EARTHSTAR. Programs. Field Trips NEWSLETTER OF THE MACOMB AUDUBON SOCIETY. May 2, 016, 7:00pm Hannah Schauer Michigan s Reptiles

Transcription

1 EARTHSTAR NEWSLETTER OF THE MACOMB AUDUBON SOCIETY Volume 42 number 3, May, June 2016 Programs May 2, 016, 7:00pm Hannah Schauer Michigan s Reptiles Learn about the turtles, snakes and lizards that call Michigan home! These remarkable and sometimes secretive creatures are valuable members of Michigan s ecosystems. Hannah Schauer is a Wildlife Education Technician for the DNR Wildlife Division. Hannah graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in Wildlife Ecology. You may have seen Hannah on the DNR s 60 Second Snakes video series! June 6, 2016, 7:00pm Gordon Lonie: Exploring Yellowstone National Park Retired Sterling Heights Naturalist Gordon Lonie returns to Macomb Audubon to tell us tales of Yellowstone National Park. Created in 1872, Yellowstone is one of the most visited National Parks in the U.S. A wild oasis of bison, elk, moose and wolves, Yellowstone captures the heart of those who yearn for wilderness. Field Trips Friday-Monday, April 29 th.-may 2 nd. I already have 8 rooms reserved at the Luxurious Lake Erie Lodge ( Corduroy Rd., Curtis, Ohio 43412). These rooms are reserved for you regulars, you know who you are, with one extra for anyone new who would like to join us for this absolutely fab weekend. I can reserve more if the need arises. As you can see I have added Sunday night, I decided I was going to stay an extra night for a change because there are so many more places to see and we never seem to have the time. Very important: I need to hear from you ASAP if you plan on attending this year and if you are going to stay the extra night. When I hear from you I will give you the particulars and my cell phone no. (And if you give it out to anyone else we ll have words! East Tawas Birding Festival Friday-Monday, May 20 th.-may 23 rd. We have 10 rooms at The Bambi and they are all taken, these rooms are for you regulars and you know who you are, yes? Very important: Contact me ASAP to let me know if you plan to attend and if you will be staying the extra night. If you wish to attend and do not have a room I have started a waiting list in case of a cancellation or to make reservations right next door for the over flow. Cool, yeah I like that, then we can all still be together. When I hear from you, whelp, same as above. Of course we will be having our infamous Saturday night pot luck. And come on people, make something cool to bring, kinda sick of premade deli crap. Anyone else?

2 Macomb Audubon Society The Macomb Audubon Society is a chapter of the Michigan Audubon society. Meetings are normally held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Sterling Heights Senior Center located on the N.E.side of Utica Rd. east of Van Dyke and South of 18 mile Rd. Events of the Society are open to the public. The mission of the Macomb Audubon Society is to:.promote interest in the world of nature and to aid in the conservation of natural resources. Provide an outlet for nature activities via field trips. Provide an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and experience through lectures, films, discussions and newsletters. Aid organizations that provide people of all ages with opportunities to experience these above given objectives. People can support our efforts by becoming members. To become a member, complete the form on the inside back cover. Members receive this newsletter, the Earthstar. Earthstar Deadline We appreciate relevant information or articles of interest to the Macomb Audubon membership for review for publicaton in the Earthstar. If you have material that you wish to submit, please send it by the 12 th of the preceding month to: Bill Clark North Ave Macomb MI wtclark1@comcast.net Earthstar is published bimonthly.by the Macomb Audubon Society, a non-profit educational organization. I am looking forward to a good year as Macomb Audubon's president. Each year brings some new and exciting aspects into each and every one of our lives. Our lives are often similar to what takes place in nature... some aspects of it remain constant while other parts of it are always changing. There are birds that return at pretty much the same time each and every year and then there are the species that take you by surprise. The redwing blackbirds, the song sparrows, and the first vultures observed on my property seem to arrive pretty much the same time every year. I keep track on my calendar each year of the arrival dates for many species of birds. Often the dates are within a day or two of previous years but sometimes and for some species it is quite variable as to what their arrival dates will be. As a professional naturalist and biologist I find it is important (at least to me) to write my observations down. I find it is much more accurate that way than simply trying to remember dates and behaviors from the previous years. I always enjoy observing nature and heading out on great adventures. This past January I led a birding and wildlife trip to South Texas. There were a lot of great birds and Macomb Audubon members there as well. Although I have been there many times there were still new birds to be seen and new adventures to be had. I enjoy sharing these experiences and adventures with others. It does not seem like it, but I have now been leading birding and wildlife tours for 20 years. As I travel to other parts of the world such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands and to Kenya I find a lot of similarities between the species I find there and the ones I find here in Michigan. There are always great adventures in nature. There are times that these adventures may involve getting into a car and driving, perhaps on a Macomb County Audubon field trip or perhaps even getting onto a plane to visit some very far away place. A great adventure however may also be found by simply observing the birds and other wildlife in your own back yard. I to this day I still observe new and exciting things right at home. Don't ever stop watching even the most common of birds in your yard or your neighborhood; they will often surprise you with their wonderful behaviors. Enjoy Nature Randy Baker Macomb Audubon President

3 Don Burlett Birding Attu Island, Alaska Meetings are held the first Monday of most months at 7:00 PM at the Sterling Heights Senior Center located on the NE side of Utica Rd, east of Van Dyke and North Of 18 Mile Rd. Thank You to the following members who brought snacks to the meeting for February: Alice Forton,. Micki smith, Beverlee Babcock, Colleen Traylor, Steady Eddie Lynch, March: Tammy Hooton, Walt Peters, Beverlee Babcock, Alice Forton, Betty Ebert, Mary Markesino. April :Micki Smith, Alice Forton, Beverlee Babcock, Kathy Muscillo. Lake St. Clair Metropark Big Day Count - Leader: Julie Champion May 14 (Saturday) 7:00 am (Approx. duration: 5 hrs.) This annual count demonstrates the importance of Lake St. Clair Metropark's shoreline, woods, fields, and wetlands as a vital migrating stop. Birders of all levels are needed to help. Call Julie at for volunteer information. Coffee and doughnuts are provided. Bring a lunch. Park is at the far east end of Metro Parkway (16 Mile Rd.) Meet at the Nature Center. Entrance fee is required. Shiawassee NWR Saturday, June 4 th. Field Trips continued Well here tis - the trip we ve all been waiting for!!! More info to come. Just wanted you to have the date so you can be aware and prepare.

4 19 th Annual Birdathon for Wildlife Recovery Association: Going Prime Time It is hard to believe, but 2016 marks the 19,th year of Macomb Audubon s Birdathon for the Wildlife Recovery Association (WRA). Over the years, we have collected more than $ 10,600 for Joe Rogers organization, which helps and releases injured birds as well as conducting educational programs for bird-lovers of all ages. And every dollar has been put to good use! The Birdathon will be held again to coincide with the North American Migration Count on the weekend of May 13-15, 2016 which starts prime time for spring migration in our area. A Birdathon is like a walkathon, but it is much more fun to do. During the weekend of the North American Migration Count, birders will share their lists to the Birdathon in hopes of amassing as many species as possible. Virtually any area in the MOO (Michigan, Ontario and Ohio) is included. In years past, more than 175 species have been recorded. Spread out; go to a hotspot; bird your area. Every species counts! Your pledges of either cents-per-species or flat donations help WRA. If you pledge 15 cents a species, you would owe somewhere around $26.25; pledge 20 cents per species, and it would be $35. In past years, we have raised more than $600 annually for this worthy cause. We are aiming higher this year, and you can help. The WRA is devoted to helping injured raptors, in hopes of releasing them in the wild. Joe Rogers, WRA s director, had devoted much of his life to educating in his unique, high-energy way in his ever-evolving program. As with many nonprofit organizations, the WRA is not enjoying the bounty it used to. School budgets and grants have all but dried up. Joe does about 10% of the number of programs he used to do, so our Birdathon is all the more vital. The WRA needs your help to keep the programs going. Please pledge either by mail or at the monthly membership meeting. Your pledge is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Name Address Phone Amount of pledge. per species, or a flat donation of Make your checks payable to Wildlife Recovery Association, and mail do Mike Mencotti, Wykeshire, Farmington Hills, MI 48336

5 We re Proud Supporters of Macomb Audubon Society Lake St. Clair Nature Center Board Members & committee Chairs Sterling Heights Nature Center, President Randy Baker (810) Seven Ponds Nature Center, 1 st VP (Programs) Holly Vaughn Joswick Stony Creek Nature Center, 2 nd VP (Member Ship) Beverlee Babcock (586 ) Burgess Shadbush Nature Center, 3 rd VP (Field Trips) Colleen Traylor & Charles Smart Wild Life Recovery Association, Recording Secretary Laura Barbour (248) Michigan Nature Association, Corresponding Secretary Micki Smith (586) Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy. Treasurer Cheryl McKeever (586) Michigan Audubon RRBO Committees Car Pool Coordinator Vacant For the best bird seed Christmas Bird Count Barb Baldinger (586) At the best prices Environmental & Conservation Vacant Uncle Luke s feed store Historian Michael Mroz (586) Livernois Hospitality (Refreshments) Betty Ebert & Alice Forton Troy Michigan Hospitality (Door Prizes) Denis & Laura Barbour Earthstar Newsletter Editor Bill Clark (586) To contact the Macomb Audubon Michigan Audubon Rep. Ray Lalonde Society by the address is Members-at-Large (2 positions) Vacant macombaudubon@gmail.com Newsletter Production, Mailing Denis & Laura Barbour To join the Macomb Audubon Seven Ponds Representative Paul Messing Mailing list please send an Web Editor Paul Messing To: macombaudubon-subscribe@ Volunteer Coordinator Vacant Yahoogroups.com Macomb Audubon Society Dues Please make checks payable to Macomb Audubon Society and send to: Beverlee Babcock Macomb Audubon Membership Pepper Tree Dr. Macomb Mi, Your name and the names of family members (Please Print) Family membership applies to family members living at the same address Address City State ZIP Phone New Member Renewal Check One Family Membership $20.00 Total Amount enclosed $ Individual Membership $15.00 Amount of donation over membership $ (optional) Student Membership $10.00 Contributor----up to $49.99 Senior single Membership $12.00 Supporter------$50 to $99.99 Senior couple Membership $15.00 Donor $100 and over (senior is over 60) Each year Macomb Audubon makes a membership list available to members. Check here if you wish to have your telephone number left off the list Address (optional) Check here to receive the Earthstar by only Check here if a Michigan Audubon member Check here if a National Audubon member I (we) are interested in becoming a Macomb Audubon volunteer. Please contact me

6