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MURIE AUDUBON SOCIETY CASPER, WYOMING |
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VOLUME 43 - ISSUE 9 MONTHLY PUBLICATION DECEMBER,2009 - JANUARY 2010 |
CALENDAR
Dec. 19—Casper Christmas Bird Count—contact Chris Michelson—234-8726
Jan. 1, 2010—Bates Hole Christmas Count—Contact Charley Scott—473-2512
Jan 5—Banquet Committee Meeting—6:00pm—ACGC
Jan. 5—Board Meeting—7:00pm—ACGC
Jan. 8—General Meeting—7:00pm—Oil & Gas Conservation Commission bldg., 2211 King Blvd.
Jan 9—Dave Johnson Power Plant field trip—meet 1:30 pm at ACGC
Jan 18—Feb. newsletter deadline for articles
Feb. 13—24th Annual Banquet & Fundraiser—5:30—Parkway Plaza—tickets are $25 each or a table of 8 for $175—Call Rose-Mary for tickets (577-0568)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Tis the season – Christmas Bird Count season, that is. The birding community is looking forward to the 110th CBC season – it is a short season, taking place from December 14 through January 5. During these 22 days, intrepid individuals across the US and Canada, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands will venture forth to find and count all the birds they can find in a 24-hour period.
Just a quick review for those of you unsure of exactly what a Christmas Bird Count is: on a selected day, we go out and count all the birds we can find within a pre-determined 15-mile diameter circle 15 miles in one day (24 hours).
Last year (2008-2009), birds in 2124 CBC circles were counted; that was 11 more than the 2007-2008 season’s record high of 2113 – and that was after a lot of counts had been cancelled due to weather!! There were 43 new count circles added last year, including a count on a new continent – Antarctica.
With the concerns about climate change, the data from the decades of CBC's is being used to study population shifts in 305 bird species. Daniel Niven, Greg Butcher, and G. Thomas Bancroft studied the data recorded in the lower 48 states over the last 40 years, correlating it with the warmer January weather. In an article in American Birds (109th Christmas Bird Count issue), the scientists noted that 208 of these species had shifted northward. The studies also found that while wetland birds, forest birds, shrub birds, and generalist species all tended to have a northward shift in range, grassland birds did not. So far, no evidence of population declines related to these northward shifts has been found, but there are concerns that if winters continue to warm, habitats and food supplies may be affected. As you can see, more questions are being raised than are being answered.
In Wyoming, 20 CBC circles were counted with a total of 119 species tallied (down from 126 last year). The data from these circles indicated that Pinyon Jay numbers were up a little, American Tree Sparrow numbers were down, Greater Sage-Grouse numbers remain strong, and Brown Creepers were down. Sightings of interest last season included: a Sora at Crowheart, a Vesper Sparrow at Evanston, an American Pipit at Lander, and 2 Western Wood-Pewees at Gillette.
In case you are interested in the new count on Antarctica (at Cape Crozier on Ross Island), 5 species were recorded: 79 South Polar Skuas, 1 Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, 6 Snow Petrels, 2 Emperor Penguins, and 270,885 Adelie Penguins.
Casper’s CBC this year will be held on Saturday, December 19; we would like to invite anyone interested to join us for the count – you don’t have to be an expert birder, we always need people with good observational skills to help spot the birds, and we can always use help driving and recording data. And we also need people to count their feeders that day. On count day we will meet at the Garden Creek Center at 7:00 am. – remember to dress for Wyoming winter weather!! (For more info about the count on the 19th, contact Stacey Scott—262-0055.)
After spending the day counting birds, we will gather again at Garden Creek Center at 5:30pm for a potluck supper and to compile the day’s results. For more info about the potluck, contact Donna Walgren.
DONNA WALGREN
by Judi Sayornis
The sound of my alarm clock jolts me awake – it’s 6:30 AM; it’s dark outside – very dark! And it’s cold; the Weather Channel says 5o – brrrr!! (Why did I say I would go on this bird count thing?!?)
7:30 AM – There are about a dozen people here at the Ponderosa Nature Center, all dressed for a blizzard, binoculars hanging around their necks, most clutching travel mugs. It’s still dark outside. Are these people serious?
7:50 AM – I get into the car with my good friend Lucy, (yes, the one that talked me into this “adventure”). She said it would be fun! (More fun than sleeping in on a cold Saturday morning??)
8:05 AM – We are on the walking path beside White Clay Creek. It’s light out now, the sun is coming up. It’s actually kind of nice – but it’s still cold! Lucy says its 8o! We come around a bunch of shrubs and see ducks on a small area of open water in an otherwise ice-covered river: Since I don’t know one duck from another, I have been delegated record keeper. Lucy dictates, I record: 19 mallards, 3 buffleheads, 5 common goldeneye, 2 wood ducks, and 4 green-winged teal. Curious names, but cool-looking ducks – those wood ducks are beautiful – in a court jester kind of way. This birding thing IS kind of fun.
9:45 AM – We are driving up and down alleys; it seemed like a dumb thing to do, but, as became apparent, there are lots of dickey-birds in the bushes lining the alleys. And hey – I can now tell the difference between house sparrows and house finches!! And we’ve also seen some robins and blue jays.
12:15 PM – We finished our sack lunches and are walking through the city park. It has warmed up some – Lucy’s little thermometer says 12o (if you can call that warm!). She is pointing out starlings, tree sparrows, and rock pigeons. I point out blue jays, robins and house finches. (I‘m getting the hang of this bird ID stuff!) I also spot some little house finches up in the top of a tree; Lucy tactfully tells me they are not house finches – they are pine siskins. (Guess I don’t quite have the hang of it yet.) Just as we are getting back into the car, Lucy calls out “cedar waxwings” and points out 6 small birds of a soft brownish-gray color, looking rather elegant with a black mask and what she describes as a crest on their heads. They really are beautiful birds; as I look through the binoculars at them, they make me think of delicate porcelain figurines. We stand silently for a minute, listening to their soft, high-pitched whistles.
2:30 PM – Lucy has just dropped me off at home. I sit down with a cup of hot Earl Grey, contemplating the events of the day – yes, it was more fun than sleeping in.
(Submitted by Donna Walgren)
Casper Mountain Science School Education has always been one of the main parts of Murie Audubon’s philosophy. Therefore, we are excited to feature Dr. Evert Brown as our guest speaker for the January program.
Two years ago, Casper College and the Natrona County School District began toying with a vision for an outdoor science school on Casper Mountain. Since 1967 the Teton Science Schools have taught students about the natural world and the Yellowstone ecosystem using place-based education to connect students with nature, cultures, and local heritage. The Casper Mountain Science School follows this model. Pilot projects were developed by Dr. Evert Brown, biology instructor at Casper College, and Carolyn Jacobs of Dean Morgan Junior High here in Casper. These projects consisted of 4-day camps held in the springs of 2008 and 2009. These two camps provided a residential outdoor educational experience for 8th grade students as well as science and educational majors from
Casper College who served as instructors. Curricula included ecology, geology, and the natural history of central Wyoming.
The success of these two pilot projects is the impetus for developing a program to reach a larger student population, and Casper Mountain Science School is now looking to its future. Dr. Brown will share what has been done, what is now going on, and where the program would like to go. He will also discuss the nature of outdoor experiences and their importance in terms of education.
The program will be on January 8 at 7 pm at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd. The program is free and open to the public!
PROGRAM CHAIR—BRUCE WALGREN
If you attend our second-Friday-of-the-month general meetings, our February Annual Banquet, Thursday brown bag lunch gatherings, and/or read the Plains and Peaks Newsletter, you’ve no doubt at one time or another heard people mention the National Audubon Society, Audubon Wyoming, Murie Audubon Society, Friend of Murie Audubon, and Audubon Center at Garden Creek. Maybe you’ve wondered whether you’re a member of one or more, speculated about how to join, thought about how you might support it/them, or none of the above. Herein is my attempt to “set the record straight,” in the words of another president whose name I can’t recall. I’ll frame my explanation in a question/answer format.
QUESTION—How do I join National Audubon and what happens when I do?
ANSWER—Application forms are available at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek or on those pesky cards that fall out when you open the monthly Audubon Magazine. After you’ve joined, and through the magic of zip codes, National Audubon will enroll you as a member in your local chapter, of which the Murie Audubon Society is one of about 500 (there are six other chapters in Wyoming). Thus, with one application you’ve joined two entities and automatically receive both Audubon Magazine and Plains and Peaks.
QUESTION—How do I join Audubon Wyoming?
ANSWER—You don’t. Audubon Wyoming is a state office of the National Audubon Society.
QUESTION—How do I join the Murie Audubon Society?
ANSWER—There are two ways, the first through joining National and the second by becoming “A Friend of Murie Audubon” by means of donating $10 or more, which covers the cost of printing and mailing the Plains and Peaks Newsletter, any surplus going to support the Society’s programs. When you join Murie Audubon Society through the “Friend” gateway, it is important to know that your name is not shared with other organizations, including Audubon Wyoming (National Audubon). Currently our newsletter goes out to 538 members of Murie Audubon Society, 462 of whom are members of National and 76 of whom are Murie-only members.
QUESTION—How do I join the Audubon Center at Garden Creek?
ANSWER—You don’t. National Audubon currently leases the Audubon Center on Garden Creek from the Bailey family for a nominal fee, plus payment of utilities (see March 2009 “Ponderings”). The Murie Audubon Society is allowed free use of the Center for its meetings and classes, and in return provides volunteers to help with the Center’s educational mission, building and ground maintenance, and bird feeding. From time to time Murie contributes money to help with specific programs.
QUESTION—As an individual, how can I make a monetary contribution to the Audubon Center?
ANSWER—Write a check to Audubon Wyoming, which administers the Center, and note at the bottom “for ACGC.” Then deliver or mail the check to Wanda Peters, ACGC, 101 Garden Creek Rd, Casper 82601.
QUESTION—How can I contribute money to the Murie Audubon Society?
ANSWER— Write a check in favor of MAS. Unless designated for a specific purpose, funds will be used where most needed. Memorials go to Murie’s Endowment Fund, administered by the Wyoming Community Foundation.
QUESTION—When will these Ponderings ever end?
ANSWER—Now! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
JIM BROWN
A few intrepid souls made a field trip from Casper to the Buffalo area on Halloween to look for later migrant waterfowl. The number of birds was not great which is often the case at this time of year but there was reasonable diversity. At the pond in Buffalo there were good numbers of Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, Redheads and American Wigeon. Also seen were smaller numbers of American Coot, Canada goose and Northern pintail. At Healy Reservoir, there was a small flock of Gray Partridge on the road into the reservoir. On the reservoir were a couple of Common Loons and many Western Grebes and very many American Coot. There was one Red-necked Grebe, a few Ruddy Ducks, Buffleheads, Ring-billed Gulls and a few unidentifiable sleeping ducks. One mature and one immature Bald Eagle flew over the area. The back road from Healy Reservoir to Lake DeSmet produced several Rough-legged Hawks and one American Kestrel. Lake DeSmet produced more Common Loons and a few Pacific Loons. Viewing was cut short by rapidly increasing winds and decreasing sun. Around the boat launch there were Western, Eared and Horned Grebes. Overall, a reasonable late season field trip was enjoyed by all.
CHRIS MICHELSON
Saturday, January 9, 2010 to Dave Johnson Power Plant. Meet at 1:30 PM at the Audubon Center for a trip to look at the birds around the open water at the Dave Johnson Power Plant just below Glenrock. Call Stacey Scott at 262-0055 for details.
Saturday, February 6 to Gray Reef. Meet at 1:30 PM at the Audubon Center for a trip to see the birds at Gray Reef. Call Stacey Scott at 262-0055 for details.
Pending—Saturday, March 13, Jackson Canyon Eagle Watch.
FIELD TRIP CHAIRMAN—STACEY SCOTT
After another spell of warm weather, temps have dropped to more seasonal numbers for now; we’ve even had a bit more snow – but that’s weather in Wyoming! Migration has definitely slowed down. Lots of “seasonal” species were reported in October (Steller’s Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, owls, sparrows, nuthatches, etc.). Late migrating warblers were still being seen, six species were reported (as usual, quite a few yellow-rumps); the Mammons here in Casper were able to see a beautiful Black-throated Blue – unfortunately it was after the little guy hit their window in a fatal collision. Anna Moscicki in Dubois notes that most of the Mountain Bluebirds have moved down to lower elevations and headed southward.
October yard birds—For the month of October, Wayne and I received 225 yard bird selections from 17 states plus the Yukon, with 92 different species reported. Lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Clark’s Nutcrackers, Mountain Chickadees indicate movement to lower elevations. There were 6 species of woodpeckers and 5 species of owls. The most reported species in October was Pileated Woodpecker; second place went to Great Horned Owl. Third place was a 4-way tie between Steller’s Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Black-capped Chickadee. And fourth place was a 3-way tie between Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Wyoming Yard Birds
Casper: Jim Herold – Nashville Warbler, Pat Classen – Osprey, Cecil Foote – Blue Jay, Frank Odasz – Harris’s Sparrow, Chris Michelson – Great Horned Owl, Rose-Mary King – Blue Jay, Annette Hein – Townsend’s Solitaire, Lewis Hein – Gray Partridge, Casper College Greenhouse – American Crow, Gloria/Jim Lawrence – Blackburnian Warbler, Lois Layton – White-crowned Sparrow, Sandy/Miguel – House Finch, Ed Reish – Black-capped Chickadee, Elijah Reish – Great Horned Owl, Emily Reish – Great Horned Owl, Bruce Walgren – Red-tailed Hawk, Donna Walgren – American Tree Sparrow;
Cheyenne: Barb Gorges – Dark-eyed Junco;
Edness Kimball Wilkins SP: Chris Michelson – Hooded Warbler;
Dubois: Anna Moscicki – Red-naped Sapsucker, Michael Kenney – Great Horned Owl;
Evanston: Patti Gorman – Mountain Chickadee;
Healy Reservoir: Annette Hein – Ruddy Duck;
Lovell: Glen Olsen – Downy Woodpecker;
Lake DeSmet: Lewis Hein – Eared Grebe;
Sundance: Jean Adams – Sandhill Crane.
Thanks to all who helped with the Yard Bird Project in October!! More winter species will be showing up as winter progresses. 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. Good Birding!!!
DONNA WALGREN
Thanks to Dr. Keith James for sponsoring a class of Audubon Adventures. That makes 68 of the 78 classrooms sponsored.
EDUCATION CHAIR—ANN HINES
CONSERVATION
AND EDUCATION AWARD NOMINATIONS
We want to remind you to send us your nominations of candidates for Conservation Awards and Education Awards to be given at Murie’s annual banquet in February. We are looking for individuals, agencies, and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the preservation, protection, understanding and enjoyment of wildlife, ecology, and conservation in Wyoming. We also want to recognize contributions in education – helping to increase the understanding, enjoyment, and basic knowledge of the wildlife and ecology in Wyoming. Please send your candidate nominations to Murie Audubon Society, P.O. Box 2112, Casper, WY 82602; or you may email them to any board member listed in this newsletter under “Murie Audubon Society Chapter Officers.” You do not need to be a Murie member to nominate a candidate, and the candidate need not be a Murie member.
Please be detailed, descriptive, and specific in your reasons for nominating candidates. Please return you nominations by January 25, 2010.
Thank you!!
DONNA WALGREN
It is hard to comprehend that I am writing for the December newsletter on this gorgeous sunny, blue sky day. A downy woodpecker is snacking on tasty morsels on the tree, and a buck is rubbing his antlers on the small shrub just outside my window. The trees and other plants may be bare of leaves, but have taken on a different kind of beauty as they prepare for the winter months.
There has been no dormancy here at the center. The wilderness first aid class presented by Audubon Wyoming’s own Dusty Downey and NOLS prepared 10 of us for all kinds of situations encountered in the wild places of Wyoming.
Our Hoot and Howl Halloween event was a success with about 40 people enjoying the windy but clear Halloween night. Lois Layton and her short eared owl were a big hit, as was the cardboard maze. Thanks to the Central Wyoming Astronomy club, we were able to see the moons of Jupiter and gaze at a very large moon. Laura Stadtfeld of Laurie’s Inn provided engaging arrival activities for the younger crowd, and J.P. Cavigelli of the Tate Museum helped us learn about skeletons, bones and skulls. Spiders with Jacelyn Downey and coyotes with Dusty Downey made the event a blend of education and fun. Not to forget the Halloween Carols around the “campfire” and the yummy snacks that so many generous people provided! It was truly a cooperative effort and contributions of many that allowed it to be a resounding success. Thank you to all!
I hope you will get the chance to visit and see the improvements to the beginning of the trail. Thanks to Eagle Scout John Shreve, the trail entrance now has a sign, as does the brush pile that serves as bird habitat. There are also new benches to enjoy. It is impressive to see the work this young man accomplished.
As you may know, we have quite an array of bird feeders which allows us to attract a variety of birds. Thanks to these faithful fillers who perform the never-ending duties of keeping the feeders full:
Sunday—Narotzky and Miller families
Monday—Mary Lansing and boys, Aaron, Noah and John Paul
Tuesday—The folks from Circle C
Wednesday—Chris Michelson
Thursday—Mike Szymczak
Friday—Suzanne Hanks and children Savannah, Amelia and Kaiyu
Because of their efforts and time, we get to see the birds up close and personal.
Speaking of viewing birds, the weekly Brown Bag Birding which is held every Thursday from 12-1:00 is a good time to come and enjoy the birds at those feeders. There’s been 16 people present the last few times, so lots of bird conversations and lots of eyes to help spot! Goldfinches, House Finches, Chickadees, Juncos, Downy Woodpecker and the occasional Evening Grosbeak are some of the stars of the show.
With the holidays seems to come all the extra tasks of gift giving and gatherings and decorating. It is my hope that we think about our preparations and activities and be inspired to be less consumptive, less stressed, and create less impact on the environment. Some web sites that might be helpful: PLANET GREEN - GREEN GIFT WRAP IDEAS or PLANET GREEN - CUT YOUR CONSUMPTION.
Perhaps an Audubon membership or a bird book or a stuffed musical bird would make the perfect gift for someone special.
My wish for us all is that we take the time to enjoy the fresh air, the blue sky, the birds and other creatures braving the cold. May each of you have warm fires, good friends and lots of birds to add to your lists this season!
ACGC DIRECTOR – WANDA PETERS
Please save your colored lids such as the kind that are 2-3” in diameter, i.e. spray paint cans, Pam, hair spray, liquid detergent, etc. I need at least 85 for decorations for our February banquet. When you have several, give me a call (266-3160) and I will pick them up. THANKS.
ANN HINES
(by Kevin Poague, Audubon Nebraska)
The 40th annual Rivers and Wildlife Celebration will be held March 18-21, 2010, in Kearney, Nebraska. Organized by Audubon Nebraska and the Nebraska Bird Partnership, the conference gathers together nature enthusiasts from across the county to witness the migration of over half a million sand hill cranes and millions of waterfowl and other birds through central Nebraska. Events include guided field trips, workshops, a family fun room, and daily visits to river blinds operated by Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary for up-close views of cranes roosting on the Platte River.
Local and national speakers will present information on a variety of wildlife and conservation topics. Main speakers are Scott Weidensaul, author of more than two dozen natural history books, including Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds (a Pulitzer Prize finalist); Mike Forsberg, nature photographer and author of Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild; Ron Klataske, executive director of Audubon of Kansas; and Chris Wood, eBird Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. More than twenty local environmental organizations will have information booths and hands-on activities on Saturday.
The celebration is open to the general public. Registration materials can be found beginning in mid-December at AUDUBON NEBRASKA. Or contact Audubon Nebraska to be put on the mailing list: Nebraska@audubon.org; 402/797-2301. Rowe Sanctuary has information about viewing the sand-hill crane migration, 308/468-5282; ROWE SANCTUARY.
(Kevin Poague—Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center,11700 SW 100 St., P.O. Box 117, Denton NE 68339, (402) 797-2301, SPRING CREEK PRAIRIE AUDUBON CENTER)
On November 12, 2009, an open house was held at the C’mon Inn in Evansville for planning of the Elkhorn Valley Open Space Area. This area is roughly the area from 21st Street north to Interstate 25 east of Blackmore Road to the Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital. This includes the small reservoir that is visible from East 2nd Street on the south side of the street and the Elkhorn Creek drainage also to the south. The Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Platte River Parkway Trust, and landowners in this area were key participants in this planning process. The open house was informal so that participants were free to look over the maps and other displays that showed the area in question and the features of the property. Participants were asked for their input as to what they would like to see done in this area. Should there be trails? What opportunities are there for the area? How should wildlife and open spaces be incorporated? These and other questions were suggested for individuals to comment upon. If you are interested in looking at the maps, etc. of this area, please visit the website ELKHORN VALLEY STUDY AREA and check back to watch for developments. The public is invited to submit their comments at feedback@elkhornvalleystudy.com. Please submit your comments as soon as you can so that they may be included. The next open house will probably be in January, watch the website and newspapers for the exact date.
BRUCE WALGREN
COOKIE
AND/OR BAR BAKERS SCHEDULE
No Gen. Mtg. in December - Christmas Bird Count on December 19th!
Jan. – Liz Rea , Karen Anfang & Jim Brown
February – Annual Banquet
March – Arlene Carr & Ann Hines
April – Debb Tarr & Dan Van Burgh
May – Kathy Keffer & Jackie Odaz
Thank you to all of you who have volunteered. If you can fill in for someone who can’t bring refreshments, please call me, 237-2392. Those who have signed up to fill in are Kathy Davis, Hallie Harris, Arlene Carr & Kathy Keffer. Hospitality Chair - Betty Krause
Courtesy of HARRY MARTIN CARTOONS
Keep your seed and suet feeders full and, if possible, have at least one heated water source for our feathered friends during this cold weather.
LOIS LAYTON AND A SHORT-EARED OWL
Photos courtesy of Craig Hines
