2016 MoBCI Conference · 150 national forests. Roosevelt also estab-lished 51 federal bird...

2016 MoBCI ConferenceCelebration of the Migratory Bird Treaty of 1916

Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative NewsletterWorking together to conserve bird populations and their habitats

AUGUST 2016 VolUMe 12

M y, how time flies! Since I retired in 2012, it has

been one of my proudest accomplishments to have served as your MoBCI Chair since our 2013 Annual Conference. Although the 2016 Conference brings my three-year term to an end, I would like to remain on board as a Steering Committee member representing the Missouri River Bird Obser-vatory. I personally want to say thanks to all of our 71 conservation partners for continu-ing to support bird conservation every day in the great variety of things that each one does! I am especially grateful to the other 17 members of the MoBCI Steering Committee that have been devoted supporters of our conservation efforts; what a fun and dedi-cated group of folks we have working for the conservation of birds and their habitats! For the past year, the following have served your interests extremely well: John Burk (National Wild Turkey Federation: MoBCI Vice-Chair), Chris Shulse (MoDOT: MoBCI Secretary), Charley Burwick (Greater Ozarks Audubon Society), Ted Cooper (Missouri Grouse Chap-

Gene Gardner, MoBCI Chair (2013–2016)

ter/QUWF), Theresa Davidson (US Forest Service), Denny Donnell (Columbia Audubon Society), Dave Graber (Ducks Unlimited), Susan Hazelwood (Audubon Society of MO), Steve Heying (Missouri Falconers Associa-tion), Doug Ladd (The Nature Conservancy), Wayne Morton (MO Chapter North American Grouse Partnership), Norman Murray (MO

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E:M o B C I 2 016 C o n f e r e n c e

Gene Gardner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

S a v in g t h e Ha b i t at w i t h Re n e w a b l e A l te r nat i v e En e r g y

John Burk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

T h e St ate o f N o r t h A m e r i c a’s B ir d s 2 016 Re p o r tBrad Jacobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

St i l w e l l Pr a i r i e : A L im e s to n e Pr a ir i e G e m in Ve r n o n C o unt y

Carol Davit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

B ir t h o f a Pr a ir i eBill Mees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2 01 5 J e r r y Wa d e Y H EP A w a r d Re c ip i e nt : L e e E x p r e s s i v e A r t s S c h o o l

Lottie Bushmann and Lori McCurdy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

B e l l e f o nt a in e C e m e te r y a n d A r b o r e t umKyle Cheeseborough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

C e l e b r at in g M ig r ato r y B ir d sSarah Kendrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

L a B a r q u e C r e e k Nat ur a l A r eaRon Colatskie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

B ip a r t i s a n B i l l Int r o d u c e d to En ha n c e F i s h a n d W i l dl i f e Fun din g

Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies .........................18

G r eat M i s s o ur i B i r din g Tr a i l Ta ke s F l ig h tEvan Hill and Sarah Kendrick .......................................1 9

M o B C I M e m b e r O r g a n i z at i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0

2 Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative Newsletter • Vol. 12 • August, 2016

Department of Conservation), Rehan Nana (Conservation Federation of Missouri), Rick Thom (MO Prairie Foundation), Linda Tossing (St. Louis Audubon Society), Allison Vaughn (MO Department of Natural Resources), and Kelly Srigley Werner (US Fish & Wildlife Ser-vice). Although not an official member of the Steering Committee, we all greatly appreciate working with Dave Erickson, who represents the MoBCI Foundation. Dave is a vital part of our team!

This year we celebrate the Centennial of the Convention between the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) for the Protec-tion of Migratory Birds which laid the ground-work for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This Act forms the cornerstone of our nation’s efforts to conserve birds that migrate across international borders. Commemorating the Centennial of the first treaty allows us to bring together those who have contributed to its success, and to galvanize efforts to protect migratory birds for generations to come. Any-one in MoBCI can tell you that migratory birds contribute critical environmental benefits, including pollination, insect and rodent con-trol, and seed dispersal. Birds are also good indicators of environmental health because they are so visible and are relatively easy to study. Studying birds can give us a picture of what is going on in the natural world. Birds connect people with nature and add beauty, sound and color to our world. They provide countless opportunities for enjoyment and they have cultural and spiritual importance. Even if you don’t personally appreciate birds, you surely must appreciate that birds play a key role in our U.S. economy, creating jobs and generating billions of dollars in revenue.

As of 2015, there are 25,800 protected ar-eas in the United States, but these areas vary widely in their level of protection. Protected lands cover 1,294,476 km2 (499,800 sq. mi.), or 14% of the land area of the United States; that is also one-tenth of the protected land area of the world. Despite this large degree

of protected lands, there currently are 497 species of wildlife listed as Endangered, and 202 species listed as Threatened (source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). There are 99 species of birds included in this total, which is to say that 14% of the wildlife of the U.S. that is En-dangered or Threatened are bird species.

This may sound grim, but the conserva-tion of birds and other wildlife and our natu-ral habitats have come a very long way over the past 100 years or so. Taking a look back over the past century, there have been many battles fought for conservation of birds and other wildlife and their habitats. Celebration of the Centennial should prompt us to briefly review some decisive events that will increase our perspective:

1886 First national Audubon Society was founded by George Bird Grinnell, but was later disbanded.

1886American Ornithologists Union (AOU) Model Law is proposed as a template for passing state bird protection legislation.

1894The first “bird day” was established in 1894 by a superintendent of schools in PA. Now offi-cially known as “International Migratory Bird Day,” it officially takes place on the second Sat-urday in May in the U.S. and Canada and on the second Saturday of October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. It is the first holiday in the United States dedicated to the celebration of birds. In Missouri, MoBCI has prepared many Governor’s Proclamations cel-ebrating International Migratory Bird Day and the highly successful MoBCI partnership.

1896Massachusetts Audubon Society founded; this was the first step in the permanent conserva-tion movement for birds in the United States.

1896Geer v. Connecticut — Supreme Court ruling recognizes that game animals are collective property of the citizens of a state, held in trust and regulated by state governments. Animals are placed under state rather than federal jurisdiction.

Working Together to Conserve and Restore Bird Populations and Their Habitats 3

1897Passage of the Organic Act, which was the first time forest reserves were set aside, on paper, which prompted Theodore Roosevelt to found the National Forest system, and shortly there-after, the U.S. Forest Service was created.

1900The Lacey Act passed, limiting market hunting by making it illegal to transport or sell a bird in one state when illegally hunted in another state; it became the first federal law protecting wildlife;

1900Christmas Bird Count began, providing critical data on population trends. Ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-na-scent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition — a “Christmas Bird Census” — that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

1902National Association of Audubon Societies is founded.

1902Bird Banding — Paul Bartsch of the Smithsonian Institution begins the first modern bird banding program.

1903Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the first federal bird reservation, was formed by President Roosevelt; during his presidency, he established a network of 55 bird reservations and national game preserves for wildlife — the forerunner to the national wildlife refuge system;

1903First comprehensive migratory bird law intro-duced in Congress — it did not come to a vote.

1913Weeks-McLean Law declared “all migratory and insectivorous birds to be within the custody and protection of the Federal government;” it prohibited the spring hunting and marketing of migratory bird and the importation of wild bird feathers for women’s fashion (replaced by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918).

1916Convention Treaty between the United States and Great Britain (on behalf of Canada) for

the Protection of Migratory Birds to “assure the preservation of species either harmless or beneficial to man.”

1918The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Woodrow Wilson on July 3, 1918.

1920Missouri v. Holland — U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholds constitutionality of Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

1934Passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, better known today as a Federal Duck Stamp. Ninety-eight cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase or lease wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclu-sion in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, approximately $800 million has gone into that fund to protect more than 6.5 million acres of habitat.

1936The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Com-mission were created by Article IV Sections 40–42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state as Amend-ment 4 to the constitution; the Commission is vested with control, management, restoration, conservation, and regulation of fish, forest, and wildlife resources of the state.

1937Passage of the Pittman-Robertson Act, also known as the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restora-tion Act, created a major source of funds for wildlife restoration. While market hunting was devastating to many species, sport hunt-ing provides a good source of revenue for wildlife protection and habitat improvem ent by providing a 10% tax on the manufacture of sporting arms and ammunition. This act stipulated that all money raised from the sale of hunting licenses must be used for wildlife projects. In the first ten years following the Pittman-Robertson Act, thirty-eight states acquired nearly 900,000 acres of refuges and wildlife management areas.


1976The Design for Conservation Sales Tax was passed by the citizens of Missouri. The tax is a 1/8 of a cent sales tax that goes directly to sup-port fish, forest and wildlife conservation ef-forts through the Missouri Department of Con-servation. In 1999, state officials attempted to divert the money from the conservation tax to pay refunds to taxpayers, but the Missouri Su-preme Court ruled that the conservation sales tax must be used ONLY for conservation and cannot be considered part of the state’s total revenues.

In the 19th and early 20th century, market hunting (large scale shooting of waterfowl for sale) caused major declines in populations of wild ducks and geese. Sport hunters became alarmed at this and began pressing for con-servation measures. However, there was no sportsman more aware of the plight of birds and wildlife as Theodore Roosevelt. The deci-mation of bison, and the eradication of elk, bighorn sheep, deer and other game species was a loss which Roosevelt felt indicative of society’s perception of our natural resources. While many still considered natural resources inexhaustible, Roosevelt would write:

“We have become great because of the lav-ish use of our resources. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation.”

After becoming president in 1901, Roosevelt used his authority to protect wild-life and public lands by creating the United States Forest Service (USFS) and establishing 150 national forests. Roosevelt also estab-lished 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks, and 18 national monuments. All told, Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land during his presidency. Much of the land that Roosevelt protected (150 mil-lion acres) was set aside as national forests.

Roosevelt was also the first president to create a Federal Bird Reserve, and he would establish 51 of these during his administra-tion. These reserves would later become today’s national wildlife refuges, managed by the USFWS; today there is a national wildlife refuge in every state.

The Migratory Bird Treaty, signed on Au-gust 16, 1916, connects the U.S. Fish & Wild-life Service with our federal, state, private, non-government, tribal, and international partners who share a long, successful his-tory of conserving, protecting, and managing migratory bird populations and their habitats. What an amazing coincidence that MoBCI was formally established on August 16, 2003!

In the same spirit of the Treaty, MoBCI’s founding members realized that their re-spective organizational interests in birds are varied, but that these diverse interests, if uni-fied, represent a powerful force of action and voice on behalf of birds and their habitats. Further, member organizations recognize that much more can be accomplished if we jointly engage in what are truly common goals. MoBCI supports the North American Bird Con-servation Initiative (NABCI), whose vision is one where “populations and habitats of North America’s birds are protected, restored, and enhanced through coordinated efforts at in-ternational, national, regional, state, and local levels, guided by sound science and effective management.” So successful is this partner-ship that MoBCI received a national award, entitled “2008 Outstanding Contributions to Bird Conservation,” from the NABCI/Associa-tion of Joint Venture Management Boards.

This year, as we celebrate the Centennial of the Migratory Bird Treaty, we are also celebrat-ing MoBCI’s continued commitment to sustain-ing bird conservation partnerships that have accomplished so much for bird conservation in Missouri. Working together, we will continue to achieve even more for bird conservation in our great state during the next century.


Saving the Habitat with Renewable Alternative energyby John BurkNational Wild Turkey Federation

The Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. Initiative continues to mold the way the National Wild

Turkey Federation thinks and assists us in strategi-cally pursuing mission achievement efforts. It is our goal to enhance and conserve 4 million acres, create 1.5 million new hunters, and open access to an additional 500,000 to hunting by the year 2023. One exciting new path for the NWTF is the concept of developing 10-year conservation plans for each of our 87 Focal Landscapes within America’s Big Six of Wildlife Conservation; this is a strategic approach to achieving significant habitat goals by outlining objec-tives and potential partners with specific conserved acre targets identified. We have always done good conservation work with our traditional partners, but we are looking beyond our normal parameters to get more work accomplished in our focal landscapes. Our strategic approach of creating specific develop-ment plans is helping us to collaborate with others who share a common vision, thus opening the door to more significant funding that will have larger con-servation benefits for the community at large.

With this new approach, the country is divided into six areas focusing our efforts to keep healthy

forests, clean water, and to stop critical habitat loss. Missouri falls within Americas Crossroads of the Big Six, a region which covers most of the Midwest. One example Focal Landscape is The Driftless Area, initially chosen because is spans 4 states (Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois) where there is tremendous partner interest and great potential for success. However, a recent new development has created additional opportunity within the Americas Crossroads region that relates directly to Missouri: A few years ago, the Midwest Conservation Biomass Alliance (MCBA) was established. This group of con-servation agencies, organizations, academia, and businesses coalesced as a result of the governmental push to develop alternative sources of energy and to be at the tip of the spear in guiding these efforts where possible. It is often very difficult to affect change within an established system, but when you can influence how the system is created, the impact can be very significant. We will continue to raise money to do the great conservation work that we have always done, but a few hundred or even a few thousand acres at a time is not as effective as conserving hundreds of thousands or even millions of acres.

For example, the creation of the Farm Bill and the practices cost shared by the tax payer have allowed large-scale conservation to happen. The primary goal of the Farm Bill was to address the

A system of multiple anaerobic digesters that process commercial animal waste as well as native vegetation can be economically sustainable. Creating a market for native vegetation also creates an opportunity for increasing habitat for wildlife that depend on native vegetation.


significant problems that we, as a nation, faced with regards to the impact to our soil and water quality our farming practices induced. Millions of tons of soil were being eroded away by wind and rain, and agricultural nutrients and chemicals were polluting our streams and rivers. Previously accepted prac-tices were recognized as unsustainable, so the fed-eral government created a system that effectively addressed the crisis. Almost overnight, hundreds of millions of acres of land previously under the plow were set aside for conservation of these resources, and wildlife responded immediately. Over the years, practices within the Farm Bill have been tweaked to be even more wildlife friendly; wildlife management became a priority rather than a collateral benefit.

The MCBA is taking a similar strategic approach as they work to influence policy designed to encour-age the development of alternative sources of ener-gy. Currently, efforts to develop wind, biofuels, and other sources of energy have still not been highly successful—no one has really cracked the code on how to make alternative energy cheaper, more convenient than oil, and profitable enough to fully invest developers. However, an effort is underway in northern Missouri to address multiple challenges facing agriculture, while at the same time creating alternative energy AND wildlife habitat.

Rudi Roeslein is a St. Louis businessman who built a successful business as an engineer creating manufacturing systems that are sold all over the world. Rudi’s global perspective, keen eye for op-portunity, understanding of complicated systems and processes, and his passion for the outdoors and conservation have put him at the forefront of an effort that shows great promise for northern Mis-souri and eventually throughout the Midwest. Our goal, outlined in our Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. state plan, is to enhance and conserve 18,000 acres of grassland by 2023; Rudi’s goal is to enhance and conserve thirty million acres.

Rudi is in the process of creating anaerobic digesters that will address an existing problem facing hog producers in the area. The confinement operations where the hogs are raised generate large amounts of animal waste. The commercial farms that run these confinement operations initially

purchased large chunks of land to disperse the efflu-ent generated by the hogs (about 45,000 acres). The volume of waste disposal exceeded the air, soil, and water quality standards established and enforced by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources such that the farms have to operate at a reduced capac-ity. Phase I of Rudi’s solution to the hog producers’ problems was to develop anaerobic digesters that capture, store and breakdown the hog waste. This process reduces the amount of effluent that needs to be disposed. When effluent discharge is reduced the capacity of the farm can increase and still re-main within environmental quality standards; a win for the producers.

A significant byproduct of the anaerobic diges-tion process is biogas with a high concentration of methane, which can be purified into pipeline quality renewable natural gas. Digesters function by creat-ing the ideal environment for specific bacteria to breakdown a specific kind of waste. In the case of hog waste, the specific bacteria used in the pro-cess prefer warm temperatures. Therefore, biogas production decreases significantly during cooler weather and, in fact, below production levels that would keep renewable energy production profitable strictly using these digesters. However, a different kind of digester with bacteria that breaks down cel-lulose in plant material prefers cooler temperatures for optimum production. Establishing a system with multiple digesters was discovered to be sustainable.

A variety of plant material can be used to feed the digesters, but Rudi is currently working with university researchers to determine what mixture of native vegetation would create the best structure for wildlife species while at the same time providing adequate volume to feed the digesters. The initial math indicates that it will work. The next step will be to convert 200 acres of fescue to a preferred native vegetation mix. During 2016, we will work with key partners to fund the initial fescue eradica-tion. During the following year, we will complete the process by establishing 200 acres of native warm season grass that will provide preferred nesting and brood rearing habitat for turkeys, affordable energy, and hopefully set the stage for a sea change in land management in America’s Crossroads.


by Brad JacobsMissouri Department of Conservation

T he State of North America’s Birds 2016 is

the first summary report on the conser-

vation status of all bird species that occur in

Canada, the continental United States, and

Mexico. A unique three-country partnership

called the North American Bird Conservation

Initiative (NABCI) is integrally linked by a long

history of cooperation in all-bird conserva-

tion. It is not a coincidence that this report

has been released on the 100-year anniver-

sary of the Migratory Bird Treaty between

Canada and the United States, and, an 80-year

anniversary with Mexico.

Bird experts from this three-country part-

nership called NABCI have jointly assessed

1,154 native bird species that occur in Canada,

the continental United States, and Mexico.

This status assessment provided an account-

ing for each species based on its population

trend, population size, extent of breeding and

nonbreeding ranges, and severity of threats

to populations. Methodology information,

the complete assessment database, animated

maps, and other resources are available at

stateofthebirds.org.

The report was released by the NABCI

partners at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa,

Canada on behalf of all three countries, with

a simultaneous event at the Canadian Em-

bassy in Washington, DC in partnership with

International Migratory Bird Day. The North

American Bird Conservation Initiative was

created in 1999 by Canada, the United States,

and Mexico as a tri-national commitment to

protect birds and their habitats.

Design: D

iane L. Tessaglia-Hym

es; Illustration: Misaki O

uchida.

The report also shows that more than

one third of all North American bird species

need urgent conservation action and calls

for a renewed, continent-wide commitment

to saving our shared birds and their habitats.

Healthy environments for birds also provide

benefits to other wildlife and people, such as

clean air and water, flood and erosion control,

and coastal resilience. When bird populations

struggle, it indicates our natural resources are

struggling too.

This report reflects a groundbreaking

collaboration to evaluate bird populations

across the continent. It calls for a renewed

commitment to continental bird conservation

agreements to keep our shared birds safe and

healthy for the next 100 years.

Includes information based on press releases written by

Judith Scarl, NABCI Coordinator.

The State of North America’s Birds 2016 Report


Stilwell Prairie:A limestone Prairie Gemin Vernon CountyMoBCI Funding Improves Grassland Bird Habitatat this Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie

By Carol DavitMissouri Prairie Foundation

I n FY15 and in previous years, MoBCI grant

funding contributed to tremendous restora-

tion eff orts at the 376 acre Stilwell Prairie in

Vernon County, one of 20 sites that the 50-year-

old Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) owns

and manages. In FY15, MoBCI funding and MPF

matching funds supported the following work:

removal of trees from 140 acres, treatment of

non-native plants including sericea lespedeza

over 270 acres, seeding of locally collected na-

tive grass and wildfl ower seed over areas rid of

woody growth, and a prescribed burn. These

activities improved habitat in degraded portions

of this original prairie and benefi tted grassland

birds and other wildlife, while moving MPF

closer to completing its Stilwell Prairie Restora-

tion Plan.

Stilwell Prairie is situated on a ridgetop

with views of the Little Osage River Valley to

the north and the Marmaton River Valley to

the south, close to the Four Rivers Wetland

and Wet Prairie Complex Conservation Oppor-

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Photo by Scott Lenharth


tunity Area. It contains two state-imperiled

community types tracked by the Missouri Nat-

ural Heritage Database: dry-mesic limestone/

dolomite and dry-mesic sandstone/shale

prairie natural communities, as well as more

than 350 plant species, including the federally

threatened Mead’s milkweed (Asclepias mea-

dii). Stilwell Prairie also supports many spe-

cies of grassland birds, many of which need

a wide variety of grassland vegetation types.

Annual bird surveys have occurred as match

included with each MoBCI grant for Stilwell

Prairie in past years.

For FY17, MPF was awarded a $4,000

MoBCI grant to continue woody removal and

conduct a prescribed burn over approximately

100 acres of Stilwell Prairie late in 2016 or

early in 2017. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-

vice matched funding of $4,120, and Audubon

Society of Missouri and MPF provided in-kind

contributions.

By June 2016, Jeff Cantrell of the Audubon

Society of Missouri compiled the following list

of birds at Stilwell Prairie: Bell’s vireo, scis-

sor-tailed flycatchers, horned larks, Eastern

kingbirds, yellow-breasted chats, grasshopper

sparrows, Henslow’s sparrows, lark sparrow,

dickcissels, and Eastern meadowlarks.

The most recent burns stimulated both

wild dill (Perideridia americana, a species of

conservation concern in Missouri) and willow-

leaf sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius), which,

like other sunflower species, provides winter

seed for non-migratory birds.

Ecologists rank temperate grasslands—

which include Missouri’s tallgrass prairies—as

the least conserved, most threatened major

terrestrial habitat type on earth. Therefore,

prairie protection and restoration efforts at

Stilwell Prairie are not only essential to pre-

serving Missouri’s natural heritage, but also

Courtesy M

issouri Departm

ent of Conservation

are significant to national and even global

conservation work.

Improved prairie habitat conditions at Stilwell

Prairie for declining grassland bird species

continue to benefit the large birding public who

will have greater opportunities for wildlife view-

ing. Habitat for Northern bobwhite quail is ex-

pected to increase with habitat improvements,

thereby enhancing quail hunting opportunities

in the surrounding area with increased nesting

and brood-rearing success of these charismatic

grassland birds.

Biologically diverse prairie is part of Mis-

souri’s rich natural heritage. It remains our

responsibility to conserve prairie for the enjoy-

ment and benefit of future generations. Stilwell

Prairie, like all properties owned by MPF, is

open for all citizens to enjoy. MPF is grateful

to MoBCI for funding that continues to further

MPF’s mission.

Lark Sparrows are common inhabitants of Stillwell Prairie.


MOBCI Grant Progress Report:

Birth of a Prairieby Bill MeesPast President, Columbia Audubon Society

A n American institution, A Prairie Home Com-panion signed off the radio waves on July

2, 2016. But the rebirth of a prairie is alive and well in the middle of Columbia, Missouri.

The name, Audubon, is synonymous with birds and true to its namesake, Columbia Audu-bon Society (CAS) members care about birds and bird conservation. As a matter of fact, several CAS members were among those who helped organize MoBCI. This commitment prompted CAS to partner with local groups to submit its first grant application to MoBCI seek-ing support to rebuild a 15 acre prairie.

The acreage lies within CAS-owned Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary and the neighbor-ing city-owned Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary (Columbia Parks and Recreation Department). These properties are located in a residential area within the Columbia city limits and are remnants of a Century Farm.

The process of developing a detailed plan for a

native grassland restoration rekindled enthusiasm among CAS members for this long-anticipated prairie project. Bird conservation through habitat restoration was the initial idea behind the request for MoBCI grant support. Additionally, the prox-imity of the future prairie planting to Fairview Elementary School offers an opportunity to edu-cate students about the importance of habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Neighbors first observed a significant project was underway in the fall of 2014. The once-green fescue field was brown following the first herbicide application. Over the next 13 months, three additional applications eliminated the fescue as well as invading “weeds.” During this interval, a contractor and personnel with Co-lumbia’s Parks and Recreation Department re-moved Eastern Red Cedars, locusts and smaller invading woody species.

Consultants with the Hawthorn Chapter of the Missouri Native Plant Society recommended securing prairie seed from nearby locations to improve seed and species survival. Collectors met at Prairie Fork Conservation Area, Tucker Prairie Conservation Area, Rocky Fork Conser-vation Area, and the CAS-owned Wild Haven Nature Area, spending over 268 hours collecting seed. This seed was then augmented by a seed


purchase made possible by the MoBCI grant. Planting of all of the native seed took place in January 2016 over a light covering of snow and during a freeze-thaw period.

During the 52-week MoBCI grant period (July 1, 2015–June 30, 2016), volunteers from both Colum-bia Audubon Society and Audubon Society of Mis-souri have submitted 159 bird checklist reports to eBird. This represents over 230 volunteer hours committed to bird monitoring. These reports establish the baseline to which later reports will be compared to reveal the impact of this project on “all things” bird habitat related.

Today, we’re at the most difficult part of the whole project — waiting. Close inspec-tion of the seeded acreage this spring revealed substantial germination of long-lived peren-nial forbs and grasses. The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, a partner in the project, has performed a “high mowing” of the area to prevent the inevitable native invasives such as various ragweeds from producing seed. One small area remains un-mowed to provide a glimpse of things to come. The difference between this un-mowed patch compared to the former fescue field is obvious. Numerous wildflowers bloom now in the unmowed area, including tickseeds and black-eyed Susans. Next growing season should see even more species in bloom, which will be great for birds and pollina-tors, as well as hikers through the area.

The Columbia Audubon Society is grateful for the financial support from MoBCI and all of our partners who have helped with advice and on the ground conservation. Partners for this grant include the Hawthorn Chapter of MoNPS, MDC, Greenbelt Land Trust, Audubon Society of Mis-souri and our fellow land-management agency, Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. With these partnerships and the valuable MoBCI grant, along with a generous anonymous donation to CAS for this project, we will see a vista of prairie plants gracing the neighborhood instead of a bar-ren fescue pasture. Thanks to everyone for all of their support in this project.

Black-eyed Susans and tickseed Coreopsis are common on the prairie planting at Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary. Widely-spaced oak trees create the setting of a savanna landscape in the jointly owned restoration area.


By Lottie Bushmann and Lori McCurdyLee Expressive Arts School

I n 2015, MoBCI awarded Lee Expressive Arts School the first Jerry Wade Youth Habitat

and Education Program grant to enhance our urban schoolyard to benefit wildlife, in partic-ular to create habitat for birds and insects. At Lee, an area adjacent to the school, called the LEAP Area (Lee Expressive Arts Park), is the area in which we spent grant dollars to im-prove. Because high-rise downtown buildings surround Lee, this small park is an interesting place with unique challenges. For example, ten years ago it served the homeless commu-nity as an encampment between Lee School and Pacquin Tower. Today there is a small Co-lumbia Parks and Recreation Department park between Pacquin Tower and our Lee Expres-sive Arts Park.

A committee of Lee parents, concerned citizens, and school administration worked together to reclaim this area by installing a fence around this grassy area that was main-tained solely by mowing. Around this time, the University of Missouri began an initiative called “Playgrounds Without Borders,” which was a school playground improvement grant that was awarded to Lee to improve the small park. During the information-gathering pe-riod of the grant application process, it was discovered that the homeless encampment was actually on Columbia Public School prop-erty. So, Lee School reclaimed the land and, through the grant, acquired rocks, climbing tires, a small stage, and outdoor instruments in an effort to increase the ways students could interact with the outdoors and to enrich the arts integration approach for which Lee Expressive Arts School is recognized.

Lee Expressive Arts School is now sur-rounded by many new high-rise buildings, the construction of which required a lot of tree and shrubbery removal, a natural setting

2015 Jerry Wade Youth Habitat and education Program Award Recipient: lee expressive Arts School

replaced with bricks and concrete. The goal of the YHEP grant was to accomplish as much as we could to help replace lost habitat in the area. Planting native plants was our first step. Grant dollars were earmarked for native plants from Missouri Wildflowers and other native plant nurseries.

The habitat enrichment project planning coincided with a school-wide study of John James Audubon, inspired by the Audubon folio exhibit at the State Historical Society. All classes at Lee learned about birds in their classes, and with loans of bird mounts from various state and federal agencies, students were able to get up close to see the detail of birds, and even sketch them in their classes. Students’ interest in the Audubon curriculum that it seemed to be a good fit to proceed with the planting so students could have an outdoor classroom to continue their educa-

Lee Expressive Arts School father Allan Teasley and students Devin, Daniel, and Carson volunteer to plant native plants as part of the YHEP grant in the school’s park.


tion about birds and habitat. In late 2015, MoBCI accepted our grant request for the Jerry Wade Youth Habitat and Education Pro-gram grant in order that we could then make the park more bird-friendly, a true outdoor habitat for wildlife full of native plants. The goal was to make LEAP a place to observe and interact with nature, more than just a playground area. The area to be improved with native plants would be separate from the playground equipment and used purpose-fully by teachers for educational enrichment. We observe all wildlife, including birds, in-sects, and also study the plant life. The grant award would prove to supplement the Audu-bon studies and address the loss of habitat in the area. Our goal is to bring the children’s learning full circle.

In spring of 2016, Lori McCurdy and I met with Columbia Audubon Society member Allison Vaughn to discuss plant species selec-tion and recommendations of how to improve the LEAP area. In early May, we invited fami-lies to join us to help weed the area that we wanted to plant. Several individuals worked hard to clear an overgrown area. It was a beautiful morning and everyone was in good spirits while we worked. Once the area was cleared, we purchased plants at the Missouri Wildflower Nursery. We purchased metal fencing to indicate the gardens to the Colum-bia Public School land crews (who tend to use weed eaters heavily). We also had free mulch delivered from the Columbia Public School District and we gathered large cardboard boxes to use under the mulch.

This project was a school-wide project, so we invited every class that would like to participate to sign up for a planting time. Mc-Curdy and helpers worked with these classes divided into small groups to get everything planted. The children enjoyed getting their hands dirty and the planting event was a great opportunity to talk about the great worms and other insects in the soil. Together, approximately 200 students participated in the YHEP project. All grade levels were rep-resented (save for 3rd grade because they do the Farm to Table program and have been

immersed in the CCUA program all year). Thanks to the generous YHEP grant for Lee

Expressive Arts School and volunteer labor, we purchased and planted the following species to enhance the area for bird and insect habitat:

Spice bush Joe Pye weed

Golden currant Wild bergamont

Gray head coneflower Missouri primrose

Purple coneflower Lanceleaf coreopsis

Blue sage Royal catchfly

Spiderwort Culver’s root

Slender mountain mint Cooper iris

Milkweeds (swamp, purple, common)

Soft rush

The volunteers were in charge of watering. One of our early workers, Tim (4th grade I believe), attends Adventure club after school each day, and after weeding and helping plant the plants, he took on the responsibility to water as needed. Luckily, July has been kind and the plants seem to be growing well. The weeds are thriving as well. We had another work party on July 18th. Four volunteers spent the morning clearing weeds. Unfortu-nately, we discovered that our fence disap-peared. I have several theories about what happened to it but do not know for sure. It appears to be permanently gone. That is one of the challenges faced by an urban school.

So far, volunteers have put in 39 hours, not including hours of student involvement. The next step is to install a wildlife camera for the older grades to use for monitoring and to provide teacher in-service about the area and the work we have done and how it connects to their curriculum. We will also provide teachers with activities that they can do with their classes in the LEAP area. Much of the Lee staff already utilize the outdoor classroom areas for educational opportuni-ties, and to connect children to their natural surroundings. We have multiple walking field trips throughout the school year, at all grade levels. Our students are connected to their “place” in the community and have demon-strated compassion by caring for their school grounds throughout the process.


MoBCI Member Profile:

Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum, St. louis, Missouri by Kyle CheeseboroughHorticulture Supervisor, Bellefontaine Cemetery Assoc.

I n the last few years, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum in St. Louis has worked in

conjunction with various partners to enhance wildlife on the grounds. Being a 314 acre green space in the northern limits of St. Louis City - just blocks away from the Mississippi River - the staff at Bellefontaine have recog-nized our importance to a number of animals, particularly birds. Our proximity to one of North America’s major migratory pathways puts the Cemetery in position to provide a vital stopover point.

Through a partnership with the Audubon Center at Riverlands, we have identified over 130 species of resident and migratory birds, and we have earned our designation as an Impor-tant Bird Area. With help from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Audubon Society, Bellefontaine Cemetery staff have in-

Wood duck breeding pair in a canopy tree.

Black-crowned Night Heron and water liles at Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum.

stalled a series of purely Missouri-native plant-

ing beds, tailored to provide nesting, forage,

and cover sites for our avian friends.

The Cemetery has seen an overhaul in its

landscape, to include development of the un-

derstory — providing an essential cover layer

for many of our smaller birds. The creation of a

faux-shoreline in one of our two lakes and sub-

sequent planting of native, pond-edge species

has increased waterfowl activity. Buffleheads,

green herons, sandpipers, and others are com-

Photo by Kyle C

heeseboroughPhoto by K

yle Cheeseborough


by Sarah KendrickPrograms Supervisor, Missouri Dept. of Conservation

T he year 2016 marks the centennial of the

Migratory Bird Treaty, signed in 1916 by the

United States and Great Britain, for Canada.

After approximately 100 years of market

hunting and unregulated use of migratory

birds for their meat, feathers, and eggs, many

bird populations had plummeted by the early

20th century. The federal government took

action to stop further losses by signing the

Migratory Bird Treaty. The treaty specifi cally

prohibits the hunting, killing, capturing, pos-

session, sale, transportation, and exportation

of birds, eggs, feathers, and nests. Hunting

seasons were added later to help maintain

healthy bird populations. The Migratory Bird

Treaty — and three other similar treaties with

Mexico, Russia, and Japan — form the corner-

stones of migratory bird conservation across

international borders.

The Treaty not only protects populations

of migratory birds and many non-migratory

permanent resident birds, it also enhances

our lives by ensuring that populations of

diverse, beautiful birds are sustained for

generations to come. Missouri’s land manage-

ment agencies including the Missouri Depart-

ment of Conservation, Department of Natural

Resources, Mark Twain National Forest, The

Nature Conservancy and others manage

a suite of natural communities across the

state to provide stop-over foraging habitats

for these birds along their annual migration

routes. For more information on the Migra-

tory Bird Treaty Centennial, visit http://www.

fws.gov/birds/MBTreaty100.

Celebrating Migratory Birds

mon sightings in a once bleak landscape.

The recently formed Great Missouri Birding

Trail includes Bellefontaine Cemetery, having

recognized the Cemetery’s exceptional bird-

ing potential in St. Louis. Nesting at Bellefon-

taine has seen a sharp increase in the last two

years, due to the addition of the aforemen-

tioned plantings, as well as astute awareness

of the many sites occupied by birds (leaving

dead trees & snags, educating staff to iden-

tify nest sites). Bellefontaine Cemetery & Ar-

boretum is transforming into an urban oasis,

and upcoming/ongoing projects are carried

out with consideration for the wild visitors

that utilize the Cemetery, both every day and

with the changing seasons.


laBarque Creek Natural AreaRon ColatskieNatural Resource Steward, Missouri Dept. Natural Resources

N estled in the wooded Ozark foothills of

northwest Jefferson County, the lands of

the LaBarque Creek watershed area have long

been on the radar for local conservationists.

Specifically, the rugged headwaters of the

watershed, with its steeply incised box sand-

stone canyons and dolomite glades have been

of particular interest.

Father James Sullivan and Arthur Christ of

the Webster Groves Nature Study Society were

a couple of the first botanists to highlight the

natural significance of the region during their

early botanical surveys of the 1960’s. Esteemed

bryologist Nels Holmberg and others continued

to add to the list which now harbors 524 species of vascular plants, 107 mosses, 47 lichens, 29 liverworts and 1 hornwort.

The Missouri Department of Conservation initially purchased 535 acres of what is now the 1,274 LaBarque Creek Conservation Area following recent purchases. The initial 535 acre purchase was nominated as the LaBarque Creek Natural Area by the Missouri Natural Areas Committee (MoNAC). In 2007, Mr. Don Robinson agreed to bequeath his entire 843 acre property, which took place following his passing in March, 2012. Mr. Robinson’s gener-ous gift showcases some of the most rugged portions of the watershed with several large box-sandstone canyons, sandstone glades, sandstone woodlands and a peppering of small, but high quality, dolomite glades.

Although Don Robinson State Park is not planned to open to the public until December of 2016, staff have been actively restoring

Prescribed fire management occurred at the LaBarque Creek Natural Area in 2015 and 2016.

Photo by Ron C

olatskie


some of the higher quality natural communi-ties to the benefit of a wide array of flora and fauna. With generous support from a Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative (MoBCI) grant, to the tune of $11,746, park staff initiated res-toration efforts within 55 acres of glades and woodlands in what will be one of the most frequented portions of the park. Park stew-ards have been pleased to see woodland flora such as little bluestem, big bluestem, Fre-mont’s leather flower and glade coneflower begin to burst forth in profusion following removal of cedar trees and an umbrella-like canopy of sugar maple. Such efforts will benefit shrubland birds such as the prairie warbler, eastern towhee, magnolia warbler and the indigo bunting. With the assistance of avid birders such as Pat Leuders, 65 species of birds have been documented within the project area.

In the May of 2016, members of the De-

partment of Natural Resources – Division of

State Parks and the Missouri Department of

Conservation proposed an addition to the

existing natural area from the highest quality

portions of land between the two agencies.

The expansion of the LaBarque Creek Natural

Area now brings the total acreage up to 2,056

acres, second in size in the St. Louis region

only to Pelican Island Natural Area.

The two agencies plan to connect the trail

systems between their lands allowing for

nature enthusiasts to trek unabated through-

out a variety of some of Missouri’s rarest and

highest quality natural communities.

Don Robinson State Park is located in Ce-

dar Hill, Missouri and will be accessible near

Brynesville and Sandcut Roads when it opens

in late 2016 or early 2017. LaBarque Creek

Conservation area is accessible off of Valley

Drive in Cedar Hill, Missouri.

Glade management involving prescribed fire occurred at Don Robinson State Park as part of the MoBCI grant agreement.

Photo by Ron C

olatskie


Bipartisan Bill Introduced to enhance Funding for Fish and WildlifeThe Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Press Release

Washington, DC (July 7, 2016) — Yesterday, Congressman Don Young (R-AK) and Con-gresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 5650) calling for $1.3 billion in exist-ing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters be dedicated to the Wildlife Conserva-tion Restoration Program to conserve a full array of fish and wildlife.

“Hunters, anglers, recreational shooters and motorized boaters, through fees and licenses, have been the backbone of fund-ing the conservation of America’s fish and wildlife. Over the years these original conser-vationists have greatly enhanced the State’s ability to perform science-based manage-ment of fish and wildlife species throughout the country,” said Dave Chanda, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agen-cies and Director of New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. “Today we find ourselves at a critical crossroad and impending fish and wildlife crisis that could alter our children and grandchildren’s opportunities to enjoy these resources. If we want to secure the future of all of America’s fish and wildlife resources, a fundamental enhancement in how we finance conservation is essential. We believe the right path is to begin investing now in a 21st cen-tury vision for fish and wildlife.”

The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, comprised of national business and conser-vation leaders, convened in 2015 to recom-

mend a new mechanism to sustainably fund fish and wildlife conservation. In March 2016, the Panel recommended that a $1.3 billion trust fund be created using existing fees from energy and mineral development on federal lands and water to support implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans in every state, territory and the District of Columbia.

“As a strong supporter of conservation and sportsmen alike, I’m proud to take the lead on an important discussion regarding fish and wildlife conservation across the country,” said Congressman Don Young. “While we’ve seen many great successes in management and conservation projects in the past, this legisla-tion takes a unique approach to allow states to make responsible management decisions at home. As someone who proudly supports the management of fish and game for all Ameri-cans – for sportsmen, subsistence purposes, and for future generations – I believe this legislation is a responsible first step in devel-oping a path forward.”

“It has been proven over the decades that incredible gains in species conservation have been made with dedicated sources of fund-ing,” Rep. Dingell said. “The Restoring Amer-ica’s Wildlife Act builds off the successes of previous efforts including Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund by giving state fish and wildlife agencies additional resources they need to proactively manage at-risk wildlife species. I am proud to introduce this legis-lation with my Republican colleague from Alaska, Mr. Young. We both love the outdoors and know we must work hard to protect our natural resources. To some we may seem the odd couple but together we believe we can get something done that will help bring con-servation into the 21st Century and comple-ment the other successful programs that are currently in place.”

“America’s hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and boaters have been the primary


funders of state-based conservation efforts

to this day,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s

Foundation President Jeff Crane. “This recom-

mendation simply uses funding for conserva-

tion from other sectors that use our natural

resources.”

“We have a once in a generation opportuni-

ty to save thousands of at-risk wildlife species

by investing in proactive, collaborative conser-

vation. By modernizing how we fund conser-

vation of the full diversity of wildlife, we will

bolster our natural resources, strengthen our

outdoor recreation economy, reduce regulato-

ry uncertainty, improve public health, and bol-

ster community resilience,” said Collin O’Mara,

president and chief executive officer of the

National Wildlife Federation. “We thank Con-

gressman Young and Congresswoman Dingell

for their exceptional leadership on the Recov-

ering America’s Wildlife Act.”

Great Missouri Birding Trail Takes Flightby Evan Hill and Sarah KendrickMissouri Department of Conservation

T he recently-launched Great Missouri Bird-ing Trail is an exciting effort to entice

new birdwatchers to the activity and possibly point out a few new birding spots to sea-soned vets. The Trail is not a physical trail, but rather a map of the “best of the best” birding sites across the state. The Trail’s website,

Ø GreatMissouriBirdingTrail.comfeatures an interactive Google map that shows birding locations with high-quality habitats for resident and migrating birds. The trail is divided into six trail regions, each with its own group of sites for you to explore. Cur-rently, the Kansas City, St. Louis, Central, and Southeast trail sections are complete, with the Northeast and the Southwest coming soon. The Kansas City and St. Louis trails each have a nested Metro Trail, which feature bird-ing sites close to the city center to promote urban birding. The Trail is a partnership be-tween the Missouri Bird Conservation Foun-dation, the Missouri Department of Conserva-tion, On the Run convenience stores, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, with other non-profit, state, and federal sup-porters, including MoBCI!

How to Use GreatMissouriBirdingTrail.comThe website has a toolbar at the top with

different headings (Birding Trails, Birding Resources, Backyard Birding, etc.). You can click the heading, or hover your mouse over the heading to bring up the dropdown menu. Navigate to the trail section you’d like to ex-plore from the drop-down menu under Bird-ing Trails, and use the interactive Google Map to find birding sites near you. Use your mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out of the map, and click on an icon to bring up the menu for that site, including a link to its Site Descrip-tion. Alternatively, if you know the name of the site you’d like to visit, use the Site Index to find it. The link to the index is located just below the map’s legend.


MoBCI Member organizations

A s of August 2016, the following 71 orga-

nizations have signed a Memorandum of

Agreement to participate in the Missouri Bird

Conservation Initiative:

Academy of Science of St. LouisAmerican Bird Conservancy/Central Hardwoods

Joint VentureAudubon MissouriAudubon Society of MissouriAudubon Society:

Chariton Valley Chapter•Columbia Chapter•Grand River Chapter•Greater Kansas City Chapter, Burroughs •Audubon SocietyGreater Ozarks Chapter•Midland Empire Chapter•River Bluffs Chapter•St. Louis Chapter•

Avian Conservation AllianceBellefontaine Cemetery & ArboretumCity of Des Peres Parks & Recreation DepartmentClay County Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Historic

SitesColdwater Outing and Game PreserveConservation Federation of MissouriDucks UnlimitedEleven Point River ConservancyForest Park ForeverForrest Keeling NurseryGreenbelt Land Trust of Mid-MissouriKansas City Wildlands/Bridging The GapLaBarque Watershed Stream Team AssociationL-A-D FoundationLitzsinger Road Ecology CenterMark Twain National Forest, USDA Forest ServiceMassasauga Flats, LLCMissouri Army National GuardMissouri Conservation Heritage FoundationMissouri Department of ConservationMissouri Department of Natural Resources, Div of

State Parks

Missouri Department of TransportationMissouri Falconers AssociationMissouri Master Naturalists:

Boone’s Lick Chapter•Hi Lonesome Chapter•Osage Trails Chapter•Springfield Plateau Chapter•

Missouri Native Plant Society, Hawthorn ChapterMissouri Native Seed AssociationMissouri Park and Recreation AssociationMissouri Prairie FoundationMissouri Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation

Grouse ChapterMissouri River Bird ObservatoryMussel Fork Legacy Marsh LLCNational Wild Turkey Federation, MO ChapterNorth American Grouse Partnership, Missouri

ChapterOzark National Scenic RiverwaysOzark Regional Land Trust, Inc.Pheasants ForeverQuail and Upland Wildlife Federation Inc.Quail ForeverSierra Club, Ozark ChapterThe Nature Conservancy, Missouri Field OfficeTruman State UniversityU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge•Ecological Services•Great River/Clarence Cannon National Fish & •Wildlife RefugeMingo National Fish & Wildlife Refuge•Missouri Private Lands Office•Squaw Creek National Fish & Wildlife Refuge•Swan Lake National Fish & Wildlife Refuge•

University of Missouri-ColumbiaWatershed Institute, Inc and The Watershed Land

TrustWebster Groves Nature Study SocietyWild Birds for the 21st CenturyWildcat Glades Conservation & Nature CenterWings Over WestonWorld Bird Sanctuary

To find out more about the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative and how you can par-ticipate as a member organization, visit our

website: <www.mobci.net>

2016 MoBCI Conference · 150 national forests. Roosevelt also estab-lished 51 federal bird...

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