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September 2000 Volume 31 Number 1
Raptor Rapture in the Holy LandJoin FCAS for its first program of the season with our own President-Elect Rick Harness. Rick will speak about the most significant raptor migratory bottleneck on earth. More than a million birds pass near Eliat located in southern Israel on the Red Sea. Each year millions of raptors migrate between breeding grounds in Europe and Asia, and wintering grounds in Africa. A total of 43 Asian and European raptor species funnel through the Middle East each spring and autumn. The Israeli Air Force even tracks bird migration after a series of fighter aircraft collisions. Thousands of eagles, hawks, kites, and falcons can be seen each day during the peak of the migration. Rick is a wildlife biologist in Fort Collins. He has a M.S. in Fishery and Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University where his thesis work was conducted on raptor electrocutions. Rick has previously spoken to FCAS about raptor electrocutions and was instrumental in creating and distributing a video showing how easy it is to insulate transformers and properly space high-voltage lines to prevent raptor accidents (see page 111 of the July-August issue of Audubon Magazine). WHEN: Thursday, September 14, 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 MessageHello Everyone! I think we have some interesting and diverse programs this season: this month’s Middle East raptor migration; some challenges that zoos have with captive animals; effects of wildfires. We try to bring diverse programming to you – with both local, national, and international topics - and not only birds! If you have an idea for a program please let us know. I would encourage you to attend some or all of our field
trips. Beginners are always welcome - even if you’ve never
done it before, you’re sure to have fun. The leaders and people
who participate are some of the most accommodating folks See you out there!
Check Out Our New Web Pages As many of you know, it takes long and numerous hours to set up and
maintain a web site. Adam Burch first created our web pages with
this then new medium and of course, it has grown enormously. Jon
Burch then continually maintained and Visit our website at www.fortnet.org/Audubon
The 2000 Birdathon, held in mid-May, was a great success and many thanks to the 19 people who raised pledges and counted birds. The Birdathon continues to be a highlight of the birding year - with all teams regularly seeing over 100 species, and some now getting over the 150 mark. We will be awarding prizes at the September program meeting to our best fundraisers. Special thanks to the following counters who raised over $300 each: Sue Kenney, Nick Komar, Cynthia Melcher, Janet Ruth and Rick Schroeder. Great work! Counters who took in over $100 were: Heman Adams, Scott Bailey, Phil Friedman, Lynne Hull, Joel Hurmence, Sally Lee, and Ellen Wride. All of the above will receive a $10 gift certificate from Jax. Also, three names will be drawn to receive other prizes at the program meeting. Special thanks to everyone who donated money-- our chapter counts on this annual fundraiser to pay our Lobbyist share, and help support the new Audubon of Colorado office.
Conservation Corner--Bill Miller Audubon of Colorado (AOC) has a list serve, CO-GENERAL, that can be used by Audubon members throughout the state to discuss issues of importance, relative to birds, habitat, and so forth. Probably the most important role that CO-GENERAL has served since its inception has been the dissemination of Colorado legislative information. As you may know, AOC underwrites part of the salary of an effective environmental lobbyist, Jo Evans, at the Colorado Legislature. To this end Fort Collins Audubon Society contributes a substantial portion of the monies it raises through its annual spring Birdathon. At the beginning of each state legislative session the Legislative Committee for AOC reviews the numerous proposed bills of an environmental nature and prioritizes them, relative to the goals of AOC. Those bills that receive AOC's top prioritization are then assigned to Jo Evans, who then tracks them as they move through the committee structure and the two houses of the state legislature. At the beginning of the legislative session Jo issues a summary of the bills that she and AOC are tracking and working to influence the outcome. Throughout the session, when a particular bill is at an appropriate stage within a committee or either House, she issues Legislative Alerts, which are then posted to CO-GENERAL. I also post the alerts to individuals within FCAS who have expressed an interest in being involved with the legislative alerts. It is well known that the calls made by concerned citizens to the appropriate legislators have influenced the outcome of certain bills, whether they were "killed" in committee, modified, or defeated or passed in the respective houses. As a rule of thumb, one call is treated as representing the views of 10 citizens. If you would be interested in exerting such an influence on the Colorado legislature I recommend that you subscribe to CO-GENERAL. Usually you might make about six to ten telephone calls during the legislative session. All necessary legislator contact information is provided in the alerts. Telephone calls are brief, usually received by a staff person, and usually involve just stating your position for or against a particular bill. To subscribe to CO-GENERAL:
If this doesn't work, sign on the following web site, and follow the instructions.
JOIN US ON A FIELD TRIP!Sunday. September 17, all day Check the Web site or contact Nick Komar for details about these upcoming field trips: Saturday, September 23, half day Sunday, October 1, half day Saturday October 21, all day All FCAS field trips are free and open to the public. Childrent accompanied by an adult are welcome. To lead a field trip, or if you have field trip ideas or need more information, contact Nick Komar 970-416-7527 (nick.komar@juno.com)
DATES TO REMEMBERThursday, September 14, 2000, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 17 Sunday, October 1 Saturday, October 14, 9 a.m.--4:30 p.m. Saturday, October 21
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.
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