Dayton Audubon Society, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton,
OH 45414-5398
Photo by Jim Simpson
October at the Boonshoft
For our October 17 program, Dayton Audubon will be guests of Donna Lewis and the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery for a special viewing of the art of Holly Coovert. Over her career, Coovert's scientific illustrations have been published in a wide range of scientific journals, her works have been included in numerous temporary and permanent exhibits and museum publications, and she has illustrated and co-authored many scientific publications with her husband, Gary Coovert, a well-published taxonomist. Using a variety of media, including watercolor, colored pencil, and ink, Coovert's artwork depicts a wide range of species with extreme attention to detail, remaining true to the anatomy of each bird and animal. Museum admission will be waived for attendees.
The program will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway.
November Meeting
We will return to the Wegerzyn Garden Center for our November 21 DAS meeting. The program has not yet been finalized, but you can stay up-to-date through our website, www.dayton.net/audubon/, or via our Southwest Ohio Rare Bird Alert phone number, 937-640-2473 (640-BIRD). The program will be held at Wegerzyn Garden Center, 1301 East Siebenthaler Avenue, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We meet in the main auditorium; you can enter through the front doors and 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!
AS OF NOVEMBER 14, THE DAS MEETING/PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AT WEGERZYN GARDEN CENTER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Calendar
Saturday, October 6, 9:00 a.m.
Field Trip: CJ Brown Reservoir, Springfield.
CJ Brown Reservoir near Springfield has a number of habitats to explore, including a deep-water lake, shallow inlets, beach, seasonal mudflats, patches of woods, and grasslands. Fall waterfowl, shorebirds, and a few late passerine migrants are all possible in mid-October. Take I-70 east to US 68, go north to SR 344, east to SR 4, south to Croft Road, east across the dam, to the state park entrance. Meet Dick Balk (886-0092) at the parking lot by the water north of the check-in station (north end of the beach.)
Tuesday, October 9, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting.
Harrigan Auto Center Reserve, 475 Congress Park Dr.
Saturday, October 13, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Carriage Hill MetroPark.
It's nice to see this MetroPark back on the trip list, and who better to lead this walk than Dayton Audubon's President and our Yellow Warbler editor, Mike Coogan (438-5688), who covers this area for the Christmas Bird Count. Carriage Hill, in addition to being a working farm, has many varied habitats including a planted prairie, a boardwalk and small lake, and several wooded areas. So join Mike for a leisurely amble along the well-kept trails of this wonderful place. Take I-75 north, east on I-70 to SR 201, north to the park entrance on the right. Follow the park road east to the Red Wing shelter parking lot north of the road across from the Visitor's Center.
Wednesday, October 17, 7:00 p.m.
Dayton Audubon Society Meeting.
Holly Coovert at the Boonshoft. Please see above for details.
Sunday, October 21, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Caesar Creek Lake.
Located southeast of the metro Dayton area, Caesar Creek State Park has many different habitats available for birding, including (besides the lake itself) wetlands, fields, and woodlots. Over the years a long list of birds has been sighted here. If the weather has cooperated, there could still be some southbound passerine migrants around in addition to the numerous local avian residents. To get to Caesar Creek, go south on I-75 to SR 73, then east past Waynesville. Where the road widens to four lanes (just before crossing the lake), turn left and follow the signs to the beach. Meet John and Karen Shrader (436-3664) at the large beach parking lot.
Tuesday, November 13, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting.
Harrigan Auto Center Reserve, 475 Congress Park Dr.
Sunday, November 18, 9:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Whitewater State Park, Indiana.
Our popular, traditional end to the fall season's field trips! You just never know what will be seen on this trip: waterfowl, shorebirds, few early winter birds, Black Vultures, Turkeys, and/or Sandhill Cranes. Plan now to stay all morning - bring a picnic lunch with you, and bring a jacket in case the weather is brisk! This is the trip for great birds AND fellowship! Take SR 725 west to Indiana 44 to Liberty, Indiana. Go south on Rt. 101 to the state park sign. Meet Lee and Polly Hall (434-4531) at the park entrance. Don't forget your good luck "bear claw necklace"!
Wednesday, November 21, 7:00 p.m.
Dayton Audubon Society Meeting.
Please see above for details.
AS OF NOVEMBER 14, THE DAS MEETING/PROGRAM SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 AT WEGERZYN GARDEN CENTER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Sunday, December 30, 2007.
83rd DAS Christmas Bird Count
Details in the next issue of The Yellow Warbler.
Tom Hissong Named Audubon Educator of the Year
The National Audubon Society has announced that Tom Hissong, Education Coordinator for the Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, is the first winner of the Tamar Chotzen Audubon Educator of the Year Award. The award was created to recognize exemplary work in education, honoring an individual who has furthered Audubon's vision for environmental education, Audubon Centers, and conservation work.
"Tom is recognized by his peers in conservation education throughout America as an exceptionally dedicated, passionate, and creative educator," said Judy Braus, Senior Vice President of Education and Centers for Audubon. "Perhaps more importantly, he has inspired thousands and thousands of people - both young and old - to see nature with new eyes and take an active role in protecting our natural resources. All of us at Audubon applaud his work and are extremely proud of what he does every day to inspire people to learn, care, and act."
Tom Hissong is a long-time friend of Dayton Audubon, providing programs, field trips, advice, and materials for many of our activities. DAS joins with Aullwood and National Audubon in congratulating Tom for this well-deserved honor.
Aullwood Takes You to the Everglades This February
If you would like to escape the cold, gray wintry landscape of Ohio in February, then Aullwood has planned a special trip just for you. Aullwood naturalists will lead an exciting natural history and bird watching trip to the Everglades and south Florida on February 15-24.
The Everglades and the south Florida Ecosystem have attracted the attention of naturalists for decades. A warm subtropical climate, vast horizons, a rich diversity of life including many beautiful species of birds, and a special mystique all its own, make the Everglades an exciting natural area to explore. The third week in February is often an excellent time to visit south Florida and the Everglades. Balmy day time temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s, low humidity, clear blue skies dotted with white puffy clouds and few mosquitoes, make an Everglades experience at this time one to remember.
This trip will focus on all aspects of this region including the geology, plants and animals. A study of the bird life will be a strong emphasis of the trip. Some of the special south Florida birds that our group might expect to see include: Brown Pelican, White Pelican, Anhinga, Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron, Reddish Egret, Great Egret, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Bald Eagle, Snail Kite, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Crested Caracara, White-Crowned Pigeon, Common Ground Dove, Smooth-Billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Florida Scrub Jay, Loggerhead Shrike, and Painted Bunting.
Reserve your space as soon as possible! For more information, including pricing and a detailed itinerary contact Tom Hissong at Aullwood 937-890-7360.
Audubon Ohio State Assembly/Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Audubon Ohio, National Audubon's State Office in Columbus, will conduct its biennial State Assembly the weekend of October 18-19, 2008. The 2008 State Assembly marks Audubon Ohio's tenth anniversary, and so the usual outstanding field trips, speakers and workshops will be supplemented by a celebration of our ten years of achievement.
The State Assembly has grown in popularity in recent years, with over 200 participants attending the 2006 Assembly. This high attendance reflects the quality of speakers Audubon Ohio has attracted, such as Steve Kress, Kenn Kaufman, Pete Dunne, John Ruthven and Jerome Jackson. Audubon Ohio will work to make the 2008 Assembly the best ever.
The location and schedule of the 2008 Assembly will be announced later, but please circle this weekend on your calendar right now. You will not want to miss this one!
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 DAS Projects/Memorials Chair Tom Schaefer at 937-276-2162, or e-mail him at tom@earthspeaks.org. You can also write to
Dayton Audubon Society
1375 East Siebenthaler Avenue
Dayton, Ohio 45414-5398
or e-mail us at
audubon@dayton.net
Audubon In The Classroom
As students are heading back to school, the National Audubon Society is preparing its 22nd season of Audubon Adventures, an acclaimed environmental education publication for 4th, 5th, or 6th grade elementary classrooms. Audubon Adventures helps teachers make learning about science and nature part of students' everyday lives, integrating reading with science and other core disciplines.
More educators than ever are using Audubon Adventures to bring environmental education into their classrooms, and research shows that incorporating the environment into the curriculum supports improved learning, test scores and community service.
According to a 2000 report issued by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, in which they reviewed schools that adopted environmental education as the central focus of their academic programs, the results of including environmental education in the classroom were striking - reading and mathematics scores improved, students performed better in science and social studies, they developed the ability to transfer their knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar contexts, they learned to "do science" rather than just "learn about science," and classroom discipline problems declined.
This year, Audubon Adventures is focusing on four compelling topics: Home is Where the Nest Is, The Buzz about Native Bees, Bats: Mammals on the Wing, and Wild About Birds, featuring The Legacy of John James Audubon. Audubon invites elementary school teachers around the country to engage students' curiosity about the natural world by bringing science to life in the classroom with Audubon Adventures. Each issue is full of facts, activities, and action tips that connect nature with science, reading, and art, and also inspire and empower kids to care for nature in their daily lives.
DAS 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 Dick Balk at 886-0092. 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!
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
__ 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 Mike Coogan at 937-438-5688, 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
