Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton,
OH 45414-5398
Photo by Jim Simpson
2010 Birdathon
The arrival of April means Spring is well under way, and Dayton Audubon is geared up for our annual Birdathon. One of our most popular and important events, Birdathon raises thousands of dollars annually for local environmental programs and projects, including Aullwood Audubon Center and the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association. The greatest benefit, of course, is the fun for Birdathon participants as we count as many different bird species as we can see or hear in 24 hours; at this time of year, we might log over 100 different species in this area! Donations are raised through pledges gathered by the participants - either a per-species amount, or a fixed amount.
This year's Birdathon will be held from 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 30th to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, May 1st. ALL chapter members are welcome to support this important effort! You can participate in several ways:
Participate in the count: Create your own team or join one of the existing teams You are welcome to join us for 24 hours of FUN; improve your birding skills and raise money for very worthy environmental causes.
Collect pledges and/or donations, and send them to the Birdathon chairperson, Cindy Beckman, c/o Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, Ohio, 45414-5398. Make checks payable to Dayton Audubon Society.
Pledge to one of the teams listed below.
Bring your pledges and/or donations to Patty's Shelter at Englewood MetroPark at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 1st for refreshments and the big tally! Hear about those great sightings!
Again this year, non-Audubon members who contribute $20 or more will receive a membership to the National Audubon Society and Dayton Audubon. For more details call Cindy and Jim Beckman at 862-4505.
City, State, Zip______________________________________________________________
Calendar
Saturday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Englewood MetroPark.
Some of the best birding in the Dayton area in the spring is at Englewood MetroPark. The diverse habitat of this premier MetroPark can hold a wide variety of migrants and nesters, including Vireos, Warblers, and Orioles. From Dayton take I-75 north to I-70 west to the airport access road, exit at US40 and go west to the park entrance at the east side of the dam. Meet in the upper parking lot at the dam and US40. Please wear shoes/boots suitable for muddy terrain.
Field Trip: Sugarcreek MetroPark.
Sugarcreek offers a large area of upland woods, fields, and riparian habitat, and is sure to be full of returning nesters and migrants by the end of April. From I-675, south on Wilmington Pike (cross SR725), continue to Conference Road. Meet leader Jennifer Monahan (654-3301) in the parking lot on Conference Road.
Tuesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting
Harrigan Auto Center Reserve, 475 Congress Park Dr.
Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Native Plant Sale at Aullwood Audubon Farm.
Gardeners may choose from a wide selection of native perennial plants, trees, and shrubs, including a variety of wildflowers that have been rescued from areas scheduled for development. Food and wagon rides will be available at a nominal cost. Admission is free. The Farm is located at 9101 Frederick Pike in Butler Township.
Sunday, April 18, 7:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Aullwood Audubon Center.
This is a good warm-up for Birdathon; the fields and woods at Aullwood will certainly be hopping with birds during spring migration. Join Aullwood naturalist Tom Hissong (890-7360) on this popular field trip. Take US 40 west from I-75 (or from the airport access highway) at Vandalia, turn south on Aullwood Road at the east end of the Englewood Dam (between the Dayton International Airport and Englewood), and go 1/2 mile to the nature center.
Wednesday, April 21, 7:00 p.m.
DAS Meeting/Program
See article below.
Thursday April 22, 2:30 p.m.
Earth Day Walk at Aullwood.
This year will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Enjoy an early morning walk to reflect on all that this special planet means to us. Bring favorite poems, stories or readings about the earth that you would like to share. Learn how you can do your part to protect the earth. The earth needs our help now more than ever! See directions to the Center above.
Friday-Saturday, April 30 - May 1
DAS Birdathon.
Please see article above for details.
Glen Helen's Nick Boutis at
April DAS Meeting
Nick Boutis, Executive Director of Glen Helen Ecology Institute since 2006, will present a program at the next Dayton Audubon Society meeting on April 21, 2010. Nick holds a B.A. in biology from Oberlin College and an M.G.A. in non-profit management from the University of Maryland. Additional graduate level studies from Antioch University and USDA Graduate School include environmental education, environmental history, meteorology, mycology, ornithology, and outdoor administration.
Nick will fill us in on current happenings at Glen Helen and at the Ecology Institute; what impact, if any, the closing of Antioch College in Yellow Springs will have on the Glen; and what we can expect from them in the future.
The program will take place at Wegerzyn Garden Center, 1301 East Siebenthaler Avenue, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Our meetings are held in the main auditorium; you can enter through the front doors and take the elevator or stairs. Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring their friends. Refreshments will be served, and parking is free. Please join us! Hang this article on your 'fridge so you won't forget!
Christmas Bird Count Results
The 85th annual Dayton Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count was held December 27, 2009. Our 37 participants recorded 10, 772 birds of 64 species, including new record Count numbers of American Pipits (32) and Yellow-rumped Warblers (30). However, we recorded a disappointingly low number of Song Sparrows (38).
We once again thank all of our participants, particularly our Count Compiler, Sue Tackett.
Christmas Count Totals
Canada Goose .............2,614
Gadwall.......................4
American Black Duck..........25
Mallard.....................541
Lesser Scaup..................1
Bufflehead....................7
Common Goldeneye..............7
Hooded Merganser.............60
Common Loon...................1
Pied-billed Grebe.............1
Great Blue Heron.............46
Northern Harrier..............3
Sharp-shinned Hawk............4
Cooper's Hawk................11
Red-shouldered Hawk...........2
Red-tailed Hawk..............34
American Kestrel..............8
American Coot.................9
Killdeer......................2
Ring-billed Gull............785
Rock Pigeon.................167
Mourning Dove...............202
Great Horned Owl..............3
Barred Owl....................3
Belted Kingfisher............13
Red-bellied Woodpecker.......70
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker......6
Downy Woodpecker............100
Hairy Woodpecker.............19
Northern Flicker.............30
Pileated Woodpecker..........14
Blue Jay.....................21
American Crow...............190
Horned Lark.................137
Carolina Chickadee..........374
Tufted Titmouse.............123
Red-breasted Nuthatch.........2
White-breasted Nuthatch......89
Brown Creeper................46
Carolina Wren................33
Winter Wren...................2
Golden-crowned Kinglet.......26
Eastern Bluebird.............54
Hermit Thrush.................3
American Robin............1,641
Gray Catbird..................1
Northern Mockingbird..........3
Brown Thrasher................1
European Starling.........1,830
American Pipit...............32
Yellow-rumped Warbler........30
Eastern Towhee................7
American Tree Sparrow.......129
Field Sparrow.................2
Song Sparrow.................38
Swamp Sparrow.................1
White-throated Sparrow......170
White-crowned Sparrow.........1
Dark-eyed Junco..............92
Northern Cardinal...........262
Brown-headed Cowbird..........2
House Finch.................135
American Goldfinch..........242
House Sparrow...............261
Council of Ohio Audubon Chapters
The Council of Ohio Audubon Chapters (COAC) is a state-wide coalition of Audubon chapters that was begun in the late 1960s as a way to bring chapters together and give them a common voice. The group's mission is to aid chapter development in strength, growth, and leadership through dialogue and networking between the chapters and the National Audubon Society, and to provide an independent collective voice of Ohio chapters and its affiliates in all Audubon affairs.
With the closing last year of Audubon Ohio, the National Audubon state office in Columbus, COAC has again had to rethink its mission. At a recent meeting of Chapter representatives called for the purpose of reorganizing COAC, four major courses of action were decided:
* Create a COAC web site to facilitate communication between the chapters
* Develop a list of current chapter resources/contacts
* Establish committees for inter-chapter projects
* Revitalize the Important Bird Area Science Program
Other ideas, of lesser importance, will be worked on after the first four are completed:
* Maintain list of chapter contacts
* Possible Facebook page
* Provide timely grant information
* Be the lead on an Audubon Assembly
* Raise funds
* Develop a strategic plan
* Advertise/distribute conservation alerts
Get Involved!
Are you fond of birding-related activities? Are you interested in the environment? Do you wish the Dayton Audubon Society offered more for YOU? Well, we can use you!
DAS is always seeking new Officer and Director candidates. If you or someone you know is interested in helping to develop and lead your DAS, please contact President Mike Coogan, or any of the officers or Board members listed on the Organization web page. A simple commitment of time, with a wealth of satisfaction!
DAS Scholarships Available
The Dayton Audubon Society is deeply committed to education
and,in part, shows that commitment by offering scholarships annually to
individuals who can make a difference in our community. Perhaps you know
someone who might benefit from the DAS mission. Read on and, if you can,
help us find deserving scholars.
Charlie Breish Memorial Camp Scholarships
Dayton Audubon offers financial assistance for teachers and other adults to attend National Audubon's summer ecology workshops in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming, the woodland community of Connecticut, and the coast of Maine.
While the camps and workshops are open to everyone these days, they are still especially popular with teachers. If you know of a dynamic elementary or secondary teacher, let us know about them!
National Audubon also offers a summer camp in Maine to youngsters ages 10 through 14.
The Dively Scholarship
Since 1982, DAS has offered tuition help to college students
through the Dively Scholarship Program, originally endowed in memory of
DAS member Dick Dively. Though we cannot offer a lot of money, the Dively
Scholarship has helped both undergraduate and graduate students reach academic
goals in fields that further the cause of environmentalism and conservation.
Dively scholarship recipients are not restricted to scientific fields;
other connections, such as environmental law, are possible.
The Shawen Grant
The Bob Shawen Memorial Youth Ornithology Grant was established in
memory of long-time DAS activist Bob Shawen. The goal of the program is
to provide funds, materials, and/or speakers for elementary classrooms,
youth groups, or field experience settings to promote knowledge of birds,
their habits, and their habitats.
What can you do?
Help us find scholarship candidates. Talk to interested people or people you think ought to be interested. Spread the word!
To recommend candidates, apply for scholarships, or receive further information, please call or e-mail DAS Projects/Memorials Chair Cindy and Jim Beckman at
You can also write to Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 East Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45414-5398 or e-mail us at audubon@dayton.net
Environmental Legacy
A bequest of any size to Dayton Audubon can have a lasting effecton on
ecological concerns and environmental education in the Dayton area. We ask that you consider leaving a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or the remainder of your estate after other bequests, to
the Dayton Audubon Society.
For more specifics on this, or other information about gift planning, please phone Tom Schaefer, 937-276-2162, or write to Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45414-5398.
Time and Talents
Dayton Audubon is an organization of volunteers committed to education, the natural sciences, and an environmental ethic. Help and new ideas from the ranks of the membership are needed in order for the organization to reach its goals. If you would like to help in any of the following capacities, please let us know. Your involvement will be welcome.
I would like to help with:
__ Birdathon
__ Conservation Committee
__ Education Committee
__ Field Trips
__ Membership Comittee
__ Publicity
__ Yellow Warbler
__ Other:
________________________
Send with your name and phone number to Dayton Audubon Society,
1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45414-5398. You can also
call DAS President Jennifer Monahan at 937-654-3301, or e-mail us at
audubon@dayton.net.
As a member of the National Audubon Society, you are also a member
of the Dayton area chapter. There are no local dues, and you receive your
newsletter automatically. To find out more about the Dayton Audubon Society,
contact one of the officers whose numbers are listed in the Dayton Audubon
Society Organization webpage. Better yet, come to
a meeting or join us on a field trip!
The DAS meets at 7:00 p.m. at the Wegerzyn Center, 1301
East Siebenthaler Avenue, on the third Wednesday of every month from September
to June. See you there!
Southwest Ohio Rare Bird Alert
937-640-BIRD (2473)
Includes updated information on DAS activities.
To report unusual sightings, call Betty Berry at 937-836-3022, or
Ralph Dennler at 937-294-5086
