April 2000            Volume 30            Number 7

Saving Colorado's Wild Canyon Country
A Slide Presentation Sponsored by the Colorado Environmental Coalition

Colorado's growing population puts our last wild places like Canyon Country at risk. It's important for us to be prepared to protect such areas while contending with our growth issues. Once these places are gone they're gone for good!

On April 13, you will have an opportunity to view Colorado's spectacular Canyon Country. Sam Sager will present some of the secrets of the indigenous civilizations that etched the sacred symbols of their culture into the rock. Additionally you can learn about the future of Colorado's Canyon Country –the undiscovered lands of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

 EXPERIENCE THE IMAGES OF COLORADO'S WILD CANYON COUNTRY

HEAR THE STORY! SEE THE UNIQUE PLACES! MEET & JOIN THOSE SPEAKING FOR THIS WILD COUNTRY!

WHEN: Thursday, April 13, 2000 at 7:30 PM. Please join us at 7 PM to network with other people who share your conservation interests, chat with board members and enjoy refreshments before the program.

WHERE: Ludlow Room, Fort Collins Lincoln Center, 417 West Magnolia Street

Fort Collins Audubon Society programs and field trips are free and open to the public

President's Message

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the original Earth Day. There are various ways to become involved with the protecting the earth. This spring you might consider working part of a weekend for wildlife in local natural areas or staffing the Audubon table at the Earth Day celebration. Listed below and else- where in this issue of the Ptarmigan are some volunteer opportunities that you and your family can easily participate in. You will be helping out in meaningful and significant ways. See you there!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.  Native Trees and Shrubs Plantings:

Each session begins at 9 AM with "how-to" instructions. Activities will end by 3 PM.  All volunteers must sign a waiver of liability. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dress in layers and bring water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellent, and gloves. All other supplies will be provided.  Call the Natural Resources Department at 416-2133 or e-mail ddees@ci.fort-collins.co.us for directions and to confirm the dates. Volunteers are needed for all or any part of the day. Sunday volunteers should call to find out if the plantings were completed on Saturday. Dates are subject to change depending on weather.

Earth Day Celebration -April 22, 2000. 10 AM -4 PM at CSU West Lawn near Lory Student Center.  If it rains the event will move to the CSU Field House from noon -6 PM.   Fort Collins Audubon Society will have a table at the celebration.

Sue Kenney

HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE BIRDATHON??

Don't forget the Birdathon, Saturday, May 13, 2000. To sign up to sponsor a birder or to join a birding team, please call Rick Schroeder, 970-484-8337. This is our only fundraising event of the year and we are counting on your help.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A GRASSLAND BIRD STUDY AT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY'S PHANTOM CANYON PRESERVE

The Nature Conservancy needs one or two volunteers to monitor the grassland bird communities on a 4,OOO-acre conservation easement adjacent to Phantom Canyon Preserve. This is the second year of the project.  The scope of work includes monitoring grassland birds during the peak of the breeding season, mid-May through mid-June. The commitment involves one full field day to learn the protocol and visit the site, followed by 6 survey mornings, then compiling the data into a spreadsheet. Volunteers must be competent in identifying grassland birds by song and sight.  This research will facilitate the monitoring of long-term trends in grassland birds. The data will serve to inform our management about several species of western grassland bird populations that are experiencing declining populations.  Please contact Heather Knight at 970-498-0180.

JOIN US ON A FIELD TRIP!

Sunday. April 9: 7 AM -Noon. Pawnee National Grasslands. This trip features early arrivals to the Pawnee such as Mountain Plovers and other grassland specialties. Meet at the Environmental Learning Center north parking area—south side of E. Prospect, just east of the Poudre River bridge. Leader- Steve Dinsmore, dinsmore@lamar.colostate.edu

Saturday. April 15. 8:30 AM -10:30 AM. Environmental Learning Center. This trip focuses on spring migrants and resident birds of the Poudre River riparian habitat and wet- lands. Birders of all abilities welcome. Meet at Wild Birds Unlimited, 248 East Monroe Drive, Fort Collins, south of Foothills Fashion Mall, east of College Avenue. Leader: Joe LaFleur, 970-221-9619, birdcdroms@aol.com

Sunday. April16. 7 AM -Noon. Wellington area. This trip is ideal for novice birders desiring to become familiar with spring migrating birds. Meet at the Environmental Learning Center north parking area—south side of E. Prospect, just east of the Poudre River bridge. Leader: Alex Cringan, 970-493-9138, canuck@webaccess.net

Saturday, April 22. All day. Greeley area. Meet at 7 AM, Environmental Learning Center north parking area, south side of E. Prospect Street, just east of the Poudre River bridge. Bring lunch and prepare to car pool. This trip will feature migrating shorebirds and water- fowl at Lower Latham Reservoir and Beebe Draw in Weld County. Leader: Dick Maxfield, 970-353-0953, maxfield@home.com

Saturday, May 6. Fort Collins morning bird walk. 7:30- Noon. Expected birds are late ducks, other waterbirds and migrant landbirds, especially sparrows and perhaps a few warblers. Prepare for about 2 miles of walking. Bring water, etc. Meet at the first parking lot on the west side of Sharp Point Drive on the south side of E. Prospect. Leader: Dave Leatherman, 970-416-0193, dleather@lamar.colostate.edu

Sunday, May 7. Bellvue and Rist Canyon. 6 AM -11 AM. Spring migrants and residents of the foothills will be the specialty birds for this morning's outing. Learn the May bird songs in preparation for the Birdathon the following weekend. Join Cynthia Melcher, 970-484-8373, birdswords@yahoo.com

Please check our web site for any changes and additions in the field trip schedule. For more information contact Nick Komar at nick.komar@juno.com or call 970-416-7527.

New leaders are welcome!

The Fort Collins Audubon Society meets at 7:30 PM on the second Thursday of each month, September through May, excluding December, in the Ludlow Room at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center, 417 West Magnolia Street. Members and non-members are welcome at all meetings, field trips and special events.

DATES TO REMEMBER

PROGRAMS

Thursday, April 13, 2000, 7:30 PM: Saving Colorado's Wild Canyon Country.

Thursday, May 11,2000: Birding in Australia with Bill Turner.

For info on all programs call Jackie Boss, 472-4353.

FIELD TRIPS

Saturday April 9: Pawnee National Grasslands

Saturday, April 15: Spring migrants and birds of the Poudre River riparian habitat and wetlands.

Sunday April 16: Wellington area.

Saturday April 22: Greeley area.

Saturday, May 6: Fort Collins morning bird walk.

Sunday, May 7: Bellvue and Rist Canyon.

Sunday, May 14: Spring Migrants at Dixon Reservoir. Sunday, May 21: Northeast Colorado.

Saturday, June 17: Pawnee National Grasslands and vicinity.

Sunday, August 20: Frolicking in the Foothills.