The Leaflet, November - December 2004

It’s hard to believe my first year as SAS President is history. It has been a wonderful experience working with the dedicated people on the Board and many volunteers and members. I would like to thank our Board members who have completed their terms and are ready to retire: Bob Kissel, Past President, and Fred Churchill, who ably handled our publicity. At the Annual Meeting, just before the wonderful September fungus program presented by Dr. Michael Tansey, new nominees for the Board were introduced and approved. They are Kris D’Atri, who started working with us last spring, and John Lawrence. Kris has experience with The Nature Conservancy national office membership services. You may have crossed paths with John while out birding. He will be taking on some of the publicity duties, as he has ties to the local newspaper, the Herald-Times. We are glad to have them both. There is still room for an additional Board member. If you know someone who would be a good addition, or if you would consider joining us, contact me. We meet once a month for about two hours and conduct some business by e-mail. We urgently need a Vice President who can begin learning the ropes in preparation for becoming the next President. It’s a fun and enthusiastic group!

I would also like to thank Ang Jordan for her many years of reliable service to SAS as our web master and newsletter editor. Ang will be taking some time off for her family and is training two people to take over her duties. Bob Dodd will be editor of The Leaflet and Terri Greene will become our web master. They are both excited about taking on these challenges and we are fortunate to have them.

SAS had a busy and productive year. We offered monthly educational programs, numerous outings, spring and fall feeder cleanings, Christmas Bird Counts at Lake Monroe and McCormick’s Creek, a butterfly count, banded Saw-whet Owls at two stations, assisted with the Lake Monroe Eagle Watch Weekend, attended Blomington Economnic Develpoment Corporation meetings, and had a booth at the Sycamore Land Trust Gardening and Landscaping Show. Very special projects included hosting a founders’ dinner to gather information about our history and the donation of $3000 to help purchase Goose Pond. Jess Gwinn, our Conservation Chair, has worked tirelessly to keep up with environmental issues in the state and beyond; he writes letters, attends rallies and hearings, and does a lot or research behind the scenes. We can claim a small part of the credit for the preservation of the IPALCO property which was auctioned off this year and will now be part of the state forest system. We are also closely following the proposed plans for the development at Shawnee Bluffs.

It may not sound too exciting to the general membership, but one of our greatest accomplishments was to create a strategic plan to outline priorities for SAS. We have an action plan for the coming year. Reviewing our history, mission, and assets was useful for the current Board and will help those who come later. Member surveys and many discussions helped us narrow our focus to the following objectives: establish an endowment fund with the Bloomington Community Foundation to ensure a sound financial future for SAS; update membership promotional materials to recruit new Chapter members and retain those we have; improve our tracking of Chapter memberships and send timely renewal notices; enhance the partnerships we have with other local organizations to educate the public about the environment; represent SAS at more local events to raise awareness of the organization and the environment; establish a strong activism committee to assist with environmental issues; and develop a system to cultivate volunteers for other projects and increase member involvement. You’ll be hearing more about these plans as they develop. I would like to congratulate the past and present Board members who worked long and hard to create this plan. We’re eager to get started and make SAS an even better organization.

Sassafras Audubon’s annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is scheduled for Saturday, December 18, 2004. This will be the 29th consecutive year for this prestigious CBC. As always, the success of the bird count depends on the number of eyes, ears, minds and bodies in the field on that day. The more observers we have, the more completely we can cover our designated count circle and the more thoroughly we cover each team’s territory within the circle. We need all of you! Give me a ring or an e-mail and sign up now (812-339-1782; whitehea@indiana.edu).

As most of you know, the Christmas Bird Count is part of long-term monitoring program established by National Audubon to provide basic data on the status (and trends) of wintering populations of birds in North America and elsewhere. The program has been in existence for over a century and now involves over 1800 counts. In 2002 55,994 observers participated in 1981 CBC’s and tallied 73,137,928 birds! 38 Counts were run in Indiana involving 669 participants tallying 435,174 birds..

The count is carried out in a designated circle with a radius of 7.5 miles. The objective on count day is to cover all of the area (and habitats) within the circle as thoroughly as possible and to record both species and the number of individuals of each species. Our circle is centered on the intersection of Route 446 and Tower Ridge Road south of Lake Monroe. As a result, the circle includes all of the lake and its associated wetlands and refuges, a large area of Hoosier National Forest, and much agricultural land south of the lake. In short, our circle has wonderful habitat diversity and thus has the potential for recording a very large number of species.

Over the years we have built this count into one of the best in the state—almost every year the Lake Monroe tallies the highest species count of any Indiana CBC. In fact, we have surpassed 100 species a number of times in recent years—the only Indiana CBC to do so. Over the 25 years of the count we have recorded 141 species! Last year we tallied 100 species and, once again, had the highest species count of any Indiana CBC.

The Christmas Bird Count is great fun—a time to spend an entire day in the field in interesting habitats trying to determine what is around—and trying to see how many interesting and unusual birds can be found. We usually have between 45-70 observers in the field every year working in 10-14 different teams. There is always a sense of friendly competition between teams—trying to see who will record the greatest number of species and the most unusual bird. This competition then extends to a larger arena—with our count trying to outdo the other counts in the state.

Most teams have two meeting times—one before first light for those wishing to work on owls, and one at sunrise for those more interested in day birds. Individuals can work all day or a portion of the day, depending on preferences and time available.

The important thing is that we have the best counts when we have the greatest number of teams and observers in the field. The count is for beginners as well as more advanced birders. In short, we need everyone we can get—more people beating the bush or watching the sky or the lake generate more birds. Anyone interested should call or e-mail me to be assigned to a team or to obtain more information (relevant numbers above).

The CBC always ends with a wonderful pot-luck dinner. For many years it has been hosted by Henry Wahl in the party room of Woodcrest Court, but the room has been reserved by someone else, so this year it will be hosted by Betsy and Don Whitehead at 2415 North Headley Road. The Potluck begins at about 5:30 and the food is always great. The evening concludes with the final tally for the count is lots of fun. Bragging rights for the year are established there.

Hope to see you all for our 29th Christmas Bird Count.

Find a Christmas Bird Count in our area that fits into your holiday schedule and participate in an Audubon tradition!

The fall feeder cleaning held September 25 was a big success. SAS volunteers cleaned 119 feeders for 43 people. The $500 raised will help support SAS’ conservation and educational programs. Many thanks to Bloomington Hardware for providing the space and to Chris Freeman, owner of Indiana Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, for lending the van and high power sprayer for the cleaning. Our next feeder cleaning will be held in the spring.

Sassafras Audubon’s fall bird outings series has been a success with great participation including a host of regulars as well as some new faces. We’ve gotten a good sense of this autumn’s migration. In September we noted that the usual early passerine migration was a bit late in getting going in our area. Migrating warblers were a bit scarce on our first few outings, but some good shorebirds in the North Fork area made up for it. On September 11 the group got great looks at Lesser Yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers, as well as a rare look at a the usually secretive Sora. On several of the September outings we found groups of migrating Broad-winged Hawks and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks seemed plentiful this fall as we heard their squeaking calls everywhere. Swainson’s Thrushes were often found feeding on Virginia Creeper berries. On October 2, leader Ken Burton treated us to some great views of Black-throated Green, Tennessee and Blackburnian Warblers and on October 9, Cathy Meyer helped the group work on fall sparrows including Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned. Thanks to all of the leaders and participants, and look for more great birding this winter with Sassafras Audubon.

Instead of raging against the machine this month I would like to tell you about a new program SAS is starting. We are calling it our “Adopt an Owl” program. In 2002 SAS began the first Northern Saw Whet Owl monitoring project in Indiana at a site in Yellowwood State Forest. A second station was started last year on private property in northeast Greene County. These stations use mist nets to capture the owls, which are subsequently banded, measured and released. These stations are part of a larger, continent-wide effort called “Project Owl Net.” These stations primarily operate during the fall migration with a few even working the spring migration. Many questions remain to be answered about these secretive, migratory owls and SAS hopes to fill in some of those knowledge gaps here in Indiana.

Equipping and operating these sites takes many hours of volunteer labor in addition to capital expenditures for supplies, tools, etc. Volunteer hours we have been able to supply. The capital expenses are where the “Adopt an Owl” program fits. For the bargain price of $30 an adoptive parent receives a certificate of appreciation with information on the individual owl captured, a letter explaining the importance of the project, and a photograph of your adorable adopted owl. If the owl is ever recaptured we will send an update on the status and circumstances of the event. In addition to the above-mentioned items, you will also savor the knowledge that you are helping to support a long-term research project answering questions about the smallest owl that inhabits Indiana.

In order to participate, look for the enrollment form in this issue of the Leaflet, fill it out and send it with your check for $30 per owl to SAS. Your financial support will help SAS to continue working to protect and better understand our environment.

Wanted: Digital Camera

Do you have an old digital camera laying around collecting dust now that you have upgraded to that 5 megapixel deluxe model? If so, why not donate that dinosaur to the Sassafras Audubon Society for use at the Yellowwood State Forest owl banding station. SAS started banding Northern Saw Whet Owls in Yellowwood SF in 2002 and wants to create a digital database of photographs of all of the owls that are captured. That’s where your old camera comes in. It doesn’t need to be a top of the line unit; it just has to work. If you have such a camera you could part with, contact Ross Brittain at rabritta@indiana.edu or 334-1653. Remember, SAS is a non-profit organization so your contribution is tax deductible.