Raptors Up Close

By By Linda Dennis 

Most of us love the sight of hawks soaring high above or perching on poles, even when we can't identify them. Owls are intriguing because of their mysterious aura, haunting calls and swift, silent flight. A kestrel on a wire or hovering low over a field reveals its fine beauty of color and form.

On Thursday, February 11, our general meeting program will present live hawks, owls and an American Kestrel from local organizations. Licensed handlers will show the birds and inform us about their amazing adaptations that include their keen senses of sight and hearing.

A Great-horned Owl and Eastern Screech Owl (red phase) will be part of the program. Both owls had been hit by cars in Nebraska and were unable to be released back into the wild after they were rehabilitated. They are on Kip & Stacy Smith's (Wildlife Learning Encounters) permit and sponsored by Papio-Missouri River NRD for educational programs.

Sharing the program will be a Red-tailed Hawk (Harlan's subspecies), an Eastern Screech Owl (gray phase), and a Rough-legged Hawk. All three birds had physical injuries that prevented them from being released after they were rehabilitated. They are now on Fontenelle Nature Association's permit for use in school programs and public presentations.

Also appearing is an American Kestrel that is featured in programs at Fontenelle Forest, and is often at Neale Woods on Sunday afternoons in the spring and autumn when the Nature Center is open. She is fully flighted but not releasable because as a fledgling she was picked up and handled by people (and would approach humans for food). Being "imprinted," she hasn't the ability to survive in the wild.

If you would wish to have the Great-horned Owl and red-phase Screech-owl for a program, please contact Christy Jacobsen, Educational Specialist for Papio-Missouri NRD, at 315-1713. For the rest of the birds and a "Rappin' with Raptors" program, please contact Rick Schmid, Director of Education at Fontenelle Nature Association, 731-3140, Ext 239.

If you enjoy seeing and learning about these magnificent birds that are so important to our environment, join us at the Hanscom Park Methodist Church, 4444 Frances St (1 block south of 45th & Center), 7:30 P.M. Thursday, February 11.

A short business meeting follows the program, with coffee, cookies and a social hour to end the evening. Visitors are welcome, as are photographers!

Owling Field Trip Friday, February 5

By Elliott Bedows

We will change things a bit for ASO's February 5 field trip as the target birds will all be owls. We will meet at 7:00 P.M. (not A.M.) on Friday (not Saturday), February 5, at the Hitchcock Nature Center Lodge, located 5 miles north of Crescent, IA, along the Old Lincoln Highway.

To get there, take the I-680 bridge east into Crescent, IA, if you are coming from the Nebraska side; turn right for five miles and follow the signs to the reserve. There will be a $2 fee per participant. The trip should only be a couple of hours in length, depending on the quality of the birding. Our leader will be Jim Meyer.

Warm clothing is essential. For details, call 451-3647.

Feeder Watching Field Trip

Despite the "unfriendly," dark, foggy, dreary day Saturday January 16, Clem Klaphake led 10 ASO members on a bird feeder observation field trip. A total of 20 species were seen. The best birds seen were Harris' Sparrow, Carolina Wren and Hairy Woodpecker.

ASO is thankful to Kathleen and Bob Rose and Duane and Kathy Schwery for opening their homes and providing great snacks. After eating a lunch in Plattsmouth, four of us checked out the Missouri River on the east edge of the town and saw several Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneyes.

Omaha Area Christmas Bird Count

The Omaha CBC was held on Decembr 19, 2009. Despite snow and frozen waters, we had 31 people in the field and at feeders to compile 68 species, plus one count week species. Weather was below freezing, but with gentle winds, our people mushed through the snow where they could. Nothing new this year, although the Trumpeter Swan was a rarity. Several species were at low counts of "1." High counts were recorded for turkeys, Cackling Goose, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and White-crowned Sparrows. The entire list follows:

DeSoto/Boyer Chute Christmas Bird Count

The count, scheduled for December 27, was postponed to December 30 because of the Christmas day blizzard whch left behind an additional foot of snow, high drifts and numerous closed trails and roads. Despite the delay, none of the Refuge and Park trails were open, which left us little to survey but from the roads and a few feeders.

There was very little open water besides the Missouri River. Despite the lowest species and individual numbers in the 13-year history of the count, it was more productive than anticipated.

Twelve counters spent the day driving in the cold with limited visibility and on and off flurries. Fifty-one species plus 2 count-week species were seen. The previous low count was 54 in 2007. There were 4,984 individuals counted. The previous low individual count was 7,429 in 1998. A record high count was set for Ring-necked Pheasant: 386 (previous record 340 in 2000) and Brown-headed Cowbirds: 181 (previous record 20 in 2001). The American Crow population continues to recover with above average numbers recorded. Record lows for species that regularly occur each year were set for Mallard: 2 (previous 152) and Common Goldeneye: 13 (previous 15). Eastern Bluebirds were at their lowest numbers in 8 years, and only 2 American Robins were seen despite last year's huge number (4,018) and large numbers locally present before the two December storms. Second lowest numbers were recorded for Yellow-shafted Flicker, American Tree Sparrow, and American Goldfinch.

Presented by The Omaha Press Club Educational Noon Forum Series

If you have been wondering about the future of wind power, solar power, biofuels and the whole question of alternative energy in Nebraska, you will have the opportunity to get some questions answered at the monthly Omaha Press Club Educational Form on February 18.

The Nebraska Energy office is finalizing its plan for the development of alternative energy in Nebraska that will be completed by the end of January. The plan will include policy recommendations that will be presented to state officials and the governor's office for final approval.

Presenting information about the plan will be Neil Moseman, Director of the State Energy Office. Also making formal remarks will be Robert Byrnes, owner and CEO of Nebraska Renewable Energy Systems. Mr. Byrnes has been involved in the development of renewable energy legislation and policy and has begun numerous renewable energy businesses and projects throughout Nebraska. Also on the panel to help answer questions from the audience will be Dave Cingman, a staff member of the Nebraska Energy Office.

The release of this report should provide momentum as Nebraska moves forward in the field of renewable energy. Please join us to learn more about it.

The forum begins immediately at noon. The cost is $15.00 per person. This includes lunch, served during the program.

For reservations call 345-8008, by February 17. Reservations must be accompanied by OPC member number or credit card number. You are encouraged to register early to secure a space.

Cancellations require 24-hour notice. Or email jeanie@opc.omhcoxmail.com. Guests and nonmembers welcome. Validated parking in the Doubletree Hotel garage. Bring your ticket and come to the Omaha Press Club, 22nd Floor, First National Bank Center, 1620 Dodge Street.

Student Art Contest Sat, April 10

By Jackie Scholar

Please mark April 10 on your calendar, as that is the date for the Audubon Society of Omaha's Greater Omaha Student Art Contest.

The contest is open to entrants from kindergarten through high school age. Last year we had some excellent artwork presented. Details will be placed on the ASO website, audubon-omaha.org, after January 10.

We expect another great turnout and need volunteers to help receive the art work, set it up, or greet

Introductory Bird Identification Class

By Kathy Schwery

Saturdays: March 13, April 10, & May 1
8:00 A.M. - Noon - Fontenelle Forest Center
$20 fee includes all three sessions

For ages 12 and older

Registration required: Contact Clem Klaphake at 292-2276 or ckavian@cox.net

This class is limited to 15 participants

With over 50 million `birders' in the U.S., bird watching is the fastest-growing outdoor activity today.

This three-part class, led by Audubon Society of Omaha President Clem Klaphake, includes local field trips and instructon on identifying birds everywhere. No prior knowledge of bird identification is needed.

Rivers and Wildlife Celebration March 18-21

By Betty Grenon

It isn't too late to sign up for the Rivers and Wildlife Celebration March 18-21, 2010, in Kearney.

Events include guided field trips, workshops, a family fun room, and daily visits to river blinds operated by Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary for up-close views of cranes roosting on the Platte River.

Local and national speakers will present information on a variety of wildlife and conservation topics. Main speakers are Scott Weidensaul, author of more than two dozen natural history books, Mike Forsberg, nature photographer and author of Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild; Ron Klataske, Executive Director of Audubon of Kansas; and Chris Wood, eBird Project Leader, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Local environmental organizations will have information booths and hands-on activities on Saturday.

For registration materials, contact www.nebraska.audubon.org  or Audubon Nebraska to be put on the mailing list: Nebraska@audubon.org;  402/797-2301.

For crane viewing information, contact Rowe Sanctuary, 308/468-5282; www.rowesanctuary.org.

Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15

It's almost time to join the nationwide citizen science project known as the Great Backyard Bird Count.

What could be less burdensome than counting birds in your backyard, a park or elsewhere to contribute to research on winter bird population numbers? This is the only way to gather important data on private territory, near homes.

There's no need to be concerned about your skills or lack of them. An ability to identify even a few species can be helpful in alerting researchers about how populations are changing their locations and how numbers are changing.

If you haven't participated in the past, instructions are easy to find.

All of the information you will need can be found at www.birdcount.org or gbbc@cornell.edu or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org. 

You will be joining thousands of birders across the country assisting in important research.

Good birding and enjoy the time you spend on the Count.

Birders' Exchange:

Used Optics and Books

The American Birding Association sponsors a program to make used birding equipment and field guides available to birders across the Americas.

"Sharing tools, saving birds," is the motto of Birders' Exchange, so that good optics and books may be reused without a cost to the donor.

Birders' Exchange will package and mail the items for you. If you have items to donate, send them to American Birding Association, Birders' Exchange Appeal, 4945 N 30th Street Ste 200, Colorado Springs CO 80919-3151.

Check-off for Wildlife in Nebraska 

Please consider donating part or all of your state tax refund to Nebraska Game & Parks Non-game and Endangered Species Fund.

An important source of state funding for conserving nongame species, the check-off is spent for diverse species of animals and plants. Look for the Peregrine Falcon symbol neasr the botton of your state tax form. Or donate anytime at www.outdoornebraska.org/ or mail to Nebraska Game & Parks, Box 30370, Lincoln NE 68505-0370.

Wanted: Photos of ASO Events

Kathleen Crawford-Rose, ASO Historian, would like photos of our activities for the history scrapbook.

Recently she has not received any photos/records of our field trips, Spring Banquets, Garden Walks, or other events. These would make fine additions to our records, so please consider bringing your camera with you to help Kathleen with her work as historian.