Kane County Audubon Minutes

September 9, 2009

Peck Farm-Geneva

Kane County Audubon kicked off its first meeting of the year with the annual potluck dinner.  Holding the dinner at the pavilion allowed more room for this well attended event.  Following dinner, everyone moved to the barn, where members were invited to share photos of their bird sightings with the membership.

Sightings:  American Redstart, Broad-winged Hawk, Nighthawks, Blackburnian Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Water-thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

New Business:   

1. Members were reminded to visit the KCA website.  To date, KCA has held 65 trips or rambles since January for a total of 210 different bird species.

2. At the meeting in October, the regular raffle will be held along with a special raffle.  Andrea Niedzielski, a student at the Art Institute, has donated her painting of a Northern Cardinal to KCA.  Raffle tickets will be sold 1 for $2, or 5 for $3. Tickets will be on sale, September, October, November and December.

3. Chuck Petersen will be leading a trip to Horicon Marsh, October 24-25^th, leaving Peck Farm at 7am.  The trip includes a boat trip on the marsh at a cost of $10 each.  Contact Chuck if interested in going.

4. November 14^th, Bob Andrini will be leading a trip to Colored Sands Banding Station to watch the banding of Northern Saw-whet Owls.  This presentation is for KCA only, and the cost is $25 each.  See Bob if interested in going.

5. At every meeting, in addition for the scheduled speaker, there will be a brief discussion of different birding software available to aid in birding.

6. The treat list was distributed asking for volunteers to bring treats to the monthly meetings.

7. On Wednesday, September 16^th,  Robert Cedeno, an eco-guide will be giving two lectures on birding in Ecuador, the Amazon, and the Galapagos.  The first lecture is at 3:30 at NIU and the second at Ellwood House at 7:00pm.

8. Chris Madsen reported on the Meadowdale Speedway event being held on KCFP property.  Members may want to see what effect this private for profit event has on forest preserve property.

Education:  Members photo night.

Trips: see newsletter for details

Sept. 11-12-13 Fall IAS Meeting

Sept. 19^th , Crabtree Nature Center 8 am

Sept. 26^th Grunwald Forest Preserve 8 am

Sept. 26^th Peck Farm Autumn Fair in Park

Oct. 3^rd.  Nelson Lake 8 am

Oct. 10^th, Prairie Green Wetlands, meet 8 am at Peck Farm

Oct. 14^th, monthly meeting, Ethno-Ornithology 7 pm

Oct. 17^th, Elburn FP 8 am

Oct. 24^th Horicon Marsh

Adjournment:  Nancy Schnaitman, secretary