Hi Folks,

 

Just a quick reminder that the October 27th deadline to register for the
Audubon Assembly is quickly approaching.  If you would like to attend
and have not received a registration form you can download one from
www.audubonohio.org <http://www.audubonohio.org/> , or you can receive a
printed version by contacting Audubon Ohio's Office Manager, Cathy
Raymond, at 614-224-3303 or at [log in to unmask]

 

The Assembly is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10th & Saturday, Nov. 11th at
the Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue in Columbus.  You can download a
preliminary schedule at: 

www.audubonohio.org/news/documents/PRELIMINARYSCHEDULE_000.pdf 

 

Here's a taste of some of the presentations we'll have in store for the
event:

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RAREST OF THE RARE: DOCUMENTING RARE BIRDS 

Birders in Ohio should always be on the look-out for extra-limital and
out-of-season occurrences of birds, and if found, documentation of such
birds is a vital undertaking. The Ohio Bird Records Committee is tasked
with review of all such "rare" bird sightings that have been recorded
and submitted. There are currently 116 species of birds that require
documentation among the 417 species known to have occurred within the
state in historic times. The amazing cave swallow invasion of November
2005 resulted in the latest addition to Ohio's avifauna. Acceptance or
non-acceptance of submitted documentation is often a matter of knowing
"how" to properly describe the subject bird as much as the "what, when,
and where" of the sighting. The benefits of careful and thorough
observations that are accurately written provide a base of knowledge to
assess bird migration and population dynamics throughout North America.
Former OBRC member Dave Dister will present a talk on what to include
and not include when preparing documentation for review, and will also
discuss the phenomenon of western hummingbird species sightings in
recent years.

 

LISTENING IN THE DARK: NOCTURNAL MIGRATORY FLIGHT CALLS 

Many species of songbirds make their spring and fall migrations at
night, and most of these birds give calls while they migrate. Thousands
of calls can be detected in a single evening at many locations across
the eastern US during peak migration times. Bill Evan's presentation
will be an introduction to avian night flight call monitoring and will
include playing examples of the calls, demonstration of an inexpensive
home flight call monitoring system, and examples of current applications
of night flight call data.

 

WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE BIRDERS

In the late 1800s, "birding" was a pastime that meant one would go out
to see how many birds could be shot. For decades, the term "birdwatcher"
distinguished those who looked at birds from those who shot them.  Then
we seemed to forget its origins and the term "birder" again came into
vogue as "birding" became a sport of trying to see how many species of
birds could be seen.  In this presentation Dr. Jerome Jackson will delve
a bit into the history of our association with birds -- and a lot into
the "gee whiz" things that we can learn by taking the time to really be
"bird watchers." He will show us how to open our eyes and see not only
the birds, but interconnections among them, between them and their
habitats, and between them and us.

 

UNDERSTANDING FEATHERS FOR BETTER BIRD I.D. WITH KENN KAUFMAN

Whether we identify birds by general impressions or by fine details, our
skills will improve if we understand what we are seeing.  A big part of
that involves understanding feathers: how they are arranged on the
bird's body, wings, and tail; how their appearance changes from moment
to moment and from season to season; how they are replaced in the
process of molt.  Much of the confusing variation that we see on birds
in the field can be explained if we know these basics about feathers.  

 

MENTORING YOUNG BIRDERS

Kim Kaufman, of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, is on a mission! Her
goal is to create a community for young birders throughout Ohio and
encourage more kids to spend time outdoors. One way she plans to achieve
these goals is through the new Ohio Young Birders Club (OYBC). Join Kim
and members of the OYBC as they share their experiences in getting the
club started and how YOU can get involved in mentoring young birders in
your area.

 

ATTRACTING BIRDS TO PROPERTIES LARGE AND SMALL 

Stephen W. Kress, author of "The Audubon Guide to Attracting Birds",
discusses the inter-relationships between wild birds and the plants that
offer vital food, shelter and nesting habitats. Habitat creation and
improvements that mimic natural habitats can provide food, nesting
places and shelter throughout the year, attracting a greater variety of
birds to visit and reside on the property for longer periods.   The
lecture discusses how native plants attract birds with sweet fruits in
the summer, fatty foods just in time for migration, and fruits high in
carbohydrates in winter.  Kress discusses the co-evolution of plant and
bird interactions that nourishes birds while distributing seeds away
from the parent plants where they would otherwise usually perish.
Planting the proper mix of native fruiting and flowering trees, shrubs,
and vines will help to meet the needs of birds throughout the season
while filling your gardens with the songs and bright colors of birds.

 

"WILL-O-THE-WISP": HOPES FOR THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER IN THE 21st
CENTURY (KEYNOTE-Friday, November 10th)

By the early 20th century Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were on the brink of
oblivion with a price on their head and a conservation movement that
could offer little hope for their survival. Repeated rediscoveries
beginning in the 1920s and continuing to the present have contributed to
the iconic aura of the species, while our understanding of ecosystem
structure and function have given us the potential to save the it - if
it still exists. Why did it become so rare? What does it need to exist?
What is the significance of the attention we are giving this one bird?
What are the odds we are up against in this high stakes, high drama?  In
this presentation Dr. Jerome Jackson will explore the history of
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers and the forests they lived in while recounting
his own nearly 40-year-effort to find and understand this
will-o-the-wisp.

 

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I hope to see you there!

 

Casey

 

Casey Tucker

Education Specialist

Audubon At Home

Audubon Ohio

692 N. High St., Suite 303

Columbus, OH 43215

614-224-3303 (phone)

614-224-3305 (fax)

[log in to unmask]

www.audubonohio.org

 

Audubon At Home

Bringing Conservation Home

 


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