| MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY CASPER, WYOMING |
| VOLUME 42 - ISSUE 7 MONTHLY PUBLICATION OCTOBER 2008 |
CALENDAR
Click HERE to return to Index page
October 7—Banquet Com. Mtg.—6 PM—ACGC
October 7—Bd. Mtg.—7 PM—ACGC
October 10—Membership Mtg.—7 pm—OGCC Bldg.
October 11—field trip—Soda Lake
October 27—Article deadline for Nov. PNP
EVERY THURSDAY—Brown Bag Lunch with the Birds—ACGC—12 Noon
TABLE OF CONTENTS - (Click on title to go directly to article. Click on "pumpkin" at end of article to come back HERE)
Climate Change and Predator Impacts on the Food Web of Spectacled Eiders
Why are Spectacled Eiders threatened with extinction?
A team of researchers from Wyoming – yes, land-locked Wyoming is working to find the answer.
University of Wyoming Zoology Professor Jim Lovvorn and a group of UW graduate students have gone on six fact-finding cruises in the northern Bering Sea since 1999. They are now working to process data gathered from more than 100 underwater stations covering nearly 21,000 square miles.
“In some cases, we have an idea of what may be the problem with a threatened species. But we really don’t know in this case,” says Lovvorn, who has dedicated much of his career to the study of sea ducks, such as the Spectacled Eider. He notes that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed these birds as threatened in 1993.
“With such a widespread decline, you tend to think it’s something broad, like a climate change that could degrade habitat over a large area, but the smoking gun is not apparent,” Lovvorn says.
To find the answer to their question, however, the UW researchers must also learn about the impact of climate warming on the benthic, or bottom, community of predators that compete for the same food as the eiders.
By studying gut contents, stable isotopes, and fatty acids of predators in the northern Bering Sea, Lovvorn and his team hope to construct food web networks and, eventually, a computer model that will help identify the location and extent of viable habitat for Spectacled Eiders.
“You want to understand what the eiders need. But then you have to figure out how the system works,” Lovvorn says.
The researchers’ job is complicated by global warming – the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans.
As the Bering Sea gets warmer each year and the cover of ice recedes, Lovvorn says many predators are moving further north, where water temperatures remain cooler. There, Lovvorn says, they “may be starting to compete with eiders for food.”
The warmer water temperatures are also pushing Alaskan commercial fishermen further north into the Bering Sea. That also could have a negative effect on the Spectacled Eider’s primary wintering area.
“If you can show that you can drag a trawl over the bottom and not affect their food base, then OK,” Lovvorn says. “The problem is that we know that bottom trawling for fish, such as pollock and flatfish, can be very destructive to bottom communities.”
Adds Chris North, one of the graduate students working on the project, “People always talk about global warming and say, ‘A few degrees doesn’t make a difference.’ But a few degrees make the difference between water and ice.”
Since returning from their latest expedition aboard the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker “Healy,” a five-week journey that spanned May and June, the UW researchers have begun sorting through freezers full of crabs, fish, sea stars, snails and plankton to form the basis of their computer simulation.
Marj Brooks, a research assistant professor at UW, and recent UW graduates Jason Kolts, Heather Julien, Michele Foster and Amanda Roe, also work on the project.
“When you collect data for 24 hours a day for five weeks, you’ve got a lot to go through when you get home,” Lovvorn says with a smile. “Even though it’s a lot more fun to be riding around in a boat collecting data, it’s very important to the effectiveness of what we’re doing to analyze what we have before we go back again.”
Describing the project as “neat,” North says the UW researchers -- if they do their jobs correctly -- could set an example for how to study all marine systems. “It’ll sure be interesting to see our results,” he says.
This program should be a very interesting look at an area that we don’t normally here much about, so please join us on Friday, October 10 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!
Bruce Walgren-Program Chair
Murie Audubon's Fall Oration season kicked off with a flutter September 19 in the form of a beautifully illustrated informative talk on butterflies delivered by Dwaine Wagoner. Our Program Chair, Bruce Walgren, has a knack for lining up excellent speakers. Thanks, Bruce, and thank you Dwaine for getting us off to a flying start! I hope to see you all at our general meeting on Friday October 10, when we'll hear about Climate Change and Predator Impacts on the Food Web of Spectacled Eiders. And please bring a friend!
On September 12, many of us attended the induction of Murie Board Member Fred Eiserman into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. During my nine year association with Fred as a friend, office neighbor and co-member of the Murie Audubon Society Board of Directors, I've gained enormous respect for his knowledge of the land, improvement and management of same, and his ability to explain interactions of natural and manmade processes that shape the environment in terms understandable to the layman. By doing so, Fred has been able to implement his vision by enlisting the support of environmental professionals and laymen like myself. "Habitat" was Fred's passion before it became a household word. A drive with Fred from Casper to his family cabin near South Pass is like scanning a textbook on natural history, the pages brought to life through his knowledge, recollections and enthusiasm. Located on the southeastern terminus of the Wind River Mountains, Fred's property straddles the zone where sage brush prairie gives way to coniferous forest, blending critical elements of bedrock, soil, slope exposure, hydrology and proximity to perennial water supply, collectively a variety of habitat mirroring Fred's interests and love of the outdoors.
Congratulations, Fred!
Jim Brown—President
Fall migration continues, though so far at this writing, nothing quite as exciting as the Canada Warbler seen a few weeks ago. But “great expectations” are always there!!
August Yard Birds – For the month of August, Wayne and I received 178 yard bird selections from 15 states plus Yukon Territory and Iraq with 81 different species reported. There were 8 species of warbler were tallied, along with 8 species of hummer and 6 species of woodpecker, but only one species of sparrow - Chipping). Fall migration is in full swing!! The most reported species was again the Rufous Hummingbird; second place was a tie between Black-headed Grosbeak and Common Nighthawk. In third place was American Goldfinch and fourth place was a tie between Pine Siskin and Evening Grosbeak.
Casper: Jim Herold – Clark’s Nutcracker, Pat Classen – Black-capped Chickadee, Cecil Foote – Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Chris Michelson – Calliope Hummingbird, Ann Hines – Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sandy/Miguel Leotta – Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Gloria Lawrence – Downy Woodpecker, Jim Lawrence – American Redstart, , Rose-Mary King – Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Emily Reish – American Robin (albino), Barb Yonts – Rufous Hummingbird, Bob Yonts – Wilson’s Warbler, Bruce Walgren – Blue Jay, Donna Walgren – Red-winged Blackbird; Casper College Greenhouse – Eurasian Collared-Dove, Edness Kimball Wilkins SP: Chris Michelson – Townsend’s Warbler; Cheyenne: Barb Gorges – Rufous Hummingbird; Dubois: Anna Moscicki – Yellow-rumped Warbler; Evanston: Patti Gorman – Black-capped Chickadee, Tim Gorman – Calliope Hummingbird, Cindy Day – Lesser Goldfinch; Lander: Andrea Cerovski – Pine Siskin.
Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in August!! Keep watching for those fall migrants –they will still be making their way through our yards and neighborhoods. 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
October is here and the animals and plants are preparing for the long, cold, days ahead. The Audubon Center at Garden Creek is a wonderful place for fall reflections and activities that keep everyone connected to the natural world. Please join us at the Center to observe nature’s changing seasons or to enjoy one of these special events:
October 9 - (Thurs) Volunteer Outdoor Leader Orientation--4pm For people interested in leading tours at the Center. No experience is needed. Please sign up, as space is limited.
October 24 - (Fri) Enchanted Forest-6pm. A family friendly, outdoor evening that debunks myths of often feared creatures like bats and owls. Please dress warmly.
October 25 & 26 - Wilderness First Aid course
Please feel free to call me at the Center (307) 473-1987 or email me at jryan@audubon.org for more information. I look forward to seeing new and familiar faces that share an appreciation of our natural places.
Jessica Ryan, ACGC Community Naturalist.
JOIN THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
Count for Fun, Count for the Future
February 13-16, 2009
New York, NY and Ithaca, NY-Bird and nature fans throughout North America are invited to join tens of thousands of everyday bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 13-16, 2009. A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at GBBC.
“The Great Backyard Bird Count benefits both birds and people. It’s a great example of citizen science: Anyone who can identify even a few species can contribute to the body of knowledge that is used to inform conservation efforts to protect birds and biodiversity,” said Audubon Education VP, Judy Braus. “Families, teachers, children and all those who take part in GBBC get a chance to improve their observation skills, enjoy nature, and have a great time counting for fun, counting for the future.
Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at GBBC. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards-whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.
The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists.
“The GBBC has become a vital link in the arsenal of continent-wide bird-monitoring projects,” said Cornell Lab of Ornithology director, John Fitzpatrick. “With more than a decade of data now in hand, the GBBC has documented the fine-grained details of late-winter bird distributions better than any project in history, including some truly striking changes just over the past decade.”
Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery. Participants in the 2009 count are also invited to upload their bird videos to YouTube; some will also be featured on the GBBC web site. Visit GBBC to learn more.
Businesses, schools, nature clubs, Scout troops, and other community organizations interested in the GBBC can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 (outside the U.S., call (607) 254-2473), or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org or (215) 355-9588, ext 16.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by support from Wild Birds Unlimited.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit membership institution interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation. AUDUBON
Contacts: Pat Leonard—Cornell Lab of Ornithology—(607) 254-2137—pel27@cornell.edu, Delta Willis—Audubon—(212) 979-3197, dwillis@audubon.org
We are now at 77 classes enrolled for Audubon Adventures for the school year. Several teachers retired, three left the teaching profession, two did not renew this year. We have sixteen new teachers, one returning after several years. Thanks to Beecher Strube, Laurie Fletcher, and Jim Brown for sponsoring more than one class and to Herb Waterman for sponsoring one classroom. They have been faithful to the program for many years.
Ann Hines—Education Chair
It comes as no surprise the listing of the first 3 species - Ivory-billed Woodpecker, California Condor, and Whooping Crane.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Threats - habitat loss due to clear-cutting of its bottomland forest habitat for agriculture and forest products; water diversion and channelization projects that affect bottomland forests. Single bird sighted in Arkansas in 2004 & 05.
California Condor
Threats - has very few natural predators; threatened solely by human activity, including shooting, collisions with power lines, and incidental poisoning from coyote control programs. In recent years, the primary threat appears to be lead poisoning from ingesting carcasses that have been shot with bullets containing lead. Curious by nature, condors have also been seen tearing apart discarded auto batteries in dumps, which exposes them to lead and other toxic materials. The condor’s lack of fear around humans may put it at additional risk. Found in south central California, south-eastern Utah into north-western Arizona.
Whooping Crane
Threats - most threatened by the loss of wetland habitat in their wintering grounds and on their migration routes. Due to the bird’s limited range and small population, damage caused by any local disaster – e.g., an oil spill or a hurricane – in its wintering or breeding range could destroy the entire wild population. In addition, the major river in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge can dry up during droughts, threatening the blue crabs on which the wintering Whooping Cranes primarily feed. Some cranes have died by colliding with human-made objects, such as power lines. Found in Wisconsin, Texas & Florida.
Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Threats – limited population and small range have left it extremely vulnerable to threats such as drought and outbreaks of disease; human activities – including development, road-building, oil and gas activities, increased recreational activities, and poorly managed grazing – continue to encroach on habitat; the quality of remaining habitat is deteriorating due to livestock grazing, land treatments, increased elk and deer populations, and herbicide use. Found in the Gunnison area of Colorado.
Kirtland’s Warbler
Threats - Scarcity of appropriate jack pine forests in Michigan and the presence of cowbirds; feral cat populations in the scrub where the warblers winter in the Bahamas have become an issue of concern. Found in north eastern Michigan.
Piping Plover
Threats - Disturbance and destruction of habitat remain the primary threats; destruction of nests and chicks during breeding season via human activity or predators; in many areas coastal erosion controls and water management practices in river systems greatly reduces and endangers nesting sites. Found in eastern, mid-western, and southern United States.
Florida Scrub-Jay
Threats - Oak scrub is one of the rarest habitats in the Florida peninsula, diminished by perhaps 90 percent from the pre-settlement era; most remaining habitat is now on either public land or privately held land allocated to some purpose other than real estate development; the uses of such land are not inherently incompatible with the scrub-jay habitat, many remaining oak scrub areas have become so overgrown that they verge on being unsuitable for habitat. Found in central Florida.
Ashy Storm-Petrel
Threats - greatest threat is nest predation by nonnative species, such as house mice, rats, and cats, that have been introduced onto and are taking over California’s coastal islands; falling prey to an expanding population of Western Gulls; evidence that pollution of foraging areas is putting this species under stress. Found in coastal California.
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Threats - habitat loss and fragmentation; suburban sprawl remains the primary danger, but grazing, logging of the Ashe juniper, and mineral extraction activities are also encroaching on habitat; nearby agriculture has also brought the Brown-headed Cowbird, which lay eggs in warbler nests that reduce the survival rates of warbler chicks. Found in central Texas.
Kittlitz’s Murrelet
Threats - major threat appears to be rapid changes in its tidewater glacial habitat due to global warming; negatively affected by the growth in local oil tanker and cruise ship traffic, and by oil drilling, as well as by devastating spills such as that of the Exxon Valdez in 1989. Found in coastal Alaska.
(From - AUDUBON LOCAL OUTREACH - (Downloadable version - scroll down to Top Ten Endangered Birds in the US Booklet)
Birds indicate biodiversity crisis – and the way forward – September 22, 2008 – BirdLife International
Common birds are in decline across the world, providing evidence of a rapid deterioration in the global environment that is affecting all life on earth – including human life. All the world’s governments have committed themselves to slowing or halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. But reluctance to commit what are often trivial sums in terms of national budgets means that this target is almost certain to be missed.
These are some of the stark messages from State of the Worlds Birds.
“Birds provide an accurate and easy to read environmental barometer, allowing us to see clearly the pressures our current way of life are putting on the world’s biodiversity. Many of these birds have been a familiar part of our everyday lives, and people who would not necessarily have noticed other environmental indicators have seen their numbers slipping away…” said Dr Mike Rands - BirdLife's CEO.
The report highlights worldwide losses among widespread and once-familiar birds. A staggering 45% of common European birds are declining: the familiar European Turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur, for example, has lost 62% of its population in the last 25 years. On the other side of the globe, resident Australian wading birds have seen population losses of 81% in just quarter of a century.
Twenty North American common birds have more than halved in number in the last four decades. Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus, fell most dramatically, by 82%. In Latin America, the Yellow Cardinal, Gubernatrix cristata - once common in Argentina - is now classified as globally Endangered.
Millions of White-rumped Vultures, Gyps bengalensis, recently flew in Asian skies. In just sixteen years populations have crashed by 99.9% - the species is now classified as Critically Endangered. Widespread birds like the Eurasian Eagle Owl are believed to be vanishing from Middle Eastern forests. Seabirds - including Critically Endangered Chatham Albatross, Thalassarche eremita - are disappearing from the world’s oceans.
“Effective biodiversity conservation is easily affordable, requiring relatively trivial sums at the scale of the global economy. Many of these birds have been a familiar part of our everyday lives, and people who would not necessarily have noticed other environmental indicators have seen their numbers slipping away, and are wondering why. Because birds are found almost everywhere on earth, they can act as our eyes and ears, and what they are telling us is that the deterioration in biodiversity and the environment is accelerating, not slowing,” said Dr Rands.
State of the Worlds Birds identifies many key global threats, including the intensification of industrial-scale agriculture and fishing, the spread of invasive species, logging and the replacement of natural forest with monocultural plantations. However, Dr Rands warns: “In the long term, human-induced climate change may be the most serious stress of all”.
The encouraging news is that conservation works and is relatively cheap. Direct action saved 16 bird species from extinction between 1994 and 2004. But conserving biodiversity now urgently needs more financial support.
“The challenge is to harness international biodiversity commitments and ensure that concrete actions are taken — now!” —Dr Mike Rands
“Effective biodiversity conservation is easily affordable, requiring relatively trivial sums at the scale of the global economy”, said Dr Rands. For example, to maintain the protected area network which would safeguard 90 percent of Africa’s biodiversity would cost less than $1 billion US dollars a year –yet in a typical year the global community provides around $300 million.
“The world is failing in its 2010 pledge to achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biodiversity”, said Dr Rands. “The challenge is to harness international biodiversity commitments and ensure that concrete actions are taken — now!”
Brian Rutledge, Executive Director of Audubon Wyoming, reports the following common birds on decline in Wyoming – Black-headed Grosbeak, Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow, American Bittern, and Ruffed Grouse.
(From chapterleaders@audubon.org and BirdLife International website.)
October 11th field trip - Meet at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek at 7:30 – 8:00 for morning refreshments and birding from the windows as we talk, mingle and eat, then car pool to Soda Lake to check out the birding action!
By Brian Rutledge and Gary Graham, Special to the Rocky Mountain News—Published September 1, 2008
The unbroken sagebrush where the sage grouse makes its home is one of the most iconic landscapes of Wyoming, Colorado and the other Rocky Mountain states, where the sweeping vistas evoke the optimistic, far-reaching perspective many of us associate with the Western United States.
It is also a region of great ecological importance, providing habitat for 60 species of concern, including long-billed curlew and pygmy rabbit, as well as the Gunnison's and greater sage grouse.
Sadly, much of this unique ecosystem has already been lost to development, drought and clearing for agriculture and fire. Now, unbridled energy extraction poses an even greater, unprecedented threat. Fortunately, there is still time to preserve critical habitat - without ignoring our energy needs. But doing so clearly requires the consensus and collaboration of stakeholders who have not typically seen eye-to-eye - including federal and state government agencies, conservationists, ranchers and oil and gas companies.
The good news is that these sometimes disparate interests have now come together to recommend a sound and balanced approach to managing sage-grouse habitat. In Wyoming, the state's Sage Grouse Implementation Team, which includes representatives of the oil and gas industry, state agencies and conservation organizations, has developed a plan for protecting the most critical habitat areas for sage grouse while at the same time allowing responsible energy extraction. On Aug. 1, Wyoming Gov. David Freudenthal issued an executive order endorsing this approach and providing a real opportunity to protect the sage grouse, and the majestic Wyoming landscape where it makes its home.
In Colorado, Gov. Bill Ritter has initiated a rule-making process that will also offer protection of grouse and other species.
It is now time for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to live up to its responsibility to all Americans by adopting Gov. Freudenthal's plan. In excess of 18 million surface acres and more than 41 million subsurface acres in Wyoming alone are under the control of this federal agency, which has been putting massive tracts of pristine sagebrush habitat on the block at fire-sale prices nearly every other month. These leases are issued under stipulations that have failed to succeed in protecting sage grouse. The governor's plan calls for stipulations proven to protect this challenged species.
The message appears to be getting through to some BLM officials. But the agency still needs to answer to an administration that seems determined to drill at all costs, ignoring the serious long-term threats to nature and the human and wildlife communities it supports.
It's time for Washington to join Western citizens and their leaders in their growing appreciation of the need for a more balanced approach. By following the lead of Governors. Freudenthal and Ritter, we can demonstrate that it is possible for sage grouse, healthy landscapes and gas production to co-exist.
Brian Rutledge is the executive director of Audubon Wyoming. He is a resident of Laramie, Wyo. Gary Graham is vice president and executive director of Audubon Colorado. He is a resident of Boulder.
(From “Audubon In the News - September 4, 2008” and the Rocky Mountain News website.)
The Big Sit! is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher's Digest and founded by the New Haven (CT) Bird Club. Every team that observes this year's "Golden Bird" has a chance to win $500. We hope bird watchers from around the globe will unite on this special day by participating in this event (it's free!). The Big Sit! is sponsored by Swarovski Optik, Alpen Optics, and Wild Bird Centers.
Some people have called it a "tailgate party for birders." Today there are Big Sit! circles all over the world, including Guatemala, India, the Netherlands, England, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
The simplicity of the concept makes The Big Sit! so appealing. Find a good spot for bird watching -- preferably one with good views of a variety of habitats and lots of birds. Next you create a real or imaginary circle 17 feet in diameter and sit inside the circle for 24 hours, counting all the bird species you see or hear. That's it. Find a spot, sit in it, have fun.
Now you may think bird watching events like this are attuned to "more serious" birders, but here are the top 10 reasons that everyone should participate in the Big Sit!
10. It's free! Creating your team and registering online doesn't cost one red cent. Just be sure to account for the cost of food if you host a Big Sit! in your backyard. A team of bird watchers confined to a 17-foot circle can develop the munchies without warning.
9. Anyone can participate. Even if your birding travel is hindered by physical limitations, a busy workweek schedule, or budget constraints, you can get the most out of the locations you CAN reach–right outside your door. The Big Sit! gives you an opportunity to participate in a full day of bird watching without having to trudge through a swamp halfway around the world or hike up the face of a mountain in the sleet.
8. Exotic rarities not required. Will you see eared quetzals in your backyard? Probably not. But you'll be surprised at the sheer number of supposedly "common" birds that will pass by your location in a day's time. Even circles in urban or suburban areas can expect nighthawks before dawn or after dusk, an array of songbirds, and a hawk or two. Besides, it's not a competition; it's just for fun!
7. Makes a great fundraiser! Some local bird clubs use The Big Sit! as a fundraiser, by organizing a Big Sit team and collecting pledges for each species they tally. For example, if 20 club members pledge $0.20 per species and the team tallies 50 species during The Big Sit!, that means the team could generate $200 for a special club project.
6. Naming a team is fun. Team names that we've used in the past have included The Groovy-billed Anis (complete with tie-dyed T-shirts), The Couchless Kingbirds, and The Sitting Ducks. You, too, can have fun creating a team identity.
5. The Golden Bird! After all of the Big Sit! results are tabulated, a bird species will be selected by random drawing from the total list of all species seen in North America. All of the circles that listed that bird will be put into another random drawing. The randomly selected winning circle wins the Golden Bird prize of $500 for the non-profit, environmental organization of their choice. The prize is donated by Swarovski Optik. Qualifying organizations include bird clubs, Audubon chapters, land trusts, etc.
4. Not just the usual suspects. If you already offer food and water to the birds, you've no doubt seen many familiar backyard visitors before. They'll show up during your Big Sit, too. But look beyond the feeder and the birdbath–to the owls that call at night, or the raptors that soar high overhead. You'll discover that your area plays host to more birds than you realized!
3. It’s an excuse to host a party. The Big Sit! has been called a tailgate party for bird watchers. Gathering your closest bird-watching friends together for an all-day (and possibly all-night) bird-a-thon is the perfect excuse to share good stories, cold beverages, and great meals. Unlike other tailgate parties, elaborate body paint is not expected.
2. Fall migrants. The Big Sit! falls in October, when fall migration is in full swing. This is the perfect opportunity to see migrants that only pass briefly through your area. That’s the trouble with migrant species—they’re here today and gone tomorrow! Take this opportunity to spot as many of them as you can.
1. You can participate in citizen science. Taking time to count as many birds as possible will help catalog the species in your area. If you hold Big Sits every year—or if others have participated in bird counts before—you can compare your findings to those of years past to identify declining or increasing populations. In this way your fun backyard event can contribute to a greater scientific cause: monitoring bird populations and watching out for broader trends.
(From BirdWire and Bird Watcher’s Digest)
Project FeederWatch – November 8, 2008 – April 3, 2009
109th NAS’s Christmas Bird Count – December 14, 2008 – January 5, 2009
Great Back Yard Bird Count – February 13-16, 2009
23rd Annual Banquet and Benefit – February 21, 2009 – Frances & Janice Bergquist, Wyoming Wildlife Photographers
NEEDED—Volunteers to fill the feeders at ACGC on Thursday and Friday—Contact Rose-Mary King—577-0568
NEEDED—Volunteers to help with planning our next Banquet (Feb. 21, 2009). Next meeting is at 6:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 7th—Contact Rose-Mary King—577-0568
NEEDED— Plastic containers—sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese—8 ozs. or larger for raffle ticket holders at the banquet.. Contact Rose-Mary King—577-0568
Volunteers needed to help fold the newsletter. Time commitment is approx. 1 hour a month usually the last or first week of the month. Contact Rose-Mary King—577-0568
Did you know that the reason birds’ necks are so flexible is because they have more bones there than you or I do? The number of bones in the neck that hold up the skull and protect the spinal cord, called vertebra (plural: vertebrae), as well as how they move in relation to one another, determine how much flexibility any vertebrate—animals with backbones—has in its neck.
Most mammals, including humans, have seven vertebrae in their necks horizontal axis but slightly sideways to this axis as well. The shape of each vertebra, as well as the higher total number of them, results in a neck that can flex and twist to a considerable degree. In fact, most birds can turn their heads a full 180° in either direction.
This extreme flexibility has an important use to birds. Although the vertebrae in their necks are numerous and flexible, the vertebrae in their backs are variously fused and immobile in order to facilitate flight. Thus the flexibility of the neck compensates for the lack of mobility in the back. Preening feathers to ensure their optimal condition at all times is essential to the very survival of birds, and having a highly flexible neck provides the ability for a bird to reach around and use its bill to preen feathers that would otherwise be inaccessible to it.
Of course, a quick observation of some bird species would not lead one to assume—or even believe—this higher number of cervical vertebrae. Some bird species, such as chickadees, seem barely to have any necks at all. Once again, the flexibility of the neck is the secret. Rather than being held continuously more-or-less straight, as in mammals, the cervical column of birds is often held folded down into an “S” shape. Because the feathers hide the true shape of the neck, it can sometimes appear as if their heads sit directly on their shoulders. However, spending a little time watching a bird preen will quickly reveal the truth.
(From The Backyard Birds Newsletter—October 2008)
L. to R.—Jerry Galles-President of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, Senator John Barrasso, Fred Eiserman, and Dick Staiger - Wyoming Wildlife Foundation Chairman.
Fred’s Acceptance Speech
(Pictures are thumbnails - click on picture to see full size)