Dec 2007 Prairie Falcon Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
Jan 2008 Prairie Falcon Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
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8/9/2019 Jan 2008 Prairie Falcon Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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
Sunower chips 25lb $26.25
Sunower chips 50lb $50.75
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
Red Millet 25lb $16.50
Red Millet 50lb $29.25
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 (black) 25lb $13.50
Sunower (black) 50lb $25.00
Sunower (striped) 10lb $6.50
Sunower (striped) 25lb $13.50
Sunower (striped) 50lb $25.00
Thistle seed 10lb $14.75Thistle seed 25lb $30.50
White millet 10lb $4.75
White millet 25lb $9.75
White millet 50lb $17.75
Cheap cheep mix 10lb $4.75
Cheap cheep mix 25lb $10.75
Cheap cheep mix 50lb $19.50
Flint Hills feast 10lb $5.50
Flint Hills feast 25lb $12.25
Flint Hills feast 50lb $22.75
Super Finch mix 10lb $14.75Super Finch mix 25lb $29.50
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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).
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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