December, 2002 -- January, 2003

AVAS ELECTION

RESULTS FOR 2003

    At the November program meeting, the AVAS members present elected a the slate of officers, directors and committee chairs for next year. They are listed in the column to the right.

    New to the Board are Donna Emmons and Ben D’Andrea. Donna filled an unexpired At-Large position this fall. She was active in Aiken A. S. in Colorado Springs before moving to Colorado City south of Pueblo.

    Ben has broad experience as an Audubon activist on the East and West coasts. He lives in Pueblo.

AVAS LEADERSHIP

AVAS officers and Board members for 2003. All phone numbers are in area code 719:

President:  SeEtta Moss 275-8874

Vice President : Mark Yaeger 543-2724

Secretary:  Mary Tucey 544-6420

Treasurer:  Richard Tucey 544-6420

Board Members-at-large:

  Marilyn McBirney 948-4622

  Joan Williams 948-3610

  Marjory Joy 647-1235

  Donna Emmons 676-5666

  Ben D’Andrea 253-0813

Conservation: Dave Johnson 545-5548

Education:  Anne Whitfield 485-3314

Field Trips:  Marjory Joy 647-1235

Membership:  Noreen Riffe 561-1899

Fundraising:  (open)

Newsletter:  Leon Bright 561-1108

Publicity:  Peggy Coontz 485-3750

Representative to  Audubon of CO:

  Anne Whitfield 485-3314

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Web site: Tim Tucey

Lower Ark. Valley Liaison: Bryant Will 336-7641

Upper Ark Valley Liaison: Leawn Hlava-chick 942-3040

San Luis Valley Liaison: Mike Blenden 589-4021

The Harrier is published monthly except for June, July, August and December by the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society, P.O. Box 11187, Pueblo, CO 81001. Subscription is free to members of AVAS.

Colfax County (NM) Field Trip and Christmas Bird Counts

    AVAS member Dave Cleary will lead a birding trip to Maxwell NWR and Stubblefield Dam on Saturday, Dec. 7. To view raptors and waterfowl meet Dave at the entrance of Lake #13 at 8:00 a.m.

    Dave will be compiler for the following CBCs:

• Angel Fire/Eagle’s Nest, Saturday Dec.   

  14. Meet at The Bakery in Angel Fire,

   across from Centro Plaza, at 7:30 a.m.

• Ratón, Monday Dec. 16. Meet at 7:30 a.m.

   at Denny’s in Ratón exit 451 off I-25.

Dave welcomes skiers, motor riders and feeder watchers to his CBCs! Contact him at (505) 375-2971.

FIELD TRIP REPORT

by Clif Smith

    With plenty of sunshine and a crisp autumn breeze from Mount Maestas, twelve birders (sorry, space prevents listing all names) enjoyed a November field trip to the Lathrop State Park area near Walsenburg. While water levels were low and one regular waterfowl pond was “mud,” the park and nearby foothills revealed 54 species.

    Some highlights were Red-breasted Mergansers, Herring, California and Ring-billed gulls, both Golden and Bald eagles, and a Common Loon. The real find however, was a Pacific Loon! The group also spotted Cedar Waxwings, Juniper Titmice, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a very elusive rail species.

    Park personnel Kathy Sieple and Jonathan Kelly were, as always, very helpful in making the day. Lathrop has had some surprising birds this year and is always worth a visit . . . or two!

Dead Birds = More Fun??

    In a recent court case against the bombing of pelagic birds on a Pacific island by the Department of Defense, the government defense lawyer stated it was beneficial because "bird watchers get more enjoyment spotting a rare bird than they do spotting a common one." Fortunately, the judge disagreed.

    Unfortunately the new Congress has now passed bills exempting the Department of Defense from provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which protects most North American birds. Given the current political climate the House and Senate versions will be reconciled and quickly signed into law.

Eurasian Wigeon

photo by SeEtta Moss

Oops!

    In last month’s issue of the Harrier the CCAP was misidentified. Their correct name is Citizens for Clean Air in Pueblo and Southern Colorado.  Our article also should have stated the CCAP had worked to strengthen the environmental viability of the reclamation process, rather than pollution controls.