MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY                                              CASPER, WYOMING
VOLUME 42 - ISSUE 8                   MONTHLY PUBLICATION          NOVEMBER 2008

CALENDAR

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TABLE OF CONTENTS - (Click on title to go directly to article.  Click on "turkey" at end of article to come back HERE)

GALAPAGOS: ARCHIPELAGO OF MAGIC   

Emma and Jacob Narotzky, two of Murie Audubon’s younger members, will be our guest speakers at our next monthly program.  The Narotzky’s were in the Galapagos from June 30 through July 5 this past summer.  They were part of the National Geographic / Linbland Expeditions aboard the guest boat the Islander.   They enjoyed stops on seven different islands during their stay and observed a variety of habitats and animals.  Emma and Jacob will share the images and experiences of their trip with us on Friday, November 14, 2008 at 7 pm at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. As always, the program is free and open to the public!! Program chairman—Bruce Walgren

 

PRESIDENTIAL PONDERINGS

In a volunteer organization such as the Murie Audubon Society, the pay starts at zero and grows at a rate inversely proportional to the hours served.  I think this is another way of saying that we work for pats on the back rather than pennies in the bank, the former often self-administered, meaning that volunteering feels good!  Here's a partial list of opportunities: 1) adopt a day or two (Thursday & Friday are open) to fill the bird feeders at the Audubon Center on Garden Creek, realizing that you may also be supporting squirrels, raccoons, deer, skunks  and even a stray bear or two; 2) volunteer to help lead school and adult groups on tours of grounds around the Audubon Center (training provided) 3) sign up to provide refreshments at a Friday general meeting; 4) bring a friend to brown bag birding Thursday noon; 5) bring a friend to the "Galapagos Islands" presentation by the Narotzky family November 14; and 6) read "Plains & Peaks" cover to cover to find more opportunities to serve.  

Speaking of volunteers, here's a big "thank you" to Harry Martin for answering my call for a person to fill the spot of Vice President on the Murie Board.  Harry works for the National Guard and in his spare time markets his own cartoons to various media outlets.  It's great to have him on Board!  President—Jim brown

 

AUDUBON ADVENTURES

I wish I were more versed in other languages.  My simple "thank you" doesn't seem adequate for the response once more to the Audubon Adventures program.

Sixty seven of the 79 classes have now been sponsored.  Thank you to Chris Michelson, Bob Yonts, Grace Jenkins, Jacque Warburton, Audrey Bailey, Bart Rea, Dr. & Mrs. Robert Narotsky, Barbara Bentzin, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mammon and Judi Van Rensselaer for sponsoring more than one classroom.  I would also like to thank Bobbie Roberts, June Calmes, Betty Rickman, Carolyn Logan, Frank Odasz, Miquel and Sandy Leotta, Betty Young, Pat Dixon, Muriel and Frank McNeely, Bonnie Lombardo and Ann & Wilmer Hines for sponsoring one classroom.  Thank you, also, to Dusty and Jacquelyn Downey (AW Community Naturalists in the  Gillette area) for enrolling several classes in the Gillette area.  We now have classes in Lusk and Saratoga enrolled.  THANK YOU!!Education chairman—Ann Hines

WYOMING COUNTY BIRD LISTS

Here is a list of the current Wyoming county life list totals that  have been sent into me.  If you haven’t already done so, total up your species life lists for the various counties; we will be calling for the totals through the end of Dec. 2008 after Jan. 1.   We do not need the annotated list, just the number for each county with 125 or more. 

Albany County    

Converse County

Crook County

Fremont County

Goshen County

Johnson County

Laramie County

Natrona County

Platte County

Sweetwater County

Uinta County

I know there are birders with higher totals in various counties – send your county totals to Donna Walgren, 4311 S. Center St., Casper, WY  82601; or email to Piranga@bresnan.net.  Give us something to work toward!!!  Donna Walgren

BIRD NOTES

Fall migration continues, - an assortment of waterfowl and Canada Geese are moving through (I’ve seen several flocks of Canadas overhead between our yard and Casper College).  Sparrows have made their appearances –White-throats, Harris’s, Songs, Savannahs, Lincoln’s, lots of White-crowns – and the Am. Tree Sparrows are here.  Numbers of American Pipits were reported – Stacey Scott had them in his irrigated fields and Jim and Gloria Lawrence found some below Grey Reef.  Bald Eagles are being seen fairly regularly now; and reports of Lapland Longspurs are now coming in.  Sightings at Yant’s Puddle included – Black-bellied Plover, Red-necked Grebe, both Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitchers, Clark’s Grebe, and Tundra Swans.  Birds of particular note – Chris Michelson had a Swamp Sparrow at Edness Kimball Wilkins SP on Sept. 22; Stacey found a Three-toed Woodpecker at the west end of Casper Mountain on Oct. 8; Jim and Gloria had a Philadelphia Vireo in their yard on Sept. 8; and last, but definitely not least, a white morph Gyrfalcon on the west edge of Casper and a gray morph Gyrfalcon on the southeast edge of Casper on Oct. 22 and 23.  Fall birds CAN be just as exciting as the spring migrants!!!  

Audubon Center Bird Trail Transect—We have set up a short point count including the Bird Trail at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek.  It has 8 points or stations that are marked with easily seen numbers attached to trees or posts.  Ann Hines is running the transect periodically, recording the birds seen and heard at each station.  The Bird Trail is there for anyone to walk through, enjoying the birds, flora, and other wildlife along the way.  We would also be interested in hearing about the birds and other observations anyone sees (and hears) while walking the trail.  The numbered stations can help identify the locations of your observations.  Let Jess or Larry at the Center know what you have seen and where it was seen.  Or you can tell Ann about your sightings, or you can let me know.  I have set up a database of bird observations in the Casper area, and I would also greatly appreciate hearing of your observations on the Garden Creek Bird Trail.  If you haven’t yet walked the Trail, take some time for a walk and enjoy!!!!

September Yard Birds – For the month of September, Wayne and I received 196 yard bird selections from 18 states plus Yukon Territory with 92 different species reported.  Warbler movement has slowed down but there were still 6 species reported.  But sparrow migration picked up with 6 species tallied.   Several raptor species were seen in neighborhoods, notably Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks checking out the “bird-feeder buffets.”  There was a tie for most reported species between Wilson’s Warbler and White-crowned Sparrows.  Second place was a three-way tie between Steller’s Jay, Blue Jay, and Pileated Woodpecker; and third place was tie between American Goldfinch and Evening Grosbeak.                                       

Casper: Jim Herold – Wilson’s Warbler, Pat Classen – Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cecil Foote – Blue Jay, Chris Michelson – Clay-colored Sparrow, Ann Hines – Cedar Waxwing, Lois Layton – White-crowned Sparrow, Rose-Mary King – Black-capped Chickadee, Casper College Greenhouse – Turkey Vulture, Garden Creek Audubon Center – White-crowned Sparrow, Bruce Walgren – Wilson’s Warbler, Donna Walgren – MacGillivray’s Warbler; Edness Kimball Wilkins SP:  Chris Michelson – Swamp Sparrow; Buffalo:  Deane Bjerke – Wilson’s Warbler; Cheyenne:  Chuck Seniawski – Sharp-shinned Hawk; Dubois:  Anna Moscicki – Mountain Bluebird; Evanston:  Patti Gorman – Rufous Hummingbird; Riverton:  Suzanne Hargis – Calliope Hummingbird, Bob Hargis – Cooper’s Hawk; Sundance:  Jean Adams – Red Crossbill.

Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in September!!  Migration has slowed down, but birds are still moving around, so keep those binocs handy!!  Send your bird notes and yard bird reports to Donna Walgren, 4311 S. Center St., Casper, WY  82601, or email to Piranga@bresnan.net, or phone 234-7455. Donna Walgren

HELP FEED THE BIRDS

 

The price of Black-oil Sunflower seed is up and down in Casper.  Next time you buy a bag for your yard birds, please consider buying an extra bag for the Audubon Center at Garden Creek birds.  The birds will thank you by their continued presence at the feeders (as well as the deer and squirrels!) and Jessica’s budget will stretch a little farther.

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT DATES

Evanston WY/UT—Sunday, December 14th. One-half of the count circle is in Wyoming and the other half is in Utah. The count holds the all time CBC record for Greater Sage-Grouse, 698. Last year 211 sage-grouse were counted.

Those interested please meet at the Hornet's Nest gas station, 8 miles north of Evanston on Hwy 89, at 7:00 a.m.  Contact:  Tim Gorman, 307-679-0656 cell, 307-789-3833 office.

Guernsey—Ft. Laramie—Sunday, December 14.  Contact Jane Dorn—640-4002

Clark—Saturday, December 20th. Contact Ken or Kathleen Lichtendahl, 307-645-3366.

Casper—Saturday, December 20th.  Contact Stacy Scott—265-6213 or Chris Michelson—234-8726.  Pre-count meeting information will be in the December PNP.

Sundance—Sunday, December 21st.  We will meet at the Conoco station west of town which is the last exit off I90 for Sundance, going west and the first exit going East to Sundance. We will meet at 7:30 am and leave to do our counts at 8:am.  Questions call Jen or Jean at 307-283-2467.

Cody—Saturday, December 27th. Contact Joyce Cicco, 307-527-5030, or Susan Ahalt, 307-527-7027.

Bates Hole—Thursday, January 1st, Contact Charlie Scott—473-2512.

Kane (Lovell)—Saturday, January 3, 2009. Contact Suzanne Morstad, 307-568-2128.

Cheyenne—Saturday, January 3rd.  Contact Greg Johnson, 634-1056.

AUDUBON CENTER AT GARDEN CREEK SCENES

BIRDING IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES - YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET!

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Tail out one end, head out the other, just "a-swingin'" in the wind - what a life for a squirrel!

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