Just A Chirp

Grosse Pointe Audubon Winter 2014

Grosse Pointe Audubon? Its a date!

From the President: First, I need to remind you to check the dates for our meetings. As you know, we usually meet the third Monday of the month. In January and February we will meet the fourth Monday to avoid conict with the MLK Day and Presidents Day holidays respectively. Our March meeting will be held on the third Monday, but our April meeting will be held on the second Monday "the 14th# to avoid conict with Easter "the 20th#. As you know, Grosse Pointes public schools are closed Easter week, and several families will be gone for break. We want to ensure that our Annual Meeting will be held at a time that will allow people to attend. Merlin !! the app The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has released a new bird identication smartphone app that is pretty astounding. Answer just ve questions and the app quickly provides you with a list of possible identications. The app is intended to help beginning and intermediate birders identify nearly 300 species of common North American birds, so its not likely to help you on that trip to Attu Island. There are two problems with Merlin, however. It is only available for iOS7 for the iPhone and is not yet available for Android devices. One of those problems will be rectied this spring when the Android version is released. Sigh. That means I will need to buy a new iPhone... News from the mothership Michigan Audubon is o$ering two birding trips to the Upper Peninsula this winter led by Skye Haas. Haas is one of the best birders and funnest guys you will ever meet.
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Winter Schedule
Cut out this schedule and put it on your refrigerator to help you remember these important dates. Jan. 27 -- Madagascar The Eighth Continent. Madagascars ora and fauna are so different from anywhere else on Earth that it is often referred to as the eighth continent. Join Rosann Kovalcik as she takes us on her photographic journey across this strange and wonderful island. Feb. 24 -- The Michigan Natural Features InventoryBiodiversity Information for Decision Makers. Brian Klatt, director of the MNFI, will be here to tell us how the organizations mission of biodiversity monitoring,!conservation research and educational!outreach helps decision makers conserve Michigan's natural heritage. March 17 -- Restoring the Rouge River Watershed. Sally Peralta presents a brief history of the Rouge River, its past and current challenges and restoration efforts, and will tell us how Friends of the Rouge is working to promote restoration and stewardship and how people can get involved. ! PAGE 1

From The President, from Page 1 The area around Sault Ste. Marie provides some great opportunities to see species that normally don't visit the Lower Peninsula. Sharp% tailed Grouse, Pine Grosbeak and Bohemian Waxwings are all possible. The trip is o$ered Jan. 18 % 19 and again Feb. 15 % 16. These tours are rated easy as foot travel is limited to roadways and durations of less than 45 minutes. The majority of the tour is spent in vehicles, traveling from one location to another. Haas will also lead a Michigan Audubon trip to the Sax%Zim Bog in northern Minnesota. This 3%day trip will be based in Duluth and will target Great Gray Owl, Boreal Chickadee, Boreal Owl and other species of the Boreal Forest. This trip is scheduled for Jan. 31 % Feb. 2. Registration for all trips is available on the Michigan Audubon website, michiganaudubon.org. Help us create a birding trail! Birding trails are sprouting up all over Michigan. Modeled after successful birding trails in Texas and Florida that have enhanced tourism in those two states, organizations in Michigan are starting to create regional trails here. The new M%22 Birding Trail in northwestern lower Michigan and the Saginaw Bay Birding Trail are just two examples. I would love to see Grosse Pointe Audubon partner with Macomb Audubon and Blue Water Audubon to create a Belle Isle to Blue Water Birding trail that parallels the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River. Members of those other two organizations are very interested in participating, and Michigan Audubon has promised organizational help. The rst step would be to identify potential birding sites in the area, such as the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. The second step would be to list the species and seasons that are best for viewing at each site. Third would be to identify potential sponsors for the site%%restaurants, inns, nature related businesses%%that would !

potentially benet from the trail and ask for nancial support. The last step would be to develop a website and maps. Its pretty daunting, but also very exciting. If you are interested in helping, please email me at BRapai@aol.com or give me a phone call. 501"c#3 update If Grosse Pointe Audubon does decide to incorporate as a non%prot this spring, we will need a board of directors to lead our new structure. If you are interested in serving on this board, please contact me. MiBCI set for March The eighth annual Michigan Bird Conservation Initiative workshop is scheduled for March 20%22 at the Kettunen Center in Tustin. The theme for this years workshop is "Michigan Birds in a Changing Climate. More information is at MiBCI.org. Ideas for speakers? I will start booking speakers for our autumn and winter meetings soon. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please see me at a meeting or drop me a line. Believe me, your ideas are welcome. Bird Walks at the Ford House Join Rosann Kovalcik for walks on Feb. 8 and March 22. There is a &7 fee. Call "313# 884%4222 to register. Your trash, our cash Our recycler takes Epson, HP, Lexmark and Canon print cartridges. Please bring your old ink and laser toner cartridges and cell phones to our meetings and deposit them in the box by the front door. Your waste will be recycled for cash that will help keep Grosse Pointe Audubon in the black. Pay your dues! "Sung to the tune of the William Tell Overture# Pay your dues. Pay your dues. Pay your due, due, dues... PAGE 2

Seven Ponds Nature Center

Call (810) 796-3200 for more information or to register for programs. WinterFest Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Join us for our annual winter fun day. Included is a bonre on the ice, ice cutting, mammal tracking, snowshoe walks, cross country skiing, and ice skating. The popular Pinecrest Percherons will be here from noon - 3 p.m. to whisk folks through the prairie on an old fashioned sleigh ride. Inside will be childrens crafts; bring a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or pillowcase to decorate with animal tracks. Includes a campre lunch of a hot dog, chips, and hot chocolate. Bring your skates and cross country skis or try out the centers snowshoes. In case of snow and/or ice shortage, alternate activities will be planned. Please sign in and get stamped upon arrival. Fee: $3 per non-member and free for members. Sleigh rides will be an additional $2 fee per person. Snowshoe Walk Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m. Lets meander through the fresh fallen snow in search of natures mysteries. Bring your own snowshoes or borrow a pair from us. Winter Bird Walk Wednesday, Jan. 22, 8 a.m. By this date the lakes are usually frozen and winter is well established at the nature center. It is an excellent day to look for wintering nches and other winter residents. We will start our morning watching the feeders over hot beverages, and then walk some of the trails in search of such species as eastern bluebird, American robin, winter wren, hermit thrush, and golden-crowned kinglet. Bring binoculars and eld guide, and dress for the weather. Fee: $3 per person (free for members). Snowshoe Making Workshop Saturdays, Feb. 1, 8, & 15, 9 a.m. noon In this three-session workshop, participants will each make a pair of Huron style snowshoes for hiking through deep snow or hanging over the replace. Participants will receive the snowshoes in kit form and will be guided through the process of lacing the sections, nishing the snowshoes, and attaching bindings. Along the way, well learn about the different types of snowshoes and their long history in North America. Fee includes snowshoe frames, lacing, bindings, nishing materials, and all instructions. The workshop is limited to 12 participants. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $185 ($175.00 member). A Night under the Owl Moon Friday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. Tonight we will read the childrens book Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, and talk about the owls of Seven Ponds. Then, following the plot of the book, we will go out on the trails of the nature center under the full moon in hopes of hearing and seeing an owl. Appropriate for age 6 and up. Pre-registration is required. Bring a ashlight and dress for a winter night. Fee: $8 adult ($5 member) and $5 children ($4 member). Winter Bird Walk Wednesday, Feb. 26, 8 a.m. By this date, days are getting longer and yeararound resident birds such as chickadees, titmice, and cardinals are singing on sunny days. There may also be enough open water for ducks and possibly the rst wave of blackbirds. Today we will begin our watching inside, enjoying hot beverages while we watch for winter nches and other feeder birds. We will then take a late winter walk in search of a variety of species. Bring binoculars and eld guide, and dress for the weather. Fee: $3 (free for members).

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JUST A CHIRP!

FALL 2013

About Grosse Pointe Audubon

Bill Rapai, president, (313) 885-6502 or BRapai@aol.com Sylvia Sanders, vice president, (313) 886-0869 Mark OKeefe, treasurer, (313) 884-7472 or Birds891357@aol.com Joanna Pease, representative to Seven Ponds Nature Center, strixvaria@sbcglobal.net http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grosse-Pointe-Audubon/145490528869148 www.gpaudubon.blogspot.com Grosse Pointe Audubon meets in the Annex of the Pointe Unitarian Church at 17150 Maumee, between St. Clair and Neff in Grosse Pointe. Social hour starts at 7 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30. Our meetings are free and open to all, so bring a friend!

Grosse Pointe Audubon 443 St. Clair Grosse Pointe, MI 48230