|
MORE From LOESS
The Newsletter of the
LOESS HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY Volume 35, No. 1, September/October 2008
______________________________________________________
The
Loess Hills Audubon Society meets on the first
Thursday of the month at the
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Road (Highway 12 North)
Sioux City, IA 51109
Website http://lhas.tripod.com/
Mission Statement–The Loess Hills Audubon Society exists to educate individuals
and the general public, to enjoy and promote birding, and to support ornithology, and to be an advocate for wild areas and
environmental issues.
_______________________________________________________________________
From the President
by Jerry Probst
Just a quick word from your new president. How life changes and yet stays the same. Over 25 years ago
I was president. Wow, a lot has happened since then. Many exciting Audubon events now happen every month. Our monthly
meetings have great programs. Our September potluck is no exception with Chris
Anderson talking about Bushcraft (sustainable outdoor skills). I was involved
with one of these skills on 2 trips last year. Once on the north rim of the Grand
Canyon and also in Melbourne, Australia,
I was with people attempting to teach how to start fire. Both were with a spindle
and a bow. We will see if producing fire is in Chris’s bag of Bushcraft.
Our October meeting has Nicki Nagl, the coordinator for Iowa’s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Our area is in the second round
of these programs. They are currently being run in Nebraska,
South Dakota, and Iowa. This is a great way to sharpen your birding skills and discover what is in your area
and to discover new places in your area. I was with Bill Huser working on the
Nebraska BBS and discovered a wetland that I had never been to that rivals a small Owego.
Audubon field trips are always exciting, with great leaders that usually
have the flexibility to go to the spot of the week. This, of course, depends
upon you to report what is being seen out there. Our next outings are show and
go’s that will take advantage of the early fall migration or any rarities that are in our area. So report your sightings, to Bill Huser’s bird line and get out there to either the meeting or outing.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
LOESS
HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY
Thursday, September 4–LHAS
monthly meeting. 6:00 pm potluck at Stone Lodge, Stone State Park. Bring a dish to share. Coffee, iced tea, water provided. Chris Anderson, naturalist, Dorothy
Pecaut Nature Center
will present the program, “Bushcraft: The Philosophy and Practice of Sustainable Outdoors Skills”. Come & enjoy, bring guests.
Saturday, September 6–Buckthorn
Removal in Stone Park. Meet at 9 am in the Talbot Road
parking lot on the east side of Stone Park. Tools provided. Contact Bill Zales for
more information. 712-568-1006
Thursday, September 18–“The
Emerald Horizon” by Cornelia Mutel 7:00 Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. See below in DPNC activities for further information.
Article in newsletter.
Wednesday, September 24–Buckthorn
Removal in Stone Park,
9 am.
Thursday, October 2–LHAS monthly
meeting. 7:30 pm. Dorothy Pecaut Nature
Center. Nicki Nagl, IOU Breeding Bird Atlas coordinator
will present the program. Nicki works throughout the state out of the Boone Wildlife
Research Station. Our June and July outings were part of the BBA survey. Board meeting 6:00 pm. All are welcome
to attend.
Saturday, October 4-SHOW AND GO Outing: We will meet
at the Northwest corner of the Super Walmart parking lot on Singing Hills Blvd. at 7:30 a.m. Due to numerous conflicts in
September, this will be our ‘September’ outing! An email will be sent shortly before the 4th to advise you of
the probable destination and lunch plans. Contact Jerry Von Ehwegen at 276-1546 or Bill Huser at 494-1657 for more information.
Saturday, October 11–Buckthorn Removal in Stone Park, 9 am.
Saturday, October 18-SHOW AND GO Outing: We will meet
at the Northwest corner of the Super Walmart parking lot on Singing Hills Blvd.
at 7:30 a.m. An email will be sent shortly before the 18th to advise you of the probable destination and lunch plans. Contact
Jerry Von Ehwegen at 276-1546 or Bill Huser at 494-1657 for more information.
Wednesday, October 22–Buckthorn Removal in Stone Park, 9 am.
DOROTHY
PECAUT NATURE CENTER
Exit 151 I-29, Take State Road 12 North for 4 miles to the Nature Center.
To register for eventsor for more information call 712-258-0838 Or check
our website - www.woodburyparks.com
Thursday,
September 18: The Emerald Horizon. 7:00 p.m. Refreshments; 7:30 p.m. Program. Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. Come and hear the author Cornelia
Mutel as she shares an historical perspective of Iowa’s
natural resources. Mutel is the popular author of Fragile Giants, a natural history of the loess hills and The Emerald Horizon,
just recently released. This very special event is co-sponsored by the Woodbury County Conservation Foundation, Loess Hills
Audubon Society and Northwest Iowa Sierra Club.
Saturday, September 20, 2008 Nature Calls This
fundraiser includes beer tasting, nature art and charity auction. Proceeds benefit Dorothy
Pecaut Nature Center
exhibits and educational programs. For information call 712-258-0838. Cost: $30 in advance; $40 at the door.
Saturday, October 18: Hike Among the Falling Leaves, 10:00
a.m. to11:30 a.m., Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.
Fall is a perfect time to ramble on the Nature Center’s trails. We’ll walk a leisurely pace and discover the woodland inhabitants,
observe seasonal changes and reflect upon some appropriate literature. Please plan for an outdoor adventure and dress accordingly
with comfortable footgear for hiking. Our paths are steep, but we do have stairs leading to our overlook. Lifelong Learning
membership not required. Fee: $5. Co-sponsored with Western
Iowa Tech Community
College’s Lifelong Learning Program.
ADAMS
HOMESTEAD AND NATURE PRESERVE
Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve is located 1 mile west
and ½ mile south of I-29,. Exit 4 in South Dakota. For information and pre-registration, call (605) 232-0873 or e-mail Jody.Moats @ state.sd.us
Little Naturalist Program:
Sensational Squirrels – Friday, Sept. 19
Spiders,
Oh My! – Friday, October 17
These programs are for children ages 2 to 4 years old and their parents or guardian. Toddlers will learn about each theme through games, crafts, stories and songs. Each class starts at 10:00 a.m. Free fun for the little ones. Please pre-register by calling
(605) 232-0873.
Monarch Tagging Program:
Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Adams Homestead
Thursday, Sept. 11 at Spirit Mound
Monarchs make an incredible journey to Mexico late summer and early fall. Learn
about the research done on monarchs as we tag them before their long trip to the south.
Each program will take place at 6:30 p.m.
Butterfly nets will be provided, but you may bring your own if you like. Please
call (605) 232-0873 to pre-register.
Junior Naturalist Programs:
Tricky Tracks and other Animal Signs–Saturday, September 13
Bats, Spiders and Snakes Oh My! –Saturday, October 18
The Junior Naturalist Program is an excellent opportunity for youth 7-12 years
of age to explore the outdoors and learn about the rich natural and cultural history of South
Dakota. The program also encourages youth to be physically
active in the outdoors. Kids are asked to participate in five interpretive programs
and do at least three recreational activities. A South Dakota Junior Naturalist
Patch will be given as an award for completing the program. Each
program will be from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
For more information and to pre-register, please call (605) 232-0873.
Early Fall Night Hike: Friday, October 3 at 7:30 pm
Walk the trails of Adams Homestead during the dusk hours of early
fall. Listen for migrating waterfowl and active owls or watch for active wildlife
just waking up for the day. For more information and to pre-register, please
call (605) 232-0873.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY PARKS
Hillview Park is located west of Hinton, Iowa at 25601 C60.
For information and registration call (712) 947-4270 or www.plymouthcountyparks.com
Saturday, September 6– 2nd Annual Big Sioux River
Clean Up 9:00 am - noon. The event
will start at Big Sioux Park near Akron and float to the Akron bridge, picking up trash on the river along the way.
There will be some canoes available to borrow at cost, or bring your own. Canoes will be reserved on a first come first
served basks. All participants must call 712-947-4270 by September 5th to register for this free event.
Thursday, October 18–Halloween at Hillview 6:00-8:00 pm. Kids and parents
can enjoy an evening of safe trick or treating at Hillview Park near Hinton. This is a free event open to everyone.
Trick or Treaters should meet at the picnic shelter by 6:00 pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
September 23, 24, 25–Hunter Education Class. Hillview Park. The
class will run from 6:00-9:30 pm. Pre-registration is required and space is very limited. Please call Victoria
Shamblen at 712-947-4270 to sign up. Campgrounds–The Bur Oak and Beaver Creek Campgrounds will be open for the
weekend. Campers must reserve a spot between October 6th and 17th. To reserve a camping spot please call 712-947-4270
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. Sites will be free for the weekend and reserved on a first come first served basis. Bur Oak
Campground has electrical hook ups. Beaver Creek is for tent camping only.
CONSERVATION
The Great Race Against Buckthorn (GRAB ? A play on the GRASS at Loess Hills Seminar?) continues.
Stone Park still has it growing, so we’ll attack it several days this fall. Dates set by Bill Zales, our leader,
are Saturday, September 6 and Wednesday, September 24; Saturday, October 11 and Wednesday, October 22; Saturday, November
1 and Wednesday, November 19. Meet at 9:00 am at the Talbot Road Parking Lot on the east side of Stone Park. Dress for
the weather. Tools provided. Contact Bill Zales at 712-568-1006 for more information.
BIRD FOOD SALES
It is time to start thinking about feeding the birds again, if you have not been feeding them all
summer. We will be selling bird food again and a separate mailing with a new price list will be coming out the end of
September. It would be nice to have lots of new purchasers so please let your family, friends and neighbors know about
the Loess Hills Audubon bird food. If you have any questions, please contact, Donna Popp, 274-1979 or at dpopp@cableone.net.
BIRDATHON
Chuck Johnson
reports that $459 has been collected for our May birdathon project. 169 species were seen which included 15 Sparrow
species, 23 Warbler species, 4 Wren species, and 10 Sandpiper species. Donations are still being accepted. Proceeds
from Birdathon are used to support providing Audubon Adventures to elementary schools. Thanks to all who participated
with donations and/or bird watching.
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.
|