since 1969 Wthe

The HOOTenanny Owl & Music Festival is our most exciting and largest Friday, September 22 - Owls of Chatfield Nocturnal Wildlife Hike, event of the year – attendance has grown to over 400 visitors, and this year, 6:30pm we are thrilled to announce that we have expanded the HOOTenanny, now the Saturday, September 23 HOOTenanny Owl & Music Festival, longest running owl event in ! 10am – 2pm We’ve added additional workshops and Sponsored by Xcel Energy & Live Urban Real Estate family events from September 19th through nd September 22 , leading up to the main • Live owl demonstrations presented by Nature’s Educators, 10:30 am, rd event on September 23 . Check out the list 12 pm, and 1:30 pm of events below and be sure to register as some of these workshops and programs are • Live music from local folk & acoustic rock sure to sell out. Thank you so much to our band Nearly There, event sponsors this year, Xcel Energy and 11 am - 1 pm Live Urban Real Estate! • Owl art display by Roxborough Arts Coun- cil, 10 am -2 pm Tuesday, September 19 - Astronomy at Audubon: Lunar Cycles & Owl Behavior, 8pm • Facepainting, owl booths, owl pellet dissection, owl crafts, and owl gift Presented in partnership with Red Rocks Community College shop from 10 am - 2 pm • Food Trucks, Mac N’ Noodles & Maui Shave Ice from 10 am - 2 pm Wednesday, September 20 - Birding Insights Workshop: Beneficial Barn Owls, 6:30pm With Live Owl Guest. Presented in partnership with Wild Wings For additional event details and to register for all events, Environmental Education visit www.denveraudubon.org

Thursday, September 21 - Little Hoots Story Time, 9am 3 Conservation Report Presented in partnership with Douglas County Libraries Roxborough Branch 5 Fall Bird Count September/October 2017 - page 1 11 Field Trips Quick Glance Fall Native Plant Festival Audubon Welcomes Suzy Hiskey - Nature Educator Fall Native Plant Festival! Saturday, October 7, 2017 At the Audubon Society, we strive to educate citizens of all ages on the Proceeds from the sale will go to both the Audubon Society of Greater importance of creating backyard bird habitat, wildlife-friendly landscapes, and CoNPS – what a wonderful way to get more bang for your buck and and the use of Colorado native plants to help achieve this mission. Over help each of these organizations continue to achieve their missions! Pre- 90,000 people are moving annually to the Denver-Metro area, and we rely ordering plant options and workshop registration will be available on the upon our members (amazing people like you) and dedicated volunteers to ColoradNativePlant Society website, www.conps.org. be ambassadors for wildlife in our neighborhoods and open spaces. We have a big job ahead of us! One of Suzy Hiskey returns to ASGD as the Nature Educator the best action steps we can provide Suzy will be teaching Healthy Waters Healthy Birds curriculum, school to others is the encouragement of programs, school field trips, public programs, and social media. Suzy is incorporating native plants in our passionate about wildlife and conservation, and looks forward to sharing home design choices - who better to conservation messages and a love of educate and advise on these choices natural resources with children. then the Colorado Native Plant Society She worked for ASGD previously, (CoNPS)! leaving in 2012 to complete a We are thrilled to be partnering with degree in Biology with an emphasis CoNPS to host their Fall Native Plant in ecology and conservation at Festival on Saturday October 7, 2017 Metropolitan State University of from 11 am until 4 pm. Come peruse Denver. Prior to 2010, she was an Bee on Penstemmon by Kate Hogan the plethora of native plant selections, elementary school educator with join us for an hour workshop, see our newly renovated bird feeder garden at the Colorado Academy and Denver Audubon Nature Center, and stock up on other nature gifts and merchandise Public Schools. Additionally, from local vendors! Learn how to certify your backyard as a Habitat Hero she has nine years of experience bird-friendly garden through Audubon Rockies and watch the native birds of developing and teaching summer autumn collect seed at the Audubon Nature Center feeders. camp programs focusing on nature, wildlife, and animals. Workshops will be offered for $10 per person and include the following topics: Suzy is active in conservation volunteer and citizen science projects, contributing to Cornell NestWatch and the Colorado Butterfly • “Landscaping with Native Plants for Wildlife” Monitoring Network in her spare time. She enjoys competing in dog agility with Susan Twiet 11:30-12:30 pm competitions with her two dogs and exploring the mountains with her • “Pollinator Party” (for kids and adults) with David Julie husband Mike. 1-2pm • “Fall Birding in Your Backyard” with Kate Hogan 3-4pm

September/October 2017 - page 2 Conservation Report by Polly Reetz

Latest Chatfield Notice: The Mitigation Company Environmental degradation that doesn’t get headlines. held an open house on May 30 to present their current plans for mitigating The current administration is trying, through the budget process, to open the impacts of Reservoir expansion: loss of habitat for the threatened the coastal plain of the Arctic to oil and gas Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse, loss of several hundred acres of wetlands, development. Audubon has been fighting for almost 40 years now to prevent inundation of up to 587 acres of wildlife habitat overall with probable loss this and maintain the magnificent wilderness and bird habitat of the coastal of the mature cottonwood forest along the and Plum plain; this may be the year the oil folks win. You should be in touch with your Creek, loss of shade trees all around the reservoir. No one happened to Congressional representatives to let them know that you, their constituents, mention that the Corps of Engineers estimated (four different ways) that the oppose such action. Public outcry may triumph in the end. dependable yield of this project is zero water. There were some nice visuals but no comparison was provided to what is being lost. The administration has also launched an attack on water quality by “reviewing” i.e. repealing the 2015 regulation on “Waters of the US,” which determined The one positive action that the mitigation might take is to stop the what waters are protected by the Clean Water Act. The latest tactic: have headcutting, or downcutting, occurring on Plum Creek. Heavy rains and EPA and Corps of Engineers retract their calculations of the benefits of increased runoff from developed lands to the south have caused severe wetlands and small watercourses which underpinned the 2015 decision. These erosion of the stream bed with the result that the water table along the benefits of protecting wetlands have been reduced 85 to 90% while costs stream is dropping. This leaves the native cottonwoods and willows remain the same. One wonders if career employees at the agencies were forced high and dry and the riparian ecosystem along that part of the creek is to recalculate their figures as “faulty” and “misguided” or whether industry disappearing. It is fitting that the proponents pay for stream restoration – lobbyists did the job. since its development in the south metro area that is causing the increased runoff – but that could be done without reservoir expansion and destruction The implications of weakening or repealing this regulation will be: confusion of the current riparian forests. again! For Colorado, it means that some 77,000 miles of streams will be unprotected because they are intermittent, flowing in the spring but drying up You can see the mitigation plans for yourself at www.chatfieldreallocation. by fall, as is the case for much of the West as a whole. Yet pollutants such as org /project-documents/. mine tailings that might be dumped in these watercourses would certainly end There is evidently no plan to allow public comment on the final plans, which up in the rivers from which we derive our drinking water. have to be approved by the Corps of Engineers. Since this is public land and a State Park, one would think the public should be able to comment…. The majority of Colorado’s wildlife uses streamside ecosystems at some point But no. Read Audubon’s comments on the original proposals at www. in their life cycle, including 90% of Colorado’s birds and 51% of migratory birds savechatfield.org. Meanwhile we are still waiting for the federal district (figures are from Audubon Rockies). court to rule on our lawsuit, which was filed almost 3 years ago. Some Our streams and rivers are important! Watch for alerts and comment on this construction may begin at Chatfield this fall so it behooves us all to keep an issue! eye out for any signs of earth-moving or tree-cutting.

September/October 2017 - page 3 (Cont. next page) Conservation Report (cont.)

Colorado Adopts Goals of the Paris Climate Accord ASGD/ Birding Seed Sale Partnership: On July 11 Governor Hickenlooper issued an Executive Order that will put A portion of all seed sales will be donated to ASGD Colorado on train to meet the goals articulated by the international community, The Audubon Society of Greater Denver and by reducing green house gases from electricity generation, transportation and The Front Range Birding Company have buildings. He expects to accomplish this by collaboration and cooperation partnered to make backyard bird feeding easy (standards for renewable energy use by utilities have already been set in law) and affordable. You will be supporting Den- and didn’t articulate many specifics, though he mentioned a goal of building ver Audubon as a portion of all seed sales - all electric charging stations for electric autos all across the State. The Governor year- will be donated to ASGD. Be sure to gave a nod to the declining coal industry (55% or so of Colorado’s energy now take advantage of Front Range Birding's "Seed comes from coal) with a goal of more job training and support in communities Vault Program." You can buy as much as you that will be “left behind.” like up front and pick up fresh seed anytime. Seed Vault purchases never expire! There's National Audubon has calculated that climate change threatens 314 bird no need to pre-order. Just come by the Front species, including at least 50 Colorado species, so the Governor’s plan will Range Birding Company store and let them Spotted Towhee by Dick Vogel protect Colorado’s birds as well as human communities. know you are there for Denver Audubon. Front He deserves your thanks. Range Birding Company: 10146 W San Juan Way #110, Littleton, CO 80127

Woodpecker Woes and Other Wildlife Issues? http://www.denveraudubon.org/about/wildlife-issues/

This link will connect you to the National Audubon Website and other helpful links to help you deal with common questions! Here is the website for folks to report fox sightings as part of a research project: www.ifoundafox.org

Stellar's Jay by Dick Vogel

September/October 2017 - page 4 Fall Bird Count

Fall Count Schedule 6am 35th Annual Fall Bird Count – 2017 Everyone welcome – just Leader: Christy Payne, 810-294-2170, [email protected] show up. More eyes spot more birds. Meeting Place: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. Exit I-76 at Bromley Lane; go east about ¼ mile and turn right (south) on Lark Bunting Lane, to end of road. State Parks pass required. Friday, Sept 8 Reservoir. 6:30am Sunday, Sept 10 Leader: Cynthia Madsen, 303-770-6534, 303-909-6930. [email protected]. Castlewood Canyon State Park 6:30am Meeting Place: at 0630 at the Marina on west side (near Cherry Creek High School) in Leader: Tom Halverstadt, 303-618-6730 ([email protected]). . State Parks pass required. Meeting Place: at 0630am at old entrance. From CO 86, 0.5 miles west of Franktown, turn south on Castlewood Canyon Road, go two miles to old entrance. State Parks pass required. Saturday, Sept 9 Waterton Downstream. 4-5 mile hike 6am Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Wear long pants (not shorts) due to bare-leg-unfriendly plants such as Leader: Urling Kingery, 303-814-2723. Space limited; contact Leader to register. poison ivy, thistles, and knapweed. Leader: Urling Kingery, 303-814-2723. Meeting Place: Audubon Center/Discovery Pavilion (left turn immediately after turning Monday, Sept 11 from Wadsworth (Colo. 121) onto Waterton\Roxborough road (4.4 miles south of C470). Barr Lake periphery 7:30am This trip does not involve much walking -- good for people with limited mobility or 6am stamina. Leader, Joey Kellner, 303-978-1748. Leader: Dick Anderson, 303-757-4582 Meeting Place: Swim Beach on west side. State Parks pass required. Meeting Place: On access road to entrance station at Barr Lake State Park.

Lower Bear Creek 6am Leader: Keith Hidalgo, 720-201-0195 ([email protected]) Rick Creswell, [email protected] Meet at new parking lot by Conoco station, C470 & Morrison Road. Count begins at Bear Creek Lake Park. Special instructions: If you would like to go to Marston Lake later in the day, contact leader at least 5 days before count because of admission requirements set by Denver Water. Western Bluebirds by Dick Vogel

September/October 2017 - page 5 Browns Canyon - Lois Webster Fund

Browns Canyon National Monument Throughout the summer nesting season, historic eyries were monitored closely, Bioblitz and Biotech including those of the Peregrine falcon, as by Stephanie Shively seen in the photo below (taken by Raquel Wildlife Biologist, Salida Ranger District Wertsbaugh, CPW). Surveys for Mexican spotted owl, Northern Browns Canyon National Monument was officially designated on February goshawk, Prairie falcon and Golden eagle 19, 2015. It is 21,589 acres located along the Arkansas River jointly managed were also conducted. The locations of nesting by the San Isabel National Forest (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management territories (BLM). Colorado will be Parks and Wildlife necessary information in the development (CPW), through the of a management plan for the area. Arkansas Headwaters Breeding bird surveys along designated Recreation Area, routes were completed and rarities manages the river- included the Gray catbird and Black- based recreation on chinned hummingbird. A handful of the Arkansas River interesting birds (no great rarities) were: Common Merganser, Dusky Grouse, through Browns Flammulated Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Pinyon Jay, Canyon. All three Cedar Waxwing, Black- agencies are actively throated Gray Warbler, involved in the Vesper Sparrow, Red development of a Browns Canyon National Monument Management Plan. As Crossbill, and Evening an integral part of the plan, an inventory of biological resources present was Grosbeak. needed. A BIOBLITZ effort occurred on June 1-3, 2016. All flora and fauna All the survey identified were recorded by agency personnel, volunteers, university experts, information will be and other partners including the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado a valuable tool used Native Plant Society, and the Audubon Society of Greater Denver. for today’s planning efforts and as we move The Lois Webster Fund Grant helped support the efforts of volunteers assisting forward in the future with documentation of non-game nesting bird species within Browns Canyon management of Browns National Monument, and the seasonal salary of a Forest Service Biological Canyon National Technician who specializes in raptor monitoring. The funding also provided Monument. a delicious dinner during the Bioblitz on June 2nd for all 70 of the dedicated participants.

September/October 2017 - page 6 Backyard Birds by Hugh Kingery

one Rufous. At dusk, there are lots more - sometimes up to 15 or so at a time. I Most surprising reports this season came of our State Bird. Sharon Hines think they are sheltering during the day and coming in for a quick drink and then reported, “I was driving on Upper Lake Gulch Road on June 30, and near the leaving. They are also after the wildflowers. We have three feeders hanging, and I east end, I saw a Lark Bunting. It was only a couple of hundred feet west of clean and refill them every night. So we go through about a full-to-the-top mason the southwest corner of my Atlas Priority Block. I was really surprised, as I jar - 24 + ounces of food a have never seen them in my “neighborhood” before.” day. Usually, in August, Jared del Rosso, the same day, said “I was surprised to find an the numbers increase adult male Lark Bunting as the babies find the around Kent Denver School feeders.” in Arapahoe County. The A more typical encounter seemed fluky, but report came on July 9 then I spotted five more Lark from Debbie Trujillo, in Buntings at Willow Spring northwest Elbert County: Open Space in Centennial. “Early May, I had a few These birds don’t seem to hummingbirds. I saw Black-Chinned Hummingbird in Nest by Kate Hogan come out to the Denver metro one female collecting nest area in late June or early July material and they came often in the mornings and afternoons. For the last three all that often. Wonder why Male Lark Bunting by USDA Natural Resources weeks, they disappeared. I saw one about a week ago who flew up to the feeder, they’re here.” Conservation Service but did not drink and flew away. Since then none. They were active while the Gene Mumford, on June 23, Russian Olive blossoms were in full bloom, but since those are gone, I have not watched, just north of Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, “a seen or heard any hummers. I still change the nectar every 2-3 days, but nobody is flock of 10 Lark Buntings that landed on a barb-wire fence only 10 yards away. drinking except the bees and finches who try to get something.” Mixed males & females. This is the closest I’ve seen them to town.” Leslie Hankerson, Elizabeth, asked, “Could it be related to the drought? None of the wildflowers that they love out in the country are blooming. None Kate Hogan sent a picture of a hummingbird nest at the Audubon of the native penstemons and paintbrush is around. Some scarlet gilia, but not Center at Chatfield, discovered during summer camp in late June. Colorado much else.” birding guru Tony Leukering identified the sitter as a Black-chinned, based From Highlands Ranch, Barbara Spagnuolo saw “odd behavior from a on the wing/tail ratio and the lack of color in her tail. On the July 2 Walk the female Broad-tailed Hummer in my backyard a few weeks ago. She was very Wetlands hike, the group identified only one Black-chinned and 10 Broad- interested in one of our dead standing aspen trees with peeling bark. She kept tailed hummers. Of course, you hear the male Broad-tailed, and have to see returning and it seemed like she was searching under the peeling bark, for bugs I females and other species. presume. But this behavior reminded me of woodpeckers, nuthatches or creepers, Many reporters report fewer hummingbirds than usual. An exception, not hummingbirds. I know they do eat bugs but has anyone else observed them Kay Chambers in Larkspur, said on July 9, “We have about 6 plus birds at our searching under bark for bugs?” feeders at all times - some Broadtails, some Black chinned, one Calliope, and

September/October 2017 - page 7 (Cont. next page) Backyard Birds (cont.)

Linda Williams, also in Highlands Ranch, saw something similar: to prefer sunflower seeds. One Green-tailed Towhee I saw only on two days. “She’s goes up and down the bark of the pine tree and the ash tree, while Yesterday, a Gray Catbird perched in the bird bath long enough for me to take ignoring her favorite flowers and the feeders.” a few photos. I haven’t seen a catbird in the yard in quite a while.” Linda hasn’t seen many either. “We can’t tell what’s going on this year Polly Reetz, east Denver, said, “We have more birds coming to our or if mating has even begun. Only a few have visited our feeders and flowers feeders now (July) than we had all since the season began. We’ve hardly seen or heard any males. This is, by far, winter.” She also “had a flock of about the strangest hummingbird season we’ve witnessed.” July 12, Linda “hadn’t 30 Bushtits in our yard on July 15, many seen or heard a hummer for days. We grow penstemon, agastache, and several of them feeding on the suet cake we put varieties of salvia, but the hummingbirds remain absent. The nectar feeders up.” are all but ignored.” Leslie emailed, “I do the landscaping Leslie did have one: “I had a scare yesterday morning. I had the hose at a car museum five minutes from my on “jet” spray and was watering a plant far away when a hummer flew into home and there has been almost non-stop the strong spray and disappeared into the tall grass. I went over and carefully families of crossbills for the last three looked for it. I found it tangled in the tall grass. I untangled it and thought Catbird by Dick Vogel years. They are quite comfortable visiting I’d move it to a safer spot. My impression was that it was a fledgling since it the birdbath while I’m working just a few didn’t know how to perch. Eventually it did fly away.” feet away. But they are making a mess. They had a baby earlier in the year. The In contrast, in three of them love a tree over a path that has a ton of cones. They tear them Centennial, Roy Hohn apart and cover the path. No one believes the birds are responsible, they blame “has had a lot of bird squirrels (none in this tree).” traffic in May. On May From northwest Highlands Ranch, George Ulrich reported to Bluebird 9 I counted 17 species. Babble, “We installed 16 bluebird boxes between March 9 and May 16. Tree And 18 species on May Swallows nested in 13 boxes; House Wrens in two, and no activity in one box. 10: among them, Western Of 76 TS eggs, 71 presumably fledged and five dead chicks remained in 3 boxes. Tanager, Blue Jay, Green- After fledging in one box, House Wrens built a stick nest on top. Three TS tailed Towhee, Black- nests were still active as of 7/12. We are hoping the Bluebirds show up early headed Grosbeak, Magpie, next Spring.” Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay by Dick Vogel American Goldfinch, Polly watched “one young chickadee that was acting strangely - sitting Chipping Sparrow, Downy on the table on our front porch - and we later found it (we think) dead, with a Woodpecker, and Black-capped Chickadee. missing upper mandible. I don’t know if it was born like that, or the mandible “The Western Tanagers have stayed for a week now. I have been broke off due to an accident, but that would certainly render the bird unable to keeping the suet feeder filled because it isn’t unusual to have five or six (male eat.” and female) flocked around it. Two Black-headed Grosbeaks (male and female) also have appeared all week in the yard. They like the suet, but seem

(Cont. next page) September/October 2017 - page 8 Backyard Birds (cont.) And from Castle Rock, Brad Smith said, on May 23: “We’ve had a male Leslie sent a July update on baby birds. “More empty boxes than most and female Black-headed Grosbeak on our backyard suet feeders in Castle years, but some activity. Only one bluebird box occupied. Pygmy Nuthatches Rock for several days, competing with a half-dozen Western Tanagers. This have had at least four broods. I have never had so much activity from one box morning there was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak male, which stayed for only a few before. Last ones left the box about 3 days ago. Western Bluebirds had two minutes.” broods. Flicker box is at the top of the hill, but I think they had babies. Debbie reported, on July 12, “I had some unusual visitors the other day. “At the bird baths and morning feeding are some obvious babies. The My mare was highly interested in something, so I looked to see what it was. Lesser Goldfinches love the small bird bath. Blue and Steller’s Jays are training There were three Turkey Vultures sunning themselves (with wings out) on my the babies on my morning routine and they catch on fast. pasture fence. I was curious as to why they were there, thinking there must be a “Crow & Magpie babies are my favorites. I love how they play and carcass somewhere close. But, then I remembered I had put disposable fly traps squabble.” around my pasture to keep the flies away from my horses. That must have been Linda doesn’t what attracted the vultures!!! (They quite agree. smell like something dead.)” “Since a magpie Karen Metz, Franktown, had killed a baby a unique nesting observation. “One of robin, I haven’t the greatest pleasures for me is coming felt that fondly from a pair of Cordilleran Flycatchers. toward the In the past, a pair nested successfully magpies. I don’t on my front porch light fixture, but chase them this year the female chose to build her from the yard, nest inside a wooden and plexiglass though. All mealworm feeder that I mounted the birds are under the roof of our front porch. Lazuli Bunting by Dick Vogel welcome to the She and her mate are in the midst of water.” the sometimes busy front porch area Cordilleran Flycatcher by Dick Vogel From City Park, Sandra Newton observed crow antics in May. “Not sure where birds are accustomed to coming what the crows are doing, but they certainly are staying close to the front of my for water and my offerings of mealworms. The Cordies take advantage of the house, having some pretty dramatic air battles but mostly staying close. There mealworms and she, like chickadees and siskins and goldfinches, has also taken was a hawk that came by, and that really seemed to set them off. Also I have a dog fur that I put in a suet cage for some of her soft nesting material. She also, squirrel nest with pups but I don’t think that would affect crow behavior.” when I did not close the garage door quickly enough, spent hours inside taking Not many unusual species for this report. From Roxborough, Jon Ealy Miller moths from the rafters of our garage.” reported that “mixed among the approximately 20 Lazuli Buntings in our Your contributions write this column. Thanks to you in urban and suburban Denver backyard, a deeper-blue bird with no wing-bars and just a dash of buff on the who sent in all these intriguing reports. Send a note or post card to P.O. Box 584, Franktown breast has been feeding here. It has splotches of blue on the underside, a silver- 80116, or Email me: [email protected]. gray beak and faint mask. We’re thinking laz-indigo hybrid.” September/October 2017 - page 9

Educate Generations - Protect Birds and Habitats into the Future Please Let Us Know Include ASGD in Your Will, and Other Gift Planning Options We often receive bequests from people whom we have never had the opportunity to thank. If you include Audubon Society of Greater Denver in The Audubon Society of Greater Denver offers an opportunity for you your estate plans, please let us know. We value the opportunity to express our to make a gift or bequest to leave a legacy and a lasting impact. The goal gratitude in person to let you know that your gift is greatly appreciated now of planned giving is to help you plan your estate and charitable giving in and for future generations of people and birds to come. Those people who have a way that benefits you, your family and ASGD. We invite friends who notified us of their intention to make a bequest to the Audubon Society of share a commitment to educating all ages about birds, other wildlife, and Greater Denver are invited to our Legacy Circle. Legacy Circle special events habitats to consider making a personal investment in the future of our and activities highlighting the work we accomplish together will keep you programs. There are several ways you can make these planned gifts to connected to the “legacy” that you have planned for us. charity and enjoy tax and income benefits: Legal Designation: If you wish to name Audubon Society of Greater • Specific, Residuary and Contingent Bequests Denver in your will or estate plan, we should be legally designated • Retirement Accounts and Pension Plans as: “Audubon Society of Greater Denver, a nonprofit organization • Insurance (Tax ID #23-7063701), with its principal business headquarters address of • Securities 9308 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Littleton, CO 80128.” • Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) Date of Incorporation: September 30, 1969 • Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA)

Please consult with your financial planner and attorney to assure you receive the best financial advantages and that your intentions are carried out fully.

We would be glad to discuss any planned giving option with you – in confidence and without obligation. For more information, please call 303-973-9530 or e-mail Karl Brummert, Executive Director, at [email protected]

Photo by Dick Vogel September/October 2017 - page 10 Quick Glance-Upcoming FIeldTrips Field MUSIC SEPT 23 FESTIVAL HIKE SEPT 22 Trips WITH SEPT 21 ROXBOROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL LIBRARY EDUCATION SEPT 20 & HOOTENANNY THE FESTIVAL ProgramsSEPT 19 LUNAR WEEK!) SEPT 17 CYCLE 15 SEPT SEPT 14 CONSERVATION SEPT 12 COMMITTEE AWESOME SEPT 7 PROGRAM AMPHIBIANS! SEPT 3 SEPT 2 SEPT 2

SAT FRI THU WED TUE SUN FRI THU TUE THU SUN SAT SAT

7TH ANNUAL HOOTENANNY OWL & HOOTENANNY WILDLIFE NOCTURNAL HOOTENANNY ALL AGES STORY TIME WINGS WILD FROM CUPID FEATURING OWLS BARN WORKSHOP: HOOTENANNY BIRDING INSIGHTS (KICK-OFF FOR THE PROGRAM AT AUDUBON: OWL BEHAVIOR AND HOOTENANNY ASTRONOMY GENESEE MOUNTAIN PARK AT NATURECENTER AUDUBON BIRD FEEDER GARDEN PLANTING PARTY BALD EAGLES OF THE FRONT RANGE: HABITATS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS – WALK THE WETLANDS EXPLORE WESTERLY CREEK FRONT BIRDING RANGE September/October 2017-page 11 September/October OCT 28OCT WILDLIFE 27OCT HIKE FEEDERS 22OCT 14OCT 8 OCT 7 OCT PLANT 7 OCT SOCIETY 7 OCT 5 OCT 1 OCT SEPT 30 www.denveraudubon.org/events/ OR CALL303-973-9530 FOR AFullDESCRIPTION OF THESEFIELDTRIPS,VISIT

SAT FRI SUN SAT SUN SAT SAT SAT THU SUN SAT

CHATFIELD STATE PARK ANIMALS OF ALL HALLOWS NOCTURNAL EVE AREA AND THEFRANKTOWN KINGERY PARK COOK/GARLAND THE BIG CHATFIELD SIT! STATE PARK FRONT BIRDING RANGE PARTNERSHIP WITH COLORADO NATIVE NATIVE SALE PLANT AND WORKSHOPS IN EXPLORE HISTORICAL BELMAR PARK ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK WALK THE WETLANDS CHATFIELD STATE PARK

Quick Glance - Domestic & International Travel

San Diego Birding Escape Costa Rica’s Wildlife and Birding Hotspots September 20-24, 2017; December 2-11, 2017 Optional Pelagic Extension September 24-25 Costa Rica may be the only country in the world to With some of the best birding in the country, birders from all over flock have so many bird species and habitats accessible to San Diego County, California. Located on the Pacific Flyway and with within such a small area. A country only the size of habitats ranging from coastlines to mountains and deserts, more than 500 West Virginia, Costa Rica is home to more than 850 species of birds have been observed in region. Join Chip Clouse from Front species of birds, greater than in all of North America Range Birding Company for a spectacular birding trip to southern Califor- north of Mexico. One of the main reasons for Costa nia. Rica’s extraordinary bird life is that a variety of habi- More Details: http://reefstorockies.com/destinations/north-america-2/united-states/san- tats, from beaches and mangroves to rainforests and diego-birding-escape/ 303-860-6045 Scarlet Macaw by cloud forests, are located in close proximity to one an- Reefs-to-Rockies other. This trip includes birding in the cloud forest of Birding and Wildlife in North and Central Thailand San Gerardo de Dota, coastal rainforest on the South October 27-November 13, 2017 Pacific Coast, and the Costa Rican Bird Route. Optional South Thailand Extension: November 13-18 More Details: http://reefstorockies.com/destina- Nature abounds in tions/central-america/costa-rica/costa-rica- Thailand. It is host to birding-hotspots-2017/ 303-860-6045 over 1,000 birds, around 1,000 butterflies, 10,000 moths, over 300 reptiles and countless beetles Winter Birding in Minnesota and other insects. This January 21-25, 2018 Colored Aracaris by Murray Cooper tour was specially made Sax-Zim Bog offers some of the best to bird in the most important and beautiful locations in the North and chances to glimpse boreal species including Central Thailand. You will have the opportunity to see a great variety of northern hawk owl, snowy owl, common spectacular birds, some extremely rare and endemic, and of course, enjoy the and hoary redpolls, ruffed grouse, boreal chickadee, black-backed woodpecker, rich Thai culture. northern goshawk, white-winged crossbill, snow bunting, and great gray owl. More Details: http://www.pibird.com/thailand-itinerary-and-overview 720-320-1974 The bog’s mix of seasonal boreal birds is unmatched by any other North Ameri- can location. In addition to Sax-Zim Bog, we’ll be following daily bird reports for updates on rarities in the area. Get ready for a winter birding wonderland in Minnesota! More Details: http://reefstorockies.com/destinations/north-america-2/united-states/winter- birding-in-minnesota/ 303-860-6045

(Cont. next page) September/October 2017 - page 12 Birding in Northwest Ecuador Southeast Arizona Birding February 3-11, 2018 April 22-28, 2018 Northwest Ecuador is a great location for per- After arriving in Tucson by midday, we will have time sons new to South American birding. Ecuador’s to make a trip up to Agua Caliente Park on the north- lodges are a great value and the birding is always east side of the metro area. This park features a pond productive with many species seen each day and with surrounding cattail marsh, open woodlands, new life birds found. This trip is a slight modi- brushy tracts and thorn scrub desert. Consequently, fication to our classic northwest Ecuador route, species of many different habitats may be found in a adding a few days on the east slope of the Andes relatively small area. Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Banded Pitta by Ian Dearing to maximize excellent birding in a short and Vermilion Flycatcher are found in the open areas of inexpensive trip. the park, while Bell’s Vireo, Pyrrhuloxia and Phaino- More Details: http://www.pi-bird.com/EcuadorNWPlusBitEast-Main-1.html 720-320-1974 pepla prefer the brushy scrub. In the surrounding desert, Gambel’s Quail, Curve-billed Thrasher and Spring Magic in Nebraska Hummingbird Verdin work the mesquite and acacia. March 24-27, 2018 Madera Canyon, AZ More Details: http://www.pi-bird.com/Arizona-1details.html by Bill Schmoker Each spring, more than 80 percent of the world’s population of sandhill cranes 720-320-1974 converges in Central Nebraska. Over 500,000 sandhill cranes migrate through the Platte River Valley in order to fuel up before heading further north to their breeding grounds. Along with them come millions of migrating ducks and geese Birding in Newfoundland, Canada in the neighboring Rainwater Basin—covering the vast expanse of open sky July 8 to 14, 2018 with millions of flapping wings and a chorus of calls. Newfoundland in July is the prime time to see many More Details: http://reefstorockies.com/destinations/north-america-2/united-states/spring- nesting seabirds, such as Atlantic Puffin, Northern magic-in-nebraska/ 303-860-6045 Gannet, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Murre, Thick-billed Murre, Razorbill, Black Guillemot and Northern Fulmar. While you will have many opportu- nities to scan for these birds from the coast, you will also take a boat trip to get even closer looks at the birds on their nests. Scan- ning the ocean from shore, it is possible to see jaegers and shearwaters as well! More Details: http://www.pi-bird.com/Newfoundland-2013-details.html , 720-320-1974

September/October 2017 - page 13 Volunteers, Donors, New Friends and Officers & Staff Audubon Center Volunteers/School New & Renewing Friends Donors Memorial Donors Programs Bobbi Abeyta, Jandel Allen-Davis, Meredith & Lisa Chase Mario Anderson, Samuel Arnott, Pilar Baca, Ann Jandel Allen-Davis, Rebecca A Angle- Donations in memory Pam Schmidt Bennett, Ann Bonnell, Elise Brougham, Amy myer, Karen Carbiener, Laurie Chotena, of Helen Hale Celia Greenman Cervene, Corrina Cohen, Judith Cohen, Richard Tina Jones Maureen Coffin, Shelley Conger, Alan Creswell, Janet Cuneo Shin Fam, Mary Driscoll, Beverly Arnold Kathy DuPont, Jacquelyn Eicher, Richard Conover, Marilyn Cross, Dennis Downing, Mary Alice Felt Field Trip Leaders Emanuel, Barbara Fahey, Janet Fairs, Kathy Mary Driscoll, James Esten, Byron J Gib- Applewood Seed Co. Fennell, Rhonda Fogel, Ruth Gabreski, Peter Dick Anderson, Tom Bush, Georgia Hart, bons, Fred Griest, Carrie Hanson, Connie Mary Werner Mary Keithler, Michele Ostrander, Karen von Griffiths, Jane Grogan, Ann P Groshek, Sue Saltza, Barbara Shissler, Cindy Valentine Hall, Linda E Hamlin, Susan Harper, Paula Hoff- Hauver, Marta Hawkins, Christy Honnen, man, Rebecca Jackson, Debbie James, Gordon Kirby Hughes, David Johnson, Judith Office Help & Mailing Crew T James, Jerry Jargon, Candice Johnson, Philip Kathy Ford, Betty Glass, Jeanne McCune, W Keesee, Michael Kiessig, Jenni Kuker, Judy Knoshaug, James Krogman, Judy Lane, Carolyn Roark Lane, Rebecca Laroche, Carol Larsen, Linda Kris Lykins, Richard Moore, Dan Morris, A.

Lenway, Lois Levinson, John Liberatore, Anna Nilsen, Rosalind Percy, Linda Pihlak, Pau- Website/Media Lilierose, David Lilierose, Yelana Love, Pat Mc- Dick Anderson, Mary Urban, George Mayfield Clearn, Gretchen Moritz-Hale, Richard & Laurel line Reetz, Gail Roberts, Marianne Rose, Staff Morris, Leslie O'connor, Tom Olkowski, Linda Kevin Schutz, Debbie Shultz, Lois Smith, To contact us Garden Volunteers Phillips, Gretchen Platt, Tina Proctor, Thomas Michelle Springer, Kathleen Stewart, Cindy [email protected] Tom Chaney Quirk, Joanne Rauschkolb, Michael Rausch- Lisa Chase kolb, Toni R Rautus, Ramon Robles, Glenn Thomas, Chris Vanatta, Ronald Villiotti, Karl Brummert Executive Director Nancy Matovich Rodriguez, Glenn A Roessner, Marianne Rose, Barbara Hamblin Ann Frazier Carol J Ruckel, Peggy Salzer, Cynthia Schuele, Kate Hogan Lori Sharp, Barbara Shissler, Michael Smith, Community Outreach Coordinator Audubon Master Birder Committe Joan Sommerfeld, Peter G. Spanberger, Sue Emily Hertz Laurie Duke Summers, Susan Tablack, John Taylor, Ashley School Programs Coordinator Cindy Valentine Thompson, Nancy Todd, Elizabeth Treichler, Officers & Directors Denise Reznicek Susan Trumble, Patsy Venema, Ronald Villiotti, Suzy HIskey George Mayfield Karen & John Weslar, Susan E Zuehlke Wendy Woods, President Nature Educator Mary Fran O’Connor Arlene Raskin, 1st Vice President Diane Hutton Rhonda Shank Maintenance/Facilities Ann Bonnell, 2nd Vice President Hugh Kingery Office Manager Urling Kingery Laurie Duke Vacant, Treasurer Celia Greenman Mary Urban Jamie Simo Carl Norbeck Ann Frazier Newsletter Design/Layout Pam Zimmer Leslie O'Connor Dick Anderson Bea Weaver Ruth Gabreski Ruth Gabreski Michele Ostrander The Warbler is published bi-monthly by the Tina Jones Tom Chaney Clint Priest Audubon Society of Greater Denver (ASGD) Pam Schmidt Christy Payne Kristin Salamack, Secretary Produced by M. Urban © 2016 Fred Griest ISBN 1531-2283 Vol. 51 Number 5

Your volunteer hours are very Thanks to all committees, important to us! 9308 South Wadsworth Blvd. Save our Siding and Your volunteer hours are very important to us board members and Audubon Master Littleton, CO 80128 Bird-a-thon Donors: as we use them to raise money through grants 303.973.9530 Birders for volunteering their time. and the SCFD. Please record your hours Next Page www.denveraudubon.org on Volgistics or email Kate Hogan with your completed hours as soon as possible. Thanks! September/October 2017 - page 14 Bird-a-thon Donors Stephen Abrams, Jeff Adams, Christine Alexander, Mark Amershek, Ted Ames, Brad Andres, Emilio & Erlinda Archuleta, Karen Baud, Dwight Beal, Kathy Beall, Joachim Bellomo, Barbara Bens, Leona Berger, Nancy Bilello, Paula Bisgard, Beth Blimling, Richard Block, Kevin Bloomfield, Rob Blye, Kathy Bollhoefer, Cindy Bolton, Mary Bourassa, Lori Bowen, Maggie Brahm, Heather Brewster, Ruth Brown, Nicole Buyck, Don Campbell, Julie Capp, Amy Cervene, Lisa Chase, Mary Christiansen, Joyce Clark, Nell Cliff, Francis Commercon, Joyce Commercon, Cris Cook, Kevin Corwin, Lorri Creed, Richard Creswell, Doris Cruze, Caitlin Darfler, Jeff Dawson, Miranda Dawson, Heather DeCaluwe, Barbara DeGrush, C Dermatology, Christine Devitt, Leslie Dixon, Bette Dohr, Ralph Douglas, Laurie Duke, Lynne Duman, Amie Durden, Lisa Ebeling, Bill Eden, David Ehrlich, Anne Esson, Martha Eubanks, Elizabeth Farnsworth, Linda Farrell, Mike Foster, Betty Glass, Eleanor Goldthwait, Mackenzie Goldthwait, Will Goldthwait, Chris Goulart, Celia Greenman, Julia Gwinn, Georgia Hart, Margaret Hartman, Judith Henderson, Daniel Hennes, David Hennes, Mark Hennes, Susan Hennes, Jed Hertz, Laura Hertz, Charles Hess, Diana Hornick, Chug Hubert, Charles Hundertmark, Carol Hunter, Darrell & Shennan Hutton, Diane Hutton, Joshua Hutton, Alyson Hyatt-Johnson, Edith Israel, Stacey Jensen, Candice Johnson, Tina Jones, Marjorie Joy, William Kaempfer, Mary Katz, Jon Kearsley, Mary Keithler, Anne Kerwin, Douglas Kibbe, Martin Kibbe, Sue Kibbe, Michael Kiessig, William Killam, Peter King, Hugh Kingery, Urling & Hugh Kingery, Elaine Koerwitz, Cynthia Kristensen, Tina Laudick, Sarah LeClere, Scot Locke, Jackie Long, Rebecca Love, Gretchen Macarthur, Cynthia Madsen, Antonia Martin, John Martin, George Mayfield, Jeanne McCune, Ann McInnes, Karen Metz, Pedro Meza, Alison Michael, Lucy & Mo Michel, Betty Mitchell, Sara Montag, Barbara Morrison, Amy Morton, Esther Muzzillo, Rachel Norkin, Colleen Nunn, Michele Oakes, Tina Obermeier, Paul Opler, Michele Ostrander, Thomas Parchman, Alan Peryam, Kristen Philbrook, Graham Phipps, Diane Pinkard, Tom Pipal, Gregory Poremba, Taylor Powers, Eliza Prall, Carol Pratt, Clint Priest, Michelle Puplava, Julia Putes, Arlene Raskin, Gabrielle Reals, Polly Reetz, Brian Reilly, Janet Reiner, Carol Ann Rhoads, Carolyn Roark, Joe Roller, Mel Ryan-Roberts, Karen Sage, Mitzie Salamack, Yvonne and Max Salfinger, Sheridan Samano, Judith Sanborn, Tim Sandsmark, Susan Sass, Trish Schart, Ladan Schlichting, Wendi Schneider, Gabriel Schwartz, Steven Shapiro, Janet Shin, Pat Skinner, Kara Spitler, Amy Stein, Andrea Stein, David Stephens, Bob and Nancy Stocker, Harriet Stratton, Christine Suhling, John Taylor, Lois Teegarden, Jennifer Terry, Autumn Thomas, Marian Thornton, Elizabeth Tourangeau, Tuesday Birders, Boyd Vaughan, Charina Velasquez, Tom Walker, Doug Ward, Bea Weaver, Patricia Weimer, Jenna Wheaton, Blair Whitaker, Bryan White, Jack Whiting, Kiki Widjaja, Cheryl Wilcox, Joyce Wilding, Diana Wilson, Paula Winchell, Millie & Richard Young, Janine Yunker, Ellen and Michael Zuckert Save Our Siding Donors Tom & Isabel Abbott, Joe Arington, Susann Baron, Sarah Bradley, Leslie Brown, Karl Brummert, Sheila Burns, Will Burt, Ed & Judy Butterfield, Tom Chaney, Craig & Lisa Chase, Laurel Clark, Sara Cook, Shannon Cwik, Yvonne Davidoff, Carol DeStefanis, Dave & Mary Driscoll, Laurie Duke, Paulina Erices, Lynne Forrester, Kate Frost, Betty Glass, Tracey Griffith, John Hagert, Sue Hall, Roland Halpern, Becca Hammons, Sara Handy, Carol Hayes, Dave Hill, Suzy Hiskey, Kate Hogan, Gail & Jonathan Hole, Kathryn Holtze, Michael Hope, Patty Jaacks, Jessica Jenner, Candice & Tim Johnson, David Johnson, Mary Katz, Andrea Keleher, Peter King, Memory Lamfers, Carol Larsen, Phil & Mary Lyon, Jackie Marchetti, Antonia Martin, Barb Masoner, Nancy Matovich, Jeanne McCune, Roisin McEwen, Sarah Metzer, Mo Michel, Lucy Michel, Judith Miller, Carl Norbeck, Patrick O’Driscoll, George Ogura, Kat Olson, Nancy Osborn, Melissa Palmer, Tom Parchman, Linda Pihlak, Tom Pipal, Tracy Rackauskas, Jerry & Arlene Raskin, Polly Reetz, Robert Righter, Carolyn Roark, Margaret Roberts, Tracy Sain, Max & Yvonne Salfinger, Peggy Salzer, Cathe Sander, Susan Sass, Jack Sawatzki, Pam Schmidt, Paul Schreck, Lori Sharp, David Shaver, Richard Shearer, Amy Sherman, Janet & Jerry Shin, Carol Shouldice, Jamie Simo, Stephen Smith, Vicki Spencer, Allen & Brenda Stokes, Jeff Stroup, Sue Summers, Mary Ann Tavery, Jay Bea Thorniley, Tuesday Birders, Natalie Vande Vuss, Tammy VerCauteren, Carley Warren, Bea Weaver, Cheryl Wilcox, Bonnie & Dan Wright, John Wright, Karen Yankus, Pam Zimmer

September/October 2017 - page 15