SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 ISBN: 1531-2283 Volume 42, No.5 NEWSLETTER OF THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF GREATER DENVER Make family time outdoors time by Susan Smith, ASGD Director of Education here is a grassroots movement time in nature reduces stress and brings and kids that Tamyra has since booked growing across the country to get joy in our lives. numerous nature hikes throughout the Tkids out from in front of the TV or For Denver Audubon, it is critical to seasons. We’ve even hosted a couple pre- computer and outside exploring ditches, our mission that children get outdoors, school birthday parties as a result of these vacant lots, parks, open spaces, forests or fall in love with nature and grow up early “Toddlers on the Trail” programs. whatever natural area they can find. The wanting to protect it. In July, Richard (Is there any better way to work up an goal is to reconnect children and nature. Louv was interviewed on the Today Show appetite for cake and ice cream than to Over 500 organizations have joined the to promote the idea of family nature explore around Muskrat Pond?) Now she “No Child Left Inside” movement that clubs. This has spurred more discussions also works with her kids’ teachers to plan ranges from grassroots public awareness at Denver Audubon about how we can environmental education field trips for campaigns to new legislation for environ- help parents, grandparents and caregiv- their classes. mental education. ers spend time with children in nature. What are you doing to get the kids Nature deficit disorder (a term coined One mom who has made a big in your life outdoors? We want to hear by Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in difference in the lives of her three about it. Send us your stories and ideas at the Woods: Saving Our Children from Na- children and involved her neighbors, [email protected] Your ture Deficit Disorder”) is gaining attention friends and friends of friends is Tamyra story can help inspire other families to beyond the environmental field. Health Gayer. Tamyra first visited the Audu- hit the trail and may be featured in an care companies like Kaiser Permanente are bon Center in 2003 as part of a play upcoming newsletter! promoting unstructured play time in na- group for “Toddlers on the Trail.” The ture as a treatment for childhood obesity program was so popular with moms and attention deficit disorder. Social work- The Audubon Center ers find that urban dwellers are better able to cope with life’s challenges when there at Chatfield This fall watch for migrating warblers are trees in their neighborhoods. Many of us know from personal experience that along the South Platte River. Can you spot ripened chokecherries or wild INSIDE THIS ISSUE plums before the bears and the birds eat them all? Look for signs of animals Make Family time outdoor time .......1 preparing for winter. Are the squirrels in Audubon Center at Chatfield ............1 your neighborhood going crazy caching President's Message ...........................2 away nuts? Find a box elder tree near Thanks to our Volunteers ...................2 Muskrat Pond and have fun throwing New Friends members .......................2 the “helicopter” seeds into the air. Global warming update .....................3 If you would like to book a ASGD Fall Members Dinner ..............3 “Toddlers on the Trail” hike, a Eagle Eye .............................................4 child’s nature-themed birthday party Audubon Center Photo Page ............5 or family program, please contact Birding in Denali National Park .........6 Susan at 303-973-9530 or education@ Calendar of Events .............................7 denveraudubon.org. Field Trips & Travel ....................... 8-11 For more ideas on exploring Citizen scientists wanted .................12 nature with kids and information on Time to join Project Feeder Watch .12 nature deficit disorder, check out these Backyard Birds ..................................13 ASGD Director of Education, Susan great websites: Volunteer Opportunities. .................14 Smith shares "secrets of the wetlands" www.audubon.org/educate/family Climate action highlights .................15 with a group of enthusiastic young www.childrenandnature.org Donor Recognition ...........................15 learners at the Audubon Center at www.greenhour.org Chatfiield State Park. September/October 2008 Page 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE– IT REALLY IS A SMALL WORLD In the corner of the schoolyard in a rural village of fewer than 2000 people in 9308 S. Wadsworth Boulevard southeast Poland, they have a big wire cage where the villagers drop off plastic bottles Littleton, Colorado 80128 and containers to be recycled. Next to it is a large metal structure for papers and t'BY www.denveraudubon.org cardboard. On the busy streets of the prosperous city of Toronto, Ontario, attractive recycling bins with slots for plastic, paper, and glass are located near subway entrances ASGD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS President Doris Cruze for the convenience of the thousands of commuters who pass by every day. Hotels, [email protected] motels, and even B and B’s around the world are conserving water and energy by 1st Vice President Allen Stokes giving guests the opportunity to opt out of daily linen changes. Some hotels are [email protected] placing recycling containers in the closets of each room to encourage guests to join 2nd Vice President Ann Bonnell in the worldwide effort to reuse and recycle materials. Right here at Chatfield, ASGD [email protected] Treasurer Carol DeStefanis sponsors a single-stream recycling bin - no sorting of paper, plastic, and glass - it all [email protected] goes in the bin and on its way to be made into new products. Secretary Polly Reetz [email protected] The recycling efforts of people around the world are beginning to pay off. Savvy Lavonne Axford shoppers are looking for products made from recycled materials. Cities are looking Tom Easley to ban plastic bags and they are encouraging the use of cloth bags or at least repeat [email protected] Mackenzie Goldthwait uses of those non-recyclable plastic bags. [email protected] Jo Evans Progress comes slowly, however, and as countries struggle with pollution, high energy [email protected] costs, and dwindling resources, more people are realizing that their actions affect Senator Ken Gordon the environment, the quality of life, and the survival of birds and other wildlife. [email protected] Tina Jones Even young children can help in the worldwide effort to make recycling a priority [email protected] and to make a difference. If you are recycling, give yourself a pat on the back and Doug Kibbe congratulate yourself for saving resources. And if you are not recycling yet, please [email protected] find a way to get involved because we are all in this together and each of us can help Arlene Raskin make this world, this small world, a better place. [email protected] Linda Strand [email protected] Kent Wiley [email protected] ASGD STAFF Executive Director Carl Norbeck [email protected] Thanks To Our Volunteers! Education Director Susan Smith OFFICE SUPPORT: Phil Reynolds, Carolyn Roark, Grace Weber [email protected] Office Manager Rhonda Shank TRIP LEADERS: Ann Bonnell, Hugh & Urling Kingery, Norm Lewis [email protected] Bookkeeper JULY/AUGUST WARBLER MAILING: Jo Ann Bushnell, Marc Goodbody, Helen F. Hale, Maile Jones Vi Nicholson, Thomas Parchman, Phil Reynolds, Carolyn Roark, Lori Sharp, Barbara F. fi[email protected] Shissler MISSION ASGD is a nonprofit group dedicated to WEEDING AT AUDUBON CENTER: Karen Bickett, Kathy Bollhoefer, Doug Hodous, maintaining the health of natural ecosystems through education, political action, scientific Mary Keithler, Kris Koff, Blake Naito. research and land preservation, with primary focus on birds, other wildlife and ecosystems of the South Platte River watershed. MEMBERSHIP ASGD recognizes our FRIENDS OF ASGD receive the Warbler and additional membership benefits. New Friends Members Members of the National Audubon Soci- ety in the Denver Metro Area receive com- Amber Davis, Anthony Mercer & Sarah Carlson, Becca Frager, Bonnie Kossoff plimentary copies of the The Warbler. & Sieve Uslan, Cheryl Tolleson, Christine Sanchez, Dorothy Slater, Margaret The Warbler is published bimonthly by the Cunningham, Mark & Sarah Scharfenaker, Michele Ostrander & Sofia Aguilar, Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD). Richard Creswell, Robert Hill, Roberta DeYoung, Ronald Williams, Vicki Camp, Editor C. Dale Flowers Flowers & Associates, Inc. Will Burt, William Blunt. [email protected] © 2008 September/October 2008 Page 2 Global warming: Canaries in the coal mine warn that humans are in trouble by Holly Carpenter, Autubon Colorado lobal warming is now broadly accepted as the greatest Impacts on Humans: In human terms, we could conservation challenge facing birds — and humans. see hundreds of millions of environmental refugees in this GThe science is now accepted around the world that the century, increased air pollution, the spread of tropical diseases, earth is becoming so hot as to threaten wildlife and humans water shortages and contamination, and increased frequency alike in the near future. We are fortunate in Colorado to have of famines. Colorado farmers, ranchers, anglers, and hunters one of the highest concentrations of climate scientists in the will see the land and habitats they depend on change and world associated with NCAR, NOAA and CU, which means perhaps become unusable. Coloradoans who live on or below we have available some of the best science in the world for our the poverty line could face problems during hotter months region. We are unfortunate in that CO and much of the west is when they can’t afford air conditioning. heating up more than most of the rest of the country. Solutions: Humans have caused this and we can reverse Impacts on Birds and Other Animals: Global it. Whether it is by changing things at home and at work or by warming is not just about longer, hotter summers but will likely becoming involved with local, state and/or federal governments, include increased wildfires and drought, decreased snowpack your actions will make a difference with global warming.