What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of ... Feb 2015 Outlook.pdf · Newsletter of the...

Audubon Outlook

“106 Years of Environmental Education 1909 - 2015”

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)Photo by Sue Barth

Newsletter of the Buffalo Audubon Society JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2015

What good is the warmth of summer

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

~ (Unknown)

Check out Buffalo Audubon Society Events Online

2 www.buffaloaudubon.org

The Buffalo Audubon Society promotes appreciation and

enjoyment of the natural world through education and stewardship.

BUFFALO AUDUBON SOCIETYA Chapter of the National Audubon Society

1610 Welch Road North Java, NY 14113

Ph 585.457-3228Fax 585.457-1378

E-mail: [email protected]

Officers & DirectOrs 2014/2015

PRESIDENT David Gordon

VICE PRESIDENT Janet Benjamins

RECORDING SECRETARY Marcia Nixon

TREASURER Stuart Hempel

DirectorsBethany CrahenMelissa Fratello

Katherine GormanKim Jackson

Richard KingstonMichael Petrinec

Dorothy RappJoseph Saeli

Natasha SotoSarah StanburyBrenda Young

staff

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Loren Smith

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Lauren Makeyenko

NATURALISTS Mark Carra Tom Kerr

Chris Kieber Carol Welsh

OFFICE MANAGER Jackie Keller

GIFT SHOP MANAGER Ellen George

CARETAKER Lynn Feist

Our Sincere Thanks To Our Recent Donors Legacy Society Members:

Anonymous (4) ~ Mary Canfield ~ Barbara Delenkitis Judith Hoffman ~ Dorothy Rapp ~ Susan and Allen Ott, Sr.

Amy Choboy and Pamela Rossotto Dr. Scott W. Phillips and Ms. Mary C. Carroll

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon StevensonThe Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have made a bequest or other estate plan to benefit the Buffalo Audubon Society, and who have let us know of their intent. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to these individuals for the wonderful commitment they have made to the long-term success of the Buffalo Audubon Society.

If you have made such a gift and would like to be recognized in this and other listings, or if you would like information about how to make such a gift, please contact Loren Smith at (585) 457-3228 or [email protected].

DONORS: Thanks to all who gave after we went to press and who will be listed in the next issue.

Buffalo Audubon is a proud member of the Western New York Environmental Alliance. Visit GrowWNY.org for more information!

In memory of Roger Black – The Reverend John Zeitler and Pat Black

In memory of Leonard Brooks – John & Lois Stutzman, Marian Ffield, Dorothy Rapp, David & Ana Zamorek, Andrea & Dale Greiner, Eydie Kasendorff and Alan Kusher, Judith P. Fischer, Richard and Constance Brogowski, Betty Tolli, Pat Black

In memory of Gloria Hudson – Joanne MorseIn memory of Bob Hull – Taddy DannIn memory of Priscilla Pratt – Marian FfieldIn memory of Millie Schwab –

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 392, Kurt Schwab

In honor of Taddy Dann’s Birthday – Laurie Dann

AnonymousDr. Susan AlessiMr. Joseph AllenMrs. Robert BeddomeMr. and Mrs. Lawrence ClareMiss Mary E. ClemeshaConable Family Foundation Fund

at the Community FoundationCrowley,Webb & AssociatesMs. Amy DonnEast Aurora Garden ClubMs. Marjorie K. FieldingMr. Michael FranksMs. Janet GlavesMr. and Mrs. Kyle HaakKathryn and Robert HallborgMs. Evelyn HoffmanMs. Cynthia KirchmeyerMr. Eli Knapp

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth L. KrempaMrs. Kalista LehrerMs. Laura LonskiMr. Norman F. MasseMs. Olive M. MerrillMr. and Mrs. William MichalekMrs. Ilsa MurrayMs. Dawn NewtonMr. Thomas O’DayMr. Thomas OdrzywolskiAllen and Susan OttMs. Deborah PanekMr. Paul PennerDr. Scott W. Phillips and Ms. Mary C. CarrollMr. Thomas PovinelliMs. Ann PowellMr. Robert RandMartha J. ReddoutMs. Carol E. ReisMs. Linnea SaundersMr. and Mrs. Tom SloanJane and Harold StockMr. and Mrs. Norbert S. StormPeter and Elizabeth C. Tower

Philanthropic FundMs. Jennifer TronoloneUnited Way of Buffalo & Erie CountyUnited Way of NiagaraKate Wagner and Dr. Lynn T. KozlowskiMr. Sidney WaltonMr. Ted WetherbeeMs. Kitty WheelerMs. Cherie Widger-KresgeMrs. Ginnie Yerkovich

Cover Photo – Snowy OwlWhen the mercury drops and the landscape hardens in winter’s icy grip, ghostly white Snowy Owls appear on fence posts, utility poles, fields and lakeshores throughout the region. Feathered to the toes, a Snowy Owl can remain active at cold temperatures that often send other owls to the woods for shelter. Read more about the Irruption of the Snowy Owls on page 6.

www.buffaloaudubon.org

Check out Buffalo Audubon Society Events Online 3

was the place of years ago. I looked around briefly from the flagpole parking lot and took in the nature center, solar array, and recycling center and thought it was more than I could have seen at night. To add to the coincidence, the very next day Gerry Rising, my friend and fellow Buffalo Ornithological Society member, called me to ask if I was interested in volunteering on the board of directors. So if you ever wonder how I got here, well, it is just that simple. It might be fun to have a meeting of the membership and share our stories of connection to the Society. I am sure that it would be rich.

I have seen many times during my time here that Buffalo Audubon is an establishment that has deep roots and one that has had a powerful impact on many people in various and exciting ways. Just as Orion keeps moving, so do life and time and now I see the finish line of my service as president of the board. I was fortunate to have the opportunity and space in my life to linger in the position longer than is usual but after two years of trying, we have been able to fill the vacant President-Elect position with an experienced and strong leader, Stuart Hempel. You will like him. Expect good things from the board under his care. I have a couple of letters left until the May, 2015 annual meeting but I thought it good to share this recent news with you now. We will keep looking up.

In Audubon, David Gordon

Loren Smith

ExEcutivE DirEctor’s MEssagE

David Gordon

PrEsiDEnt’s MEssagE

Welcome to a new year! I hope that you had a lovely holiday season and that you were able to get out and about to enjoy some of the fascinating natural places that we can find right here in our own Western New York backyard.

In this issue of Outlook you will see us turning over some new leaves – new programs, new opportunities, and new ways to experience the wonder of the natural world. With the support of the Conable Family Foundation we are initiating a new series of programs for adults. A good example is “Wine Making 101” in January and “Maple Syrup Production for Beginners” in February presented by local maple producer Norm Ameis. We hope that you find them informative and engaging. If there are topics

that you would like us to present on at Beaver Meadow or other locations, please send me an e-mail or drop me a line using the envelope we’ve enclosed.

This year we also are kicking off an effort to increase our member and donor rolls by 200/250 individuals! We rely upon our members and donors to ensure that we have the resources necessary to provide the highest-quality environmental programs, to steward Beaver Meadow and our other preserves, and to advocate for the environment across Western New York.

If you are a current member or donor – thank you! Please help us by spreading the word and asking those you know to consider joining our ranks. If you are a member of National Audubon please consider joining the Buffalo Audubon Society and making a difference right here in Western New York. If your membership has lapsed or you haven’t made a gift in a while, please consider rejoining us and renewing your support.

Our New Year’s resolution is to not rest on our laurels, but rather to push to provide higher quality offerings for children, families and communities across Western New York. We are so pleased to having you as part of our Audubon community – thank you for all that you do.

Loren Smith, Executive Director

At this time of year, as Orion glides powerfully across the southern sky, I remember the cold nights of my youth studying the night sky with my older brother Fred. I am now sure that the time spent looking upward, with or without binoculars, prepared me for my recent transition to birding. I certainly credit my resistance to “warbler neck” to early astronomy activities. Fred would later drive me at night to a place he called “Beaver Meadow.” It was a spot where dark was dark and the stars shone brighter. All I could see was the other astronomers and the red lights they used to see their telescopes and charts. Quite exciting and a nice change from the city where my brother and I would put brown paper grocery bags over the street lights to cut the light pollution a little.

Many years later I was out riding my motorcycle, following its lead, when I arrived in the full light of day at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center. It took a second but then I realized that this



Great Backyard Bird CountThe Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can now participate from anywhere in the world!

It’s free, fun, and easy. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, participants turned in more than 144,000 online checklists, creating the world’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

The 18th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 13, through Monday, February 16, 2015. Please visit the official website at www.birdcount.org for more information (or contact Tom Kerr at Buffalo Audubon) and be sure to check out the latest educational and promotional resources.

Theme Basket DonationsWe are looking for exciting and interesting theme baskets to raffle off during our Maple Festival on March 21 & 22. Your basket does not have to be expensive - just interesting or clever. It should be attractively wrapped in cellophane. You can use a basket but any unique container is fine (i.e. a watering can or flower pot for a garden set, a bucket for car care, a pail for beach theme). Other ideas include bath or kitchen items, candles, baby, coffee/tea, golf, fishing, dog/cat, toys, sports teams, picnic, pasta dinner - use your imagination or choose a favorite hobby! Large items that do not fit in a basket will also be accepted. Baskets should be dropped off at the Center by March 18th. If this is not convenient, please call the Center to make other arrangements.

Maple Harvest Festival

at Beaver MeadowMarch 21 & 22, 2015

9:00 am - 3:00 pmVisit our sugar shanty, taste fresh syrup, and Jack wax, see maple sugar made the Native American way, and fuel up with our famous Pancake Breakfast! Nature walks, crafts and other activities will occur all weekend long.

Give a Gift of Appreciated Stock Today!

There are many advantages to giving appreciated stock to the Buffalo Audubon Society instead of cash. According to an article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy,

donors who give appreciated stock, “Can take an immediate tax deduction for the full market value of the stock and also avoid the capital-gains tax they would owe by cashing in the securities. Then, using the cash they

might have otherwise donated, they can repurchase the same stock at a higher cost basis for capital-gains purposes.” Talk to

your financial advisor today, and call Buffalo Audubon at (585) 457-3228 if you have any

questions. Thank you for your support!



beats per minute from a normal of 80-100. During this time the land beaver (because of its resemblance to that rodent) will lose only about 1/4 of its body weight since it has saved all that energy with the lowered metabolism. When male mouse bears (looks like a mini bear when standing upright) finally emerge from hibernation in early February, they visit female burrows to seek out prospective mates and perhaps spend the night. Research suggests that mating does not take place at this time, but it is courtship before breeding which occurs in March when they emerge for good.

Woodchucks are also important ecologically. They are herbivores and therefore a prey species particularly for sustaining red fox. The extensive burrows are utilized by a number of other animals such as opossums, raccoons, skunks, some mice, chipmunks and weasels. Foxes may take over a burrow, enlarging it for their own use as a den. There is some evidence that the population of cottontail rabbits is tied to the number of woodchuck burrows, which are used for emergency shelters.

There is a lot of current interest in using woodchucks as a biological model to study liver tumors of viral origin. Woodchucks contract a hepatitis virus that causes liver tumors. This virus is similar to the one that causes liver tumors in humans.

So, whatever name you may choose to refer to this amazing animal (careful here...it needs to be fit to print), it is certainly fitting that they have their own special holiday!

Editor’s Note: We’ve occasionally had reports from kids who have seen ‘a beaver in a tree’ - perhaps a woodchuck seeking an antidote to their earth- and tunnel-bound lives!

EARTH DIRT... GET THE DIRT ON EARTH

By Chris Kieber

Consider the humble woodchuck of many endearing folk names: groundhog, whistle pig, land beaver, mouse bear, and Marmota monax to the scientific type folks. This largest member of the squirrel family is very common and is often despised for their voracious herbivorous appetite. Their diet includes not only wild grasses and many succulent summer plants such as dandelion, chickweed and goldenrod, but they also can’t resist vegetable garden plants particularly peas, beans, corn and carrot tops, as well as orchard apples. The extensive burrows, often 6 feet deep and continuing underground for 20 feet or more, provide groundhogs with their chief means of escaping enemies. Those tunnels also sometimes undermine the foundations of outbuildings and damage farm equipment when dropping into a collapsed burrow.

Hated, destructive and at best pesky, yet woodchucks are the only wild animal that has its own day. Groundhog Day is celebrated each year on February 2nd, when it is widely believed that this animal rivals the National Weather Service by being able to forecast the coming of spring. It is likely that this story of prognostication had its origin with early Dutch settlers who believed that badgers and hedgehogs could provide clues about the future. Lacking those species on this continent, they substituted the local animal that resembled the ones that had been familiar. It wasn’t until 1886 that the editor of a western Pennsylvania newspaper published a report that local groundhogs had not seen their shadow that day, signaling an early spring.

As remarkable as having a giant squirrel foretell weather, this pales when compared to the woodchuck’s (derived from a Native American name for the animal) other amazing abilities. They are among the few true hibernators that fatten up, getting quite plump (hence the name groundhog) in the season of abundant food in order to snooze for most of the winter. During hibernation - about 150 days without food - the whistle pig’s (sound of their alarm call) body temperature drops from about 99° F. to as low as 37°F. Their breathing rate plummets from 16 breaths per minute to as few as 2, while heart rate is reduced to 5



An adult Snowy Owl photographed near Beaver Meadow last winter. You can submit your photos of Snowy Owls to www.projectsnowstorm.org.

Pardon the IrruptionBy Tom Kerr

Last winter the United States saw one of the biggest invasions of Snowy Owls in history. Snowy Owls were seen as far south as Florida, and one was even spotted on a rooftop in Bermuda. Many birdwatchers and ornithologists thought last year might have been a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, but 2015 is already looking like another year of Arctic invasion. The Snowy Owls have already begun to arrive in Western New York. Three have been spotted at the Batavia Airport, another on the Buffalo State College Campus, and a total of seven were seen along the Buffalo Waterfront.

Ornithologists refer to these invasions of Snowy Owls as irruptions. Irruptions occur when winter food shortages force Snowy Owls further south of their normal range. The Irruption of 2013-2014 was caused in part by winter food shortages, but there were other factors at work as well. The Snowy Owl’s food of choice are small mammals, such as the lemmings that populate the tundra of northern Canada. In the summer of 2013, lemmings were so abundant that almost all the Snowy Owls that hatched in their nests were able to survive. Hunting was easy for their parents, and every mouth was stuffed with lemmings. Once winter came, there were not enough lemmings to feed every Snowy Owl, and hundreds were forced south of their usual wintering territory. This was trouble for many of the young and inexperienced owls, but the majority of them survived and returned to Northern Canada once spring came.

Citizen Science projects like the Christmas Bird Count, eBird.org, and Project Snowstorm have helped scientists track Snowy Owls and their movements across North America. An immature male Snowy Owl designated “Millcreek” was radio tagged on January 2014 near Erie, Pennsylvania and tracked by Project Snowstorm. He was last seen floating on the ice as it began to break up along the Buffalo Waterfront on April 23rd. Millcreek has popped up again this fall in Southeastern Ontario, and will likely spend some time around the Great Lakes.

If you are trying to find a Snowy Owl, the best places to look are open fields, farms, beaches, landfills, and airports. Snowy Owls will usually perch on or near the ground in a place with good visibility. They may look like they are asleep, but they are always on the lookout for anything trying to sneak up on them. Like most owls, their first line of defense is their camouflage. If you do spot a Snowy Owl, keep your distance. If they give up their perch, they can be harassed by other birds like hawks or crows who are not happy with sharing their territory with another predator. As always, make sure you are respectful of private property and restricted areas, such as airports and landfills. If you spot a Snowy Owl, make sure you report it to eBird.org, or submit pictures to ProjectSnowstorm.org. Information gathered by birdwatchers and photographers can help ornithologists understand and track Snowy Owls during irruption years. Happy New Year, and good luck finding Snowy Owls!



We are sad to report the passing of two cherished members of our Audubon Family. Elmer Marien, President from 2002 to 2004 and long-time volunteer, passed away on November 8, 2014. Robert (Bob) Hull, President from 1969 to 1971, long-time volunteer and generous supporter, passed away November 25, 2014. Bob’s family requested that memorials be made to Beaver Meadow. Please join us in expressing our condolences to the families.

Memorial

Exploring Beaver Meadow in the Winter

Snowshoes are available to rent at the Center, and you are always welcome to bring your own shoes or skis to explore our trails during the winter months! Our rental fee is $5 a day for snowshoes. We are happy to help you get started if you have never used snowshoes before. It’s a great way to experience nature.

57th Annual Allegany Nature Pilgrimage May 29, 30 & 31, 2015

Don’t you deserve a weekend in the woods?

The Allegany Nature Pilgrimage is an annual outdoor learning experience. It combines fun with a variety of nature oriented activities. This traditional weekend of natural history welcomes both the seasoned naturalist and the inquisitive beginner.

Hundreds of eager participants will gather in New York’s Allegany State Park. There are 80+ walks and talks through the weekend. Each trip is led by a teacher, professor, PhD, expert or someone sharing their lifelong passion.

Go to www.alleganynaturepilgrimage.com for information, registration or online payments.



a naturalist viEw

Mark Carra

Invasive MindsetMost of us know of invasive plants and creatures that live around us, but we rarely give such things any serious attention. I have spent a great deal of time recently attending conferences, meetings and on line for webinars concerning invasive species and my interest has been sufficiently piqued. The shrinking of the planet due to import/export, faster, easier travel options and the explosion of information worldwide has and will change the whole game.

The invasion of the Emerald Ash Borer was made possible by trade agreements with China. We require all the wood we export to other countries to be kiln dried to a temperature that is high enough to eradicate any insect larva that may be developing inside. However we didn’t require Chinese wooden pallet producers to subject their shipping pallets to the same measure of protection, so the Emerald Ash Borer was able to sneak into our country and devastate our precious ash trees.

The importation of exotic potted plants for our insatiable need to transplant the rainforest into our living rooms has brought many unwanted things where they really don’t belong. There is a tiny blind worm-like creature, the Brahminy Blind Snake, that was accidentally imported into Florida in 1983 by greenhouses who brought in potted plants from Southeast Asia. This snake has hitchhiked to so many locations around the globe in the soil of plants that it is now considered the most widely distributed snake in existence. There is a story that is told of the head of a rather large environmental organization who brown-bagged her lunch to a New York City high-rise every day. She had purchased a beautiful potted plant for the office and while reaching for her lunch one day she noticed a long line of peach-colored ants stretching from the beautiful plant to her lunch bag. Upon closer inspection she observed that these ants seemed rather unique so she called a friend who was a prominent entomologist and found

out they were of a species unknown to science, that species now bears her name.

One of the latest invasive scourges to infiltrate our neighborhoods is the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid. Interestingly enough this unwanted foreigner was first seen in the USA out West in 1924 and was first detected in the Eastern US in 1951 near Richmond VA. Our Eastern Hemlocks are particularly vulnerable to the attack of this tiny non-native since there is no natural bio-control living here. It seems the most promising solution to this unwanted infestation is a creature native to the Pacific Northwest that has an appetite for said Adelgid. The problem is that efforts to propagate and distribute these miniscule beetles, Laricobius nigrinus, has proved to be a difficult task. The story goes on and on with crop pests topping the list in sheer numbers and economic impact.

We at the Buffalo Audubon Society have taken on a more hands on approach as an active member of the Western New York PRISM Group, Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management. We are identifying potential infestations of invasives, educating the public on the issues and developing methods to control potential problem species.

What can I do to help, you might ask? Nothing, right? Well what most of us can do is change our mindset from desiring exotics in our yards to searching for and demanding only native trees, shrubs and flowers. When animals and plants evolve in the same habitat, both benefit to such an extreme degree that the health of all is markedly improved. You may think that your yard is too small to matter in the complex world of invasive species control, but you must understand that you are the first line of defense against non-native pests and through education you will become a more vital partner in the necessary fight against the waves of past, present and future invasive species.

Hemlock wooly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) at the base

of hemlock needles



Buffalo Audubon Society Membership Application

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discounts and specials.

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q Please send me Outlook via e-mail to save precious resources & funds.

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Visit The BAS Gift Shop at Beaver Meadow!

Winter Book Sale!Reading - what a great

way to spend a cold winter night!

All books 20% off for the month of

January!Bird Seed Sale March 28, 2015 -

see next month’s issue



Calendar of Events

JanuaryNOTE: The regularly scheduled Walk at

Knox Farm State Park will now be taking place once a month on the first Saturday of the month.

1 Thu CENTER CLOSED – Trails are always open.

3 Sat 9am Walk at Knox Farm State Park – “New Year Hike” – Button up your jackets as we walk through the park on this chilly day in search of natural happenings. (KF) Donations.

3 Sat 9am Niagara River Waterfowl Hike at Squaw Island Park - Join Buffalo Audubon Naturalist Tom Kerr for a walk along the Niagara River to look for the many different species of waterfowl that spend their winters with us. Binoculars are available. Donations. Meet at parking loop.

3 Sat 6pm – 7:30pm Full “Wolf Moon” Walk – Join us for an evening walk under the light of the full moon. If we have enough snow, bring your snowshoes or rent them from us! $5; add $3 for snowshoe rental. (BM)

10 Sat 10-3pm Boy Scout Photography Merit Badge Workshop – All things photography! Digital versus film, depth of field, f-stop, focus, shutter speed, stop action, composition, etc. Take better pictures as you understand how your camera works & enjoy photography more! Bring a digital camera, media card (SD Card, etc.), cord for picture transfer and your manual. Prerequisite is 4a. Sign up early! $12 per scout. (BM)

10 Sat 9am – noon Winter Trails Day – Winter Trails is a free one day event where people new to snow sports can try snowshoeing. Whether you need help with the new pair of snowshoes you just received as a gift or if you want to try a pair of ours out, join us at Beaver Meadow for a fun time outdoors and indoors for a cup of hot cocoa afterwards! (BM) Free. Weather permitting. Call the Center to confirm.

11 Sun 1-2:30pm Snowshoe Walk at Knox Farm State Park – Join us for a healthy walk around Knox Farm State Park. Bring your own snowshoes or rent them from us! Walk will still take place if we do not have enough snow for snowshoeing. Donations. $3 for snowshoe rental. (KF)

17 Sat 10am – noon Junior Audubon Club – Join us for our first meeting of 2015! Buffalo Audubon Naturalist Tom Kerr will help kids learn how to spot a field mark, identify birds by using a field guide, and how to properly use binoculars. The first 10 kids to register will receive a free field guide and journal! Kids ages 8-16 are invited to join! Donations. (BM)

All programs require pre-registration.

For Beaver Meadow Programs call (585) 457-3228.

For Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge programs call (585) 948-5445, Ext. 2222 to register.

Locations – (BM) Beaver Meadow Audubon Center, (KF) Knox Farm State Park, (IO) Iroquois

National Wildlife Refuge.

Every Wednesday 9am-2pm is Volunteer Day at Beaver Meadow. For all Audubon volunteers -

even first timers! No need to register, but bring a lunch.

18 Sun 2-3:30pm Wine Making 101 - We will go through the different parts of a winemaking equipment kit, explain what does what, and anything that makes the job easier. See what’s in a wine kit and explain all the ingredients, what they do, how to mix it up, and tell about all the steps to make wine. We will do some wine tastings and answer any questions you might have. Books with different wine kits will be available. Presented by Main Street Wines & Supplies, Arcade, NY. $10 Adults ages 21 and over. (BM)

24 Sat 10am – 12pm – Winter World - From flying squirrels to brown bears, and from torpid turtles to insects with antifreeze, the animal kingdom relies on some staggering innovations to survive winter. Join us at Beaver Meadow for this fun family program and explore how animals are adaptable to an amazing range of conditions. $5; Discount available for groups of 5 or more. (BM)

25 Sun 1-2:30pm Snowshoe Walk at Knox Farm State Park – Join us for a healthy walk around Knox Farm State Park. Bring your own snowshoes or rent them from us! Walk will still take place if we do not have enough snow for snowshoeing. Donations. $3 for snowshoe rental. (KF)



17 Tue 1-3pm Winter Fat Tuesday – Celebrate Fat Tuesday with us by exploring the preserve and learning about winter hibernators, deep sleepers and active animals. Make and take Mardi Gras mask activity with a nature theme too! $5/$3 BAS Members. (BM)

18 Wed 7-9pm New Moon Owl Prowl - Join us for a nocturnal search for owls on the darkest night of the month. Registrants will also participate in an owl pellet dissection and learn about what our feathered friends dine on at night. $5 (BM)

21 Sat 3-6pm Junior Audubon Club - Join Buffalo Audubon Society Naturalist Tom Kerr and the Lockport Public Library for our Monthly Birding Adventure! Kids will learn about owls and other birds of prey that spend their winter in Niagara County. Each kid will get their own owl pellet to dissect, and then we will head outside to search for Shorteared and Snowy Owls along local farms and fields. Kids ages 8 to 16. Call 585-457-3228 to register. Farmilies are welcome! A short intro to binoculars will be conducted for newcomers. Binoculars are provided. Participants must provide their own transportation.

22 Sun 2-3:30pm Kids Tropical Terrarium Workshop - Beat that post-holiday cabin fever by bringing the kids in for an all-inclusive open terrarium workshop! This class provides a short lesson followed by a fun and exciting terrarium building hands-on activity. All plants are minimal care and easy to grow, designed for the most successful learning experience! Kids of all ages are welcome but the workshop is best suited for kids ages 8 and up. Cost: $25 ($10 class, $15 materials). Pre-registration required. (BM)

28 Sat 1-3pm Hummingbirds at Home –There is a growing mismatch between flowering times and the arrival of hummingbirds in their breeding areas and we don’t know how this is going to impact hummingbirds. Hummingbirds at Home collects data on how hummingbirds interact with nectar sources so that we can begin to understand – the first step towards ensuring the survival of these miraculous birds in the face of climate change. Join us inside the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center and learn more about hummingbirds of the world and ways that you can contribute to National Audubon’s Hummingbirds at Home Citizen Science program. FREE. (BM)

Looking Ahead to March7 Sat 9am Walk at Knox Farm State Park

7 Sat 10am-3pm Boy Scout Bird Study Merit Badge Workshop - Don’t be one of those people who see something in flight and dismiss it as “just a bird.” Come and learn how to ID most birds quickly and dive into their fascinating world. Color, field marks, behavior, and song are the things that make each species unique. Pre-requisites are 2, 6, 8a. $12 per scout. Pre-registration required. (BM)

21-22 Sat-Sun 9am-3pm Maple Harvest Festival! Delicious pancakes are waiting for you!

21 Sat Seed Sale Order Forms Due

28 Sat 10am-12noon Seed Sale Pick Up Day. (BM)

February7 Sat 9am Walk at Knox Farm State Park – “Groundhog

Ways.” Learn about the sleepers in Western New York as we hike along the trails in search of the telltale signs of their awakenings throughout the winter. (KF) Donations.

7 Sat 9am – noon Winter Waterfowl at Buckhorn Island State Park - Join Buffalo Audubon for a winter hike along the Niagara River to observe one of the largest congregations of migratory waterfowl in the world. Meet at Canoe Launch Parking Lot on East-West Park Road. Donations.

8 Sun 2-4pm Maple Syrup Production for Beginners - Maple syrup is among the oldest natural food products produced in North America. Join Norm Ameis from Sunny Hill Farm in Arcade for the do’s and don’ts of maple syrup production. This workshop is perfect for those who are interested in learning more about how to do it yourself! $10 Adults. (BM)

14 Sat 10am – 3pm Boy Scout Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Workshop - Survival when you’re lost requires preparation, understanding your priorities, fire and shelter building skills, signaling techniques, knowledge of basic first-aid and making clean water. We will teach you these skills to help you survive if ever you are lost. Pre-requisites 5, 7a, & 8. Sign up early! $12 per scout. (BM)

14 Sat 10am – noon Winter Tree ID - Join John Sly, forestry expert and longtime BAS leader, as he demonstrates how to identify trees and bushes by examining bark, shape, branching and location, without relying on leaf shape. The hike will start at the Audubon Center with a display of tree twigs, followed by an outdoor hike and end back at the center for hot chocolate. $5 (BM)

14 Sat 5:30 – 7pm Valentine’s Day Walk – Hold the hand of your someone special and join us for a romantic evening walk around the preserve. If we have enough snow, bring your snowshoes or rent them from us! We will end the walk with hot cocoa and cookies! Adults. $5; add $3 for snowshoe rental. (BM)

15 Sun 1-2:30pm Cross-Country Skiing at Knox Farm State Park - Join us for a serene guided cross-country ski tour of the park. Bring your own skis and join us! Weather permitting. Call Center to confirm. Donations. (KF)

c/o Beaver Meadow Audubon Center 1610 Welch Road, North Java, NY 14113 [email protected]

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBuffalo, N.Y.Permit #195

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Audubon Outlook

BEAVER MEADOW AUDUBON CENTER Open Year-round

- Hours - Tuesday - Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM

Sunday 1 PM - 5 PM Closed on Mondays and Major Holidays

Trails are always open

Buffalo Audubon Preserves Open Year-round

Dawn to Dusk, Open to the Public

What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of ... Feb 2015 Outlook.pdf · Newsletter of the...

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Transcript of What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of ... Feb 2015 Outlook.pdf · Newsletter of the...