Hike for Health

Inside this Issue Hike for Health Inside ASGD 2 The Audubon Society of Greater outside by distributing a Hike for Health Research 3 Denver is partnering with Kaiser scorecard developed by ASGD. Children Conservation 4 Permanente to encourage children and their parents attend three of our to get outdoors. Children often Outdoor Adventure Series programs Programs 5-6 dedicate most of their free time to (see green pages) and venture out on Fall Bird Count 7 television, computers, and two local hikes in the open Travel 7 video games, rather than space parks close to Denver. putting in some “grass & After they accomplish that, Recognition 8 dirt time.” The result is a drastic increase in they are entered in a drawing to receive a Backyard Birds 9-10 inactivity leading to higher rates of obesity Hike for Health prize package. If you are a Education 11 and other ailments. Kaiser pediatricians Kaiser member, we look forward to your are encouraging young patients to get participation.

With an Attitude of Gratitude We Announce ASGD’s Annual Member Dinner and Program Warbler Going Electronic Please join us at Beginning with the January/February 2011 First Plymouth Church – Hampden and Colorado Blvd. Warbler, we will no longer send a hardcopy Saturday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. of the newsletter. We are following the lead of many Gratitude to the loyal ASGD members for your generosity in supporting natural science nonprofit organizations by education, environmental conservation, and wildlife research fuels this years’ Early Thanksgiving switching to an electronic Feast, catered by As You Like It. newsletter to save money and resources. As a The speaker will be Dyana Furmansky, whose book Rosalie Edge, Hawk of Mercy: The conservation organization, Activist Who Saved Nature from the Conservationists won the 2010 Colorado Book Award. we need to walk our talk: Hear about Rosalie Barrow Edge, the fierce New York society lady who sparked environmental use less paper and lessen activism and seventy-five years ago founded Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, the our carbon footprint. world’s first preserve for birds of prey.

If we don’t already have your In addition, Anne Price of the Raptor Education Foundation will bring live raptors for us to email address, or if you do meet and greet. not have a computer, please call us at 303-973-9530 and Please invite old and new friends to join us for the dinner, program, and short members’ meeting. we will be sure to add you to our electronic list, or make sure you receive a copy. The cost is $35/member ($40/non-member) for the dinner and program. Tickets may be purchased by calling 303-973-9530 Thank you for supporting or sending a check to 9308 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80128. this effort!

September/October 2010 Inside ASGD

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE– For many months the ASGD Board of Directors has been working on updating ASGD’s Strategic Plan. As times change (and they seem to be changing faster and faster!), this is 9308 S. Wadsworth Boulevard an important effort in keeping ASGD exciting, relevant, and in touch with its members. Littleton, Colorado 80128 303-973-9530 • Fax 303-973-1038 At least two vital ideas keep bubbling to the surface: ASGD is an educational resource www.denveraudubon.org for the community, and we are here to minimize civilization’s impact on the natural environment. Historically the areas ASGD has focused on have been: natural science ASGD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS education, environmental conservation, and wildlife research. President Tom Parchman Central to the discussion is the Board’s desire to update its knowledge of member 1st Vice President expectations to make sure we serve YOU. On the one hand, the Board looks at ASGD’s Arlene Raskin track record. In 2009 ASGD offered 336 programs, in schools, at the Audubon Nature 2nd Vice President Ann Bonnell Center, throughout metro Denver and Colorado, and regionally and served almost Treasurer Carol DeStefanis 15,000 people. In environmental conservation, the Conservation Committee provided Secretary Open legislative previews of key upcoming legislation, a Legislative Forum to talk to legislators, Joe Bartell and a wrap up critique of actions taken by the legislature. And in the area of scientific Doris Cruze research, ASGD’s Lois Webster Fund helps support important research on issues related Mackenzie Goldthwait to non-game species in Colorado. And we try to keep you informed on all of these Doug Kibbe activities through the Warbler. Harriet Stratton But on the other hand, are we hitting the mark in terms of your specific concerns and areas of interest? This is a plea. Please speak to us: e-mail us, call us, stop by the office. ASGD STAFF Let us know if we are meeting your needs. Our address and phone number are on the Executive Director Warbler; our email address is [email protected]. Your feedback is important. Carl Norbeck [email protected] Audubon Center Director Karl Brummert [email protected] Tom Parchman, President Office Manager Rhonda Shank [email protected] Bird & Brew Bookkeeper Ghost Bird Maile Jones What Ever Happened to the Trivia III [email protected] Ivory-Billed Woodpecker? Wednesday, September 22 MISSION ASGD is a nonprofit group dedicated to maintaining Wednesday, October 13 at 7pm from 7-9pm the health of natural ecosystems through REI Denver Flagship Store education, advocacy and research, with primary We had two successful nature trivia nights 1416 Platte St, Denver, 80202 focus on birds and other wildlife and ecosystems of this year. A fun time was had by all, so we’re 303-756-3100 the South Platte River watershed. making it a quarterly event. Gather together Ghost Bird is a feature length documentary a team of six, or join a team when you arrive. MEMBERSHIP film about an extinct giant woodpecker, a Questions cover a range of nature topics, FRIENDS OF ASGD receive The Warbler and additional membership benefits. Members of the small town in Arkansas hoping to reverse its not just birds. Enjoy great food and socialize National Audubon Society in the Denver Metro misfortunes, and the tireless odyssey of the with other outdoor enthusiasts. Area receive 3 complimentary copies of the The Warbler annually. bird-watchers and scientists searching for Breckenridge Brewery Ballpark Pub the Holy Grail of birds - the elusive Ivory- (downtown) The Warbler is published bimonthly by the billed woodpecker. Ghost Bird wades into 2220 Blake Street, Denver, 80205 Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD). a murky swamp of belief and obsession 303-297-3644, www.breckbrew.com Produced by C. Dale Flowers in this cautionary tale about birders, Accessible by light rail. Flowers & Associates, Inc. [email protected] ornithologists and the citizens of Brinkley, © 2010 Arkansas who are certain they keep seeing $5 entry fee per person - a giant woodpecker that’s been extinct for September/October 2010 proceeds support ASGD ISBN: 1531-2283 over half a century. Volume 44 Number 5

September/October 2010 Page 2 Research Pawnee Montane Skipper Butterfly Study by Dr. Boyce A. Drummond, Visiting Associate Professor of Biology, Colorado College

Editors Note: The following abstract density, behavior, and habitat quality in quantify the relative measures of plant is just a snapshot of the type of research areas burned by forest fires. density recorded for each of the ten years supported by the ASGD Lois Webster Results to date show a slow but of the study. Fund. ASGD is currently working to create uneven recovery of the butterfly and its By continuing this research in future a web-based “knowledge center” which foodplants in areas thinned by the Forest years, we hope to establish for the public would contain longer summaries and final Service and in areas that experienced low a clearly understandable connection reports on the LWF-supported research and moderate severity burns. between endangered nongame wildlife projects. Although the monitoring study is species and the plant communities The Pawnee Montane Skipper in its tenth year and has produced useful which they depend by focusing on the (Hesperia leonardus montana) is a small baseline data on adult skipper abundance essential role this unique Colorado plant brown butterfly found only in the lower and adult food resources, almost nothing is community (ponderosa pine/blue grama/ South Platte River Drainage (SPRD) known of how this species uses blue grama prairie gayfeather) plays in supporting and of central Colorado. It has a limited as its larval foodplant or of the distribution maintaining this federally listed butterfly geographical range (total known habitat and abundance of the butterfly’s immature species. Healthy populations of the covers just under 38 square miles), Pawnee Montane Skipper indicate an a small population estimated to be intact functioning habitat. Thus, when around 100,000 individuals in 1998, and the skipper is thriving, it means the narrow habitat requirements restricted plant community which it depends is to ponderosa pine/blue grama/prairie also healthy. In this context, a healthy gayfeather on steep slopes of Pikes ponderosa pine savanna is one with Peak granite within an elevation range a tree density and age structure in of 6000-7500 feet. harmony with natural fire frequency In the past fourteen years, and has the proper mix of vegetative roughly half of the skipper’s habitat components to support the skipper has been burned by a combination and other threatened species occuring of three fires: the Buffalo Creek and in this habitat (e.g., Mexican Spotted High Meadow fires of 1996, and the Owl, Bald Eagle, Preble’s Meadow Hayman/Schoonover fire of 2002. In Hesperia leonardus montana – Jumping Mouse, and Ute Ladies Tresses 1998, the Upper South Platte Watershed the Pawnee montane skipper. Orchid), and that maintains important Protection and Restoration Project was ecosystem services such as nutrient initiated by the US Forest Service to restore stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) within recycling (without excess erosion) and ponderosa pine woodland forest in the the plant community to which this species stream health. SPRD, including the area inhabited by the is restricted. To make informed decisions Adult butterflies are highly fragile; Pawnee Montane Skipper. The project about thinning operations and fire their population estimates in an area includes timber harvesting, understory protection in the SPRD that will insure long- can be strongly influenced by prevailing thinning, prescribed burning, revegetation term survival of the skipper and its habitat, weather conditions. By contrast, immature of burned areas, obliteration and we need such information. To support stages of butterflies are sedentary; reclamation of unnecessary roads, and trail this work, we applied for and received a documentation of their population improvements. Lois Webster Fund research grant from densities and dispersion can reveal a great Since 2000, a monitoring study has ASGD for travel to and from the field site deal about the ecological importance been conducted to assess the effects of fire for a research assistant, Kristin Oller, an of structure and species composition of and thinning operations on the population undergraduate at Colorado College. native plant communities to the butterfly’s density and dispersion of the adult We greatly increased our health and survival. Such nuanced butterfly. The primary goals of the research understanding of the distribution of both information about habitat use by all stages have been to measure the effects of fuels larval and adult resources on transects of this fragile butterfly species should make reduction (ponderosa pine forest thinning) that consistently have had high numbers possible more informed and effective in the Trumbull region of the South Platte of adult skippers during the flight season. management decisions designed to watershed and to measure the effects And finally, the foodplant density data conserve native habitat in the South Platte of fire intensity on skipper population collected last summer helps calibrate and watershed.

September/October 2010 Page 3 Conservation

have relied on for decades. Bonding makes bridge construction all across the state, Legislative it possible to build schools… fire stations, not only on state highways but also on water projects, airports, health facilities, city and county roadways, since cities and Preview highways, transit, colleges…” Amendment counties receive a major portion of their 61 would require local districts to repay road funding from this fee. You think the by Polly Reetz, ASGD Conservation Committee Chair bonds within 10 years, rather than over 20 potholes are bad now? Just wait. Elections are coming in November or 30. This is like requiring a home buyer to Prop. 101 also reduces the Specific —don’t we all wish they would hurry up take out a 10-year mortgage – you can guess Ownership Tax on cars to $2 on new cars and happen!—and although Audubon, as what interest rates would be – and ends up and $1 on used ones, thus reducing revenue a non-profit organization, cannot endorse hiking repayment costs sky-high. Together to school districts and local governments candidates, we can express opinions on with other provisions, this amendment will by some $500 million annually. It would issues. guarantee that Colorado’s infrastructure incrementally cut state income tax to 3.5 % Ballot Items. This year, three (3) will deteriorate, which will undoubtedly (from 4.5%) and eliminate a quarter of the especially egregious ballot items are being motivate businesses to locate elsewhere, state’s revenue from income taxes. More presented for your consideration, and they thus continuing the current recession. cuts in state services would result. all represent trouble - and possible disaster - Proposition 101 cuts annual vehicle We often complain about taxes, but for State and local parks, open space, natural registration fees to 1919 levels, an arbitrary they are necessary to maintain our parks, resource management, public health and the $10 per vehicle regardless of vehicle size trails, open spaces, roads to get there, and environment in general. How is this? None of or weight. Think about what Colorado’s many, many other services that we take for these three addresses wildlife, water, forests, road system was like in 1919 – not much granted. These three ballot issues deserve grasslands, or any other natural phenomena pavement, horses and buggies still in use, to die. directly. But they would all negatively affect and a lot fewer people. The money raised Remember: Decisions are made by the ability of local and state governments by registration fees finances road and those who show up! Don’t neglect to vote! to finance their infrastructure and manage their assets, including open space, parks, trails and wildlife. These measures would also result in thousands of lost jobs, 73,000 by For : Sales, Service & Repair... one count, and cost the state over a billion dollars. (The following visit S & S OPTIKA discussion uses information from Coloradoans for Responsible Reform’s website). Extending YOUR Vision, since 1972 Amendment 60 requires school districts to cut property taxes by 50 percent. That means their revenues would be cut IN USED Optics Available: HALF. Some studies estimate this would cost 8,000 teachers their jobs – certainly more schools would close and those that remain We have a nice selection of USED equipment available. open would be unable to provide students the resources they Here’s a sample; need. The language in the amendment claims that the state would make up the difference – but the state is already hard-hit and has Leica 77 mm Apo Televid - (Two ) cut millions from the budget. Swarovski 80 mm Spotter Amendment 60 would also overturn the decisions of Zeiss 10x40 B Classic Binocular - (Two) hundreds of local districts and governments to free themselves from the restrictions of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) of 1992. This very complicated ballot issue masqueraded as a way for Also available are several one of a kind and demo units too ! taxpayers to control tax increases – with the result that now we pay Plus, a large selection of used higher fees (which are unaffected by TABOR) for everything. TABOR Store Hours: telescopes including; also dictates how much government spending can increase year by Tues-Fri 10 am - 6 pm a beautiful130 Astro-Physics. year, and if revenues drop like they did in 2008 and 2009, funding Saturday 10 am - 5 pm for government programs drops proportionally, for many years. Many cities and school districts opted out of TABOR; Amendment 6579 South Broadway 60 would put them back in its viselike grasp. School districts would Littleton, Co. 80121 be hit particularly hard. The overall result: farewell to any kind of ~ 1 1/2 blks North of Arapahoe Rd. environmental education. on the West side of Broadway. Amendment 61 would drastically limit—even prohibit— state and local governments from issuing bonds to finance needed S & S OPTIKA infrastructure. To quote the website of Coloradoans for Responsible 303-789-1089 Toll Free:877-396-3352 Reform: “Bonding is a prudent form of financing that governments

September/October 2010 Page 4 Programs

PROGRAMS AT THE AUDUBON NATURE CENTER The Audubon Center is located on Waterton ASGD Certificate in Road off S. Wadsworth Blvd. 4.4 miles south of C-470. For programs that require registration: Outdoor Adventure 303-973-9530 or [email protected] Are you hesitant to wander beyond the city because you are not sure what to do or “what’s out there”? This series introduces you to outdoor adventure basics in a fun, relaxed way. Great for children, parents and other adults to explore together. Walk the Wetlands Go at your own pace—sessions are offered throughout the year at the Audubon Sunday, September 5, 8am Nature Center. Complete all ten sessions and receive an official ASGD Certificate in Sunday, October 3, 9am Outdoor Adventure! (note new fall time) Hike along the South Platte River and look for Your adventure includes: fall migrants and winter arrivals. We always have √ Be Prepared for Your Adventures √ GPS for Beginners a surprise. Dress in layers for the weather. Wear √ Map & Compass Basics √ Birding 101 long pants because the poison ivy is lush and √ Mucking in the Pond √ Plants of the Platte the knapweed prickly. BBFGWS. We can lend you √ Habitats of Denver √ Mammals binoculars and field guides if you don’t have them. √ Insects & Other Spineless Critters √ Reptiles & Amphibians Leaders: Audubon Master Birders Pre-registration not required Upcoming Sessions Donations to ASGD are appreciated Saturday, September 4, 10am-12pm–Insects & Other Spineless Critters Saturday, September 18, 10am-12pm–Map & Compass Basics Saturday, September 25, 10am-12pm–Reptiles & Amphibians Bird Lullaby: Jazz at Dusk Saturday, October 2, 10am-12pm–GPS for Beginners Saturday, September 11 from 5-7pm Saturday, October 9, 10am-12pm–Habitats of Denver Join us in the beautiful Audubon Nature Center Saturday, October 16 10am-12pm–Mucking in the Pond Saturday, October 30, 10am-12pm–Birding 101 amphitheater for an evening of live music and nature hikes. We’ll begin with a guided hike at 4pm to see nature’s wonders. Then while you You must be an ASGD Friends member to participate. enjoy your picnic dinner, listen to a jazz band To register, call 303-973-9530. at dusk (approximately 5-6:30pm). Swing and bebop to upbeat, up-tempo, uplifting, groove- ASGD Certificate in Outdoor Adventure sponsored byTogetherGreen , oriented jazz. You’ll hear the originals, classic jazz an alliance between Audubon and Toyota. fusion, Latin jazz and renovated standards. “Get down” with Uptown! It’s fun for all ages. Don’t miss this free event. Pack a picnic dinner.

Bird Feeding Class Saturday, September 18 from 10-12pm With ASGD’s birdseed sale coming up, we Audubon Master Birder Graduation Ceremony receive lots of calls about “what to feed who?” Monday, September 20 This class will cover the following: 6pm potluck dinner provided by the mentor committee --selecting feeders and birdseed 7pm graduation ceremony --discouraging squirrels and diseases 7:30pm Bill Eden presents his Fantastic Birding Journey in Brazil The class will include displays of feeders and Please join us as we celebrate the amazing achievements of these eleven individuals as they birdseed and pictures of the birds they will officially become Audubon Master Birders. Nature photographer Bill Eden brings us to the attract. There will be plenty of time for Q & A and wilds of the Amazon Basin through stunning photos. discussion.

303-973-9530 or [email protected] *** BBFGWS = Bring binoculars, field guides, water, and a snack. ***

September/October 2010 Page 5 Programs

Little Fledglings Fall Migrating Shorebirds PROGRAMS OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP For children ages 3-6 Saturday, September 25, 7am-5pm WITH DENVER FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS (and parents/guardians, too!) Mackenzie “Kez” Goldthwait and Doug Kibbe offer Wednesdays in Sept. & Oct., 10-11am an all day car trip to appropriate NE Colorado lakes to The Big Sit! at Chatfield State Park Explore nature with your little ones and enjoy story search for fall migrating shorebirds. As water levels Sunday, October 10, dawn to dusk time, songs, crafts, and outdoor activities exploring and shorelines are assessed, a specific itinerary will (come any time) wildlife and the natural world around you. This form and be communicated to registrants within The international Bit Sit! has exacting, loose, frivolous program encourages active outdoor play along with a week of the trip. Meeting place and carpooling standards. From a 17-foot diameter circle, Sitters count social and academic skills. arrangements will also be determined. BBFGWS any bird seen or heard, or that scouts and beaters Friends members: $5 per child and their adult; $2 each Leader: ASGD Directors Doug Kibbe and Dr. identify, providing a Sitter sees/hears it from the circle. additional child Mackenzie Goldthwait Come for an hour, the morning, or whatever. BBFGWS, Non-members: $8 per child and their adult; $4 each $15/Friends member, $/17 non-member chairs, breakfast, lunch, dinner. additional child Pre-registration required Leader: Joey Kellner, 303-978-1748 Pre-registration required Meeting Place: CO Division of Wildlife offices at 6060 Pre-registration not required Broadway (58th exit off I-25). Carpooling advised. No fee Meeting Place: Heron Overlook, Chatfield State Park. PROGRAMS AT OTHER LOCATIONS South Platte Park From the Wadsworth Blvd. entrance, go right at the T Sunday, October 10, 8am-noon and continue around the reservoir. One half-mile after Roxborough State Park Explore this amazingly rich habitat along the South you cross the South Platte, turn hard left into the large Sunday, September 19, 8am - 11:30am Platte River. This will be an easy hike and is wheel chair parking lot. At the far right, a trail leads to the Heron Hike for two miles along spectacular trails through accessible. You’ll see water birds as well as a variety of Overlook (about 100 yards). the red rocks formation. Look for golden eagles and land birds in the cottonwood groves. BBFGWS local foothills and scrub oak birds such as scrub-jays, Leader: Doris Cruze, 303-798-8072 LOOKING AHEAD towhees, and chickadees. If you like, bring lunch to eat Pre-registration required on the patio. BBFGWS $10/Friends member; $l2/non-member San Diego Bird Festival Leader: Doris Cruze, 303-798-8072 Meeting Place: Carson Nature Center, South Platte March 3-6, 2011 Pre-registration required Park (west on Mineral from Santa Fe; right at lst traffic Join other ASGD members next March for the 15th $10/Friends member, $l2/non-member light; between 2 RTD parking lots). Meet in parking lot annual San Diego Bird Festival at the Marina Village State parks pass required north of 2-story log building. Conference Center, located on scenic Mission Bay in Meeting Place: Visitor’s Center, Roxborough State Park San Diego, CA. Activities include numerous guided Cherry Creek State Park field trips to some of the most popular birding Bird & Brew Trivia III Sunday, October 17, 8am - noon hotspots in and around the San Diego area. Trips – Wednesday, September 22 from 7-9p This is a good time to see migrating shore birds: over 30 scheduled - include tours to the Anza-Borrego Horned Grebes, Common Loons, Franklin and other desert, Palomar Mountain/Lake Henshaw and gulls. After scoping the reservoir, we will carpool to possibly a trip down to Baja California! Birders have the other areas in the park to check for migrating song opportunity to spot a variety of different bird species birds. Beginners welcome. BBFGWS. The trip leader including Long-eared Owl, Greater Roadrunner, will carry a scope. Costa’s Hummingbird, quails, gulls, ducks, pelicans, Leader: Karen von Saltza and many more. During the 2009 San Diego Bird Pre-registration required Festival, a new record was set for the number of We had two successful nature trivia nights this year. A $10/Friends member; $l2 non-member species counted - more than 250! For those who stay fun time was had by all, so we’re making it a quarterly State parks pass per car required back at the Marina Village Conference Center, there event. Gather together a team of six, or join a team Meeting Place: Marina, Cherry Creek State Park. The will be plenty to learn, see, and do. A variety of birding when you arrive. Questions cover a range of nature trip ends back at the marina. workshops take place during the first three days topics, not just bird. Enjoy great food and socialize covering many facets of birding. Pricing and festival with other outdoor enthusiasts. schedule are not yet available. If interested, please Breckenridge Brewery Ballpark Pub (downtown) contact Pam Rathke, tour coordinator, at 720-746-0748 2220 Blake Street, Denver, 80205 or [email protected] to get your name on the 303-297-3644, www.breckbrew.com participant list. $5 entry fee per person - proceeds support ASGD 303-973-9530 or [email protected] *** BBFGWS = Bring binoculars, field guides, water, and a snack. ***

September/October 2010 Page 6 Fall Bird Count Fall Bird Count Schedule Denver has conducted Fall Bird Counts for over 20 Chatfield State Park S uNDAY, SePTEMBER 12 years. Denver Field Ornithologists and ASGD sponsor Leader: Joey Kellner, 303-978-1748 this tradition. No fees, but some sites require a state Meeting Place: 6:30am at West (Deer Creek) entrance Castlewood Canyon State Park parks pass or pre-registration. Bring binoculars, to park. State Parks Pass required. Leader: Kirk Huffstater, 303-660-9298 scopes for the reservoir counts, field guide, and lunch. Meeting Place: 6:30am at the Homestead. From Everyone welcome to help – more eyes see more birds! Barr Lake State Park CO 86, 0.5 miles west of Franktown, turn south This is a ten-mile (or equivalent), all-day hike around on Castlewood Canyon Road, go two miles to old F rIDAY, SePTEMBER 10 the lake entrance; Homestead is first parking lot on the left. Leader: Dick Schottler, 303-278-8035 State Parks pass required. Cherry Creek Reservoir Meeting Place: 6:30am at RMBO, 14500 Lark Bunting Leader: Bob Brown, 303-791-6204 Lane. South off Bromley Lane; from I-76, first road east Rocky Mountain Arsenal Meeting Place: Meet at 7:00am at the Marina, inside of railroad track. State Parks pass required. Leader: Urling Kingery, 303-641-8823 west gate near Cherry Creek High School. Call leader to sign up ASAP; spaces available on State Parks Pass required. Lower Bear Creek & Marston Reservoir waiting list. Leader: Bob Andrews, 303-249-5220, S aTURDAY, September 11 [email protected] Barr Lake Periphery Meeting Place: 6:30am at parking lot adjacent to the This trip, mostly driving, does not involve much Waterton Downstream Conoco Station at the NE corner of Morrison Road walking and will be good for people with limited Leader: Hugh Kingery, 303-641-8823 and C470. We will bird Bear Creek Lake Park and the mobility or stamina. 4-5 mile hike. Wear long pants (not shorts) due to Bear Creek Greenbelt in the morning and Marston Leader: Dick Anderson, 303-757-4582 bare-leg-unfriendly plants such as poison ivy, thistles, Reservoir in the afternoon. Phone leader after September 8, or send email to and knapweed. [email protected] Meeting Place: 6:30am, Audubon Center at Chatfield Meeting Place: 7:00am at Barr Lake Entrance Station

TRAVEL

TRIPS FOR 2011-2014 The ASGD trip committee is discussing many exciting tours for our members. Some possible destinations include, but are not limited to: Belize, Panama, Brazil, Botswana/Zambia, New Zealand, Nova Scotia and Kenya. Places closer to home are Pagosa Springs, Big Bend Texas, Oregon Coast, Monterey CA, SE Arizona, and Donate a Vehicle Wray Colorado. We are also considering the bird festivals in Karval and Bent Colorado as well as Help Birds! Help Kids! birding-by-canoe trips. If you are interested in The Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD) and Big any of these tours, please contact Pam Rathke, Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado (BBBSC) have joined forces. tour coordinator at 720-746-0748 or When you donate a vehicle to ASGD, you also benefit [email protected] to receive more information. BBBSC. Here’s how it works: ASGD handles the initial calls; BBBSC handles the details.

To donate a vehicle, call ASGD at 303-973-9530 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

303-973-9530 or [email protected] *** BBFGWS = Bring binoculars, field guides, water, and a snack. ***

September/October 2010 Page 7 Recognition Donors Bird-a-thon Donors Contributor Circle Ann Bonnell Paula Menten Fred Griest Annie’s Animal Clinic Kristine Millard Karen von Saltza Catherine Anderson Larry & Abby Modesitt Karl Anuta Patricia Murtha Paula Barnak Mary Neal Direct Donors Dennis Battock Erin Nichols Deborah A. Carstensen Karen Baud Tom Parchman Bonnie Crawford Kate Beamer Gregory Poremba Laura Derrington Karen Bickett Jeanne Van Volkenburgh Post Carol DeStefanis Joan Birkland Diane Prager David & Mary Driscoll Rachel Blackmer Polly & Gene Reetz Gilbert & Viola Geslin Richard Block Janet Reiner Mackenzie Goldthwait & Doug Kibbe Robert Blye Rosalind Renfrew Deborah Hayes Ann Bonnell Carol Ann Rhoads Sally Isaacson Buzz & Shirley Bowers Lynn Robinson Mary Keithler Laura Brodie Joe Roller Don & Charlotte Lawless Karl Brummert Dennis Schall Barbara Masoner Nicole Buyck Cheryl Scott Patricia McClearn Shirley Casey Denise Seery Bob & Judy Miller Charlie Chase Dorothy Selzer R.C. & Karen Myles Joyce Clark Sandra Selzer Carolyn Roark Joyce & Francis Commercon Sheila Sharpe Betty L. Robertson Doris Cruze Dean Shoup David Rosenson Jeff Dawson Pat Skinner Lorenz Rychner Elizabeth Demers Nicki Smaldone Sue Schulman Carol DeStefanis Stephen & Kathryn Smith Christine Sibona Jennifer Donovan Kristina Smith Dorothy Sutherlin Geoffrey Dorn Christina Spears Bill & Mary Turner Paul Doucette Harriet Stratton Curtis Dreese Judith Susman Laurie Duke Autumn Thomas A donation has been made in Celebration of the th Nan Eklund Elizabeth Tourangeau 50 Wedding Anniversary of Ron and Carol Sue Raymond Fisher Millie Turner Waits by Jan Eckhardt Susan Gambrill Karen von Saltza Janet Gilbert Peggy Wait Eleanor Goldthwait Tom Walker Mackenzie Goldthwait Melinda Washam Welcome William Goldthwait Debbie Wedlake Sanita Gingras Neil Wilding Georgia Hart Whitney Wimer New Friends Jill Haver Paula Winchell Mike Henwood Millie Young Linda Hickman Members Christy Honnen Chug Hubert Bob Sneed Charles Hundertmark Thank You Christine Sibona David Jones Clinton & Rosita Shoemaker Jeri Jones & Susan Binnicker Deborah Hayes Mark Keller Volunteers Jan Blankenship Sue Kibbe Office Help: Bridget Milnes, Phil Reynolds, John Wells Michael Kiessig Carolyn Roark, Grace Weber Lisa Herbel William R. Killam Mike & Olivia Albright Hugh & Urling Kingery Audubon Center Garden Volunteers:, Bob Beck, Laura Derrington, Carol DeStefanis, Laurie Duke, Ruth Artes Kent & Liz Kreider Chris Marquez, Lucinda & John Miller, Ashley Stefanie Mosteller Corinne Krisberg Mock, Blake Naito Tish & Pete Varney Sarah LeClere Yvonne Parrott Lois Levinson Audubon Center Naturalists: Amber Ballman, Scot & Patricia Locke Kathy Bollhoefer, Carol DeStefanis, Laurie Duke, Beth Madden Mary Keithler, Jeanne McCune, Barbara Masoner, Correction Cynthia Madsen Polly Reetz We inadvertently missed thanking Harold Oliver Debra Mallory for his contribution to the Spring Event. Thank Georgene McGonagle Field Trip Leaders: Ann Bonnell, Hugh & Urling you Harold, for the beautiful hand-turned wood Timothy McGuire Kingery & Audubon Master Birders, Lynn vases. Willcockson

September/October 2010 Page 8 Backyard Birds

“Today, a new development. I came Waddling in from doing something outside and he between approached; nothing unusual about that. them was a I headed for the frig and the mealworms. short, squat I got two and turned to go out and there little duck that by Hugh Kingery he was --- in my living room, three feet looked most inside my back door. I wonder if today uncomfortable Hooded Merganser is the first time he’s felt carpet under his on land. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia LnnW y iLLCOCKSON, “doing volunteer long towhee toes.” Darned if work May 6 at Trinity Methodist Church it wasn’t a male Hooded Merganser at 18th & Broadway, watched a Hermit Bird-attack problems generated – incredibly beautiful, if somewhat Thrush exploring the flower boxes along two calls July 7. Kennetha Miller ungainly in locomotion. the north side of the historic 1888 church (Roxborough Village) had (I thought) “Joggers came by and the trio building right in the center of downtown grackles – several pairs, going after moved into the water. To my surprise, Denver. I have seen Rock Wrens there and people who walked by and pulling hair the merganser stretched out his neck, a Poorwill two years ago.” off labradors. The grackles are probably lowered his head, and went after the trying “to protect” nestlings. Neighbor male Mallard. I walked around the lake At work (DOW, 6060 Broadway) Celia E. B. Ellis contacted her; he suspected once and they were still there, the male Greenman maintains a “feeding station Brewer’s Blackbirds rather than grackles. Mallard still being warned off. The female where I throw out millet mix in front of swam into the reeds, followed closely by my car in the parking lot. A male Lark Lori Ghisletti called about a bird the merganser, the male Mallard maybe Bunting appeared several times May 6. nesting in her yard that attacks people 10-15 feet away from the couple.” A migrant maybe thrown off course by coming to her front door and kids strong winds or a weather front. It caused stopping on Dave Riggs, near Washington Park, me to learn to use my cell-phone camera the sidewalk since May has “regular Broad-tailed (now if I could just retrieve the pictures!).” in front. She Hummingbirds. Our neighbor and described it ourselves have many gardens and plants “Always something new,” Karen well, a Western to attract birds. I have had a feeder out Metz wrote July 21. “A Spotted Towhee Kingbird. As for two years, keep the nectar fresh has come to me for mealworms we talked she and supplied from May to October. for several weeks. I have a wooden looked it up Consequently, we have hummers. They mealworm on-line and sit in the neighbors’ trees and watch the feeder with confirmed my territory. I suspect a nest somewhere. plexiglas ID. Kingbirds Two years ago we had a bevy of entrance, Western Kingbird and chicks get aggressive hummers from July to October with and Photo by Dick Vogel while breeding; no feeder in sight. Just attracted to our bluebirds, the nesting cycle lasts a month. They plants. Well, we are on the map now, and nuthatches, probably had nestlings that they wanted have been for three years.” chickadees, Spotted Towhee to protect from the kids, the FedEx Photo courtesy of Wikipedia and juncos delivery guy, and Lori picking up her Jo Ann Bushnell May 1-2 hosted a go inside for the larvae; the Spotted newspaper. Because of this adventure, “beautiful Bullock’s Towhee tried. He’s a little large for the she wants to learn more about birds and Oriole on the large entrance holes, so I started tossing him a is interested in joining Audubon. red flower of the few. One day I simply extended my hand hummingbird feeder and, sure enough, he wasn’t shy about While Fran Shepperdson “watched in my backyard taking mealworms from my hand. golf July 9, a bird sitting close to the (Lakewood). He bent microphones started to sing. Suddenly his head down and “You can imagine my disappointment the House Finch sitting outside my drank from one of when I learned that he was feeding a window answered with the same song. the flowers in which single nestling – a cowbird. He’s nesting The finch answered twice until the the ant guard had again and I hope that now he is feeding microphones cut away; it tried twice been flipped out.” Bulliock’s Oriole nestlings of his own species; certainly he more until it went back to its own song.” Photo by Dick Vogel comes often enough to have more than one nestling. Joann Pettinicchio watched “two Mallards at Berkley Lake May 18. Backyard Birds contd. on page 10

September/October 2010 Page 9 Backyard Birds

Backyard Birds contd.from page 9 Urling and I enjoyed a Breeding Bird Pat Derr, Columbine Valley, saw two Atlas highlight July 9, along the Swan baby Great Horned Owls on June 14, JyShievingo c in south Denver River near Breckenridge. At sunset fledged from a nest in her neighbor’s reported her first broadtail of the year we heard a loud keening and found yard. July 20. two baby Dippers bouncing up and down between two under-the-road Migrants: Meredith Anderson, Kent and Phyllis Olsen say, “For culvert pipes. When the adult came to on May 8, spotted a “dazzling male several years our flicker box has been feed them, the noise level increased Magnolia Warbler as it zipped into used, sometimes noticeably. Then the adult came and the tender new growth of a hawthorn successfully, by perched on a slender log a couple tree” (Westminster). Flo saw three flickers. Last year, of inches from one fledgling. The male Western Tanagers May 25, one of they abandoned fledgling fluttered its wings, spread its which took the box early, and mouth wide, keened for food; the adult a bath in her to keep out other looked at it and, instead of feeding the waterfall. Bill large birds we mostly youngster, sang at it. And sang – for a Wuerthele, blocked the opening; minute or longer. The fledgling spent at 5:10 a.m. however a House the whole time fluttering and gaping July 6, “heard Wren found enough a Northern at the (probably, from the length of the Western Tanager space and nested in Northern Flicker song) male as it sang at the fledgling’s Cardinal Photo by Hugh Kingery Photo courtesy the box. This year we face. singing in a built a wren box and of Cornell Lab of neighbor’s backyard. We searched for it the flickers are again Ornithology I knew about this behavior but (still pretty dark) but never saw or heard in their box. The flickers seem distressed had never witnessed it. When dippers it again.” though. I’ve found an egg or two in the fledge, the parents divide up the kids, yard – the discarded egg found May 27 each adult taking half the brood, to Monna Krebs saw her “turkey several had a small hole, which made us wonder feed them and to teach them to sing. times in my Wheat Ridge back yard, and if the wren somehow is harassing the (Apparently, only at a certain period in enjoyed an extra bonus - a Peacock. flickers.” I’d say yes. Wrens try to evict their development can fledglings learn It was with the turkey and they were any hole-nesting bird in their territory, the proper song.) To their half of the eating some of the birdseed I put out to reserve the holes for themselves. brood, Males sing their typical, long, at the back fence.” Kirk Huffstater and complicated song; to their half, females Harriet Stratton both saw flocks of We have ten bluebird boxes in our sing a shorter version, but twice as magpies in July: Kirk’s over 50, mostly extended yard. Western Bluebirds often. juveniles, near Castle Rock. Harriet saw occupied two, House Wrens five (one over 20 in Ketring Park in Littleton. knocked In Aurora, Dodie Hampton watched Magpies (and crows) join into flocks down by bear a Cooper’s Hawk bathing: a fox loped after nesting and roam around, though or raccoon, across the yard and the hawk swooped why I can’t edible contents down and pecked it on the head. The say. Char cleaned out). fox hid in the shrubs for an hour until Gottlieb In two, House the hawk gave up. June 14, Dean Shoup watched “a Wrens built watched two pair of Say’s nests on top Red-tailed Phoebes of Violet- Hawks soar who have green and Tree over his built a nest Say’s Phoebe Swallow nests. Photo courtesty of Wikipedia Western Bluebird condo in under the The last box: Photo courtesty of Golden. Flo ceiling of our neighbor’s patio” in Tree Swallows Wikipedia Decesare in Arvada. (probably those Greenwood I welcome your contributions to the wrens evicted) moved in, on top of a Village, Juvenile Great Horned Owls just-started wren nest. When we opened “outside Photo courtesy of Wikipedia this column. Send a note or post card to the box July 27, the swallows flew looking at P.O. Box 584, Franktown 80116, or Email around frantically; we looked in and saw, my flower pots, heard this strange noise me: [email protected]. peering out at us, a contented Bullsnake. and saw a Saw-whet Owl sitting on a July 28, nest empty, no swallows. tree branch. When he moved to change position I saw he had a vole in his claws.”

September/October 2010 Page 10 Education ASGD Kids Nature Club Member Encourages You to Make A Fast Food Free Pledge by Koa Halpern, Founder of Fast Food Free

Fast Food Free is a nonprofit, kid- production, which destroys bird habitat operated organization with the goal of and can result in a severe reduction of the raising awareness of the fast food industry affected population or even extinction of and its often negative impact on health and the species. the environment. Fast Food Free would like the theme On a seasonal basis, Fast Food Free of this fall’s pledge to be “The Autumn conducts “pledge” drives challenging kids Audubon Challenge.” As an incentive to get (and parents) to give up eating fast food for new people to take the pledge, Fast Food just two weeks anytime during the pledge Free announces a donation of $1 to the period, resulting in: Audubon Society of Greater Denver for the • Preventing 3,222 gallons of water from first 200 new pledges made (or a possible being used for livestock production. total donation of $200). • Saving 9.4 pounds of grain from being Pledges can be made at, www. used to feed livestock. fastfoodfree.org. This challenge begins • Protecting 285.4 square feet of rainforest September 1, 2010 and runs through from being cut down for cattle grazing. November 30, 2010. • Avoiding 15.4 pounds of animal waste Koa Halpern is a 12 year old who began from being created. Fast Food Free when he was ten. He is a Giving up fast food can have a positive life-long environmentalist and supporter of impact on wild bird populations. Trash Audubon. Fast Food Free has been featured from fast food packaging poses a hazard as in 5280 Magazine, Denver Channel 4 News discarded food lures birds onto highways and The Huffington Post. Koa also helped raise or other areas (like poorly secured trash money for the Galapagos Conservancy, Birds cans) where they can be harmed or killed. of Prey, CO, and the Hawaii Nature Center. Additionally, to make fast food wrappers and containers, forest is cut down for pulp Koa Halpern, Founder of Fast Food Free

Post your latest bird sightings and questions Leave A Legacy on our FaceBook Page Protect Birds! Protect Habitat! The Audubon Society of Greater Denver has initiated a Planned Giving Program. Making a gift or a bequest is becoming a popular way to leave a lasting legacy. Protecting the birds, wildlife and places that make Denver special might Correction be simpler than you think. How observant are you? Some birders noticed that the Yellow Billed Cuckoo was incorrectly identified as a Yellow Tailed Cuckoo on the front For more information, call ASGD at 303-973-9530 or send an page of the last Warbler. Good eye! e-mail to [email protected]

September/October 2010 Page 11 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Denver, CO Permit 1008 9308 S. Wadsworth Boulevard Littleton, Colorado 80128

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