Audubon at the Eppsom Center: Friday, September 19th

LAS board member Lisa Cox will be sharing her expertise as a member of the Laramie Audubon Society Board at the Eppson Center's Seniors on the Go Friday, September 19th outing.   The Eppson Center says the following regarding the September 19th event: 

"This is a birdwatching walk, if it’s not too muddy or windy. Bring binoculars if you want to study the wildlife up close. This is a repeat of our April bird watching trek, which yielded several species of interest! There will also be an opportunity to learn about the new Wyoming Toad Conservation Area, which is adjacent. The terrain is flat to gently rollin
g, and distance is about 3.5 miles, but time depends greatly on wildlife and weather conditions. There is limited parking, so carpooling is recommended."

According to the Eppson Center, Seniors on the Go is a "Hiking group that goes on a different Laramie trail each week. Hikes vary in length and difficulty, please check the newsletter description or with the center to ensure it is a correct fit."  The group meets at 8:45 a.m. on Fridays in the Eppson Center lobby.  See https://www.eppsoncenter.org/ for more information regarding their programming and watch for other trips with bird-related content!  Three of our members (Lisa, Brad Andres, and Heather Johnson) have been partnering with the Eppson Center to provide bird-focused information on select outings.

August Newsletter Now Online!

 

Hot off the presses - our August newsletter!  

April Kids and Families Event - Migration Station! Saturday, April 6th

Our Kids and Families program returns to the Laramie Greenbelt for our April program.  We will learn about migration and look for migrating birds. Take home a bird craft that you can put together and make soar! Meet at the shelter by the parking lot off Garfield Street at 9 a.m. 

Accessibility information:  The Greenbelt's West Garfield Street parking lot includes accessible (paved) parking and restroom (porta-potty).  The shelter area is accessible and participants may utilize the flat, paved Greenbelt trail while participating in this event.  

Kids and Families Event on Saturday

 

February 17 - Hibernation and Winter Stories

10-11 am at Albany County Public Library Multipurpose Room

Do you know what 3 ways animals - including humans - deal with Winter? We will find out, with a focus on hibernation and storytelling. Which animals in Wyoming are true hibernators, and what does everyone else do when it gets cold? Feel free to bring a story handed down in your family, and bring home a dreamcatcher of your own!

Craft from a prior Laramie Audubon Society
"Kids and Families" event
(photo courtesy of LAS board member Lisa Cox)

Wings in Winter - Arts, Crafts, and Activities (Indoors)

 We've teamed up with the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources to present a morning of free family fun at the Albany County Public Library (310 S. 8th Street in Laramie).  Join us on Saturday, November 18 from 9 to 11 a.m. for arts, crafts, and activities to help you and your family care for local birds throughout the winter.

124th Annual Christmas Bird Count - Albany County Date Announced!

The Albany County Christmas Bird Count will be conducted on Saturday, December 16, beginning at 8 a.m.  Volunteers are needed to join our effort to count every bird in a 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie.  

This will be the 46th count of the Albany County circle.   All levels of bird watchers, including feeder watchers, are welcome.  Although this international event was named the Christmas Bird Count more than 100 years ago, the event is secular, with Christmas denoting the season of the annual count.  Information regarding this international event is available on the National Audubon Society website: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count.  

Volunteers are the backbone of the Christmas Bird Count!  Some teams walk, while others drive through the territory.  Volunteers should wear warm, layered clothing and boots, and bring water, snacks and binoculars (if available).  Feeder watchers are also welcome.  The event typically concludes with a evening potluck where the results are tallied - potluck information will be provided to participants when they register. 

Volunteers for the Albany County circle must register to receive a route assignment.  Check-in will be conducted at Coal Creek Coffee (downtown location) on the morning of the Count.  Contact Shay (307-286-1972; wolfhowlin@gmail.com) for information, to pre-register, or to get Zoom call-in information. 

2023 Election

 The Laramie Audubon Society election for board members will take place later this month (beginning November 15, 2023, with voting open for seven days).  In order to vote, you must be a current member (i.e., membership received since August 2023).  

We will provide biographies of all who are running as part of the election materials.  If you are interested in serving on our Board of Directors, please send a brief biography - explaining why you are interested - to us at laramie.audubon@gmail.com so that we can include your name and bio on the ballot.  We encourage participation by people of any background who have interest in birds and time to devote to the organization.

Spring Schedule

The Spring 2022 schedule for Laramie Audubon Society field trips and programs has been announced!  Please see our "Events" page for details:  http://laramieaudubon.blogspot.com/p/events.html 

122nd Annual Christmas Bird Count - December 18

The Laramie Audubon Society will again take part in a 100+year-old tradition: the annual "Christmas Bird Count."  Volunteers are welcome to join in the count with the LAS chapter as it conducts the Albany County CBC on Saturday, December 18. This will be the 44th count of the Albany County circle and the 122nd national event.  Volunteers are needed to help count every bird present in the 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie on the day of the count. All types of bird watchers, including feeder watchers, are welcome. 

The Albany County CBC will again be modified to provide for social distancing. All volunteers for the Albany County circle must pre-register or attend one of two drop-in Zoom calls to receive a route assignment. There will be no in-person meetings prior to the count. Contact Shay Howlin (286-1972*; wolfhowlin@gmail.com) for information and to register. 

Volunteers are the backbone of the Christmas Bird Count and are encouraged to participate despite continued changes to the format this year due to public health (Covid-19) considerations. As usual, some teams will walk, while others will drive through their territory.  Per national Audubon CBC rules, masks will be required when social distancing is not possible in the field.  In addition, we will not facilitate carpools, in order to limit carpools to existing familial or social pod groups.  If you will be traveling over the holidays and would like to participate in the CBC in the region that you are visiting, look for event dates and locations here: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count.

Virtual compiling will take place at 6 pm on the day of the count. Electronic submission of data forms will be encouraged to facilitate the compiling event. Please contact Shay if you would like to be assigned a route early, would like forms for feeder watching, or have any questions.   

We hope to be able to resume the traditional event format (complete with Shay's famous chili supper) next year!  (*Area code 307)

121st Annual Christmas Bird Count - Volunteers Needed

The Laramie Audubon Society will again take part in a 100-year-old Christmas tradition, the annual Christmas Bird Count. Volunteers are welcome to join in the count with the LAS chapter as it conducts the Albany County Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 19. This will be the 43rd count of the Albany County circle. Volunteers are needed to help count every bird present in the 15-mile diameter circle around Laramie on the day of the count. All levels of bird watchers, including feeder watchers, are welcome. 

The National Audubon Society has provided guidelines to run a COVID-19 safe and socially distanced CBC. All volunteers for the Albany County circle need to pre-register or attend one of two drop-in zoom calls to receive a route assignment. There will not be any in-person meetings prior to the count. Contact Shay Howlin (307-286-1972; wolfhowlin@gmail.com) for information and to register. 

 Volunteers are the backbone of the Christmas Bird Count and are encouraged to participate despite changes to the format. As usual, some teams will walk, while others will drive through their territory. All participants will be required to wear masks or social distance during the count. Carpooling is only permitted for existing family or social pod groups. 

 Virtual compiling will take place at 6 pm on the day of the count. Electronic submission of data forms will be encouraged to facilitate the compiling event. Please contact Shay Howlin if you would like to be assigned a route early, would like forms for feeder watching, or have any questions.  Click here to download the data form. (the link will take you to MediaFire, the company that hosts LAS's document downloads; Media Fire will prompt you to click a blue button near the upper right corner of the screen.)

Female Red-flanked Bluetail, Laramie, November 2019
(photo courtesy of Laurel Armstrong)

Fall Event Schedule

Please see the Events page of this blog for Laramie Audubon's Fall 2020 schedule.  In consideration of Covid-19, we've made some changes to our typical protocols.  Please be sure to wear a mask and be mindful regarding social distancing at all LAS events.  Due to potential risks associated with carpools, our Fall schedule focuses on birding spots within or close to Laramie.  In addition, we are REQUIRING people to pre-register for field trips by emailing us at laramie.audubon@gmail.com so that we can plan for the anticipated group size.  Depending on the group sizes at our initial trips, we may set size limits for the later trips.  

The Fall field trip schedule kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning (September 5th) at Greenhill Cemetery's south gate near the corner of Willet and 19th Streets.  

Events Cancelled through April 30

Consistent with the actions of the National Audubon Society, the Laramie Audubon Society chapter is cancelling all in-person events through the end of April.  Please stay tuned - we are in the process of developing "virtual" birding events to keep us interacting together as a group while still protecting our community from the spread of COVID-19.  If you have ideas regarding virtual events, we encourage you to communicate them either via a "comment" on this blog or by email (laramie.audubon@gmail.com).  

Evening Program Cancelled (March 25th)

Due to precautions associated with the coronavirus, coupled with the University of Wyoming closures, the Laramie Audubon Society has decided to cancel the evening program that was planned for next Wednesday evening.  One of our members suggested that we might enjoy the following video regarding bees (the topic of the cancelled program), in lieu of the in-person talk:

http://www.rustypatched.com/

And here are some additional videos from other Audubon Rockies chapters:

Inside Birding:  Size & Shape  10 min.Chickadees & Climate 2 min.Eagle, Falcon, Owl - Birds of Prey  23 min.Nutcrackers, White Bark Pine and Climate Change 12 min.   

3rd Annual Art Show - Call for Artists

The Laramie Audubon Society (LAS) will sponsor our 3rd annual art show from April 3-May 1, 2020 at the University of Wyoming Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center. LAS would like to extend an invitation to artists to submit 1-2 works based on your own experiences and interactions with the natural world.  

All natural history subjects are welcome and all forms of media accepted.  LAS anticipates this show to be a celebration of nature interpreted by new as well as veteran artists.  There will be a reception at the show on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30-7:00 pm.  Come and enjoy refreshments and meet many of the exhibiting artists.

Artists may drop off works on Friday, April 3 from 2:00-6:00 pm.  Please have your work ready to hang, including a reliable wire or hook on the back of your two-dimensional piece.  LAS will hang two-dimensional work and install three-dimensional work.  Artists are responsible for any technology needed to show work.  There may be limits on what is feasible, so if you have needs including electricity, please contact Samantha at laramie.audubon@gmail.com. 

Artists may sell their work through direct contact by buyer to the Laramie Audubon Society.  The University of Wyoming does not conduct any sale of art shown at the Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center.  Artists are responsible for any state and federal taxes.  If you do sell your art, a donation of 10% of the sale will go to the Laramie Audubon Society. 

LAS welcomes both novice and experienced artists to participate.  Please share this announcement with other artists and art lovers! 

This year we are requesting that artists submit a registration form by Tuesday, March 21st - this will facilitate organizing the show and will make drop-off more efficient for both artists and LAS.  The form may be submitted via email or may be mailed.  If submitted electronically, we will require a signature when you drop off your work.  We've enjoyed the variety of local art at the two previous shows and are excited to be able to host a show again this year.

Registration form:  open link; then click the green "download" button near the upper-right corner
LAS email address:  laramie.audubon@gmail.com
LAS mailing address:  P.O. Box 878, Laramie, WY  82073
Contact for additional information: Samantha: laramie.audubon@gmail.com

Small Grants Program

In keeping with our mission, Laramie Audubon Society offers small grants for conservation, scholarship, and outreach.  Conservation grants include conservation and restoration projects as well as scientific re- search.  Scholarship grants include attendance at conferences, workshops, or summer camps.  Outreach grants support projects that increase knowledge and appreciation for birds, other wildlife, and habitats.  There are no geographic restrictions for projects, although we focus on funding projects around Wyoming and western North America. 

Grants will generally be awarded for no more than $500 and are awarded bi-annually.  Deadlines are March 31 for summer/fall grants and October 31 for winter/spring grants.  Notifications will be sent out within 4 to 6 weeks.  See laramieaudubon.blogspot.com/p/small-grants-program.html for full details on grant application requirements and stipulations of the grant. 

Hutton Lake Field Trip and 20th Anniversary Picnic

Join us Saturday!  In the morning we'll head to Hutton Lake, and in the afternoon we'll host a potluck picnic in Optimist Park to celebrate our 20th Anniversary!

September 14th: Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.  This hotspot is just 12 miles south of Laramie.  We'll concentrate on migratory waterfowl, grassland birds, and raptors.  Hopefully there will be several spotting scopes to share.  Meet at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse (107 Ivinson Ave.) at 8 a.m. to coordinate carpools.  We'll be back to Laramie in time for you to prepare your dish for the 20th Anniversary Picnic Celebration.

September 14th:  Optimist Park - 20th Anniversary Potluck Picnic.  Join us from 2 - 4 p.m. for a potluck picnic and activities in Optimist Park to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Laramie Audubon Society!  We'll also share information regarding earlier iterations of Audubon in Laramie.  Please try to remember your own tableware and a dish to share.  LAS will be providing some food, plus ice cream. 

Join Us at This Thursday's Local Market!

Join Laramie Audubon Society for our final Kids' Activity at the Thursday Local Market this Thursday, August 29, from 3-6 pm at Undine Park. We will have nature BINGO with prizes, for those who like to roam, and coloring pages for those who enjoy art.

 

Grown ups, we'll be available to answer your bird questions and to tell you about ways you can enjoy field trips and programs this fall!

Hunting Proposal for Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments regarding their proposal to open Hutton Lake NWR to waterfowl hunting.  They are considering three alternatives - (1) no change to current policy (i.e., no hunting); (2) general hunt plus youth hunt (season lasting approximately from mid-September through the end of the year); or (3) youth hunt only (season limited to a single weekend in September).

The USFWS notes that the Refuge’s establishing legislation stipulates that the maximum area that can be opened to hunting is 40%.  The proposal therefore opens only 37% of the total acreage to hunting; however, that area encompasses both Hutton and Hoge Lakes.  Other than Rush Lake, most of the acreage that would remain closed to hunting is either upland habitat or has been dry for many years.  If you are interested in learning more about the proposal or commenting on the proposed alternatives, please reference the USFWS website:  https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/huntfish.php#.  The USFWS is accepting comments through June 21. 

Art Show and Field Trip

Remember that the opening reception for our art show is tomorrow (THURSDAY) evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Berry Center ground floor lobby (on the UW campus at the corner of 10th and Lewis Streets).  Food, conversation, and art - what great way to spend the evening!  We have work in a variety of media reflecting on the theme A Study in Biodiversity: Showcasing the Richness of Life. 

And then on SATURDAY morning, join us for a trip to Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge.  Meet at 8 a.m. at Coal Creek Coffee (110 Grand Avenue).  We will carpool from there.  Bring warm clothes!, water, snacks, binoculars and other birding equipment. 

(photo from last weekend's Plains Lakes field trip, courtesy of Laurel Armstrong)

Cheyenne Audubon special event - Noah Strycker

Cheyenne Audubon has invited us to join them for a special talk by Noah Strycker, well-known birder who set a global Big Year record in 2015. 

Noah's talk is on May 14 at 7 pm at the Laramie County Library. Cheyenne Audubon and Noah will spend the following day on an all-day field trip looping from Cheyenne, through Laramie, Sybille Canyon, Wheatland, Guernsey, Torrington, and back to Cheyenne. 

For more details about the talk or the field trip, check out Cheyenne Audubon's website here.