Mary King – Dark-eyed Junco, Pat Classen – Sandhill Crane, Cecil Foote – Western Meadowlark, Chris Michelson – Townsend’s Solitaire, Casper College Greenhouse – Turkey Vulture, Ann Hines – Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bruce Walgren – Bohemian Waxwing, Donna Walgren – Dark-eyed Junco; Dubois:  Anna Moscicki – Steller’s Jay; Lovell: Glen Olsen – Dark-eyed Junco; Riverton:  Suzanne Hargis – Downy Woodpecker, Bob Hargis – Sandhill Crane; Sundance:  Jean Adams – Eurasian Collared-Dove.

    Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in March!!  Warblers and sparrows should be increasing in numbers, and resident waterfowl and shorebirds will be settling down to serious “homemaking.”  This will be the last “Bird Notes” for the season as Plains and Peaks goes on hiatus for the summer.  Here’s wishing you an interesting and enjoyable spring and summer!!!  You can still send your bird notes and yard bird reports to Donna Walgren, 4311 S. Center St., Casper, WY  82601, or email to Piranga_AT_bresnanDOTnet, or phone 234-7455.  DONNA WALGREN  

 

CHEYENNE HIGH PLAINS AUDUBON SOCIETY SUMMER CAMPOUT AND BIRDING WEEKEND

 

    Several years ago, the CHPAS thought it would be a good idea for Audubon members to get together each year for a camp out (although participants need not be Audubon members).  The get-togethers have been across the state so that members could become familiar with birding in areas they might not otherwise visit.  The 8th annual camp out will be hosted by Murie Audubon Society on May 30th-June 1st at Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park.

     There are 12 free camping spots available at EKW  State Park. To reserve one, please contact Ann Hines, 307-266-3160, wilmerhines_AT_bresnanDOTnet. Please contact Ann to register even if you won't be camping so that she can send you directions and late breaking details if necessary.  Camping is an option as there are many near-by motels in Casper.  There is no registration fee to participate in any of the weekend's events.

     There will be a cookout on Friday night at 6PM.  Meet at the shelter on the west side of the park.  MAS will furnish hamburgers and hot dogs.  Anyone attending will be asked to bring a covered dish and your table settings.  Everyone is invited to attend.  There will also be evening entertainment provided by Doug Crowe, a man of many hilarious and unbelievable experiences!  If you plan to come, please call Ann Hines so we will have enough for everyone. 

ANN HINES & BARB GORGES

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

 

    I'm very proud to announce that the board has approved two $500 scholarships to go toward sending students to learn more about nature.  Those scholarships will go to Star Lane and Theresa Timble at Cottonwood Elementary.  ANN HINES

 

SUGAR WATER ALERT

 

    Hummingbirds will soon be returning to our yards and we will be preparing sugar water four our feeders.  The May/June issue of Wildbird had an article about adding red food coloring to the water.  Studies have been done in several areas about the effects of the dye on DNA damage to humans.  It was found that high doses reduce sperm production and behavioral changes in lab animals.  A hummingbird will drink about twice its body weight to meet its daily needs.  If red dye is added, a hummingbird would be taking in 10 times the daily dosage of that produced DNA damage to humans.  If you feel that you must add red color to the sugar water, the article suggests that dye-free raspberry or other fruit juice makes a simple and safe alternative.  ANN HINES

REMEMBERING FRANK LAYTON (1925 -2008)

 

    Donna and I first met the Laytons in the early ‘90s when we were assigned to accompany them on a Christmas Bird Count  here in Casper.  We hadn’t participated in a CBC before so we didn’t exactly know what to expect.  On our second stop, Frank said that we were going to be checking the creek for snipe – now as a rookie birder, I’m not sure if he’s pulling my leg or what, and  I’m thinking – if he pulls out a burlap sack, I’m going home!!!   Anyway, we didn’t find any snipe at that particular creek and we proceeded on to the next place, and the next place, and so the day went.  Finally at our last stop near Spea’s Hatchery, we actually did find a snipe! 

    Through the years we got to know the Laytons as the people who cared for the sick and injured birds in the Casper area.  After Frank retired from Marathon, he joined Lois full time in the care of birds.  He was seemingly in the background at times, as he was a very private, quiet man, but we knew that he was a true partner in the operation of nursing birds back to health and independence. 

    The Laytons became involved with Wyoming Audubon (later to become Murie Audubon) shortly after the chapter was organized in 1956 and they continued that involvement throughout the years; Frank served as treasurer, field trip chair, sunflower seed sale chair, as well as helping with various other projects.  The Laytons enjoyed traveling and went to places where people ordinarily didn’t go.  When not traveling abroad, they backpacked wilderness areas closer to home.  They shared their trips by showing their slides at many Murie Audubon meetings (something I really appreciated when I became program chair).  Frank would narrate the particulars about each place they visited, and each slide demonstrated his skill as a photographer.

    Frank enjoyed eating out, especially at the Goose Egg where all the staff knew him well enough that he didn’t have to even order.  He also liked sweets which I used to tease him about.   We will miss Frank, his sense of humor, and his love of wildlife and the outdoors.  BRUCE WALGREN

(Photo courtesy Lois Layton and Marathon World)

WYOMING COUNTY LIFE LISTS

 

    We are in the process of compiling the county life list totals for those birders that have 125 or more species for the various counties of Wyoming as of December, 2007.  (We were unable to work on this project for the last year due to various work and family obligations.)  For those of you unfamiliar with the “rules”, it is similar to the American Birding Association’s state totals – for each county that you have at least 125 life species, send that total to us.  Many other states already do this; besides the competition, they have found that it also helps get all parts of the state covered better and learn more about species distribution.  Some of you already have a life list total of 125-plus species for almost every county in Wyoming, while some of us are only able to tally 125 or more for one or two counties (we just have to work harder!!). 

    Actually, we don’t need the annotated list, just the number – you can refer to your documentation if anyone has questions about species to find in a particular county.  Andrea Cerovski (nongame bird biologist for WG&F) is very interested in totals and diversity of species across Wyoming.  So watch county lines and keep track of where you find those birds!!

    Send your tallies (through Dec, 2007 – no lifers found in 2008) to Bruce and Donna Walgren, 4311 S. Center St., Casper, WY  82601, or email Piranga_AT_bresnanDOTnet.  Contact us if you have any questions about this project.

    Here are the Wyoming County Life List totals we have at this time.  (Notice that there are several counties that are not represented.)

AUDUBON NEWSWIRE APRIL 17, 2008

    Recommended Reading from John Flicker: A Book Worth Reading; Solutions Worth Understanding

    As you well know, global warming is the most important issue of our generation. Unfortunately, it can be so overwhelming that solutions often seem unachievable. As a result, too many people react with despair and tune out.

    That's why I am recommending a new book, Earth: The Sequel - The Race to Reinvent Energy and Stop Global Warming.  Written by Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp and journalist Miriam Horn, it is a book about hope, not despair.

    It tells the story of the scientists and businessmen, visionaries and dreamers, innovators and risk-takers who are pushing technology to the limit on a quest to find new ways to create energy. It outlines real solutions that can address the issue. It shows what can be done to achieve results on a global scale. This is critical. To be effective advocates for change, we can't just explain the problem; we must articulate a vision for a better future and how to achieve it.

    I hope you'll consider reading the book and passing its insights on to friends as you work with Audubon to advocate for important policy solutions.  Together, WE are the solution to global warming.

   Earth: The Sequel can be found on Amazon.com.  And while you're online, be sure you are signed up for AudubonAction, where you can urge Congress to act on global warming.

WINGS OVER CARBON COUNTY BIRDING FESTIVAL

    The Wings Over Carbon County Birding Club is having a special birding weekend June 6-8 in Saratoga.  We would like to extend an invitation to anyone interested in joining us for a fun filled weekend.  The main focus of the weekend will be on just plain fun.   This will be a no frills event.  Everyone is responsible for their midday lunch and beverages plus transportation to and from the birding areas.  Breakfast on Saturday morning will be provided.  The cost of this weekend’s fun will be $40 per person.  And all events are subject to change according to weather conditions.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

    Friday Evening - 6 to 8 PM - Reception at the home of Francis and Janice Bergquist, 1104 Club Court.  We will discuss the weekend activities at this time.  Directions to the home will be provided upon request via email or by calling 307-326-8073

    Saturday - 7AM to 2PM - Battle Creek birding with Greg Bergquist, breakfast will be provided but bring you own lunch and beverages.

    5:30 PM - A sit-down dinner will be provided at the Medicine Bow Lodge.  Steve Loose from the US Forest Service will be our guest speaker.  Drawing for door prizes and silent auctions will be held during the evening

    Sunday – 7 to 10AM - Saratoga Lake/Storer Wetlands (easy walking as we will be using our walking trails.), or Cedar Canyon Trail (moderate to difficult walking).  

    10:30AM - Breakfast will be held at the home of Bob and Carol Randall and we will close out the weekend with some more bird watching on their property along the river.

Please email Francis Bergquist (fcbjmb_AT_hotmailDOTcom) for more information or send $40 per person for registration to: Joanne Jensen,  PO Box 725, Encampment, Wyoming 82325. 

    NOTE:  With the huge amount of snow we have received this winter there is a question if we will be able to get into the mountains but will make that decision later.  FRANCES AND JANICE BERGQUIST

 

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE FIELD TRIP

 

    Early Saturday morning, April 12th, nine carloads of observers made the trip out to the Hat Six Lek in search of Greater Sage-Grouse.  Once again, the main lek only had 3 male birds (along with 5 females) unlike the numbers of birds found there in past years.  After watching these birds for some time, we drove further east (about 1/4 mile) and observed 9 males and 6 females on a satellite lek on the north side of the road.  It is quite puzzling why there is a lack of birds on this old site as it has had quite consistent numbers in the past (30 to 60 birds).

    After watching the grouse, we drove down to McDonald's pond where we found lots of Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Mallards, Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneye, Mallards, Gadwall, Red-breasted Mergansers, Golden and Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, as well as gulls.

    We traveled on to the JTL gravel pit ponds (nearest Evansville) where we found a Bonaparte's Gull and a small group of Horned Grebes.  We also checked out the JTL ponds from the street into the landfill, but were unable to find the Common Loon.  DONNA WALGREN

AUDUBON JOINS SUIT CHALLENGING CHUKCHI LEASE SALE

    On February 6th, 2008, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) offered nearly 30 million acres of essential polar bear marine and ice habitat for oil and gas leasing. Audubon Alaska, along with other conservation and Alaska Native groups, has filed a lawsuit in the federal district court in Juneau to challenge the Chukchi lease sale.

   

Polar Bear

The Chukchi Sea is the most productive high latitude ocean in the Arctic. It is vital habitat for polar bear, walrus, four species of seals, bowhead and beluga whales, and millions of migratory birds. Unfortunately there is very little known about wildlife populations in the Chukchi Sea. The Department of Interior scientists agree that more research is needed for monitoring and mitigating impacts in this extremely sensitive habitat. Without baseline information, monitoring impacts would be nearly impossible and management of those impacts rendered meaningless.

    Offshore oil and gas development has a history of spills, contamination of ecosystems, and other impacts to both people and wildlife. The Administration's own environmental impact statement concludes that oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea would have at least a 35% chance of producing a major oil spill of more than 1,000 barrels of oil. Even though there is currently no way to adequately respond to oil spills in solid and broken ice conditions, the MMS has proceeded with the lease sale. The Department of Interior itself admits that oil development, particularly a large spill, could cause long term and devastating sociocultural impacts, including contamination of food and water, substantial impairment to subsistence lifestyles due to animal loss or changes in migration routes and behavior, and erosion of community integrity and identity.

    The lawsuit calls into question the current environmental assessment claiming that it fails to adequately analyze the impact of the lease sale in the context of a warming climate. The assessment also understates the potential impacts of oil and gas development including the risks of an oil spill. While the lawsuit does not seek to block the sale, should the judge agree with the environmental and native groups that the original environmental assessment was flawed, leases might be voided.

 

New Tongass Land Management Plan

   

Tongass Forest by John Schoen

On Friday, January 25th the U.S. Forest Service released its court-ordered revisions to its 1997 Tongass Land Management Plan. Revisions were ordered more than two years ago because the Service had over-estimated market demand—an error that would have opened up many of the Tongass’ roadless watersheds for logging.

    The Tongass National Forest—at roughly 17 million acres—is the nation’s largest national forest and the largest intact coastal temperate rain forest on the planet. It is vital habitat to brown bears, wolves, eagles, and five species of wild Alaskan salmon.

    The new framework amends the 1997 management plan, which underwent 33 appeals through nearly a decade of debate and litigation involving the timber industry, environmentalists, and the Forest Service. Audubon Alaska gives the new plan a mixed review. On the plus side, the plan requires that logging be phased in, starting in areas already cut with logging roads. This approach will defer new logging and road building in some of the most valuable fish and wildlife watersheds on the Tongass. This decision buys time and reflects a new science-based study by Audubon and The Nature Conservancy that identified conservation priorities for intact watersheds throughout the Tongass.

    However, the new plan ultimately opens about 3.4 million acres of the forest to logging and development. About 2.4 million acres are currently roadless areas. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, implemented by the Clinton administration and adopted in 2001, prohibited most new road construction and logging throughout millions of acres of the country's national forests. In 2003, the Bush administration exempted the Tongass National Forest from the roadless rule, then in 2005 repealed the rule entirely, allowing states to submit petitions to adopt their own plans. The repeal was struck down in court and the rule was reinstated in 2006 for all National Forests except the Tongass.

   

Tongass Forest by John Schoen

In addition to opening millions of acres in currently intact watersheds, the plan fails to protect core areas of old-growth forest in some previously logged watersheds that should be protected, rather than targeted for further logging. In the long term, implementation of this plan will place at risk many of the most important fish and wildlife values that make the Tongass the national treasure it is.

    Audubon seeks balanced forest management that recognizes all of the important values the Tongass provides to the people of southeast Alaska, including subsistence use of resources, hunting and fishing, recreation, and economic sustainability of local communities. Audubon hopes to continue working collaboratively with the Forest Service, other organizations, and local communities to develop a science-based conservation strategy that balances habitat protection with local community needs, and to find a practical way to meet the many demands on the forest.

    IN THE NEWS: The Tongass National Forest and Audubon Alaska are featured in the July 2007 issue of National Geographic magazine.

 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Permanent Protection

    On January 18th, the sun rose over the Arctic National Wildlife refuge for the first time in 2008. With the light of a new year comes hope for permanent protection for the highly productive coastal area of the Refuge. For more than two decades, Audubon has been engaged in defensive actions to keep the Arctic coastal plain safe from oil drilling. Last fall Senator Lieberman (I-CT) and 25 other original Senate cosponsors introduced a bill to the U.S. Senate that would permanently protect the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness. This important legislation reflects similar efforts by Reps. Markey (D-MA) and Ramstad (R-MN), who introduced HR 39 a year ago January. If passed, these bills would afford permanent protection to the entire coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. Drilling proponents have not backed off, however, and President Bush’s FY2009 budget proposal includes a section that calls for energy exploration.

    If you haven't already, please urge your Senators to support the Lieberman Wilderness Bill (S2316) and encourage your Representative to cosponsor The Udall Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Bill (HR39). There are better energy solutions that can both protect our precious natural resources and make us less dependent on oil. A 2007 report from the bipartisan Congressional Research Service sums up the situation. 

TALDI WALTER, ALASKA FIELD COORDINATOR

ACGC BIRD BANDING DATES

    Banding at ACGC will begin bright and dark early on June 3 and continue on these dates — June 10, 24, July 1, 15, 22, 29.  Any questions—call ACGC at 473-1987.

MOORCROFT BIRD BANDING DATES

    Keyhole State Park – NE of Moorcroft off Highway 14 - Contact – Larry Keffer ( 473-1987) for specific location and start times.

June 5, 12, 26 July 3, 10, 24, Aug. 7

AW COMMUNITY NATURALIST

    Murie Audubon welcomes Jessica Ryan as the new community naturalist at ACGC who will start  on May 15th.

    Stop by the center, introduce yourself and welcome Jessica to Casper.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

President:  Jim Brown

Vice-President: nominees welcome!

Recording Secretary: Laurie Fletcher

Treasurer: Chris Michelson

 

Board of Directors - Term expires 2009

Fred Eiserman, Ann Hines, Laurie Longtine, Stacey Scott, Bruce Walgren, Donna Walgren. 

Board of Directors - Term expires 2010

Brenda Baalhorn, Mike Braley, J. P. Cavigelli, Lisa Fujita, Rose-Mary King, Bob Yonts.

    A big “Thank You” to all who have agreed to serve on the Board.  Election will be at the May General Meeting.

MORRISON ART STUDIO OPEN HOUSE

OPENING RECEPTION

Sat. May 24   6 – 9PM - Art Sale, Silent Action and Raffle  - 845 E. 3rd Street

To benefit the Wyoming Conservation Voters Education Fund - Goal — to preserve our natural heritage.

Studio open daily Sunday, May 25 — Saturday, May 31 – 1 - 6PM

Woodcuts, Etching, Oils, Watercolors, Gyotaku (fish prints)

Drop by and/or bring a friend.

THANK YOU, MARY LOU MORRISON

 

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HAVE A GREAT SUMMER OF BIRDING