Dayton Audubon Society

Excerpts From

The Yellow Warbler

The Newsletter of the Dayton Audubon Society

April 2004


Volume 67 - No.2                                                    Photo by Jim Simpson

Dayton Audubon Society,1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, OH 45414-5398

2004 Birdathon is Here!

The annual Birdathon has become one of Dayton Audubon's most popular events, and continues to grow every year. Last year, we raised just under $5,000 for Aullwood Audubon Center education programs and the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association, two organizations dedicated to the education of children and the preservation of natural habitat in the greater Dayton area. Join us this year as we try to pass that $5,000 threshold in donations for the same two organizations. Birdathon participants spend 24 hours counting as many different bird species as they can see or hear. Money is raised through donation pledges - typically a per-species amount, but fixed amounts are also welcome!
This year's Birdathon will be held from 5:00 p.m., Friday, April 30th to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, May 1st. Create your own team or join one of the existing teams; at this time of year, you might see and hear up to 100 different species just in this area! We need ALL chapter members to support this important effort! You can participate in several ways:
* Collect pledges and/or donations, and send them to the Birdathon chairperson, Judy Whitaker, c/o Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton, Ohio, 45414-5398. Make checks payable to Dayton Audubon Society. You can also pledge to one of the teams listed below.
* Participate in the count: You are welcome to join us for 24 hours of FUN; improve your birding skills and raise money for two very worthy environmental organizations that are right here in our area.
* Bring your pledges and/or donations to Patty's Shelter at Englewood MetroPark at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26th for refreshments and the big tally! Hear about those great sightings!
As an extra incentive this year, non-Audubon members who contribute $20 or more will receive a membership to the National Audubon Society and Dayton Audubon. For details on this program, how to enter your own team (it's very easy), or other Birdathon questions, call Judy Whitaker at 293-1914.
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Yes, I will support DAS Birdathon. I pledge _____________ per species to the team(s) checked below.
_____Old Birders (formerly the Old Squaws and the Jay Birders): Charlotte Mathena, Sue Tackett, Jim Hill,John Howard
_____Aristoquacks: Barbara Keegan, Jennifer Monahan, Judy Whitaker
_____Philanthropic Phalaropes: Jim Simpson, Mike Zimmerman
_____Solitary Sandpipers: Mike Coogan, Mark Dillon
_____Wright State Rails: Wright State University and Beaver Creek Wetlands
_____Wild Berrys: Betty Berry and Betty Leve
_____Tenacious Towhees: Xenia Central Middle School students
Instead of a per species pledge, I will donate $________________ to Dayton Audubon's Birdathon.
Name ________________________________________ Phone _____________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip____________________________________________________________________
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Calendar

Saturday, April 3, 8:30 a.m.
Gem City Birders Field Trip: Lima Reservoir and Grand Lake St. Mary's.
If you are eager to see waterfowl, these reservoirs and lakes are a great place to see Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, large numbers of Ruddy Ducks and other kinds of ducks. If we're lucky, we may see a Lapland Longspur! Meet leader Dave Dister (855-3013) in the Ridge Road parking lot of the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery with a mid-morning snack. After a lunch at the La Charreada restaurant, we'll bird a bit more, then head home to brag about our sightings.
Tuesday, April 13, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting
Leland Center, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Avenue.
Saturday, April 17, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Spring Valley Wildlife Area.
SVWA is an outstanding Miami Valley birding locale, and late March is very good for waterfowl headed north. Go south of the town of Spring Valley on US 42 along the Little Miami River. Turn left (east) on Roxanna-New Burlington Rd. Follow to Pence Jones Rd and take all the way to the end (past the trailer park) to meet leaders Barbara Keegan and Jennifer Monahan (435-0707) in the lower parking lot. Please bring your scope if you have one.
Saturday, April 17, 9:30 a.m.
Council of Ohio Audubon Chapters Annual Meeting.
See article below.
Sunday, April 18, 7:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Aullwood Audubon Center.
The fields and woods at Aullwood can be literally hopping with birds during the spring migration. Join Aullwood naturalist Tom Hissong (890-7360) on this popular field trip in looking for the abundant spring bird life that abounds at Aullwood. Meet Tom at the Aullwood Audubon Center: 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 on the left.
Saturday, April 24, 9:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Lawton Gerlinger Farm.
Take this rare opportunity to visit the heartland of Ohio - join Lawton Gerlinger (885-1791) at one of his farms north of Wilmington to look for northbound migrants. We will explore this beautiful 125 acre farm, with fields, wooded ponds, and open woods with large trees, giant trillium, and other spring wildflowers. Many of Ohio's shyer birds nest on the property, including Pileated Woodpecker and Great Horned Owl. There should be a lot of resident birds back in the woods, as well as a very good chance for some migrants at this time of year. From Waynesville, go 9.2 miles southeast on SR 73 to the I-71 interchange. Continue 0.3 mile further on SR 73, then right on SR 380. After 3.1 miles, watch for Lebanon Road on the right; go past this intersection on SR 380 another 0.4 mile to the driveway of the farm at 119 SR 380. You will see a large two-story reddish-brown log cabin and barn up on a hill to the right. Turn into the drive, and follow the lane past the cabin to the barn. The farm is just before the intersection of SR 380 and SR 22, so if you reach this intersection, you've gone too far.
Sunday, April 25, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Shiloh Woods, Stillwater River.
Come check out this beautiful riparian woodland property along the Stillwater River owned by Five Rivers MetroParks. Almost 250 acres, and this time of year many migrants should be around, in addition to numerous nesting resident species. Please bring hiking boots - if there has been recent rains, it could be a little muddy, although most of the area is upland forest. Meet leader Dave Nolin (426-9302) at the Five Rivers MetroParks Leland Center, located at 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Take I-75 north to exit 57B, west 1.5 miles following Siebenthaler signs to the Leland Center. (Please note that the Siebenthaler Road bridge over the Stillwater River just west of the park entrance is still being reconstructed.)
Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25
"Flights of Fancy Festival" at Aullwood.
Call 890-7360 for details.
Friday-Saturday, April 30 - May 1
DAS Birdathon.
Please see article above for details.

Sunday, May 2, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Fort St. Clair State Memorial, Eaton.
Because of the good areas of both upland and riparian woods, and because the timing of this walk is during prime migration, Leader Daryl Michael (687-1480) hopes for a very good selection of passerine migrants, particularly wood warblers. Take U.S. 35 west from Dayton, or U.S. 127 south from I-70 to Eaton, go west on S.R. 122, and follow the signs to the State Memorial. Meet Daryl in the main picnic area. If you like to explore new areas, this will be a great trip for you!

COAC Annual Meeting

The Annual meeting of the Council of Ohio Audubon Chapters will be on Saturday, April 17, 2004, at the Aullwood Audubon Center.
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, Audubon Ohio, and the National Audubon Society, and to provide an independent collective voice of Ohio chapters and its affiliates in all Audubon affairs.
The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. (participant registration begins at 9:00). Lunch is $5 per person; there are no other meeting fees. The meeting will end at 3:15, followed by the guided walk through the marsh (there will be an early morning bird walk in the marsh at 7:30 for the REALLY early arrivals).
The business meeting will include the nomination and election of six directors, plus a discussion of important advocacy issues and concerns.
After lunch, we will be tackling Chapter problems and possible solutions, with a concentration on chapter revitalization and programs.

To register, contact Mike Coogan at 937-438-5688 or cooganm@gemair.com.

Audubon In The Classroom

One of the best ways to further the environmental cause is through education, and one of the best environmental education tools is National Audubon's Audubon Adventures program. Audubon Adventures provides to participating classrooms four packets, each covering a different environmental/ecological topic, such as animal communication, wildflowers, and pond life. The packets contain instructional material, pictures, posters, and other items, including a teacher's guide, and are geared to the 4th or 5th grade level (although it has been used successfully in 6th grade classrooms as well). The materials are fun as well as educational, and participating teachers have been unanimously enthusiastic.
Dayton Audubon annually sponsors Audubon Adventures for a number of area schools. If you know of a classroom that would like us to sponsor Audubon Adventures for them, or you would like to sponsor a class yourself, please contact Barbara Keegan at 435-0707. The cost for Audubon Adventures is $35 per classroom, and the packets are designed for a class of up to 30 students.

The kids need you! We can make a difference!

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 DAS Projects/Memorials Chair Tom Schaefer at 937-276-2162, or e-mail him at tschaefer@ameritech.net. 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 effect 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 __ Education __ Field Trips __ Membership __ Programs __ 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 Dick Balk at 937-886-0092, 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 Jim Arnold at 937-862-4437

Previous Yellow Warblers

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