On March 22, 2018
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since 1969 Wthe On March 22, 2018 the “ribbon” adjacent to the hospital property was cut for the new bird feeder that draws several different raptor area at the South branch of the species such as red-tailed hawks and Children’s Hospital Colorado in a golden eagle. The most common Highlands Ranch. The hospital birds at the feeders include mag- desired to install a bird watch- pies, red-winged blackbirds, house ing area on their grounds for finches, collared doves and a chicka- patients and their caretakers to dee or two! Hummingbird and Feeder by Kevin Corwin observe from the waiting room windows. They contacted the House Finch by Dick Vogel ASGD to help with this. ASGD director, Karl Brummert, with help from volunteer Barbara Hall and others, in- The hospital staff and volunteers have stalled a feeder pole to hang wooden house-type and tube feeders, in addition to had lots of positive feedback for this new a suet feeder. The program has been deemed a great success! program. The young patients and their caretakers seem very enthusiastic about Every Thursday morning from 9-11 am, an Audubon volunteer and their hospital the small distraction we offer for the short volunteer escort split the time between the third and fourth floor waiting rooms time they are in the waiting room. Sev- on the north side of the building. Each floor is “equipped” with a bag of small eral participants have left vowing to try binoculars and Denver bird guides which are offered to anyone on the floor who a feeder in their own yards. Also, our favor- is waiting for an appointment. The young children who do choose to participate ite hospital volunteer has started a feeder and utilize the binoculars are rewarded with a very busy urban landscape, and of in her yard. Urban birding is alive and well course, birds! In addition to an active bird scene there is also a prairie dog colony and healing minds and hearts! 3 Conservation Report 5 Fall Bird Count Black-Capped Chickadee by Dick Vogel 12 Field Trips Quick Glance September/October 2018 - page 1 TEN CASH PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED 8th Annual ~ One Grand Prize of $1,000 ~ Four first place prizes of $250 Share the View ~ Five second place prizes of $100 International Nature Photography Competition Colorado Photographers Gala Enter October 15 through December 1, 2018 There will be additional recognition for Colorado photographers, including an evening event at CU South Denver (formerly called The Wildlife Experience) in GET IN THE FIELD AND SHOOT YOUR BEST PHOTOS - NOW! early 2019. A $100 cash prize will be awarded to one image featured in Colorado Attention all photographers: The 2018 Share the View Contest begins Oc- Life Magazine. tober 15. Don’t wait until the last minute. Act now to capture some award- winning shots. Keep your eye on the prize! We Want You! We have many expert photographers in our group who are often tapped to make We’re Educating Kids presentations around the state showcasing pictures from their travels. We hope Proceeds from Share the View support ASGD’s ongoing education efforts our member photographers will respond to our call and enter the Share the View in Denver Metro area schools. We serve over 2,500 students annually and Competition. are working to expand our programs even further to reach more children. We appreciate the help and support of all our members in promoting the How You Can Help contest and this worthy effort. Please help us spread the word by emailing friends, family and colleagues, posting on Facebook and Twitter, and by making announcements at meetings or gatherings Help Us Reach Our Goal of photographers and birders. Here’s the link to the contest website: Our goal this year is to have over 2,000 entries. Our judges will balance http://www.denveraudubon.contestvenue.com emphasis on creativity and originality with technical skill. Share it far and wide. We really appreciate your support! Mark Your Calendars Now Fired Up and Ready to Go! Entries will be accepted from October 15 through December 1, 2018. Judging Thanks to all of you for your support of last year’s competition. We are determined will take place in early December 2018. If you register prior to December 1, to make the 2018 contest another huge success. Please join us by entering your pho- 2018, you can continue to enter photos through December 5, 2018. tos or by promoting the competition as often and in as many places as you can! Website Updates to the contest website http://denveraudubon.contestvenue.com/ are underway. They’ll be completed prior to the start date and you’ll be able to submit digital entries online. UNLIMITED Entries! $10/Entry or 6 for $50 September/October 2018 - page 2 Photo By Marina Scarr - Previous STV finalist CONSERVATION REPORT by Polly Reetz Attacks on Bedrock Environmental Laws Continue Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a dedicated group of concerned citizens can Major environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, effect major changes…” In the interests of conserving birds and their habitats, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird human health and the environment, Audubon members should lead the Treaty Act, are under attack from the Trump administration. Of particular change. concern is the evident philosophy that public participation should be cur- tailed in the interests of efficiency and “progress.” Public review of environ- Audubon of Greater Denver Gets Our Day in Court mental documents like an Environmental Impact Statement could be limited In Chatfield State Park, construction continues to make massive changes to 30 days. Consider that the Chatfield EIS stretched to 3200 pages – could to the park’s environment, with more to come. Haul roads criss-cross the volunteers really do an adequate analysis in 30 days? park amid extensive earth scraping, dirt hauling, dust, Very complex projects like this need longer public and disturbance. Along one road, contractors covered scrutiny! bluebird nest boxes with plastic bags in the middle of the nesting season, entombing eggs and nests of house It’s important to vote intelligently wrens, tree swallows and bluebirds. This all indicates a Such attacks show how important the coming 2018 complete disregard of the actual environmental impacts elections will be. Will Americans endorse continued of the project. attacks on bedrock environmental laws like the En- dangered Species Act or Clean Water Act? Or will we Almost four years after initiating a lawsuit (filed for us elect representatives who will push back against the by the DU Environmental Law Clinic, pro bono) against rollbacks of environmental laws and regulations that the US Army Corps of Engineers to prevent massive protect public health, safety, clean water, wildlife and public lands? This is damage to Chatfield State Park, Audubon of Greater Denver (ASGD) has not a partisan issue; voters should require candidates of any stripe to support reached a key point in our litigation. Although our initial suit was rejected our basic environmental rights. by the Federal District Court in December 2017, our attorneys filed our ap- peal a few days later to the Federal appellate court. Not just federal elections matter - with the federal government backing out of major environmental programs, State and local actions will become more Audubon’s attorneys requested oral arguments in the case, and the Ap- and more important. Voting for environmentally-aware candidates at the pellate Court has scheduled them for Monday, September 24 at 9 AM in State and local level is vital. Audubon members have a great environmental Courtroom IV in the Byron White Federal Court House in downtown presence at the State Capitol in Jen Boulton; support the Audubon Rockies Denver. conservation programs, which support her lobbying efforts. THIS IS OUR DAY IN COURT! '' Along one road, contractors covered bluebird nest boxes with plastic bags...This all indicates a complete disregard ASGD members are encouraged to attend, not to speak to the court but to observe the proceedings of the actual environmental impacts of the project. '' and show support for our cause. September/October 2018 - page 3 (Cont. next page) CONSERVATION REPORT(CONT.) FRONT RANGE BIRDING SEED PARTNERSHIP Audubon brought the lawsuit under two statutes, the National Environmental ASGD/Front Range Birding Seed Sale Partnership: Policy Act (NEPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). Our NEPA case states A portion of all seed sales will be donated to ASGD that the Corps didn’t adequately consider alternatives to the project they The Audubon Society of Greater Denver chose. and The Front Range Birding Company have partnered to make backyard bird Audubon suggested four alternatives: feeding easy and affordable. You will be • Increased water conservation supporting Denver Audubon as a portion of • Storage of water in underground aquifers, already being used by all seed sales - all year- will be donated to Centennial Water District (which supplies Highlands Ranch) ASGD. Be sure to take advantage of Front among others. Range Birding's "Seed Vault Program." You • Storage of water in existing gravel pits, can buy as much as you like up front and • Project WISE, a joint venture by Denver, Aurora and southern metromu- pick up fresh seed anytime. Seed Vault nicipalities to bring used and treated water from Aurora’s Prairie Waters purchases never expire! There's no need treatment area south to supply the southern metro area. to pre-order. Just stop by the Front Range Birding Company store and let them know Spotted Towhee by Dick Vogel The Corps superficially addressed the above strategies but not with the detail you are there for Denver Audubon.