Big Bluestem Flyer
Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Volume 41, Number 5
Programs
May 18, 2006
Osprey
Joe Boyles
Get ready for a great presentation on Osprey
reintroduction activities in Iowa. Joe has “been there
and done that” regarding Ospreys and has great slides
and stories to share with us.
Dinner 5:45 La Fuente Restaurant on Duff
Program meetings are held monthly, September-
May on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30
pm, in the Extension 4-H Building, Iowa State
University, Ames, Iowa.
If you would like to meet and dine with the speaker
and the BBAS Board before the monthly meeting,
please contact Lynne Brookes to confirm space and
location at 515-434-2028 or rppsolar@yahoo.com
In This Issue
Page 2 Officers and Committees
Mortensen Mounds
Page 3 BBAS Leadership Nominations
Field Trip Report
Teacher “Treasures”
May/June 2006
Field Trips
May 6 2006 Bird-a-thon.
June 3, 2006 Annual Birder’s Brunch at
Ledges State Park (Boone Co.).
Meet at the parking lot in the upper park near the
campground entrance at 8:00 a.m.
Unless otherwise indicated, field trips leave
promptly at 8:00 a.m. from the public parking lot
west of (behind) the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited,
located south of the railroad tracks at 213 Duff Ave.
Trip destinations are subject to change based on
recent bird sightings and the desires of the
participants. Contact Jeff Nichols (515-795-4176,
(ozarksbirder@hotmail.com) for more information.
Page 4 Winter Feeders and Feeder Strategies
Page 5 New Members
Coupons
Page 6 A Longing for Wilderness or Wildness
 Mortensen Mounds
The Mortensen Mounds development and maintenance project of Big Bluestem is “on hold” while I recover my
health. After requesting several times for help in the work and receiving no reply, this project may have to wait
until fall.
Jeanne Edwards

Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Officers and Committees
Officers
President: Linda Thomas 292-7534 wbuames@msn.com
Vice-President: Lynne Brookes 434-2028 rppsolar@yahoo.com
Secretary: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995
Bruce.Ehresman@dnr.state.ia.us
Treasurer: Ed Carbrey 292-2404
Board Members
Shane Patterson 232-4682 shane7896@yahoo.com
Jeff: Nichols 795-4176 ozarksbirder@hotmail.com
Royce Bitzer 233-6741 mariposa@iastate.edu
Wolfgang Oesterreich 232-3285 wolf@iastate.edu
Tim Grotheer 233-9873 tgrotheer@prestonengineering.com
The mission of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society is to
enjoy the observation and study of birds and natural
ecosystems, contribute to their conservation and
restoration, engage in educational activities to benefit
humanity, and gain a broader understanding and deeper
appreciation of the world we live in.
Committee Chairs
Archivist: Hank Zaletel 382-427 madowl@midiowa.net
Bird-a-thon Co-chairs: Karl and Carmen Jungbluth, 432-5057
weatherbird.opencominc.com
Conservation Chair: Bruce Ehresman (See Officers)
Education Chair: Amy Yoakum, 232-2516
ayoakum@storycounty.com
Field Trip Chair: Jeff Nichols (See Officers)
Membership Chair: Jon Bahrenfus 275-3263 jbahren@netins.net
Program Chair: Lynne Brookes (See Officers)
Publicity Chair: Linda Thomas (See Officers)
Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:
David Edwards 292-3790 dcejce@dandje.org
Joyce Bahrenfus 275-3263 jbahren@netins.net
BBAS Web Site: http://BigBluestemAudubon.org

2 Big Bluestem Flyer May/June 2006

 Nominations for Officers and Board of Directors positions
Big Bluestem Audubon Society is seeking nominations for candidates interested in serving as Officer or on the
Board of Directors (three positions). The President may serve two one-year terms. Board members serve two-year
terms. Chapter officers and board members help determine chapter priorities, evaluate requests for funding, and
select upcoming programs and speakers. Serving as an officer or on the board is a great opportunity to serve the
community and help advance the goals of the chapter.
Please contact a member of the Nominations Committee with your nominations: Jeff Nichols, 515-795-4176,
ozarksbirder@hotmail.com and Shane Patterson, 515-232-4682, shane7896@yahoo.com.

Officers Current Holder Nominated

President Linda Thomas Lynne Brookes
Vice-President Lynne Brookes Royce Bitzer

Secretary Bruce Ehresman Bruce Ehresman

Treasurer Ed Carbrey Ed Carbrey
Board Members Shane Patterson (continuing term)
:
Jeff Nichols (continuing term)
Royce Bitzer Mary Doud
Wolfgang Oesterreich Kelly Weichers
Tim Grotheer Tim Grotheer

Field Trip Report, Ledges State Park, January 28, 2006.

On 25 March, 12 BBAS members and guests visited a few local lakes and wetland areas in Hamilton and Boone
Counties. Our first stop was at Little Wall Lake where we found 15 waterfowl species and several Rusty
Blackbirds. Then we visited Anderson (Goose) Lake, northeast of Jewell. Although private, we did get some
excellent views of the lake from the road. The lake was loaded with waterfowl and we ended up with 20 species,
including lots of Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots. Afterwards, we made a brief stop at Richard's Marsh,
located just .5-mile north. At this point several participants left while the others headed over to Bjorkboda Marsh
and Boone Ponds, along the Boone-Hamilton County line. The best find here was 7 Ross's Geese amongst a few
Snow Geese (both white and blue phase) and Greater White-fronted Geese. Surprisingly, the only shorebird found
was the Killdeer. We enjoyed a relatively calm day with pleasant temperatures and ended up with 54 species.
Wolfgang Oesterreich

Teacher’s “Treasures”
Thank again to all of you who contributed recyclable materials to Big Bluestem “Teacher Treasures” collections.
These items are being used by elementary classroom teachers and middle school art teachers for projects,
helping to defray the rising costs of supplies. As the school year is winding to a close, we ask that you store your
materials* during the summer and bring them to the monthly Big Bluestem meetings beginning in September, or
contact me at 515-292-3790. Thanks again for your great support.
Jeanne Edwards
* Typical materials include: egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, cotton from pill bottles, lightweight cardboard, small
pieces of wood (1” to 5”), wooden dowels, partially used typing paper and other such paper, yogurt cups with tops,
other plastic containers with tops, toweling tubes, bits and pieces of wood (untreated), yarn and string and ribbon,
fabric pieces, discontinued printouts and cards printed on one side, beads, holiday decorations, old calendar
pictures, artwork, wrapping paper, bows/ribbons, and left-over craft materials. In other words, just about anything
you can think of!

Newsletter Material Deadlines

Because we would like to have the newsletter to each member before the first day of its coverage, the editor
needs to have material at least two weeks before that. The deadline for the next issue will be August 15th.
Please be aware that editing your offering for length and style is sometimes necessary.
David Edwards, Editor

May/June 2006 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

 WINTER FEEDERS AND FEEDING STRATEGIES
Although more and more is being learned about which seeds birds prefer, less data is available about the effect
that bird feeding has on bird survival. Opinions on bird feeding range from bird feeding having little effect on
winter survival to birds depending on the feeders to survive. Recent research suggests that to understand feeding,
we have to look at the overall survival strategy of birds.
Birds in general have a higher metabolism than mammals. This means their body temperature is higher (101 to
112 degrees F), they have a faster heart and respiration rate, and they convert food into body energy faster. This
also means that to maintain their body energy they have to eat frequently and consume a lot. Unlike most
mammals that can miss a day's meal, birds must eat every day. Tests have shown that at cold temperatures, some
birds can only survive about as long as an average winter's night without feeding. During the winter birds must
eat enough to replenish their energy, plus build a reserve to survive the night. Chickadees go from little or no fat
left in the morning to eating enough to have a fat reserve before going to roost for the night. (Talk about yo-yo
dieting!)
To reduce heat loss from the body surface, a bird's bill is actually horn-like material (no frost-bitten noses) and
their legs and feet are tendonous instead of fleshy like a mammal's. Feathers insulate the birds and retain heat.
Birds can easily adjust their temperature by fluffing or sleeking their feathers. Some birds like chickadees, can
conserve energy by dropping their daytime temperature from about 108 degrees F to 88 degrees F during the night.
Birds also find a place out of the wind, or roost together to save energy during the night.
So how do feeders work into a bird's survival strategy? Research on black-capped chickadees
in Wisconsin has found that chickadees consumed from 14 to 29 percent of their daily energy
requirement from bird feeders. Chickadees that had home ranges close to feeders used the
feeders more frequently. Feeders were also used by more chickadees as sunset approached
than at sunrise.
Although the feeders provided a rich food patch, the chickadees still sought other sources of
food in different places. The birds still consumed about 80 percent of their energy requirement
from natural sources. This may be a mechanism to "monitor" the amount of food in a variety of
patches. If a winter storm would destroy one food patch, the bird would still know of other
areas to feed. Avoiding dependence on just one food source would help the bird's long-term survival.
Birds living closer to the feeders, used them more frequently but still did not get more than 30 percent of their
daily energy requirement from the feeders. Birds traveling a long distance to the feeders would burn more energy
en route so it would not be worth the energy cost to travel back and forth as frequently as the nearby birds. Using
the feeders near sunset would be a logical way to maximize caloric intake, to have a high fat reserve to survive the
night.
Although you would expect bird use to increase as the temperatures dropped, the chickadees used another
strategy. Instead of feeding more, they conserved energy by leaving the roost later, spending more time during the
day being motionless and returning to the roost earlier. Of course they still ate, but spent less energy moving.
Feeders are part of a bird's feeding strategy, but they are using a variety of natural food in a variety of locations.
In an urban area, where less natural food is available, they might rely more heavily on feeders, but they are
probably using a variety of feeders and natural foods throughout the neighborhood. Monitoring a variety of food
sources, aids the birds long-term survival as food is destroyed or runs out during the course of the winter.
Providing an array of feeder opportunities year round will offer your family and friends a wonderful pastime.
Stable or consistent feeding regimes will have a positive effect upon songbirds during nesting seasons. In summer
while enjoying Iowa's great outdoors the call of your community songbirds is most appealing. And, the chance to
see young-of-the-year with their adults at feeding stations provides wonderful sights to behold.
Lastly, but most importantly, consider providing water in your backyards. Bird shops offer birdbath heaters for
year round offerings of this most critical habitat requirement. In conjunction with critical habitat needs for wildlife
that include food and water, cover addresses their needs. A variety of natural plantings from prairie to pines, and
shrubs like ninebark, and hazelnut provide ideal natural cover and added food sources.
Pat Schlarbaum, Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity Technician
Reprinted from Wildlife Diversity E News, Iowa DNR Wildlife Program: Doug Harr, Program Coordinator

4 Big Bluestem Flyer May/June 2006

 Welcome
New Members Clip and Join
Don’t forget gift memberships!
Dawn Chally Webster City
Gary and Ruth Coleman State Center
Carolyn Heckman Boone Membership Application forms
Margaret Reed Holmgren Ames
Erma Lester Ogden New member of the National Audubon Society. You will
Nancy Samcoe Link Maxwell receive the Audubon magazine, the Big Bluestem Flyer,
Juanita Loonan Collins membership card. — $20
Francis W Taylor Woodward Please make your check payable to National Audubon
Virginia Underwood Madrid Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check
Kelly Weichers Roland
Jana Weiss Boone OR
Subscribe to the Big Bluestem Flyer for one year and
participate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities — $10
Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Society
member or have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer or
committee chair. Please make your check payable to Big Bluestem
Audubon Society.

Send your check and this coupon to

Jon Bahrenfus, Membership Chair
1050 J Ave, Ogden, IA 50212

Name _______________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
City_____________________ State____ ZIP_______________
Phone ________________ E-mail _______________________
Please do not use this form for renewals to the National Audubon Soc.

Present the coupons below at the time of your purchase and a donation will be given to BBAS.
Donations will fund the various habitat restoration and educational projects undertaken by BBAS.

Brekke's Town & Country Store, Inc.

Donate 10% 1 1/2 miles east of I-35 on new U.S. 30 and 1/4 mile north
of Your Next Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-4 Sat. (515) 232-7906
Purchase to
Purchase Donation
Big Bluestem Audubon Society Up to $15 $1.50
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase $15 and over $3.00
May not be combined with any other offer
Not valid on specially-priced merchandise
$35 and over $5.00
Over $70 $7.50
Offer Expires: 06-30-06
Brekkes offers Big Bluestem Audubon Society a donation
when bird seed or other bird products are purchased.
Present this coupon with your purchase and a donation will be
given to BBAS.
213 Duff Ave. Ames, IA 50010 (515) 956-3145
Mon-Wed 9:30-5:30 Thurs 9:30-8
Fri 9:30-5:30 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-4 Offer good until June 30, 2006
BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • NATURE GIFTS

May/June 2006 Big Bluestem Flyer 5

 A Longing for Wilderness or Wildness

I am glad to say that there is an important discussion happening in Iowa concerning WILDNESS. There is a
growing concept called the Ioway Connectivity Project that celebrates wildness and is exploring the possibilities of
re-connecting animal populations to other animal populations, re-connecting humans to nature, creating corridors
for bridging gaps – gaps between people and the land, the natural. Please keep your eyes and ears open for
information, events, and happenings about wildness and the Ioway Connectivity Project.
Here are some words to consider written by a champion for wild places, Sigurd Olson, from a chapter he called
“A Longing for Wilderness.”
“We enjoy comforts never known before, but they are not enough; somehow, someway, we must make contact
with naturalness, the source of all life. The frontiers are still too close to forget and the memory of wilderness goes
far back into the eons when humans lived close to the earth and was in tune with the ancient rhythms. We still
listen to the song of the wilderness and long for a land we have lost. Civilization has not changed emotional needs,
which were ours long before it arose. This is the reason for the hunger, this is the true meaning of wilderness and
the search of moderns for places where they can know it again. The battle to save the last remnants is not only a
struggle for freedom and beauty, but for the spirit of humans in a world that seems to have lost its balance and
perspective.”
The author Wallace Stegner warned some years ago, “Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever
let the remaining wilderness be destroyed, if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and
plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of a wild species into zoos or to extinction; if we
pollute the last clean air and dirty the last clean streams and push our paved roads through the last of the
silence…. The reassurance that wilderness is still there is good for our spiritual health even if we never once in 10
years set foot in it.”
Bruce Ehresman, Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity Biologist

Vol 41 No. 5 Printed on Recycled paper May/June 2006

unless you renew.

issue of the Flyer
this will be your last
your mailing label,
after your name on
If you have an “X”

We welcome new members!

Ames, IA 50010-0543
PO Box 543
Ames, Iowa Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Permit No. 131 David C. Edwards, Editor
U. S. Postage Paid Big Bluestem Flyer
Non-Profit Org.