The THETHE GREBE GREBE

Published by The Friends of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge January/February 2007 Vol 2, No. 1

UPCOMING EVENTS Water Dancers January 17 & 18 - Some of you have probably won- when their presence is again The Western Grebe nests late in NON PROFIT MEETING & dered about the bird image on the signaled when their presence our area, and its eggs don’t hatch NEWS CONFERENCE - Friends of Deer Flat Refuge logo. is again signaled by their until most young ducks have long Contact Noreen Tripp It is the Western Grebe, a water “creek creek” calls carrying left the nest. It is not unusual to see at 468-0402 to attend bird and member of the family of over the lake. They mostly eat many very young grebes in August. the news conference birds referred to as Podiceps. It is fish, diving for their catch, and Another interesting behavior of the on the 18th. not a duck, although from a dis- are well equipped for this task grebe is the care of the young. Usu- tance it may look like one; it is with long slim bills and long ally two to four eggs are laid and the February 6 - more closely related to the loon. necks. chicks are precocial, meaning that MONTHLY MEETING at 7 Of the six species of grebes in the Western Grebes nest in colo- they leave the nest and take to the p.m. at Deer Flat Visitor western U.S., the Western Grebe nies, building floating nests of water soon after hatching. During Center and the similar Clark’s Grebe are reeds and other plant materials the first couple weeks, the young the largest, at 25 inches long. and anchoring them to emer- spend most of their time riding in the February 17 - The Western Grebe is a good gent vegetation. In the un- back feathers of mom or dad, even GREAT BACKYARD BIRD wildlife representative for the usual courtship ritual of the when the adults are diving to find COUNT Friends organization because it is grebe, sometimes called the food or to escape danger. The par- found on Lake Lowell during all but “water dance,” the male and ents bring food to the young for February 17 - the coldest months of the year. The female grebe rise up out of the much of the summer; watch them FRIENDS LITTER LIFT refuge’s grebes migrate to the water with their bodies almost near the upper embankment. There from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 south and west, usually departing vertical, coil their long necks, are still many Western Grebes on p.m. in November and wintering on the extend their wings back, and Lake Lowell during November, but coast. The first grebes to return in quickstep across the top of the the numbers steadily diminish with February 20 - the spring arrive in late March, water together. Though most the approach of winter, and by early EXECUTIVE BOARD frequent in the spring, you may December just a few birds remain. MEETING also see this courtship ritual Now that you have been intro- later in June or July. The best duced to the Western Grebe, find March 2 - 5 - place to observe it is in the time to search it out and observe its Beyond the Boundaries eastern section of the lake activities. You just might chance east of Gott’s Point, especially upon the ‘water dance” display or conference in near the mouth of the New the little grebes getting a ride in their Washington D.C. York Canal. It is this ‘water parents’ feathers. March 6 - dance” image of the grebe that the Friends have adopted. MONTHLY MEETING at 7 p.m. at Deer Flat Visitor 12:00 p.m. Plan on Center Friends Litter Lift spending two hours pick- If you have a story that ing up trash along the you would like to have In 2006, the Friends group adopted a section of roadway. published in “The Grebe”, road that winds around the outer boundary of the Bring gloves, trash bags please contact Denise Hughes, 850-5885 or refuge. We are responsible for the area known as will be provided. [email protected] the ’Iowa curve’. Please meet at the Visitor Center at VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 2 President’s Corner 2006 was a wonderful year for our Friends when city life becomes too much. Whatever group; we worked hard, learned a lot and your reason, our main concern is to preserve accomplished a great deal. With hard work, and protect the refuge. determination, and a little luck, 2007 will turn MISSION STATEMENT out to be another successful year. Our mission statement will be our guide in this coming year. I look forward to The purpose of this group is to promote, First I would like to say thank-you for the working with each of you. I hope you will let privilege of being the president of our Friends me know what you need and how I protect, and provide resources to group in 2007. I feel it is a great honor and can help. I also encourage each of you to preserve and enhance Deer Flat National responsibility. I look forward to working with our bring your ideas and suggestions to Wildlife Refuge for the enjoyment of group and for the refuge. Each of us has our our round table discussions at the end of our present and future generations. own reason for joining the Friends of Deer Flat monthly general meetings. Wildlife Refuge. Your reason for joining may be to protect wildlife habitat so hunting, fishing and Noreen Tripp, President wildlife viewing will always be available or you might just enjoy having a wild area to retreat to

2006 Idaho Non-profit Conference Lyndell Jackson and Cathy Eells at- -Vision and goals for the group -Marketing: identifying our unique Never tended the 2006 Idaho Nonprofit -Membership niche and value to the community Conference at BSU on October 6. -Budget, fund raising, and donor pass up Lyndell and Cathy brought back many management Bill Sedivy, Executive Director of the important ideas to help us make our -Board member/committee chair Idaho Rivers United, made this opportu- fledgling nonprofit organization viable. training and job descriptions thought-provoking remark: "Never -An annual organizational plan pass up the opportunity to educate nity to The conference emphasized the im- -Development of program/ people about your cause." We, as educate... portance of developing a strategic organization activities individual Friends members, can be plan for reaching short term, medium -Communication with members, effective advocates for our organiza- range, and long range goals in the community, media, and other organi- tion daily by sharing our mission with following areas: zations family, friends, and acquaintances.

Friends Bookstore, coming soon! New Members Please welcome our newest members: In early March 2007, the Friends students who will utilize the refuge as group will be opening a bookstore an outdoor classroom. The Friends Hugh Fulton, Nampa, ID that will help us to provide financial need volunteers to help staff the new Wendy McGlinsky, Trumbull, CT support for refuge programs for store and to keep it functioning as a Julie McGlinsky, Eugene, OR children and adults. All proceeds business. Your time and talents are Fred and Leona Roberts, Boise, ID from sales go directly back to the needed to help make it a success for refuge. Once open, the store will the refuge. If you are interested in be an opportunity to purchase contributing your time, either to staff items as a memento of your visit to the sales counter, help maintaining the refuge or for a gift for a loved inventory, or to provide accounting one. In the future, we hope to also support, please give Cathy Eells a call provide materials to educators and at 939-4830. VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 2007 Projects With the start of 2007, the Projects Help is needed to find a suitable adjacent the visitor center and restoring committee is gearing up to work on a few design for the blind and to secure native vegetation to the Lower Dam refuge enhancements. Our first project donations of building materials and/ area. will be a photo blind. The blind will be a or cash donations. Please contact Photo Blind At permanent structure that will be placed Jim Iverson, Projects Chairman at Black Bayou NWR, built by along one of the nature trails where 459-6501 to lend your support. Friends group in wildlife can be viewed and photographed. 2005 All members with woodworking skills Other projects that may be and non-experienced woodworkers are completed in the upcoming year invited to help with this project. include expanding the butterfly and hummingbird garden that is Great Backyard Bird Count Part of our mission is to educate the pub- Who - Kids of all ages Lake Lowell Upper Dam - West End lic about the wildlife at the refuge. Join What - Bird Identification When - Saturday, February 17, 2007 us as we participate in this annual count. Bird Count Bird Walk We need volunteers to help build feeders, Games make cookies for snacks, id birds, etc. Making homemade feeders Hot Chocolate, Cider, Cookies For more information or to volunteer, call - Where - Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge Visitor Lyndell Jackson - 459-4740 or Center Cathy Eells - 459-4435 Wild About Life... Deer Flat National Wildlife Ref- Forderhase, an Education Specialist from throughout the seasons and discuss key uge is adding another opportunity for Snake River Birds of Prey National Con- management concerns including livestock learning and community involvement to servation Area. She will be depredation, hunting issues, dogs, and hu- its list of educational events. Beginning talking about raptors that man safety. After the presentation partici- in January DFNWR, in cooperation with spend winters in Idaho and pants are invited to attend the Friends group the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge Friends how to identify them. Plus, general meeting. group, presents the Wild About Life she will be bringing a few Finally, as Lecture Series. This monthly lecture of these LIVE majestic spring is approaching on series focuses on topics such as the birds with her! This pres- March 13th Susan Belle, natural history of local wildlife, native entation will captive adults a Horticulture professor plants and desert gardening, and other and children alike. from University of Idaho Treasure Valley resources such as wa- The second lecture is the first Ada County Extension, ter and its use. Expert and dynamic Tuesday in February and will discuss native plants and Xeri-scaping, a speakers from many different agencies is before the general water conserving gardening strategy. All are excited to share their knowledge meeting of the Deer Flat community members are invited to attend and with the community. Wildlife Refuge Friends bring friends, neighbors or family. Be sure to Lectures will be held alter- general meeting. Mi- look for more presentations in the upcoming nately on the first or second Tuesday of chael Lucid, a regional newsletter. each month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the Wildlife Biologist from Visitor Center. The first presentation Idaho Fish and Game will Photos – Swainson’s Hawk, Idaho wolf, Big will be on Tuesday, Jan 9th by Barbara describe the dynamics of a wolf pack Mountain Sagebrush FRIENDS OF DEER FLAT WILDLIFE REFUGE

13751 Upper Embankment Road Nampa, Idaho 83686-8046 Executive Board: President - Noreen Tripp (468-0402) Vice President - John Augsburger (362-2769) Treasurer/Secretary - Kris Horton (461-9717)

Membership - Lyndell Jackson (459-4740) Projects - Jim Iverson (459-6051) Newsletter - Denise Hughes (850-5885)

Upcoming Programs January 2 - Time for Election! February 6 — Wolf Biology March 6 - General Meeting

It’s the start of a new year and time to Michael Lucid, a biologist with Idaho Join us for a round table discussion with elect new board and committee mem- Department of Fish and Game will give us other local groups who are concerned bers. We want to also use this time to the real scoop on the about the development around the refuge develop a strategic plan of action for wolf packs that are in perimeter. We are looking for ideas to 2007. Please join us and give us your the southwestern part protect and improve the outer boundaries input. of the state. If you from some of the current development. have concerns about January 9 – the wolf reintroduction Title: Raptors Wintering in SW Idaho or just love wolves join Synopsis: Learn to identify the raptors us as we discover the March 13 — who call SW Idaho home during the difference the truth Susan Belle, a Horticulture professor from winter months. and put the myth to rest. University of Idaho Ada County Extension, By: Barb Forderhase, will discuss native plants and Xeri-scaping, Education Specialist, The Friend’s group general meeting will be a water con- Sego Lily, found near Boise BLM Snake River held right after the program. serving Birds of Prey National gardening Conservation Area strategy