Big Bluestem Flyer

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Volume 45, Number 2 November-December 2009

Programs Field Trips

Meeting Place - Extension & 4-H Building, ISU, Ames
Currently Meetings Start at 7:30 P.M.
The building is located at the southwest corner of 13th St. and Stange
Road. Enter off of Stange Road on the first street south of 13th Street
(Wanda Daley Drive)
November 19, 2009
Phyllis Mains – Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge and other Alaska
wilderness has some of the
world's most valuable water
fowl and wildlife habitat. It is
being threatened by oil and
gas exploration on the North
Slope. Phyllis will provide
information and updates about
refuge and its future.
December 17, 2009
Note – At Story County
Conservation Center
McFarland Park Member’s
night – short photo
presentations by BBAS
members
Bring your images and slides
for everyone to enjoy. Lot of
holiday goodies to eat at the
refreshment table. Story
County Conservation would
appreciate donations of bird
food or cash donations to help
maintain their feeding stations!
January 21, 2010
Jeff Nichols – From the
Baltic to the Tatras: A
Birding Tour of Poland
Jeff Nichols will share
observations from a recent
birding trip to Poland. Jeff's
presentation will discuss the
natural and recent cultural
history of Poland and illustrate
some of the country's bird life
and natural habitats.
February 18, 2009
Ron Andrews - Iowa DNR
wildlife updates
Ron Andrews is a noted
biologist with the Iowa
Department of Natural
Resources. He will comment
and give updates on the
population trends and status
of wildlife of Iowa in general
and some particulars on
species of interest.
March 18, 2010
Nichole Nagl – Iowa
Breeding Bird Atlas
The Second Iowa Breeding
Bird Atlas began only two
years ago, and trends are
already being set. Since
2008, hundreds of volunteers
throughout the state have
been scouring blocks
searching for signs of nesting,
and thousands of records
have been entered. Come
and enjoy a presentation by
the Breeding Bird Atlas
All field trips are free and open to the public. They are fun
and a great learning experience for both beginning and
experienced birders, so attend and bring along a friend!
Unless otherwise indicated, field trips depart at 8:00 a.m.
from the public parking lot west of (behind) the Ames Wild
Birds Unlimited, located south of the railroad tracks at 213
Duff Ave. Please arrive before the departure time to arrange
carpooling. Contact Jeff Nichols for more information at 515-
795-4176 or ozarksbirder@hotmail.com.
November 7, 2009 Hamilton County
Bjorkboda Marsh, Bell's Mill Park and Gordon's
Marsh (Hamilton County).
January 30, 2009 Boone City Parks and
Cemeteries
Meet first for breakfast at 8:00 A.M. at the
Dutch Oven Bakery in Boone (605 Story St).
We'll probably start exploring around 8:45 A.M.
February 27, 2009 Lake Red Rock
Bald Eagles, waterfowl and gulls.
Future Field Trips to be announced
in proceeding newsletters!
Volunteer Coordinator to find organisms and interactions in
out how you can help. Learn the prairie environment.
why collecting breeding bird
May 2, 2010
information today will be vital to
Doug Harr - Birds of Panama
their protection in the future,
Doug Harr, Iowa DNR Wildlife
and find out what trends are
Diversity Program administrator,
appearing.
will cover the “Birds of
April 15, 2010 Panama”. Doug will have
Tom Rosburg – Prairie information about birding
Ecology: Structure, function Panama and photos of some of
and composition the exotics he encountered from
Tom will provide a look at the a recent trip.
some of the interesting ecology,

The mission of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society is to enjoy the observation and study of birds and natural ecosystems,
contribute to their conservation and restoration, engage in educational activities to benefit humanity,
and gain a broader understanding and deeper appreciation of the world in which we live.
Visit us online at http://bigbluestemaudubon.org
Page 2 - Officers and Committees; President’s Corner; Membership Form
Page 3 - Pelican Festival Report; Field Trip Reports; Other Events of Interest
Page 4 - President’s Corner Continued; Coupons
Page 5 - Trumpeter Swans Project; Pileated Woodpeckers at Ledges Park
Page 6 - New Members of National Audubon Society
 Big Bluestem Audubon President’s Corner
Society of Central Iowa
Joan and have just returned from a two-week trip to Northern California visiting
Officers family. Temperatures there were 85-95 degrees for daily highs. Today,
President: Larry Dau October 11, the Ames area had a low temperature of 24 degrees and high in
515-275-4963
the 40 degree range. What a change, and I have to say winter is pushing its
lgdau@netins.net
Vice-President: Gary Erbes
way in very early! I know winter is close since Juncos are present at my
gmerbes@gmail.com feeders. I just looked out my window and a late Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Secretary: Shane Patterson was at one of my feeders trying to get at the frozen nectar. I interrupted writing
515- 232-4682 this article to go out and refill the feeder with fresh and warm sugar water. Hope
shane7896@yahoo.com he makes it!
Treasurer: Stu Huntington
515-292-4542 We gathered input about two major BBAS changes at the October
huntin@iastate.edu meeting. First is changing to primarily an on-line Big Bluestem Flyer in the
Board Members future (2010-11 season). The second change is moving the meeting start times
Mary Doud next year (January 2009) to 7:00 P.M. from the traditional 7:30 P.M. The
515-795-4176 Board’s thoughts are that the newsletter change is in line with what other
BorealBirders@hotmail.com organizations are doing and is a nice “going green” initiative. It is also our hope
Kelly Weichers that an earlier meeting starting time would help attendance. If you were not
319-231-6999 able attend the October meeting, please send your thoughts on these changes
goinfishin@hotmail.com to me or another Board member.
Hank Zaletel
515-382-5427
madowl@midiowa.net Continued on page 4
Matt Wetrich
641-919-6061
matt@naturebymatt.com
Lloyd Crim Clip and Join
515-432-5026 Remember to give gift memberships!
lcrim@opencominc.com
Special Assignments Membership Application Form
Archivist
Hank Zaletel
515-382-5427 New member of the National Audubon Society. You will
madowl@midiowa.net receive the Audubon magazine, the Big Bluestem Flyer,
Bird-a-thon
Nick Osness
membership card. — $20
Conservation Please make your check payable to National Audubon
Bruce Ehresman Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check
515-296-2995
Bruce.ehresman@dnr.iowa.gov OR
Field Trips
Jeff Nichols Subscribe to the Big Bluestem Flyer for one year and
515-795-4176 participate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities — $10
ozarksbirder@hotmail.com Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Society member or
Publicity & Outreach have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer or committee chair.
Gary Erbes
gmerbes@gmail.com Please make your check payable to Big Bluestem Audubon
Schools Liaison Society.
Amy Yoakum
515-232-2516 Send your check and this coupon to:
ayoakum@storycounty.com Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 543, Ames IA 50010 
Stefany Hulsebus
515-720-9322
stefany_h@yahoo.com Name
Audubon Membership Contact Address
Larry Dau
515-275-4963 City State ZIP
lgdau@netins.net Phone E-mail
Webmaster
David Edwards Please do not use this form for renewals For Official Use Only
515-292-3790 to the National Audubon Society. C9ZH570Z
dcejce@dandje.org

2 Big Bluestem Flyer November-December 2009

 Pelican Days
Festival Report
This year’s Pelican Days Festival at Jester Park in Polk County was
another success. The event was well attended during the morning and
early afternoon hours, with lower attendance in late afternoon.
Volunteers with spotting scopes set up both at lakeside and at the top
of the hill near the lodge. Pelican numbers were lower this year with
about one thousand present at the peak time. The lower numbers were
attributed to less abundance of Gizzard Shad as a food source. The normal
shorebirds, herons, egrets and waterfowl were present. One unusual sighting
was a large flock of Caspian Terns present on a nearby sandbar. Several of
our BBAS members volunteered their skills and equipment to assist the public
in viewing and learning about the Pelicans and other birds present. Pelican
Festival is sponsored by Polk County Conservation, US Army Corps of
Engineers, Des Moines Audubon and the Iowa DNR Wildlife Diversity Team.

September and October Field Trips Reports

By Jeff Nichols
Second-attempt Birders' Brunch at Jester Park (5 September) BBAS member volunteers at Pelican Fest
In contrast to the weather for the failed "First-attempt Birders' Brunch," the
weather couldn't have been nicer for
this field trip. We first searched around Other events of
Campground #4 for a stray White-eyed interest
Vireo I had seen the previous day, but
we didn't relocate it. We did find an BBAS Board Meeting Schedule
interesting plant along the trail called (tentative)
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora) which (Meeting begins at 6:30 PM, State Forest
lacks chlorophyll. Birding along the Nursery conference Rm)
shoreline of Saylorville Lake turned up February 10, 2010 (Wednesday)
April 14, 2010 (Wednesday)
a handful of shorebirds, waterfowl and
sparrows but not much else. About 300 Christmas Bird Count Schedule
American White Pelicans were on the Ames
BBAS members at the Birders’ Brunch,
lake. Our most interesting sighting was Saturday, December 19, 2009
Jester Park of a cooperative Olive-sided Contact Shane Patterson
Flycatcher. We then found an unused Saylorville
picnic shelter and enjoyed a great brunch. Of interest in a nearby tree were Sunday December 20, 2009
many foraging Bald-faced Hornets. Sixteen participants, 46 avian species. Contact Steve Dinsmore
Boone
Marietta Sand Prairie State Preserve (3 October) Saturday, January 2, 2010
Five of us journeyed east for this field trip to western Marshall County. Our Contact Mark Widrlechner
first stop at a cemetery north of State Center produced a few interesting
species including a late Black-throated Green Warbler and our first Dark-
eyed Junco of the season. At Marietta Sand Prairie State Preserve, we
found nine sparrow species including one Le Conte's Sparrow and many
Swamp Sparrows. Raptors were relatively scarce, with only Turkey
Vultures, a lone Red-tailed Hawk, two Bald Eagles (1 adult, 1 juvenile), and
one American Kestrel being seen. We finished exploring the Preserve just
before a rain squall moved into the area. We next made a brief stop at the
Log Cabin historic site on Mormon Ridge, which overlooks the Iowa River
valley, then headed into Albion for a picnic lunch at the city park pavilion.
We found 40 species during our explorations.

3 Big Bluestem Flyer November-December 2009

 Continued from page 2

President’s Corner
A change that we did approve at the last Board Meeting was reducing the number of Big Bluestem Flyer volumes from 5
to 4 per year starting immediately. Our newsletters tend to go about 3 months into the future already and this change will
save about $500. Volume 1 will cover September-October, Volume 2 will cover the October-November, Volume 3 will
cover January-February-March and Volume 4 will cover April-May-June.

BBAS has always tried to support conservation land purchases and educational projects. This year is no exception with
the board approving the following expenditures:
• Future allocation of $1,500 to the Indian Creek conservation acquisition in southern Story County.
• Future allocation of $500 to the Boone Forks conservation addition in eastern Webster County.
• A current expenditure of $1187 to Amy Yoakum at Story County Conservation for Audubon Adventures teachers’ kits
for the local schools.

Please note the dates of the three Christmas Bird counts in December-
January and participate if you can. Your bird feeder counts are also
valuable if you can’t get out into the field.

Wishing you good birding for the remainder of fall and for what appears to
be an early winter. Keep those feeders full, and remember to bring and
report your sightings at our meetings. My sources tell me sunflower seeds
will be going up in price again this year, due to low production.

Larry Dau

Red-Tailed Hawk, Harrier Marsh, Boone Co.

Buying from the businesses listed on this page not only benefits the birds but also helps our local economy and provides funding for
Big Bluestem. Donations will fund our various habitat restoration and educational projects. Present the coupons here at the time of your
purchase and a donation will be given to BBAS.

Brekkes Town & Country Store, Inc.

1 1/2 miles east of I-35 on new U.S. 30 and 1/4 mile north

Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-4 Sat. (515) 232-7906

Purchase Donation
Up tp $15 $1.50
$15 and over $3.00
$35 and over $5.00
Over $70 $7.50

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.

Offer good until June 30, 2010

Visit our website at http://bigbluestemaudubon.org

4 Big Bluestem Flyer November-December 2009

Help Needed for New Citizen Science project -
Trumpeter Swans
Though restoration of Trumpeter Swans throughout historic breeding areas of
the Midwest and Great Plains has been highly successful, most of the flocks
remain vulnerable. Historically, much of the interior population migrated to favor-
able sites south of the 40th parallel. Today, a small percentage of the flocks are
exploring and possibly pioneering routes into their historic winter range. Trum-
peter Swans are showing up in new locations, some they have not frequented
for over 100 years. Audubon members and fellow birders are asked for help to
document and then monitor winter habitat use in twenty states of the Central,
Southern and Eastern U.S. Observers are asked to REGISTER with TRUM-
PETER WATCH, a program of The Trumpeter Swan Society. Identification
guidelines and data forms to be printed for field use can be found online. Photo-
graphic documentation is useful but not required.

Find out more about this Citizen Science project on The Trumpeter Swan Soci-
ety website (www.trumpeterswansociety.org) today! Peg Abbott, former director
of Audubon Camp in the West, coordinates the program.

Trumpeter Swan at Crex Meadows, WI

Pileated Woodpeckers at Ledges Park

Bill Fribley of the Iowa DNR first noticed a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers making what appeared to be a nest hole at
Ledges this past March. Indeed, the birds did nest at the location Bill discovered. The site was both a poor choice and a
neat choice by the pair of woodpeckers. Poor in that it was located right next to a very public park road with lots of vehi-
cles and people constantly going by. It was a great location, however, for viewing and photo opportunities. The DNR
had asked that the location be kept quiet early on, in an effort not to disturb the pair. However, as the young grew and
became very vocal, the secret was out. I sat in camouflage hidden in the woods on several occasions in April, May and
June observing and photographing the birds. I also photographed for extended lengths of time after the young ap-
peared. I have a nice set of photos and some observations from the rare event I would like to share at our November
BBAS meeting in a ten minute segment before our scheduled presentation.
Larry

Photos and Content for Newsletter

I used some of my recent bird photos in this issue. However, I don’t
intend to monopolize. Please send me any photos you have of events,
birds, wildlife, habitat or BBAS members in the field that you would like to
see in the newsletter. I am also looking for short content items and
announcements that you would like to submit for the newsletter.

I would also like to mention that Stefany Hulsebus is now doing our final
Big Bluestem Flyer editing and creating the documents in publisher
format. We appreciate her expertise and help.

Larry Osprey in Jester Park, Polk County

5 Big Bluestem Flyer November-December 2009

New Members of National Audubon Society
Ames
Susan Cloud Pam Hagen Beverly Hall Ruth Harris Carol Metzler Randy Page Karen Peterson
Joan Welch Lyn Wilson
Boone
Lori Burkhead Susan Haws Beverly Klamm Delores Lientz
Bouton
Wanda Taylor
Gilbert
Virginia Khan
Lehigh
Sharla Coleson
Madrid
Jonathan Milocek
Slater
Linda Lee
State Center
Jeff Larsen
Zearing
Bill Buerckley Sandhill Cranes at Crex Meadows, WI

Volume 45 No. 1 November-December 2009

unless you renew.

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

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

We welcome new members!

Ames, IA 50010-0543
PO Box 543
Ames, Iowa Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Permit No. 131 Larry Dau, President
U. S. Postage Paid Big Bluestem Flyer
Non-Profit Org.