Big Bluestem Flyer

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Volume 39, Number 2 November/December2003

Programs Field Trips

November 20 November 7-9
Royce Bitzer Rivers and Bluffs Fall Birding Festival, Lansing,
“The Mesopotamia Marshes of Southern Iraq” Iowa. Tundra Swans, Bald Eagles, and migrating hawks
This presentation will discuss the Marshes, their and waterfowl. Field trips in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
wildlife, indigenous people, water issues of the Tigris- Iowa. Programs, speakers, local attractions, and meals
Euphrates river basin, and the recent efforts of groups together at local restaurants. $5/person ($2 age 7-17).
such as the Eden Again Project to restore the Marshes to Optional boat trip $13/person. Income beyond expenses
their former splendor. See Page 2 for more background. will be used for future bird conservation and education
Royce is a postdoctoral research associate in the ISU activities. For more information, contact Ric or Betty
Department of Entomology. He has been working with Zarwell, P.O. Box 299, Lansing, IA 52151, 563-538-4991,
the Eden Again Project to restore the marshes of preferably by e-mail: zarxzar@salamander.com.
southern Iraq. November 15
Yellow Banks Park, Runnells, and Red Rock
December 18 Wildlife Area. View migrating songbirds and waterfowl
along the Des Moines River and at Lake Red Rock. Meet
BBAS Holiday for the Birds and BBAS at 8:00 am behind WBU.
Member Picture Show December14
(Note: 7 pm - Story County Conservation Building,
Saylorville Christmas Bird Count. Contact
McFarland Park)
Leader: Jim Dinsmore: 292-3152. E-mail:
Bring:(1) bird feed for the park (cash accepted); (2) a
oldcoot@iastate.edu.
few slides or CD-ROM pictures to share of your year’s
activities and (3) party treats! Extra goodies will be used December 20
at the dinner after the Ames Christmas Bird Count. Ames Christmas Bird Count. Contact Leader: Dave
Edwards: 292-3790. E-mail: dcejce@qwest.net.
January 3, 2004
Boone Christmas Bird Count. Contact Leader:
Program meetings are held monthly, September-May on Mark Widrlechner: 233-1532. E-mail: mpwskd@aol.com.
the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm, Room
For details about regular field trips,
2226 Veterinary Medicine Building, Iowa State
contact Jeff Nichols for more information at
University, Ames, Iowa.
515-795-4176 or jnichols1961@hotmail.com.
If you would like to meet and dine with the speaker and Destinations may vary according to birding condition.
the BBAS Board before the monthly meeting, please
confirm space and location with John Pohlman at
515-232-6816 or itsartjohn@isunet.net

In This Issue
Page 2 Officers and Committees Page 5 Hawk Watch Weekend
President’s Column BBAS Supports Bird Conservation Area
The Mesopotamian Marshes of Southern Iraq Page 6 Backyard & Beyond - Karl Jungbluth
Page 3 Christmas Bird Count Invitation Prairie Winds - Mike Meetz
Field Trip Reports Page 7 New Members
Important Bird Areas Update Membership Form
Page 4 Young Naturalist’s Camp Coupons
Mortensen Mounds Page 8 Boone County 4th Grade Birding
 President’s Column
Many of you may have attended a bird watching event
in the past six months. Perhaps it was the Pelican Fest
at Saylorville Lake or the Hawk Watch at Effigy Mound.
It might have been our own Bird-a-thon last May. Did
you notice the large areas of open agriculture land that
is absent of wildlife, including birds? I am sure you
noticed an abundance of birds and other wildlife
attracted to the adjoining buffer strips and wooded
landscapes. While some of these are virgin habitats,
many new wildlife habitats have been added through
recent farm conservation programs.
James Dinsmore, recognized bird authority and guest
speaker at the Pelican Gala recently told one of Iowa’s
wildlife habitat success stories. In the early 1980s
pelicans started to return to the Saylorville Dam area
after discovering the newly created natural habitat.
Over the years the pelican population has grown
dramatically, and this year he observed thousands of
pelicans are migrating through central Iowa. This is a
“build it and they will come” success story for restoring
natural habitat.
The Mesopotamian Marshes of Southern Iraq
(Continued from Program Announcement on first page)
Once the most extensive wetlands in the Middle East,
the southern Iraqi marshes covered an area larger than
the Florida Everglades. For at least five thousand years,
this slowly flowing fresh-water marsh-reed ecosystem at
the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was
an oasis for the arid lands of southwest Asia. It was an
Eden not only for its indigenous people but also for
abundant and diverse wildlife, including millions of mi-
gratory birds that stopped to rest and feed in the
Marshes during their long flight from Africa to Siberia.
Today, only eight percent of the former marshlands
Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Officers and Committees
Officers
President: John Pohlman 232-6816 itsartjohn@isunet.net
Vice-President: Linda Thomas 292-7534 wbuames@mcleodusa.net
Secretary: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995 behresma@opencominc.com
Treasurer: Ed Carbrey 292-2404
Board Members
Breanne Marpe, 432-1231 breannehucka@yahoo.com
Jeff: Nichols 795-4176 jnichols1961@hotmail.com
Maridel Jackson 515-964-0140 mpwj410@covad.net
Wolfgang Oesterreich 515-232-3285 (h) wolf@iastate.edu
Matt Wetrich 956-4299 mwetrich@iastate.edu
The mission of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society to
enjoy the observation and study of birds and natural
ecosystems, contribute to their conservation and
restoration, engage in educational activities to benefit BBAS Web Site: http://www.wyalusing.org/BBAS.htm
humanity, and gain a broader understanding and deeper Iowa Bird Sightings Hotline 319-338-9881
appreciation of the world in which we live. Wildlife Care Clinic 515-294-4900
2 Big Bluestem Flyer
Wildlife habitat in our state is greatly affected by the
level of conservation. High levels of conservation are
greatly impacted by political decisions. The national
League of Conservation Voters (LCV) tracks those
political decisions. LCV primarily evaluates national
laws voted on by Congress impacting conservation. LCV
then ranks how each politician voted and assigns them a
score. A high score is good for conservation, a low score
is bad for conservation. For this scoring visit the LCV
website, www.lcv.org.
If you value bird watching, Iowa has a unique political
position and is ripe with opportunities to get close to our
national politicians at meetings and fundraisers as well
as through our state’s early presidential caucuses.
I encourage you all to get actively involved, check your
politicians LCV score, contact your elected officials with
your opinion of the condition of wildlife habitat, attend
your Iowa caucus and interview political candidates on
their conservation agenda. Good conservation equals
good habitat that equals good bird watching.
John Pohlman
remain. Beginning in 1991, the former Iraqi regime de-
liberately destroyed the Marshes to persecute Iraq’s
southern Shi’a population. This wanton destruction deci-
mated the wildlife and drove out the indigenous people.
By constructing an extensive network of levees and ca-
nals to divert the rivers’ water around the Marshes,
combined with a campaign of burning, poisoning, and
bombing, the regime turned over 90% of the area into a
salt-encrusted wasteland within twelve years.
Awareness of the Marshes and interest in restoring
them has grown substantially over the past two years.
Royce Bitzer
Committee Chairs
Archivist: Hank Zaletel 382-427 madowl@midiowa.net
Bird-a-thon Co-chairs: Karl and Carmen Jungbluth, 432-5057
weatherbird.opencominc.com
Conservation Chair: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995
behresma@opencominc.com
Education Chair: Amy Yoakum, 232-2516
ayoakum@storycounty.com
Field Trip Chair: Jeff Nichols jnichols1961@hotmail.com
Membership Chair: Al Johnson 233-4831 awindj@aol. com
Program Chair: vacant
Publicity Chair: Linda Thomas 292-7534 wbuames@mcleodusa.net
Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:
David Edwards 292-3790 dcejce@qwest.net
Joyce Bahrenfus 275-3263 jbahren@netins.net
November/December 2003
 Christmas Bird Count Invitation
More than 50,000 observers participate each year in
this international, all-day census of early-winter bird
populations. The results of their efforts are compiled into
the longest running database in ornithology,
representing over a century of unbroken data on trends
of early-winter bird populations across the Americas.
Simply put, the Christmas Bird Count, or "CBC", is
citizen science in action.
From beginning birder to seasoned ornithologist, all
are welcome to participate on any Christmas Bird
Count. Participants must do their counting within a
designated 15-mile CBC circle on the given count day.
The inclusive dates of the Official Count period are
always December 14th through January 5th of each
season. Historically, the Ames count is held the first
Saturday of the period, December 20 this year. The
Saylorville count will be on the earliest date, Sunday
the 14th. The Boone count is scheduled for Saturday,
January 3rd.
Field Trip Reports
September 27, 2003
Snake Creek Marsh, Lakin Slough, and Bays
Branch.
Nine participants enjoyed exploring several wind-
blown sites in Boone, Greene, and Polk Counties. High-
lights were Long-billed Dowitchers, Wilson's Snipe, and
Sora at Harrier Marsh; American Bittern at Snake
Creek Marsh (but no Nelson's Sharp-tailed or LeConte's
Sparrows or Yellow Rail); Great Egret at Lakin Slough;
and Caspian Terns at Bays Branch and Saylorville Dam.
Forester's Terns were also present at Saylorville, but we
could not locate the Common Terns reported earlier in
the week. We also enjoyed a great lunch at Carmen’s
Restaurant in Panora.
October 4, 2003
Kirsten Munson
Important Bird Areas Update
The Important Bird Areas program of Audubon Iowa
recently certified 40 areas in Iowa as IBAs. These were
selected from about 180 areas that previously had been
given provisional status as IBAs. Generally, for an area
to be certified as an IBA, data must be collected on
either selected breeding species or concentrations of
migrant birds over at least two years. The 40 IBAs are
only the first of what will probably be more than 100
November/December 2003
Count circles are divided into specific areas in which a
group of 4 or more birders plan their method of search.
Experienced leaders are responsible for each area, and
this is a good place for those unsure of their skills to
learn. Most but not all participants spend the whole day.
Feeder counts are also made on the same day in each
count circle. At day’s end, participants meet for supper
and share stories and bird tallies.
You may sign-up for a count at the November BBAS
meeting or call the respective count leaders indicated on
the first page of this newsletter. Past participants will
likely be contacted directly by the count leaders.
Participants 18 years of age and under can participate
for free. All others are asked to pay $5.00 to help
Audubon cover CBC program costs (such as database/
web development costs, and the publication of the CBC
results summary).
David Edwards
Diversity Farms/Saving Our Avian Resources.
Kay Neuman, director of S.O.A.R. led seven BBAS
members on a tour of the new raptor rehabilitation facil-
ity, an energy-efficient building constructed of recycled
materials. Raptors currently at the facility were Great
Horned Owls, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagles, American
Kestrels, Eastern Screech Owl, Northern Harrier, and a
Krider’s Red-tailed Hawk. After the tour, Kay and her
husband Jon Judson invited us to explore the surround-
ing fields, restored prairie, and woodlands. Thanks, Kay
and Jon! We next traveled to Carroll for lunch. After-
wards, several of us explored the Carroll Cemetary,
where we scoped a perched Common Nighthawk. At
Swan Lake State Park, we observed 100s of Franklin’s
Gulls and a lone Pied-billed Grebe. We ended the day
with 40 species.
Jeff Nichols
IBAs in Iowa. Among central Iowa areas that were
certified at this time were Ledges State Park and
Saylorville Reservoir. For more information on the
IBA program including how you can nominate new areas
for IBA status or add data to sites that have already
been selected, check the IBA website at:
www.iowabirds.org/IBA
Jim Dinsmore
Big Bluestem Flyer 3
 Young Naturalist’s Camp - My Nature Camp Experience
This summer I had the opportunity to go to the Young
Naturalist’s Camp at the Y-Camp near Boone. The Big
Bluestem Chapter gave several area kids
scholarships for the camp, which we all really
appreciated. We did a lot of interesting things during the
week we were there and also learned a lot.
When we first got to camp we passed the time with
some games that our counselor, Mad Dog played with us.
Then we went to the pool to take the swimming test. The
water was really cold so we didn’t swim very long. After
we got back to our cabin we got to know each other and
made a contract of good and bad things to do. Next we
ate dinner (camp food is really pretty good!), then went
to the evening program. Bruce and Marlene Ehresmann
were the speakers. After telling us about bats we went to
the bat boxes and watched them come out. We counted
over 100 that came out of one house. There are about
1000 Little Brown Bats which summer in the many
camp bat houses. That was an exciting end to day one.
On Tuesday we took a bus to Don Williams Lake
where we saw the hack tower and ospreys on the camera
system. There were two Ospreys in the tower that
morning. Two more had already left the tower. Then we
went to another part of the lake and netted bugs. I found
boatmen, striders, dragon fly and damsel fly larvae and
others. Kim Bogenshots also talked to us about water
quality.
After lunch, we set up a tee-pee that we would sleep in
that night. Then we went to the climbing tower. It is 40
feet high so I had to wear a harness in case I fell. It was
really hard and it took me a long time but I made it to
the top. After that we had dinner at a campfire. We
roasted hot dogs then marshmallows.
That evening Karl Jungbluth gave a talk about birds
and weather radar. Sometimes the radar ground clutter
Mortensen Mounds
Mortensen Mounds had its first-ever seed harvest in
mid-October. Collection included both grasses (little and
big bluestem, Indian) and forbes (yellow prairie cone-
flower, oxeye, Pitcher’s sage, stiff goldenrod). These
seeds will be sown in the empty spots left by the earlier
removal of Maximilian sunflower and crownvetch. A
flock of goldfinch “harvested” Maximilian sunflower dur-
ing the time these seeds were being collected.
A second sign identifying Mortensen Mounds was con-
structed by David Edwards from materials paid for by
Big Bluestem. It was installed on the north side along
the walking trail. It was needed because, although peo-
ple driving past on the south side can view the original
sign, those passing on the north side along the walking
trail would ask “What is going on here?” Now they will
understand.
4 Big Bluestem Flyer
is actually flocks of birds. It was a good talk.
We made a fire in the tee-pee that night to keep the
mosquitoes out. We only burned toilet paper.
Wednesday morning Jason O’Brien taught us about
nature mapping. Then we did an orienteering project
where we would get headings to move toward until we
found a flag and then get another heading etc. until we
got to the end. That was fun.
After lunch we did the low ropes, which are like
bouldering, then we went swimming.
That night we went on a hike in pitch-black darkness.
It was exciting. We saw glow in the dark mushrooms
and Mike, the person in charge of the Young Naturalist
Camp, called Barred Owls. None responded though.
The next day we went on a canoe trip and picked up
trash on the sand bars. Later we had canoe races on a
pond.
Thursday night we went with Dick McWilliams to
shock fish at Don Williams Lake. Another camper and I
caught the biggest fish, a 15 lb. Carp.
Friday morning we went on a hike where Mike got
into stinging nettles. We saw yellow warblers and
redstarts. After our hike we tried throwing spears with
atalatals. It was really hard.
We had a dance that night then went to inspiration
point and had a campfire. Then we hiked. We stopped
several times and Mike told us stories about caring,
respect, honesty, and responsibility. Each time we
stopped we lit a candle. We also heard flying squirrels in
the trees on the hike.
Saturday was pack up day. I had a great time at camp and
learned a lot. I also made some new friends.
Karl Grotheer
Additional comments indicating enjoyment and appre-
ciation came from six passersby this summer, giving
support to the idea that our Audubon project is continu-
ing to be successful in adding beauty and contributing to
learning in our community.
Jeanne Edwards
November/December 2003
 Hawk Watch Weekend
For those who ventured to Effigy Mounds National
Monument on the traditional last weekend in Septem-
ber, another memorable event occurred. The 19th An-
nual Hawk Watch Weekend was, as usual, a great ex-
cuse to get outside and enjoy beautiful northeastern
Iowa woodlands and watch migrating birds of prey.
Most of the 1700 plus people (including a contingent of
BBAS members) who came to see raptors winging their
way southward, were not disappointed. Clearing skies
and a strong northwest wind made Saturday the better
of the two days to observe migrating raptors, flying
southward above the bluffs of the Mississippi River. A
total of 358 raptors (and vultures) of 11 species were tal-
lied during the weekend. For the first time that I can
remember, the bald eagle was the most numerous spe-
cies, with 72 counted; followed by 66 Turkey Vultures,
62 Broad-winged Hawks, and 46 Sharp-shinned Hawks.
Other species seen included: Cooper’s, Red-tailed, Red-
shouldered, and Rough-legged Hawks, as well as Osprey,
American Kestrel, and Peregrine Falcon. There also
were many raptors that flew by whose identity will
never be known!
Besides watching migrating hawks, there were many
other weekend activities for people to enjoy. For exam-
ple, there were several presentations about raptor iden-
tification and life history given by our local environ-
mental educator extraordinaire, Mike Havlik; while Kay
Neumann, of Saving Our Avian Resources, brought live
raptors for presenting and interacting with the public.
People were delighted to see live birds of prey and
seemed interested in learning what makes raptors
unique and what ongoing programs exist that benefit
raptors. Marlene
Ehresman flitted
about the crowds in
her Barred Owl
costume and as-
sisted delighted
youngsters as they
dissected owl pel-
lets. Iowa DNR
Wildlife Diversity
Program staff gave
several presenta-
tions featuring
Iowa’s raptors.
Plus, they manned the viewing station where migrating
raptors were tallied and interacted with the many en-
thusiastic hawk watchers who joined them. Large
groups of people also delighted in watching the release of
a number of raptors which had been captured at a local
hawk banding station during the weekend.
Hawk Watch is coordinated by Pam Kester and co-
sponsored by Upper Audubon Society, Effigy Mounds
National Monument, the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources Wildlife Diversity Program, and National
Audubon’s Upper Mississippi River Campaign. As Pam
says, “It is powered by the boundless energy of volun-
teers, and operated on a shoestring budget.” It is the
boundless energy of the people involved with this event
that makes it so worthwhile to attend.
Bruce Ehresman

BBAS Supports Bird Conservation Area Program

The BBAS Board of Directors recently voted to donate
$1000 toward the purchase of a 913 acre parcel in the
heart of the Union Hills Bird Conservation Area (BCA).
This acreage is located about six miles south of Clear
Lake in Cerro Gordo County and will be an important
addition to one of Iowa’s premiere shorebird areas. Not
only is this area important to migrating shorebirds, but
with its approximately 3,000 protected acres, it provides
valuable nest sites for many grassland birds and water-
birds. Although the appraised value of the land is
$480,000, the $1000 that BBAS is contributing toward
the purchase makes us a recognizable partner in bird
conservation efforts in Iowa. Other Audubon groups of
Iowa will be contacted to invite their participation in
this acquisition, as well.
There also were several other projects that the BBAS
Board opted to fund. The Board approved $498 for 12
Audubon Adventures kits that will be distributed for use
to a number of appreciative local school teachers. Matt
Wetrich has designed a very attractive poster to promote
BBAS locally, and he will be awarded a total of $150 to
print copies of the poster for distribution. And finally,
Kay Neumann will be awarded $100 in support of Sav-
ing Our Avian Resources (SOAR), which is a program
devoted to raptor rehabilitation, research, and environ-
mental education. Bruce Ehresman

Newsletter Material Deadlines

Because we would like to have the newsletter to each member before the first day of its coverage, the editor
needs to have material at least two weeks before that.
Hence the deadlines for the future will be the fifteenth of December, February, and April.
Please be aware that editing your offering for length and style is sometimes necessary.
David Edwards, Editor

November/December 2003 Big Bluestem Flyer 5

 The Backyard and Beyond
The autumn transition has taken place, from Orioles
and mosquitoes, to colorful falling leaves, White-
throated Sparrows, and ladybugs. The number of Dark-
eyed Juncos increases every day, but luckily many of the
ladybugs have gone away to huddle in the garage. On
the weekend of October 4 and 5, those Asian lady beetles
filled the air around our place, and nearly covered the
walls of the house and garages. Stepping outside let
hundreds into the house, and dozens came to land on
me. They drove me indoors, a pretty tough thing to do!
The day before the ladybugs hit, I spent a beautiful
morning down by the creek. Robins were everywhere,
along with one male Scarlet Tanager still sporting a few
Prairie Winds
Prairie Winds is in the midst of the fall migration. I
am crouched in my blind trying to harvest some of our
local waterfowl before they leave for points south. In the
distance the dryer fan in a neighbor’s grain bin drones in
a monotonous tone. Saint, our Golden Retriever sits at
my left, teeth chattering. She is wet but temperatures
this morning are in the high 50’s. I chalk her chattering
up to her excitement of being out here. I reassure her by
resting my hand on her head.
The calm waters get me to thinking about some of our
visitors seen the past couple of days. The water plantain
gently undulates with the water movements; earlier the
plants supported Sora that skittered about the
vegetation. Last week, Bruce Ehresman released a
rehabilitated Yellow Rail which quickly slipped into the
emergent vegetation.
On an earlier walk west a pair of meadowlarks
flushed, flew in single file along the fence line, and
without a sound dropped into a stand of Common
Ragweed. The lead bird looked like a western making
the follower an eastern.
In the far northwest corner mulberrys and wild plum
provide refuge for a variety of critters. I caught a motion
and a flick of black and gray. Raising the binoculars I
expected to see a Catbird come into focus but imagine
my surprise to focus on the right ear of a doe Whitetail
Deer. Ears were the only thing visible until she bolted
and headed southwest into standing corn.
The prairie is alive with the mixing movements of
Harris’, Tree, and White-Throated Sparrows. A number
of other LBJs (little brown jobs) rise above the plants
6 Big Bluestem Flyer
red feathers. They were eating wild grapes. Then it was
bath time for Robins, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-
crowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings and a huge flock of
grackles. It was a real audio-visual experience.
On Tuesday, I heard an interesting story on Public
Radio, “The Birds of the Boreal: Canadian Forest is
Home to Billions of Migratory Birds”. The story high-
lighted the beautiful songsters that nest in the boreal
forest and give us thrills during migration. Some of
these birds have American names, like Tennessee War-
bler and Philadelphia Vireo, and many are declining in
number. The reason? Logging to produce newspaper,
magazines and catalogs, and oil exploration. The story
left me thinking about my consumer choices once again.
Do I really need to buy that 18-pound Sunday newspa-
per this week? Maybe I’ll go out looking for White-
throated Sparrows and Winter Wrens instead. The story
is online at: http://www.npr.org/programs/re/
archivesdate/2003/oct/boreal/index.html
Karl Jungbluth
and stay in view just long enough to frustrate my I.D.
attempts.
Last evening I refreshed the sugar water in the
hummingbird feeder for perhaps the last time. Two days
earlier Linda and I watched a female ruby-throated
“plug” itself into the tap for a jolt of the liquid rocket
candy. Though past the recommended time, we keep our
“fueling station” open for possible stragglers who may
need a boost.
We have not seen a Common Nighthawk since the last
week of September. At that time scattered groups and
individuals passed overhead in the evening sky with
some of the birds at a height that binoculars were
needed to get a positive ID.
On two recent occasions warblers have tumbled into
our oasis of trees and bushes as rain and wind forced
these travelers out of the sky. The most common of the
group included the larger Yellow Rumps. Both Ruby and
Yellow-crowned kinglets flittered about the cedar trees.
American Redstarts and Black-and-white Warblers were
relatively abundant. Then there were a number of the
greenish yellow nondescript individuals that were
forever moving, secreting away to remain unidentified.
I awaken from my thoughts to the current moment
and catch a brown flash coming toward me from across
the water. A female Northern Harrier glides low like a
well balanced balsam wood glider, moving with the grace
and allure of a Sally Rand fan-dancer. The safety of
Microtus spp. found in this prairie marsh is now in
question. Mike Meetz
November/December2003
 New Members
Clip and Join
Michel Carr Don’t forget gift memberships!
Alan Eggenberger
Pat Gilroy
Laura Hamilton Membership Application forms
D. Petersen and M Henry
Ed Jacobson
New member of the National Audubon Society. You will
Travis Mason receive the Audubon magazine, the Big Bluestem Flyer,
Joyce C Powell membership card. — $20
John Smith Please make your check payable to National Audubon
Don Wall Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check
OR
Subscribe to the Big Bluestem Flyer for one year and
participate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities — $10
Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Society
member or have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer or
committee chair. Please make your check payable to Big Bluestem
Audubon Society.

Send your check and this coupon to

Al Johnson, Membership Chair
3912 Squaw Road, Ames, IA 50014

Name _______________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
City_____________________ State____ ZIP_______________
Phone ________________ E-mail _______________________
Please do not use this form for renewals to the National Audubon Soc.

Present the coupons below at the time of your purchase and a donation will be given to BBAS.
Donations will fund the various habitat restoration and educational projects undertaken by BBAS.

Brekke's Town & Country Store, Inc.

Donate 10% 1 1/2 miles east of I-35 on new U.S. 30 and 1/4 mile north
of Your Next Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-4 Sat. (515) 232-7906
Purchase to
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Coupon must be presented at time of purchase $15 and over $3.00
May not be combined with any other offer
Not valid on specially-priced merchandise
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Offer Expires: 12/31/03
Brekke’s offers Big Bluestem Audubon Society a donation
when bird seed or other bird products are purchased.
Present this coupon with your purchase and a donation will be
given to BBAS.
213 Duff Ave. Ames, IA 50010 (515) 956-3145
Mon-Wed 9:30-5:30 Thurs 9:30-8
Fri 9:30-5:30 Sat 9-5 Sun 12-4
Offer good until December 31, 2003
BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • NATURE GIFTS

November/December 2003 Big Bluestem Flyer 7

 BBAS Service - Boone County 4th Grade Birding Classes
Once again, BBAS members supported birding classes for Boone County 4th graders in their Outdoor Field Day
at the Ledges State Park. Jon Bahrenfus and I met 14 classes over two days in early October, each lasting 25
minutes. The small class sections first learned a dozen or so common birds, using questions to show what they
already knew. They then each borrowed one of the binoculars that were given to Boone County Conservation by
BBAS a few years back. The remaining 10 to 15 minutes were spent looking at birds at our location. The highlights
were a Red-headed Woodpecker that was making a good show working those trees, and the occasional overflight of
Turkey Vultures. The students rotated among other topics including forestry, orienteering, water, mammals,
recycling, stream erosion, and soils.
David Edwards

Vol 39 No. 2 Printed on Recycled paper September/October 2003

this will be your last issue of the Flyer unless you renew.
If you have an “X” after your name on your mailing label,

We welcome new members!

Ames, IA 50014
2308 State Ave
Ames, Iowa Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Permit No. 131 David C. Edwards, Editor
U. S. Postage Paid Big Bluestem Flyer
Non-Profit Org.