May-June 2007 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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Big Bluestem FlyerBig Bluestem Flyer

Volume 42, Number 5 May-June 2007

May 17, 2007 Thursday, 7:30 pm,Extension & 4-H Building, I S U, Ames

Cl imate Change:

Unders tan d ing t he Science and Mon i t o r in g Local Consequences

Dr. Eugene S. TakleProfessor of Atmospheric Science

Professor of Agricultural Meteorology

Iowa State UniversityGlobal and regional climate changes have been observed since the 1970s. According to a report issued recently by

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures sin

the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in ... greenhouse gas concentrations. The report go

on to say that Discernible human influences now extend to other aspects of climate, including ocean warming,

continental-average temperatures, temperature extremes and wind patterns.

We will review the scientific basis for climate change and recent changes in Iowa and the US Midwest, examine a

strategy to assess local climatic factors likely to experience future change, and begin to identify species vulnerable t

change and indicator species of local climate change.Dinner* at The Caf 5:45 pm2616 Northridge Pkwy, Ames

Page 2Officers and CommitteesPresidents Corner

Page 3 Meet a BBAS MemberField Trip Report

Page 4BBAS Backyard Habitat TourNative Plant Society Field Trips

Page 5Recommended Reading

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Page 6Audubon Regional ConferenceTeachers Treasures

Page 7New MembersMembership FormCoupons

Page 8Master Conservationist Program

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 (515-795-4176, ([email protected]) for more information.

Programs

May 12, 2007Bird-a-thon (See Insert Sheet)

June 2, 2007Birders Brunch and Birdathon Wrap-up

Meet in the parking lot in the upper Ledges, 8:00 a.m. After a walk down the canyon road, we will meet

in the lower Ledges. Please bring a food item to share.

Field Trips

*For dinne r informa tion, cont ac t Lynne Brookes a t 515-434-2028 or at rpp sola r@ya hoo .co m


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2 Big Bluestem Flyer May-June 2007

Big Bluestem Audubon SocietyOfficers and Committees

OfficersPresident: Lynne Brookes 434-2028 [email protected]: Royce Bitzer 233-6741 [email protected]: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995

[email protected]: Ed Carbrey 292-2404

Board MembersShane Patterson 232-4682 [email protected]

Jeff:

Nichols 795-4176 [email protected] Doud515-795-4176, [email protected] Weichers319-231-6999, [email protected]

Rose Danaher641-919-3783,[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 Board Members)

Membership Chair: Jon Bahrenfus [email protected] Chair: Royce Bitzer (See Officers)Publicity Chair: Mary Doud (See Board Members)Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:

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

BBAS Web Site:http://BigBluestemAudubon.org

Presidents Corner

There are a lot of enjoyable and important BBAS happenings in May and June, as youll read about in

the following pages. Participation is the key to success- especially for the success of the critters we care

about. If you really do care, get involved. Come to the events, donate time and/or money, and bring

family and friends for the fun. We would especially like to meet the many silent members out there!

Participate- youll love it!

First of all is the annual Birdathon event, held May 12th deftly organized by Karl and Carmen

Jungbluth with the dedicated involvement of many Big Bluestem members. This event is the most

important fund raiser for our society allowing us to support bird and other wildlife education activities

in our area, assist with local habitat land purchases, and other activities that are in keeping with our

mission. A listing of how funds- earned mostly through Birdathon efforts- were spent in the last year

and a half was provided in the March/April Big Bluestem Flyer. Please read Karl Jungbluths

Birdathon flyer inside.

Another activity coming up is the BBAS Backyard Habitat Tour on June 24th (rain date, July 1st). A

number of BBAS member homesites have been generously offered for visitors to explore to learn more

about what sorts of wildlife friendly features they can incorporate into their own backyards. There are

homes in Ames, acreages in Boone Co., and farmsteads outside of Nevada- something for everyone!Visit a couple of the sites or visit them all! There will be picnic held at the end of the day at an old

farmstead with a wildlife-friendly facelift. The picnic is open to tour visitors and to all BBAS members

whether you can make the tour or not. More info on page 4. See you on the 24th!

And- dont miss the great field trips ably led by Jeff Nichols. These are announced in each Flyer

newsletter. There are also a number of local and regional events announced in the Flyer, the Audubon

magazine, and in local papers.

Feel shy about participating? Just show up! Were quite friendly-- and no one has been bitten (or

pecked) yet!Lynne Brooke s


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May-June 2007 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

Meet a BBAS Member Jeff Nichols

Our president, Lynne Brookes, asked me to write up a short bio about myself and especially how I got

interested in birds and involved in BBAS. My family is from Pea Ridge in northwestern Arkansas, and I

was born in nearby Bentonville on 31 October 1961. My father was a Methodist minister, so we moved

around quite a bit during my youth. Mostly my dad served churches in small (pop. 500-3000) Arkansas

towns, all north of the Arkansas River. While my dad attended seminary and was a student pastor, we

also lived in Kansas City, Missouri, and Tingley, Iowa. We returned to Arkansas in 1969, and I lived

there until moving to Ames in 1999 to work at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory.

When we moved back to Arkansas in the late 1960s, we lived in a small eastern Arkansas town near

where Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have been recently reported. I dont recall ever seeing any large

woodpeckers there, but I do remember being fascinated by the numerous Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

that fed on the flowering Mimosa trees in town. I developed quite a fascination with hummingbirds, and

read a lot about them. For Christmas in 1971, my parents gave me my first field guide, a small book on

birds in the Golden Nature Guide series, which I still have. I was also intrigued by the Scissor-tailed

Flycatchers and Eastern Meadowlarks I would see while visiting grandparents in northwestern

Arkansas.

Somehow, though, my interest in birds waned as I became interested in other things (astronomy,

space exploration, model rocketry, fossils and paleontology, American Civil War history, girls). Perhaps

because I had so many interests, I was a poor student, and I ended up flunking out of high school. Idrove a truck for a wholesale grocery company for a few years, and took the GED exam to obtain the

equivalent of a high school degree. Shortly thereafter, my grandfather asked me to work for him on his

dairy farm. Working on the farm got me interested in becoming a veterinarian, so after two years on the

farm, I decided to attend the University of Arkansas and major in Animal Science. I switched to Soil

Science after taking an introductory Agronomy course. I was a good student and graduated summa cum

laude, then obtained an MS degree in Agronomy. I worked for 7 years as a Research Technician at the

UA, conducting agricultural runoff studies in Arkansas and Texas. I greatly enjoyed this job, but the

position was funded by grants. When it appeared the money wouldnt be there to continue my position, I

took the job in Ames.

While shopping for a Christmas gift for my mother, I visited the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited store and

picked up a brochure from Big Bluestem Audubon. I thought the field trips looked like a goodopportunity to explore my new surroundings. That you could purposefully set out to find birds and

especially seek out new life birds was a novel idea to me, but I quickly became an AVID birder. Wolf

Oesterreich and Joyce and Jon Bahrenfus were particularly influential in introducing me to the activity.

One evening I received a call from BBAS President Karl Jungbluth, asking me if Id lead (I thought he

said) A field trip. I said OK, not realizing I was agreeing to be the Field Trip Chair. In retrospect Im

glad I accepted the offer, as Ive enjoyed leading the trips and sharing the birding experience with

others. I also met my wife Mary Doud at a Birders Brunch field trip, and she and I have traveled widely

in the US looking for birds. My favorite birding is exploring new areas looking for new birds, especially

with friends.

Field Trip Report

The March field trip visited Dunbar Slough, Finn Pond, and Harrier Marsh in Greene and Boone

counties. The weather was overcast and occasionally windy. The temperature was warm enough that

many herps were active and vocal. We heard American Toads, Western Chorus Frogs, and Northern

Leopard Frog, and saw Western Painted Turtle and a garter snake. The snake didnt appreciate our

efforts to move him out of the road. Waterfowl were present in good numbers. Especially noteworthy was

a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage. We also observed many Rusty Blackbirds, a pair of Gray

Partridge, and 8 sparrow species, among the 73 species we observed.Jeff Nic hols


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May-June 20074 Big Bluestem Flyer

Mark yo ur ca lenda rs for the

BBAS BACKYARD HABITAT TOURJune 24, 2007

Big Bluestem is holding a new enjoyable and educational event this summer, the BBAS Backyard

Habitat Tour. This activity will provide an opportunity for people interested in developing wildlife

friendly areas around their homes and to see the kinds of home habitat features Audubon members

have developed to encourage birds and other wildlife. Nine BBAS members indicated interest in

providing visit sites including Mike & Linda Meetz, Mary Doud & Jeff Nichols, Karl & Carmen

Jungbluth.

Some of the places offered are Ames homesites, some are in natural settings, and others are farmsite

acreages. By having such a variety of home habitat types, those on tour will be able to learn about

features that they can employ wherever they live. Each person on the tour will receive a packet of

information useful for developing or improving their own backyard habitat. At the end of the day there

will be a picnic held at Lynne and Derricks wildlife-friendly old farmstead NE of Nevada.

The Backyard Habitat Tour will be open to BBAS members and interested folks in local communities.

RSVPs are requested for planning purposes. One group of tour sites will be open for visits in the

morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the second group of sites will receive visitors from 1:30 to 5:00

p.m. Visitors will be provided with a map and brief description of habitat features at each place so they

can select and visit those morning and then afternoon sites of most interest to them. Visit all if you can!Picnic sandwich fare and drinks will be provided. Visitors are asked to bring non perishable chips,

desserts, finger food, etc. to share. BYO lawn chairs/lawn cloths or mats if convenient. Children are

welcome but no pets please. We hope to have a musician for entertainment (bring instruments if you

have them). We plan to have a kaibo set up on the picnic grounds for your use and to evoke rural setting

memories!

Sunday, June 24th (from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 when picnic begins) is the date selected, with a rain date

of July 1st. Mary Doud, Dave Edwards, and I have volunteered to help organize this event. Anyone who

would like to help with some of the promotional or day of the event logistics- please contact one of us.

Backyard Habitat Tour site descriptions, map, and informational packets can be picked up at the May

17th BBAS general meeting and monthly program. If you are unable to come to the meeting, packets will

be available at the Ames Public Libray community events/announcements kiosk (ask for Dawn if theyare not apparent). You could also contact Lynne ([email protected] or 515-434-2028), Dave or Mary.

This will be a terrific BBAS community event. We look forward to seeing you out and about!

The Iowa Native Plant Soc ietys 2007 Field Trips

All field trips are scheduled for Saturdays and begin at 10 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

May 12th Webster County (north-central Iowa)

Deb Lewis, Curator of Iowa State University's Ada Hayden Herbarium, will lead a field trip to Brushy

Creek State Preserve.

June 9th Clayton County (northeast Iowa)

Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge and an upland savanna restoration

July 15th Eastern NebraskaThe Iowa Prairie Conference in Sioux City and the Olson Nature Preserve in eastern Nebraska

July 21st Scott & Clinton Counties (east-central Iowa)

Workshop on ferns and Sherman Park

August 25th: Butler County (northeast Iowa)

September 8th: Pottawattamie County (southwest Iowa)

Contact Mark Leoschke for more information at [email protected] or at 515-281-5961Ma rk J. Leo sc hke


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5May-June 2007 Big Bluestem Flyer

C

Rec ommended Books

A Parrot Without a Name: The Search for the Last Unknown Birds on Earth by Don Stap

Shadowbirds: A Quest for Rails by William Burt

Hope is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds by Christopher

Cokinos

The Ghost with Trembling Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and the Search for Lost

Species by Scott Weidensaul

The Birds of Heaven: Travels With Cranes by Peter Matthiessen

Rare and Elusive Birds of North America by William Burt

Restoring North Americas Birds: Lessons from Landscape Ecology by Robert Askins

Also, the University of Iowa Press offers a new title in its "nature in your pocket" series:

Orchids in Your Pocket by William WittMa rk J. Leo sc hke

HAVE YOU READ?There are many good books, videos, websites, etc. about birds and other wildlife. Plan ahead for next

season and share your favorites with other BBAS members!

W inged M ig ra t i on

Jacques Perrin, 2001 Sony Pictures Classics 89 min.Ames Public Library: 4 copies available; Video rentals outlets; Media Bookstores (can purchase used).

Two Thumbs Up by Ebert & Roper

Awesome visual and auditory journey into the wonder of bird migration. The viewer takes off with the

geese, storks, pelicans and others of the 23+ filmed species as they soar through the skies over Europe,

Africa, and North America on their ways to spring breeding grounds and back again. The original music

(available on CD) and guiding narration enhance this up close look at the individuals and flocks meeting

the challenges dealt them along their ancient routes of travel. This astoundingly beautiful and moving

film took four arduous years to make. As amazing as this documentary is, the trailers are equally so.

Learning how the film was made, how the unique music and aural effects were created, and how some of

the avian stars were prepared for their roles is fascinating. Wonderful to see or re-see as we welcome

our migrators back again to Iowa.Lynne Brooke s

Nes ts , Eggs , and Nes t l i ngs o f Nor t h Am er ican B i rds , 2nd Ed.

Paul J. Baicich and Colin J. O. Harrison, 2005 ISBN-0-691-12295-4Princeton University Press- Princeton Field Guides series

Check at ISU library; online or at local bookstores; Firehouse Books- new or used: (515) 232-6609.

An excellent resource with more than 700 color and line illustrations of nests, eggs and nestlings help

the user to identify 670 species breeding in North America from the southern U.S. border to the Arctic

region. The concise descriptive text covers breeding season, typical nesting areas, nest sites, clutches,

eggs, incubation, nestlings, and nestling period. A must have for those that believe the egg came before

the chicken.Lynne Brooke s


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Audubon Upp er Midwest Reg ional Conference

Save the Date! Oc t 12 14 2007Birds are calling all Upper Midwest Audubon members, friends and partners to the Embassy Suites in

Bloomington, MN, October 12th-14th!

On Saturday and Sunday, the 13th and 14th, sessions in three critical habitat tracks - grassland,

forest and wetlands - focus on options for "Declining Species, Declining Habitat: Reversing the Trend."

Learn, share, and take new energy home to make a difference. Some repeat sessions and field trips

inside and outside are available on Saturday afternoon for birders and their spouses.

On Saturday evening, scientist and author, Bridget Stutchbury presents: "Migratory songbirds:canaries in the mine?" Watch for her new book, Silence of the Songbirds. Go ahead, Google her name.

You'll be impressed!

National Audubon Society President, John Flicker, will be the feature speaker on Sunday.

Friday, October 12th, pre-conference attendees explore "The Mississippi River: America's Flyway."

The day is full of informative and interactive sessions on Mississippi River habitat issues and

opportunities and a sternwheeler boat ride on the Mississippi River IBA.

On Friday evening, see an internationally acclaimed BBC/Discovery Channel Documentary

"Mississippi: Tales of the Last River Rat" and enjoy commentary and Q&A with river guide, trapper,

fisherman, hunter, root and herb collector and naturalist, Kenny Salwey. Even if Saturday/Sunday

attendees can't attend all day, they may register for this evening event.

Conference hosts include Audubon Minnesota, The Upper Mississippi River Initiative, BirdConservation Minnesota, Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis, Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter,

and St. Paul Audubon Society.

For further information on sponsorship and exhibit space, contact Audubon Minnesota at 651-739-

9332. Conference details will be available on the Audubon Minnesota website http://mn.audubon.org/

after May 1st. Registration materials will be available after June 1st.

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 issue

will be the fifteenth of August.

Tea chers Treasures Projec tOur Teachers Treasures Project (recycled goods) will end May 1. I have ebjoyed coordinating Big

Bluestems collection and distribution of recycled materials for grade and middle school teachers.

Although this activity used only a few hours of my time, I am no longer physically able to do it.

My grateful thanks to those of you who generously contributed recycled materials the past two years.

You have helped to create a very successful project. Teachers gobbled up the materials and continued

to look forward for more.

I would welcome working with anyone interested in continuing this service. It has excellent potential

for continuation and expansion. Again, my thanks to those of you who participated. The environment and the teachers appreciate you.

Jeanne Edw ards


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Big Bluestem FlyerMay-June 2007 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 June 30, 2007

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 9:30-8Fri 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: 06-30-07

Welcome New members

AmesRobert Borgmeyer

Phil BerryKathleen Krogmeier

Jessie ReynoldsKatherine Fromm

BooneJitka OurednikGreg ThedeJefferson

Jim Biggart

MadridDenise Throckmorton

Nevada

Debra Parker

OgdenJoyce Koestner

RandallHarley Lewiston

RhodesMary Halter

RolandFrederick Tjarks

WoodwardDouglas Johnson


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IfyouhaveanXafteryournameonyourmailinglabel,thiswillbeyourlast

issueoftheFlyerunlessyourenew.

Non-ProfitOrg.U.S.PostagePaid

PermitNo.131Ames,Iowa

BigBluestemFlyerDavidC.Edwards,EditorBigBluestemAudubonSocietyPOBox543Ames,IA50010-0543

Printed on Recycled paper

Wewelcomenewmembers!

May-June 2007Vol 42 No. 5

Story County Master Conservationist ProgramStory County Conservation is sponsoring a summer 2007 Master Conservationist Program. The

Master Conservationist Program is for individuals interested in conservation who have had little

training in the conservation field.

Seven Tuesday evening sessions (June 5-26 and July 10-24) will be held from 6:00-9:30 p.m. A

Saturday field day will be held on July 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sessions include lecture,

discussion, and hands-on experiences in the field. Participants will receive detailed Iowa-specific

information, helpful application and management techniques, and views of human impacts and

implications. Lunch is provided during the Saturday field day.The Master Conservationist Program is limited to 30 adults age 18 years old or older. The registration

fee is $45 per individual or $75 per couple (shared binder). Registration deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday,

May 25, 2007.

To receive a registration form and additional information,

contact the Story County Conservation Center at 515-232-2516

(Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or on the web at

www.storycountyconservation.org.

No individual will be excluded from participating in programs

and events conducted by Story County Conservation because of

a disability or impairment. To request accommodations to

participate in programs and events, contact Story County

Conservation.Jerry Keys, Environm enta l Educ at ion Coo rdinato r

May-June 2007 Big Bluesterm Flyer Big Bluestem Audubon Society

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