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Sept. - Oct. - Nov 2002
Vol. 31 No. 5

Table Of Contents Page 1 (Please let the whole page load before clicking on the links.)
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Lichen on the Nest
Wrapping Birdathon 2002 in Bunting
CNMAS Field Trip Reports
Fall Audubon Programs

CNMAS Field Trip Schedule
Thursday Morning Birding Group
Wilderness or Oil Fields?
National Wildlife Refuge Bulletin Board

Dragonfly Festival - Bitter Lakes NWR
Sevilleta Open House 2002
Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge
Festival of the Cranes - Bosque del Apache NWR
Fall Bird Banding At RGNC

Rocky Mountain Whooping Crane Population Report
Eagle Optics/CNMAS Partnership
Butterflies of the Bosque
HawkWatch Observations

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Lichen on the Nest

by Beth Hurst-Waitz, CNMAS President

TO ALL OUR MEMBERS, both long-time and new, let this be the "Welcome" banner to you as you read this premier issue of our new quarterly newsletter format. And especially to those of you who called inquiring about your "missing" August issue ­ thank you! There's nothing more gratifying than to hear that what we're doing is important enough to you that you'll call when there's a gap in the communication.

Because your officers, directors, and committee heads made this decision at our board meeting on May 29th, there was no way to get the announcement into the June-July Burrowing Owl. The decision was driven by economics and was related only by coincidence to National's contemporaneous switch to a quarterly publication.

Another change you'll see is imminent and has exciting potential. At State Audubon Council meetings for over a year, Audubon delegates from all over New Mexico have been talking about implementing a statewide Audubon newsletter. THAT premier issue is to debut in December. Dave Henderson, our State Director at Randall Davey Audubon Center in Santa Fe, and his staff are coordinating this state newsletter representing all five chapters (Albuquerque area, Las Cruces, Silver City, Santa Fe, and the presently dormant Roswell). Each chapter will have its own section, and you will continue to receive news about our programs, meetings, and chapter highlights. But at the same time, you will be linked with the bigger picture of Audubon in New Mexico, offering you even more opportunities for birding, networking, being active, and making a difference for birds and their environments throughout the Land of Enchantment. This change also will benefit each chapter economically and free up more of each chapter's funds for implementation and development of its/our own priorities and initiatives.

Earlier this month, Ron and I felt very lucky to have the opportunity to go birding in Portal with two of our young birder friends and their moms. Birding activity was everywhere, but I found myself most captivated by two momma hummingbirds ­ one a Violet-crowned and one a Berylline ­ on their nests. The aura of serenity evoked by seeing these two normally frenetic birds as they patiently waited for their offspring to awaken to life in the nest was unshakably reassuring. Yet what captivated me equally, if not more, was the beauty and perfection of those two little nests. Each of them was exquisitely adorned with moss and lichen ­ beautiful, yes, but inherently functional. The symbology, to me, is that it takes the smallest of contributions to hold the foundation, the security, together. So to all of you who are lichen on the nest of Audubon, thank you.

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Wrapping Birdathon 2002 in Bunting

With Celestyn's cheery report below, we're bringing you the wrap-up to this year's fund-raiser and fun-tripper.

Central New Mexico Audubon Society Birdathon 2002, June 8, Sandia Mts. with Celestyn M. Brozek

"Great thanks to everybody for the participation in the Birdathon and for your donations to CNMAS! It was a very enjoyable day. Although the birds were sometime scarce, we saw 72 species! This is the highest number we ever had during Birdathon in Sandia. In May 1999, we found 58 species, and in April 2001 - 51 species. Yesterday, some of us stayed till 11 PM. The only night birds we have heard were Common Nighthawk and Common Poorwill."

Thanks again to ALL of our contributors, and publicly to these folks whose names did not appear in the June-July drum roll of appreciation: Jeff Myers and Vickie Wilcox, Deborah Peacock, Rod Baker, Judith Rominger, Art Arenholz, Barbara Kroening, John Esterl, Melissa Howard, Anne Berlin, Wild Birds Unlimited Westside (Lynda Geron and David Shumate), Doug and Bev Mead, Julie Goodding.

A special feather to each and all of you trip leaders. You're the best!

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CNMAS Field Trip Reports

compiled by Sei Tokuda

Sunday, May 26: Otero Canyon and Quarai
Nick Vaughn's group of six Auduboners counted a total of 47 species of birds. The most significant sightings included nesting Great-horned Owls and Violet-green Swallows, Chat, and Black-throated Gray Warbler. An important finding was the Virginia Rail that was heard, but not seen, at Quarai. Also seen was a nearly full-sized immature Great-horned Owl whose whitish down was being replaced by a few feathers.

Saturday - Sunday, June 22-23: Chama and vicinity
Twelve birders saw a total of 81 species on this weekend trip to northern New Mexico, led by Rebecca Gracey. The highlights were the breeding birds found in and around Chama: Gray Catbird, Lewis' Woodpecker, Common Grackle, and Spotted Sandpiper. In addition, a Black Bear and a Red Fox were seen.

Saturday, August 3: Summer Wings Festival, Rio Grande Nature Center
This trip was led by Lannois Neely. There were 10 birders on this trip and the group saw a total of 21 species of birds. The most notable sights were a pair of Cooper's Hawk at close range, Bullock's Oriole, a very cooperative Green Heron that posed for the group, and a female Calliope Hummingbird.

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FALL PROGRAMS

Welcome one and all! All our fall programs are free to the public and take place at 7:15 p.m. at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church, Copper and Jefferson NE. Light refreshments are served before and during the meetings. We'd welcome a contribution of your own favorite munchie or sweet ­ but even without one, we'll welcome you!

Art Arenholz brings to us his well-received and popular program which has attracted hundreds of appreciative listeners during his presentations at Festival of the Cranes. Bird migration is one of nature's grandest spectacles and most difficult puzzles. With insight and humor, Art presents a slide show that captures the beauty and mystery of this phenomenon. Combining personal experiences and recently published migration studies, he updates us on the latest, sometimes incredible, results.

David Mehlman, Director of Conservation Programs for the Wings of Americas Program of The Nature Conservancy, will discuss efforts being made through the Prairie Wings Program to protect critical habitat for grasslands birds in the western Great Plains, including areas such as Otero Mesa (see article on Otero Mesa, below). He will describe the preservation efforts being made by the Conservancy over this large grassland area, extending from southern Canada to northern Mexico, that contains approximately 300 breeding bird species, many of which show significant population decline.

Some 21,000 images on rocks, from 700 to 1,000 years old, have been counted and documented within Petroglyph National Monument. Gretchen Ward, Cultural Resource Specialist at the Monument, will present a PowerPoint® program which emphasizes bird images in rock art and will talk about their significance to the cultures that created the art, as well as the challenges of interpretation. Juxtaposing ancient birds with existing species, we will have fun recognizing yesterday and today's roadrunner, and be challenged by other identification puzzles.

All Central New Mexico Audubon Society meetings and field trips are open to the public.

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CNMAS Field Trip Schedule

http://www.newmexicoaudubon.org/cnmas/trips.html

Saturday-Sunday, September 14-15 - Dragonfly Festival in Roswell/Bitter Lake NWR
Details on below.

Saturday-Sunday, September 21-22 - Rattlesnake Springs
Meet Christopher Rustay on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 12:30PM at the Rattlesnake Springs parking lot. Rattlesnake Springs is about 25 miles south of Carlsbad and is recognized as one of the most important birding sites in the state. This time of year can potentially be very exciting for eastern vagrants. We'll bird Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. On their own, folks may want to bird Bitter Lake refuge Saturday morning or on the way back Sunday afternoon. The Best Western hotel in White's City is closer to springs, or stay in Carlsbad, which is about 30 minutes away. Call Christopher (255-7786) for details.

Saturday-Sunday, October 5-6:
Auduboners join NM Volunteers for the Outdoors at Bosque del Apache for their annual weekend project to help shape up the trails. Work the trails on Saturday, bird the Bosque on Sunday! Contact Leonard Padilla, (505) 835-3161, to let him know you can help and that you're with Audubon.

Saturday-Sunday, October 12-13 - Open House at Sevilleta NWR
Details on below.

Sunday, October 13 - Quarai National Monument
This trip will be led by Nick Vaughn. Quarai is an interesting habitat with pinon forest, desert shrub, and a small riparian area offering a variety of bird species. Meet at the Four Hills Shopping Center at 7:30AM. This will be at least a half-day trip. Bring lunch or snacks, water, etc. and be prepared for changes in the weather. Call Nick (265-1350) for details.

Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20 - Farmington
Meet Beth Hurst-Waitz at 9:00AM at Far North Shopping Center (NE corner of Academy and San Mateo) behind the Village Inn. We'll caravan up to Farmington for a weekend of fun events organized and/or led by Donna Thatcher. After eating lunch in Farmington, we'll rendezvous at 2:00PM at Travelodge with Les Lesperance and other local birders, who will take us to some local birding hot spots. Later, after dinner with Donna, she will take us on a moonlight walk (we'll still be on Daylight Savings Time), to look for spiders, bats, deer, skunks, raccoons, and OWLS. Sunday morning, we'll assemble at 9:00AM at the Travelodge for an easy bird walk through Riverside Park up to the nature center, where Donna is director. We'll enjoy coffee and feeder watching there before walking a different path back to the Travelodge, for lunch and/or departure no later than noon. Contact Beth (898-8514) for info on lodging.

Saturday, November 2 - Bosque del Apache
This trip will be led by Art Arenholz and it is a great time to see the early winter migrants and to especially to have a good look of Ross's Goose. Meet at the UNM Physics Department parking lot (NE corner of Yale and Lomas) at 8:00AM. This is an all day trip. Bring food, snacks, water and dress appropriately for changes in the weather. Call Art (298-1724) for details.

Sunday, November 12 - Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge
This trip will be led by Sei Tokuda and will end sometime in the afternoon. On this Sunday (and all Sundays in the month of November), the Refuge allows visitors to enter the back road of the refuge that normally is closed to visitors. Birders will have a chance to see a variety of winter waterfowl and raptors. Dress appropriately for cold and unpredictable weather. Bring lunch, snacks and water. Meet at 8:00AM at the Far North Shopping Center behind the Village Inn (NE Corner of San Mateo NE and Academy). Call Sei (266-2480) for details.

Tuesday-Sunday, November 19-24 - 15th Annual Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache NWR
Details on below.

Saturday, December 7 - Bosque del Apache
This trip will be led by Art Arenholz and would end sometime in the late after noon. The Bald Eagles are expected to be gaining in numbers and should be easily seen. Meet at 8:00AM at the UNM Physics Department parking lot (NE corner of Yale and Lomas NE). Bring food, snacks, water and dress appropriately for changes in the weather. Call Art (298-1724) for details.

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Thursday Morning Birding Group

Weekly birding outings every Thursday. Meeting time and location, as well as duration, vary. Call Margaret Wallen at 341-0928 for details of outings.

Central New Mexico Audubon Society assumes no responsibility for injuries, personal or otherwise, incurred while attending society-sponsored activities and will not be held liable for such accidents. You attend at your own risk.

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Wilderness or Oil Fields?

At its meeting on January 26, 2002, the New Mexico Audubon Council adopted Otero Mesa as one of its Habitat Priorities for attention in New Mexico. The following article, adapted from a more extensive one written by Nathan Newcomer of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance focuses your attention on the competing demands about to be made on this rare desert grassland. Even more information is available at www.oteromesa.org ­ check it out!

New Mexico's Greater Otero Mesa area is arguably the nation's wildest Chihuahuan Desert grassland. The diverse landscape in this southwestern region encompasses limestone mountains dissected by deep serpentine canyons, steep escarpments rising thousands of feet to the Sacramento and Guadalupe Mountains, the igneous Cornudas Mountains that emerge dramatically from the desert floor, rolling hills, and one of the largest expanses of Chihuahuan Desert grasslands in New Mexico, totaling 1.2 million acres. These special grasslands and their surrounding landscape provide ideal habitat for a number of species of concern including blacktailed prairie dogs, bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, mountain plovers, and a large, unique pronghorn herd that, unlike other herds throughout New Mexico, is native to the area and not reintroduced. Mule deer, golden eagles, bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, and 250 species of migratory songbirds also call these lands home. In addition, potential nesting habitat for the American peregrine falcon and potential reintroduction sites for desert bighorn sheep and the endangered aplomado falcon exist here.

Steve West, well-known to the New Mexico birding community, has over 20 years' experience in grassland bird surveys in habitat similar to the Greater Otero Mesa area. According to Steve, "Grassland birds of the area include Baird's Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Lark Bunting, Cassin's Sparrow, Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, and many others that depend on the habitat that the Greater Otero Mesa Area provides. A variety of recent studies have shown that grassland birds are declining rapidly across their range in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Yet, Otero Mesa acts as a refuge of much needed habitat for these species."

It's a tantalizing fact that Guadalupe National Park and the surface area of Carlsbad Caverns National park, totaling less than 110,000 acres, represent the only protected Chihuahuan desert grasslands in the U.S. It's also a fact that grassland avian species are recognized as the fastest declining group in the country. Yet, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is moving aggressively to open this fragile and unique desert grassland to full-scale oil & gas development.

Wells drilled in Otero Mesa, totaling about 60 and dating back to 1900, came up completely dry. But in 1998, HEYCO (Harvey E. Yates Company) drilled an exploratory well that struck natural gas. This well was touted as a "commercial success" and led to oil and gas lease nominations totaling 250,000 acres. Volume of lease nominations and BLM's lack of adequate information led to all leases being suspended until a Resource Mangement Plan Amendment/ Environmental Impact Statement (RMPA/EIS) could be created. That is what we are petitioning to be put aside until a new, comprehensive wilderness inventory is conducted.

Currently, the net result of oil company claims and BLM studies is that the BLM has created a new alternative that replaced the no-surface-occupancy stipulations with a roving 5 percent occupancy. This plan in many ways replicates one proposed for Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It is designed to fool the general public into believing that development would only leave a small "footprint." In reality, the impacts of full-scale drilling would cause an unprecedented disadvantage for wildlife and habitat, with hundreds of miles of new roads, power lines, pipelines, drill pads, toxic waste ponds, and fragmentation of the land into an industrial development.

Industry would argue that reclamation of the land would enable plants and animals to thrive after development ended. In an area so naturally dry and in the midst of a five-year drought, the term "reclamation" is merely a false promise designed to placate the public. Perhaps a more desirable term would be "restoration", a goal that, if fully implemented, is intended to ensure that these grasslands would in time fully recover. Sadly, no real science exists that proves that reclamation or restoration can succeed in this harsh environment.

Why are we pressing for a new inventory? Twenty-five years ago the BLM undertook a wilderness inventory of the Greater Otero Mesa Area. According to records, a considerable portion of this inventory was done with aerial photos, supplemented with limited on-site wilderness reviews and inventories. When the BLM completed this cursory review it recommended 11,000 acres for intensive wilderness review. In the end, the agency and politics decided that none qualified.

Contrastingly, in the summer of 2001, The New Mexico Wilderness Alliance conducted a Citizens' Survey to document the wilderness potential of the area. Several months of comprehensive, "on the ground" fieldwork that followed the tenets of the BLM Wilderness Handbook led to our conclusion that approximately 520,000 acres of the Greater Otero Mesa Area qualify for wilderness designation. Right now, the BLM is attempting to accelerate development, despite these conflicting data.

New Mexico is the state where wilderness was born. Otero Mesa is the largest area studied and, we believe, documented for wilderness designation since the Gila Wilderness' designation in 1964. Drilling for oil and gas in unique, irreplaceable ecosystems is an exhausted idea that does not have the support of the American public. What citizens DO support and what CAN be achieved is energy independence AND protection of natural biologic treasures. If you agree, please send in your postcards now.

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National Wildlife Refuge
Bulletin Board

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An Invitation To All From Terry Tadano, Sevilleta Refuge Manager

Hart Schwarz will be doing a one-day tour on Sunday the 13th which will be strictly birding. The cost is $6, which includes a sack lunch and a Sevilleta water bottle. (What a deal). On Saturday there will be a bunch of tours, presentations, exhibits and live animals from Zoo To You, Hawks Aloft, etc. Call us at the Refuge for information or a leaflet on the tours registration, or pick one up at the CNMAS September Program. It is limited seating and first come/first served basis. Call 864-4021 and ask for Virginia or Kim. Come by and visit!

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

Three hundred forty-five species of birds have been spotted at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge near (of course) Maxwell in northeastern New Mexico. Rick Gooch, the new manager, would like to make improvements that would make the refuge a more attractive site where more people can view more of the birds. He notes that Lake 12, which is currently dry, has a viewing area that is about 500 yards away. That doesn't allow for the best opportunities to view the birds, so Gooch says he would like to have some camouflaged photo blinds set up near the lakes and other locations.

Please join us in welcoming Rick, who started duties as the new NWR manager in April and who has lots of ideas about making Maxwell NWR a resource that's more utilized and more appreciated by more users. As he and his staff work on putting together a comprehensive conservation plan where they envision the refuge's direction and philosophy for the next 15 years, Gooch says, "I really want to get people interested in the refuge and what can be done to improve it." Besides fishing and birding opportunities, the refuge can serve as a place to study prairie and grassland management. He would like to work with area schools to "match some things we offer here with what the local schools are doing in their classes," Gooch says. "If kids are interested in restoring wetlands or studying wildlife, there's potential for programs in those areas." He adds that partnerhips with area agencies and organizations will prove beneficial to the refuge and that "Whatever we can do to make the refuge more attractive, I'd like to look at it."

(Recognition to Bob Morris, Sports Editor, The Raton Range, for quotes and information obtained from his article, and to Dave Cleary for bringing it to our attention.)

Auduboners join NM Volunteers for the Outdoors at Bosque del Apache for their annual weekend project October 5-6 to help shape up the trails. Work the trails on Saturday, bird the Bosque on Sunday! Contact Leonard Padilla, (505) 835-3161, to let him know you can help and that you're with Audubon.

Volunteers Needed!

Every year at Festival of the Cranes, Auduboners do what they do best ­ have fun birding, and share that fun and "our" birds with others. Please be one of those friendly folks! We will be staffing two locations on Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th ­ the Audubon tent and the Phil Norton Photography Blind. Jeff is the keeper of our volunteer list, so please call (998-1502) or e-mail (jmyers@peacocklaw.com) him. This year we're using the bright suggestion that Tamie Bulow offered, to schedule the tent on even-hour increments and the photography blind on odd-hour increments. So now you can work the tent from 8-10, then make it to the blind for your 11-1 shift and even get a restroom break! Thanks for volunteering ­ we really need you!

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Fall Bird Banding At RGNC

Steve and Nancy Cox at Rio Grande Bird Research invite you to join them for fall bird banding at Rio Grande Nature Center. The work is systematic and methodical, but the results can be very exciting! Numbers of warblers banded since August 3 clearly show the migration trend. Can you imagine the thrill of banding a Cooper's Hawk? Or let yourself be amazed ­ like the "regulars" were when they re-netted the female Blue Grosbeak two weeks ago which had already been banded ­ on May 3, 1996. Wow! To help with this all-volunteer project on weekend mornings (Sat-Sun), be at the Nature Center Parking lot at 6:00 Sept. 1-21, 6:15 Sept. 22-Oct. 12, 6:30 Oct. 13-26. Then Daylight Savings Time ends, so the work begins at 5:45 Oct. 27 through Nov. 10. Early birds, rise and shine!

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Rocky Mountain Whooping Crane Population Report

The last known whooping crane in the Rocky Mountains has not been seen since last winter. I believe it extremely unlikely that it is alive. Thus, I consider the experimental nonessential Rocky Mountain whooping crane population to be extinct (1975-2002).

There are currently about 90 non-migratory whooping cranes in Florida, and 5 whooping cranes in Wisconsin that last year were flown behind the ultralight, wintered in Florida and returned to Wisconsin on their own. Researchers are currently training 17 more whooping cranes in Wisconsin to follow the ultralight this fall.

The Aransas-Wood Buffalo population numbered 173 in the spring of 2002. The nesting season in Canada looked a little below average due to a very late spring, with 50 nesting pairs hatching 33 chicks. Seven cranes were still incubating eggs when we finished production surveys in late June. Probably at least 1/2 of the chicks won't survive to reach Aransas. Since we've been loosing about 16 adults annually, I expect at best a break-even year for the population.

Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Aransas NWR, P.O. Box 100, Austwell, TX 77950
(361) 286-3559 Ext. 221; fax (361) 286-3722; email: tom_stehn@fws.gov

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Eagle Optics/CNMAS Partnership

We're excited to let you know that we have partnered up with Eagle Optics to help both you and us when you're selecting new birding optics. Next time you're shopping for those binoculars or scopes, log onto our website (www.newmexicoaudubon.org/cnmas) and click the Eagle Optics link. For every sale placed through our website, our chapter receives a 5% commission. That means extra funds for us to commit to Audubon Adventures or educational scholarships or any of the other projects you support through your Audubon/CNMAS membership! Happy birding through better optics!

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Saturday, September 21, 1:00pm
Butterflies of the Bosque

Steve Cary and Nancy Daniel will present a slide show of the many butterflies that frequent the Bosque del Apache. Then our butterfly knowledge will be put to use on the Refuge where we may anticipate seeing 20 different butterfly species, weather permitting. Insect nets come in handy. Supervised children will have a great time. Meet at the Bosque del Apache NWR Visitors Center. (505-835-1828)

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HawkWatch Observations

http://www.hawkwatch.org/

Join banders and volunteers at the HawkWatch site at Capilla Peak in the Manzano Mountains for the Annual Fall Migration Count being conducted from August 27 to November 5. Call Bobbie Posey at 255-7622 for more information or check out www.hawkwatch.org for a map to the site. John DeLong and crew will be banding Flammulated Owls in the Manzano Mountains at the Capilla Peak HawkWatch International site from late August until mid-October, every night of the week. You're invited to come and camp out or just visit. Plan to stay up late to see owls and bats ­ weather permitting! Remember that snow and rain deter both the birds and the banders. So check the forecast. If it's fair, bundle up (altitude + dark = cold), bring coffee, and join the night owls. No need to call ahead.

John will be the presenter at our joint CNMAS/HawkWatch meeting in January! Watch for details in the next newsletter.

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