Big Bluestem Flyer

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Volume 44, Number 1 September-October 2008

Programs Field Trips

Meeting Place All field trips are free and open to the public.
Extension & 4-H Building, I S U, Ames Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the public parking lot west of
(behind) the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited, located south of
September 18, 2008 the railroad tracks at 213 Duff Ave. Please arrive before
Thursday, 7:30 pm the departure time to arrange carpooling. Contact Jeff
Nichols (515-795-4176, or
Gladys Black—”Iowa’s Bird Lady” ozarksbirder@hotmail.com) for more information.
Larry Stone
In addition to being a birding icon in Iowa, Gladys Black September 7 (Sunday)
also preached conservation, mentored students, and Big Creek State Park (a.m.) and Pelican Festival at
confronted bureaucrats. Larry Stone will share Saylorville Lake (12:30-3:00 p.m)
anecdotes he and Jon Stravers have collected for their Meet at 8 a.m. behind Ames WBU to arrange
biography of Gladys. carpooling to accommodate different schedules.
Larry’s Short Presentation: Ichabod, the Ames Crane Bring a picnic lunch.
Dinner: Old Main, 316 Main St, Ames
September 12-14 (FYI—Not a BBAS Trip)
October 16, 2008 Fall Iowa Ornithologists’ Union meeting, Cedar Falls
Thursday, 7:30 pm Banquet speaker Bill Thompson III
See iowabirds.org
Birding “Friendly Manitoba”
A Road and Rail Trip to the Sub-Arctic October 4 (Saturday)
Jeff Nichols Bjorkboda Marsh & hawk watching at Boone Forks
BBAS Field Trip Chair Jeff Nichols will present a photo Wildlife Management Area
essay on a recent birding trip through western Manitoba (Hamilton & southeastern Webster counties)
to the sub-arctic port of Churchill on Hudson Bay. Bring a picnic lunch.
Mike’s Short Presentation: Loons at Isle Royale
Dinner: Dublin Bay, 320 S 16th, Ames November 1 (Saturday)
Swan Lake State Park (Carroll Co.) and points in
November 20, 2008 between
Jean Eels, E Resources Group, Webster City
The Shortfall in Conservation Yields December 14(Sunday)
December 11, 2008 Saylorville Christmas Bird Count
Story County Conservation Center
Holiday Party & Member’s Presentations December 20 (Saturday)
Ames Christmas Bird Count
January 15, 2009
Stephen Dinsmore, Nat. Resource Ecol. &
January 3 (Saturday)
Management, ISU
Boone Christmas Bird Count
A naturalist's trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

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 in which we live.
Visit us online at http://bigbluestemaudubon.org
Page 2 Page 4 Page 6
Officers and Committees 2008-2009 Field Trips BBAS Sales
President’s Corner Teachers Treasures
Page 5 Pelican Festival
Page 3 New Members Raptor Program in Ames
2008-2009 Programs Membership Form
Coupons
 Big Bluestem Audubon President’s Corner
Society of Central Iowa Welcome to the 2008-2009 season of Big Bluestem Audubon Society. With
Officers no one willing to take on the leadership this year, the members elected to
President: David Edwards
515-292-3790 recycle. I was President of the society in 1986 to 1988, and have edited this
dcejce@dandje.org newsletter off and on over the years. The officers, board members, and
Vice-President: Larry Dau Special Assignment leaders for 2008-2009 are listed in the column to the left.
515-275-4963, Larry Dau changed hats from Board Member to Vice-President, and John
gdau@netins.net
Secretary: Shane Patterson
Pohlman joined the board in his place—another recycling, as John was
515- 232-4682 president five years ago.
shane7896@yahoo.com My first concern is to thank the officers who completed their terms last
Treasurer: Michael Meetz year. Lynne Brookes served ably and enthusiastically as President the past
515-382-2534 two years, aided in many supportive ways by husband Derrick Grimmer. As
mmeetz@iastate.edu
many of you know, they are leaving Ames very soon to build an innovative
Board Members
Mary Doud house in British Columbia, Canada. We will miss them but wish them well,
515-795-4176 “eh?” Royce Bitzer served well as Vice-President and arranged the programs
BorealBirders@hotmail.com for the past two years. Mike Meetz tried hard to be replaced as Treasurer. But
Kelly Weichers with no success, he agreed to stay on in the interim. Any volunteers?
319-231-6999
goinfishin@hotmail.com
Our mission, stated on the first page, remains the same. We continue to
John Pohlman have a variety of speakers at our meetings covering birds, birding, and other
515-232-6816, elements of our natural world (See page 3). In place of the short “lessons” I
itsartjohn@isunet.net have offered in meetings the past few years, individual members will give 10-
Tim Grotheer minute illustrated presentations on various topics, and we welcome
515-233-9873
tgrotheer1@msn.com suggestions. Jeff Nichols continues to be our very knowledgeable and
Lloyd Crim innovative field trip leader, and I pressured him to make up a tentative plan
515-5026 for the year. (See page 4.)
lcrim@opencominc.com For those of you who may be interested in our meetings but are wondering
Special Assignments what we do, this synopsis may help. We try to start promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Archivist
Hank Zaletel
This is preceded by a supper with the speaker, board members, and a few
515-382-427 interested others. After a few minutes of welcome and introductions, we
madowl@midiowa.net sometimes have brief comments regarding items of interest to the members. A
Bird-a-thon few minutes take up sharing recent bird activities, then we move to the Short
Karl and Carmen Jungbluth Presentation. (These activities total about 30 minutes or less.) Our featured
515-432-5057
weatherbird.opencominc.com speakers are asked to plan for 45 minutes, more or less, including some
Conservation allowance for questions. An informal social time follws for further discussion
Bruce Ehresman and treats. Essentially the meeting is over shortly after 9:00 p.m., though
515-296-2995 some members continue socializing thereafter. We hope to see you there.
Bruce.ehresman@dnr.iowa.gov David Edwards
Field Trips
Jeff Nichols
515-795-4176
ozarksbirder@hotmail.com
Membership Records & Mailings
Katy Patterson
515-232-4682
birdgirl80@hotmail.com
Publicity & Outreach
Larry Dau
515-275-4963,
gdau@netins.net
Schools Liaison
Amy Yoakum
515-232-2516
ayoakum@storycounty.com Newsletter Material Deadlines
Newsletter Editor Because we would like to have the newsletter to each member before the first day of its coverage,
David Edwards the editor needs to have material at least two weeks before that. Hence the deadline for the next
515-292-3790 issue will be the 20th of October.
dcejce@dandje.org Please be aware that editing your offering for length and style is sometimes necessary.

Visit our website at http://bigbluestemaudubon.org

2 Big Bluestem Flyer September-October 2008

 Big Bluestem Audubon Society
2008-2009 Programs Planned
Except as noted BBAS programs are held on the third Thursday of the month and begin at 7:30 pm.
We meet in the Extension 4-H Youth Building on the I S U campus in Ames located on the southwest corner of
Stange Road and 13th Street. Enter from Stange Road on Wanda Daley Drive.

September 18, 2008

Gladys Black - “Iowa’s Bird Lady”
Larry Stone
In addition to being a birding icon in Iowa, Gladys Black also preached conservation, mentored students, and
confronted bureaucrats. Larry Stone will share anecdotes he and Jon Stravers have collected for their
biography of Gladys.

October 16, 2008

Birding “Friendly Manitoba:” A Road and Rail Trip to the Sub-Arctic
Jeff Nichols
BBAS Field Trip Chair Jeff Nichols will present a photo essay on a recent birding trip through western
Manitoba to the sub-arctic port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.

November 20, 2008

The Shortfall in Conservation Yields
Jean Eels
Conservation programs have missed the mark with landowners who are otherwise natural allies. Research
into the process of participating in conservation programs exposed multiple barriers to landowners. Jean
Eells of Webster City will discuss her research into who has been left out of conservation programs and will
offer research-based recommendations for improving policies and practices.

December 11, 2008

Holiday Party & Members’ Short Personal Presentations
Story County Conservation Center at 7:00 PM
January 15, 2009
A naturalist's trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands
Stephen Dinsmore, Nat. Resource Ecol. & Mgmnt, ISU
Steve will explore some of the incredible bird diversity of Ecuador, with a particular focus on the unique
birdlife of the Galapagos Islands, also including other fauna and flora of this tropical region.

February 19
Jim Pease
Reminiscences About His Wildlife Talk Show
March 19
Steve Hummel
Iowa's Aquatic Insects - Little Critters of Great Importance
Iowa has a great variety of aquatic insects in it's standing and flowing waters. Many are used in determining
the quality of water and play an important role in food chains.

April 16
David Marquis
Living With Caged Birds
May 21
Fabulous fungi of Iowa woodlands
Roseanne Healy
BBAS member Rosanne Healy will talk about the diversity of fungi in Iowa's woodlands, and perhaps make
some converts to mushroom mania. After all, the diversity of fruiting is at its most spectacular in late summer
when the birds are most difficult to see. But wait! You can multitask - identify by song while mushroom
hunting. Come find out more about these ephemeral, at times lovely, sometimes grotesque, and always
interesting fruits of the woods.

September-October 2008 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

 Big Bluestem Audubon Society
2008-2009 Field Trips
All field trips are free and open to the public.
Unless otherwise indicated, field trips depart at 8:00 am from the public parking lot west of
(behind) the Ames Wild Birds Unlimited, located south of the railroad tracks at 213 Duff Ave.
Please arrive before the departure time to arrange carpooling.
Contact Jeff Nichols (515-795-4176 or ozarksbirder@hotmail.com) for more information.

September 7 (Sunday)
Big Creek State Park (a.m.) and Pelican Festival at Saylorville Lake (12:30-3:00 p.m)
Meet at 8 a.m. behind Ames WBU to arrange carpooling to accommodate different schedules.
Bring a picnic lunch.
October 4 (Saturday)
Bjorkboda Marsh & hawk watching at Boone Forks WMA
(Hamilton & southeastern Webster counties)
Bring a picnic lunch.
November 1 (Saturday)
Swan Lake State Park (Carroll Co.) and points in between
December 14 (Sunday)
Saylorville Christmas Bird Count
Contact Stephen Dinsmore at 515-233-2796. E-mail: cootjr@iastate.edu
December 20 (Saturday)
Ames Christmas Bird Count
Contact Shane Patterson at 515-232-4682. E-mail: shane7896@yahoo.com
January 3 (Saturday)
Boone Christmas Bird Count
Contact Mark Widrlechner at 515-233-1532. E-mail: mpwskd@aol.com
January 16-19
Long weekend trip to northeastern Minnesota
Contact Jeff Nichols before 1 January 2009 to sign-up or for more information.
February 28 (Saturday)
Christiansen Forest Preserve and Skunk River bottoms (Story Co.)
March 28 (Saturday)
Colo Bogs Complex and Hendrickson Marsh (Story Co.)
April
TBA—Possible early evening Woodcock watch
May 9 (tentative)(Saturday)
Bird-a-thon.
June 6 (Saturday)
Birders’ Brunch at McFarland Park (Story Co.)
Meet at the park parking lot at 8 a.m. Please bring a food item to share.

4 Big Bluestem Flyer September-October 2008

 New Members of National Clip and Join
Audubon Society Don’t forget gift memberships!
Ames
Craig Cox Membership Application forms
Jerry Dunahoo
Margaret Reed Holmgren
Mary Murray New member of the National Audubon Society. You will
John Smith receive the Audubon magazine, the Big Bluestem Flyer,
Leland Smithson membership card. — $20
Jefferson Please make your check payable to National Audubon
Margaret Hamilton Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check
Bonnie Kendall OR
Maxwell
James Hunter Subscribe to the Big Bluestem Flyer for one year and
Nevada participate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities — $10
Ronald Huhn Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Society
Jane Punke member or have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer or
committee chair. Please make your check payable to Big Bluestem
Pilot Mound Audubon Society.
Edie Freese
Send your check and this coupon to
Katy Patterson, Membership Chair
PO Box 543, Ames IA 50010

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

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
1 1/2 miles east of I-35 on new U.S. 30 and 1/4 mile north
15%
of your next Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-4 Sat. (515) 232-7906

purchase* to Purchase Donation

Up tp $15 $1.50
Big Bluestem $15 and over $3.00
$35 and over $5.00
Audubon Society Over $70 $7.50
*Coupon must be presented at time of purchase.
Valid only on regularly-priced merchandise. Brekke’s offers Big Bluestem Audubon Society a
One coupon per purchase.
May not be combined with any other offer. donation when bird seed or other bird products are
Valid only at Wild Birds Unlimited of Ames.
purchased.
Valid through June 30, 2009
Present this coupon with your purchase and a
213 Duff Ave Ames, IA 50010 (515) 956-3145
donation will be given to BBAS.
Mon-Wed 9:30-5:30 Thurs 9:30-8
Fri 9:30-5:30 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-4
BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • NATURE GIFTS Offer good until October 31, 2008

September-October 2008 Big Bluestem Flyer 5

 BBAS Sales Pelican Festival
To allow time for additional purchases, we will be taking tee The 2008 Pelican Festival will be held at Jester Park on
shirt, sweatshirt, and tote bag orders through the September Saylorville Lake on Sunday, September 7 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
meeting. Catalogs with pictures and all other details will be at Jester Park Lodge.
available at the meeting, and payment will be requested with the Volunteers are needed to help the pubic view the amazing
order. If you ordered last spring (I have the list), we ask that you pelicans through spotting scopes and answer questions. If you are
also make your payment at the September meeting if possible. available to help with this fun event, please contact Jane Clark at
Delivery of the orders should be sometime later in the fall. Feel 515-223-5047 or jrclark@radiks.net.
free to call or e-mail me if you have questions or would like to
make arrangements for orders or payments outside of the
meeting.
Mary Doud, 515-231-8725, borealbirders@hotmail.com Kay Neumann of SOAR to present Raptor
Teachers Treasures Program in Ames
As part of the 9th Anniversary Celebration of Wild Birds
We plan to continue our teachers treasure project, but will be
Unlimited of Ames, Kay Neumann from SOAR (Saving Our
stream-lining our collection to include only art supplies. Items
Avian Resources) will present two programs at the store on
needed include: unused paper (white, colored, prints), crayons,
Saturday, September 20, 2008. Kay is a raptor rehabilitator from
colored pencils, yarn, felt, ribbon, cotton balls, calendars, cards
Dedham, IA. She and her work through SOAR were recently
and other such items. If special requests come in from the
featured in a Des Moines Register article. Kay will be bringing
teachers, I'll keep you informed. Later in September, when the
several of her live raptor education birds for this informative
teachers are settled in for the year and new teachers are more
program. For more information, please contact Linda or Tom
familiar with their classroom needs, I'll be taking in the first
Thomas at Wild Birds Unlimited (515-956-3145 or
delivery and also asking for feedback on what they do (or don't)
wbuames@msn.com), as exact details and time are still being
need. Please discontinue collection of recyclable items such as
finalized as of the printing of this BBAS Newsletter.
plastic containers, paper board items, etc. Thank you, as always,
Linda Thomas
for thinking of our local students and teachers.
Mary Doud, 515-231-8725, borealbirders@hotmail.com

Volume 44 No. 1 September-October 2008

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.