January-February 2006 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

8/9/2019 January-February 2006 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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Big Bluestem FlyerBig Bluestem Flyer

Volume 41, Number 3 January/February 2006

Programs

January 19, 2006Mountain Plovers

Steve DinsmoreWildlife ecologist and ISU (NREM) faculty

member Dr. Dinsmore specializes in avian ecology

and population biology. Steve will discuss his workwith birds in general and also tell us about

Mountain Plovers and Black–tailed Prairie Dogs,Mountain Plover sex determination, and general

survival rates and population estimates from hisfield work.

Dinner: 5:45 Hickory Park on S.Duff

Feb. 16, 2006Iow a Native Orchids

Mark Loeschke

Mark is botanist for the Wildlife Bureau of theIowa DNR. He will show captivating slides and

provide less commonly known information about

the many orchids of Iowa. He will also discuss Iowafens.

Dinner: 5:45 The Mandarin on Lincoln Way

Field Trips

January 28, 2006 Ledges State Park in

Winter.

February 24-25, 2006 Mississippi River

Poo l 19, near Keokuk, IA (Lee Co.). Meet at theparking lot behind the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited at

5:00 p.m. Friday to work out carpooling to Keokuk,or meet in the Keokuk Super8 Motel (319-524-

3888) lobby at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Makeyour own lodging arrangements. We’ll bird aroundPool 19 and further upstream on Saturday, with

plans also to search for the local Eurasian TreeSparrows.

March 25, 2006 Little Wall Lake and

Bjorkboda Marsh (Hamilton County).

April 29, 2006 Woodland Mounds and Lake

Ahquabi (Warren County).

Meet at the parking lot behind WBU at 7:30 a.m.(note the earlier departure time).

May 6 2006 Bird-a-thon.

June 3, 2006 Annual Birder’s Brunch at

Ledges State Park (Boone Co.).

Page 2 Officers and Committees President’s Corner

Page 3 Non-game Wildlife Funding

Page 4 Great Backyard Bird Count Teacher “Treasures”

In This Issue

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Page 5 New Meeting Location Field Trip Report

Page 6 Christmas Bird Counts

Page 7 New Members Coupons

Page 8 Whooping Cranes

Unless otherwise indicated, field trips leavepromptly 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 theparticipants. Contact Jeff Nichols (515-795-4176,

([email protected]) for more information.

Program meetings are held monthly, September-May on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30

pm, in the Extension 4-H Building, Iow a StateUniversity, Ames, Iow a. See Page 5.

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 or [email protected]



2 Big Bluestem Flyer January/February 2006

Big Bluestem Audubon SocietyOfficers and Committees

Officers President: Linda Thomas 292-7534 [email protected] Vice-President: Lynne Brookes 434-2028 [email protected] Secretary: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995

[email protected] Treasurer: Ed Carbrey 292-2404

Board Members Shane Patterson 232-4682 [email protected] Jeff: Nichols 795-4176 [email protected] Bitzer 233-6741 [email protected]

Wolfgang Oesterreich 232-3285 [email protected] Tim 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 Chairs Archivist: Hank Zaletel 382-427 [email protected] Bird-a-thon Co-chairs: Karl and Carmen Jungbluth, 432-5057

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

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

Membership Chair: Jon Bahrenfus 275-3263 [email protected] Program Chair: Lynne Brookes (See Officers) Publicity Chair: Linda Thomas (See Officers) Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:David Edwards 292-3790 [email protected] Joyce Bahrenfus 275-3263 [email protected]

BBAS Web Site: http://BigBluestemAudubon.org

President’s Corner

If you were able to attend our Holiday Party for the Birds a few weeks ago, you saw the movie on the

first 100 years of Audubon. 2005 marked National Audubon’s Centennial Year. 2006 is the start of the

next 100 years.

One of the primary and fundamental founding values of National Audubon was connecting people

with nature. If we expect to continue to enjoy the environment and the birds around us for the next 100

years, we – not someone else - need to make sure that we do whatever we can to continue to connect

people with nature.In this column, at this same time last year, I challenged each of you to share your interest and

enthusiasm for birds, nature, conservation, and the environment with others. Once again, I am

suggesting the same for 2006. There will never be enough people or enough dollars committed to nature

and conservation to meet all the needs that are out there today or yet to come.

And, once again, I am challenging you to consider new or different ways to accomplish this. Perhaps

invite someone new to a monthly chapter meeting or an upcoming field trip. Participate in the 9th

Annual Great Backyard Bird Count February 17 – 20, 2006. National Audubon has adopted the joint

themes of “Go to a special place” and “Take someone with you” for this event, in hopes of getting more

people outside during February and encouraging people to open other peoples’ eyes to their own passion

for birding. Adopt a mile for Operation Migration’s successful efforts with the whooping cranes. Support

Audubon’s Upper Mississippi River Campaign. Buy someone a birdfeeder. And the list goes on.

I hope to see you all in our new location at our first meeting of 2006 on January 19 th.

Best wishes for another healthy and prosperous new year!Linda Thom as

Kirsten Munson



January/February 2006 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

FISH/WILDLIFE FUND- Nongame Wildlife Nee ds Your Support.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

Diversity Program represents the 80% of Iowa’s 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 Iowa’s nongame

wildlife, remember to give to the Fish/Wildlife Fund (Chickadee Checkoff) on your state income tax

form. If you are a professional tax preparer, taking the time to prompt your clients on whether they

would like to give to any of the checkoffs can make them twice as likely to contribute. 100% of each

contribution will be used to conduct research and provide habitat management for Iowa’s nongamespecies, and to promote education and enjoyment of those species to the public.

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

Iowa’s frogs and toads, wintering bald eagles, heron rookeries, bats, and Iowa’s 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 Iowa’s diverse

wildlife and management of it were distributed to thousands of people. The health of Iowa’s wildlife and their

habitats contributes to the cleanliness of our air and water which in turn helps keep all Iowans healthy. With

respect to Iowa’s wildlife diversity, currently many are the beneficiary 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 provides under $135,000 in revenue for the wildlife diversity

program and it does not match the level of management needed across Iowa. With 45% of Iowa’s population over

age 16 engaging in wildlife watching activities, there is much funding potential to realize.

Please consider contributing to the Fish/Wildlife Fund (Chickadee Checkoff) and if applicable prompting your

clients to remember the checkoffs when filing taxes. By donating a few dollars, you will be helping in the

conservation of 400+ nongame animals and their habitat. Please invest in Iowa’s natural beauty by supporting its

wildlife diversity. For more information please contact the Wildlife Diversity Program at 1436 255th St. Boone,

Iowa 50036 or by calling 515-432-2823.

Below is a list of future events that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the Wildlife Diversity Program.

Wildlife Diversity Program staff are scheduled to be in attendance at these events.

* Contacts listed are the event coordinators. These individuals are not necessarily DNR employees.

Event Date(s) Contact*

NatureMapping Jason O'Brien - 515-294-6440

Nature Mapping II - Volunteer Surveys Mark McInroy - 515-432-2823

Clinton Bald Eagle Watch, Clinton, IA Jan. 7 Contact - 815-259-3628

Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days, Rock Island, IL Jan. 7-8 Dave Burrows, 563-441-5695;

Dubuque Bald Eagle Watch, Dubuque, IA Jan. 14 Contact - 563-556-4372

Muscatine Eagle Watch, Muscatine, IA Jan. 14 Contact - 563-263-7913

Guttenberg Bald Eagle Days, Guttenberg, IA Jan. 21-22 Guttenberg Civic & Comm. Club - 877-252-2323

Keokuk Bald Eagle Days, Keokuk, IA Jan. 20-21 Contact - 319-524-5599

Le Claire Bald Eagle Watch, Le Claire, IA Jan. 28-29 Miss. Valley Welcome Ctr. - 563-322-3911 ext. 120

Burlington Eagle Watch, Burlington, IA Jan. 29 Kim Pearlstein - 319-753-5808

Quincy Bald Eagle Watch, Quincy, IL Jan. 29 Contact - 217-228-0890

Red Rock Eagle Watch, Pella, IA Feb. 11 Contact - 641-828-7522

Saylorville Eagle Watch, Johnston, IA Feb. 26 Contact - 515-276-4656

Linn Grove Eagle Watch, Linn Grove, IA Mar. 4 Beth Cathcart - 712-296-3790; 712-299-5248



January/February 20064 Big Bluestem Flyer

The Grea t Bac kyard Bird Count Returns for its Ninth Sea son Feb ruary 17-20, 2006

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a joint project of Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, returns

for its ninth season February 17-20, 2006. Bird enthusiasts of all ages can share their love of birds with a friend, a

child, a scout troop, a class, or a co-worker - opening new eyes to the joy of birding and the fun of creating a unique

snapshot of winter bird abundance and distribution across the continent.

“The level of energy created each February by Great Backyard Bird counters is phenomenal,” said Dr. Paul

Green, director of Citizen Science for Audubon. “What always amazes me are the new discoveries made by people

across North America. Some bird watchers even send digital photos to back up

their reports. Last year participants sent in more than 1,000 photos and manyare now part of the GBBC web site gallery.”

Everyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to seasoned experts.

During the count, bird watchers can tally up birds for as little as 15 minutes,

or for as long as they like, keeping track of the highest number of each bird

species they see together at one time. People are encouraged to report birds

from public lands and local parks, as well as from their own backyards.

Participants enter their numbers online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc and can

explore sightings maps, lists, and charts as the count progresses.

For more information contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at

[email protected] or (800) 843-2473 if in the United States; or contact

Audubon at [email protected]; or (215) 355-9588 Ext. 16.

Why count backyard birds?

Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Now

that winter has gripped much of the continent, what are our birds doing? Bird populations

are dynamic, they are constantly in flux. We want to take a snapshot of North American

bird populations and YOU can help us. Everyone's contribution is important. It doesn't

matter whether you identify, count, and report the 5 species coming to your backyard

feeder or the 75 species you see during a day's outing to a wildlife refuge. Your data can

help us answer many questions:

* How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?

* Where are the WINTER finches and other irruptive species?

* Will late winter movements of many SONGBIRD and waterfowl species be as far north as they were last

year?

The data that you collect will be combined with Christmas Bird Count and Project FeederWatch data to give us

an immense picture of our winter birds. Each year that these data are collected makes them more important andmeaningful. So as we see patterns, discover new questions and insights, we'll update you. And we'll ask for your

help again.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Na tiona l Audub on Soc iety

Tea c her’s “ Treasures” A great big “thanks” to all of you who contributed recyclable materials to Big Bluestem “Teacher treasures”

collections.

These items are being used by elementary classroom teachers for projects, helping to defray the rising costs of

supplies. You did a grand job for our first year. We will continue those collections until the beginning of summer, at

which time this project will evaluated, and continued or ended, as the case may be.

Please keep bring materials* to the monthly Big Bluestem meetings. Thanks again for your great support.

Jea nne Edw ards

* Typical materials include: egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, cotton from pill bottles, lightweight cardboard, small

pieces of wood (1” to 5”), wooden dowels, partially used typing paper and other such paper, yogurt cups with tops,

other plastic containers with tops, toweling tubes, bits and pieces of wood (untreated), yarn and string and ribbon,

fabric pieces, discontinued printouts and cards printed on one side, beads, holiday decorations, old calendar

pictures, artwork, wrapping paper, bows/ribbons, and left-over craft materials. In other words, just about anything

you can think of!

Kirsten Munson

Steven D’Amato



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 deadline for the next issues will be the

fifteenth of February and April.

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

5January/February 2006 Big Bluestem Flyer

New Meeting Loc ationNote: We will no longer be meeting in the ISU Veterinary College Building.

Our 2006 meeting place will be the Extension 4-H Building on the north edge of ISU Campus.

The building is located at the southwest corner of 13th Street and Stange Road as shown below.

Enter off of Stange Road on the first street south of 13th Street (Wanda Daley Drive)

Field Trip ReportNovember 19, 2005. Lake Red Rock

Seven of us enjoyed birding around Lake Red Rock under overcast and cool conditions, with light rain in the late

afternoon. We first checked out the lake from the Visitor’s Center overlook. We found a few ducks and HornedGrebes. Below the dam were a lone Brown Pelican, a few American Black Ducks with many Mallards, and a

Carolina Wren near the paved hiking/biking trail. After lunch in Pella at the Smokey Row Coffee and Soda

Fountain, we headed to Roberts Creek Park and found a colorful Long-tailed Duck – definitely the bird of the day!

We finished the day with 50 species.

Jeff Nic hols

Steven D’Amato



6 January/February 2006Big Bluestem Flyer

Am es and Say lorville Christma s Bird Counts

Notes on the Saylorville countThe two best birds were the Common

Loon that was trapped on the ice and aGray Catbird. We did well with

sparrows, open country birds, etc.

Obviously having no gulls and only five

waterfowl species hurt our total a lot.

Still a good count, especially with the

snow cover, brisk weather, and lack of

open water.Jim Dinsmore

ThanksWe give special thanks to Shane and Katy Patterson for accepting

the time-consuming role of Coordinators of the Ames count. It was avery good count, despite the somewhat cold and difficult walking

conditions.

Further thanks are due Sherry Dragula for taking on the

responsibility for finding a location and organizing the post count

potluck supper and get-together. It was done on short notice and turned

out to be a very good location. We also thank the folks at Bethesda

Lutheran Church for offering some spaces—we hope that that

becomes a new tradition.

Christmas Bird Counts Ames Saylorville Ames Saylorville

Dec. 17 Dec. 18 Dec. 17 Dec. 18

Snow Goose 1 Black-capped Chickadee 533 364

Canada Goose 415 7395 Tufted Titmouse 9 20

Canvasback 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 12 1

Gadwall 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 205 109

Common Goldeneye cw Brown Creeper 27 8

Ruddy Duck cw Carolina Wren 2 2American Black Duck 1 Winter Wren 4 2

Mallard 27 1110 Golden-crowned Kinglet 8

Gray Partridge 32 Eastern Bluebird 13 17

Ring-necked Pheasant 186 122 Hermit Thrush 1 1

Wild Turkey 3 15 American Robin 44 8

Common Loon 1 Gray Catbird 1

Great Blue Heron 4 European Starling 2143 2649

Bald Eagle 13 13 Cedar Waxwing 111 185

Northern Harrier 2 2 Eastern Towhee 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 13 American Tree Sparrow 209 773

Cooper’s Hawk 11 10 Fox Sparrow cw 5

Red-tailed Hawk 64 84 Song Sparrow 15 81

Rough-legged Hawk 5 6 Lincoln’s Sparrow 2

American Kestrel 12 22 Swamp Sparrow 9Merlin 2 White-throated Sparrow 19 166

Wilson’s Snipe 1 Harris’s Sparrow 18 17

Rock Pigeon 551 298 White-crowned Sparrow cw 8

Mourning Dove 233 410 Dark-eyed Junco 887 1493

Eastern Screech-Owl 2 13 Lapland Longspur 73

Great Horned Owl 8 43 Snow Bunting 10 87

Barred Owl 5 7 Northern Cardinal 363 402

Long-eared Owl 9 Red-winged Blackbird 1 626

Belted Kingfisher 2 5 Western Meadowlark 2

Red-headed Woodpecker 1 2 Meadowlark sp. 11 40

Red-bellied Woodpecker 105 117 Rusty Blackbird 2

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1 Common Grackle 2 1

Downy Woodpecker 178 134 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 4Hairy Woodpecker 46 53 Purple Finch 7 18

Northern Flicker 12 39 House Finch 282 127

Northern Shrike 1 1 Common Redpoll 1

Blue Jay 207 192 Pine Siskin 5 12

American Crow 8100 489 American Goldfinch 202 591

Horned Lark 170 109 House Sparrow 1150 811

Species Count 60 71

Total Birds 16689 19449

Count Participants 41 25



Big Bluestem Flyer January/February 2006 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 Donation

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

Brekke’s 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, 2006

Membership Application forms

Clip and JoinDon’t forget gift memberships!

New member of the National Audubon Society. You will

receive the Audubon magazine, the Big Bluestem Flyer,membership card. — $20Please make your check payable to National Audubon

Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check

Subscribe to the Big 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 to Big 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 9:30-8Fri 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: 02-28-06

Welcome

New Members

Joan Boggs of JewellMr. & Mrs. Harold Crawford of Ames

Julie Dixon of CambridgeJerry Dunahoo of Ames

Richard Dunnihoo of Woodward

Robert Gaskill of AmesBarbara Licklider of Boone

Becky Lyon of Boone.R D Montgomery of Perry

Peggy Murdock of AmesGene Pollmann of Ames

Bernard Randol of AmesAnnamae Reed of Boone

D C Edwards



I f y o u h a v e a n “ X ” a f t e r y o u r n a m e o n y o u r m a i l i n g l a b e l , t h i s w i l l b e y o u r l a s t

i s s u e o f t h e F l y e r u n l e s s y o u r e n e w .

N o n - P r o f i t O r g . U . S . P o s t a g e P a i d

P e r m i t N o . 1 3 1 A m e s , I o w a

B i g B l u e s t e m F l y e r D a v i d C . E d w a r d s , E d i t o r B i g B l u e s t e m A u d u b o n S o c i e t y P O B o x 5 4 3 A m e s , I A 5 0 0 1 0 - 0 5 4 3

Printed on Recycled paper

W e w e l c o m e n e w m e m b e r s !

January/February 2006Vol 41 No. 3

Fifth Genera tion of Ultra light-led Whooping Cranes Rea c hes Florida Wintering GroundsNineteen endangered whooping cranes and their surrogate parents—four ultralight aircraft—reached Florida’s

Gulf coast after a 61-day trek of more than 1,100 miles through seven states.

At 9:30 a.m. Eastern, the cranes and ultralights arrived at their final destination in Marion County, first flying

over a crowd of more than 800 enthusiastic spectators gathered for the occasion at the Dunnellon Municipal

Airport.

These cranes are the fifth group to be guided by ultralights to Florida from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in

central Wisconsin. The Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), an international coalition of public and

private organizations, is conducting this ultralight-led reintroduction project in an effort to return this highly

imperiled species to its historic range in eastern North America. With the conclusion of this year's ultralight-ledmigration, there are now 64 whooping cranes in the wild in eastern North America.

This year’s class of ultralight-led whooping cranes departed from Necedah NWR on Oct. 14. The young cranes

ended their first migration at a different location than in previous years. Instead of being “dropped off” by the

ultralight pilots at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge in Citrus County, the juvenile birds will instead

spend the next few weeks at an isolated location in Marion County.

In addition to the chicks migrating behind ultralights, WCEP biologists also released four additional chicks this

fall into the company of older birds at Necedah in the hopes that the chicks would learn the migration route from

adult whoopers.

WCEP asks anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to please give them the respect and distance

they need. Do not approach birds on foot within 600 feet; try to remain in your vehicle; do not approach in a vehicle

within 600 feet or, if on a public road, within 300 feet. Also, please remain concealed and do not speak loudly

enough that the birds can hear you. Finally, do not trespass on private property in an attempt to view whooping

cranes.

More than 60 percent of the project's estimated $1.8 million per year budget comes from private sources in the

form of grants, donations and corporate sponsors. Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership

January-February 2006 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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