The Leaflet, March/April 2002
- Off the Beaten Path by Bob Kissel
- Indiana Frogs: The Other Spring Singers by Vicky Meretsky
- Thanks to More Audubon Adventures Sponsors
- SAS Calendar for March/April 2002
- Winter Blues Have You Down? Try a Chesapeake Bay Area Pick Me Up! by Ron McCullick and Bob Kissel
- Another Wonderful Christmas Bird Count by Don Whitehead
- Grass Roots Organizing Seminar
- Changes in Membership Options
- Sycamore Land Trust Hold Third Annual Gardening and Landscaping Show
- Gearing Up for the 2002 Birdathon
Off the Beaten Path
On a recent seabird trip, I had several hours of darkness to think about what it means to be an environmentalist in 2002. My musings were prompted mostly by the upcoming U.S. Senate vote on drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and my more recent role as SAS President.
After a relatively quick passage in the House of Representatives last year, the impending vote in the closely divided Senate has the form of the classic dispute of two stories, for and against drilling. Prior to September 11 the Administration’s rationale for drilling in the ANWR was part of a broad, status quo policy to meet our country’s ever-expanding energy consumption. Following the terrorist attacks, gas and oil exploration in the ANWR has morphed to matters of national security and patriotism. More chillingly, Interior Secretary Gail Norton has urged wavering Senators, such as Richard Lugar, to “recognize obligations to our national security as opposed to environmental extremists.”
For over ten years a broad collection of environmental and scientific groups has been remarkably consistent in the opposition and reasons for not drilling in the ANWR, perhaps the U.S.’ last pristine wilderness area. One of the failings of recent Presidential administrations has been the lack of any comprehensive energy policy. The United States consumes over 25% of the world’s oil yearly yet has only 3% of global petroleum reserves. Yet this outdated policy of more drilling to meet unfettered demand remains a cornerstone of the Bush-Cheney energy package. U.S. oil consumption has dropped only once, during the ten years after the 1975 imposition of car mileage standards during President Reagan’s tenure!
America’s current love for light trucks and SUVs, regulated preferentially vs. cars for mileage standards, has substantially decreased mileage performance. If the government were to vigorously lead the effort for higher mileage standards and increased energy efficiency, the savings in oil consumption would dwarf the limited oil projected to be in the ANWR. More generally, our national energy dependence will not be affected until there is a comprehensive push for greater efficiency with and alternative sources to fossil fuels.
Routine use of the acronym ANWR also dilutes that this miniscule section (5%) of Alaskan coastline is designated “National” and “Wildlife Refuge.” Regardless of the oil industry’s reassurance about new drilling technology, oil and gas exploration in this uncorrupted area certainly will lead to spills, loss and fragmentation of habitat, and of course human disturbance to wildlife in the refuge. Senator Lieberman of Conneticut has introduced a bill which would mark the ANWR as a wilderness area, affording permanent protection.
This vote has decided tangible as well as symbolic implications for the direction of energy use in our country. I implore you to join your SAS board in taking a few minutes to call, e-mail, and write Senators Bayh and especially Lugar to express your opposition to any drilling in the ANWR. Both Senators are under relentless pressure to change their original anti-drilling vote. Selfishly, I would like my 7 year old daughter to have the opportunity in the future to visit this remarkable, pristine area of our country.
Indiana Frogs: The Other Spring Singers
Spring has sprung, and sounds of froggy passion abound. In fact, a few hardy individuals were calling during the warm spell in late January. The calls of happy hoppers are particularly welcome these days.
Around the planet, amphibian populations—frogs, toads, newts, salamanders—are declining or just downright disappearing. Nearly frantic research has produced not one, but a small host of culprits. Pesticides, increased ultraviolet radiation, disease, parasites, and combinations of these are all taking their toll, and specific causes for particular problems are mostly still unclear.
But in Indiana, many of our species seem to be doing well. Certainly, our spring nights still resound. The sound everyone seems to know is the call of the spring peeper. These little critters—no more than one inch long—are related to treefrogs, and they have little suction cups on the ends of their toes to help them climb around in the vegetation. A single call sounds like a piercingly clear bird whistle that rises towards the end: “pee-eep.” But when many of them get to calling all together, the sound is very like jingling sleigh bells. One variation of the call has a trill running though it, so don’t be confused if the peep trills!
Another early little frog, also a treefrog relative, is the western chorus frog. About the same size as the peeper, and with the same suction-cup toes, they have a softer call. You can hear an entire countryside full of peepers, but you usually only hear a small neighborhood’s worth of chorus frogs! Chorus frog calls have been compared to the sound of someone running a fingernail across the teeth of a metal comb. The call isn’t very musical, and it doesn’t rise in pitch at the end, so even though it sounds trilly, you can separate it from the peepers. Often you can hear the two species calling together.
The last real early bird to get started is the wood frog. These denizens of water in the woods are true frogs—related to bullfrogs and leopard frogs, not treefrogs. Their call is rather hysterically funny—it sounds like a really evil duck quacking, perhaps while being strangled. A friend coined the name “Duck Vader.” At the end of this column, I’ve given some web sites that have recordings—you really need to hear this one.
Wood frogs are difficult for those of us trying to monitor frog populations. Their breeding season tends to be very short—the first warm rains bring them out, and they all get together to breed over a period of 2 weeks or so. As a result, if you aren’t out at the right time, you can easily miss them, and it’s hard to visit many sites during the active period. Your wood frogs and the wood frogs in the next town over may not be perfectly synchronized, but they’ll probably be pretty close.
Those are the early frogs. After them, the southern leopard frogs are out, sounding quite a bit like wood frogs, and American toads, sounding quite a bit like tea kettles. Different species call at different times, so we can hear the sounds of enraptured (or at least hopeful!) frogs and toads from late February until late July, in a good year.
Don’t be shy! If you like frogs, there are only about 14 species in the whole state, and while you can’t join the monitoring team this year, the training program should be back up next year—call the Nongame Program in the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (317) 232-4080.
For web sites
with pictures and calls, visit http://www.ai.org/dnr/fishwild/nongame/frogs.htm and
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/narcam/idguide/specieid.htm.
For more information on amphibian monitoring, visit http://www.im.nbs.gov/amphibs.html, and for more information on problems that amphibian populations are experiencing, visit http://www.open.ac.uk/OU/Academic/Biology/J_Baker/JBtxt.htm.
Merry frogs and toads!
Thanks to More Audubon Adventures Sponsors
A big thank you to Visteon Automotive Systems and to the Clarence E. and Inez R. Custer Foundation for their support of environmental education. Through their “See the Possibilities Fund” the Visteon Plant in Bedford has provided Audubon Adventures kits for classrooms in Greene County. The Clarence E. and Inez R. Custer Foundation has enabled classrooms in Bartholomew County to receive Audubon Adventures kits this year.
Children in Greene and Bartholomew Counties would not have this great opportunity were it not for the generous support of these two sponsors. SAS greatly appreciates their important contributions.
SAS Calendar for March/April 2002
All outings and programs are free and open to non-members.
Saturday, March 23, 2002: Sycamore Land Trust Garden and Landscaping Show
A one-day event with vendors, presentations and lots of information on making your yard a better place to live and play. Located in the Monroe County Convention Center, the show starts at 9:00 a.m. and goes for most of the afternoon. See story in this Leaflet for more information.
Wednesday, March 27, 2002: March Program: Hiking the Appalachian Trail
Teresa and Tom Ellis will share the highlights of their journey along the Appalachian Trail. The AT allows intrepid hikers the opportunity to travel through 14 states in the eastern U.S. Find out more in Room 1-C of the Monroe County Public Library at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27. Refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Steve Cotter at 349-3736.
Friday – Sunday, March 29 – 31, 2002: Greater Prairie Chicken Trip
Jim & Susan Hengeveld will lead a trip to the Prairie Ridge Natural Area south of Effingham, Illinois on the weekend of March 29-31 (Easter weekend). Unlike the past two years, we have reserved a blind this year for Saturday morning, March 30 (this was the only weekend for which a blind was available). While this will ensure close views of the prairie-chickens, it also means that participation in this outing will be limited to 10 people in addition to Susan and Jim. It also means that we will have to get a very early start on Saturday morning so that we are set up in the blind before dawn. Depending on the location of the blind, we might see Short-eared Owls in addition to Greater Prairie-Chickens at first light. After leaving the blind on Saturday, we plan to do some birding in the general area to look for other local grassland species (E. Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, Am. Golden-Plovers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Northern Harriers, and Loggerhead Shrikes are all possibilities--we saw all of these species on one or both of the last two trips).
We will leave the Bloomington area on Friday afternoon/evening as soon as is possible by the participants. Depending on how late we conclude our birding in Illinois on Saturday and on the desires of the participants, we will return to Bloomington on Saturday night or on Sunday morning. Participants will need to make their own lodging arrangements. Jim & Susan have a partial list of motels in the Effingham area. Please call Jim & Susan (988-1671) to make reservations (first come-first served) for the trip and for lodging suggestions.
Saturday, April 13, 2002: Sandhill Cranes, Hawks and Other Early Migrants
A full day trip to several wonderful birding spots in northern Indiana. We will bird Willow Slough on the Illinois line for waterfowl and hawks, and Jasper-Pulaski for Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, hawks and other migrants. If weather patterns permit, we will spend time on the Hawkwatch site on Lake Michigan in the middle of the day. With the right winds, this site can produce impressive numbers of migrating hawks. For further information and reservations, call the leader, Don Whitehead (339-1782; whitehead@indiana.edu).
Saturday, April 13, 2002: The Nature Conservancy Tree Planting Volunteers Day
Join TNC volunteers to help plant trees at Greens Bluff in Owen County. Contact Ellen Jacquart for details at: ejacquart@TNC.org.
Saturday, April 20, 2002: IU Research and Teaching Preserve Bird Hike
Join Jim and Susan Hengeveld for a hike at the new IU Research and Teaching Preserve at Griffy Lake. Meet in the IU Foundation parking lot. Hike will last from 10am to noon. Space is limited, call 855-8742 to register for the hike.
Wednesday, April 24, 2002: April Program: Invasive Plants
Ellen Jacquart, Director of Stewardship with Indiana’s Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, will provide insight into the challenges and impacts caused by invasive plants in Indiana. This free program, which is co-sponsored by the Southern Central chapter of the Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society (SCINPAWS), will be held in Room 1-C of the Monroe County Public Library at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24. Refreshments will be served. For more information please contact Steve Cotter at 349-3736.
Saturday, April 27, 2002: Spring Feeder Cleaning
Help volunteer with our annual Spring Feeder Cleaning Fundraiser or drop off your feeders to be cleaned. Cost: $3 for regular feeders, $5 for large or excessively dirty feeders. Drop off your feeders between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Wild Birds Unlimited parking lot on the corner of 15th and College in Bloomington. Pick-up will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. To volunteer or for more information, call Ross Brittain at 333-2121. Volunteers work in four-hour shifts throughout the day. Help raise funds for SAS and give our local birds a more sanitary place to feed.
Winter Blues Have You Down? Try a Chesapeake Bay Area Pick Me Up!
It’s 5:00 a.m., it’s cold, it’s dark, yet 35 birders from parts near and far are shivering in anticipation of expected and hoped for species on an all-day seabirding trip from Virginia Beach, VA. Our fellow adventurers aboard the Nancy Anne run the gamut from members of the 700+ ABA club to a young couple who are on their first “official” birding trip. Birding styles differ among the passengers too. There are raptors, vigilantly scanning the water striving to ID their prey before anyone else. There are vultures, waiting lazily in the sun or cabin for the raptors to ID a bird, then rushing to the scene demanding “What? Where? I don’t see it!” And there are a couple of fussy Snail Kites on board, veterans, interested only in one bird; they ignore everything else.
Our first birds are sleeping Ring-billed and Greater Black-backed Gulls under the marina’s lights. The trip out is a rough rodeo ride, bucking wind and waves that build stronger through the day. As dawn slowly climbs over the horizon, we add Herring and Bonaparte’s Gulls, Northern Gannet, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, and Razorbill to the trip list. The Razorbill is the first of the pelagic birds we turn the boat around to chase for a better view. The next couple of hours in the seemingly lifeless area between the coast and Gulf Stream was a time for birding tales, nourishment, and of course always scanning the horizon. Yet during this portion of the trip pods of Common Dolphins join us to snow board the boat’s bow waves. As we approach the Gulf Stream, the boat slows and the birding heats up. Black-legged Kittiwake cruise by to check us out, as we check them out. Atlantic Puffin are drab in their winter wear, some too full to fly and some too lazy to dive.
We start chumming and pick up our full escort of gulls constantly diving, chasing and jockeying for position to snatch a fish chunk. Northern Fulmar join the gulls, more barrel chested, stiff winged seabirds that bank with wing tips skimming the wave tops. The bird parade pauses as we stop to examine several Ocean Sunfish, an enormous fish lollygagging on the surface. It is one of those odd creatures, like a platypus. You look. You smile. Red Phalarope join the list, small flocks of timid light birds winging off in alarm at our approach. A couple of whale spouts are seen in the distance, but never relocated.
Then, a dark streak comes rushing in low over the water at an intercept angle to the bow, banks high, and clears the horizon. It wheels back over us to sneak attack the gulls behind as everyone watching shouts in unison “Skua.” We are treated to flyovers, fly-bys, and other aerial maneuvers on the water by this Great Skua. This playground bully chases, harasses and attacks numerous gulls, forcing them to loose their lunch, which the Skua calmly consumes. After the show everyone is excited and one birder pulls out a bottle of cheap wine to toast this “lifer” for the few who bother to listen. The next birds sighted are more the graceful dancers of the open ocean, Manx Shearwater. Then, to our surprise they put down on the water and allow the captain to approach quite closely. Trip organizer Brian Patteson called it the best look at a Manx Shearwater he’s had on any of his ocean trips! The return trip is smoother, with the wind at our back as we surf the waves towards port. We continue to scan, hoping until dark for the birds we missed. Dovekie? Murre? Maybe on the next trip!
The next two days we bird the land around the Chesapeake Bay. Personal highlights include Kelp, Little, and Iceland Gulls, Great Cormorant, Purple Sandpiper, Black Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Greater Scaup, Barnacle Goose, Tundra Swan, American Oystercatcher, Black bellied Plover, 1400 Brandt near the Chincoteague NWR in Virginia and around 8000 gulls at the Prince William Co. (VA) landfill. So next year, if you need a birding pick-me-up during the lull between the Christmas Bird Counts and Spring Migration, we highly recommend a trip to the Chesapeake Bay area!
Another Wonderful Christmas Bird Count
The 26th Annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count sponsored by Sassafras Audubon was held on Saturday, December 16, 2001. In every conceivable way it was a memorable count. Most important, the weather was reasonably cooperative—partly cloudy, relatively mild (minimum temperature 42 degrees), and fairly gentle winds. Secondly, we had an excellent showing of participants—52 worked in 14 teams and amassed an impressive total of 114 party hours of field work. The end result of good conditions, open water, and good coverage of all areas within our count circle was an extremely gratifying count—we totaled 105 species—the third highest count in our 26 year history (our all time high was 109).
Although we added no new species to the 145 we have recorded over the years, we had many good birds. The highlights included: Pacific Loon (1), Red-throated Loon (1), Eared Grebe (1 - second time on the count), Black Scoter (1 - second record), Golden Eagle (1), Eastern Phoebe (1), Winter Wren (1), Brown Thrasher (1 - third count record), American Pipit (1), Pine Warbler (1 - second count record), Chipping Sparrow (1), Savannah Sparrow (2), Snow Bunting (1), and Common Redpoll (25 - second count record).
Other good birds included Double-crested Cormorant (6), Bald Eagle (34), Rough-legged Hawk (6), Ruffed Grouse (1), Wild Turkey (3), Northern Saw-whet Owl (12 – second highest count ever), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2), Horned Lark (188), Red-breasted Nuthatch (14), Brown Creeper (8), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Hermit Thrush (12), Yellow-rumped Warbler (13), Rusty Blackbird (1), and Pine Siskin (7).
The high species tally can probably be attributed to the relatively mild conditions that preceded the count—a lot of birds (Phoebe, Brown Thrasher, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, etc.) that would normally have moved south were still around.
In some ways it is surprising that we did as well as we did, since there were virtually no strong cold fronts to move many birds south—for example, we had no Common Mergansers, and other diving ducks (Goldeneyes, Bufflehead) were in very low numbers.
Our tally of 105 species appears to have won the Indiana Christmas Bird Count “sweepstakes” (highest species total of any Indiana CBC) once again. Thus we have won state “bragging rights” for another year. To provide some perspective, the Lake Monroe CBC is the only Indiana CBC to record 100 species—and we have done it four times (the first time in 1992). Few other Indiana CBC’s ever top 90 species—and we have accomplished this 12 times (all since 1987).
As has become our wonderful tradition, the CBC ended with the tally and potluck dinner hosted by Henry Wahl—as always, soul- and body-warming food and friendship—and lots of bragging and good fun. Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a successful count—hope we can count on you again next year. Will we reach 110 next year (one over our previous high)?
Grass Roots Organizing Seminar
When: Saturday, March 23, 2002, 8:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, Indianapolis
Speaker: Kristen Berry, Regional Grass Roots Coordinator for the National Audubon Society out of the Public Policy office in Washington, DC. His job is to help improve the capacity of chapters by showing members how to use their “voice” with Congress, and then help them use that voice to advocate on federal issues. He is from Indiana being born in Fort Wayne, lived in Noblesville, went to college at IU and worked in every county in the state. He worked as the City of Fort Wayne’s lobbyist during the 1999 legislative session, and then went to work for Baker and Daniels in Washington, DC doing legislative affairs.
Topics to include: How Lawmakers Think; How to write and what to say; When to call or write; Utilizing the Media; Utilizing the Internet; Having Effective Visits with your Lawmaker. Time will also be spent discussing a current topic and how to effect a favorable resolution.
Location: Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park, Indianapolis, IN. Ft. Ben can be accessed by taking the 465 loop around the city; from the north take 465 east/south; from the south take 465 north/east. Take the 56th Street exit east to Post Rd. Turn north on Post Rd. and follow it to the Garrison. The turn into the Garrison is a little north and east of Post Rd. and is clearly marked.
Fee: $15; seating is limited to the first 40 registrants; snacks and lunch will be served
Lodging: Lodging is in the form of 3 houses that can be shared, each house has three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and two sitting rooms (with hide a beds in each). These are 219.00 (45.00 per bedroom/sitting room). There are 7 suites at the Harrison house; 2 for $59.00, 4 for $79.00 and one master suite for $159.00 They are blocked until mid February. They then become available to the public. Call 317-543-9592 and ask for the Hoosier Audubon Council rooms. Additional nearby lodging can be arranged at the Signature Inn at 465 & Allisonville (849-8555) for $72/night and is about a 5 minute drive; or the Holiday Inn is $89/night at (578-2000) and is two exits north of the 56th Street exit. A Sleep Inn (558-4100) is at the same exit off of 465 north for $74 (triple AAA discounts, etc.).
Contact: Jess Gwinn 812/876-8623 or jagmo@bluemarble.net for additional information.
Mail registration information (name, address, phone/email, organization) and fee to:
Alice Bentley, Treasurer
Hoosier Audubon Council
1342 Longfellow Avenue
South Bend, IN 46615-1122
Changes in Membership Options
Sassafras Audubon Society (SAS) is a chapter of National Audubon Society (NAS). A number of our members have been “assigned” to our chapter as the result of joining National Audubon Society. Other members have specifically sought out our local chapter and joined National Audubon because of SAS’s chapter status within NAS. Regardless of how you became affiliated with SAS, all current members are also members of National Audubon. We are very grateful for your support!
The membership policy of NAS has been modified so that everyone can make a decision about their level of membership. In the past, if you joined SAS, you automatically became a NAS member with all of its benefits. SAS receives a portion of all membership dues paid to NAS. All NAS members receive many fliers and opportunities via NAS, as well as Audubon magazine.
The new policy allows for “NAS” and “chapter-only” memberships. NAS members are what all current members are, by default. New members, or renewals*, will have the option of becoming/staying a national member, or becoming/changing to a chapter-only member. In agreement with our continued status as a National Audubon Chapter, names of chapter-only members would be made available to NAS.
The following outlines the differences between the two memberships:
National Audubon Society membership Chapter-only (SAS) membership
NAS member YES NO
SAS member YES YES
Audubon magazine YES NO
Dues $35/year ($20 introductory) $20/year
*RENEWALS: If you are currently a member, you will be contacted by NAS when it is time for your renewal. At that time, you may renew with NAS and will automatically stay a member of SAS. If you would prefer to switch to a chapter-only membership, you will need to send in a new membership request to SAS directly (membership form is in all Leaflets).
If you have any questions regarding this policy change, please do not hesitate to contact us via email (Susan Hengeveld – shengeve@indiana.edu) or through regular mail:
Sassafras Audubon Society
Attn: Membership
PO Box 85
Bloomington, IN 47402
Sycamore Land Trust Hold Third Annual Gardening and Landscaping Show
The Sycamore Land Trust (SLT) has been active in south-central Indiana since 1990, gradually increasing the amount of local greenspace it protects. SLT met its goal to preserve 1000 acres by 2000. Then in 2001, they were able to help preserve an additional 1600 acres through property donations, wills, conservation easements and direct land purchases. At present, this local land trust is the steward of over 2600 acres in Monroe, Morgan, Bartholomew, and Orange counties and may soon be expanding into Lawrence County. Admission fees from the Gardening and Landscaping Show go directly towards supporting this non-profit’s mission of “preserving our disappearing landscape.”
This year marks SLT’s third annual Gardening and Landscaping Show at the Bloomington Convention Center. Local vendors will be on hand to talk about their gardening and landscaping supplies and services. Non-profit gardening and botanical groups will also be there to share information with attendees. There will be free giveaways to the first 300 people through the gate. In addition, door prizes will be announced hourly, but you do not have to be present to win. The show offers children’s activities as well as kids programs provided by Hilltop Garden & Nature Center, Wild Care, Inc., and Wonderlab.
Throughout the day, local garden, ecology and conservation experts will make presentations on a wide variety of pertinent topics. Ross Brittain, from Wild Birds Unlimited, will be among those vendors doing a presentation. Look for listings of speakers on the show’s poster and in special ads during March in the Herald Times, the show’s co-sponsor. The final informational ad on the show’s participants and presentation schedule will be published in the HOMES section on Sunday, March 17.
Admission is $5/person with children 12 and under admitted free. For the first time, SLT is also selling advance tickets to groups of ten or more. You can purchase advance group tickets for $4 /person before March 10 by sending a list of those in your party along with a check or money order to:
Gardening and Landscaping Show
Attention: Group Sales
PO Box 5582
Bloomington, IN 47407-5582
For more information, contact SLT by sending mail to SLT Gardening and Landscaping Show, PO Box 5582, Bloomington, IN 47407, or e-mailing garden_show@hotmail.com or calling (812) 333-4667 or visiting the SLT web site at www.sycamorelandtrust.org.
Gearing Up for the 2002 Birdathon
Why do supposedly sane people crawl out of bed at 3:00 a.m., slog through mud and rain, listen for owls in a howling gale, huddle in a cramped car for 18 hours with other wet and smelly bodies while consuming gallons of coffee and diet coke and munching through tubs of cookies, chips, and squashed sandwiches, and cheer just to find a starling or house sparrow? And swear they want to do it again next year? Must be Birdathon time!
The 2002 Monroe County Birdathon will be held Saturday May 4.Teams of 3-6 birders will take to the field for up to 24 hours to identify as many species as possible while raising pledge money to support their favorite environmental cause. Each team member pays $15 to participate and receives a t-shirt to commemorate the event. Teams must register by April 15 to be eligible for prizes from Wild Birds Unlimited. The final tally and potluck dinner will be Sunday May 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the Woodcrest Apartment Party Room. All members, teams, families, and supporters are welcome to attend. Raffle winners will be drawn at the dinner.
Anyone who would like to be a team leader or who would like to be placed on a team may contact Cathy Meyer at cmeyer@co.monroe.in.us or call 349-2805. SAS will be asking everyone for pledges to support the SAS sponsored teams as they take on the competition. Funds raised will be used to pay for environmental projects such as the Saw Whet Owl Banding Project and Audubon Adventures for classrooms. Join a team, come to the potluck, or support teams with your pledge. It’s fun, it’s competitive, and it’s for a good cause.