Here's the latest... It seems as though a fickle public needs to feed on a new major interest on a consistent basis. The spotlight of fame can shine only so long on a story before it becomes tiresome and is kicked to the curb in favor of the next hot subject. In the realm of Kane County birding, Pam Otto has declared the eagles on the Fox as old news and bundled them with yesterday's trash. She claims the new "it" thing to be Wild Turkeys. You can decide for yourself by reading her column in the Kane County Chronicle. A Snowy Owl hit by a car near Hampshire on November 30th, rehabbed at Willowbrook Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Glen Ellyn, was released Monday at Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve. Here's an article (with video) from the Chicago Tribune. And here's the video of the release. This article in the New York Times lends credence to the suspicion that we are experiencing an extraordinary year in Snowy Owl sightings. Since this seems to be the "Era of the Owl" - from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, some beautiful photography and interesting facts about the Snowy Owl:
2011 saw Kane County Audubon set new records for the number of species seen on bird walks and rambles (233) and the number of KCA-sponsored outings (93). You can check out last year's results or follow along on this year's progress. The new 2012 KCA Winter/Spring Newsletter has been released and we have it here. Citizen scientists have compiled their checklists and Christmas Bird Count is now complete. Follow this link to view the 2011 data along with some analysis for Kane County Audubon's contribution to this national effort. Requests are frequently made at meetings for members to collect and bring in commemorative stamps, foreign stamps, and picture postcards for the Illinois Audubon Society stamp-collection project. This article from the State Journal-Register explains what happens to those stamps and how the program has helped to contribute to land preservation in Illinois. Barbara Brotman in this article in the Chicago Tribune writes about a dead Ovenbird, the Chicago Bird Collision monitors, and the bird specimen collection at the Field Museum, the fourth-largest in the world. Join Kane County Audubon on a birding trip to south Arizona in May. General trip info, itinerary, and registration and waiver forms are available by clicking here. The trip is limited to eight participants (on a first come, first serve basis), and registration deadline is October 15, 2011. Proclaim your birdiness! Pledge your allegiance! Let drivers behind you know why you're driving so erratically and show them you're a part of Kane County Audubon. You can accomplish both objectives by displaying this bumper sticker designed by member Rich Miller.
The bumper stickers are available for $1 each by contacting Bob Andrini at 630.584.8386 or Bob Andrini. The BBC has a video segment that adds a twist of scientific clarification to a British Trust for Ornithology study that showed that backyard bird feeding was detrimental to birds' reproductive success. Now the thinking is that bird feeders and bird houses should be located as far apart as possible. You can view the report here. The 2011 Kane County Spring Bird Count produced the most birds ever counted and the second most species in the 40-year history of the count. Click here for the KCA SBC story. Tim Balassie forwarded an article from the Seattle Times' science reporter that deals with some of the consequences surrounding the use of playback devices in "calling in" birds. Some ornithologists contend that this practice places breeding birds under undue stress and could impact the bird's reproductive success. Please find the story here.
Following a very informative presentation by Ed Collins, Natural Resource Manager of the McHenry County Conservation District, at our April membership meeting, KCA unanimously voted to support the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Illinois/southeast Wisconsin. You can read more about the proposed refuge at "The Friends of Hackmatack" website. If, after reading about the project, you agree with the establishment of the refuge, we urge you to sign their petition. Most birders are aware that habitat loss is the major threat to the survival of individual bird species. And that free-roaming cats and other predators pose the second-greatest threat. "ABC World News" featured the problem in a recent report. You can learn more about the issue by reading about the "Cats Indoors" program sponsored by the American Bird Conservancy.
In March, Kane County Audubon met for the first time in our
new "home" - St. Charles Park District's brand new
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center. Plan on joining us at future meetings
to check out this fantastic nature facility.
JOIN US FOR FUN If you're here, you know that birding can be fun. It provides an easy and affordable excuse to enjoy the great outdoors. It's a wonderful family activity. Not an "expert" birder? No problem. We'll be happy to share our knowledge. Consider attending a Kane County Audubon outing or meeting. There's no obligation or pressure to join. Discover how much more fun birding can be. |
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