GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK! SECRETS OF THE FLAMMULATED OWLsocobirds.org/PDFs-2010/Feb10.pdf · FLAMMULATED OWL Dr. Brian D. Linkhart, Associate Professor of Biology at Colorado College,

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Volume XXXVI Issue 1 February 2010

GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK!By Marilyn McBirney

As the new decade dawns, technology continues todominate and change our world. How will that affectour future? The Board of Directors for the ArkansasValley Chapter is preparing to review where we’ve beenand where we want to go – and we want your ideas!What practices should be dropped and which traditionsshould be kept? Should we be passing more informationvia the website and the internet? Reduce the number ofevening programs and have more daytime activities?Meet for lunch or dinner? Should we change how oftenwe have field trips? Shall we have a speaker’s bureauto offer a guest speaker for other groups? How can weteach the next generation, sitting inside staring at ascreen, that wildlife and natural areas are important andworth saving?! How can we help people get involvedwith our mission? What are your personal goals, and how do you thinkthis local chapter of the National Audubon Society couldbe a channel for your talents and energy? Examples ofavailable activities: -Supporting someone else to be a watchdog on battlesagainst the environment? -Providing information on ballot issues to increasethe efficacy of political activism? -Helping to improve the environmental quality of ourarea? -Having someone to go birding with, compare notes,and share the passion? -Watching nature at your door and having anexplanation of what you are seeing? -Helping teach children the joys and appreciation ofwildlife and nature?

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February Program

SECRETS OF THEFLAMMULATED OWL

Dr. Brian D. Linkhart, Associate Professor ofBiology at Colorado College, has discoveredmany of the unusual secrets of this bird learnabout this fascinating raptor that can fit in the palmof your hand and flies each year between theRocky Mountains and Central America.

This presentation is one of our monthlyeducational programs for the public that featurefree admission and refreshments. Don’t missthis interesting presentation at the classroom ofthe Pueblo Zoo on Friday 12 February at 7:00p.m. See you there!

Be sure to check www.socobirds.org forupdates!

I remember the very first time we visited Maine. Iimagined crisp, clean air and beautiful woods with

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CONSERVATION NOTES

THE VALLEY HARRIER

by SeEtta Moss

The new year brings some goodnews for Greater Sage Grouse, aspecies that has suffered seriousdeclines in western Colorado andother western states. Greater SageGrouse have been under seriousthreats from clearing of theirrequired sage brush habitat andmore recently from gas and oildevelopment which is destroyingmore habitat. Wyoming Audubonhas led efforts which have paid offwith the announcement in earlyJanuary of major changes in theBureau of Land Management’spolicies on gas and oil leasing.These policies promise to providesignificant protections for GreaterSage Grouse. Read more about thisat http://audubon.org/campaign/energy/sagebrush/index.html. Just over a month ago the mediawas filled with claims of “evidence”that climate change was trumpedup—baloney! The so-called ‘climate-gate’ involved some persons hackinginto a computer server and thenpublicizing a few emails.Disbelievers in global warming claimthese discovered e-mails supporttheir position. What didn’t get muchpublicity was that the content of thetarget emails didn’t actually supportthe claims that global warming wasfaked. For example, the AssociatedPress examined those emails anddidn’t find evidence that globalwarming was faked. Some of theinformation in these emails wasmisinterpreted, with excerpts fromthe emails taken out of context. Granted that a few scientists in oneuniversity used data deceptively, thiswould not refute the work of all therest of the hundreds of scientists fromaround the world. Read an objectiveanalysis about it from a group thatdoesn’t have an ‘axe to grind’at

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/12/climategate/. It sometimes seems that we havelost so much habitat that the battlefor species survival is a terrible uphillbattle. Then, something brings hopethat a habitat that has been severelydegraded can truly be rehabilitatedenough to provide for the needs ofbirds and other wildlife. I was inTexas in December when the firstU.S. sighting of a species of tropicalbirds occurred, not far from where Iwas staying. This bird is the Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, and it rangesfrom Mexico south. It looks a littlelike a Great Blue Heron with a thickerthroat and tiger stripes on it’s body.It was found at Bentsen State Parkjust across the Rio Grande Riverfrom Mexico, and it was feeding in are-vegetated area that hadpreviously been either fallow or anonion field. We got to watch it feeding on localfare including a rat species that isnative to Texas. This rat speciesflourishes in native vegetation. So Ifind hope that efforts to rehabilitatelands that have been degraded havebeen fruitful. This justifies the effortsto plant native vegetation to help bird,butterflies and other species. So,when you start making plans forspring planting, look for a place toput in at least one native plant. When I left for Texas, I put out somepeanut pieces and a small amountof black oil sunflower seed in asquirrel-resistant (there is no suchthing as squirrel-proof) feeder toprovide food for a MountainChickadee that had been coming tomy feeders. I was pleased to findtwo Mountain Chickadees when Ireturned that were still feeding onthese peanuts and seed. And oneof them really scolded me—was it

telling me that I had been gone toolong or just carrying on aboutsomething else unrelated?? I like tothink that this is the same pair thathas been coming to my feeders forseveral years. Today after putting out fresh seedfor them I put out some bird seedon the ground near a shrub forjuncos and sparrows. Within a fewminutes several Dark-eyed Juncosapproached that area, but then wentto the pan in which I had put somewater yesterday; it was still frozen!Wouldn’t you know that I forgot tocheck it so I brought some freshwater for it. This illustrates theimportance of keeping unfrozenwater available for birds in the winter,something more important than birdfood. Please don’t forget to keep thewater and seed containers clean sothat disease isn’t spread.

—SeEtta blogs about birds and suchat http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com where you can find photos ofthe Bare-throated Tiger-Heron andother birds and critters.

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JOIN OR RENEWWITH AVASHelp fund AVAS by paying yourAudubon dues through your Chapter.

New member $20 National Audu- bon and AVAS (AVAS receives $20)

Renewing member $35 National Audubon and AVAS (AVAS receives $15)

AVAS membership only $15

Total enclosed: $ ___________

Name: ________________________

Address: ______________________

City, ST, Zip: __________________

__________________

Email: ________________________

I prefer to receive the Harrier online. Please notify me.

Please make checks payable toArkansas Valley Audubon Society.

Mail this form and your check to: Leon Bright, 636 Henry Ave., Pueblo, CO 81005 (Phone: 719–561–1108, email: [email protected])

Thank you!

THE VALLEY HARRIER

AVAS LEADERSHIP

President: Marilyn McBirney 948-4622Vice Pres.: George McKinnon 564-1868Secretary: Peg Rooney 372-3415Treasurer: Mark Yaeger 543-2724Board Members–at–large:Jim Good 564-6522Bill McGurn 547-2245 (cell)Margie Joy 647-1235David Chartier 634-4980 (cell)Fundraising: OpenPrograms: Lura Zimmerman 543-9508Conservation: SeEtta Moss 275-8874(cell) and 429-3821Education: OpenField Trips: Donna Emmons 676-5666(cell) and 369-9704Membership: Leon Bright 561-1108Newsletter: Harry Rurup 547-0406Publicity: Donna Emmons 676-5666Representative to Audubon of CO:SeEtta Moss 275-8874Web site: Ben D’Andrea (303) 987-1066

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The Harrier is published monthly exceptfor June, July, August and December by theArkansas Valley Audubon Society, P.O. Box522, Pueblo, CO 81002. Subscription is freeto members of AVAS.Note New P.O. Box and Zip

AVAS officers and Board membersfor 2010. All phone numbers are inarea code 719.

AVAS WELCOMES

NEW MEMBERS In the past couple of months thefollowing people have become paidnew members of the National and/or Arkansas Valley AudubonSocieties. We extend the red carpetto:

Alamosa: Lucy Bonney, Coralee CasíasBeulah: Betty Wangerin, Glenn BakerBoone: Vicky BroskaBuena Vista: Bill FabianCañon City: Jan Lane. Pam Cooley-Cheraw: Gene Broce MastenColorado City: Debbie SmithCotopaxi: Leo & Maryellen Neal, Janice

McNeal, Paima RomeroCrestone: Joan NorrisLas Ánimas: Karen LudikerLa Veta: Marilyn KeagleLeadville: Kelly Murphy, Wendy Newman,

Gabrielle BurkhamMonte Vista: Norma EldredgeMosca: Vee SuthersNathrop: Jane Hudon, Timothy O’ConnorOrdway: José TerronesPueblo: Brenda Chiaramonte, C. L.Bersticker, Margo Anzaldo, Laura Wells,Charlotte Couvillion, Delores McCann,Jack Thornton, Karen Bennett, ArnoldRoybal, Jessica Herron, CSU-P Library, E.Terrones, Mary TrujilloPueblo West: Charlotte Ryan; AdamArmstrong, Audrey SartinRocky Ford: Judy McNally, Audrey

HerreraSalida: Renee Narfdelt, George Deroos,Salida Regional Library, Nancy MayTrinidad: Sylvia Crisler, Anna HoaglandWalsenburg: Patricia Watson, Betty

WilsonWestcliffe: Tedi Rankin

Also a very special thank you tothe 51 people who have paid torenew their Audubon membership!

It takes National Audubon from one tothree months to notify AVAS of updates inour membership. Join or renew directlywith us so we will immediately be on thesame page! Any questions may be directed to LeonBright, AVAS Membership Chair, 636 HenryAve., Pueblo, CO 81005 or call (719) 561-1108, or by email, [email protected].

December 2009 eBirderof the MonthJane Stulp of Prowers County ,Colorado was named eBirder of themonth for December 2009. She andher husband are both AVASmembers. In seven years at the farmshe has progressed from being ableto identify a few birds to thoroughkeeping of records. Using digitalphotographs, she gets identificationhelp from field guides and fellowbirders online. Jane uses the e-birdweb site to safely store her records,and she can download them backfrom the site at any time. For moredetailed information about Jane ande-birding see the website: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/ebirder-of-the-month

PAGE 4 THE VALLEY HARRIER

-Increasing your general knowledge of nature andconservation values? These are essentially our current goals. Do you haveothers? We want to hear about them! What do youwant to know? What do you want to do? One model of conservation effort is demonstratedby a pyramid of activism. At the lowest level is thegeneral population, uncaring and content in theirignorance. The next level is that part of the populationthat is aware of a need for conservation but currently

(continued from page 1)President’s Message

autumn leaves. My illusions were shattered when wecrossed some of the rivers in the paper mill towns. Astink of sulfur pervaded the air. Making paper involvesmore than cutting down trees. Bleaching chemicalsare used, and other wastes are produced. If logging isnot done properly, erosion causes silt to wash into thenearby streams, and the varieties of aquatic life areadversely affected. If you can do without the paperversion of your AVAS Valley Harrier, consider getting iton line at www.socobirds.org . (see below)

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Get the Valley Harrier OnlineIt costs AVAS almost $275.00 to print and mail ournewsletter each month it is issued. You can help uskeep our Chapter’s expenses under control by choosingto receive the Valley Harrier online instead of a printedcopy. To do so, notify Leon Bright, our MembershipChair, at [email protected] and he can put you onour list.

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH AVASBy placing your address on the AVAS email list you canreceive reminders of upcoming events, conservationalerts and other breaking news items. We keep themessages brief and not too frequent, averaging one ortwo a week. To sign up, notify Leon Bright [email protected].

doesn’t participate in making a change, they mayoccasionally contribute to the cause but theircurrent focus is elsewhere. The middle layer iscomprised of people who make an effort to learnabout nature and conservation issues, who joinenvironmental groups (like the National AudubonSociety--that’s you!), who vote to supportconservation. The upper level, now narrowing as weapproach the peak, consists of people willing to takeaction, to contact legislators, to become a boardmember, to teach a class, talk to a group, help withcitizen science such as monitoring bird breedingactivity. And finally, at the pinnacle, we have theconservation stars, the leaders showing the way. What does this have to do with you? Identifywhere you are on the conservation pyramid. Are youready to move up to the next level? Will you movefrom an armchair conservationist to a participant? Don’t get me wrong, we love armchaironservationists! Life presents so manyopportunities and your focus may be elsewherenow but keep us in mind in the future! And if youare willing to step up your commitment then wewould love to offer opportunities for doing so. How can you help? You don’t have to commithours and hours of time, you don’t need tophysically tire yourself out, and you don’t need to beknowledgeable about the issues. Many peoplehelping in small doses can have a huge impact! Youdon’t have to attend every meeting or participate inevery field trip--just select one and see what youthink. You could help staff a table of informationalbrochures at Eagle Days, help with raising funds forpurchasing educational kits in classrooms,volunteer your skill or specialized knowledge tofurther the cause. Just give me a call or e-mail me at([email protected]), or contact any board member ,with your interest and/or your feedback. We wouldlove to hear from you. We won’t twist your arm todo more, we just want to know what yourexpectations are so we can set objectives to meetthose expectations. Thank you for you help in making this Your chapter! (I don’t bite- do it now!)

-Marilyn McBirney

PAGE 5THE VALLEY HARRIER

Nature’s World: by Susan Tweit

Susan Tweit’s 12th book was released in March,2009. For further information, see her websiteand blog:

WEB SITE http://susanjtweit.com

BLOG http://susanjtweit.typepad.com/walkingnaturehome

Copyright 2010 Susan J. Tweit

Words to Begin a New Year I write a weekly newspaper column focusing on livinga life intertwined with what I call the “community of theland,” the other species with whom we share this Earth.Sometimes that means writing about nature in traditionalways; other times it sets me to musing about our ownpersonal behavior and what it means.

The first column of last year opened with these words:

“‘Begin as you intend to continue,’ my grandmother Chrisused to say. That old-fashioned admonition seemsespecially relevant now, at the beginning of a new yearin difficult times.”

Last year at this time, I had no idea that the next 12months would be so difficult, taking Richard and meinto the world of brain cancer and all of the life-wrenchingchanges that come with that diagnosis. Now, lookingback, those opening sentences and the next few seemespecially prescient:

“Any peril, however unsettling, wrenching, or outrightscary, brings opportunity: as our old habits and comfortsfall away, we can see and make new choices.

“So in this season where we traditionally muse on whatwe want to carry forward from the previous year, whatwe want to dream into being in the new one—and whatwe’d rather leave behind, I’ve had my grandmother’sadmonition in mind: Begin as you intend to continue.”

Here we are, beginning 2010. How do I intend tocontinue?

I’ve chosen a few words as prompts to remind me ofhow I want to live and work and be in this year thatopens with Richard finishing his course of daily radiation“enhanced” by chemo drugs, a year that offers noguarantees for what is ahead for him and me, separatelyor together.

Here are my prompt-words, with a suggestion of whatthey mean to me. Throughout 2010, it’s my intention tobe:

Open to whatever life brings

Mindful of the truth that this moment—now—is all wereally have, which says to me I want to celebrate thegifts I have and not waste time in “what ifs”

Generous in my interactions with others, especially otherspecies

Restful—making it a priority to relax and rejuvenate, torestore heart, head, body, and spirit

Loving, as in living with my heart outstretched as if itwere my hand, a metaphor adapted from a line in aMary Chapin Carpenter song, and

Creative in my way of looking at life and work.

I’m practicing being open, creative, and mindful as Isearch for the opportunities in the situation of Richard’sbrain cancer. I’m practicing being loving and generousas we adjust our relationship to the challenges of histreatment and the reality that our lives ahead could bevery different than we once imagined.

I’m practicing being restful as I learn new ways to takecare of myself even as I learn new ways to live my roleas Richard’s partner and caregiver.

And I’m practicing trust—in myself, in Richard, in ournetwork of family and friends, in the community of thisvibrant Earth itself—as I go forward into the days ahead.

Here’s my wish for your days: Begin as you intend tocontinue. Start today on the life you want to create foryourself and the relationship you want to have with thisEarth.

Don’t wait, don’t make excuses: there really is notime like the present. Trust me, I know.

PAGE 6 THE VALLEY HARRIER

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPSFEBRUARY 12 – 15, 2010, 13TH ANNUAL GREATBACKYARD BIRD COUNT (GBBC) Count for Fun,Count for the FutureBird and nature fans throughout North America areinvited to join tens of thousands of everyday birdwatchers for the Great Backyard Bird Count. This event is a joint project of the Cornell Lab ofOrnithology and National Audubon Society and offersan opportunity for families, students and people of allages to discover the wonders of nature and make animportant contribution to conservation. It’s free and easy.Count birds at your feeders, on your street, in a park,schoolyard or any space you choose. Volunteers take part by counting birds for at least 15minutes on 1 or more days of the event and reportingtheir sightings at www.birdcount.org. The data helpsresearchers understand bird population trends acrossthe continent--information that is critical for effectiveconservation. Last year, participants turned in more than93,600 checklists online. If you don’t have internetaccess, contact Donna Emmons at 676-5666 or 369-9704 for help with recording your sightings.

--GBBC Events in Pueblo:SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, PUEBLO CITY PARK,8:00 – 11:00 AM: Join AVAS in our local, organizedparticipation in this event. Meet Mark Yaeger at theDuck Pond near the Headquarters Building. All agesand skill levels are welcome. Contact Mark at 543-2724(h) or 545-8407(w).MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, Nature and Raptor Centerof Pueblo’s Great Backyard Bird Count at the NatureCenter. Time: 8:00 a.m. Where: Meet in front of theRiverfront Building at NRCP (549-2414). We’ll exploreboth the prairie and riverside habitats to record birds forthe GBBC.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 4TH SATURDAYBIRDWALK AT THE NATURE AND RAPTOR CENTEROF PUEBLO, 8 – 11 AM: Join AVAS member, LeonBright, for an easy stroll along the river trail. This is anexcellent outing for families and beginning birders areespecially encouraged to attend. Birding is free, but thereis a $3.00 parking fee. (Become a member of the Centerand avoid this charge!) Questions? Contact DonnaEmmons at 676-5666/369-9704(c) or the Center at 549-2414. For more information regarding AVAS trips and events,visit www.socobirds.org. Also check outwww.natureandraptor.org for fun, informative, family-oriented activities.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, WALSENBURG AREA ANDLATHROP STATE PARK, 8 AM – NOON: Dave Silverman, trip leader, will begin the day at LakeMaria, hoping to see a swan or two. On the way toLathrop SP we will stop at other sites in search of openwater, as waterfowl are highlights of this trip – 20 speciescounted last year. If weather allows, there will be some walking in theState Park in search of resident Mountain Bluebirds,Bushtits, Townsend’s Solitaires, sparrows, etc. Dresswarmly and bring lunch. Contact Donna Emmons [email protected] or 719-676-5666(h)/369-9704(c)for reservations and meeting place information.

2010 Annual Eagle Day IsSaturday and Sunday,February 6-7 Department of Wildlife personnel and volunteers atvarious locations around Pueblo Reservoir will havespotting scopes set up to aid you in seeing bald eagleswhich are hunting for food in the Reservoir area. A fullschedule of programs are lined up for Saturday andSunday at the Park Visitor Center and the Nature andRaptor Center. There are a variety of nature and culturalprograms for adults and children. Exhibits and displayswill provide interesting information. For a completeschedule, call 719-444-4444 or log onto the websitewww.eagleday.org.

Christmas Bird Count Results After all the CBCs are tabulated for our area, narrativesand data will be accessible on the AVAS website atwww.socobirds.org.

Bill Schmoker

THE VALLEY HARRIER PAGE 7

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P.O. Box 522Pueblo, CO 81002

OUR MISSION: AVAS exists to promote theconservation of nature througheducation, political action andfield activities. Our focus is onbirds, other wildlife, and theirhabitat in Southern Colorado.

VISIT AVAS ONLINE AT

www.socobirds.orgUpdated Frequently!

FEBRUARY CALENDARSaturday & Sunday, Feb 6-7, Pueblo Reservoir

Eagle Days (see page 6)

Saturday, February 13, 8:00 – 11:00 AMPueblo City Park, Great Backyard Bird Count

Monday, February 15, Nature and RaptorCenter’s Great Backyard Bird Count (see p. 6)

Saturday, February 27, Fourth Saturday Birdwalkat the Nature Center (Coyote Cafe)

(see page 6)

FEBRUARY 26-28, LAMAR, COLORADO,HIGHPLAINS SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL,

(See advertisement on page 7)

MARCH 13 field trip see page 6