Annual
Audubon GARAGE SALE
Saturday,
June 14
Our eighth
annual Audubon Garage Sale is coming up in June. We hope you will circle
the date and begin to save your contributions.
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Time: 9:00 AM not a moment sooner) to 3:00 PM. Location: Home of Theresa Potts
- 4103 Arrowhead Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID (off Atlas Road).
Donations: We welcome ALL
donations.
In the past, we have
been particularly successful with books and plants, so think of us when working
in your garden. (It helps if you can label your plants and indicate their
growing preferences.) Clean clothes are appreciated, including shoes,
purses and accessories. And, of course, we look forward to receiving
items from your kitchen, office, garage, closets, attic, and workshop.
Delivering
Your Donations: Theresa has graciously agreed to
receive donations in the afternoon of the week prior to the sale - Monday June
9th through Thursday the 12th. (If you must drop off your contributions
when she is not at home, please leave them in front of the garage under the
eaves or on the west side of the driveway.)
Call Theresa at 765-0229 to arrange delivery of heavy/large items at a
time when she will be home.
Volunteering
to Help: On Friday, June 13th (do not be
daunted by the date) we will sort donations and prepare them for display.
And, of course, we need lots of help on Saturday. Please call
Jan Severtson (667-6209), after May 15th, or Thereas Potts (765-0229) and sign up to join the fun!
Proceeds: The proceeds from this sale support our educational
outreach and help pay for our monthly meeting space. So the birds - and
your closets - will benefit from your donations. (Unsold items are
taken to other non-profits, such as the
Humane Society, Green Cross, Hospice,
St. Vincents, Goodwill, and Habitat for Humanity.)
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NEST WATCH
Greetings,
The NestWatch team is excited to announce that our new web site at www.nestwatch.org is now live!
NestWatch is citizen-science project that teaches people how to properly
monitor nests and collect data used to track nesting success of North American
breeding birds. It has been designed for novices as well as experienced nest
monitors and includes an interactive quiz for participants to become
"certified" to monitor nests.
NestWatch is free to
join and all materials needed to participate are available online. This
includes downloadable data collection sheets, the NestWatch manual, protocol,
code of conduct, discussion forums, and multimedia resources. All observations
are submitted online where they are accessible through maps or downloaded as
Excel or pdf files.
The development of
this web site as well as the NestCams, has been quite an undertaking and
includes the merging of The Birdhouse Network into NestWatch. All the great
materials developed for The Birdhouse Network exist now as a resource center
located at www.nestinginfo.org. The Birdhouse Network and its focus on
cavity nesters was crucial to building a solid base of dedicated nest monitors
and enables us to now present the opportunity to monitor and report on all
nesting birds in North America.
Although the web site
continues to be a work in progress, check it out at < www.nestwatch.org>
and let us know what you think!
As always, please be
in touch with any questions or suggestions and feel free to circulate this
e-mail to other interested parties and organizations. Thank you for your
continued support of citizen science projects at the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology.
Tina Phillips, Project Leader
Kitty Gifford, Project Assistant
NestWatch & NestCams
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
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Vaux's Swifts
Larry
Schwitters, Pilchuk Audubon, is conducting a survey on Vaux's Swifts. Any
birder seeing swifts coming to chimneys or snags in the evening in Oregon,
Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta are welcome to send
him information. Information on sightings is
being requested from April 2008 until the swifts leave by October 2008.
"Save our Swifts!" , a project which is a
focal point for our chapter, involves
the plight of Monroe, Washington's Vaux's Swifts. Susie Schaefer, Pilchuk
Audubon Society, is asking for your
help in counting these migrants. The
old brick chimney at Frank Wagner Elementary School is a roosting site for the
second largest colony of Vaux's Swifts in North America during their
twice-yearly migration.
Click http://www.pilchuckaudubon.org (and then
on click programs) to download a word document that you can fill out and e-mail
to Larry Schwitters.
Larry Schwitters, 1745 Brookside Drive SE,
Issaquah, WA 98027. Larry Schwitters [lpatters@ix.netcom.com] .
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Audubon
Launches
TogetherGreen
with Toyota Grant
New York, NY- The
National Audubon Society and Toyota launched TogetherGreen, a nationwide
Audubon program to fund conservation projects, train environmental leaders, and
offer volunteer opportunities to significantly benefit the environment.
A $20 million Toyota grant-the largest Audubon has received in its 103-year
history-will fund TogetherGreen for five years, enabling Audubon to
expand the scope and reach of its internationally-known conservation programs.
TogetherGreen will include three program components: innovation grants,
conservation fellowships, and volunteer days. A new website for the program, www.TogetherGreen.org,
will be available this spring.
To learn more about
the program, please visit: http://web1.audubon.org/news/pressRelease.php?id=400
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Spring Migration
Shirley Sturts
See spring arrival dates on:
http://cdaaudubon.org/Springarrivals1.htm
Birds that arrived in April .
Mountain Bluebird
- April 1, Lane, Bill Gundlach
Cinnamon
Teal - April 5, Hauser Lake, Terry Little
Turkey Vulture -
April 7, Huetter Rd/I-90, Doug Ward
Sora - May 2,
Fernan Lake, Kris Buchler, Shirley Sturts
Virginia Rail - April 29, Kris Buchler
Brewer's Blackbird
- April 8 , Praire Ave., Doug Ward
White-cr. Sparrow
- April 14, CDA , Steve Lindsay
Red-naped Sapsucker
- April 12, CDA, Theresa Potts
N. Rough-w Swallow &
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs - April 20, Cougar Bay, Terry Gray
Wilson's Warbler
- April 20, CDA, Theresa Potts
Nashville Warbler,-
April 21, CDA, Bill Gundlach
Townsend's
Warbler & Yellow-rumped Warbler,
April 23, CDA, Bill Gundlach
Calliope Hummingbird,
April 23. CDA Kris Buchler and Judy Waring at their feeders 5 min. apart J
Barn Swallow -
Marsh Wren - Yellow-headed
Blackbird - Orange-crowned Warbler (heard
by Kris Buchler) - April 26, Cataldo
area - Birding Basics Filed Trip
Yellow Warbler
- May 2, Fernan Lake - Kris Buchler
Savannah Sparrow
- April 11 & Vesper Sparrow - April 21 CDA Airoport , Cindy Langlitz
Some birds to look for this month are: (date of
earliest arrival date between 2001-2007):
Blue-winged Teal
- April 24, 2004
Black Tern
- May 6, 2002
Vaux's Swift
- April 30, 2006
Black-chinned Hummingbird
- April 18, 2005
Rufous Hummingbird
- April 12, 2004
Western Wood Pewee
- May 7, 2006
Willow Flycatcher
- May 23, 2006
Eastern and Western Kingbirds
- May 7, 2005
Cassin's Vireo
- April 24, 2002
Red-eyed Vireo
- April 28, 2001
Warbling Vireo - May 2, 2004
Bank Swallow
- April 27, 2006
Cliff Swallow
- April 6, 2001
Chipping Sparrow
- April 10, 2004
Black-headed Grosbeak
- May 5, 2007
Western Tanager -
May 2, 2003
Swainson's Thrush
- May 12, 2002
Report early sightings to Shirley Sturts s.sturts@verizon.net
or 664-5318
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NEST BOXES
Lynn
Sheridan
Our spring cleanup of
bird houses on Avondale Golf Course was late this year due to the
weather. There was still snow on parts of the grass. On April 8th, Roland Craft, Dick Cripe and I
started checking the boxes, and on April 10, Dick and I completed the
job. We lost some boxes, but found 20, 15 of which were used.
Most were swallow nests, with a few nests of chickadee, a possible wren,
and a rodent. I plan to go back in May and put up a few more nest boxes.
Dick has 6 boxes in a
field near his home which have seen bluebird activity, and he and Roger Young
monitor 6 boxes on the Ponderosa Golf Course. Ed Buchler and Roland Craft
try to maintain a few up on Higgens Point, despite attacks by squirrels on the
entry holes.
Ladd Livingston, a Boy Scout leader, asked
our Audubon group to help with their Scoutarama. Roland, my loyal partner, kept busy drilling
hundreds of holes in wooden components of 140 bird houses.
Our Audubon team consisting of Roland, Jerry Hansen,
Derek Antonelli, Phil Waring, and I gathered at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds
April 19th. Our task was to
help scouts assemble nest boxes. We, along with many parents, held the wood
parts steady as the kids banged away .
Nearly 140 kids went home with a nest box, celebrating Earth Day.
This
was a worthwhile project. Thank you,
gentlemen.
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BIRDING BASICS FIELD TRIP
Kris Buchler
Spring finally
arrived in the Idaho Panhandle in the form of a beautiful male Eurasian Wigeon
near Hardy Loop in Cataldo. Water
levels are high in most ponds and flooded fields this year, even though our big
snowmelt has yet to occur. This site
boasted other paddlers including 3 Cinnamon Teal, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck,
American Wigeon and Northern Shoveler.
Further along Hardy
Loop we were able to study 4 species of swallows who were sharing the skies and
electrical wires. These included Barn, Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Violet-
green Swallows.
Our first stop gave
us our only colorful Yellow-headed Blackbird, 2 noisy Marsh Wrens, a solitary
Townsend’s Solitaire, Song Sparrows, a Pied-billed Grebe and several occupied Osprey
nests.
The flooded fields
bordered by River Road south of the interstate were surprisingly empty. Only small congregations of American Wigeon,
Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck and Northern Shoveler sprinkled the
waters. This is a usual stop for
migrating Tundra Swan and the hundreds we expected turned into only two on the
far side of the ponds.
Our season is late and only two warblers
were heard – Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned.
Our new birders from the Birding Basics class seemed to enjoy the warm
sun and sounds of spring.
See our website for a complete list of species and
participants.
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Recommended Readings
From
Audubon Newswire May 1, 2008
From
50 Simple Things YOU Can Do to Save the Earth
Audubon is among the
organizations featured in the new 50 Simple Things YOU Can Do to Save the
Earth, in a "For the Birds" chapter. Developed in collaboration with the Science team, the section
focuses on actions people can take to help birds. The original 50 Simple Things, by John Javna, was a
revolutionary bestseller in 1990; this completely updated and revised version,
also authored by Javna, offers a great platform to bring Audubon's message to
new audiences.
Birdwatcher by Elizabeth J.
Rosenthal
Roger
Tory Peterson-the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching
birds-also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first
book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature.
This self-proclaimed "student of nature" combined spectacular writing
with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning
every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and
conservation. Peterson also traveled the world, giving lectures on behalf of
the National Audubon Society and, despite his self-effacing demeanor, becoming
recognized as the key force to alerting the public to the importance of
preserving nature. There are now an estimated 70 million birdwatchers in the
United States.
For
this meticulously detailed biography of Roger Tory Peterson, Birdwatcher,
author Elizabeth J. Rosenthal has interviewed more than a hundred of
Peterson's family, friends, and associates to create a fully rounded portrait
of this hero of the conservation movement. Never-before-seen photographs
enhance this intimate portrayal.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
AND EVENTS
From Audubon Newswire May 1, 2008
Audubon Summer
Camp Scholarships Available
Wild
Birds Unlimited has teamed up with National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to
provide 200 children with scholarships for Audubon summer camps. Wild Birds
Unlimited scholarship eligibility is determined by each Audubon Center. For
more information on details about general registration, camp programs and
scholarships please contact the camp where you or your children want to connect
to nature. Find out which camps are eligible here.
(http://www.audubon.org/educate/cw/index.php)
Going Green
Bird Feeders and Houses-
Audubon's Going Green
line of RECYCLED plastic BIRD FEEDERS and HOUSES are now available! Since 2002,
WoodLink has created an excellent line of Audubon Bird & Squirrel Feeders,
Bird Houses, Butterfly & Bat Shelters, Bird Baths, & Accessories.
Each product is carefully reviewed and field-tested by the Licensing Department
and Audubon Science.
In the latest edition
of Audubon products, the Going Green Recycled Series, the recycled plastic
used is made from over 90 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, which does
not absorb water, keeping it from harboring mold or bacteria; ensuring a
healthier environment for birds. To view the Audubon line of products
produced by WoodLink, check out the catalog here. (http://www.woodlink.net/Audubon_portal/store/Audubon/Squirrel_Baffles/productlist.aspx?0=%2faudubon_portal%2fwelcome.aspx&portal=audubon)
New Audubon At Home Listserv!
Do you participate in
Audubon At Home activities? Or, are you just interested in learning more about
Audubon At Home? If so, join our new Audubon At Home listserv. The listserv
will allow us all to share information among Audubon Centers, Chapters, and
other groups that are interested in Audubon At Home programs and principles.
You can join the listserv by going to this website:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/audubonathome/.
If you have questions, contact Mary Ford at mford@audubon.org
or 202-861-2242 ext 3023.
Stories Sought: What You Are Doing to Help
Fight Global Warming
We're still looking for stories from the
Audubon family. Tell us what steps are you taking - both individual actions and
chapter or other group initiatives. We will share your experiences through
Newswire and on the Audubon website - inspiring others to join Audubon in
making a difference. Please send your story to kconnors@audubon.org
- with photos showcasing what you are doing, if you have them!
Top of Page
WREN
Summer Wildlife Camp 2008
June 17-18 (Ages 10-11)
July 16-17 (Ages 12-13)
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