jan 2008 prairie falcon northern flint hills audubon society

8/9/2019 Jan 2008 Prairie Falcon Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society

1/8

prairie falconNorthern Flint Hills Audubon Society

Newsletter

NorthernFlintHil

lsAudubonSociety,

P.O.

Box1932,

Manhattan,

KS66505-1932

PrintedbyClaflinBooks&

Copies

Manhattan,

KS

INSIDE

pg. 2-Skylight plus-pete cohen

pg. 3-Saturday Birding & Stargazing

pg. 4- Black-footed Ferret

pg. 5-6 Birdseed Order Form

pg. 7- Ice Storm - CBC - THANKS

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 5 Eagle Days, Tuttle Corps Engr

Jan. 10 Board Meeting 7 p.m. Manhattan

Public Library (2nd floor mtg room)Jan. 12 Beginning Birding

8 a.m. meet at Sojourner Truth Park

Jan. 18 Birdseed Sale ORDER DEADLINE

Feb. 2 Birdseed Sale PICKUP 9-12n UFM

Feb. 7 NFHAS Board Mtg.

Feb. 9 Sat. Birding

Feb. 16 or 23 - Brunch & Bird Feeder Watch

(more info in next Prairie Falcon & online)

Vol. 36, No. 5 ~ January 2008

THE MANHATTAN CHRISTMAS BIRD CENSUS

2007 HIGHLIGHTS

RomaLenehan,

fromWisconsin

Despitethefactthatatleasthalf of Manhattanhasnoelectricalpower,anddespitethesnowandwind,theManhattanCBCturnedoutOKtoday.Windoutofthenorthallday,andsnowthatwasprettyheavyinthemorning,madeittoughtobeoutallday.Butwe(about45-50counters)found92species(+3countweekspecies),includinganewoneforthecount,aLaughingGull.Thisbirdwasseenanddescribedwellbytwoexcellentbirders(DorisBurnettand

LowellJohnson);detailswillbesubmittedalongwiththeCBCreportwhenallofthenumbershavebeenaccumulated.

Otherhighlights:SnowBunting-totalof 15,seenbytwodifferentpartiesIcterids-Great-tailedGrackle(1),RustyBlackbirds(32),BrewersBlackbirds(4)aswellasbothspeciesofMeadowlark,Red-wingedBlackbirdsandBrown-headedCowbirds.Sparrows-SpottedTowhee,EasternTowhee,Am.TreeSparrow,VesperSparrow,SavannahSparrow,FoxSparrow,SongSparrow,

LincolnsSparrowSwampSparrow,Wh-thrtd.Sparrow,HarrisSparrow,Wh-crwnd.SparrowDk-eyedJunco,butNOFieldSparrows.Waterfowl(otherthanSnowGooseandCanadaGoose)numberswerelow,andseveralspeciesweremissing.ButtherewasaCommonLoonand2WhitePelicansonTuttleandattheRiverPond,respectively.Falcons-3Merlins,1Peregrine,butnoPrairieFalcon,despitehigherthanusualnunbersof HornedLarksandLaplandLongspurs.NoLoggerheadShrikes,continuingatroublingtrend on this (and other) Kansas CBCs, and no Red-headed Woodpeckers, reecting the fact that the earlyApril freeze had a signicant effect on the acorn crop this fall. There was leftover chili, but that mightbebecausewehadatleast5differentbatchestosamplefrom.AlltheonesthatIsampled(n=3)weredelicious.Therewasnoleftoverpeanutbrittle.Dave Rintoul


2/8

p. Jan. 008 Prairie Falcon Newsletter

skylight plus

pete cohen

January2008beginsaleap

year,anotherof thosetimeswhentheladiesareper-mittedtopursuethemen

openly,thatis,andtoclaimanyonetheycatchformarriage,underthebannerof SadieHawkinsDay.ThisancienttraditionbeganinNovemberof 1937in Al Capps cartoon, Lil Abner for the benet of

thehomeliestgalinthemountains,whoneededsuchanopportunity.Itquicklybecameanannualnationwideevent,particularlyoncollegecampuses.However,bythetimeIwasonacampusintheearly

1950sithadsomehowshiftedtobeingquadrenniallyappliedtoLeapDay,February29th.Also,onsuchadayinthe1800swasbornpoorFredericinGilbert&SullivansoperettaThePiratesof Penzance.Pledgedto serve the buccaneers until his twenty-rst birthday,

heseemeddoomedtobeingareluctantoutlawuntiltheyear1940.Butitbeingamusicalcomedy,fortu-itouscircumstanceintervened.Meanwhile,thecurrentchangesof circumstanceswroughtbythetimesseemtobetoningdownSadieHawkinsnotoriety. Nevertheless,itseemsagoodtimetotake

noteof ladieswhohavepursuedthecelestialstars,receiving,ingeneral,lessnoticethantheirmalecoun-terparts.Ittakesbutamomentononewebsite(www.distinguishedwomen.com/subject/astrono.html)tobepresentedwithalistof 29suchpersons.ItstartswithEnHeduanna,fromcirca2354BCE.Thiswasreallyatitlebestoweduponherasapriestessof themoongoddessof Babylon.Astronomicalobservationshadbeeninprogresslongbeforeherdatebutsheislistedas the rst of a long line of women who followed

thestarswhosenamesweknow.Someof herpoems

haveapparentlysurvived.Whethershewroteinatechnicalsenseisunknown,thoughitwouldnotbesurprisingconsideringthenumberof contributingsiblingsandspousesof maleastronomerswhohavefollowed. TheseincludeSophiaBrahe,whoworkedwithheroldbrotherTychointhe16thcentury,andthemorenotedCarolineHershel,wholivedtobe98years

old,whofromthemid-18thtothemid-19thcenturies

participatedwithandcontinuedtheworkof herbrotherWilliam,discoverof theplanetUranusandotherac-complishments. Onenameoddlymissingfromthewebsitelististhatof Katherine(orKatherina)Hevelius,whointhe16thand17thcenturiesassistedwithandarrangedfortheposthumouspublicationof theworkof herhusband,Johannes,whowasanexpertonaccuratenaked-eyedobservationsandcontributednotablytothenomenclatureof thesky. Thelistismoreextensiveandincludesmore

detailsforanothertime. ThereisanotableVictorianseparationofthegendersamongtheplanetsinthisJanuaryseveningswhenitllbeMars,Mars,Mars,brighterthanthestarsasitarcshighthroughGemini,trendingwestwardtilllateinthemonth,whenitwillbegintrendingbackeastwardbecauseof thewaywetravelourindividualorbits.HisRednesswillbebrighterthanthebrighteststar,Sirius,blueishbelowhim,atmonthsstart,buthewilllosemuchof hisglowbymonthsendashesetsinthewestbeingquiteout-shownbyVenusassherisesadiscreet

distancebehindhimintheeastjustbeforedawn.Whileheishighup,withthereforelessatmospheretodimhispresence,heshouldbequiteeye-catching. SaturnwillcomeupwithLeosRegulusnearbyatmid-eveningforamodestlynoticeablenightlycross-ing.Mercurycanbefoundinthecompanyof therisingcrescentmoononJan.9th,andwillremainhoveringbriey about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon in the

eveningtwilightsfromaboutJan.12thtothe28th. Mostnoticeablypeakingonthe4thalittleknownconstellation,Triangulum,athingeometricform

betweenAriesandtheendof Andromedasgown,isscheduledtosendforthoneof thestrongestmeteorshowersof theyearwithathinmoonsinkingfromsight.Astronomymagazinesuggestsbinocuarsmightbeabletopickouttheoriginatingcomet,Tuttle,proges-singthroughAriesonJan1st,thenthroughCetusandsouthwardbymid-month.SmallArieswillbemidwaybetweentheMilkyWayandthewesthorizon.Moonisnewthe8th,6a37,full22nd,8a35. 2008 Peter Zachary Cohen


3/8

Jan. 008 Prairie Falcon Newsletter p.

Stargazing at

Margys

Birdingkevin fay

For the stars of the heavens and the

constellations thereof shall not give their light.

Isaiah (13:10

Itwascoldandquitewindyaswemettoconsiderourmonthlybirdwatchingouting.Theweatherforecastwasnotfavorable.Itcalledforstrongwindsandrainchangingtosnowfollowedbythepotentialforanicestormintwodays.Wedecidedthatwecouldsafelydoourthree-houroutingbeforethebadweathermovedin,sowebravedtheelementsandsetout.WewenttoNortheastParkandhikedtheCecilBesttrail.WethentookHighway18towardsZeandaleandturnedoff onPleasantValleyRoadandcamebackontheDeepCreekRoad,birdingbycar.Thetemperaturewasnear30Fandthewindwasblowinghard.Thebirdswerelyinglowsowedidnotseemuch.Iamgoingtoskipthetriplist

(birdingterm)altogetheranddiscussthehighlightof thetrip.OnPillsburyCrossingRoad,nottoofarfromthecrossingitself,alargemixedgroupof sparrowscamethroughandwewatched them briey before they got lost to the wind. Then aLoggerheadShrikelandedonthefenceabout10feetfromusandwehadagreatgoodviewof it.Thiswasthehighlightof thetripforme.

TheshrikeisafascinatingbirdandmyfavoritethatIwilllikelyseeinitsnaturalenvironment.(IclaimtheRockhopperPenguintobemyfavoritebirdandIholdtruetothat.)Itisamemberoftheorderthatincludessongbirdsbuthasadaptedtoapredatorywayoflife.Ithuntsinsectsand

smallanimalsandbecauseitlacksthestrongfeettoholdthepreywhileeatingitimpalesthemonthornsandthenfeeds.

Idonotthinkoursituationwasof whattheprophetwrotewhenwecancelledyetanotherviewing

sessionbecauseof cloudyskies.However,thistimetheweatherwasreallybadandwecancelledthedaybeforetodiscouragepeoplefromevenconsideringtravel.Becauseoftheicestormthatfollowedjusttwodayslatermanypeoplelostelectricityfornearlyaweek.Thebent-overtressandbrokenlimbseverywherewasaveryeeriescene.Forsomeitmayhaveseemedapocalyptic.

AsIwrotebefore,therecanbelongstreaksof badluckwhenplannedstargazingsessionsareweatheredout.Iwouldmuchratherbewritingaboutthethingswesawthandescribingcancellations.Iamsurewewillplananothersessioninthefuture.Thewinterconstellationsaresogreatandtherecanbenightsthatarenottoounreasonableforstargazing.Howeverconditionscanbereallyharshandthiswintermaybeonethatdoesnotprovidemanyopportunitiesforstargazing.

Watchforfutureannouncementsandkeepyoureyesontheskies. Kevin Fay

Birding Outing December 2007

The snow falls hard and dont you know

The winds of Thor are blowing cold

Led ZeppelinThe Shrike is a bird passerine

On feld trips not commonly seen

It hunts through the day Impaling its prey

Among fence posts on the barbed wire in between

Kevin Fay

Mydictionariesvaryonthesourceof itsname.OneclaimsitcomefromtheOldEnglishsrik,meaningthrush.AnotherclaimsitcomefromMiddleEnglishshriken,meaningtoshriek.(Shriekif youseeashrike!)Loggerheadmeanstohavealargeheadinrelationtothebodyandthatcertainlyapplieshere.Shrikesarenotcommon.Theyaregenerallyfoundinundisturbedopenareasnearwoodswheretheyperchtospottheirprey.InthepastIhavespottedshrikesonaregularbasiswhenIsearchintheproperhabitat.Iamtold,anecdotally,thattheyarebecomingrareandseveralshrikestudywebsitesIcheckedagreed.Justaweeklater,noLoggerheadShrikewasseen

ontheManhattanChristmasbirdcount.Thestormmusthavechaseditoutofthearea. Therainwascomingdownharderandendedoureld trip, but it was a successful one because we spottedtheLoggerheadShrikeandmadeitbacksafely. TheMonthlyBirdingFieldtriptakesplaceonthesecondSaturdayof themonth.Wemeetat8:00a.m.atSojournerTruthParkonPottawatomieAvenuebetween10thand12thStreets(nearHowiesRecycling).Birdersof alllevelsarewelcome.Wewillgotosomelocalbirdinghotspot.Wearappropriateclothingbutnostrenuousactivityisinvolved,justsomelighthiking.Wewillreturnto

SojournerTruthParkby11:00a.m.


4/8

Photos from Ron Klataske

Twenty-fourBlack-footedFerretpupswerere-leasedinthewildaweekbeforeChristmas.TheBlack-footedFerrethasbeenmissingfromKansas for fty years and is an endangered species.

AudubonofKansaspartneredwithrancherstobringabout

thishistoricevent.LarryHavereld and Gordon Barn-hardtwereattheforefrontofthiseffort.Thereleaseoccuredontheranchof GordonBarn-hardt.

Black-footed Ferret

Reintroduced in Kansas

Larry Havereld (center) with four U.S. Fish and Wildlife

ServicebiologistsatthereleasesiteonGordonBarnhardtsranch.BiologistsincludeSethWilley,ScottLarson,MikeLockhartandDanMulhern.


5/8

Bird Seed Sale Product Descriptions:

BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS are attractive to more species of birds than are striped sunower seeds.They also supply more energy per pound than striped sunower seeds.

STRIPED SUNFLOWER SEEDS contain larger hearts than black oil sunower seeds and are particularly

suitable for larger songbirds.

SAFFLOWER is a favorite with Cardinals and squirrels really do not like it.

MILLET is liked by Mourning Doves, Song Sparrows, White Throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, White Crown

Sparrows, Red Wing Blackbirds, House Finches, Pine Siskins, and Quail.

FLINT HILLS FEAST is our premium bird seed mix: 30 % black oil sunower seed, 20 % striped sunower

seed, and 50 % white proso millet with no milo or llers.

NIGER THISTLE is very attractive to gold nches and all other nches that are here over the winter. Niger is

excellent for tube feeders.

SUNFLOWER SEED CHIPS are high in energy and can be used in tube feeders. These are especially likedby pine siskins.

CHEAP CHEEP MIX is less expensive but still attractive to many species. It is 40 % cracked corn, 40 % white

proso millet, 20 % black oil sunower and no milo or llers.

SUPER FORMULA FINCH MIX is a less expensive option for tube feeders than 100% Niger thistle. It consists

of 70% sunower chips and 30% niger thistle. This is very popular with most tube

feeding species.

SUET CAKES, in addition to having high calorie beef fat which helps birds maintain body heat in cold winter

months as the main ingredient, have other nutritious ingredients.

PEANUT PICKOUTS are chunks of peanut hearts and are very attractive to woodpeckers.

MEDIUM CHOP is chopped corn kernels- especially good for ground-feeding birds.

NorthernFlintHillsAudubonSociety

BirdSeedSale

Quality Seed, Easy Handling

The products we offer are high quality seeds. Our mixeswere created to satisfy the needs of local bird populationsat reasonable costs. We have tried to make it easy for youto purchase the amount of seed you want without havingto handle heavy, awkward bags. Our seed comes in 10,25, and 50 pound bags. We try to obtain the seed in paperbags whenever possible.

Sales Support Local Chapter Activities

As with all of our fund-raising activities, proceeds from ourseed and store sales go toward supporting the educationaland conservation projects of the local chapter. All of our laboris voluntary. Taxes are included in the price of our seed. Eventhough we are a not-for-prot organization, we are requiredto pay tax on any retail sales. Any additional donation youmay wish to include with your order is appreciated.

Annie Baker Make checks payable to:

116 Parkview Dr. Northern Flint Hills

Junction City, KS 66441 Audubon Society

Phone 785-375-4633 orNFHAS for short

ORDERS must be received by Jan. 18, 2008PICK UP is Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 nUFM, 1221 Thurston, Manhattan

If interested in helping unload the truck, come at 8 a.m,or volunteer to help during the morning of pickup -

contact Annie (below).


6/8

PICK UP - Saturday, FEB.2, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 n at UFM, 1221 Thurston, Manhattan

NAME________________________________ DELIVERY (in-town) $5.00ADDRESS ____________________________ SUBTOTAL _____________________________________________________ DONATION _________________PHONE #_____________________________Email _______________________________ TOTAL _________________

DESCRIPTION SIZE COST EACH QTY TOTAL COST

For our customers in Manhattan (IN-TOWN only) we offer a local delivery service please check the box below andinclude $5.00 with your order. Thank you for your order and your support. We need volunteers to help the day ofpickup - if interested - contact Annie Baker - (address & phone on front of form).

peanut butter,berry, orregular

Sunower chips 10lb $11.50



Corn on the cob 10lb $6.50

Corn on the cob 25lb $12.25Finch Mix 10lb $13.00

Finch Mix 25lb $29.50

Finch Mix 50lb $55.75

Med. corn chop 25lb $8.25

Med. corn chop 50lb $14.50

Peanut pick-outs 10lb $14.75

Peanut pick-outs 25lb $33.00

Red Millet 10lb $8.25



Safower seed 10lb $9.75Safower seed 25lb $20.50

Safower seed 50lb $41.50

Suet cakes 11oz $1.50

Suet cakes 11oz $1.50

Sunower (black) 10lb $6.50



Sunower (striped) 10lb $6.50



Thistle seed 10lb $14.75Thistle seed 25lb $30.50

White millet 10lb $4.75



Cheap cheep mix 10lb $4.75



Flint Hills feast 10lb $5.50



Super Finch mix 10lb $14.75Super Finch mix 25lb $29.50


7/8

Jan. 008 Prairie Falcon Newsletter p.

Got a good birding story/encounter? Please share it with us - in Bird Tales WAIT-

ING TO HEAR FROM YOU! Send me your tales photos welcome! e-mail cinraney@

ksu.edu, or mail them to me at 15850 Galilee Rd., Olsburg, KS 66520

THANKStoACEHardwareforsupplyinguswiththestirsticksweusedtomountanddisplayowlphotosatourboothattheZooSpooktacular!

The Ice Storm of

December 2007

AbigTHANKYOUtoallwhoparticipatedinthe59thManhattanCBC

andtoallwhomadechiliandhelpedwiththesupper.NextyearwillbeMan-hattans60thCBC!! WealsowanttonotethatBrockDale,atage89,madethisyearscount!Applauseplease!Theiceandsnowdidntstopthislong-timebirder.

FebruaryseventwillbeaProgressive Brunch & Bird Feeder Watch

Moreinformationwillbeinthenextissueof thePrairieFalcon,butatthistime,theplanistobeginatMargeMuenzenbergershouse,traveltoanotherhouseintheneighborhood,andendupatDorisBurnettshouse.ThisisontheeastsideofTuttleCreek.Thedateisyettobe

nalized (either Sat. Feb. 16th or the 23rd).


8/8

Northern Flint HIlls

Audubon Society

P.O. Box 1932

Manhattan, KS

66505-1932

SubscriptionInformation:Introductorymemberships-$20/yr.,thenbasicmembershipis$35/yr.WhenyoujointheNorthernFlintHillsAudubonSociety,youautomaticallybecomeamemberof theNationalAudubonSocietyandreceivethebimonthlyAudu-

bonmagazineinadditiontothePrairieFalconnewsletter.NewmembershipapplicationsmaybesenttoTreasurer,NFHAS,P.O.

Box1932,Manhattan,KS66505-1932.MakecheckspayabletotheNationalAudubonSociety.Membershiprenewalsarehandled

bytheNationalAudubonSocietyandshouldnotbesenttotheNFHAS.Questionsaboutmembership?Call1-800-274-4201oremailtheNationalAudubonSocietyjoin@audubon.org.

Ifyoudonotwanttoreceivethenationalmagazine,butstillwanttobeinvolvedinourlocalactivities,youmaysubscribe

tothePrairieFalconnewsletterfor$15/yr.MakecheckspayabletotheNorthernFlintHillsAudubonSociety,andmailto:Treasurer,

NFHAS,P.O.Box1932,Manhattan,KS,66502-1932.RAREBIRDHOTLINE:ForinformationonKansasBirds,sub-

scribetotheKansasBirdListserve.Sendthismessagetoandjoininthediscussions.

ContactsforYourElectedRepresentatives(anytime)Write,calloremail@GovernorKathleenSebelius:2ndFloor,StateCapitalBldg.,Topeka,KS66612.KansasSenatororRepresentative_________:StateCapitalBldg.,Topeka,KS66612.Ph#(duringsessiononly)Senate-785-296-7300.House-785-296-7500.U.S.SenatorRobertsU.S.Senate,WashingtonDC20510.orBrownbackU.S.CapitalSwitchboard202-224-

3121.PresidentG.W.Bush-TheWhiteHouse,Washington,DC20500.

NFHASBoardPresident: PatriciaYeager 776-9593VicePres. [email protected] 468-3587Secretary: MJMorgan

Treasurer: CarlaBishop 539-5129

COMMITTEEchairs:Membership: JacqueStaats

Programs:Conservation: NortheastPark JacqueStaats

Buttery Garden Susan Blackford

Education:

LandPreservatin JanGartonNewsletter [email protected] 468-3587

Fieldtrips: PatriciaYeager,HoogyHoogheem 776-9593At-large: TomMorgan,PaulWeidhaas,KevinFay

AudubonofKansasTrustee: HoogyHoogheem

Printed on 100% post-consumer

recycled paper

Non-profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit No. 662

Manhattan, KS 66502

Return Service Requested

Publishedmonthly(exceptAugust)bytheNorthernFlintHillsAudubonSociety,achapterof theNationalAudubonSociety.EditedbyCindyJeffrey,15850GalileeRd.,Olsburg,KS66520.([email protected])

Alsoavailableon-lineatwww.ksu.edu/audubon/falcon.html

jan 2008 prairie falcon northern flint hills audubon society

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