Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of...

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“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” ~ Rachel Carson Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” Newsletter of the Buffalo Audubon Society SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2015

Transcript of Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of...

Page 1: Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” ... Mrs. Kalista Lehrer In Memory of Joan

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will

endure as long as life lasts.”

~ Rachel Carson

Audubon Outlook

“106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015”

Newsletter of the Buffalo Audubon Society SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2015

Page 2: Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” ... Mrs. Kalista Lehrer In Memory of Joan

Check out Buffalo Audubon Society Events Online

2 www.buffaloaudubon.org

The Buffalo Audubon Society promotes appreciation and

enjoyment of the natural world through education and stewardship.

BUFFALO AUDUBON SOCIETYA Chapter of the National Audubon Society

1610 Welch Road North Java, NY 14113

Ph 585.457-3228Fax 585.457-1378

E-mail: [email protected]

Officers & DirectOrs 2015/2016

PRESIDENT Stuart Hempel

VICE PRESIDENT Janet Benjamins

RECORDING SECRETARY Marcia Nixon

TREASURER Kim Jackson

PAST PRESIDENT David Gordon

DirectorsJeff Beich

Melissa FratelloKatherine Gorman

Ana Hernandez-BalzacKaren Lee LewisRichard Kingston

Natasha Soto

staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Loren Smith

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Lauren Makeyenko

NATURALISTS Mark Carra Tom Kerr

Chris Kieber Carol Welsh

OFFICE MANAGER Jackie Keller

GIFT SHOP MANAGER Ellen George

CARETAKER Lynn Feist

VOLUNTEER RECRUITER Karen Michel

Buffalo Audubon is a proud member of the Western New York Environmental Alliance. Visit GrowWNY.org for more information!

Our Sincere Thanks To Our Recent Donors Legacy Society Members:

Anonymous (4) ~ Mary Canfield ~ Barbara Delenkitis ~ Judith Hoffman ~ Dorothy Rapp ~ Susan and Allen Ott, Sr. ~ Amy Choboy and

Pamela Rossotto ~ Dr. Scott W. Phillips and Ms. Mary C. Carroll Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Stevenson

The Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have made a bequest or other estate plan to benefit the Buffalo Audubon Society, and who have let us know of their intent. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to these individuals for the wonderful commitment they have made to the long-term success of the Buffalo Audubon Society.

If you have made such a gift and would like to be recognized in this and other listings, or if you would like information about how to make such a gift, please contact Loren Smith at (585) 457-3228 or [email protected].

DONORS: Thanks to all who gave after we went to press and who will be listed in the next issue.

In Memory of Bob & Eileen Hull - Mrs. Kalista Lehrer

In Memory of Joan Strauss - Mr. & Mrs. Bruce A. and Lori Morrell

Mr. Michael J. AnzaloneMs. Bernice P. BaeumlerMs. Joan P. BaeumlerThe Bank of CastileMaxine BarberMr. Norbert J. BaronWilliam and Mary BarrenMs. Sue BarthMrs. Barbara A. BartusMr. and Mrs. Paul BeckerJeff and Susan BeichMr. and Mrs. George BeyerMr. and Mrs. Jack BleichMr. William BowerMr. Louis BoyerMs. Kimberly S. BraggMr. Kenneth BrandesMr. Gordon BrumaginBuffalo EnergyMs. Patricia A. BulgerMiss Judith A. CasassaMr. and Mrs. Darrell CaseyMr. and Mrs. Peter ChristensenMr. Ernest ClarkMr. Dale CliffordMr. and Mrs. Seaghan ColemanMr. Donald R. CollinsMr. Richard W. CuttingNarcy and Karen CzajkaMs. Jane D’AgostinoMrs. Taddy DannMs. Barbara DelenkitisDr. and Mrs. Maurice DeweyMs. Sally M. DobbsMs. Teresa DornMr. and Mrs. Richard DrueschlerDale DuncanMr. Stephen L. DysonEcology & Environment, IncMs. Cynthia EndresMrs. Bonnie EverettDonald and Jean FeltonMr. Robert W. FesslerMrs. Marian FfieldMs. Marjorie K. FieldingJudith FisherMr. Gary FlaggDr. Paula C. Flynn D.D.S.Mr. Robert Fogelsonger

Ms. Kathryn FonteMs. Mary Lou FrandinaMr. and Mrs. William R. FriederMr. Donald R. GettyMs. Rosemarie GodardMr. and Mrs. Howard F. GondreeMs. Connie GullenMr. Irvin HagenMs. Marcia HartwayMr. Stephen HawcoMs. Alice HealyMichael and Cheryl HelmanMr. David A. HerdendorfMs. Evelyn HoffmanMr. and Mrs. John S. HughesMr. Christopher HullMr. H. R. HuntMs. Edna HyerMr. Ronald JakubowskiMs. Sally JohnsonMs. Karin E. JohnsonElizabeth and Daniel KaszubskiMs. Suzanne KatesMr. Richard KeilMs. Marilee KellerMrs. Barbara KellermanMs. Nan KiefferMr. and Mrs. Leonard KnaggsMr. Vincent J. Knaze Jr.Mr. and Mrs. William KoepfMr. and Mrs. Jim KoepfMr. David J. KurtzMs. Mollie LancasterMs. Alvina L. LaneMs. Mary LennartzMrs. Martha M. LeprellMr. & Mrs. William H. LoosMs. Patricia A. LordMs. Marica MagavernLauren MakeyenkoMr. and Mrs. William MichalekMr. and Mrs. Robert L. MillerMr. Eugene MindellMs. Michelle MinnichMr. and Mrs. Michael MyersNational Fuel Gas Company

FoundationMs. Kristin NazaretMs. Mary NewellJim and Marcia NixonMr. and Mrs. Dick O’ConnorMr. Thomas OdrzywolskiMr. and Mrs. Raymond G. OuelletteMr. Robert PattersonMr. Donald A. Pause

Mr. Raymond PetrinecMr. Michael PetrinecMr. and Mrs. Gunther PiepkeMs. Mildred PingreyChristopher P. Poje M.D.Mr. and Mrs. Lauren D. RachlinMr. Ronald RaychelRandy and Cathy ReigleMs. Carol E. ReisRandy and Cathy RitzMr. and Mrs. Kevin RoeMr. Stephen RuoffMrs. Barbara A. SchmittMs. Elizabeth S. SeanerMs. Mary Lee SeitzMr. and Mrs. Tom SloanMr. William SmithMs. Hilde SmithMrs. Fern M. SmithMs. Eleanor A. SmithMs. Stephanie StachewiczJane and Harold StockMr. and Mrs. Norbert S. StormMs. JoAnne SullivanMr. David ThompsonMr. and Mrs. Roger ThromTompkins TrustMr. Jim E. TrayerMs. Barbara TroutmanMr. and Mrs. Stuart UrbanMs. Eileen Watson and

Mr. Greg GartenJeanne and Raymond WeberMs. Arlene WeckelMr. and Mrs. Theodore B. WeirMr. Richard A. WellsMr. Frank WesolowskiBernadette and Edward WhiteMs. Cherie Widger-KresgeMr. Charles WightmanWild Birds UnlimitedMs. Norma S. WillardMr. Ronald WilliamsMr. and Mrs. Pierre WilliotMr. Howard J. WillsonMr. Wayne WisbaumMr. Walter WitmerMr. Robert WitulskiMr. and Mrs. Ralph WoodardMr. Albert J. Wright IIIMs. Elaine ZielinMs. Joyce ZobelMs. Kathy Zoladz

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shortfalls from the 2012-2015 strategic plan. Board Member Melissa Fratello is heading this effort.

The Education Committee has met and reviewed the draft of our new education master plan, which was subsequently reviewed by the board at the July meeting. The primary goal of our plan is to address hands-on nature experiences for grade-school students throughout Western New York. We prefer that students visit Beaver Meadow or another Audubon Preserve though realistically many programs may need to occur on school grounds. Our new Director of Education, Lauren Makeyenko, assisted by Naturalists Mark Carra and Tom Kerr, are deeply involved in this process.

The Executive Committee (officers of the Board) and board member Jeff Beich, who has been named as the chair of the Audit Committee, will be meeting with our auditors at Bonadio & Co. shortly to review the finances of our previous fiscal year (May 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015).

Executive Director Loren Smith and I recently participated in a National Audubon webinar to discuss their new strategic plan, which is being developed and will be presented to their board in January of 2016. They recognize that America is more diverse and urbanized but they do not ignore the rural nature of many centers across the country. There is a natural tension between providers in the field and staff in urban locations. One of the challenges is to help everyone across the Audubon Network to understand their roles and to work collaboratively.

Plans are underway for Enchanted Forest (October 9-11), an Environmental Career Exploration Day on September 19th and other activities listed in our calendar. Please bring your family and friends and enjoy these offerings – they are for you!

ExEcutivE DirEctor’s MEssagE

Stuart Hempel

PrEsiDEnt’s MEssagE

When I was a kid, summer in Western New York was full of riding my bike to the “duck pond” (where a small stream went under a road), climbing trees, and picking raspberries from the patch in our yard. School field trips included visits to the Lake Erie shore near 18 Mile Creek to search for fossils, an experience that set me on the path to where I am today.

When I was older I received a basic microscope and used it to observe water fleas (Daphnia) and other microbes that I could collect at the duck pond. Summers expanded to include diverse experiences like participating in an archaeological dig and spending a summer working at Zion National Park in Utah with the Student Conservation Association – hot, challenging work in exciting places with amazing people.

This summer I’ve watched as kids from across Western New York have experienced our day camps. I’ve watched campers canoeing on the pond, bird-banding at the arboretum, exploring Beaver Meadow and visiting natural places across our region. Buffalo Audubon is at its best when it engages children and families in experiences like these – experiences that we hope will be remembered and cherished for a lifetime.

I’m eagerly awaiting fall and the opportunity to go out to collect chestnuts. Few things make me happier than peeling the cool shiny brown nuts from their spiny jackets, and I love having a bowl of them around in the house.

I’m sure you have your own favorite memories and touchstones of the seasons and the natural world. Hopefully some of them have involved Buffalo Audubon, a program or activity at one of our preserves, or an experience led by one of our naturalists or volunteers. Making Nature part of your life is incredibly rewarding, and has many benefits as you are undoubtedly aware. Thank you for your involvement with Nature and with Buffalo Audubon – we look forward to seeing you again soon!

Loren Smith

The board has been active on your behalf and has restructured to meet various needs which follow.

First, we have established a planning committee to evaluate what we look like now and how we meet our needs in the future. To help us undertake this evaluation we are in conversation with staff from the School of Architecture and Planning of the State University of New York at Buffalo. We are both excited about the possibility and potential of students looking at us in a way which we don’t and haven’t. Two of our board members, Melissa Fratello and Ana Hernandez-Balzac are graduates of the planning program in this school which will help us to encourage strong student engagement. In our initial meeting two faculty members involved were very enthusiastic about what we might accomplish together.

The board is reviewing our various fundraising activities. In response to this we have established a community outreach Committee to establish recommendations for fundraising opportunities, including those with businesses and foundations. Our Treasurer, Kim Jackson, has agreed to lead this effort.

Another committee has been named to specifically evaluate our 2016 and beyond objectives, built on our successes and/or

Loren Smith

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“Birding Along the Seaway Trail”

Exhibit at Beaver MeadowIn keeping with the Great Lakes Seaway Trail’s dedication to natural history and specifically birding as a travel and tourism theme, a “Birding Along the Seaway Trail” Traveling Exhibit is being displayed across New York State in the coming months.

The exhibit consists of 24 exhibit panels, each dedicated to a specific bird found along the Seaway Trail which runs along the incredible avian flyway of the Eastern shore of Lake Ontario, as well as the St. Lawrence River and the Eastern shore of Lake Erie.

The birding images have been provided by the Cornell Ornithology Lab so the quality is beautiful.

The exhibit is currently on display at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center through September. Please stop by to see this lovely display!

Sheldon E. Merritt

Distinguished Service Award

Named for a past president and founder of the Society’s Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, this award is given for meritorious service to the Buffalo Audubon Society. The 2015 Sheldon E. Merritt Award was presented to long-time volunteer Alice Brown at the Society’s Annual Meeting in May. Congratulations Alice and thank you for your many years of dedicated service to the Society and to Beaver Meadow.

Theme Basket Donations

We are looking for exciting and interesting theme baskets to raffle off during Enchanted Forest. Your basket does not have to be expensive, just interesting or clever. It should be attractively wrapped in cellophane. You can use an actual basket or any unique container is fine (i.e. watering can or flower pot for garden set, bucket for car care, pail for beach). Other theme ideas are bath, kitchen, candles, baby, coffee/tea, golf, fishing, dog/cat, toys, sports teams, picnic, pasta dinner, wine/cheese - use your imagination or choose a favorite hobby! Large items that do not fit in a basket will also be accepted. Baskets should be dropped off at the Center by October 6th. If this is not convenient, please call the Center to make other arrangements.

Enchanted Forest Volunteers Needed

We need your help to make the Enchanted Forest a fun event for all who attend. Volunteers are needed to be fireflies, pumpkin carvers, characters, parking attendants, and general helpers. If you can spare an evening or three, please give us a call at 585-457-3228. This is our largest festival and your help is needed to make it a great success.

Buffalo Audubon Society Membership Application

Support your local Audubon Centers and Environmental Education

throughout Western NY!Local Membership in the Buffalo Audubon Society entitles you to: • Receive the Outlook, including local activities and news.• Receive voting rights in Buffalo Audubon plus member

discounts and specials.

$25 - Individual $35 - Family $50 - Contributing $100 - 100 Club

Name ______________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________

City _______________________________ State _____ Zip _______

E-mail _____________________________________________________q Please send me Outlook via e-mail to save precious resources & funds.

Make check payable to: BUFFALO AUDUBON SOCIETY

and mail with this application to: 1610 Welch Road

North Java, NY 14113memberships online at buffaloaudubon.org

Cover Photo: Lesser Yellowlegs

(Tringa flavipes) A typical sandpiper-type bird with a brown back and wings and lightly streaked white breast and belly. Usually seen in small flocks, it combs shorelines and mud flats looking for aquatic insects. Their fall migration period is lengthy and these birds can be seen from mid-July to mid-October.

Talking LeavesSat., Oct. 3rd, 10-11:30am Stroll through the colorful woods of Beaver Meadow. More info, see page 9.

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Gearing Up for Shorebird Migration

By Tom Kerr

Fall birding can definitely present some of the hardest identification challenges, even for seasoned birdwatchers. After the breeding season is over, many of the birds we see have molted their colorful plumage into drabber grays and browns. Hatch-year birds making their first migration often barely resemble their parents.

Shorebirds can be the most difficult group of birds to correctly identify. Flipping through a field guide and looking at all the silvery-gray birds that rarely stop in Western New York can be discouraging to novice birders. It is definitely challenging, but the process is the same as when it comes to identifying any other type of bird. Our eyes are drawn to color, but we need to keep all the other characteristics, such as bill shape, behavior, calls, and habitat preference in mind.

Birds have evolved an amazing variety of bill shapes, and shorebirds are no different. While the differences may be subtle in closely related shorebird species, it can often be a good starting point. Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs look almost identical in a field guide, and unless they are side-by-side, it can be very difficult to judge their overall size difference. The best way to distinguish these two species is by comparing the bill length to the length of the head. A Lesser Yellowlegs will have a bill about the length of its head, while a Greater Yellowlegs’ bill will be about one and a half times the length of its head.

Some shorebirds have very distinct behaviors that give us clues to their identity. Spotted Sandpipers don’t have their namesake spots in the fall, but will always walk with their tail bobbing up and down in the air. Dowithchers probe the mud with an up-and-down motion that resembles the needle of a sewing machine. Phalaropes will swim in tight circles in shallow water to draw food to the surface. Sanderlings will chase waves back and forth, making them easy to pick out in a large group of other shorebirds. Spend time watching what the bird is doing to narrow your identification options.

Most people don’t think of shorebirds as being very vocal, but just like songbirds, they have distinct calls and songs. Killdeer have the most recognizable call of the shorebirds in our area, but it can be used to differentiate Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Short and Long-billed Dowitchers, and several other species. Birders have a variety of options to access recordings of bird songs today. Any birding app for mobile phones should have a sound library, and websites like Cornell’s www.allaboutbirds.org have recordings to help you learn bird songs.

Finally, like any bird, you need to consider the habitat you are birding in when making identifications of shorebirds. Solitary Sandpipers are closely related to the two Yellowlegs species. Solitary Sandpipers prefer small ponds by wooded areas, while the Yellowlegs prefer open mudflats

on open areas. Purple Sandpipers will only be found on rocky shorelines, and Piping Plovers keep to sand dunes.

The best tool for viewing shorebirds is a spotting scope. Spotting scopes are essential for picking out the details on these birds that are usually keeping their distance. Scopes can be expensive, with good scopes costing between $300 and $500, and high end scopes costing well over $2,000. Another great, relatively new tool to birding is a radar app for your mobile phone. Believe it or not, during migration, birds can be seen on radar as they take off in the evening and land in the morning. This helps you judge when the birds are arriving and how to plan your birdwatching outings. The best part about these apps is that many of them are free to download from your provider’s app store.

Most birders agree that shorebirds provide the biggest challenges, but that’s where the fun begins. Shorebird migration starts in late August and early September, so they are already on their journey south. Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Tifft Nature Preserve, the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hamlin Beach State Park, and Woodlawn Beach State Park are some of the best places in Western New York to find shorebirds. The beavers here at Beaver Meadow affect the water levels on our pond, and we are hoping for good conditions for shorebirds this year.

Semipalmated Plover – Photo by James Pawlicki

Birds on Radar

Tom Kerr

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1610 WELCH RD, NORTH JAVA, NY 14113 Phone: 585-457-3228

Web Site: buffaloaudubon.org E-mail: [email protected]

BEAVER MEADOW AUDUBON CENTER

$8 per person / $7 Members 3 & under free

Confirmations will be mailed after October 1st. Credit Card payments only after Sept. 19th.

Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Earth Dirt... Get The Dirt On EarthBy Chris Kieber

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a common species of edible fungi in our area that often grows on dead sugar maples and aspens, and sometimes on living trees with rotting heartwood. They are wood decomposers that are ubiquitous in forests around the world. Whole logs may be covered with hundreds of the fan-shaped fruiting bodies of overlapping clusters, while the branching thread-like vegetative parts called mycelium is invisible inside the log. These mushrooms have a well-deserved reputation for being easy to cultivate, richly nutritious, and medicinally supportive. New research demonstrates their potential for combating hunger, improving the immune system, and even cleaning up polluted lands since they are able to degrade environmental toxins.

This fungal workhorse seems innocuous, but it has an extraordinary sinister side. Oyster mushrooms are carnivores, every bit as ruthless and efficient a hunter as wolves and cougars. When nematodes (very common worm-like soil animals) come into contact with the hyphae (one of the smaller elements of the mycelium) of P. ostreatus they are quickly stunned and subsequently colonized and digested by the fungus.

Carnivorous bog plants like pitcher plants and sundews are famous for their ability to capture and digest insect prey as a source of nitrogen and other nutrients. Oyster mushrooms are just one of a number of carnivorous mushrooms that captures and digests these minute animals as a source of nutrients - sort of like tiny sushi! The mushroom produces microscopic droplets of toxin from secretory cells. Nematodes unfortunate enough to touch these tiny droplets undergo sudden and dramatic physical effects. It is rapidly immobilized, but not killed; this prevents massive bacterial colonization of the victim before the arrival of the fungal hyphae. The head region shrinks considerably accompanied by disruption of the esophageal tissue. The immobilized host itself secretes products that cause the hyphae to converge on the body openings of the nematode; often penetrating through the mouth to colonize and digest its hapless prey. The nutrients are

absorbed, leaving only a shell of a once vibrant animal. This is quite possibly the script for a very scary horror movie.

About 150 species of fungi attack, kill and digest small organisms such as bacteria and nematodes. One closely related species immobilizes its nematode prey by forming a lasso of hyphae that constricts and holds the animal until it can be digested. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is simply remarkable that a saprophytic mushroom can become predatory to an animal in its quest for new sources of nitrogen.

Another thought...vegans be aware that eating these mushrooms that are commonly available in grocery stores may not be such the humane choice that one might think (if one is sympathetic to nematodes)!

Visit The BAS Gift Shop!At Beaver Meadow

Fall Feeder Sale 20-40% Off

September & October

Don’t Forget

Our Fall Bird

Seed Sale -

Order Your

Seed Now!

Stop by our Gift Shop for a new bird feeder.

Thistle – Sunflower – Squirrel Proof

Now 20-40% off just in time for fall

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Calendar of Events

September4 Fri 6:30-8pm National Wildlife Day – Endangered

Animals of New York - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Mark Carra for a lecture to look into the lives of New York animals that teeter on the brink of extinction. Pre-registration is required. (BM) Donations.

5 Sat 9am Walk at Knox Farm State Park – “Ferns of Knox” - Searching for the fabulous ferns that grace the woods at Knox Farm makes for a good time. (KF) Donations.

5 Sat 9-11am Morning Birdwatching Hike – Beaver Pond - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tom Kerr for a morning birdwatching hike around the Beaver Pond at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center. Birds are beginning to head to their winter habitat in Central and South American and use Beaver Meadow as a stopover on their long journey. Binoculars are available. Pre-registration is required. (BM) $5

5 Sat Dusk Observatory at Beaver Meadow - The Buffalo Astronomical Association will take visitors on a guided tour of the night sky. When the weather doesn’t allow observing, presentations and telescope clinics are offered. Visitors are invited to bring their own equipment. (BM) Donations.

6 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

12 Sat 10am-12pm Junior Audubon Club - Beginner Birding at Delaware Park – Join Buffalo Audubon Naturalist Tom Kerr for our Monthly Birding Adventure! This month we’ll be looking for birds in Buffalo’s historic Delaware Park. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted,

Delaware Park is an urban oasis for migrating birds, and provides important stop-over habitat on their journey south. Meet at the Hoyt Lake Steps. Binoculars are available. Pre-registration is required. Donations.

13 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

19 Sat 10am-2pm Environmental Career Exploration Day – If you are a high school student interested in pursuing a degree or career in an environmental arena, don’t miss this special opportunity! Experts in the field will gather at our unique nature preserve to showcase their work up close and hands-on. A variety of sectors will be represented. Please visit our website for a list of exhibitors. Sponsored by NYS Senator Patrick Gallivan. (BM) Free.

19 Sat 5:30-7pm Iroquois Observations Great Egret Excursion – The Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society. Come and view this magnificent species gathering for the night at a roost location on the refuge. Bring binoculars and insect repellent. Pre-registration required. Call 585-948-5445 Ext. 7036. Meet at Cayuga Overlook. (IO) Free.

20 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

26 Sat 8-10:30am Delaware Park Birding - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tom Kerr for a birdwatching hike in Buffalo’s most famous Olmsted Park. We’ll be looking for early spring migrants taking a break on their journey to their winter habitat. Meet at the Hoyt Lake Steps. Binoculars are available. Pre-registration is required. Donations.

27 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

27 Sun 9-11pm Super Harvest Moon Eclipse - A total eclipse of the closest supermoon of the year will happen on September 27th. Join us for a nocturnal walk around the preserve from 9-10pm. Viewing of the eclipse totality and night sky will begin around 10:11pm at

All programs require pre-registration. For Beaver Meadow Programs call (585) 457-3228. For Iroquois National Wildlife

Refuge Programs call (585) 948-5445 Ext. 7036.

Locations – (BM) Beaver Meadow Audubon Center - 1610 Welch Rd, North Java.

(KF) Knox Farm State Park – 437 Buffalo Rd, East Aurora.

(IO) Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge - 1101 Casey Road, Basom.

Every Wednesday 9am-2pm is Volunteer Day at Beaver Meadow. For all Audubon volunteers - even first timers!

No need to register, but bring a lunch.

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is everywhere. Don’t be left out with no filming skills. Learn to express yourself through the art of film-making. Pre-requisites 2a, 2b &2d. Filming can be fun! Sign up early! Pre-registration is required. (BM) $8.

17 Sat 7-9:30pm Junior Audubon Club – Owl Prowl – Kids ages 8 to 16 are invited to join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tom Kerr for our monthly birding adventure! This month we’ll be visiting the Klydell Wetlands in North Tonawanda for a nocturnal Owl Prowl! The North Tonawanda Audubon Preserve is home to Eastern Screech-owls, and we’ll be listening for their calls as they are beginning their night of hunting in the dark! Be sure to wear waterproof footwear. Meet at the preserve entrance at the corner of Raymond and Birch. Pre-registration is required. (BM) Donations.

18 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

23 Fri 7-9:30pm Owl Prowl - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tim Kerr for a nocturnal hike in search of owls. There will be a short presentation on Owl Ecology at the center before we head out to the trails in search of these nocturnal birds of prey. Pre-registration is required. (BM) $5

24 Sat 10am-12pm Bird Seed Sale at Beaver Meadow – See order form on page 11.

24 Sat 1-3pm Iroquois Observations Outdoor Photography Part 1; Scenery/Habitat – Bring your own cameras, and any other associated equipment such as tripods. This opportunity will discuss the basics of capturing good Scenery/Habitat photos. Group will also take a photo-hike along the Kanyoo Trail. Use your own vehicles to get there. Meet at the Visitor Center. Led by Bob Hazen (IO) Free.

24 Sat 6:30pm Iroquois Observations Owl Prowl - Join in a nocturnal search for owls. Prepare for an off-road walk and travel by car between sites. Best suited for older children and adults. Pre-registration is required, call 585-948-5445 Ext 7036. Meet at the Visitor Center. (IO) Free.

25 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

31 Sat 10am-12pm Nature Journaling – Join Buffalo Audubon Naturalist Mark Carra to learn how to record your thoughts and experiences of nature for your own benefit. A private journal can be one of the most rewarding ways to hone your communication skills and connect with the soothing beauty of the natural world. Bring a camera or smartphone. Pre-registration is required. (BM) Ages 16 and up. $10 includes all supplies.

31 Sat 1-3pm Owl Pellet Autopsy - Search for actual owl pellets at Beaver Meadow on a short walk, then dig in and discover what and how owls eat, by dissecting a sanitized owl pellet. This hands-on activity is a favorite for all ages. Pre-registration is required. $5/$3 BAS Members.

the Observatory with volunteers from the Buffalo Astronomical Association*. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. (BM) Adults $5 *eclipse viewing with clear skies.

October3 Sat 9am Walk at Knox Farm State Park - “Follow

the Migration” – How far do the birds of Knox fly and where do they go? Just how do they find their way? (KF) Donations.

3 Sat 9am Buckhorn Island Birding - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tom Kerr as we take a birdwatching hike to the northern tip of Grand Island. We’ll be looking for birds using the Niagara River corridor as a migratory rest stop as they take a break from their long fall journey. Binoculars are available. Pre-registration is required. Donations.

3 Sat 9am-1pm Iroquois Observations Canoe Trek - Come explore the primitive beauty of Oak Orchard Creek with experienced guides. Bring your own canoe or kayak. Life jackets are required. Meet at Knowlesville Rd. Bridge, just south of the Swallow Hollow Trail. Call Rick at 716-445-9685 for more information. (IO) Free.

3 Sat 10-11:30am Talking Leaves - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Mark Carra and take a stroll through the colorful woods of Beaver Meadow. Let’s answer some of the burning questions that run through your head about the changing leaves. Pre-registration is required. (BM) $5.

3 Sat Dusk Observatory at Beaver Meadow – The Buffalo Astronomical Association will take visitors on a guided tour of the night sky. When the weather doesn’t allow observing, presentations and telescope clinics are offered. Visitors are invited to bring their own equipment. (BM) Donations.

4 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

9, 10 & 11 Enchanted Forest – Enjoy an evening walk through our magical woods to meet the animals (portrayed by costumed interpreters) that call Beaver Meadow their home. Fun for the whole family, the Enchanted Forest is an experience you will remember for a lifetime! Pre-registration is required. (BM) $8/$7 BAS Members.

10 Sat 9am-12pm Iroquois Observations Outdoor Photography Part 2; Wildlife - Bring your own cameras and any other associated equipment such as tripods. We will discuss the basics of capturing good wildlife photos. Group will also take a photo-hike along the Swallow Hollow Trail. Use our own vehicles to get there. Meet at Visitor Center. Led by Bob Hazen. (IO) Free.

10 Sat 1:30-3:00pm Iroquois Observations Native American Walk – View nature through Native American folklore. Meet at the Visitor Center. Led by Marvin Jacobs. (IO) Free.

11 Sun 2pm Family Walk at Beaver Meadow - Guided walk led by one of our naturalists through the Preserve. (BM) Donations.

17 Sat 10am – 3pm Boy Scout Cinematography Merit Badge – Are you a movie buff? Let’s explore what makes a movie good. From YouTube to Vines, video

Page 10: Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” ... Mrs. Kalista Lehrer In Memory of Joan

Check out Buffalo Audubon Society Events Online

10 www.buffaloaudubon.org

A Naturalist View

Pond Reflections

We tend to look at everything in today’s supercharged world in terms of its relative value to us, or should I say “ME?” Given this self-centered viewpoint is it any wonder why most of us can’t see “the forest through the trees?” To question the value of a pond is the same as questioning the need for oxygen.

Water is such a basic need that one shouldn’t ask “What needs water, but what doesn’t require it?” A pond acts as an environmental magnet, drawing all the surrounding wildlife to it with the unseen power of a desperate life-giving need. As the six and eight-legged creatures procreate and thrive, they draw the animals who ultimately consume them, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Fish can be introduced by waterfowl who sometimes carry eggs on their feathers, and unknowingly deposit them in a body of water that previously was devoid of their kind, or more likely than not “WE” stock our man-made ponds with the species of fish we most value. The human method usually leaves out any logical reasoning for choosing these species, substituting our own wants for what is actually good for

Mark Carra

the habitat. Like other habitats in the natural world the pond may self-correct for the errors of humans, namely, yellow perch will die off if the depth of the pond is too shallow to provide the perch’s required cool temperatures.

The plant community that grows in and around the pond is shaped by the availability of sun/shade and soil nutrients as they relate to the individual needs of each plant. The floral species that are nurtured by the conditions a particular pond supplies are many and varied providing food for a myriad of creatures that are drawn in for a much needed drink. Year by year plants cycle through the seasons living, producing food and returning their rich nutrients to the soil. This constant layering of decay eventually fills in the depths of even the deepest pond causing it to eventually disappear. However the legacy of this unrelenting process eventually leads to a much richer habitat than was there prior to the ponds creation, namely prime bottomland that is coveted by any farmer worth his or her salt.

Are we patient enough to wait for this long process to play out or, at very least, can we identify that what has created the fertile habitats that we now use to sustain our needs is the un-spoiled, “natural” immutable actions not of “US,” but of the perfection we call NATURE! Instead of looking for our own reflection on a pond’s surface perhaps we should try to see the beauty of all of nature’s splendor reflected there.

Environmental Career Exploration Day Saturday, September 19, 2015

10am—2pm

Beaver Meadow Audubon Center

If you are a high school student interested in pursuing a degree or career in an environmental related field, don’t miss this special opportunity! Experts will gather at this

unique nature preserve and offer hands-on opportunities. Please visit our website for an updated list of presenters.

Sponsored by

Senator Patrick Gallivan

Page 11: Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” ... Mrs. Kalista Lehrer In Memory of Joan

www.buffaloaudubon.org

Check out Buffalo Audubon Society Events Online 11

BEAVER MEADOW FALL 2015 BIRD SEED SALE All orders must be pre-paid and received by October 17, 2015. Sales tax is required on all orders. There will be a handling fee of $15.00 on each order not picked up on “Seed Sale Day.” We will DELIVER the seed to your home within a 50 mile radius of Beaver Meadow for a $25 delivery charge. Free delivery for orders over $250. We will call you to arrange a delivery date. Please be sure to include your phone number on your order form. Please include a self-addressed envelope if you would like a confirmation of your order.

Seed pick up day is Saturday, October 24th from 10:00 am to 12 noon QTY UNIT SEED TYPE PRICE TOTAL Mixed Wild Bird Seeds 20# Premium Bird Seed: For wide variety of birds.

Excellent mix with no milo or wheat fillers. Contains peanuts, safflower, millet, corn, sunflower and sunflower hearts.

$15.00

40# $21.25

20# Cornless Bird Seed Mix Contains sunflower, white millet, peanuts, safflower – no milo, wheat or corn.

$18.20

40# $28.50

Sunflower Seeds 20# Black Oil Sunflower – Give birds the high

energy required - attracts a large variety of birds $16.25

40# $23.75 50# Sunflower Hearts - No seed hull waste $69.00 Specialty Seeds & Other Products 5# Raw Jumbo Shelled Blanched Peanuts

High grade larger peanut – Birds Love Them! $14.25

10# $26.00 20# Finch Mix – Special mix to attract finches $27.15 20# Woodpecker Mix – Seeds woodpeckers love $29.35 50# Cracked Corn – For juncos, crows & blackbirds $13.00 50# Niger/Thistle Seed – For finches & siskins $49.00 50# Peanut Pieces – For chickadees & titmice $66.00 50# Safflower Seed –For cardinals & chickadees $54.75 2.5# Woodpecker Seed Cake $ 6.85 16 oz Fruit-Berry-Nut Seed Bell $ 2.50 12 oz Insect Suet Cake $ 2.65 12 oz Peanut Butter Suet Cake $ 1.70

VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMER. EXPRESS accepted on phone orders.

Subtotal _________________

Sales Tax 8% _________________

$25 Delivery charge _________________

Please donate to help fill Beaver Meadow’s feeders ________________

TOTAL ________________

_____ I have paid the $25.00 DELIVERY FEE or have placed an order for over $250.00. Please deliver the seed to my home.

All other orders are to be picked up on Saturday, October 24th, 2015.

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Proceeds from this sale supports nature education, trails and exhibits at our Audubon Center.

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Checks payable to: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center 1610 Welch Road North Java NY 14113 Phone (585) 457-3228

Checks payable to: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center 1610 Welch Road North Java NY 14113 585-457-3228

Page 12: Audubon Outlook - Buffalo Audubon Society Oct 2015 Outlook.pdf · Audubon Outlook “106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015” ... Mrs. Kalista Lehrer In Memory of Joan

Mark your calendar for our 2015 Festival:

Enchanted Forest –

October 9, 10, 11, 2015

c/o Beaver Meadow Audubon Center 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY 14113 [email protected]

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBuffalo, N.Y.Permit #195

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Audubon Outlook

BEAVER MEADOW AUDUBON CENTER Open Year-round

- Hours - Tuesday - Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday 1 PM - 5 PM Closed on Mondays and Major Holidays

Trails are always open

Buffalo Audubon Preserves Open Year-round

Dawn to Dusk, Open to the Public