January-February 2005 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

8/9/2019 January-February 2005 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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Big Bluestem FlyerBig Bluestem Flyer

Volume 40, Number 3 January/February 2005

Programs

Janua ry 20Sue Fairbanks

Bighorn Sheep and their EnvironsDr. Fairbanks is a member of the ISU Department of

Natural Resource Ecology & Management. She has

studied pronghorns and bighorn sheep as well as bison

and other species.

February 17Joe Colletti

The Bea r CreekDr. Collettis is interim department head of the ISU

Department of Natural Resource Ecology &

Management. His research includes the economics of

short-rotation woody crops, agro-forestry systems, and

the integration of forestry and agriculture. The Bear

Creek project involves the design and placement of a

multi-species riparian buffer strip system

March 17Mike MeetzLoons of Isle Royale

Field Trips

January 29Ledges State Park in the Snow

Maybe

February 26Winter Birds of Ada Hayden

Heritage Park and Little Wall

Lake

26 March 26Hend ric kson Ma rsh and Colo Ponds

Ap ril 30Peterson Pits and Skunk River Greenbelt

May 7?Bird-a-thon

June 4Birde rs Brunc h at Ledges State Park

Page 2 Officers and CommitteesPresidents Column

Page 3 Nongame Wildlife CheckoffField Reports

Page 4 Great Backyard Bird CountCentral Iowa Prairie NetworkBBAS Rummage Sale

In This Issue

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Page 5 Wildlife Diversity ProgramPage 6 Christmas Bird Count ReportsPage 7 New Members

Future BBAS ProgramsMembership FormCoupons

Page 8 The New Iowa Audubon

Unless otherwise indicated, field trips leave promptly at

8:00 a.m. from the public parking lot west of (behind)

the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited, located south of the

railroad tracks at 213 Duff Ave. Trip destinations are

subject to change based on recent bird sightings and the

desires of the participants. Contact Jeff Nichols at 515-

795-4176,[email protected] more information.

Program meetings are held monthly, September-May on

the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm, Room

2226 Veterinary Medicine Building, Iowa State

University, Ames, Iowa.

If you would like to meet and dine with the speaker and

the BBAS Board before the monthly meeting, please

contact Lynne Brookes to confirm space and location at

515-434-2028 [email protected]


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2 Big Bluestem Flyer January/February 2005

Big Bluestem Audubon SocietyOfficers and Committees

OfficersPresident: Linda Thomas 292-7534 [email protected]: Lynne Brookes 434-2028 [email protected]: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995

[email protected]: Ed Carbrey 292-2404

Board MembersBreanne Marpe 432-1231 [email protected]: Nichols [email protected] Bitzer 233-6741 [email protected]

Wolfgang Oesterreich 232-3285 (h) [email protected] Grotheer 233-9873 [email protected]

The mission of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society is to

enjoy the observation and study of birds and natural

ecosystems, contribute to their conservation and

restoration, engage in educational activities to benefit

humanity, and gain a broader understanding and deeper

appreciation of the world we live in.

Committee ChairsArchivist: Hank Zaletel 382-427 [email protected] Co-chairs: Karl and Carmen Jungbluth, 432-5057

weatherbird.opencominc.comConservation Chair: Bruce Ehresman (See Officers)Education Chair: Amy Yoakum, 232-2516

[email protected] Trip Chair: Jeff Nichols (See Officers)

Membership Chair: Jon Bahrenfus [email protected] Chair: Lynne Brookes (See Officers)Publicity Chair: Linda Thomas (See Officers)Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:

David Edwards 292-3790 [email protected] Bahrenfus [email protected]

BBAS Web Site:http://www.wyalusing.org/BBAS.htm

Presidents Column

As I write this message, we are still in the pre-holiday hustle and bustle. But by the time you read this, the

holidays will be over for another year. I hope your holidays were filled with great times with family and friends,

you got everything on your list, and your hopes for 2005 materialize.

But more importantly, I hope that your spirit of giving and sharing your interest

and enthusiasm for the birds, nature, conservation, and the environment

continues with a renewed effort in 2005.

It is not too soon to consider new or different ways to accomplish this. Perhaps

invite someone new to a monthly chapter meeting or an upcoming field trip.Consider assuming a future leadership role for the chapter. It is not too early to

think about our upcoming nominations for elections in May. It would be great to

get more members involved in guiding the chapter. Participate in the Great

Backyard Bird Count February 18 21, 2005. Join Iowa Audubon and help

support Iowas Important Bird Areas. I imagine you can come up with even more

ideas.

Our Holiday for the Birds Party was great fun. If you missed it, you missed lots

of great food; great slides by Matt Weitrich, Dave Edwards, Karl Jungbluth, and

Hank Zaletel; and good camaraderie. And thanks to all who brought birdseed or

donated money for the McFarland Park feeders, and food items for the MICA food

pantry. Through your generosity, I delivered four large boxes of food to MICA.

I look forward to seeing you at our first meeting of 2005 on January 20th

.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2005!

Note: A small cooler with ice packs was found at the McFarland Park Center on Friday morning after our party.

If this is yours, it can be picked up at the Center.

Linda Thom as


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January/February 2005 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

Fish/ Wildlife Tax Chec ko ff

Nongam e Wild life Needs Your Suppo rt.

Research and habitat management for game species such as deer, turkeys, waterfowl and pheasants are funded

through license fees, habitat stamps and income taxes. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Diver-

sity Program represents the 80% of Iowas wildlife that is not hunted. This program has no stable source of funding

and relies mainly on contributions from the public.

To make a contribution to the Wildlife Diversity Program and invest in the future of Iowas nongame wildlife,

remember to give to the Fish/Wildlife Fund (Chickadee Checkoff) on your state income tax form. Your contribution

will be used to conduct research and provide habitat management for Iowas nongame species and promote educa-

tion and enjoyment of those species to the public.

In recent years, contributions to the Nongame Program were used to conduct research and surveys on Iowas

frogs and toads, wintering bald eagles, heron rookeries, bats, and Iowas raptors. Public events such as Bald Eagle

Appreciation Days, Pelican Fest, and Hawk Watch, which attracted nearly 20,000 people, were also funded

through donations. Several publications on the appreciation of Iowas diverse wildlife

and management of it were distributed to thousands of people. With respect to Iowas

wildlife diversity, currently many are the beneficiaries of contributions by few.

Research of the Fish/Wildlife Fund (Chickadee Checkoff) shows an average $11.50

contribution from a mere 1% (approx.) of the population filing income tax. This man-

ner of funding does not match the level of management needed across Iowa. With 45%

of Iowas population over age 16 engaging in wildlife watching activities, there is

much funding potential to realize.Please remember to tell your tax preparer that you would like to contribute to the

Fish/Wildlife Fund (Chickadee Checkoff). By donating a few dollars, you will be help-

ing in the conservation of 400+ nongame animals. Invest in Iowas natural beauty by

supporting its wildlife diversity. For more information please contact the Wildlife Di-

versity Program- Mark McInroy (Mac) 515-432-2823 office

[email protected] Iow a DNR Relea se by Ma rk Mc Inroy

Oc tob er Field Trip

On 24 October, under cloudy and windy conditions, 12 members and guests visited Big Creek

State Park and Saylorville Lake. We found very little at Big Creek SP so we spent most of the time

visiting various Recreation Areas at Saylorville Lake. A distant Peregrine Falcon was seen off ofSandpiper beach and again at Oak Grove, where it flew right by us. We had excellent views of 2

Wilson's Snipes at a pond near the Sandpiper beach parking lot. On Saylorville Lake, we found

many Double-crested Cormorants and Ring-billed Gulls, and several Bald Eagles and American

White Pelicans. Hawks included: Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed, and Rough-legged. Below the dam were

many more pelicans and cormorants, plus 4 Great Egrets. We ended the day at Terra Park in Johnston,

where we added 7 waterfowl species to bring our trip list to 51 species.

Wolf. Oesterreich

Novem ber Field Trip

November 6. As so often happens, our original plans to visit a site (this time, Red Rock Lake

and Runnells Natural Area) were abandoned after hearing about some good birds elsewhere.

Fifteen participants traveled to Saylorville Lake in hopes of finding loons and grebes. We

easily found Common Loons, but the reported Red-throated Loon eluded satisfying views.This species apparently prefers to stay on the other side of the lake. We did get good looks

at Horned and Western Grebes as well as a new species for a Big Bluestem field trip:

Cackling Goose, a recent split from Canada Goose. We saw many of these mallard-sized geese at Polk City Wildlife

Area. We finished the outing with lunch in Polk City and a trip list of 55 species.

Jeff Nic hols

Steven DAmato

Kirsten Munson


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January/February 20054 Big Bluestem Flyer

Great Bac kya rd Bird Count

Feb ruary 18-21, 2005During four days in February, the Great Backyard Bird Count engages more than 100,000 people, who typically

submit more than 50,000 checklists containing more than 505 bird species and sightings of over five million

individual birds. Paul Green, Nationa l Aud ubo n Soc iety

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a family-oriented, enjoyable, and simple Citizen Science activity that engages

people of all levels of experience and expertise to count birds during four days at the end of winter. First held in

1998 it now involves more than 100,000 people, who may submit more than 50,000

checklists containing more than 505 bird species and sightings of over five million

individual birds. Participants enjoy watching birds, keeping a checklist, and submitting

their sightings online to a central website [www.birdsource.org/gbbc]. They can view lists of

birds seen in their local area, and compare their results with those of other birdwatchers.

With the accumulation of more information each year, the site provides a picture at the

local and continental scale that gives participants a good idea of how their local results fit

into a broader picture.

We designed the Great Backyard Bird Count to engage participants of all ages and levels

of experience from Scout troops and classrooms to refuge managers and ornithologists, and

encourage family participation. As a simple, entry-level, short-term project, this event

provides a gateway to other conservation activities.

We hope that by engaging people, and providing them with encouragement and

information, we will lead them into a lifetime commitment to conservation. The goals of theGreat Backyard Bird Count are to:

Develop a detailed database that produces real-time information on the distribution of species across the

continent.

Involve those new to birding in this Citizen Science activity, count birds, use a computer to enter their

observations, and then compare the results of their observations with those of others.

Provide opportunities for interactions between experts and those new to birding.

Use this initiative as an introduction to other Citizen Science activities, such as the Christmas Bird Count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count provides a useful weekend snapshot of the populations of North American birds

at the end of the winter period, complementing those from the Christmas Bird Count at the beginning of winter.

The resulting information provides details of particular species, such as the irruptions of Common and Hoary

Redpolls that move south from Canada in large numbers in some years. The information gives details of

distribution and relative numbers of wintering species, and of early migrants. Of special interest is information of

declining species, such as Rusty Blackbird, as well as information about expanding species, such as EurasianCollared Dove. Every year the accumulation of data makes this information more valuable and meaningful as we

discover new patterns, new questions, and new insights.

The G rea t Backyard Bird Count is a joint prog ram of Nat iona l Audub on a nd the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Central Iowa Prairie NetworkThe Central Iowa Prairie Network winter meeting will be held January 29 at the DMACC conference center

(building 7) in Ankeny. The doors open at noon with the presentations starting at 1:00.

Sibylla Brown (winner of the Governors Environmental Excellence Award) will speak

on her savanna restoration project.

Carl Kurtz will present a general prairie plant identification slideshow at the same

time

Tom Rosburg will give a workshop on identifying the asters of Iowa.

MJ Hatfield will present on the DNR native seed program along with some highlightsof her insect adventures.

Harlan Ratcliff will present some of his beautiful butterfly pictures, and

Chris Bair will have a display on landscape history records.

There will be a silent auction, with the proceeds going towards purchase of a tract of land

close to the Marietta Sand Prairie Preserve in Marshall County. Admission is free and the

program is open to the public.

Lloyd Crim


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Newsletter Material DeadlinesBecause we would like to have the newsletter to each member before the first day of its coverage, the editor

needs to have material at least two weeks before that. Hence the deadlines for the future will be the fifteenth

of February, and April.

Please be aware that editing your offering for length and style is sometimes necessary.

5January/February 2005 Big Bluestem Flyer

Good News for Wildlife Diversity Program Fund ing

For the first time since the inception of the Chickadee Checkoff over 20 years ago, Iowas Wildlife Diversity

Program will be receiving additional dedicated funding to nongame wildlife. Thanks to the action of Senator Mary

Lundby and the Iowa General Assembly earlier this year, fees will be raised for Iowas popular Natural Resource

vehicle license plates. Cost of new Natural Resource license plates will increase in January, 2005,

as will the cost of registration for those already owning the plates. The money generated from

these increases will be used to benefit Iowas 557 nongame species. The remaining cost of these

plates will continue to be used for Iowas Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program.

There are currently over 50,000 Iowans displaying the familiar goldfinch and wild rose license plates.The new income generated from the Natural Resources license plate cost increase will now go the Wildlife

Diversity Program to act as match for federal funds received from the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program

(STWG). Since 2001 this federal program has provided about $770,000 to Iowa annually, which must be matched

dollar-for-dollar by state or private partner funds. Since Iowas WDP is one of the most underfunded programs

within the DNRs Conservation and Recreation Division Bureau, these additional dollars will be crucial to

providing this required financial match. Below are examples of Iowa projects associated with these STWG matched

funds:

Protected 240 acres of habitat for rare Greater Prairie-chickens at Kellerton Bird Conservation Area in

southwest Iowa.

Protected a Bald Eagle winter roost site below Red Rock Dam in Marion County. This site hosts up to 250

eagles each winter.

Protected 80 acres of oak-hickory timber for neotropical migrant songbirds and endangered Indiana bats atStephens State Forest, southeast of Des Moines.

Protected 508 acres of riparian grassland, wetland and woodland habitat along the Middle River southeast of

Des Moines, for declining birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Initiated a research project to learn more about the home ranges and movements of Iowas secretive bobcats.

Initiated research on bird and bat interactions with a new wind energy generation facility situated between

three important public wildlife areas in north central Iowa.

Initiated research on bird use of habitats at the Spring Run Bird Conservation Area in northwest Iowa and

in the northern Loess Hills.

Initiated an inventory of reptiles and amphibians on the Lower Cedar and Iowa Rivers.

Republished the popular booklet, A Guide to the Bats of Iowa.

Wildlife Diversity Program staff are excited about the potential use for this new funding. It will provide more

opportunities for wildlife research, species restoration, and habitat management and protection.

Wildlife supporters who do not already have this attractive specialty plate are encouraged to buyone. To purchase it, motorists need to take their old plates and registration to their county treasurer.

Treasurers will send their annual renewal notices after that. The plate also makes a great present,

and you can go on-line at www.getyourtags.com for a gift application form. The same web site can be used to renew

plates, as well.

Bruce Ehresma n

Big Bluestem Aud ubon Soc iety Rumma ge Sale in April 2005

Start sorting through items you would like to contribute to theApril 9, 2005 BBAS Rummage Sale. This sale

will be a great opportunity to reduce clutter and recycle unwanted items, while also helping fund the conservation

and education activities of Big Bluestem. Watch for more information in the March/April BBAS newsletter.Jeff Nic hols


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6 January/February 2005Big Bluestem Flyer

Am es and Saylo rville Christma s Bird CountsPreliminay Tallies

The Ames count was held on Saturday, December 18,

2004 on an extremely windy and moderately cold day.

Most ponds and lakes were frozen, leaving little space

for water birds. Nevertheless, a variety of ducks and

geese were seen at Ada Hayden Heritage Park, some

during count week (CW) but not on the count day. New

to the Ames count history was the Cackling Goose, a

small variant of the Canada Goose. Note that the

American Crow count remained the same as last year,18,500. (Also, see page 7 for a special thanks.)

Hardy birders who went out the next day to

Saylorville were met by very low temperatures and

continuing winds. Unusual sightings included Lesser

Black-backed Gull and a late Great Egret.

The Boone count, to be held on New Years Day, will be

reported in the next newsletter.

David Edw ards

Am es Saylorville

Double-crested Co rmo rant 1 1

Grea t Blue Heron 1

Grea t Egret 1

Ca ckling Goose 9

Ca nad a Goose 1904 569

Ame rica n Blac k Duck 2

Gadwall CW

Ma lla rd 90 979

Ca nvasba c k CW 3

Redhead 1

Lesser Sca up 1

Long -tailed Duck 1

Com mon Goldeneye CW 77

Hood ed Merga nser 1

Comm on Merga nser CW 1000

Bald Eagle

5

24

(9 ad 15 imm)

Northe rn Harrier 1

Sha rp-shinned Haw k 4 4

Co op ers Haw k 5 5

Red -tailed Haw k 79 60

Am erican Kestrel 14 13

Pereg rine Fa lcon 1

Ring-nec ked Phea sant 50 10

Wild Turkey 47

Kildeer CW

Wilson s Snipe 1

Ring-b illed Gull 9000

Herring Gull 1000

Lesser Blac k- backed Gull 1

America n Coot CW

Roc k Pige on 288 363

Mo urning Dove 214 15

Easte rn Sc reec h-Ow l 1 5

Great Horned Ow l 5 6

Barred Ow l 7 9

Long -Eared Ow l 2

Belte d Kingfisher 9 4

Red-head ed Woodp ec ker 1

Red -bellied Wood pec ker 79 121

Yellow -be llied Sapsuc ker 2 2

Downy Wood pec ker 147 164

Hairy Woodpec ker 33 25

Northern Flicke r 6 28

Pilea ted Woodp ec ker 2

Northern Shrike 1 2

Blue Jay 63 126

American Crow 18500 748

Horned Lark 52 2

Blac k-c ap pe d Chickade e 431 354

Tufted Titmouse 1 16

Red -brea sted Nuthatc h 36 11

White-breasted Nutha tc h 175 121

Brown Creep er 16 10

Winter Wren 7 2

Go lden-crowned Kinglet 11

Hermit Thrush 2

Americ an Rob in 17 31

Europ ean Sta rling 3860 2146

Ced a r Waxwing 19 31

Am erica n Tree Sparrow 131 619

Savanna h Sparrow 1

Song Sparrow 8 33

Swamp Sparrow 4

White-throa ted Sparrow 9 31

White-crowned Sparrow 1 3

Harris' Sparrow 2

Dark-eyed Junco 786 1474

Lap land Long sp ur 17

Snow Bunt ing 40

Northe rn Ca rdina l 269 482

Red -Winged Blac kbird 4

Western Meadow lark 2 (sp ) 40

Rusty Blackb ird 87

Com mon Grac kle 1

Brown-head ed Cow bird 3 5

Purple Finc h 20 13

House Finc h 233 94

Pine Siskin 15

Ame rica n Go ldfinc h 252 175

House Sparrow 1092 702

Sum 28979 20939

Sp ec ies 54 67


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Big Bluestem FlyerJanuary/February 2005 7

Present the coupons below at the time of your purchase and a donation will be given to BBAS.Donations will fund the various habitat restoration and educational projects undertaken by BBAS.

Brekke's Town & Country Store, Inc.1 1/2 miles east of I-35 on new U.S. 30 and 1/4 mile north

Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-4 Sat. (515) 232-7906

Purchase DonationUp tp $15 $1.50$15 and over $3.00$35 and over $5.00Over $70 $7.50

Brekkes offers Big Bluestem Audubon Society a donationwhen bird seed or other bird products are purchased.Present this coupon with your purchase and a donation will begiven to BBAS.

Offer good until February 28, 2005

Membership Application forms

Clip and JoinDont forget gift memberships!

New member of the National Audubon Society. You will

receive theAudubon magazine, theBig Bluestem Flyer,membership card. $20Please make your check payable to National AudubonSociety and include Chapter Code H-57 on the check

Subscribe to theBig Bluestem Flyer for one year andparticipate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities $10Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Societymember or have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer orcommittee chair. Please make your check payable toBig Bluestem

Audubon Society.

Send your check and this coupon toJon Bahrenfus, Membership Chair1050 J Ave, Ogden, IA 50212

Name _______________________________________________Address _____________________________________________City_____________________ State____ ZIP_______________Phone ________________ E-mail _______________________Please do not use this form for renewals to the National Audubon Soc.

OR

Donate 10%of Your NextPurchase to

Big Bluestem Audubon Society

BIRDSEED FEEDERS BIRDBATHS OPTICS NATURE GIFTS

213 Duff Ave. Ames, IA 50010 (515) 956-3145Mon-Wed 9:30-5:30 Thurs 9:30-8

Fri 9:30-5:30 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-4

Coupon must be presented at time of purchaseMay not be combined with any other offerNot valid on specially-priced merchandise

Offer Expires: 02-28-05

New Members

Reva Boo thGladys Ebert

Doug Finnemore

Rosema ry Ha ll

Edward Phillips

Karol Raby

Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Vand erbe rg

Alan Worthingto n

Kelley Weic hers

A spec ial thanks to Wolfgang a nd

Leisha Oe sterreich fo r hosting the post-

bird -count supp er and soc ia l gathe ring

at the end of the Am es CBC d ay. It

ma de a pleasant end ing to a ha rd

da ys wo rk.


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IfyouhaveanXafteryournameonyourmailinglabel,thiswillbeyourlast

issueoftheFlyerunlessyourenew.

Non-ProfitOrg.U.S.PostagePaid

PermitNo.131Ames,Iowa

BigBluestemFlyerDavidC.Edwards,EditorBigBluestemAudubonSociety2308StateAveAmes,IA50014

Printed on Recycled paper

Wewelcomenewmembers!

January/February 2005Vol 40 No. 3

The New Iowa Audubo n

Iowa Audubon is evolving in a sincere effort to become an effective force for bird conservation in

Iowa. Some of the changes are obvious, like our new logo. For starters, Iowa Audubon is now ac-

cepting memberships. You can get an application at IowaAudubon.org or from brochures at the

BBAS meetings. The added support of memberships will help us in our cause, so read on to see

why youll want to join!

Iowa Audubon is an independent, tax-exempt, member organization, with a mission to protect, restore and enjoy

Iowas natural ecosystems with a focus on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. Its focus on bird conservation

fills a unique niche in Iowa.Iowa Audubon is no longer theAudubonIowa state office of the National Audubon Society (NAS), a decision that

was made by our Board of Directors with input from Audubon chapters around the state. This change will allow

Iowa Audubon to focus on conservation initiatives that are specific to Iowa, and operate efficiently with a modest

budget (a fiscal necessity). All donations and membership dollars will stay in Iowa to work in Iowa, a factor that is

very important to some of our members.

The adopted Mission of Iowa Audubon is to identify, protect, and restore Iowa's bird habitats, to educate Iowa's

citizens toward a greater level of conservation awareness, and to promote enjoyment and greater pride in Iowa's

natural ecosystems, birds, and other wildlife.

If you have further questions about Iowa Audubon and what it is about, please take a moment to look at the de-

veloping website at IowaAudubon.org. At the present time, the primary focus is on building the Important Bird

Areas program, but soon there will be education efforts including supporting beginning birding classes around the

state.

Karl Jungb luth a nd David Edw ards

January-February 2005 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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