November, 2002

ARKANSAS VALLEY AND NATIONAL AUDUBON

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Please enroll me as a new member of Audubon and send my AUDUBON magazine, the HARRIER newsletter and my membership card to the address below.

p  My check for $20, payable to the National Audubon Society, is enclosed.

Name

______________________

Address

______________________

City

 _____________________

State ____  Zip _________

Chapter Code:  D03

    7XCH

Clip and send to:  Noreen Riffe, AVAS Membership Chair, 2119 Sherwood Ln.  Pueblo, CO  81005

Education Committee Places Audubon Adventure Kits

By Anne Whitfield

I’ve been talking with Oralia Gil (Pueblo District 60 Science Specialist) concerning the use of Audubon Adventure Kits. Historically we have sponsored 20 to 30 such kits each year in schools around the AVAS area.   In each kit are several classroom sets of newsletters that focus on various nature topics, such as insects, migration of birds, etc. Oralia said she could include the Audubon Adventure kits as part of the materials that constitute the core curriculum for science in elementary school.  These materials are checked out by individual teachers, then returned to Oralia.

If used, Audubon Adventures should be read by all elementary students, grades 3-5, in District 60. Therefore, each kit will receive maximum use.

We welcome the support of AVAS members wishing to  sponsor a kit for your local or neighborhood schools. Cost is $35.00 per kit. Contact me at  (719) 485-3314.

BEGINNING BIRDERS FIELD TRIP REPORT

by Mark Yaeger

In spite of dire reports by the weather folk, ten people showed up on Oct. 12 for the Beginning Birders field trip in Pueblo City Park. It turned out to be a beautiful morning weatherwise, for birding and for fall colors.

After looking over Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes and Mallards on the pond we moved on to study the numerous American Wigeon that spend the winter in City Park. We were rewarded by the discovery of an odd one in the flock. It turned out to be a male Eurasian Wigeon and we got good close up looks at its reddish head through the spotting scopes that were set up.

As we walked by the stream in the park we flushed a bird that Clif Smith was able to determine was a Hermit Thrush after frustrating efforts to see it as it skulked through the brush. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Mountain and Black-capped Chickadees and a Red-breasted Nuthatch were much more cooperative as they responded to pishing and gave most of us good views. Near the Zoo, Marjorie Joy spotted two Sandhill Cranes circling overhead and many of us got to see them.

Other highlights were good looks at a Great Blue Heron, brief views of a Belted Kingfisher and many Yellow-rumped Warblers. We did not ignore the Common Grackles, European Starlings and the ever present Canada Geese on this trip. We studied them all and there are times when they are all highlights on birding outings.

Colfax County (NM) Birding Trip

  As announced in the Harrier last month, Dave Cleary will lead a trip to Surgarite State Park on Saturday, Nov. 2, starting at the visitor’s center at 8:00 a.m.  Some hiking will be involved in the morning. For more details, Dave can be reached at his home in Maxwell, NM, phone (505) 375-2971.