LHAS OUTINGS
                                            By Jerry Von Ehwegen

Saturday, 7 June 2008. Tucker L., Bob and Phyllis N., Paul R., Bill Bo.,
Anne S., Bill H., Chuck J., and Jerry V. used the June outing to gather data for the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas Project. This is the 1st year of a 5 year project sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union and the Iowa DNR.

We looked for specified criteria to determine the level of breeding evidence. The 4 levels are Observed, Possible, Probable, and Confirmed. The goal and hardest to find is the confirmed level but we did find several species that met this criteria. This evidence must be seen in one of the blocks that have been assigned across the state of Iowa. Generally, the size of each block is 3 miles by 3 miles. Stone State Park is in one of the blocks so we started there and then went further north to the Broken Kettle Grasslands area where some other blocks exist.

This is a different type of birding and requires you to look more closely at a bird's behavior. Is the bird only observed with no breeding evidence? Is there a singing male in suitable nesting habitat? Is there a pair in suitable nesting habitat? Is the bird carrying nesting material? These are just a few of the criteria that are looked at to classify its breeding level. 

This is a statewide project and will be ongoing for 5 years so you will have ample opportunity to contribute to this project. Each county has several blocks that need to be covered and they hope to have at least 20 hours of coverage in each block. Blocks are not assigned and you can choose any block you want to visit. The breeding level is then reported to the IOU web site by species by block. Your help is requested and needed for this important project. For more information, go to the IOU web site at iowabirds.org and click on breeding bird atlas.

66 total species were located  for the day with varying levels of breeding evidence. The highlight of the day was finding a pair of SUMMER TANAGERS at Stone Park with the female sitting on the nest. That is what
you call  breeding confirmed! Other highlights included Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Louisiana Waterthrush, Grasshopper Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Willow Flycatcher, and a Bell’s Vireo nest with eggs. We hope to continue this project in future outings during the breeding season and hope you can join us and help out!  You can also do this on your own and enjoy looking more closely at the birds we all enjoy seeing!
 
Saturday, 12 July 2008. Bob and Phyllis N., Paul R., Gary H., and Jerry V.
enjoyed a beautiful cool July day to bird 3 more Woodbury County BBA blocks in the Correctionville area. Paul got an early start and worked 2 blocks
southeast of C’ville while the rest of us walked the new bike trail south of C’ville in another block. The weather was great and the birds were plentiful as we worked our way along the trail and over the impressive Union Bridge over the Little Sioux River. We checked some other areas with different habitats before and after a nice lunch at Copeland Park before heading home.

Highlights included Cedar Waxwings, American Redstart, Red-headed
Woodpeckers, Purple Martins, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Belted Kingfishers,
Bells Vireos, Grasshopper Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrikes, and Blue Grosbeak. We also enjoyed dozens of Cliff Swallows gathering mud for their nests below the Union Bridge. 56 species were found in block 250 around C’ville. including 12 confirmed nesters. Additional species found by Paul made a total of 66 species for the day.

All 12 BBA blocks in Woodbury County have now had some coverage in this 1st year of this 5 year project. BBA coordinator Nicki Nagl will be presenting a program on this project at our October meeting and we hope that many of you will be able to contribute to this project in the next 4 years!
 
Saturday, 23 August 2008. Bob and Phyllis N., Tucker L., Bill and Thea H.,
Bill and Dotty Z., Jerry V., and welcome newcomers Cheryl Burbach and Jerry Mennenga enjoyed a beautiful summer day birding some of our local areas. We began at ‘The Square’ north of Luton and then worked our way through the Loess Hills, Owego Wetlands, and the Dairy Ponds. One car had to leave while the rest of us enjoyed our lunch at Snyder’s Bend before checking Sandhill Lake and New Lake. 75 total species were located for the day.

Highlights included several singing Blue Grosbeaks, Grasshopper Sparrows, Bell’s Vireo, Sedge Wren, Wilson’s Phalarope, Black Tern, Short-billed Dowitcher, Green Heron, Osprey, Virginia Rail, and an immature Snowy Egret. The 2 Osprey were seen at New Lake where a pair fledged 3 young nearby this summer. The Virginia Rail and Snowy Egret were a nice surprise at Sandhill Lake. It was great to have Cheryl from Vermillion and Jerry from the Sioux City Journal as 1st time birders on our outings. The beautiful day, good variety of birds, and fellowship of birders made it a great day of birding! 

  
                                     IOWA’S NATURE HISTORY

Ecologist and author Cornelia Mutel will speak and provide readings from her recently published book “The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa,” at 7:30 pm Thursday, September 18 at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. 

Mutel is the historian and archivist for IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering at the UI College of Engineering.  She is the author of “Fragile Giants: A Natural History of the Loess Hills”.  Mutel’s passionate dedication to restoring Iowa’s damage landscape invigorates her blend of natural history and human history.  Believing that citizens who are knowledgeable about native species, communities, and ecological processes will better care for them, she provides sound suggestions for the future. “The Emerald Horizon” will be available at the presentation on September 18 or may be purchased at bookstores.

                                                 IOWA AUDUBON

Iowa Audubon announces an exciting new management tool for species of
birds supported within Iowa’s Important Bird Areas (IBAs).  The online
reference contains a four-part educational initiative focusing on 37 of Iowa’s most seriously declining bird species and improved management of the primary habitats essential to their survival. Production was funded by a grant from the Iowa DNR’s REAP program with matching funds provided by Iowa Audubon.

Besides management guidelines for some of Iowa’s imperiled bird habitats and extensive natural history information (with photos) for the 37 criteria species, a special feature not to be missed is vocalizations of each bird.  The publication may be accessed on Iowa Audubon’s website at www.iowaaudubon.org.  By making this information available to everyone, Iowa Audubon hopes to engage, inform, and partner with individuals who can make significant conservation progress in each of these vital habitats.

                           UPPER MIDWEST AUDUBON CONFERENCE

Dubuque Audubon will host the annual Upper Midwest Audubon Conference
October 17-19.  The theme is “Partners in Conservation”.  The conference
rotates between Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa.  Iowa Audubon
will help co-sponsor.  For information about the conference and registration, check Dubuque Audubon’s website at www.audubondubuque.org or e-mail jtollari@mchsi.com.

                                          
                          SHADE THE COFFEE, SHELTER THE BIRDS

Iowans can assist with bird conservation in Latin America, where our North American neotropical migrant birds spend their winters.  You can start helping neotropical birds by purchasing “bird-friendly” coffee. Shade-grown, organic, fair-trade coffee, grown in Latin American provides suitable habitat for a large number of our migrant song-birds, as well as year-round residents of Central and South America. 

There are many sources for bird-friendly coffee including some sold at your local grocery store, specialty coffee store, or church.  They support birds, offer sound employment for citizens of developing nations, and are safer for human consumption because they are pesticide-free.  Look for labeling that says “organic” or “fair-trade”. 

                          IOWA ORNITHOLOGISTS UNION

The IOU meeting will be September 12-14 in Iowa Falls.  Contact Paul Roisen at roisen1950@yahoo.com for registration information.