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: ************************************************************************ ************************************************************* 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. ************************************************************************ ****************************************************************** 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 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. 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