The Chapter is pleased to again present its popular Birding Academy. The first Birding Academy, presented last year, was a great success, in terms of interest, attendance, quality of presentations and as a major fundraiser.

This year's Academy again features three experienced and entertaining birders. The first class will be held on February 17. Celestyn Brozek will enlighten us on the basics of woodpecker behavior, habitat preference and physical characteristics. Celestyn teaches "Introduction to Birdwatching" at the UNM-Valencia Campus, as well as numerous birding workshops in the State.

Next, on March 16, Christopher Rustay will try to straighten out one of the more confusing bird groups, the flycatchers, through the use of slides, diagrams and call notes. Christopher considers this group, which includes phoebes, pewees and kingbirds, an "eye-crossing, hair-pulling puzzling challenge." He suggests that you bring along your field guide ( a good idea for each of the classes), and recommends especially the Third Edition of the National Geographic Society's Guide as the best for these birds. Christopher is with Hawks Aloft and is the State coordinator for Partners in Flight and the Important Bird Areas project.

The third session will be conducted by Jim Place, a founding member of Hawks Aloft. This class is now scheduled for April 27 (the previously announced date is no longer correct). Jim will help us identify the birds of Spring by their songs. The mating season usually brings out the best in bird singing, so this should be a lot of fun. Jim says that the methodology he will be using at the class was developed by Jim Travis. More details below.

Income tax filing is an easy time to make an important contribution to wildlife in New Mexico. By applying a portion of your refund to Share with Wildlife, you can help finance this non-game wildlife program run by the NM Department of Game and Fish. This program, which is entirely supported by donations, provides wildlife education programs, and rehabilitation and research activities for non-game wildlife species. Contributions, which can also be made by sending a check payable to Share with Wildlife to the Department, are tax-deductible.

A contribution will also entitle you to receive the Program's informative and well-done newsletter, published three times a year. The newsletter contains interesting articles on the many projects supported by Share with Wildlife.

To learn more about this program, check out their website at http://www.gmfsh.state.nm.us. Click on the "Nongame" button.

Audubon Field Trips

Everyone is welcome on field trips: Audubon members and nonmembers, novice and experienced birders.Call Sei for more information 266-2480.

February Trips

Sunday, February 13 Cochiti Lake. This is a good area for Bald Eagles in the Winter. Also, ducks, gulls and raptors. This will be a half-day trip. Dress accordingly. Meet at 7:30 A.M. at the Far North Shopping behind the donut shop on San Mateo and north of Academy.

March Trips

Saturday, March 11 Mystery Trip. March is an unpredictable birding month. We will decide where we will go after checking the Thursday Rare Bird Alert. Meet at 7:30 A.M. at the UNM Physics Building parking lot on the NE corner of Lomas and Yale Blvd. NE. Dress accordingly and bring lunch.

April Trips

Saturday, April 1 Bosque del Apache. The seasonal road opens on this day and we will be greeting the early migrating shorebirds. This will be a day trip. Bring snacks, water and lunch. Meet at 7 am. at the UNM Physics Building parking lot.

For three consecutive meetings, in place of our regular meetings, Central New Mexico Audubon Society will offer a series of birding classes conducted by some of New Mexico's most accomplished birdwatchers.

All classes will be held at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church located at the corner of Copper and Jefferson NE. Please arrive early, doors open at 7:00 pm, to enjoy refreshments and meet other members. Classes will start promptly at 7:30 pm. Preregistration is requested. For more information, call Beth at 898-8514.

The cost is only $5.00 per class payable in advance or at the door. Preregister for all three classes and the price is only $12.00 (saves 20%).

Woodpeckers

Thursday, February 17

by Celestyn Brozek who teaches "Introduction to Birdwatching" at the UNM-Valencia Campus

 

Flycatchers Identification

Thursday, March 16

by Chris Rustay of Hawks Aloft

 

Birds of Spring by Song

Thursday, April 27

by Jim Place, a founding member of Hawks Aloft

A methodolgy developed by Jim Travis.

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The only sound was the loose gravel and rocks kicking up at the side of my car as I slowly drove up the dirt road. A shrub hillside to my right, an open area to my left, with a fast flowing creek and another hillside beyond that. An osprey on its nest, in a large pine, once struck by lightning. In the distance, huge boulders carved by ancient glaciers lead my eyes up to the closest peaks of Wyoming's Wind River Range.This was Torrey Valley, my home for the next week.

Passing through a wooden archway I reached Whiskey Mountain Wildlife Conservation Camp, home of Audubon's Camp in the Rockies. It was June 26, 1999 and for months I'd been looking forward to this experience. I was fortunate to have been chosen and sponsored by CNMAS to attend this camp. A wonderful person, Sei Tokuda, had first mentioned the teacher scholarship to me, and now here I was.

I stepped out of the car, anxious to explore. New plants, animals, geologic stories waiting to be told. The first to arrive, I was encouraged to explore. I laced up my boots, and off I went.

That evening everyone gathered to meet. We were a small group of twenty participants, of whom over half were teachers. Over the next week we had the opportunity to learn about geology, plants, mammals, and birds, in particular those of Torrey Valley. Camp fires, canoeing, a visit to Grand Teton National Park, hiking up Whiskey Mountain, and great discussions on endangered species and Wyoming wildlife laws and practices, enlightened people and helped form lasting friendships and memories.

As someone who was consistently encouraged to beoutside exploring as a child, and now, as a teacher of ecology in an outdoor setting, the most exciting part of the week was learning outdoors. Hands-on. Picking up things. Listening. Sharing. Smiling. Learning. Two of the participants, Steve and Sally, were there only because their daughter was working there that summer as a 'ranch hand'. Steve and Sally admitted themselves that their usual vacation involved a very nice hotel, valet service etc.

Over the week Sally and Steve's enthusiasm grew and grew and was contagious. Torrey Valley and the Audubon camp were opening their eyes to the outdoors, the connections in ecosystems, the laws and issues surrounding wildlife and land use. I remember them getting up in the cold early morning to hunt for the elusive MacGillivray's Warbler, getting animated in a discussion on endangered species, and hiking up high mountains to look for Big Horn Sheep. Steve, shouting in excitement as a bird flew by. Sally, asking questions, the more she learned, verbalizing thoughts she had never had before on environmental issues back home.

For me, Steve and Sally were a favorite part of the week. Affirming for me again that education really does make a difference. We all have the opportunity to not only learn more, but also to teach and to share. I encourage us all to become teachers, to pass on our knowledge, and in turn, receive knowledge from others. Take your neighbor who doesn't have a car, to a natural place they never thought they would go. Borrow extra binoculars for a child, and help open their eyes to the life around them. Get down on the ground and follow the ant trail around your house. Watch a leaf for a week this spring, as it unfurls from its bud. Marvel. Learn. Smile. Inspire someone. We all can do it. New Mexico has thousands of Torrey Valleys, and thousands of Steves and Sallys, wanting to learn. Many important scientists today say their interest was sparked by one small event by a caring adult. We are those adults.

Thank you to Central New Mexico Audubon Society for providing me with this experience. It is definitely one I will not forget.

Saturday, December 4, 1999 Bosque del Apache. This was another good day enjoyed by 12 birders. The weather was good - mostly clear skies with temperatures in the 40's with only occasional slight breezes. Close to 80 species were observed including nine species of raptors, four species of Grebes and three species of Mergansers. Everyone had a chance to see the bright yellow lores and eyebrows of the Savannah Sparrow.

Saturday, January 9, 2000 Kit Carson Park and Corrales Bosque. The first weekend CNMAS trip of the 21st Century was led by Les Hawkins. The vegetation along the ditch adjoining Kit Carson was completely cleared leaving the six birders with only four species of birds to be seen. The trip to Corrales was a bit more successful, but the weather turned cold and breezy with less than 20 species sighted. The notable birds were Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, American Wigeon, Common Merganser and Sandhill Crane.

Parcticipate by visiting http://birdsource.cornell.edu/gbbc to get the details on how to count your backyard birds on February 18,19,20 and 21.

HELP SCIENTISTS TO DEFINE

THE STATUS OF BIRDS FOR A NEW

MILLENNIUM

JOIN BACKYARD BIRDERS FROM

NOME TO KEY WEST

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST

The information for the following compilations of the Albuquerque, Bosque del Apache NWR and Sandia counts was provided by Hart Schwarz, Steve Cox and Christopher Rustay. Hart's Albuquerque group found 108 species (21,264 individuals). Steve's Bosque del Apache group of 25 found 118 species (81,081 individuals) and Christopher's Sandia group of 32 found 60 species (3,587 individuals). You can review the results of other New Mexico counts at http://birdsource.tc.cornell.edu.

The State Science Fair is coming up and judging will take place at 12 noon on Friday, March 17, at UNM. We need a CNMAS volunteer to judge the exhibits and choose four winners for our CNMAS awards. You do not need to be a scientist to be a judge. It's fun, it's educational, and only requires two or three hours of your time! For information on being a judge, contact Ron Waitz at 898-8514. We really appreciate your help!

Save those Stamps

Don't forget to save your stamps for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Help RSPB preserve wetlands by trimming 1/8 inch around canceled stamps and sending your collections to Allison Leon, 283El Conejo, Los Alamos, NM 87544. She'll deliver them to England on her annual trip. Take your own trip by visiting http://www.RSPB.org.UK.