January 2002
The Goldfinch
The newsletter for the Daviess County Audubon Society
Meetings Sept. - June each second Monday at 7 PM
at First Christian Church
7th Street & J. R. Miller Boulevard
Ugly? Not to Mom and Bill Lynch
Bill Lynch of the Kentucky Department of Fish and
Wildlife Resources will speak January 14th about a bird we see
very often soaring high above, but rarely at close range. Lynch used a
one-way mirror and camouflage blind inside a cave to study the goings-on in a
nearby Turkey Vulture nest. He'll tell us about parenting practices,
nestling interaction and telemetry tracking data from his Masters' thesis.
T.V. Worth Watching. You'll never look at 'buzzards' the same way
again. You're invited to Supper with the Speaker before the meeting at
MoonLite at 6 PM.
It's time to Gear Up for
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Not everyone can participate in Christmas Bird Counts because of physical impairments or winter weather obstacles. However, in February, there's a count that is for everyone. From easy chairs, kitchen tables, classroom windows or city parks, people can watch birds, write down the species and number they see and then submit the totals to Cornell's Ornithology Lab. People who can't feel confident with their identification skills can write a description or make a sketch and our chapter will help put the right name on the bird. People who don't have computers, can use the Public Library Reference Dept. where our own Tom Hicks will give an assist with entering data. You may also ask Tom by phone 684-0211 to enter data for you.
3 Easy Steps for You Citizen Scientists to Follow in January:
Mark your calendar for February 15-18.
Think of someone that you can recruit to join you as you count.
Place brochures and a poster in a high traffic place to make the public aware of the count. Posters can be downloaded from the internet or picked-up at the January meeting.
Year Three of the Owensboro Community College Bird Count will begin Sunday afternoon, January 20 at 2 PM.
Two delegates are needed for the Kentucky Audubon Council Winter Meeting at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum
Saturday, January 19 from 11 am (lunch provided) until 2 pm est
Christmas Bird Counts Report
"Backed with over a century of Christmas Bird Counts, it is the longest running volunteer based bird census, spanning three human generations. The CBC has evolved into a powerful and important tool, one probably inconceivable to any of the 27 participants on the first Christmas Bird Count. Accumulated data from the CBC become increasingly important as a way of monitoring the status of early winter bird populations as well as the overall health of the environment. With the growing value of the count, it seems likely that today's participants cannot fathom the value of their efforts in the next century." Geoff LeBaron, Director of Christmas Brid Count.
The members of Daviess County Audubon Society did themselves proud this past month as 25 volunteers devoted two days for counts in the eastern and western ends of Daviess County. Reports from participants describe the fun that was had by veterans and novices alike.
One of the healthiest indications coming out this year's counts is that new people participated. Our members invited friends and people from the community to join us, and their glowing faces told us that they enjoyed the experience. Winter ills of sore throats and flu kept some of our counters at home under bed covers, and the wind chill on December 29th caused some volunteers to count for fewer hours than usual. Nonetheless, in a word, this year's counts were a success!
For Christmas Bird Count results from 1900 through 2001, log on to:
The Audubon Society or the Cornell Ornithology Laboratory
Don't
forget to get busy with sketching your ideas for a shirt design for our
club. We want to dress with matching shirts when we conduct events so that
we have greater public recognition. Please submit your idea(s) to any
officer or director by January 28. The winner in this contest will be all
of us, but if your design is chosen, you'll get a free shirt.
It's 1040 Time
The Daviess County Audubon Society is fortunate to receive numerous gifts from dozens of people and we wish to help those who need to claim the donations of cash, supplies, food and automobile use on their 2001 income tax returns. Our chapter is a nonprofit 501 (C) 3 corporation with education as its primary mission and therefore all contributions are tax deductible.
If you provided refreshments or food for a meeting, the Society acknowledges receiving a gift with a value between $30 and $50. If you will fill in your name ___________________________________ and the date of your donated food ____________________, you can then bring this form for signature by Ova Hookey, our Hospitality Chairwoman _____________________________________ and place the form in your tax records.
If you took photos for our archives or use on the Web site, you should fill in your name __________________________________, date and cost of film and developing ________________________ and ask Rob Rold, Eric Williams or Treasurer Rose Ann Radzelovage to sign here _______________________________ acknowledging your donation.
Mileage for field trip planning, transportation, and leadership attendance at Directors' meetings and other travel for the benefit of The Society is deductible at $.14 per mile. Thank you all.
Cooperation Pays... The Rest of the President's Story
Last month, President Mike Henshaw's column was an update about The Big Barrens Project and The Bluegrass Army Depot/Muddy Creek Projects to renovate and enhance native prairies. These are partnership efforts between the Department of Fish & Wildlife and The Nature Conservancy. The following is a continuation...
The reason why the Department of Fish & Wildlife is interested in joint projects is that the agency alone does not have the resources to do these types of projects, and by partnering with The Nature Conservancy, both agencies can obtain their long term objectives. These objectives are to enhance and develop the land for the long term sustainability of the wildlife resources that depend upon them. These two projects will be addressing the grassland habitats in the state, habitat types that are very degraded or missing from the area. As you know, grassland birds are in just as much trouble as forest interior birds. It has been in recent years that the forest birds have been getting all the press, while grassland song bird guilds are in just as much trouble.
It is the hope of both agencies that these and other projects like them will go a long way in addressing the needs of these habitats and the plants and animals that require them to live.
Happy New Year! Mike Henshaw, President
Who Karsts?
One of the great things about the dynamic and informative programs The Audubon Society presents 10 months each year is that attendees have a heads-up about current events. Upon hearing news reports that there is controversy in Bowling Green, Kentucky about a 4000-acre airport that is strongly desired by some western Kentucky business people, members of The Daviess County Audubon Society who heard The Caveman, Chris Anderson, speak in November know why all the fuss.
Chris explained that not all threats to caves are as visible as the discarded tires seen in the background of some slides he showed. He spoke of threats, such as faulty septic systems, to the miles of delicate caves under Kentucky and Tennessee soil. For most Kentucky residents, out of sight is out of mind, but for those who attended our November meeting, there is awareness of an endangered world of beauty worth preserving. People can't value what they don't know.
We will watch with interest the studies being by WKU of the karst effect of TriModal Transpark.
January Field Trip
Waterfowl and shorebirds will be the objects of our attention on Saturday, January 26. If you have a spotting scope, bring it with you. The lake at Kimberly-Clark will be the destination for the outing. However, it is best if we gather at 8 AM in the parking area at Audubon Elementary School to travel en masse to the factory grounds. In years past, our group has encountered displeasure from security guards to the point of being shown the gate.
Paperless Membership Renewal
The National Audubon Society is now offering the east of keeping membership current without the cost, hassle, and waste of reminder mailings. Simply phone:
800 274-4201
and ask to sign up for Audubon's Paper Free Renewal Program. Starting this month, those who sign up will have their membership renewed each year, and will simply receive one billing approximately two months in advance of the expiration.
Officers and Directors for 2000-2001 President Mike Henshaw (270) 275-4250 Vice-President & Program Chairman Rob Rold (270) 684-3209 Secretary Madeline Oetinger (270) 683-7681 Treasurer Rose Ann Radzelovage (270) 683-5972 Membership Chair Pat Connell (270) 684-5326 Education Chairs Madeline Oetinger (270) 683-7681 & Carolyn Williams 683-5863 Field Trips Chair Rob Rold (270) 684-3209 Conservation Chair Scott Holder (270) 684-1582 Newsletter Editor Brenda Little (270) 298-4237 Webmaster Eric Williams shrike@apex.net Publicity Chair Bill Little (270) 298-4237 Hospitality Chair Ova Hookey (270) 683-6364 Directors: Pat Connell, Carolyn Williams, Charles Morris, John Thacker Lifetime Honorary Directors: Elinor Wilson, Joe Ford, A.L. "Bert" Powell, and Mildred "Millie" Powell.
