Evergreen Audubon

"Playa - Alison, Emily, Cliff (Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory)

Chapter Meeting
Thursday, February 4, 2010
7:00 PM
Speaker: David Pavlacky, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

Playas are wetlands of the Great Plains formed by shallow depressions that fill periodically from heavy rainfall and runoff.  The wet-dry cycling creates variable conditions supporting diverse plant and animal species.  These biodiversity hot spots are an essential component of the Shortgrass Prairie ecosystem.

The shallow waters of playas are significant food sources, providing important stopover habitat for migratory shorebirds, waterfowl and other birds.  Today, playas are primarily found on farm and ranch land, and many are threatened by sedimentation, pit excavation, road construction, urban development, livestock grazing, and deliberate filling.  Conservation efforts, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, are aimed at protecting and restoring playa wetlands through the voluntary participation of landowners.

Effective conservation of playa wetlands requires knowledge of playa locations and threats, as well as understanding how wildlife responds to conservation efforts and the impact of surrounding land use.  Thanks to the staff at the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO), these critical questions are being answered in eastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska.

The ecology and conservation of playa wetlands and the value of the Conservation Reserve Program will be the program topic of Evergreen Audubon’s February general meeting.  Our presenter will be Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s David Pavlacky.  Dr. Pavlacky, a biometrician, began working with RMBO on playa spatial ecology in April 2008.  A Colorado native, David received a BS in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University (1995) and a MS in Zoology and Physiology from The University of Wyoming (2000). He earned a PhD in Zoology from The University of Queensland, Australia (2008), where he studied landscape genetics and ecology of rainforest birds.

Come learn about the playas of eastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska, Thursday, February 4, 2010.  Guests are welcome.  Our meeting will be held at 7:00 PM in the Church of the Hills, 28628 Buffalo Park Road (just west of the Evergreen Library) in the downstairs Fellowship Hall.  Refreshments and a business meeting will follow.

February 12 – 15, 2010

Join others across the US and Canada. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual event led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. This year is the 13th year for the count. The GBBC is a free, fun event–and anyone can participate. It’s a great activity for kids, families, and adults of any age. Beginners and experts alike are welcome. All you have to do is count birds at your favorite location for at least 15 minutes during the count. You can much longer if you want to! You enter your tallies on the GBBC web site. Then you’ll be able to see your results, as well as what others are reporting from around the United States and Canada as the count progresses. Scientists use this real-time snapshot of where the birds are to learn more about changes in their numbers and distribution from year to year.

To learn how you and your family can participate, visit:

The Great Backyard Bird Count
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
National Audubon Society

Allenspark, CO
Saturday, February 13, 2010
8:00 AM
Leader: Kathanne Lynch

We will carpool to the Fawn Brook Inn in Allenspark, CO (2 hours away) to see Gray-crowned (maybe Hepburns too), Brown-capped, and Black Rosy-Finches.  This is a traditional site in Colorado to see these birds.  After an early lunch at a nearby restaurant (the Inn does not open for lunch until April), people may return to Evergreen or continue on for the second part of this trip.  Part II will be in the plains north of Boulder where we will view raptors: Ferruginous, Rough-legged, Red-tailed and Cooper’s Hawks; Northern Harrier; Bald and Golden Eagles; and Falcons.

Please confirm your participation on this trip before Thursday Feb. 11 with Kathanne at 303-968-4750.  You will return to Evergreen by 7:00 pm (or by 3:00 pm if going to see only the finches).

Red Rocks Park

Red Rocks Park
Saturday, March 13, 2010
8:30 AM
Leader: Sherman Wing

Join Sherman on a bird walk, to see the winter residents and the early spring migrants at Red Rocks Park on Saturday, March 13th; let’s meet at 8:30 AM at the Trading Post. Bring your binoculars, snacks, water and dress appropriately. Please call to confirm attendance on this 1/2 day trip, especially if the weather or conditions are bad.

Call Sherman at 303-324- 9636.

John Snook, Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Chapter Meeting
Thursday, March 4, 2010
7:00 PM
Speaker: John Snook, Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Prepare for the upcoming field season!  On March 4^th, John Snook of the Colorado Avalanche Information Center will present the essentials of lightning safety and awareness.

With more time outdoors comes an increased risk of lightning-related injury and death.  U.S. lightning deaths average more than 50 each year, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).  According to the NWS, undocumented injuries are likely much higher.  In Colorado alone, lightning fatalities and injuries totaled 394 between 1959-1994.  About 90 percent of those struck by lightning survive, but they frequently have permanent after effects, which can include debilitating neurologic injuries such as memory loss, muscle spasms, dizziness and depression.

Dr. Snook will present the shocking facts about lightning at the Evergreen Audubon March meeting, 7:00 PM at the Church of the Hills.  His presentation will include lightning fatality statistics and answer the question “Why does Colorado rank 2^nd in the nation?”  He will also discuss the mechanics of thunderstorm development, lightning, and Colorado climatology.  John will familiarize us with finding and understanding weather forecasts prior to your outdoor activities, what to look for while outside, and what to do if lightning is near.

John Snook has both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Meteorology from University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a PhD in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University.  He worked as an applied research meteorologist at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, and is currently an independent meteorological consultant and an Avalanche Forecaster at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

Join us for this engaging and informative presentation about lightning, the hazards and how to protect yourself, Thursday, March 4, 2010.  Guests are welcome.  Our meeting will be held at 7:00 PM in the Church of the Hills, 28628 Buffalo Park Road (just west of the Evergreen Library) in the downstairs Fellowship Hall.  Refreshments and a business meeting will follow.

Download “Lightning Safety for You and Your Family” brochure

Platte River in Nebraska
Sat-Sun, March 27-28, 2010 (with optional extension through Monday)
6:00 AM Saturday carpool to Nebraska
Leaders: Sylvia Brockner & Kathanne Lynch

Viewing thousands of Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River in Nebraska is the centerpiece of this overnight trip.  We will carpool from Evergreen on Saturday morning to picnic atLake McConaughy (4 hours away).  There we may see lingering Bald Eagles and resident birds.  We will continue along the Platte and view cranes before we overnight at a North Platte, NE motel or RV camp.  Sunday morning we will be out before dawn to see the cranes in the river and for lift-off.  We will then observe their behavior in nearby fields.  Most of us will carpool to Evergreen late Sunday morning to try to arrive in Evergreen by 6:00 pm.  A few of us will continue eastward and spend Sunday night in Kearney, where we will be experience lift-off on the Platte Rover at the Fort Kearney State Park footbridge Monday morning.

Bring a sack lunch for Saturday, and snacks for both Sat. and Sun.  Contact Kathanne at 303-968-4750 or kathanne77@msn.com to arrange your own motel reservation.  Because this trip is highly weather-dependent, there may be changes.  (Be prepared to return Monday morning if a blizzard arrives on Sunday.)  On Thursday, March 25, please contact Sylvia at 674-4851 or Kathanne to confirm plans.