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Sue Hagan Receives 'Environmentalist of the Year' Award
At Chapter Annual Dinner Meeting
When President Nina announced that it was time to award the "Environmentalist of the Year"
award at our annual dinner, most eyes in the crowd turned to Sue Hagan.
Because everyone knew that Sue (a) had recruited 25 persons to participate in the annual Birdathon,
(b) had mailed out five monthly "primers" (c) conducted five monthly training sessions and (d) "slam-dunked" all previous
Chapter fund raisers with a $2,363 tally.
If your thoughts turned to Audubon during the spring of 2007, you had to be thinking of Sue
and her constant suggestions to her flock of bird watching trainees.
A very energetic environmental activist for 25 years of membership in East Ozarks Audubon,
Sue had only become interested in birds in 2006, her final year of her second term as president of the Chapter.
Veteran birders in the Chapter were surprised and amused when Sue suddenly began asking questions
about bird identification and especially about bird songs and calls.
With a state job requiring her to drive about much of Southeast Missouri, she began looking
closer at those birds perched on wires and trees along her routes. And she began sacrificing her lunch hours to spend
an extra few minutes in bird habitat.
In addition to her efforts in the 2007 Birdathon, Sue (along with husband Mick who has always
been interested in birds) have led EOAS in spearheading environmental concerns state and nationwide.
One of their efforts is an ongoing battle with Ameren and its responsibilities following the
catastrophic collapse of Taum Sauk Reservoir. And another of their battles is to establish wilderness status for two
Madison County sites as well as five other Missouri areas. 
Chapter to again participate in Audubon Adventures
By Joyce Lewis
It's fall and once again it's time to get organized in our annual participation
in Audubon Adventures. As we told our Birdathon sponsors last spring, we will spend a lot of their donations in continuing
this program.
One reason we choose Audubon Adventures is to help fulfill our mission to promote
the enjoyment and appreciation of birds, to educate adults and children on environmental matters and to create awareness of
conservation issues.
Audubon Adventures is a nationally acclaimed classroom project that helps young
people form positive attitudes about nature. This is the 23rd season of the program.
the title of the newest kit is "Back from the brink--success stories from the Endangered
Species Act."
Last year we had ten classrooms in Farmington, Ste. Genevieve and Pevely.
This year we'd like to expand to some of our other Chapter area schools.
If you'd like to personally sponsor a classroom, the cost is $45 or you can do half
a classroom for $22.50. Call me at 756-5484 if you're interested.
(Editor's note--we received the first full classroom response on October 22nd.)
Letter from Nina
This time of year migrations seem to be the most prominent birding event taking
place. Overhead we hear and see flocks heading to warmer areas for the winter. Hummingbirds have finally stopped dominating the feeders. But for me October is always “owl month.” This is only because Halloween is the holiday dominating
it and owls and Halloween naturally go together. You can hear owls any time of
year and just about any time of day if you are lucky. In our neck of the woods
we have Eastern Screech Owls, Barred Owls and Great Horned Owls. The Barn Owl
has been a visitor in the past but a sighting in our barn has not taken place for many years.
There are other birds that sing at night including the Whip-Poor-Wills, Chuck-Will’s-Widows and American Woodcocks
according to Birds of Missouri. The book also states there are songbirds
that sing at night such as the Northern Mockingbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Henslow’s Sparrow and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
The Eastern Screech Owl is the yellow eyed little owl in our area with prominent
ear tufts. Birds of Missouri goes on to state that it survives on insects,
mice, birds and frogs in rural woodlots, city parks, forests and woodlands. The
next largest common owl is the Barred Owl. It eats rabbits, mice and rats, frogs,
insects, crayfish, snakes and even fish. This is the owl who says, “Who
cooks for you? Who cooks for you-awl?”
Finally, the largest resident owl in our woods is the Great Horned Owl at twenty-two inches. This owl eats many of the same things mentioned above and additionally will eat crows, rabbits and the
occasional Wild Turkey and Barred Owl.
Beginning birders are at least able to perk up their ears and state, “Hey, that is an owl!” without any training. Try
calling an owl some time if you have not done so before. There are several recordings
you can study to learn their calls. Start out with the smaller owls and move
up to the larger ones if you don’t get a response. You may get a curious
bird checking you out. This will surely get you in the mood for the Halloween
season.
Missouri Bird Records Committee Lists “Top 10 Birds
of 2006”
At their annual meeting in September at Lake of the Ozarks State Park the MBRC listed their opinion of the top ten
bird species reported during the year of 2006. Their selections (as usual) will
be debated by state birders until next fall when they release their opinion of the top 10 birds of 2007.
1) GRAY KINGBIRD. One seen 23-24 May 2006 at Salem in Dent County by David Plank and Loretta McClure – First State
Record. (Editor’s note—this sighting was accepted without the usual
requirement of a photograph for a first state record)
2) FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK. Two adults
and two juveniles. 20 June 2006 at MODOT Wetland Mitigation site in Stoddard County.
Rob Meade documented. No evidence of breeding.
3) RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Male and female with two juveniles. (Editor’s note—This normally very common species was almost
completely absent in 2006) 7-13 June 2006 Jackson County (second record of nesting.
4) BAIRD’S SANDPIPER. One
seen 14 December, Big Lake State Park, Holt County documented by Brad Jacobs. Second
winter record for Missouri.
5) INCA DOVE. One seen 6 February
to 2 March 2006 Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Charley Burwick documented.
6) SWALLOW-TAILED KITE. One probable juvenile 10 August to 28 August 2006 at Busch Conservation Area—St. Charles County. Many observers including Reeves, Dilks and Lewis.
7) BLACKPOLL. One seen 23 October
2006 Forest Park, St. Louis. Found by Sherry McCowan. Only the second fall record for Missouri.
8) LONG-EARED OWL. Nesting record 1 March to 13 May 2006 Livingston County by Steve Kinder. Two nests with 10 or more birds. Also seen by Brad Jacobs, Andy Forbes and Larry Lade.
9) AUDUBON’S YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER. One seen 25 November 2006 Randolph County by Joe Eades. Apparently the 7th state record for this western species.
10) TOWNSEND’S SOLITAIRE. One seen 14 March at Binder Lake, Cole County. Documented
by John Howland. Accidental except in northwestern Missouri.
Dog Walking, Good for You,
Good for your Dog, Not so Good If
you like to Look at Birds
Australian researchers have found that walking leashed dogs along woodland paths leads to a significant reduction in the number
and diversity of birds in the area, at least over the short term.
Scientists from the University of South Wales surveyed birds along woodland
trails near Sydney shortly after dogs were walked on them or after people walked alone.
All kinds of dogs were involved, big and small, purebred and mutt. As a control, they also surveyed birds on trails
that no one, human or canine, had recently walked on.
Dr. Peter
Banks said the study was an outgrowth of his interest in predator-prey interactions.
“Here you have a predator that is being walked through the brush quite regularly,” he said.
The researchers chose trails in places where dogs
were banned and in other areas where dog walking was common, expecting different results in each. “We thought that where there was regular dog walking that birds would get used to it,” Dr.
Banks said. “Well, they didn’t.”
Regardless of the type of area, dog walking led to a 35 percent reduction in
the number of bird species and a 41 percent reduction in overall bird numbers, compared with the control. (People walking alone caused some disturbance but less than half that caused by people with dogs.)
The study, published in Biology Letters, provides support for park managers
and others on the same side of what can be a heated debate over dogs in natural areas.
“The problem is there are other uses for an area besides dog walking,”
said Dr. Banks. “If dogs walk throughout an area, you’re just not
going to get the same bird-watching experience.”
Join the Fun of Feeder Watching
By Joining Cornell FeederWatch
Lots of
folks like to watch the returning winter birds at their feeders. You can make your feeder watching count for something if
you join the Cornell University Project FeederWatch (PFW).
This is a winter-long survey of birds that visit our feeders at backyards, nature
centers or any nearby locale.
For two days each week you count the highest number of a bird species you see
at one time at your feeder—from November through early April. You can count
from as little as a half hour to all day long on each count day. Then you report your numbers to Cornell, either by mail or
by the Cornell website.
There is a $15 fee for annual participation. The fee covers materials, staff support, data analysis and a year-end report. You will receive a Research
Kit containing instructions, a bird identification poster, a wall calendar, data forms and everything you need to start counting
birds in November.
You can access the website at any time and see what’s going on at other
feeder watcher locations across the nation.
The top 25 most commonly reported species in ’06-07 in our region were:
1.
Downy Woodpecker
2.
“Chickadee” (both Black-capped
and Carolina)
3.
Dark-eyed Junco
4.
Blue Jay
5.
American Goldfinch
6.
White-breasted Nuthatch
7.
House Finch
8.
Northern Cardinal
9.
Hairy Woodpecker
10.
House Sparrow
11.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
12.
American Robin
13.
Mourning Dove
14.
European Starling
15.
American Crow
16.
Northern Flicker
17.
Common Grackle
18.
Purple Finch
19.
Red-winged Blackbird
20.
Tufted Titmouse
21.
White-throated Sparrow
22.
American Tree Sparrow
23.
Carolina Wren
24.
Pileated Woodpecker
25.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Join
by writing
Cornell
Lab of Ornithology
139
Sapsucker Woods
Ithaca,
NY 14850-1999
Or by accessing
birds.cornell.edu/pfw
If you have
questions, feel free to call Bob Lewis at 573 756-5484.
CONSERVATION
MATTERS!
Sue Hagan, Mick
Sutton
It’s not all gloom and doom—the
journal Science recently reported that black-footed ferrets are making a comeback in Wyoming, that in 15 European countries
there has been a significant increase in population trends for several species of birds (barnacle goose, white stork, spoonbill,
little egret, Slavonian grebe and white-tailed eagle), and that conservation efforts in Peru are reducing damage to the Amazon.
And victory here in Missouri—Conservations
were delighted that a federal judge has ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to halt work on a Mississippi River anti-flooding
project in southeast Missouri and undo nearly $7 million worth of construction that began last fall. Regrettably, politicians—our
own Congresswoman JoAnn Emerson leading the way—are trying to get the Corps to challenge the decision. Holding back
the river would primarily benefit a few very wealthy farmers whose cropland would remain dry. It would also protect the town
of Pinhook, population 50. But it would destroy thousands of acres of wetlands, critical habitats for endangered plant and
animal species. A town can be moved, but where will the wildlife go?
Spotted owl plan a hoot: Bush Administration
plans for saving the northern spotted owl failed a required review by the Society for Conservation Biology and the American
Ornithologists’ Union. The plan blamed invasion of barred owls as a greater threat to the spotted owl than habitat loss,
which fit in nicely with Administration proposals to bring back clearcut logging in old-growth forests. Meanwhile, the northern
spotted owl numbers continue to decline.
Lead Belt Superfund sites nominated: The
Environmental Protection Agency has proposed three sites in Missouri's Old Lead
Belt for inclusion on the national Superfund cleanup list., at Old Mines, Potosi and Richwoods. In just the Old Mines site, more than 150 residential properties and 138 private residential wells are contaminated
with unsafe levels of lead. Residents are already receiving bottled water. The other sites are similarly contaminated. Meanwhile, a conspiracy-minded anti-environmentalist from the Fredericktown area is
encouraging opposition to a citizen group formed to deal with the lead dangers: he fears a government takeover. Personally,
we think there is more to be feared from eating, drinking and breathing lead….
ORVing unsafe at St. Joe? Federal
authorities have asked the Department of Natural Resources to ensure that Off Road Vehicle drivers are protected from lead
contamination when driving in the former mining wastes. DNR chief Doyle Childers quickly responded by announcing there are
no plans to close the park. ATV drivers are not an endangered species, we note, and there’s much to be said for keeping
them contained in just a few places. But we do wonder about the ethics of subjecting children to ‘fun rides’ over
old tailings ponds: can they be trained to keep their lead-coated fingers from their mouths and to not breathe the dust?
Lead kills endangered condor: There are
only 300 California condors in the world, so when one of them dies of lead poisoning, that’s significant. The condor
had ten times the safe amount of lead in its bloodstream when it was found sick and dying. It may have ingested soil contaminated
with lead bullet fragments; the California Fish and Game Commission is considering a ban on lead ammunition in condor habitat.
Propoganda from Ameren: Called “A
New Beginning: Johnson’s Shut-ins State Park”, KSDK-TV presented a prime-time story about the Taum Sauk reservoir
collapse and the efforts being made to mitigate the damage. A commercial in disguise for Ameren, the program was hosted by
Karen Foss whose credentials include 27 years as a former newscaster—but who now is an Ameren employee.
Plastic kills: Many cities have banned the
use of plastic bags, and some are tackling the problem of bottled water (it’s really not fresh from the spring, you
know). Plastic manufacturing uses about 2 million barrels a day of petroleum and huge amounts of toxic chemicals are involved
in its production. More chemicals are released to the ground as the plastic ever so slowly degrades. Scientists estimate that
100,000 marine mammals and a million sea birds die every year from ingesting plastics swirling in the ocean. Every bit of
plastic you refuse to buy helps the world.
Christmas Bird Count Dec. 15th
Compiler Bill Eddleman
has set December 15th
as
the date for our Christmas Bird Count at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.
As in the past, participants will meet at 6 a.m. at Mel’s Diner in Puxico.
In a letter to board and committee members this month, President Nina pointed
out that the Audubon Christmas Bird Count is the oldest and largest citizen science event in the world.
“Beginning in 1900 people have gathered during the winter holiday season
to count birds. For many people, this is an annual tradition that has passed
from one generation to the next. In the process they have created a vast pool
of bird data that is the most comprehensive available for mid-December to early January.
“Prior to the turn of the Twentieth Century, people engaged in a holiday
tradition known as the Christmas “side hunt” where they chose up sides and went into the field with their guns. Whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered and furred quarry won.
“Beginning on Christmas Day, 1900, Frank Chapman, an early officer in
the budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a “Christmas
Bird Census” that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them.”
Ornithologists feel that most birds have reached their winter roosting areas
by the Christmas season and so that is the best time to find out where and how many birds we have.
East Ozarks birders have attended the Mingo CBC and often provided leadership
in every year since 1980. That count often leads the state in the number of species
counted. For information about the count you may contact Bob Lewis at 756-5484.
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Bird Identification Posters Now Sealed
In Clear Plexiglass At Sanctuary
While disposing
of empty sunflower seed bags at the dumpster in Engler City Park, Ted Blaine and Bob Lewis noticed a discarded folding sign
that had been used in a downtown business.
Ted immediately realized the potential use of the plexiglass covers that had
protected each side of the folding sign. They were the same dimensions as the
new bird identification posters we had just received from Missouri Conservation Department after vandals had destroyed signs
placed in the bird blind by Emily Vasquez.
After the new posters were laminated, Ted manufactured wood frames with the
plexiglass covering the posters.
“We know this won’t positively protect these posters from vandalism
but at least they should be safe for a while and they really look great,” Bob said.
Chapter Membership Bulges
Following Birdathon Enrollments
Birdathon
participants enrolled 31 new members during the spring event although 15 of those are in distant cities and will not be on
our local newsletter mailing list.
At present we are mailing 169 newsletters locally and 22 newsletters to out-of-area
recipients.
Of the local mailings, 141 are members of National Audubon Society and automatically
qualify as members of East Ozarks chapter.
Sixteen of those on our mailing list are listed as “local only”
chapter members who pay the $10.00 annual membership fee without joining National Audubon.
We mail the 22 out-of-area newsletters to official National Audubon officers,
Audubon Society of Missouri officers and others we list as “bigshotz.”
And there are 12 newsletters mailed to local newspaper and radio media as well
as political office holders.
We constantly need to remind our members that if they recruit a new member to
please let our Membership Committee handle the subscription since National Audubon will return the $20 first year fee to the
chapter.
Contact Bob Lewis (756-5484) for more information on these transactions.
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Journal Readers Urged to Buy CFLs
A recent pamphlet
within the St. Francois County Daily Journal told readers they should “Go Green at home, work and play” to save
energy, money and the Earth.
One item in the pamphlet showcased the compact fluorescent light bulb that has
recently become popular.
The incandescent bulb invented by Thomas Edison emits 95 percent heat and only
5 percent light.
The new compact fluorescent bulb is more expensive but uses only one fourth
of the energy to generate the same brightness as the incandescent bulb.
And these new bulbs (called CFLs) last up to 15 times as long. Because lighting accounts for a fifth of the typical household electric bill, switching to these more efficient
CFLs should save energy and money.
There are a number of caution notices on the bulb package including not to be
used near maritime safety equipment.
One notice says, “Lamp may shatter and cause injury if broken. Remove and install by grasping only plastic portion of the lamp.”
WILD AS IT OUGHT
TO BE
(The editor asked Mick and Sue to give us some background on the Missouri Wilderness Coalition
and its project)
East Ozarks Audubon Society’s had a long-standing concern for Lower Rock Creek, and now we’ve signed on
with other conservation groups around the state to seek permanent protection for it and six other very special areas in the
Mark Twain National Forest. The seven areas recommended for Wilderness Area designation represents some of the most beautiful
and pristine areas in Missouri:
Lower Rock Creek in Iron and Madison Counties: 13,800
acres, this is a magnificent area where the stream meanders through the rose-colored granite cliffs of the St. Francois Mountain.
Big Spring in Carter County: 7,600 acres, the proposed
wilderness section offers white oak and pine forest panorama from the Skyline Drive, but more intimate encounters can be found
hiking the Ozark Trail that traverses the area.
North Fork in Ozark, Douglas, and Howell Counties:
72,000 acres, the North Fork River flows along scenic limestone bluffs and through bottomland forest. The Ridge Runner Trail
traverses this area.
Spring Creek in Douglas and Howell Counties: 6,400
acres, the area is a maze of spring-fed streams with dolomite bluffs up to 200 feet high.
Smith Creek in Boone and Calloway Counties: 2,500
acres, the rolling uplands of central Missouri offer a beautiful valley lined with bluffs that have pinnacles, buttresses,
arches, and small waterfalls.
Swan Creek in Christian County: 9,200 acres characterized
by a clear creek, rugged ridges, steep valleys in mature oak forest, and glade openings.
Van East Mountain in Iron and Madison Counties:
2,500 acres of riparian habitat where native rose azaleas and Ozark witch hazel bloom in the spring.
Every one of these areas deserves to be kept permanently in their unspoiled condition. Wilderness designation will
protect traditional uses such as hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, primitive camping, and trapping, but it would
prohibit logging, road building and vehicular traffic.
Our voice is being amplified by groups such as the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Coalition for
the Environment, and the Missouri Wilderness Coalition. But success can only be achieved if the Missouri Congressional delegation
are united in their support. You can help by writing Senator Bond, Senator Carnahan and Representative Emerson. Let them know
that you support the wilderness movement in Missouri for these seven areas, and especially for Lower Rock Creek.
CHURCH FOR THE
PEOPLE
We
are hearing rumors that DNR Director Doyle Childers is backing away from previous commitments made to secure Church Mountain
for the state park system as part of the impending settlement with Ameren UE stemming from the catastrophic collapse of the
pumped storage plant. Johnson Shut Ins is no longer buried under the tons of sediment and debris, but it will never be as
it was before Ameren’s colossal spill. Ameren executives apparently continue to eye nearby Church Mountain for a second
plant. What a travesty it will be if Ameren is allowed to get away with yet another environmental plunder. Please write Doyle
Childers (P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102), Attorney General Jay Nixon
(Supreme Court Building, 207 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101) and Governor Matt Blunt (State Capitol, 201
West Capitol Avenue, Jefferson
City, MO 65101)
Crouch
Sanctuary Gets Spruced Up
In Chapter Autumn Work Day
By Gary Chastain
An enthusiastic crew made short work of spreading two huge heaps of mulch throughout the Crouch Nature Sanctuary on
September 22nd.
Armed with wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels, teams spread mulch over most of
the paths to help with maintenance and erosion control.
Fallen trees were cut and dragged out of the path and some of the overhanging
limbs were cleared as well.
The bird blind feeding area was raked clear of the winter layer of seed hulls.
Tree identification signs were relocated for a few species that needed new examples.
As the crews worked, local people walking through the Sanctuary commented how
much the upkeep is appreciated.
Another workday at the Sanctuary has been called for 9:00 a.m. on October 27th. Bring your gloves and shovels and wheelbarrow if you have one. If
you need directions to the Sanctuary, call the Chastains at 637-2499 or Bob Lewis at 756-5484.
Annual Planning Meeting Oct. 18th
President Nina has called the annual planning meeting for 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, October 18th
at the Bob and Joyce Lewis residence at 26 Tanglewood in Farmington. She says
the meeting should last until about 7:30.
Nina sent out letters to board and committee members but she stresses that any member is eligible
to attend this meeting at which activities for the coming year will be discussed and set in motion.
She says board members should make a commitment to either lead or help on a committee, event or workshop. She asks that each of them do at least one of these activities.
Those attending are asked to bring their personal calendar for the year so that definite dates may
be set. A Chapter community calendar flyer will be produced for the year and
will be posted in public spots as well as in newspapers and on radio.
She will also ask for suggestions for field trips or other Chapter activities.
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Sanctuary
Work Day Set for October 27th
Sanctuary Chairman Gary Chastain has called for a Chapter-wide work day for 9 a.m. October 27th
at the Crouch Nature Sanctuary at Engler City Park in Farmington.
Members are asked to bring work gloves, shovels and wheelbarrows if they have them. The project will be to spread mulch on the trails and in the bird viewing area. `````````````````````````````
Pickle Springs
Hike and Picnic Oct 20th
Smell that woodsmoke spreading around the Pickle Springs area?
That’s Charlie Sitzes getting his fire ring and iron kettles ready.
All members are invited to attend this fall classic hike and picnic.
Hiking begins at 3:00 p.m. under the guidance of Jim Lyon. Completion
of the two-mile hike should be about right for Charlie’s roast beef and all the fixin’s that members bring.
But wait! You don’t have to do the hike if you’d
rather just enjoy the food and fellowship. Bring a salad, vegetable or dessert
and bring your lawn chair to sit on. The picnic begins about 5:00 p.m. while
it’s still light enough to see your plate.
Afterward we can all just back up to the edge of the fire ring and listen to Tom Schneider’s
great stories.
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Land Down Under-November Theme
Denise Dowling, naturalist at Trail of Tears State Park, will present the November
Chapter program on November 15th. Refreshment time is 6:30 and the
meeting starts at 7:00 at the Farmington Methodist Church.
Meeting Times
Third Thursday of odd months
At United Methodist Church
425 North Street, Farmington
Board Meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Refreshments at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting begins at 7:00 p.m
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