Kansas Outdoors Information and Events: National Audubon Society

Showing posts with label National Audubon Society. Show all posts

Thursday, December 29, 2011

EAGLES SOAR AT TUTTLE CREEK, OTHER KANSAS RESERVOIRS

December 29, 2011

Wintering bald eagles a favorite of Kansas naturalists

PRATT — With the arrival of winter, the eagles have landed near many eastern Kansas reservoirs. Bald eagles have been migrating south, offering outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to see the national bird in its native habitat. To enhance this opportunity, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Tuttle Creek Reservoir has scheduled its annual Eagle Day 2012 for Saturday, Jan. 7, beginning at 9 a.m.

The program is free and open to the public. All participants are asked to meet at 9 a.m. in the large assembly room at the Manhattan Fire Station, 2000 Denison (the corner of Denison and Kimball) in Manhattan. At that time, Steve Walhe, a biologist with the U.S. Army Ft. Riley Conservation Office, will offer a short presentation on the nesting habits of bald eagles in Kansas. Vanessa Avara, assistant director of the Milford Nature Center, will then feature several live raptors in her discussion of eagles and other birds of prey.

Following the two presentations at the fire station, members of the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society will take participants on a bus tour through areas near Tuttle Creek Lake, with the goal of watching bald eagles in the wild. All participants should dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras.

For more information on this event, phone Steve Prockish at the Corps of Engineers office, 785-539-8511 ext. 3167.

Milford Reservoir Eagle Day will begin at 9 a.m. on Jan. 14 and will include viewing tours and live eagle programs.

Other Eagle Days include:

Jan. 15 — F.L. Schlagle Library (on Wyandotte Lake);
Lawrence — Jan. 21 — Jayhawk Audubon's 2012 Kaw Valley Eagles Day;
Jan. 28 — Perry Reservoir; and
Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 —Chaplin Nature Center, Wichita.

Other Eagle Days will be held throughout Kansas. Watch the Events Calendar on KDWPT’s website www.kdwpt.state.ks.us or check the Natural Kansas website, www.naturalkansas.org. To learn more about eagles and other raptors, visit the Great Plains Nature Center's "Raptor's Roost," www.gpnc.org/raptors.htm.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS IN 112TH YEAR

Image via Wikipedia

Kansas Ornithological Society Christmas Bird Count runs Dec. 11-Jan. 8; Audubon count Dec. 14-Jan. 5
PRATT — An early December cold spell has many bird lovers filling their backyard feeders and preparing for the winter delight of backyard bird watching. For the most avid of bird watchers, December is also the time to go afield and participate in the annual Christmas bird counts (CBCs), sponsored by the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS) and the Kansas Audubon Society. Christmas bird counts are great for making new acquaintances, renewing old friendships, and learning more about birds and bird watching in Kansas.

This is the 112th year for organized Christmas bird counts, and more than 2,000 counts are held across the nation each year. Kansas averages 50 counts per year, with more than 40 scheduled so far this year and others yet to be announced. Many counts are concentrated in the eastern and southern parts of the state, but in recent years, more have been conducted in western portions of the state — such as Clark County and the Cimarron National Grasslands — providing additional opportunities to participate.

Christmas bird counts are conducted in circular census areas with a 7.5 mile radius. This is consistent from count-to-count and year-to-year, always surveying the same locations and ensuring that data collected is comparable for population trends over time.

CBCs are easy to prepare for, the best tools being a pair of binoculars, a good field guide, and appropriate clothing and footwear for possible extreme weather. For those counting in an area with a lake, a good spotting scope can be extremely helpful in identifying birds at a distance. It’s also a good idea to study what the expected species are for your location.

There are many count compilers in Kansas who only send data to the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS), and these counts are free. The KOS will accept data collected on counts from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, 2012, giving counters plenty of time to help survey their favorite areas. However, the official Audubon Christmas Bird Count period is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 every year. The Audubon count requires a $5 participation fee for persons 18 and older, with the money going toward the cost of data publication.

Information about Kansas CBCs can be found at the Kansas Ornithological Society website,www.ksbirds.org. For details, just click Kansas Christmas Bird Counts. Information about Audubon counts may be found at birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count# .

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

NATIONAL SYMBOL BRIGHTENS SUNFLOWER STATE WINTER

Eagle Days organized to educate participants about state’s largest raptor
PRATT — Perhaps nothing piques the interests of both novice and seasoned Kansas bird watchers more than the sight of the nation’s symbol, the bald eagle. While some bald eagles nest in Kansas, numbers often surge during January and February, providing excellent opportunities to observe these magnificent raptors. To improve bald eagle viewing opportunities, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) — in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and local Audubon chapters — has scheduled a number of "Eagle Days" across the state.
The Tuttle Creek 2011 Eagle Day will be held Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. until approximately noon. The program is free and open to the public. Participants will meet at in the large assembly room at the Manhattan Fire station, 2000 Denison (the corner of Denison and Kimball) in Manhattan. At that time, Dan Mulhern, biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will offer a short presentation on the nesting habits of bald eagles in Kansas. Pat Silovsky, director of KDWP’s Milford Nature Center, will then display several live raptors in her discussion of eagles and other birds of prey.
Following the two presentations at the fire station, members of the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society will take participants on a bus tour through the area downstream of Tuttle Creek Dam, with the goal of watching bald eagles in the wild.
All participants should dress appropriately for the weather. Everyone is encouraged to bring binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras. Sponsors of the bus service include the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society and the Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, phone Steve Prockish at 785-539-8511, ext. 3167.
Similar Eagle Days events are scheduled at the following locations:

F.L. Schlagle Library on Wyandotte Lake on Jan. 15, phone 913-299-2384;
Milford Reservoir on Jan. 15-16, phone 785-238-5323;
Lawrence Free State High School, 6th and Wakarusa in Lawrence, on Jan. 23, phone 785-843-7665; and
Chaplin Nature Center, 27814 27th Drive in Arkansas City, on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, phone 316-442-4233.

KDWP staff are reporting eagles at El Dorado State Park, but no events are scheduled. Eagles frequent several large reservoirs in eastern Kansas, and other Eagle Days may be scheduled in the near future. For more information, contact the nearest office of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.