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The Cardinal FEBRUARY MARCH 2016 ● WWW.SAINTPAULAUDUBON.ORG ● SAINT PAUL AUDUBON SOCIETY FEBRUARY MEMBER MEETING MARCH MEMBER MEETING “Birds’ Nests: HOW do They DO that?” “Debunking ‘Fracking’” with Clay Christensen with Louis Ascher Thursday, February 11, 2016 Thursday, March 10, 2016 How does a Baltimore Oriole make that graceful There is a lot of confusion regarding oil and natural gas hanging nest so high up in the cottonwood tree? What is a exploration. This confusion is often a result of the fact that woodpecker cavity nest like inside? Are there really birds there are three types of extraction: conventional oil and that nest in tunnels? This talk includes photos of birds at gas, tar sands oil, and fracking oil and gas. We will start by their nests and diagrams showing discussing all three types of extraction methods and how some of those then proceed to focus on fracking. nests are made. There is a great deal of complicated technical infor- Clay is the always- mation about these three extraction methods, which entertaining author of can be overwhelming for most individuals. Louis ‘The Birdman of Asher has the ability to break down this information Lauderdale,’ based on the into an understandable format. He will provide an many columns he has overview of, not only the three extraction methods, written for the local Park but the geology that led to the creation of the various Bugle newspaper. Clay is oil and gas types. This will provide a more complete also a picture of this topic. It will be a very interesting, un- highly- derstandable and thought-provoking presentation sought- on a subject that greatly affects our lives! after Over the last 30 years Field Louis has had a very Trip leader for the St. strong interest in the Paul Audubon Society, areas of conventional as well as the source of and renewable energy many a confused Barred and has greatly re- or Great-Horned Owl that has responded searched those areas. to his darned good owl calls! Louis is a retired re- searcher, statistician and instructor. He worked at 3M for 39 years and was known as a very practi- cal, motivating and ex- tremely entertaining/fun instructor. He created and presented countless of classes on statistical, mathematical, and communication improve- ment subjects. He now volunteers in organizations that deal with hab- Arrive at 6:45 for social time or 7:00 for the Program; itat conservation, climate change and renewable energy. held at Fairview Community Center, 1910 Cty Rd B, Roseville. Free and open to the public. S A I N T PA U L A U D U B O N • WWW. S A I N T PA U L A U D U B O N . O R G 2 T H E C A R D I N A L • FEBRUARY MARCH 2016 BOARD MEETINGS SAINT PAUL AUDUBON SOCIETY A B O U T O U R C H A P T E R President 651–429–7597 Founded in 1945 as the ‘St. Paul Bird Saint Paul Audubon’s Board Jim Lindner [email protected] Club’ with twelve members, the Saint Paul Audubon Society now serves the entire Meetings are held at the Ramsey- Treasurer 651–340 –3487 East Metro region of the Twin Cities, and Washington Metro Watershed Office Richard Newmark [email protected] has around 2,800 members. Our Member at 2665 Noel Drive, Little Canada. Secretary 651–488–5802 Meetings are held from Sept. to May. For Exit 35-E at Little Canada Rd, go east Deb Robinson [email protected] more info please contact leaders at left, to Noel. Meetings are held from 6:30 Programs Chair 651–631–2195 Tom McCarthy [email protected] or visit www.saintpaulaudubon.org to 8:30 PM. Upcoming dates: Conservat’n Co-Chr A B O U T T H E C A R D I N A L Published February 1, March 7. Matthew Jacobson [email protected] 6 times a year; articles are due on the 5th Field Trips Chair 651–633–1663 of January, March, May, July, Sept, and Nov. President’s Message Chase Davies [email protected] Submissions may be edited. Send to Education Chair 651–776–0414 [email protected] Birds in History Steve Johnson [email protected] Members may also receive the newsletter I was a history major. I don’t work Newsletter Editor 651–464–6743 by downloading PDF’s from our website. in the history field, but history is how I Holly Peirson [email protected] CHAPTER PHONE: MESSAGE ONLY make sense of the world around me. It Newsletter Mailing 651–483–8597 helps me to put things in perspective, Susan Fuller [email protected] For more info or questions about bird ID, please call 651-291-2596. Leave a message and it’s always at my fingertips. Speakers’ Bureau 651–631–0949 and we will return your call. Ok, so why that introduction? Clay Christensen [email protected] Well, I’ve been looking for ways to use Website 651–493–9406 ADDRESS CHANGES Call 1-800-274-4201 history to help me serve as your presi- Ben Wilson [email protected] or NAS website at www.audubon.org to noti- fy the National Audubon Society of a change dent. A few months ago I wrote about Audubon MN 651–739–9332 www.mn.audubon.org of address, to continue to receive Audubon state birds. That helped me transition Magazine and The Cardinal. into writing for The Cardinal. Here is Nat’l Audubon www.audubon.org another thing I’ve been reflecting up- on. Birds have played a significant role called “a little vain and who ate the entire swarm, the Mormon throughout history. silly,” was a bird of settlement would not have survived. From symbols to coal courage who would not Modern critical analysis has identified mines to miraculous hesitate to attack a flaws in the legend. The gulls are some- deliverances, birds are Grenadier of the British what native to the Great Salt Lake area. as much of a part of Guards.” Despite such Historians suggest that the gulls were not history as economics rigorous promotion, as widespread as claimed, and that weath- and politics, and in Franklin’s fighting tur- er possibly played more of a role than the some ways they’ve played a more inti- key did not find its way onto the Great gulls did. Some pioneer journals mention mate role with people. Seal, though it did have a role on frost, but no gulls. The story became the The United States’ founding fathers Thanksgiving Day. “Miracle of the Gulls,” and the California wished to adopt a national symbol. The presidential seal, went through gull was voted Utah’s state bird. You may have heard of the three-way several iterations in the 1800s, many Other interactions between humans debate between supporters of the bald that included the bald eagle. The cur- and birds is more factual. In 1913 a Scot eagle Vs supporters of the turkey Vs rent version of the presidential seal first proposed placing a canary (actually supporters of the dove. This is actually dates officially to a 1945 executive order any warm-blooded animal would do) in a myth, though there is a grain of fact by Harry Truman. coal mines to detect and warn miners of embedded within. In 1782 Congress Another blend of myth and reality the presence of dangerous gases, namely flat-out rejected a design with both an involves the role of gulls in Utah’s state carbon monoxide. Despite technical in- eagle and dove on the Great Seal, and history. In 1848, less than a year after struments to detect dangerous gases, min- asked secretary Charles Thomson to Brigham Young led Mormon pioneers ers routinely used canaries in coal mines incorporate various ideas from several to Utah, insects, later identified as mem- throughout the twentieth century. committees. He chose the bald eagle as bers of the katydid family, descended So birds have been part of our history part of the seal. Ben Franklin was not upon the crops and threatened the very since the earliest days. Legends have convinced. Franklin wrote that the ea- life of the settlement that eventually sprouted to embellish the nature of the gle was a “Bird of bad moral character, became Salt Lake City. In truth these relationship, but as with many myths, the a rank coward.” He added that the insects do on occasion swarm in areas of truth is always somewhat present. little kingbird “attacks boldly,” driving Utah and Nevada, so it’s plausible. The the eagle away. Franklin promoted the story goes on that but for the miracu- Jim Lindner, President turkey, who in spite of being what he lous appearance of California Gulls, S A I N T PA U L A U D U B O N • WWW. S A I N T PA U L A U D U B O N . O R G 3 T H E C A R D I N A L • FEBRUARY MARCH 2016 Saint Paul Audubon’s Spring Warbler Weekend May 6-8, 6 Reservation deadline April 6, 6 Many birders are aware that some of the world’s best birding is available right here in Minne- sota! During the spring migration one of the best locations for birds is along the north-south Mississippi and St. Croix River Flyway. Our annual Warbler Weekend is held near Frontenac, located on Lake Pepin, right on the flyway! Our annual weekends over the last 30-40 years have averaged 130-135 species, including an average of 21-24 species of warblers.

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