November Newsletter, Including Election Overview

The November 2018 newsletter is now available.  If you are planning to vote at the meeting tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 28th), you may want to read the article regarding the election and the potential new board members.  (see Newsletters/Reports page) (Ferruginous Hawk photo courtesy of Shawn Billerman)

Evening Program - Small Grants Recipients and Elections (Wed. 11/28, 7 pm)

Please join us this coming Wednesday, November 28 for talks by two of our most recent Small Grants recipients.  Stephanie Winters, MS student in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department at will discuss Linking soil ecology with vegetation management to optimize restoration efforts of ponderosa pine after wildfires.  Paul Dougherty, PhD student in the Program in Ecology will discuss his research regarding avian hybrid zones.
 

In addition, we will be voting for new board members during this meeting. Only current LAS members are eligible to vote.   

As usual, we will meet in the Berry Center auditorium.  On-street parking near the building is free; note that the parking lot formerly located across the street from the Berry Center has been removed.  Bird chat and refreshments begin at 6:30 pm, and the talks will begin at 7:00 pm.

Laramie Plains Field Trip, Saturday, November 10th (8 a.m.)

Meet us at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse (107 E. Grand Avenue) for a trip around the Laramie Basin.  We'll hit various hotspots for fall migrants and winter resident birds, with a focus on raptors, waterfowl and grassland birds. 

Departing at 8 a.m., we hope to have the carpool caravan return to Laramie by noon.  Those with their own transportation are, of course, free to head home earlier!  Minimal walking, but lots of camaraderie on this trip!

Remember the warm clothes, snacks, water, sunscreen, binoculars, etc.

(Mountain chickadee photo courtesy of Shawn Billerman)

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.