Mid-winter events

Thinking about planning your garden for this summer?

Audubon Rockies has a new program to help you be a habitat hero! Plant native species and attract wildlife species to your yard with their ideas. Already have a wildlife-friendly yard? Map it with YardMap. 

Looking for a citizen science project to get your kids excited about nature in the middle of winter? 

Consider watching and counting the birds at your or a neighbor's bird feeders with the Great Backyard Bird Count. Opening day is this Friday, Feb 14th (closes Feb 17).

Want to get out and explore winter wildlife?

Take your friends and family on a special outing with a tracking expert from the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. This Saturday we are hosting a wildlife tracking trip to Chimney Park, about 45 min southwest of town. Meet at the downtown Coal Creek at 8 am to carpool. Bring binoculars, snacks, water, and skis or snowshoes. Learn how to read the signs that wildlife leave behind!

Laramie Christmas Bird Count Results

The Laramie Christmas Bird Count was held on December 14, 2013 this winter. Seventeen volunteers braved the cold, blustery conditions and counted 34 total species, with 3,050 individuals, down from previous years. By far the most numerous bird counted was Mallard, coming in with 1,031 individuals. Other good counts came from Rock Pigeons, House Sparrows, European Starlings, American Crows, and Common Ravens, all with over 100 counted.

Other highlights included a good diversity of raptors, with Bald and Golden Eagles, Sharp-shinned, Cooper's, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged Hawks, as well as two Merlins and two Prairie Falcons. Three Northern Shrikes were also recorded. However, songbirds were generally way down, with low counts of both chickadees and sparrows.

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) - Albany Co., WY

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) - Nassau Co., NY

These results generally agree with results coming in from other Wyoming Christmas Bird Counts, with generally low counts of many birds, perhaps owing to an early season cold snap. As we continue into the winter, many typical winter birds are still absent from Wyoming or present in only very small numbers, such as rosy-finches. Normally found in good sized flocks in the foothills, rosy-finches are all but absent from most areas of the state.

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch - Laramie Co., WY

Hopefully birds will begin to show up before too long. Many waterfowl and gulls begin arriving around Laramie around mid-March, with spring migration picking up steam through April and May. So, get ready for some exciting birds soon! Until then, stay warm!

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

January LAS Meeting

Laramie Audubon Society will kick off its 2014 program series on Wednesday, January 30th with a presentation on Ecosystem Engineers, Wetlands, and Amphibian Diversity by University of Wyoming student Vicky Zero. Vicky, a Master's student in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management, will discuss her research on the distribution of local amphibian populations, particularly in relation to beaver presence and activities. Vicky studied northern leopard frogs, boreal chorus frogs, and tiger salamanders at Pole Mountain wetlands in 2012 and 2013.

Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata) - Churchill, MB

In addition to using traditional methods of surveying amphibians, Vicki also used an emerging technique that uses environmental DNA collected in water samples to detect the presence of these amphibians. Come and find out what she learned about the factors that determine why our local amphibians occur where they do.

As always, our meetings will take place in the Berry Center Auditorium on UW Campus. The reception begins at 6:30 PM, with our talk beginning at 7:00 PM. Please join us to learn more about our local amphibian species.

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

Project SNOWstorm

With the recent unprecedented Snowy Owl invasion throughout eastern and central North America, ornithologists have taken the opportunity to learn more about the owls that are showing up. Major questions about Snowy Owl biology stand to be addressed with a recent collaborative effort, dubbed Project SNOWstorm.

One of the major aims of Project SNOWstorm is to attach lightweight tracking devices to Snowy Owls that are captured to track their daily movements. This will help answer basic questions, such as when Snowy Owls actually hunt on their wintering grounds, and how far they roam on a day-to-day basis. These lightweight devices transmit data via cellular networks, with the ability to store hundreds of thousands of localities until close enough to a cell tower to send the data. Not only will we be able to see daily movements of Snowy Owls, potentially gathering data on movements for years, but by catching birds, researchers can learn about the health and condition of the birds that are showing up so far south of their normal range, and be able to say whether these are adult or young birds. To that end, Project SNOWstorm is also asking birders and photographers to submit their sightings, especially photographs that show the spread wings and tails of Snowy Owls, as that is the most useful way to age and sex an owl, to get an idea of what owls are showing up where.

Snowy Owl - Nassau Co., NY 

Snowy Owl - Nassau Co., NY

To accomplish all of these goals, and to take full advantage of the Snowy Owl irruption of 2013-2014, Project SNOWstorm is looking for donations to help fund the purchase of additional tracking units. To see how you can help, see their website here.

If you were wondering on the choice of name for the project, and why "SNOW" is capitalized, SNOW is the four-letter code for Snowy Owl used by bird banders and birders.

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

Snowy Owl Irruption in Eastern North America

The eastern United States and Canada are in the midst of a massive Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) invasion. Unlike the irruption a couple years ago, this event seems to be limited to the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes region, with large numbers of owls showing up as far west as Minnesota, Illinois, and North Dakota. Snowy Owls are even showing up as far south as North and South Carolina, with one report even coming from Bermuda!  Despite the restricted range of this winter's irruption, incredible numbers of birds are showing up.  One particularly impressive report comes from Bruce Mactavish in Newfoundland, where over 300 Snowy Owls were found in a small area of coastline (you can read more about this here).

This Snowy Owl invasion has caught the attention of many people, with articles even appearing in the New York Times, which you can see here.  Another extremely informative and interesting article about the impressive Snowy Owl flight is on the eBird homepage.  In this article, you can see the extent of this year's Snowy Owl distribution compared with last winter, which was not an invasion year.  The maps are striking.

I was lucky enough to see some of the Snowy Owl excitement on a recent trip home to New York for the holidays.  The first bird we encountered in the early morning light was still actively hunting from atop a power pole right next to the road. We were able to watch the bird from a respectable distance without disturbing it while it actively searched the dunes for prey before eventually taking flight to roost for the day.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) - Suffolk Co., NY

The second bird picture below was encountered roosting in the dunes along the beach.  This was one of two birds we saw at this site. Many of these coastal sites throughout the Northeast are currently harboring one or more Snowy Owls, where they haven been observed preying on mice, rats, rabbits, and even birds such as pigeons and ducks (Parmelee 1992).

Snowy Owl - Nassau Co., NY

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

References:

Parmelee, David F. 1992. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/010

Fall Migration: A Recap

Fall migration in the Laramie area was very busy this year. The fun kicked off as early as July, with the earliest migrants, shorebirds, started moving. The earliest shorebird migrants that show up in July are generally failed breeders. Shorebird migration peaks in mid to late August, but continues well into September and even October.

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) - Albany Co. 

Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) - Albany Co.

Besides shorebirds, songbirds and other land birds made a good appearance as well.  Wilson's Warblers (Cardellina pusilla) were very this year, with smaller number of other warblers such as MacGillivray's (Geothlypis tolmiei), Orange-crowned (Oreothlypis celata), Townsend's (Setophaga townsendi), and Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia), and rarities including Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) and American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). Sparrow diversity was also impressive, with good numbers of White-crowned (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Lincoln's (Melospiza lincolnii), and Clay-colored Sparrows (Spizella pallida).  Hummingbirds, which start moving by late July, lingered into September, with especially good numbers of Rufous Hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus), and smaller numbers of Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus) and Calliope Hummingbirds (Selasphorus calliope).

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) - Albany Co.

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) - Albany Co.

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) - Albany Co.

Laramie was also host to some more unusual birds this fall.  While not completely unexpected, two Lewis's Woodpeckers (Melanerpes lewis) were found at the Greenhill Cemetery, while Williamson's Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) were found elsewhere in town.

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) - Albany Co.

In late October and November, gulls and waterbirds started pushing through in good numbers. Lake Hattie and Hutton Lakes National Wildlife Refuge were particularly productive, with huge concentrations of waterfowl that included both Surf and White-winged Scoters. Gull highlights included Wyoming's second record ever of Little Gull at Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, several Sabine's Gulls, and a single Thayer's Gull at Lake Hattie.

Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) - Albany Co.

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) - Albany Co.

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

The latest binocular review from CLO is out

If you are looking for a holiday gift for a birder in your life or if you are considering a personal upgrade, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's latest binocular review is out. This is a one-stop shop for comparing many models in difference price categories so you can hone in what you need. They've added a new price category and reviewed over 100 binoculars. Check out their top picks here.

Christmas Bird Count - December 14th

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE PART IN AUDUBON’S 114^th

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT

The Laramie Audubon Society will again take part in a 100-year-old Christmas tradition, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, which mobilizes more than 70,000 volunteer bird counters in more than 2,300 locations. This wildlife survey effort provides important information about birds and their habitats to scientists and conservationists.

Volunteers are welcome to join in the count with the Laramie Audubon Society chapter as it conducts the Albany County Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 14.  This will be the 36th count of the Albany County circle. Volunteers are needed to help count every bird present in a 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie on the day of the count. Novices are welcome and will be paired with more experienced bird watchers.

Volunteers can call ahead (307-286-1972) or meet at Coal Creek Coffee (110 E. Grand) at7:30 am on the day of the count to get data forms and team assignments. Some teams walk while others drive through portions of the count circle. Volunteers will reconvene at The Grounds Internet and Coffee Lounge (171 N. 3^rd St.) at 12:00 pm to drop off morning reports and to regroup if continuing in the afternoon.

Volunteers should wear warm, layered clothing and boots, and bring water, snacks and binoculars if they have them. Bird feeder watchers are also welcome. Volunteers are invited to a chili supper where results will be compiled beginning at 4 pm at the home of Shay Howlin, event organizer. Potluck items welcome, but not required.  Please contact Shay Howlin if you would like to be assigned a route early, would like forms for feeder watching, or have any questions (307-286-1972; wolfhowlin@gmail.com).

Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Laramie Co., WY (2013)

Note: all photos in this post are © Shawn Billerman

Sage Spirit Program on Wednesday, November 20

Wednesday, November 20th. Sage Spirit Project Update by Dave Showalter. This program is sure to be a visual delight!

Dave Showalter is a conservation photographer who is in his fifth year of working on a book and multi-media project—the Sage Spirit Project—that features our imperiled sagebrush ecosystem. LAS has served as fiscal sponsor for the project, enabling funders to make tax-deductible donations.

Dave is not unique in his belief that the "sagebrush is the beating heart of the Intermountain West" but he does have a remarkable ability to capture its beauty and highlight the diversity of species that call this habitat home. He also has photographed the industrial development that threatens this region and has worked with conservation groups to draw attention to these threats and foster protection for this ecosystem.

Come and see spectacular photographs and support this important work to highlight and protect the sagebrush ecosystem.

UW Berry Biodiversity Center, 10th & Lewis Street intersection. Bird chat and refreshments at 6:30 pm in the lobby. Program begins at 7 pm in the auditorium.

Fall Raptor Trip--Sat, Nov 9th

Saturday, Nov. 9th, 8:30am.  Fall Raptor Field Trip led by our local raptor expert Chad Olson.  We will search high and low for Golden and Bald Eagles, Ferruginous Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks,  Red-tailed Hawks, owls, American Kestrels, Merlins, and whatever else is out there.  We are always successful on this fall trip.  If you want to know about the various stages of coloration, age, and other characteristics of raptors, this trip is for you!  Very little walking is involved in this trip, but when we step out into the cold wind to spot the birds overhead or on the ground, you'll want to be dressed very warmly.

Laramie Audubon field trips are free and open to birders of all levels.  We will meet at Night Heron Books and Coffee, 107 E. Ivinson, downtown Laramie, to caffeinate and carpool.  Please dress for the worst weather and bring your birding paraphenalia, water and snacks.  This particular trip involves a lot of driving in search of raptors in our plains near Laramie, so gas up ahead of time.

Alternate date, in case of inclement weather (rain or blizzard counts as inclement), is Nov. 16th.  Call 307-760-8546 if you have questions.

Fuzz to Feathers to Flight: Geology Museum Exhibit Unveiling

Late notice, but thought this would be of interest to many Laramie Audubon members. Tonight at the UW Geology Museum, a new exhibit, entitled "Fuzz to Feathers to Flight: how birds arose from dinosaurs and took to the air" will be unveiled tonight, with a presentation by Katrina van Grouw (author of The Unfeathered Bird). Event starts at 6, and goes until 8.

Remarkable Raptors