Germantown IBA
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The Dayton Audubon Society will visit Germantown MetroPark for our September members' meeting. Recently dedicated as an Important Bird Area by Audubon Ohio (the only IBA in Montgomery County), Germantown is the largest reserve in the MetroParks system, and home to a large variety of habitats. Naturalist Doug Horvath of Five Rivers MetroParks will be our guide for a tour of the facilities, and will also present a short program.
The program will take place on September 15, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Germantown MetroPark Nature Center. Take S.R. 725 west through Germantown; about two miles west of Germantown turn right on Boomershine Road (past Conservancy Road) and go one mile to the park entrance. Follow the signs to the Nature Center parking lot.
Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring their friends. Refreshments will be served and parking is free. Please join us!
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Calendar
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Following is a list of this month's activities. Please see the Field Trip Schedule for detailed descriptions of field trips in September and beyond.
Sunday, September 12, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Beaver Creek Wetlands.
Tuesday, September 14, 7:30 p.m.
DAS Board of Directors Meeting.
Five Rivers MetroParks Leland Center, 1375 E. Siebenthaler Avenue.
Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 p.m.
Dayton Audubon Society Meeting.
Germantown MetroPark Nature Center. Please see above for details.
Saturday, September 18, 8:30 a.m.
Field Trip: Possum Creek MetroPark.
Sunday, September 19, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Aullwood Audubon Center.
Saturday, September 25, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Englewood MetroPark.
Sunday, September 26, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Germantown MetroPark.
Saturday, October 2, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Spring Valley Wildlife Area.
Sunday, October 3, 8:00 a.m.
Field Trip: Sugarcreek MetroPark.
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Administration Looks to Eliminate Protections for Roadless Areas In National Forests
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Washington, DC, Monday, August 9, 2004 - In a move widely condemned by conservationists, sportsmen's associations, and outdoor recreation groups, the Bush Administration announced plans July 12 to eliminate the Clinton-era Roadless Area Conservation Rule limiting logging and development in 58.5 million acres of national forest. Audubon is calling on Americans who care about the environment to let the Administration know how they feel during the public comment period ending September 14. You can take action at www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/ summary.asp?subject=336.
"The implementation of the Roadless Rule had more Americans commenting on it and supporting it than any other federal rule in U.S. history. Yet, the administration has ignored the public's clearly expressed desire to protect the last untouched areas of our national forests," said Bob Perciasepe, Audubon's chief operating officer. "We urge those Americans who care about the fate of our nation's forests to once again let the government know how you feel during this public comment period."
For more information, please visit www.audubon.org/news/press_releases/Take_Action_ Roadless.html.
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Ottawa NWR Auto Tours
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The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, on Route 2 along the Lake Erie Shore between Toledo and Port Clinton, will offer auto tours one day a month this fall, on the following days:
Saturday, September 18
Sunday, October 17
Sunday, November 14
Sunday, December 12
For refuge hours or more details, contact Ottawa NWR at 419-898-0014 or e-mail Ottawa@FWS.gov.
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DeWine Signs Onto Open Fields Bill
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Ohio Senator Mike DeWine has signed on as a co-sponsor of the so-called "Open Fields Bill," known as S. 1840. The bipartisan bill would provide money for states to develop their own recreational access programs based on the needs and objectives of their landowners, sportsmen, and other citizens. These programs would provide incentives to private landowners to open up their lands, particularly agricultural lands, to hunters, fishers and birders. Audubon Ohio has endorsed the Open Fields Bill.
With Sen. DeWine now on board, Ohio conservationists have begun working to persuade our other Senator, George Voinovich, to cosponsor the legislation. Please consider sending a message to Sen. Voinovich urging him to cosponsor S. 1840. You can reach Sen. Voinovich through his web site at http://voinovich.senate.gov/contact/index.htm.
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Ohio Conservation Voting Data
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The Ohio League of Conservation Voters, a nonpartisan group committed to promoting conservation through voter education and political action, has released some interesting data on Ohio conservationists. The data were generated through a "list enhancement" project. Under the project, several conservation groups provided their membership lists to OLCV (Audubon was not included), which then "enhanced" the lists by cross-referencing the lists against public record data about things like voter registration and hunting and fishing licenses.
An analysis of the data provided a number of interesting insights, including the following:
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* Ohio conservation group members are slightly more Democratic than the general voting population in Ohio, with just over 30 percent registered as Democrats and just under 30 percent registered as Republicans. The general voting public is roughly equal at just over 20 percent apiece. The conservation groups have fewer members registered as Independents than the general public - less than 40 percent among participating conservation groups, as opposed to over 50 percent for the general voting public.
* Ohio conservation group members vote far more frequently than the general voting public. Over 25 percent of registered voters have not voted during any of the past five years, whereas only about six percent of conservation voters have been away from the polls for that long. Nearly half of all conservation voters have missed no more than one election in the past five years, whereas the only a bit more than 25 percent of the general voting public can make the same claim.
* Over 80 percent of the total conservation group members on the lists belong to only one of the participating conservation groups. A small percentage - less than five percent - belong to four or more groups.
* While women slightly outnumber men among all voters, there is a much greater disparity within conservation groups, with over 60 percent of all members being women.
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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:
________________________
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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