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Sept-Oct 2011 On The Wing Volume 41, Number 4 Boulder County Audubon Society Newsletter Sept-Oct 2011 Tuesday Program, September 27, 7:15 p.m. Mark Ponsor and Steve Jones, Experiencing the Whooping Crane and Greater Sandhill Crane Migrations in Kansas and Nebraska. Mark and Steve will update us on two of North America’s wildlife success stories--the burgeoning numbers of mi- grating Sandhill Cranes and gradual recovery of Whoop- ing Cranes--while directing us to out-of-the-way places to witness the migration. During the evening we’ll visit the North Platte River Valley with its river otters, Bald Eagles and thousands of Sandhill Cranes; and we will view Cheyenne Bottoms (KS) and Quivira NWR in fall foliage. As an evening bonus, Marcel Such will report on his ex- perience at Audubon’s Hog Island teen birding camp in Maine. Boulder County Audubon field trip co-coordinator Mark Ponsor has led trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, Greater Prairie-chicken leks in northeastern Colorado, and raptor nesting sites up and down the Front Range. BCAS program co-chair Steve Jones has photographed migrating cranes in Nebraska for 20 years. Tuesday Program, October 25, 7:15 p.m. Jason Beeson, The Coolest Bird--the Black Swift Black swifts nest behind waterfalls in remote mountain canyons. They forage on the wing throughout most of the day, returning to their nests each evening to feed their young. Until recently, almost nothing was known about where they spend their winters. To help solve this mystery, a project with the ambi- tious goal of tracking the species from two breeding sites in Colorado to their over-wintering location was initiated in 2009 by the U.S.F.S. and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. The data from this study will reveal the secret of the Black Swifts. Jason Beeson is the coordinator of the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Colony Watch program, which involves private citizens and wildlife profes- sionals monitoring colonial waterbirds in Colorado. Holiday sale and Tuesday Program, November 22nd Our sale of Christmas gift items, books, posters, greeting cards, nature- related books, crafts, original artwork, candy and much more is accelerat- ing towards us. Plan to be with us for this, and for the beautiful presenta- tion on Butterflies of the Colo- rado Front Range, by Jan Chu and Steve Jones. The holiday sale—beginning at 6 p.m.— precedes the program. Bring cash and checks and plan to do your holiday shopping in one evening, at one spot. (For an expanded program photo by Todd Patrick description see page 9) 1 On The Wing Boulder County Audubon Society Newslet- Sept-Oct 2011 2011 Fall Field Trips and selected Bus-Birding events Saturdays, September 3, 10, 17, and 24 Feathered Friends: All About Birds - Boulder County Family Days Audubon Society 1:00 to 4:00 pm at CU Museum of Natural History, Henderson Building, 15th Street & Broadway. Whether your family feels like a gaggle of geese, a kettle of hawks or —- Officers —- a chattering of starlings, bring the whole flock down to the CU Museum of Natural President History any Saturday in September for an afternoon of free hands-on fun and infor- Linda Andes-Georges (303 772 3239) mative bird activities. More information: cumuseum.colorado.edu or 303-492-6892. Vice president Sunday September 11th Riverside Reservoir, Shorebirds and Waterfowl Petrea Mah (303 494 4121) led by Skip Dines. BBC trip, meeting 7:00 a.m. at Niwot ParknRide on the Diagonal Secretary to carpool; returning in afternoon. This is a co-sponsored trip to this large, secluded Joan Dawson (303 494 8252) reservoir to search the extensive mud flats and shorelines for migrating shorebirds. Treasurer The private lake is home to colony nesters like pelicans and cormorants, and also hosts a heronry that supports egrets. There are many rafts of waterfowl on its vast Kitty Brigham (303 827 3157) surface. 4WD vehicles are best for circling the shore. Bring lunch and appropriate —- Other Board of Directors —- gear for weather, sun, and insects. Please contact leader if you wish to go: Ray Bridge, Sharon Daugherty [email protected] or 303-530-3075. J.D. Birchmeier, William Fink Saturday, September 17th Rocky Mountain National Park Martin Gerra, Maddy Goldhawk, led by Christie Owens. BBC/DFO trip, 8:00 a.m. to about 2:00. Early fall weather Steve Jones, George Oetzel brings out the beauty of our local national park. Birders will meet at the Beaver —- Standing Committees —- Meadows parking area. Bring water, a lunch and the usual protection from sun and weather. Call Chris for more information at 303-772-6048, or email to christie- Audubon of Colorado liaison [email protected]. Bob Turner Saturday, October 1 Special wetland exploration Bluebird trail coordinator led by Petrea Mah. 7:30 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. Explore the restored Kenosha wetland Marti Oetzel (303 543 3712) on Boulder County Open Space, looking for migratory wading and shore birds as Christmas bird count coordinator well as early migrating ducks and geese. This closed area is in the process of being Bill Schmoker (303 702 9589) restored following oil and gas drilling on the property. A County plant ecologist will Conservation/Legislation participate, to describe the restoration project. This is an easy hike with some Ray Bridge (303 499 8496) “bushwhacking” through grasses and forbs. Limited to 12 participants. Contact Education leader at [email protected] or 303-494-4121 to sign up and for details. Maureen Lawry (303 499 3833) Sunday, Oct. 2 Sabine’s gulls, other gulls, and waterfowl Mary Balzer (303 499 0662) led by Bill Fink. 9:00 to noon, more or less. If you’ve always been intimidated by the complexity of gulls, or if on the other hand you know and admire these garrulous Field Trips creatures, join us to scour the “Rez” for wandering waterbirds of all sorts. Park and William Fink (303 776 7395) meet at the west entrance of the Boulder Reservoir at 9:00 a.m. and bring whatever Sue & Mark Ponsor (303 530 2229) keeps you warm and fueled for several hours of bird spying. Membership Saturday, October 15 Warblers and Woodpeckers in the Urban Woods Carol McCasland (303 635 6433) led by Steve Jones, a Bus-Birding trip. 8:30 am – 11:00 am (approximately); meet at Newsletter Columbia Cemetery at 8:30. Take the bus to join us for a bird walk in this historic George Oetzel (303 543 3712) cemetery. Meet at the main entrance at 9th and Pleasant, just 3 blocks south and Programs up the hill from the JUMP bus stop at 9th and Arapahoe. We’ll search for late- Stephen Jones, Petrea Mah migrating warblers, other songbirds, woodpeckers, and urban raptors while explor- ing the history and ecology of Columbia Cemetery. A representative from the Co- Publicity lumbia Cemetery’s Preservation Program will co-lead the walk. J.D. Birchmeier (303 748 1894) (Schedule continued on page 9) Website Amy Schlotthauer (303 402 0905) Wildlife Inventory Alex & Gillian Brown (303 494 3042) On the Wing © 2011 Boulder County Audubon Society BCAS on Facebook Next issue deadline: (Nov 2011 issue) Oct 14. Contact editor via link at: www.boulderaudubon.org/newsletter.htm 2 On The Wing Boulder County Audubon Society Newslet- Sept-Oct 2011 George Oetzel Maureen Lawry and Mary Balzer Lifetime Achievement Award Special Recognition for When our chapter recognizes an Education Programming individual for this award, it is not These two co-chairs, affectionately known as the M&M quite like the Oscars. The person girls, have re-created our public outreach and education may have won acclaim in many program and given it new life. fields. But what most interests us is whether the person has made Thanks to the imagination and energy of Maureen and a stellar contribution to our chap- Mary, our Education program has developed some ter, our community, and our local handsome credentials. One highlight is an ongoing se- environment over a significant ries of beginning and intermediate birdwatching classes; period of time. George is a prime well-attended and well-reviewed. A second has been the example of the former as well as coordination, with OSMP naturalist Topher Downham, of the latter. the first Roll and Stroll wildlife-watching series. The Roll and Stroll hikes provide opportunities twice a year for George’s best known contribution to our chapter has people who are mobility-impaired to enjoy birding on been editing our attractive and pithy newsletter through wheelchair accessible trails. Our third Education high- 38 issues, expanding the Web version with color pic- light has been the design and set-up of an ecosystem tures and many researched articles. When he started as puppet show for third grade schoolchildren. editor, George was drafted onto the BCAS board. He has remained on the board and served briefly as presi- The prototype effort to create a story around “shortgrass dent. As default membership chair, he developed pro- prairies” (one of the grams to automate merging national and local member- most endangered ships for mailing OTW. That process has now been ecosystems) has turned over to a new Membership Chair. been wildly success- ful. The show has He and Laura Osborn were instrumental in resurrecting been presented in the bluebird nestbox program. He and wife Marti have classrooms, libraries, nurtured the program through the past seven years. This and other public ven- currently includes 11 trails and 106 boxes, monitored by ues to an always- a couple of dozen volunteers who have access to a spe- enthusiastic and curi- cial website for instructions, downloadable data forms, ous group of children.
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