Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis

Stan Tekiela will be a presenter at the April meeting of the Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis.   You might also be interested in attending this program.

Wild about Birds with Stan Tekiela

Join author, naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela as he presents fun facts about common backyard birds. Stan will challenge your ideas about some common birds such as the European Starling, the American Crow and much, much more. You will never look at these birds the same way again.

January 21, 7-8 p.m. at Lebanon Hills Regional Park – Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan.

$6/person, ages 5 and under free. Registration required.

More information and link to register at:

http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Calendar/201001211900_Park_WildAboutBirdswithStanTekiela.htm

This year, the National Audubon Society will hold its 110th annual Christmas Bird Count. Our chapter will be counting birds on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join us for this event which mixes fun with citizen science. Newcomers are most welcome; we’ll pair you with a seasoned birder.

Springbrook Nature Center is located at 100 85th Av North in Fridley.

Please bring a food item to share at the potluck lunch. Also, please note that the National Audubon Society assesses a $5 fee for the count.

For more information, please contact either Siah St. Claire (763.572.3588; stclaire@ci.fridley.mn.us) or Mary Ellen Vetter (763.561.1761; mevetter@mninter.net).

The History of Minnesota Birds and Birding

Bob Janssen will be joining us to share his knowledge of the History of Birds and Birding in Minnesota. Bob is the author of several books including, “Birds in Minnesota”, and “Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin.” He is a past president of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union and is the Coordinator for the Minnesota Breeding Bird Survey (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Tuesday, December 1, from 7:00 to 9:00. Coffee and cookies are provided, and everyone is welcome.

Programs are at the Mayflower Church which is located at:

109 East Diamond Lake Road

… just west of 35W on Diamond Lake Road.
Enter through the main entrance and go downstairs to the big room.

Upcoming Programs:
February 2, 2010
Big White Birds – Swans and Pelicans
Arnie Fredrickson
Photographer and retired University of Minnesota Professor

March 2, 2010
Birding Sites in Minnesota
Kim Eckert
Author of “A Birder’s Guide to Minnesota”

April 6, 2010
Captivating Bluebirds
Stan Tekeila
Author of “Birds of Minnesota”, “Captivating Bluebirds”, and many more

May 4, 2010
Saving our Wetlands and Bird Habitats
Tom Cooper, U. S. Fish & Wildlife

The Minneapolis Audubon Chapter is hoping to offer more field trips in the coming year, perhaps even starting this fall.  If you are willing to lead a field trip (time and place can be your choice) please contact Susan Tertell at Field Trips.

Some possible sites in the metro area include:

• Roberts Bird Sanctuary (in the past, we have had field trips to Roberts every Tuesday morning in May)
• Theodore Wirth Park/Eloise Butler wildflower garden
• Old Cedar Avenue bridge
• North Mississippi Regional Park
• Murphy-Hanrehan
• Lebanon Hills
• Fort Snelling Park/Pike’s Island
• Crosby Farm/Hidden Falls

Your help would be greatly appreciated.  If you are interested in leading a one day or two day trip to more distant locations such as Crex, Carlos Avery or Sax-Zim that would also be of interest.

At the November program, Bonnie Sample will discuss the Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas Project.

The Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas is an important bird conservation project that will identify every species that breeds in the state and where in the state they breed.  Minnesota is one of only seven states, and the only state along the Mississippi Flyway, that has not developed an atlas.

Over the next five years, hundreds of volunteers will conduct bird surveys throughout all of Minnesota and document the breeding behavior for all the species they observe.

Hundreds, often thousands, of volunteers, both professional and amateur, watch and record breeding evidence for birds in selected survey areas.  The data collected provide the information used to create maps that describe the state’s breeding bird population.  Although the project will last from five to six years, it is still considered a “snapshot” in time because it is conducted during a limited number of breeding seasons and is not based on historical information.

Results from the MNBBA will enable:

• mapping the occurrence and breeding status of all species in the state
• producing base-line information for monitoring future changes to bird populations
• supporting local and state conservation planning

Come and learn more about this important project and how you can become involved.

Tuesday, November 3, from 7:00 to 9:00.  Coffee and cookies are provided, and everyone is welcome.

Programs are at the Mayflower Church which is located at:

109 East Diamond Lake Road

… just west of 35W on Diamond Lake Road.
Enter through the main entrance and go downstairs to the big room.

Next program:  December 1, 2009  on the Minnesota Flyway

The Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) is sponsoring this pull. Meet at 39th St and Richfield Road in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis; the pull is from 10 – noon; tools are provided but bring your own gloves; a good place to park is near 40th St and Queen Av S (can walk to site from there). For more information, contact Constance Pepin at cpepin@bitstream.net or 612.922.1253
Please note: This site is very close to Roberts Bird Sanctuary, which our chapter and LHiNC are planning to help restore. Before or after the pull, check out Roberts!

Join us and the Friends of the Wild Flower Garden at Eloise Butler in Theodore Wirth Park on two Sundays – Oct. 11, and Oct. 18, from 1-3 pm.  No experience necessary.  Bring weed wrenches if you have them.  Gloves will be provided.  Weather policy: If it’s rained heavily in the hours before the pull, the pull will be cancelled.  Call the shelter at the garden if in doubt: 612.370.4903

For directions:  www.friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/directionsx.html

Audubon members, please go to the Audubon Minnesota website to vote on the 10 issues of most concern to you as legislative priorities.  From ATVs to lead ammunition to copper/nickel mining – plus more – there will be things that you find important.  Please go to Membership Issue Ballot to vote.