Signal Smoke March-April 2019 - Travis Audubon · Ruffled Feathers Book Club Meeting 3710 Cedar...
Transcript of Signal Smoke March-April 2019 - Travis Audubon · Ruffled Feathers Book Club Meeting 3710 Cedar...
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People AT TRAVIS AUDUBON
Office Staff
Executive Director Nicole Netherton Land Manager and Educator Chris Murray Education and Program Coordinator Caley Zuzula Operations Coordinator Judith Allen Design Director & Website Producer Nora Chovanec
Committees Advocacy Clif Ladd Baker Team Clif Ladd
Chris Murray Blair Woods Management Mark Wilson Commons Ford Shelia Hargis
Ellen Filtness Chaetura Canyon Management Paul Kyle
Georgean Kyle Adult Education Byron Stone Field Trip Dennis Palafox Hornsby Bend Eric Stager Outreach/Member Meetings Jane Tillman
Cindy Sperry Youth Virginia Rose
Mary Kay Sexton
Board of Directors President Frances Cerbins President-Elect Eric Stager Treasurer Carol Ray Secretary Julia Marsden Directors Karen Bartoletti
Clif Ladd Suzanne Kho Dennis Palafox Sharon Richardson Virginia Rose Mark Wilson Jo Wilson
Advisory Council
J. David Bamberger Valarie Bristol Victor Emanuel Sam Fason Bryan Hale Karen Huber Mary Kelly Susan Rieff Andrew Sansom Carter Smith
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Upcoming Events WITH TRAVIS AUDUBON
Super Tuesday! At Emma Long Metropolitan Park with Jane Tillman and Suzie McCann 1600 City Park Rd, Austin, TX 78730 02MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Beginner Bird Walk: Camp Mabry 2200 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703 02MAR, 19 CLASSES, SANCTUARY EVENTS Birding by Ear with Mikael Behrens 03MAR, 19 YOUTH & FAMILY Young Birders Club: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 05MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Two-hour Tuesday at Lake Creek Trail with Jane Tillman 06MAR, 19 CLASSES CLASS: Introduction to Birds and Birding Spring 2019 09MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Hornsby Bend Monthly Bird Count 09MAR, 19 SANCTUARY EVENTS Baker Sanctuary Restoration Day 12219 Lime Creek Rd, Leander, TX 78641, USA 10MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Guadalupe River State Park Field Trip led by Deb & Lee Wallace 10MAR, 19 Ruffled Feathers Book Club Meeting 3710 Cedar St., Austin, TX 78705 12MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Super Tuesday at Mitchell Lake with Lee and Deb Wallace 14MAR, 19 YOUTH & FAMILY Birds of Lake Pflugerville with Sebastian Casarez 18216 Weiss Ln, Pflugerville, TX 78660 16MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Hornsby Bend Monthly Bird Walk 16MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Birdability: Govalle Metropolitan Park 20MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Wild Wednesday at Brushy Creek Regional Trail 21MAR, 19
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TAS 67th Birthday Party + Annual Business Meeting + Speaker Series 4700 Grover Ave, Austin, TX 78756 23MAR, 19 YOUTH & FAMILY, SANCTUARY EVENTS Blair Woods Family Nature Day: Celebrate Urban Birds 5401 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78721, USA 24MAR, 19 SANCTUARY EVENTS Blair Woods Restoration Day 5401 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. 24MAR, 19 SANCTUARY EVENTS Chaetura Canyon Video Premiere 26MAR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Two-Hour Tuesday at City of Bee Cave Central Park with Amy Sugeno 02APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Super Tuesday at Pedernales Falls State Park with Terry Banks 03APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Birding at Bamberger Ranch 05APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Migratory Birds in the Landscape 06APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Cherry Springers 06APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Beginner Bird Walk: St. Edward’s Park 7301 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759 06APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, SANCTUARY EVENTS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Mindful Birders 07APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, SANCTUARY EVENTS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Warblers at Baker 07APR, 19 YOUTH & FAMILY Young Birders Club: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center 09APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Two-hour Tuesday at Camp Mabry with Jane Tillman 13APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS Hornsby Bend Monthly Bird Count 17APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Birding at Los Madrones 19APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Birding at Jandarosa Ranch 20APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS
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Hornsby Bend Monthly Bird Walk 20APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Powderhorn Ranch 20APR, 19 SANCTUARY EVENTS Blair Woods Restoration Day 5401 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78721, USA 23APR, 19 CLASSES Class: Spring Warblers 27APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Coastal Migrants and East Texas Warblers 27APR, 19 YOUTH & FAMILY, SANCTUARY EVENTS Blair Woods Family Nature Day: Migration 5401 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78721, USA 28APR, 19 FIELD TRIPS, BIRDATHON Birdathon: Early Birders 30APR, 19 Speaker Series: Exploring New Guinea’s Lost Worlds and Elusive Birds of Paradise with Bruce Beehler 4700 Grover Ave, Austin, TX 78756
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Updates AT TRAVIS AUDUBON
Austin Tree Experts Visit Blair Woods POSTEDONJANUARY15,2019
ManythankstothegoodfolksatAustinTreeExpertswhograciouslydonatedtheirtimeand
expertiseatBlairWoodsthelastseveralweeks.ThecrewfromAustinTreeExpertsremoved
non-native,invasiveplantsliningtheBlairWoodsdrivewayandalsocutandremovedseveral
large,technicalsnagswhichhadloomedovervariouspublicspacesatthepreserve.
Volunteers Keep Baker Beautiful POSTEDONJANUARY28,2019
Manythankstothe18hard-workingvolunteerswhospenttheirSaturdaymorningatBakerlast
weekend!Withtheirhelp,approximately12cubicyardsofmulchwasspreadonhikingtrails,
hundredsofSpanishOakacornsweresown,andover600feetofanold,rusty,barbedwire
fencewasremoved.Greatworkandthanksforyoursupport!
January Bird Forecast POSTEDONJANUARY30,2019
By:JimSpencer
WhattowatchforinJanuary–UnusualBirdsatyourFeedersHere’stheCentralTexasbirdforecastforthemonth,courtesyofTravisAudubon.Learnmore
aboutCentralTexasbirdsandbird-relatedeventsforallagesattravisaudubon.orgorbycalling
512-300-BIRD.Followusatwww.facebook.com/travisaudubon
Areyoufeedingthebirds?Ifso,keepaneyeoutfortwouncommonspeciesthathaveshownup
thiswinter.
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PurpleFinchesandRed-breastedNuthatchesaretwonorthernspeciesofbirdsthatare
consideredirruptivespecies.TheTexasOrnithologicalSocietyHandbookofTexasBirdsdefines
irruptivespeciesasthosethatare“normallyabsentfromthestateoragivenarea,butsubjectto
large-scalenon-annualincursions.”Oftentherearevariablenumbersofyearsbetweenthese
events.Usuallytheirruptionsareduetofoodshortagesintheirnormalrange.
Ofthetwo,thePurpleFinchisrareintheAustin/TravisCountyarea,whileRed-breasted
Nuthatchesseemtoshowupinverylownumberseveryyear.ForPurpleFinches,thereare
scatteredrecordsin2015,2014,2011,2004,2003,2002,1979,1976and1974.Sofarthislate
fallandwintertheyhavebeenseenorheardatlocationsincludingEmmaLongandCommons
FordRanchMetropolitanParks,ataprivateresidencenorthwestofSt.Edward’sParkandin
TravisCountry,andatMcKinneyFallsStatePark.
PurpleFincheshavelargeconicalbillsandwillvisitbackyardfeeders,particularlyenjoying
blackoilsunflowerseed.TheyareHouseSparrowsized,about6incheslong,withnotchedtails.
Themalesandfemaleslookverydifferentfromeachother.Thefemalehasabrownishbackand
tail,withcrispshort,darkstreaksonawhitebreastandbelly.Themostdistinctivehead
featuresarethestrongwhiteeyebrowmostlybehindtheeye,andthebrowncheekpatch.
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ShecouldbeconfusedwiththeverycommonHouseFinch,lesscommonPineSiskin,orsome
nativesparrows.Besuretocheckyourfieldguide.Onewaytomaketheidentificationistotake
adecentphotoandusetheCornellLabofOrnithology’sMerlinPhotoIDApp.
AHouseFinchfemalewillhaveblurrygrayishstreakingonherbreastandflanksandaplain
head.WhileitseemsthatmostTravisCountyrecordsareforfemalePurpleFinches,youmayget
luckyandseeamale.No,itisnotpurple.Comparethemale’sextensiveredcoloringonitsback
andhead,andredonitsflanks,withthebrownblurrystreakingontheHouseFinch’sflankand
lessredonthehead.
TheRed-breastedNuthatchisthelifeofthepartywithitsendearingtootingcalls.Itisashame
wedon’thavemoreofthisnorthernbird.ItcouldbemistakenforaCarolinaChickadeeifyou
onlygetaquicklook,butisquitedifferent.TheRed-breastedNuthatchisalittlesmallerthana
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chickadee.Ithasalongpointedbillitusestoprobeforinsectsinbarkasitbusilymovesdown,
upandaroundtreetrunksandbranches.Ithasalmostnoneck,andaflathead,withawhite
eyebrowandthroatandstrikinglyblackeyeline.Itsbellyispaleorangeandthetopofitshead,
itsbackandtailarebluishgray.Thesenuthatchesaregenerallysolitary,butwillfollowmixed
flocksofchickadees,titmice,andothersmallsongbirds.
CompiledbyJaneTillman,TravisAudubonVolunteer
REPOSTEDWITHPERMISSIONFROMKXAN’SWEATHERBLOG
Meet the 2019 Board Nominees POSTEDONJANUARY31,2019
Learnmoreaboutthe2019BoardNomineesbyreadingtheirbiosbelow!Electionwilltake
placeattheMarchMemberMeeting–moredetailsforthatmeetingcomingsoon.
ChristyEsmahan,Ph.D.ChristyreceivedaB.A.inMicrobiologyfromMiamiUniversity,inOhio,andthenaPh.D.in
MolecularBiologyfromtheUniversidaddeLeóninSpain.Sheworkedfor15yearsasan
educatoratthehighschoolanduniversitylevel.Nowsheworksasabiomedical/pharmaceutical
translator(Spanish/English)andwritesnovels.Shehasalwaysbeeninterestedinbirds,buthas
hadmoretimetodevotetobirdingsinceshebecameanemptynester.Shehasbirdedin
Thailand,TaiwanandMexico.ShevolunteeredwithAmigosdelasAmericasinHoustonfor7
years,andwasaboardmemberfor3years.Currentlysheisaboardmemberofanon-profit
press,KallistoGaia,hereinAustin.Sheandherhusbandareavidbirdersandhavebeen
membersofTravisAudubonsincetheymovedtoAustinafewyearsago.Herinvolvementwith
TASincludesbeingamemberoftheAdvocacyCommitteeforthelast2years,takingseveral
birdingclasses,includingcurrentenrollmentintheMasterBirderClass,andparticipatinginthe
RuffledFeathersbookclub,birdathonsandnumerousbirdingoutings.In2017shewasselected
bytheNationalAudubonSocietytoparticipateina2-dayadvocacyworkshopinWashingtonDC.
ShewouldlovetobecomeaboardmemberofTAS.
LinoMendiolaIIILinoisanAustinattorneyspecializinginelectricenergylawandisapartneratEversheds
Sutherland.LinograduatedfromHarvardLawSchoolin1994andthenclerkedfortheChief
JusticeoftheTexasSupremeCourt.Hehaspracticedlawinaprivatelawfirmhisentirecareer
withtheexceptionofaone-yearsabbaticalduringwhichheservedastheReginaldF.Lewis
FellowforLawTeachingatHarvardLawSchool.Linoisanexperiencednon-profitleader,
havingservedonvariousboards.HecurrentlyservesontheBoardofTrusteesoftheSt.David’s
FoundationandontheBoardofDirectorsofChild,Inc.,theTravisCountyHeadStartprovider.
Lino’stermontheChild,Inc.BoardwillexpireinMay,2019.Linobeganbirdinginthespringof
2014afterparticipatinginaTravisAudubonmonthlybirdwalkatHornsbyBend.Sincethen,
Linohasbirdedaroundthecountryandhasparticipatedinacoupleofinternationaltrips.Lino
isamemberoftheTASFieldTripCommitteeandisagraduateoftheMasterBirderprogram.
JuliaMarsdenJuliaMarsdengrewupinWestTexas(whereshesawherfirstshorebird,anavocet,atthelocal
sewagetreatmentfacility).Afterlotsofyearsaway–incollegeinMissouri,andlifeinMaine,
PuertoRico,andMaryland–shereturnedtoTexasin1990.
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Ms.MarsdenspentelevenyearsonthestateboardoftheLeagueofWomenVotersofTexas;
nineofthosewerespentasAdvocacy/LegislativeVice-PresidentandStateWaterChair.During
thistimeshespenttenyearsasthepublic(citizen)memberontheLowerColoradoRiver
RegionalWaterPlanningGroup,appointedtothefirststatewaterplanninggroupfollowingthe
passageofSB1.
Abiologistandretiredsecondaryscienceteacher,shevolunteersattheBloodandTissueCenter
inAustinandservesasadocent/volunteerattheLadyBirdJohnsonWildflowerCenter.She
lovestotravelandbird!
DennisPalafoxPictureandbiocomingsoon!
Found a Baby Bird? Here’s What You Should Do
POSTEDONFEBRUARY4,2019
Springisjustsixweeksaway,whichmeansit’salmostbabybirdseason.Sincetheyaresosmall
andlooksovulnerable,itisnearlyinstincttopickitupandtrytocareforit.However,that’s
oftennotthebestthingforthebird.Here’sacleverinfographicbyRosemaryMoscothatshows
youwhattodowhenyoufindababybird:
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Ifthebirdneedstoseealicensedwildliferehabilitatororwildlifecarecenter,pleasecallAustin
WildlifeRescueat512-472-9453.
Texas Judge Upholds Endangered Species Act Protections for Golden-cheeked Warbler POSTEDONFEBRUARY7,2019
AUSTIN,Texas—AfederaljudgeinAustinyesterdayruledthatthegolden-cheekedwarbler
shouldremainprotectedundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.TheTexassongbirdisseverely
threatenedbyrampanturbansprawl.
InaffirmingtheU.S.FishandWildlifeService’sdenialofapetitiontotakethegolden-cheeked
warblerofftheendangeredspecieslist,thecourtfoundthatthewarblercontinuestobe
threatenedbyhabitatlossandfragmentation,predationandclimatechange.
Thatpetitionwassubmittedbyseveralright-wingthinktanksandSusanCombs,currentlythe
actingsecretaryofpolicy,managementandbudgetintheTrumpadministration’sU.S.
DepartmentoftheInterior.
Conservationgroupsparticipatedinthelegalproceedingstodefendthesongbird’sprotection.
“We’rethrilledthatthiscynicalattempttotakeprotectionawayfromthewarblerhasbeen
stopped,”saidRyanShannon,astaffattorneyattheCenterforBiologicalDiversity.“Withthe
continuedprotectionoftheEndangeredSpeciesAct,hopefullythisTexasnativewillcharm
birdersfromallovertheworldforalongtimetocome.”
Thegolden-cheekedwarblerisasmallsongbirdendemictotheHillCountryofcentralTexas
andhasstrikingyellowmarkingsonitscheeks.Lossofhabitatduetoranchingandurban
sprawlhaslongendangeredit.ThespecieswasprotectedundertheEndangeredSpeciesActin
1990.
AustinandcentralTexasarehometothematureashejuniperwoodlandsthataretheonlyplace
intheworldwherethewarblerbreeds.Theareasarealsosomeofthefastest-growingregions
inthecountry.Between1999and2011,29percentofthebird’shabitatwasdestroyed.
“It’ssimplytoosoontoremoveprotectionsforthewarbler,whichcontinuestolosehabitatto
urbansprawl,”saidNicoleNetherton,executivedirectorofTravisAudubon.“CentralTexasis
theonlyplaceintheworldwheregolden-cheekedwarblersarebornandraised,andcontinued
protectionswillhelpencouragetheirbreedingsuccessforyearstocome.”
Likesomanyotherimperiledanimals,thewarblerhasgreatlybenefitedfromEndangered
SpeciesActprotection.Althoughthebird’snumbersaredifficulttoestimate,surveyscontinueto
documentmorewarblerseveryyear,andseveralhabitatareashavebeenprotected.
“TheEndangeredSpeciesActhasaprovenrecordofsuccessbringingspeciesbackfromthe
brinkfromextinction,”saidJasonRylander,seniorcounselatDefendersofWildlife.“Thegolden-
cheekedwarblercouldbeanothersuccessstory,butastheFishandWildlifeServicerecognized,
realthreatstothespeciespersist.Thecourtmadetherightdecisionforthewarbler.”
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“WebelieveJudgeSparks’rulingreflectsthetruestatusofthegolden-cheekedwarbler,”said
SheliaHargisofTexasOrnithologicalSociety.“Thesciencedoesnotsupportdelisting,andmuch
moreworkisneededtobetterunderstandandaddressthechallengesfacingthisspecies.
FortunatelytheseeffortsarestrengthenedbythecollaborationofnonprofitssuchasTravis
Audubon,theNatureConservancyandlocal,countyandfederalgovernmententitiessuchascity
ofAustin,TravisCountyandU.S.FishandWildlife.”
TheCenterforBiologicalDiversityisanational,nonprofitconservationorganizationwithmorethan1.4millionmembersandonlineactivistsdedicatedtotheprotectionofendangeredspeciesandwildplaces.
Baker’s GBBC Draws Birders of all Ages POSTEDONFEBRUARY21,2019
ThefifthannualGreatBackyardBirdCountatBakerSanctuarywasasuccesswithoverfifty
birdersofallagesinattendance!Whileitwasabitchillyandwindy,thebirdersstillmanagedto
tally15speciesoverthecourseofthetwohoursurvey.AmericanRobinswerebyfarthemost
commonspeciesseenwithover500tallied.
Picture This: Birdathon 2019 Photography Contest + Fundraiser POSTEDONFEBRUARY22,2019
Doyouenjoybirdingthroughacameralensasmuchasthroughbinoculars?Showoffyour
birdingfinesseANDyourphotographyskillswhilesupportingTravisAudubon!
Forthefirsttimeever,TravisAudubon’sBirdathonwillincludeaphotographycontest.
Therearesomeguidelinesforthephotosthatcanbesubmitted.Photosshould:
–containbirds(andnopeople!)
–betakenbetweenApril1andMay5,2019(youknow,Birdathondates!)
–betakeninTexas
–besubmittedbythephotographer(orguardianifthephotographerisaminor)
Sincethisisafundraiser,entryintothecontestis$5perphoto.PhotosdonotneedtobetakenduringanofficialBirdathonexcursion.Ifyouhaveagreatphoto
opwhiledrinkingcoffeeonyourbackporch,thenthat’sgreat!
What’sinitforthewinners?ThetopfivephotoswillbefeaturedonTravisAudubon’ssocialmediaplatforms(Facebook,Instagram,andTwitter)withphotographerrecognition.
ThefirstplacephotowinnerwillbefeaturedinourSignalSmokeblogandwillhavetheirphoto
includedinourAnnualReport.
Whoisjudgingthephotos?Weareintheprocessofsecuringjudges.Wewillletyouknowassoonasweknow!
Submityourphotosbysendingthemtobirdathonphoto@yahoo.com.Youwillreceiveareplythatasksyouafeweasyquestionsandprovidesalinktopaytheentryfee.