The Leaflet, November / December 1999

Sassafras Audubon T-Shirts Are On the Way!

They're in the works right now, and we hope to have them ready in time for the holidays. These will be great gifts for the birdwatchers in your life. Watch your mailbox for details!

Off the Beaten Path by Jess Gwinn

You can smell it in the air - the season is definitely changing. Yes folks, it's almost Christmas Bird Count season! 

I remember my first CBC. I was living in coastal New Hampshire at the time and had just recently begun birding. What makes this count so memorable is the fact that I didn't actually participate. Like many novice birders, I was quite intimidated by the more experienced birders and this event sounded far too involved for a rookie such as myself. How could I possibly contribute? And what about this potluck afterwards? If I don't know these people well enough to bird with them, how can I expect to socialize with them? Afterwards at the next meeting, the conversation was dominated by the CBC. I felt left out. But it was my own fault. 

The next year, I mustered enough courage to sign up for a team. There were only two of us on this particular team and we covered an inland portion of the count circle. My partner Dick was a more experienced birder so I was surprised at how excited he was when a 'good bird' was found. He was also patient with helping me identify birds that he knew at a glance. I still remember my excitement at spotting some birds first. Among them were a flock of Mourning Doves that Dick had overlooked and a Song Sparrow. Even with a dreary coastal drizzle all day, I was hooked. I signed up for two more counts that same season. Every year since then I have tried to participate in at least two or three counts per season. 

Sassafras Audubon sponsors two counts. The first is the Lake Monroe CBC on December 18 this year, which is the first Saturday of the count season. This count covers a wide variety of habitats around Lake Monroe, offering something for everyone. The second count is the McCormick's Creek CBC, usually the third Saturday of the count season. This count covers primarily private land but also includes some outstanding public land as well. Both of these counts are followed by memorable potluck feasts. 

In addition to the counts sponsored by Sassafras, there are several other counts in this area within easy driving distance. If you are interested in finding out about these other counts, ask a board member for more information. Whatever you do, make an effort to participate in a Christmas Bird Count this year. There is room for everyone, no matter what skill level. You may just get hooked like I did.

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Winter, the Holidays, and the 24th Annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count by Don Whitehead

Sassafras Audubon's Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 1999. This eagerly anticipated annual event is part of a monitoring project sponsored by National Audubon. It provides basic information on the status of wintering bird populations in North America, and enables avian ecologists to detect population trends for critical species. The first Christmas Bird Count was run over 90 years ago in New York City. Today, over 1500 counts are held in this country, Canada, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. 

This year's CBC will be the 24th for members of Sassafras Audubon. The information gathered each year contributes to a very significant database for our region and already provides interesting insights concerning changes in our local bird populations. For example, the dramatic recent increase in numbers of wintering Bald Eagles shows clearly, as does the negative effect of extremely cold and snowy winter periods on populations of Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, and Bobwhite. 

The Christmas Bird Count has always been the focal point of the Sassafras Audubon year. It is a chance to bird unabashedly and competitively (something that we try not to admit) with friends and colleagues. Most importantly, it allows every participant to contribute to the development of an invaluable scientific database. It is also a great social occasion and just plain fun! I participated in my first Christmas Bird Count with the South Shore Bird Club in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1942 and was immediately addicted. I've missed only two or three years since then. 

The rules that govern CBC's require that the count be carried out within a circle with a diameter of 15 miles (always the same circle every year). To provide habitat diversity, our Lake Monroe CBC circle is centered just south of Lake Monroe at the intersection of Route 446 and Tower Ridge Road. This covers all of Lake Monroe, extensive areas of Hoosier National Forest (including the Deam Wilderness), and the expanses of field habitat south and southwest of the lake. 

Over the years we have divided the count circle into workable sections, each of which can be covered by a team of birders (in recent years we have had ten or more teams in the field). Each team works its area from before sunrise until close to sunset. You may join a team in the wee hours to help find owls or you may meet them at sunrise to work on other birds. The objective is to work each portion of our count circle as thoroughly as possible and record all of the species seen or heard, as well as the number of individuals of each species. The data from each team is then summed and the final tally recorded and sent to National Audubon. 

Our CBC count has been incredibly successful over the past decade, and a large part of that is because we have had outstanding participation--we have had more than 60 people in the field in recent years, including a record 73 participants in 1994. The success of the CBC is unquestionably a function of the number of people that participate. The more people walking, looking, and listening, the more thoroughly and accurately we census our area and the more birds we record. You don't have to be a good birder to participate . . . it is just as important to have sharp eyes and be out there helping a team. We need everyone possible! 

Our Lake Monroe CBC has developed into one of the top counts in the state and in the lower Midwest. We have had the highest count in the state for nine of the last ten years. In 1991 we recorded a record 100 species, and in 1997 we demolished that record with an incredible 108 species! That is the highest count ever recorded by any of the 20 Indiana CBC's. Last year was another banner count, as we tallied 106 species, and we have recorded over 90 species for seven of the past ten counts. 

The culmination of the CBC is the wonderful potluck chili dinner at which the final tally and bragging rights are established. As usual this will be hosted by Henry Wahl at the Woodcrest Party room at 2606 East Second Street. The dinner usually begins at about 6:00 p.m. Call either Betsy Whitehead (339-1782) or Ingrid Beery (335-0643) to coordinate dishes. 

Most important, call us and help make the 24th annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird count the best one ever - the most birds and the most people! Remember! We need all of you to defend the honor of Sassafras Audubon! If you wish to participate or wish further information, please give me (339-1782 or 855-3091) or Sandy Belth (825-8353) a buzz. We will provide additional information and assign you to a team.

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The Conservation Scope by Donna McNeely

There are several national and local conservation issues of interest to report this month; some are exciting, such as President Clinton's commitment to protect 40 million acres of roadless areas in our national forest, which is a crusade the National Audubon Society's Heritage Forest Campaign and other conservation groups initiated last year; some take us by surprise such as Indiana University's announcement that they were entering a partnership with the Jack Nicklaus development group to design a private, signature 18 hole golf course on public land near Lake Griffy; and some are heartbreaking such as the Regional Forester's decision to deny the appeal to stop the forest openings project on Hoosier National Forest. 

National Audubon Society's Heritage Forest Campaign played a large part in convincing the Clinton administration to adopt a forest protection policy proposal that would 1) apply to all National Forest, 2) protect National Forest roadless areas not just from new roads, but also from other destructive activities, and 3) rely on the most current and best science--not politics--to underpin the final policy. This type of protection has not been introduced since the Teddy Roosevelt era. While this is only a proposal, it echoes a message that many Americans have been giving for years--protection of natural areas should be a priority. The proposal will be quite an undertaking for the Clinton administration at this late in the presidential term. It is important to let members of Congress know that there is support for this proposal. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and let your representative know how you feel. 

Indiana University's proposal to develop a championship golf course near Lake Griffy needs more consideration. Lake Griffy is a valuable asset to the city of Bloomington and serves many purposes. The rolling hills and diverse habitat surrounding the lake is home to various species of wildlife and a great place to birdwatch. It is also a place for Monroe County and surrounding area residents to relax, hike, and enjoy the many recreational activities offered. Lake Griffy's primary purpose is as an emergency water source for the city. The greatest concern is that, as proposed, the golf course will be built very close to Lake Griffy. The watershed would experience the inevitable chemical run-off from the course. Also, this golf course will be exclusively for IU students, faculty, and alumni and will carry a hefty membership fee. If you would like to learn more about the issues regarding the golf course e-mail seac@indiana.edu or call 332-4878 and leave a message. There is also a newly established group, Protect Griffy Alliance (PGA), that is coordinating community meetings. 

The Regional Forester's denial of the appeal on the forest openings project in Hoosier National Forest will be challenged in court. A notice of intent to sue is forthcoming from the some of groups that filed the appeal. Sassafras Audubon will join Heartwood, Indiana Forest Alliance, Hoosier Environmental Council, and RACE, a forest protection group based in Illinois, in the lawsuit.  If you have questions regarding this lawsuit call Conservation Chair Donna McNeely at 988-7123 or Indiana Forest Alliance at 332-4878.

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Birding Trips: Where Would You Like To Go?

In each of the last two springs, SAS has organized trips to Mio, Michigan area to see Kirtland's Warblers and other specialty species of the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. We, the SAS board, are currently soliciting suggestions from SAS members for other places to visit. A couple of ideas for possible birdwatching trips have already been mentioned: 1) a trip to a general migration hot spot such as Crane Creek, Ohio, which is located on the south shore of Lake Erie and is touted as a rival of Pt. Pelee in Southern Ontario for attracting migrants (but without the huge crowds of birdwatchers); 2) a trip to a prairie chicken lek in Illinois to see Greater Prairie Chickens and other prairie/grassland species, such as American Golden Plovers and perhaps Smith's Longspurs. If either of these trips sounds appealing to you, or if you have other suggestions, please let us know. Call or e-mail Jim Hengeveld (988-1671, jhengeve@indiana.edu), or bring your ideas to future SAS functions such as the SAS Christmas Bird Count potluck dinner.

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SAS Calendar for November / December 1999

All outings and programs are free and open to non-members.

Saturday November 20, 1999 "Bird Outing to Local Areas"

We will visit several local areas looking for land and shore birds. Meet at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza Parking area behind Ellis Floral on East 3rd St. at 8:00 a.m. For more information call leaders Jim and Susan Hengeveld at 988-1671 or e-mail jhengeve@indiana.edu.

Saturday December 11, 1999 "Bird Identification Workshop and Potluck" 

Get tuned up for the Christmas Bird Counts by attending this combination of a bird outing and a review of bird identification. We will bird local areas, then head back to Don and Betsy Whitehead's house for further review and a Potluck lunch/dinner. Tips such as what to look at first before they fly away, songs, and behavior will be covered. Use of various field guides and binoculars will be discussed. This will also be your chance to look over The Sassafras Audubon Society's chapter by-laws. For the Bird Outing, meet at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza parking area at 8:00 a.m. We plan on arriving back at the Whiteheads at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome! For more information call Jim and Susan Hengeveld at 988-1671 or e-mail jhengeve@indiana.edu, or Don Whitehead at 339-1782.

Saturday December 18, 1999 "The 24th Annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count" 

For more information and to be placed on a team, call Don Whitehead, 339-1782, or Sandy Belth, 825-8353. See related article above.

Sunday, January 2, 2000 "The 14th Annual McCormick's Creek Christmas Bird Count" 

For more information and to be placed on a team, call Jeff and Sandy Belth, 825-8353, or e-mail BelthBirds@aol.com. See related article below.

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14th Annual McCormick's Creek Christmas Bird Count

Start off the new millennium with a great day of birding. Find out if the birds survived Y2K! All eyes are needed. Come join us on Sunday, January 2nd 2000 for the 14th Annual McCormick's Creek Christmas Bird Count. The count circle includes McCormick's Creek State Park, the Restle unit of the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Green Bluffs Nature Preserve, a section of the White River, and new this year, we will be covering Flatwoods Park. As some of you may remember, last year on count day the treacherous, ice-covered roads and bad weather conditions kept most of us at home. That was very unfortunate; however, we look forward to a millennium count that will make up for it. To that end we need all the people in the field we can get. Please call Jeff or Sandy Belth to be placed on a team, 825-8353. The day will be topped off by a potluck dinner and tally at the Belth's home.

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Thank you to all Audubon Adventures Sponsors

In several weeks about 2700 third through seventh grade students in our region will begin their 1999 - 2000 Audubon Adventures. Through this environmental education program, they will be studying important topics such as "People and Wildlife Sharing the Earth." They will also be receiving materials for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2000. It was only through the generous support of a wonderful variety of sponsors that SAS reached its goal this year of providing an Audubon Adventures kit for every teacher who requested one. We deeply appreciate all of our sponsors' support for environmental education, and we thank each and every one of them very, very much.

Foundation, Corporate, and Business Sponsors

South Central Indiana REMC Community Fund Inc., Martinsville
Clarence E. Custer and Inez R. Custer Foundation, Inc., Columbus
Visteon Automotive Systems, Bedford
Adams Arbor Care, Inc., Bloomington
Blue Sky Veterinary Clinic, Bloomington
CFC, Inc., Bloomington
Cedar Bluff Gardens, Bloomington
Eco Logic LLC, Bloomington
Floribunda, Inc., Bloomington
KPT, Inc., Bloomfield
Nature's Way, Inc., Bloomington
Wischmeier Nursery, Inc., Columbus
World Wide Automotive Service, Bloomington

Individual Sassafras Sponsors

David and Ingrid Beery
Timothy A. Bush
Pam and Don Harnett
Douglas F. Johnstone
Alice Lorenz
Mary Kay Meyer
Donna Ormiston
Jane Taubensee
Jordan Tillett

Thanks again to our Audubon Adventures sponsors!

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Roadside Birders: Alberta, Canada; Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado

Alberta, Canada

From coastal Alaska we again headed to the interior. We went up to Tok, down to Watson Lake, then had an adventure cruising the Cassiar Highway, a 450 mile stretch of gravel, pavement, and dirt. This road is not on the grid, nor is there phone service; any electricity to be found is generated by Cummins engines and phone messages have to be radioed in! We loved this road, which required us to stop for black bears three times. Next we cut over to Jasper National Park. The best thing about this place was the Rocky Mountain goats. Three times we watched these characters as they grazed the mineral slopes along the Athabasan River.

After Jasper we drove into Banff National Park. We liked the town much better than Jasper, but we still found the interior birding to be rather thin, though there were mountain sheep along the road to entertain us. Finally, we left the mountains and immediately we began to see more birds. Then we stopped at Coaldale for one of our very best birding experiences so far. The Alberta Birds of Prey Center came about when a young man in Ontario, after nursing birds in his back yard, decided he wanted to do something big and important. Colin Weir finished school, threw everything in his pickup, and headed west. When he got to Coaldale, he decided he had found the perfect combination of habitats to build his dream.

He convinced a local politician that a bird hospital and breeding center would be good for the community, and before he knew it, he was leasing 70 acres of "worthless" marsh land from the city. He started this venture in 1982. Today the center consists of a visitors' area, interpretive gift shop, a $35,000 eagle aviary, numerous three sided shelters for various hawks, falcons, and owls; heated winter quarters, a dark aviary for traumatized birds who need to be calmed, and an amphitheater next to a flying field. The center, which generates only $70,000 annually, must depend on grants, gifts, donations, sponsorships, and volunteers. A local hatchery is a big part of the center's success; it donates hundreds of chicks per week.

On the day of our visit, we were treated to a Harris Hawk "fly" executed by Heather Hanson, a volunteer. On the second fly she allowed one Roadside Birder to catch the hawk with a leather glove while the other took photos. This was very exciting for us. Next Heather gave us a tour of the facilities, which features a burrowing owl breeding program that puts 20-30 back into the wild each year. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, Heather introduced us to Wendy Slaytor. Wendy is a falconer, and specializes in sakers. Everything about her, including her names, fit her role as a falconer: she is short, quick to speak out, has a keen eye, and possesses hands out of proportion to her petite figure. Wendy flew her falcon for us, then spent 30 minutes talking of her birds. She walked us back to the interpretive center where we got to meet Mr. Weir himself.

Soft spoken and unassuming, this man is quite modest about what he has accomplished. Instead of focusing on our praise, he chose to talk about all that there is left to do. He clearly looks to future challenges, and is not satisfied with the many great things he has achieved. When we left the center, we felt that we had met people who are more than just birders. These folks are dedicated to a cause which gives these Hoosier Roadsiders new faith in the future of our feathered friends. If you ever have the chance to go to Glacier or Banff, take the extra time to visit these people and their birds, just over the Canadian line.

September: Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado

From Coaldale, Alberta, we went south on what becomes I-15 in Montana and came to a huge reservoir (Clark Canyon) near Dillon, MT. It was here that Sacajawea told Lewis and Clark that she had other business to attend to and that they'd have to find their own way as best they could. We had a nice lunch on the shore while we watched cormorants, mergansers, gulls, and a bald eagle that had nothing better to do than harass rafts of ducks.

Just up the road from the reservoir we found our favorite Montana state facility. Bannack, Montana was where gold was first discovered in the territory; it boomed for a year, became the Territorial Capital, then went into a 100 year decline as better strikes were found elsewhere. The state bought the whole place in the 70's and decided not to commercialize it, a la Virginia City. Most buildings are open, and we were nearly the only folks present for the three days we were there. Plus, we got special treatment from a fellow Hoosier who attended IU, worked at Nick's, etc. We had two firsts here: the Green-tailed Towhee and MacGillvaray's Warbler.

Continuing down I-15, we came to the Camus National Wildlife Refuge. We arrived at midday, not the best time to see birds. What we found was a huge 10,578 acre refuge which contained mostly birds found on Monroe, except for the flashy, Yellow-headed Blackbird. Next, I-15 took us into Utah where we visited the Bear River National Wildlife Refuge with about the same results we had at Camus, except that the flies and mosquitos were worse. We didn't find out how big this place is, but we drove through it for 14 miles until we got to the 11-mile loop drive. This compound is part of the Great Salt Lake system and yielded Marsh Wrens, California Gulls, Harlan's Red-Tail, Lark Sparrows and White-faced Ibis (not one that we saw had the white!). For the birder who is also a history buff, this refuge is close to Promontory, Utah, where the golden spike was driven, connecting our shores by rail. It was here that we saw Hungarian Partridge, apparently recently imported for the sporting crowd.

We headed south through Arches and Moab, seeking echoes of Abbey, then over the line into Cortez, Colorado. There we got a newspaper and found a front-page article about a bird rehabilitator in need of road-kill, freezer-burn, or other forms of meat to feed her birds. Of course, we called her and got an invitation to visit Montelores Wildlife Rehab. Sheryl Rose reminded us of Wendy Slaytor at Coaldale, Alberta: short, thin, and intense about the work she does. Her place is make-do/home-made. The Birds of Prey Center we visited in Canada has a scant budget to work with, while Sheryl has no budget. She does her work on her own, depending on the volunteer help of a vet. And she doesn't just take in birds; she takes all comers! She told us of an ingenious way some ranchers combat rodents: they soak popcorn in anti-freeze and place it for the critters. This, of course, ends up in owls, hawks, eagles, coyotes, and anything else which feeds on the contaminated gophers, prairie dogs, etc. Sheryl showed us her red-tail, golden, and kestrel. We left there with a humbled attitude . . . some people do so much with so little.

The Roadside Birders, Candi and Steve Bailey

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Shore Line Cleanups a Success!

The inaugural Sassafras Audubon shoreline cleanup at the North Fork Wildlife Refuge was a big success, thanks to the fifteen volunteers who contributed their time and energy to the event. It was a beautiful, warm day, and a great morning to spend near the lake picking up trash. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources provided the trash bags and hauled away the bagged trash afterwards. Thanks to Marsh at 3516 West Third, Bloomington, and Marsh at 2424 South Walnut, Bloomington for donations that supplied the volunteers with snacks and water. 

The DNR's Rex Watters reported that our group bagged two truckloads full of trash. Typical items include cans, bottles, and food packaging, but larger items such as tires and other automobile parts are often found. Our haul included twelve tires. A not-so-typical item was the entire car found submerged in Salt Creek, spotted first by some boys fishing the area. We reported the whereabouts of the vehicle, and on Monday the stolen automobile, which had been missing for two years, was hauled out of the water. 

After the cleanup, most of the participants drove to the Lamb Roast and Potluck at Lake Lemon, where they enjoyed an excellent spread of marinated, grilled lamb and a variety of salads and side dishes. We look forward to our next cleanup at the North Fork Refuge, which will take place in the spring of 2000. Please plan on joining us! 

Two weeks later, Wild Birds Unlimited held its shoreline cleanup at Pine Grove. Unfortunately, the weather was not quite as nice, but participants in last year's waterlogged effort could hardly complain about the overcast sky and light drizzle! There were a total of 18 volunteers who helped to remove approximately two tons of garbage from Pine Grove. Since the lake level was so low due to the drought, areas that hadn't been cleaned up before were newly accessible. 

The volunteers were treated to several good looks at Bald Eagles and those who had good binoculars or spotting scopes saw a multitude of shore birds in the exposed mud flats, including Long-billed Dowitcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and enough Killdeer to actually kill a deer. The Herald-Times sent a reporter to do an article about the new Lakeshore Adoption Program that the DNR has started and gave the groups some good press in the Monday edition on October 11. Thanks to all who helped and to Opie Taylor's Restaurant for providing lunch for the weary troops.

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Notes from Nature by Sandy Belth

Included in this issue of The Leaflet you will find a flier for the Indiana Audubon Society Winter Feeder Count. Everyone is encouraged to participate in this count, which starts November 20. Each count period runs from the 20th through the 25th of the month and includes a weekend so that persons who work during the week have the opportunity to participate. It is not necessary to count on all days. One day is enough to fill out the form for each month. But if you can do more, that would probably be better. After you send in your data, all the birds you recorded on a given day will be compared to what others saw on that same date. For example, if lots of Pine Siskins happen to show up on one day and other people also record them on the same day, one could say that on that date lots of Pine Siskins were moving through the area. Even if you only counted birds on the day when there were a lot of Pine Siskins at your feeders, your data would still be significant. If nothing much shows up, that's okay too; go ahead and record that. Maybe nobody else had anything either and that will be reflected in the overall study. Birds just weren't coming to feeders that day. That's what the counts are for - to ascertain what species are seen and how many individuals there are in a given area at one time. There is no fee to help out with this count, but a $1.00 donation is requested for count results to be sent back to you. Have fun with it, make a cup of tea or coffee, and snuggle up to the window. 

Another count of interest and one that is a little more involved is the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's "Project FeederWatch." This is an annual survey of North American birds that visit feeders in the winter. Since 1987, Project FeederWatch has grown to include more than 12,000 participants who count the birds at their feeders and send their data to ornithologists at Cornell. The information gathered helps ornithologists track changes in the abundance and distribution of numbers and species of birds. Project FeederWatch is a joint project of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited is a major co-sponsor of the project. In the words of a FeederWatch coordinator: "By monitoring the birds that visit your feeders, you'll have fun while you contribute important information to bird-population scientists." Project FeederWatch starts November 13th. To get started you need to order a packet from Cornell. The cost is $15.00. Call (800) 843-2473 or write to "Project FeederWatch," Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 or visit their website at www.ornith.cornell.edu and click on "Project Feeder Watch." You will receive an instruction booklet, the FeederWatchers Handbook, a colorful wall calendar, a color poster depicting common feeder birds, access to FeederWatch Listserv, password access to FeederWatch Online , and a Subscription to the Cornell Laboratory's Bird Newsletter. And for teachers, there is also a Project FeederWatch for classrooms. 

For Project FeederWatch you select two consecutive days every two weeks from November through March and stick to counting birds only on those two days. The purpose is to get a clear idea of where the birds are all across Canada and the U.S. A sample of questions to be answered: Eurasian Collared Dove: Where will this bird pop up next? Carolina Wren: How far north will this bird expand its range and does its continuing expansion really reflect global warming? Pine Siskin: Is this bird really declining in regions of the Northwest? Your count reports can be made directly via e-mail or you can send a hard copy to Cornell. You can access past count results through the Project FeederWatch web site. Sharpen your pencil, copy your tally sheets, and grab those binos and a good field guide; it's time to play citizen scientist!

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Shade-grown Coffee: Making a Difference Is Easy by Susan Hengeveld 

Ever have that sinking feeling that the world's problems are too great and there isn't anything you, as an individual, can do? As discouraging as it may seem at times, helping to make a difference is as easy as drinking a cup of coffee. Drinking bird-friendly coffee not only tastes good; it feels good. Traditional shade-grown coffee plantations provide an important sanctuary for Neotropical migrant bird species as well as for local residents of the tropics. 

Russell Greenberg, director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Birding, asserts that "Right now shade coffee is a threatened habitat. Almost half the coffee lands have lost their protective canopy and have been converted wholesale to the more profitable but biologically sterile form of farming known as 'sun' coffee" (American Birdiing Association, December 1996). However, if the demand for shade-grown, organic coffees continues to increase, the economic benefits to traditional coffee growers will increase and, as a consequence, birds will benefit. All we have to do as coffee-drinking bird enthusiasts is to buy the right type of coffee. Most of the coffee sold in supermarkets and in coffee houses across the country is not shade-grown. Rather, it is grown in bleak monocultures that support very few species. Sun-grown coffee plantations not only lack the canopy cover that is present in shade-grown plantations, the former typically use copious amounts of pesticides and herbicides, introducing pollutants into the environment. 

You can buy shade-grown coffee locally in the Bloomington area as well as from mail-order coffee companies. It is important to note that not all organic coffees are shade-grown. While organic coffees do not use the nasty chemicals that are commonplace in most plantations under the open sun, they do not necessarily include the diverse assemblage of canopy trees that are so valuable as foraging habitat for birds. Take the extra time when purchasing your coffee. If you can't find shade-grown coffee at your favorite supermarket or coffee house, ask the manager to look into marketing shade-grown coffee. Let the manager know that shade-grown coffee is FOR THE BIRDS! 

In my search of local coffee-houses and distributors serving shade-grown coffee, I found only two places in Bloomington where you can purchase shade-grown coffee:

For more information on the benefits of shade-grown coffee, you can obtain a free fact sheet entitled "Why Birds are Crazy for Coffee" from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, D.C. 20008, or you can view it on the web at http://web2.si.edu/smbc/coffee.htm.

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Generous Volunteers Bring Improvements at Little Africa

Located at the east end of Lake Lemon, the Little Africa Wildlife Viewing Area is owned by the City of Bloomington Utilities and is managed by Lake Lemon Conservancy District. SAS has been working with the Conservancy to manage Little Africa. SAS is trying to maintain the area as an old field habitat that provides suitable habitat for nesting House Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows, Tree Swallows, and other bird species. To that end, SAS has had two work days in the past year to clear woody vegetation (primarily Winged Sumac) from the peninsula. We would like to thank Mark Adams of Adams Arbor Care for generously providing equipment and labor in helping SAS with this task. SAS intends to clear annually approximately one third of the peninsula on a rotational basis. At the tip of the Little Africa peninsula, SAS has recently constructed a viewing platform that overlooks the mudflats at the east end of Lake Lemon. As water levels drop in the fall, these mudflats provide foraging habitat for shorebirds as they pass through on their way south. A huge "thank you" goes to Ed Schools for designing the platform, ordering supplies, and doing the lion's share of the actual construction. If you haven't visited Little Africa or have not yet seen the viewing platform, check it out in person or in our Photo Gallery. Little Africa is located on the north side of South Shore Drive approximately two miles east of Shuffle Creek Road and just beyond the "S" curve east of the causeway. We would also like to thank Lake Lemon Conservancy for helping SAS finance the construction of the platform.

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