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May is the busiest time of the year for bird watching, and we have a lot of Field Trips for you to choose from, including four over the Mother's Day Weekend! This is the typical peak of migration in our area, and a great time to get out and discover some of our avian residents and migrants. Be sure to bring your mother or significant other!
Calendar
Friday-Saturday, April 29-30
DAS Birdathon.
Please see below for details.
Sunday, May 1, 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!
Friday-Sunday, May 6-8
Field Trip: Tar Hollow State Park
Join Gem City Birders at Tar Hollow State Park, where you can either camp in the park or stay in a nearby Chillicothe motel. You'll meet Tom Hissong and his Spring Ornithology class at 8:00 a.m. Saturday (International Bird Migration Day) at the park's primitive group campsite to begin the walk. Contact Nancy (278-4022) for information about accommodations and carpooling.
Saturday, May 7, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Twin Creek MetroPark.
A wild and beautiful new MetroPark, Twin Creek offers an abundance of birds and plants. Come explore the well-marked trails at Twin Creek with Merle Carr (258-9576). From Dayton, take SR4 south past Germantown and the junction of SR123 to Eby Road. Turn left and meet in the parking lot on Eby Road.
Sunday, May 8, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Englewood MetroPark.
The most passerine migrants usually pass through the Dayton area during the first and second weeks of May, and Englewood MetroPark is always an outstanding place to look for them! Plan now to join Chris Vickers. (890-9633) to search for migrant wood warblers. Take US 40 west from I-75 (north of Dayton). Meet in the parking lot at the east end of Englewood dam on US 40 (between the Dayton International Airport and the city of Englewood). Please wear shoes or boots suitable for muddy terrain.
Sunday, May 8, 8:30 A.M.
Field Trip: Sugarcreek MetroPark.
Back by popular demand - a spring walk through Sugarcreek MetroPark - the best place for Parula Warblers!! This should be a gorgeous day to look for Yellow-throated Warblers and others. Perhaps we'll be lucky enough again to see the Broad-winged Hawk! Meet leader James Tarkany at the Conference Road parking lot. Afterward, we'll have brunch at Blueberry's in Bellbrook (formerly the Premier House).
Tuesday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting
Leland Center, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Avenue.
Saturday, May 14, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Germantown MetroPark.
Germantown MetroPark is one of the area's most beautiful reserves, and an Audubon Ohio Important
Bird Area. At this spring date, one can expect some of the later and more elusive migrants, such as Mourning and Connecticut Warblers, and some of the uncommon breeding birds of our area like Kentucky Warbler,
Prairie Warbler, or Louisiana Waterthrush. Meet Mike Coogan (438-5688) at the Interpretive Center on Boomershine Road west of Germantown; turn north on Boomershine from SR 725 and watch for the sign.
Friday-Sunday, May 13-15
Lake Erie Birding Trip
Gem City Birders are sponsoring this trip to Ottawa Wildlife Refuge/Crane Creek State Park to witness the northern migration on Lake Erie's shore. Call Nancy Nerny (278-4022) for info about directions or accommodations.
Sunday, May 15, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Caesar's Creek Gorge.
Just below the dam at the southern end of Caesar's Creek Lake, Caesar's Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve features a 180-foot deep gorge with trails leading from the base of the dam to the Little Miami River two miles away. At this prime time of the year, the flood plain forest should be teeming with resident and migrant species of birds. Take I-75 south to SR 73. East through Waynesville. After crossing US 42, go about 1 mile, then right on Clarksville Road. Follow 2-3 miles to park road on the right. Go down the hill into the Gorge to meet leader Dick Balk (886-0092) in the parking lot below the dam.
Saturday, May 21, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Germantown MetroPark Bird Festival.
See article below.
| Please note: DAS will not have a meeting/program this month (May 2005).
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Friday-Sunday, June 3-5
Kirtland's Warbler Birding Trip, Michigan.
Need to add new birds to your life list? This is the place to do it! Aullwood's Tom Hissong is again offering his Kirtland's Warbler - North Woods birding trip, sponsored by Gem City Birders. Travel with Tom to see Loons, Bitterns, Golden-winged Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrows, just to name a few. Call Tom at 890-7360 to receive a brochure or make a reservation.
Sunday, June 5, 6:30 a.m.
Breeding Bird Census at Aullwood.
The 49th annual count of birds at our local Aullwood Audubon Center. Breeding birds will be in full swing, and song should abound early in the morning. Meet at the Aullwood Audubon Center in Englewood Take US 40 west from I-75 north of Dayton; turn south at the east end of the dam (between the Dayton International Airport and Englewood), and go 1/2 mile to the nature center on the left.
Wednesday, June 15, 7:00 p.m.
Dayton Audubon Society Annual Meeting. Wegerzyn Center, 1301 East Siebenthaler Avenue. Includes election of officers for 2005-2006. More details will be in the next Yellow Warbler.
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Birdathon
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Dayton Audubon's annual Birdathon will take place from 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 29, until 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30. Teams of DAS birders will be counting bird species in a 24-hour period, all to raise funds for important local environmental work. Again this year, the money we collect will be divided between Aullwood and the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association. Both organizations are dedicated to the education of children and the preservation of natural habitat right here in the greater Dayton area.
To make a pledge, or to help raise pledges from your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, call Judy Whitaker at 293-1914 for more information. This year, as a bonus incentive, a $20 or more pledge to Birdathon will earn the donor a one-year membership to National Audubon/Dayton Audubon.
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Germantown MetroPark
Amazing Birds Festival
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Come to a celebration of birds on Saturday, May 21, from noon to 3:30 p.m. Germantown MetroPark will hold its annual Amazing Birds Festival at the Morning Glory Shelter, 6910 Boomershine Road. The festival will feature presentations of "Live Hawks and Owls" by The Raptor Center of Glen Helen Ecology Institute at 12:30 p.m. with, and "Wings of Flight" by the Columbus Zoo at 2 p.m. The Wings of Flight program will present some of the Avian wonders of the world, including colorful talking parrots, as well as bird training techniques. Other festival highlights include National Audubon Society displays and hands-on birding tools. Food, fun children's activities, and nature center tours will round out your day. For details call 855-7717.
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Pre-Festival Bird Walks
9 a.m. (3 hrs), 10 a.m. (2 hrs), and 11 a.m. (1 hr)
Germantown MetroPark, designated an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, is the place to be for great birds this day. Join in one of our morning bird watching hikes and then stay for the festival. All hikes will meet at the nature center and end at noon on the festival grounds. Families are especially welcome at the 10 and 11 a.m. walks. Bring binoculars. Reservations requested: call 855-7717.
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Memberships Awarded
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Congratulations to Theresa Williams, Donna Lewis, and Kevin Brown, the newest members of National Audubon/Dayton Audubon Society. They received their memberships in a door-prize drawing at the January 16 DAS meeting. DAS will award single-year memberships to non-members at all of our meetings in the coming year. If you have a friend or a relative who is interested in joining, bring them to the next program!
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 on the Organization web page. 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 (except May). See you there!
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Audubon Ohio Southwest Ohio
Regional Training Conference
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On Saturday, June 11, National Audubon's Audubon Ohio office will hold its second regional training conference of the year, and first ever in Southwest Ohio, at the Brukner Nature Center near Troy, Ohio. The conference will include training for chapter leaders, water issue activists, and Audubon At Home enthusiasts. Details on this conference will appear in the next Yellow Warbler, or you can check their web site at www.audubonohio.org.
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Get Involved!
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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 Dick Balk, or any of the officers or Board members listed on the back page. A simple commitment of time, with a wealth of satisfaction!
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!
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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
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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.
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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:
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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.
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| 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!
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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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E-Mail Dayton Audubon(audubon@dayton.net)
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