Evening Talk: Cassia Crossbill - Wednesday, October 31, 6:30 p.m.

LAS welcomes Craig Benkman, Professor in Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming on Halloween at the Berry Center (corner of 10th and Lewis Streets) - Bird Chat and Snacks at 6:30 p.m. with Dr. Benkman's talk at 7 p.m.

What is so special about the Cassia Crossbill? The absence of red squirrels can account for many unique features of the South Hills and Albion Mountains, Idaho, including why the Cassia Crossbill evolved there, why it is considered a distinct species, and even why certain birds are so abundant and perhaps why the pine beetle outbreak was not as extensive as elsewhere. Dr. Benkman will discuss these findings and others that he and his associates have uncovered over the last 20 years studying the Cassia Crossbill.     (PHOTO: Female Short Hills Cassia Crossbill, courtesy of Craig Benkman)

Hutton Lake Nest Box Work Trip - Saturday, October 27th (8 a.m.)

We're heading to Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Saturday (October 27th) to clean out the nest boxes.  The Girl Scouts of Laramie have been monitoring the boxes all summer, reporting the results to Cornell's national NestWatch program (https://nestwatch.org/).  We'll open each box to remove the nest materials and make simple repairs, where needed.  This is great chance to learn about the program and do a little birding at Hutton. 

Meet at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse at 8 a.m. to coordinate carpools and get a snack. Bring warm clothes, water, WORK GLOVES, a scraper/putty knife (don't worry if you don't have one - we'll have extras), and binoculars.  Many people will likely remain at Hutton to bird after the work is complete - we'll plan the carpool groups to suit various schedules!

Laramie Plains Lakes Field Trip, Saturday October 13th (8 a.m.)

We'll meet at 8 a.m. at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse (107 East Ivinson Avenue) to arrange carpools and then head out west of Laramie to the Plains Lakes.  We hope to find a variety of Fall migrants and to identify them in their less distinctive, non-breeding plumage.  This will be an easy trip with minimal walking.  We expect to be back to Laramie by noon, but those with their own transportation are free to return at any time.  Dress for wintery weather and bring snacks, water, birding accessories (a spotting scope if you have one!), and friends! 

Nature Walk / Scavenger Hunt BINGO Game, Saturday, October 6th (8 a.m.)

We'll meet this Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at Optimist Park (West Garfield parking lot) for a leisurely nature walk along the Greenbelt.  This week's trip will include Scavenger Hunt BINGO - with fabulous prizes.  Encourage your young friends to join us on this trip that is designed with children in mind. 

First Wednesday Night Talk (Sept. 28th) - Equador Whirlwings (6:30 pm for Bird Chat; 7 pm for presentation)

Note:  Unusual Venue:  Classroom Building, Room 221.

Dave McDonald, Professor in Zoology and Physiology will discuss his research on Whirlwings in Ecuador. Ecuador spans the Andes, with habitats ranging from desert to Amazonian rainforest. It is fourth in the world for number of bird species, but is far smaller than the three leaders (Colombia, Brazil, Peru). Dave’s team’s research on one species, the Golden-winged Manakin, has uncovered a number of surprises, including the likelihood of chemical communication and the certainty that some of their displays can be detected only with ultra-highspeed video. Classroom Building, Room 221.

The talk will start at 7 pm, but arrive early if you can for refreshments and "bird chat" from 6:30 - 7 p.m.  Also, we will have some of the last copies of the book Birds of Wyoming available for purchase ($30) at the program.

 

Laramie Hotspots, Plus Greenbelt Clean-up, Saturday, September 22nd

This Saturday is a big day!  We’ll start by birding within Laramie.  After meeting and arranging carpools at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse (107 Ivinson Ave.) at 8 a.m., we’ll head to various Laramie “hot spots” – locations within the City limits that perennially seem to host higher-than-average numbers of migrants.  Potential stops include City Springs (at the north end of Boulder Drive), Greenhill Cemetery, LaBonte Park, and the Greenbelt.   

 

At noon we will re-convene for our annual Greenbelt cleanup, meeting at the south end of South Spruce Street.  On-street parking is available along Spruce and West Sheridan Streets.  For the cleanup, please bring work gloves.  Binoculars may be in order, as well.  This community service activity shouldn’t take long; LAS’s ¼-mile segment of the Greenbelt is less than half a mile from where we’ll park.

Hutton Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip

We are so lucky to have this gem in our backyard - just 12 miles from downtown Laramie to Hutton Lake NWR!  We'll travel there on Saturday with hopes of seeing the recently sighted Tricolored Heron and other migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, and grassland/sagebrush birds.  Meet at 8 a.m. at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse, 107 Ivinson Avenue in downtown Laramie to procure coffee/snacks and to coordinate carpools. 

As always, be sure to bring sunscreen, warm clothing, water, snacks, and birding equipment. 

Hereford Ranch Trip - Fall Migrants
Saturday, September 8th - 7 a.m.

Meet us at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse at 7 a.m. to caffeinate and organize carpools for our trip to the Wyoming Hereford Ranch in Cheyenne.  The mix of riparian habitat and grasslands and the location on the east edge of Cheyenne make Hereford Ranch one of the best birding areas in southeastern Wyoming. This trip is a chance to see possible rarities and some birds more often associated with the eastern U.S.  We plan to be back to Laramie at approximately noon. 

While this trip is suitable for children, please leave your dog at home - WHR is private property and we want to be sure that we are welcome in the future.  Remember to bring snacks, water, clothing suitable for the changing Wyoming weather, sturdy shoes, binoculars, and other birding accessories.

First Fall Trip: Rock Creek Canyon

Join us on Saturday, September 1st for LAS's first fall field trip.  We'll meet at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse at 7 a.m. and carpool to the location where Rock Creek exits the Snowy Range (approximately 45 minutes west on I-80, 2 miles south of the Arlington exit).  While the trail extends up the canyon for many miles, the birds near the trailhead have been so abundant on previous trips that our past visits have involved minimal hiking.  If you have your own vehicle, you may want to budget time for a hike after the birdwalk.  Be sure to bring snacks, water, clothing suitable for the changing Wyoming weather, sturdy shoes, binoculars, and other birding accessories. 

Upcoming trip: Brown-capped Rosy-Finches

Join us on Saturday, July 21st for Laramie Audubon’s third annual trip to the Snowy Range looking for Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. We will carpool from Coal Creek Downtown, leaving at 7:30 am to the Sugarloaf Recreation Area. The area is a fee area ($5 per day without a year or annual pass).
From the Lewis Lake parking area we will hike approximately 1.3 miles across wetlands and talus rock up to the Gap between North and South Gap Lakes.

Numerous species of bird including pipits, swallows, juncos, White-crowned sparrows, warblers, and raptors could be observed. Marmots, pikas, and wildflowers occur along the trek.  We will spend approximately one hour at the Gap then return to the parking area.  The trip should last until late morning, before driving back to Laramie.

Bring binoculars, rain/windproof clothing, sunscreen, insect repellent, snacks/lunch, water, and hiking boots suitable for walking on talus and possible wet ground.

Special talk: Chris Parish on condors!

A surprise first state bird was awaiting lucky hikers on Medicine Bow Peak the weekend of July 7. Nathan Pieplow found a CALIFORNIA CONDOR at the peak, and many hikers as well as birders were able to get amazing looks at a captive-raised, young female condor named T2.

Condor on Med Bow Peak. Photo by Brian Waitkus.

The appearance of this condor sparked a lot of buzz among birders and non-birders across Wyoming. We are also lucky to have Chris Parish from the Peregrine Fund give us a special talk about condor conservation this weekend! The Peregrine Fund is in charge of the condor reintroduction project in northern Arizona, which is where T2 came from.

Please join us this Saturday, July 21, at 4 pm in the Berry Center auditorium for Chris' talk. He will tell us about the Peregrine Fund's endangered species work with the southwestern Condor Reintroduction Program and lessons they have learned that provide insights for greater conservation.  Chris will describe the history of the condor, its threats and near extinction, followed by the inception of the greater recovery program and the Peregrine Fund's role in producing and managing free-flying condors. He will also discuss implications for landscape-scale conservation related to lead poisoning in wildlife. Click here to read an announcement about the Peregrine Fund's latest effort to encourage the use of non-lead ammunition in hunting and shooting for the sake of wildlife health.

Photo by Brian Waitkus.

See our next newsletter for Brian Waitkus' full article with more info on T2!

Upcoming trip: Kids' Nature Walk

Join us for a Kids’ Nature Walk at LaBonte Park on Saturday, July 14. Meet at 8 am at the City’s Fort Sanders Building (Feeding Laramie Valley building) on the east side of the park (968 North 9th Street). We will continue around the park and Lake LaBonte looking for birds, insects, plants, and more.  The event will include optional scavenger hunt BINGO with fun prizes.