THE AUDUBON
NEWSLETTER
222 S. Hamilton St. / Madison, WI 53703 / 255-BIRD / http://madisonaudubon.org
Regular Monthly Meeting
Trumpeter Swans:
The Big White Bird Returns!
Free Public Program
What: Patricia M. Manthey, on the
Trumpeter Swan program
When: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000
7:00 p.m. - Refreshments
7:30 p.m. - Program
Where: Bolz Auditorium, Meriter
Hospital, 124 Brooks St. Madison
Parking: Meriter Hospital paid park-
ing ramp across the street, on the
street, or Lot 51 north of Regent and
Mills St.
The Trumpeter Swan is the largest water-
fowl species native to North America. Most
Trumpeters weigh 21-30 pounds, although
large males may exceed 35 pounds. With a
wingspan over 7 feet, standing 4 feet tall,
these snow-white birds are truly spectacu-
lar.
Trumpeter swans were fairly common in
Wisconsin until the 1880s. The bird was
thought to be extinct by about 1900, but
small populations were rediscovered in the
western U.S. and Alaska. In the late 1960s
the swans were reintroduced in Minnesota.
Wisconsin began trying to restore trum-
peter swans in 1987. In 1989 the first pair in
over one hundred years successfully nested
in the wild in Wisconsin.
Patricia Manthey of the WI Department
of Natural Resources will present a slide-
illustrated program about why Trumpeters
disappeared from Wisconsin and how we
got them back using innovative techniques.
Learn why John James Audubon especially
valued the Trumpeter. Discover how large
and small airplanes, a zoo, huge cages at the
edges of ponds, and student interns dis-
guised as floating muskrat houses worked
in concert to return this magnificent bird to
Wisconsin. Find out about “Swan
Roundups” and hear firsthand how DNR
manages to get those collars on the necks of
the largest waterfowl in North America!
Have your Trumpeter questions answered
by a biologist who has been right there in
the marshes with the swans.
Ms. Manthey has been an avian ecologist
with the DNR, Bureau of Endangered
Resources since 1991. Her undergraduate
degree is in chemistry from the University
of Missouri. Her graduate work is in
Biology at UW-La Crosse. Her first work
with DNR was doing Peregrine releases in
La Crosse. She followed that with bald
eagle winter roost surveys. She now coordi-
nates statewide population surveys of pere-
grines, eagles, osprey and trumpeters and
the eagle and osprey translocation pro-
grams. She is field coordinator for trum-
peter swan restoration and for the mute
swan control program. She also chairs the
Wisconsin peregrine recovery team. She is a
former wildlife rehabilitator.
This program is co-sponsored by the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Wildlife Ecology.
You are invited to meet with Madison
Audubon board members and friends at
the pre-program dinner with our speaker at
Paisan’s Restaurant beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Please call the office at 608/255-BIRD (255-
2473) if you have questions.
There will be no general meeting in
December.
OF THE
MADISON
AUDUBON
SOCIETY
NOVEMBER 2000
Special Meeting
Badger Army
Ammunition
Plant:
A chance to make conser-
vation history
in southern Wisconsin!
Free Public Program
What: Reuse of the Badger
Army Ammunition Plant: An
Update
When: Wed., Nov.15, 2000
7:00 p.m. - Refreshments
7:30 p.m. - Program
Where: Bolz Auditorium,
Meriter Hospital, 124 Brooks St.
Madison
Parking: Meriter Hospital paid
parking ramp across the street,
on the street, or Lot 51 north of
Regent and Mills St.
MAS invites the public for a
presentation and discussion
about the on-going reuse process
that will determine the future of
in Sauk County.
The fate of the 7350-acre
Badger Army Ammunition Plant
is now being decided. The Badger
lands, situated at the foot of the
Baraboo Hills, were once part of a
larger prairie ecosystem called
Sauk Prairie. The area supported
a thriving farming community
until it was taken over by the US
Army at the outset of World War
II, and a vast munitions factory
continued on page 2

MADISON AUDUBON SOCIETY
President: Joanne Herfel, 241-8009
Vice-president: Amy McDaniel, 238-
0450
Goose Pond Resident Naturalists:
Mark and Sue Martin, 635-4160
Editors: Pat & Deb Ready, 873-1703
pready@ku.com
Graphic design: Pat Ready
Printed by Roemer Printing
The mission of the Madison Audubon
Society is to educate our members and
the public about the natural world and
the threats that natural systems are fac-
ing, to engage in advocacy to preserve
and protect these systems, and to devel-
op and maintain sanctuaries to save and
restore natural habitat.
THE AUDUBON CAWS is published
September through July by:
Madison Audubon Society,
222 S. Hamilton St.,
Madison, WI 53703,
(608) 255-BIRD (2473).
Birding hotline, 255-BIRM.
Madison Audubon Web Page:
http://madisonaudubon.org
E-mail: masoffice@mailbag.com
E-mail services donated by Berbee
The December CAWS is the Special
Sanctuaries issue.Contribution deadline
is December 11 for the January issue, for
which items may be sent to Pat Ready,
1210 Oakwood Ct., Stoughton, WI
53589. pready@ku.com
JOIN MADISON AUDUBON
Student/Senior: $15
Introductory membership: $20
Basic: $35
Foreign: Add $10 in US funds.
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE ZIP
____I do not wish to receive AUDUBON maga-
zine
____The National Audubon Society occasional-
ly makes its membership list available to care-
fully selected organizations whose mailings
you might find of interest. To have your name
omitted from this list, please check here.
Please enclose your check payable to
National Audubon Society and mail to
Madison Audubon Society, 222 S. Hamilton St.
#1, Madison, WI 53703. Memberships are
shared with National Audubon and all mem-
bers receive Audubon magazine. Z02
7xCH
Badger Meeting . . .
continued from page 1
was built. Declared 'surplus property'
in 1998, the lands include significant
populations of rare and endangered
grassland birds, many prairie rem-
nants and a 1300-acre prairie restora-
tion project. USDA's Dairy Forage
Research Center, and the Ho Chunk
Nation have submitted claims for
parts of Badger, while Wisconsin's
DNR and various industrial and agri-
cultural entities are also interested.
The Conservation Community
Coalition for the Sauk Prairie
(CCCSP), of which MAS is a member,
has put forth a vision statement for
Badger which advocates that any reuse
plan accommodate activities compati-
ble with the rural and ecological char-
acter of the area, and that the land be
managed collectively to protect and
enhance the land’s natural resources.
Sauk County, with funding secured by
US Rep. Tammy Baldwin, has assem-
bled a committee to develop a reuse
plan. Meanwhile, the General Services
Administration has been slowly devel-
oping their own reuse plan which bar-
ring community consensus, will be
implemented.
The evening's presentation will be
given jointly by several individuals
from CCCSP’s constituent organiza-
tions. It will include a slide show tour
of the Badger lands, a history of
Badger Army Ammunition Plant and
of the reuse process and a description
of CCCSP’s vision for Badger. The pre-
sentation will be followed by a discus-
sion of the issues, challenges and pro-
spects facing those seeking a conserva-
tion-friendly reuse of the Badger
lands.
This program is co-sponsored by the
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Department of Wildlife Ecology,
Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 1000
Friends of Wisconsin, the Society of
Conservation Biology, Wisconsin
Chapter.
You are invited to meet with
Madison Audubon board members
and friends at the pre-program dinner
with our speakers at Paisan's
Restaurant beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Please call the office at 608/255-BIRD
(255-2473) if you have questions.
Audubon invites
birders to take part in
Christmas bird count
This year marks the 101st anniver-
sary of the Christmas Bird Count-
and the beginning of the second cen-
tury- since 27 conservationists in 25
localities, led by ornithologist Frank
Chapman, changed the course of his-
tory. On Christmas Day 1900, the
group initiated an alternative to the
traditional holiday 'side hunt,' in
which teams competed to see who
could shoot the most birds. Instead of
hunting, the group counted the birds
they saw and founded a century-old
institution.
Today, over 50,000 volunteers from
all 50 states, every Canadian
province, parts of Central and South
America, Bermuda, the West Indies,
and Pacific islands will count and
record every individual bird and bird
species encountered during one cal-
endar day. About 1800 individual
Christmas Bird Counts will be held.
Christmas Bird Count serves as an
up-to-the-minute bird census.
Counterscatalogue every bird and
bird species they see over one calen-
dar day, frommidnight to midnight.
Growing in popularity since its
inception, the countserves an impor-
tant scientific function as well. Birds
are one of the firstgroups of animals
to be affected by environmental
threats like pollution andhabitat
destruction, and CBC data provide
indispensable information, not only
on long-term health of bird popula-
tions, but also the status of the
environment that birds share with all
living things.
Apart from its attraction as a social,
sporting, and competitive event, the
annual count reveals interesting and
scientifically useful information on
the early-winter distribution patterns
of various bird species and the
over-all health of the environment.
The Christmas Bird Count is the
longest running ornithological data-
base. As we begin the second century
of the Count, it continues to grow in
importance as a means to monitor
the status of resident and migratory
bird populations across the western
hemisphere. The CBC is 100% volun-
teer generated data that, over the
years, has become a crucial part of
the United States Government's nat-
ural history monitoring database.
Count data from 1900 to the present
are currently available through
BirdSource <www.birdsource.org>,
a cooperative project of the National
Audubon Society and the Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology.
All counts are open to birders of
all skill levels. Anyone interested in
birds is welcome to help, in a variety
of ways, at one or more of the
Madison area counts.
Each count is based on a circle
with a 7.5 mile radius, and is usually
named for the major community
within the circle. The same circle is
surveyed each year. The count is
conducted during a 24-hour period
between 14 December and 5 January.
Persons, or parties counting in the
field are assigned a portion of the
circle to survey on foot and/or by
car, recording miles and time walked
or driven, and species and numbers
of birds seen. The Madison Count
has a well-organized owl count, con-
ducted early on count day. Or, all
counts can use the help of “feeder
watchers,” birders who keep track of
birds at their feeding areas for a
specified period (usually an hour or
two) during count day.
Five Christmas Bird Counts are
conducted within the Madison
Audubon service area. Listed below,
with this year’s count dates and the
name and contact number of their
coordinators, they are:
The Madison Count -Saturday 16
December 2000: Tony Kalenic and
Carol Anderson, 249-8836; (owl
count only, Al Shea 825-6232).
The Sauk City Count -
Saturday 23, December 2000:
Nancy Raffetto, 643-1274
The Baraboo Count -
Wednesday 27, December 2000:
Ken Wood 767-3343
The Poynette Count -
Saturday 30, December 2000:
Mark and Sue Foote Martin 635-4160
The Mt. Horeb Count -
Saturday 30, December 2000:
Ken Wood 767-3343
year, a committee has met to draft a
Bird Conservation Moves Wisconsin Bird Conservation
Forward in Wisconsin Initiative (WBCI), complete with
by Karen Etter Hale, Executive goals and an implementation plan.
Secretary and WBCI Chair We hope to have this plan formally
Bird conservation efforts through- adopted and signed on International
out the nation and in Wisconsin Migratory Bird Day next May.
were the focus of a meeting in Meanwhile, due to a sense of
Wausau September 29 attended by urgency and a strong commitment
more than 50 people from across the to bird conservation in the state,
state. After an overview of existing working groups were established.
national, regional, and state bird These groups (northern forests,
conservation initiatives; natural com- southern forests, wetlands, grass-
munity working groups were lands, urban areas, and an informa-
formed to begin identifying impor- tion and education committee)
tant bird sites in Wisconsin. began by identifying important bird
Our keynote speaker was George sites in the state. There clearly is a
Fenwick, president of the American lot more work to do, but the meet-
Bird Conservancy, an organization ing gave us an excellent look at
begun in 1994 to link all of the vari- what has already been accom-
ous bird conservation efforts. He plished. By all working together, we
explained how the “North American can be greater than the sum of the
Bird Conservation Initiative,” a vast parts.
disorganized partnership of groups If anyone is interested in serving
and agencies who all believe in com- on any of these committees, or
mon principles, arose over the last would like a copy of the draft plan,
couple of years to unify and inte- please contact Karen Etter Hale, 255-
grate the four major bird plans. BIRD, or masoffice@mailbag.com
These are the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan, which
is well-established and accomplish-
ing a great deal in restoring wet-
lands and associated uplands for pri-
marily waterfowl; Partners In Flight,
begun originally to address concerns
about neotropical migrants but since
expanded to include all birds not
covered by other plans; the U.S.
Shorebird Conservation Plan, recent-
ly completed; and the North
American Colonial Waterbird
Conservation Plan.
“We are running out of time,” said
Fenwick, “But there is a tremendous
energy out there right now and
everything is happening very quick-
ly.” He explained how unprecedent-
ed partnerships are forming between
traditional conservation groups such
as Ducks Unlimited and environ-
mental organizations; and how
needed funding might be acquired
with the combined efforts of the 1000
or more organizations in the U.S.
dedicated to bird interests. He
encouraged us to work together, to
go for changes, to take chances.
Wisconsin is one of the first states
to develop a comprehensive bird
plan. Since an initial meeting last
Volunteers honored at
special luncheon
On October 8, twelve individuals
received awards for their exceptional
volunteer contributions to Madison
Audubon Society (MAS) at the fifth
annual Volunteer/Donor Recognition
Event. The luncheon took place at the
UW Extension’s Arlington
Agricultural Research Station’s Public
Events Building preceding Prairies
Jubilee. Attendees enjoyed a luncheon
catered by Schultz’s in DeForest,
speeches by Joanne Herfel, Marsha
Cannon and Amy McDaniel, and
awards presentations.
Volunteer-of-the-Year 2000: Keith
Hulsebos. Keith Hulsebos was hon-
ored with the 2000 Volunteer-of-the-
Year Award for his many years of
tireless service to MAS. Keith’s history
with MAS goes back to the days of the
meetings in the UW Biochemistry
building in the early 1980’s. He initial-
ly volunteered to be on the Seed Sale
committee and “learned all there is to
know about parking lots (and quite a
few other things).” Keith then helped
MAS set up the MAS90 accounting
package, and took over as Treasurer, a
position he has filled with a high level
of organization, perfection and exper-
tise over the many years. As
Treasurer, Keith manages payroll and
all the federal and state tax paperwork
that comes with it, routine invoice
payment, and depositing revenue,
sales tax and property taxes. He also
enters all of the accounting data into
the software and provides regularly
accounting reports to the Board of
Directors. He also participates in our
annual audit. Keith has served as the
central repository for originals of land
documentation, which he scans into
electronic versions as backups. As if
all of this weren’t enough, Keith is a
faithful and hardy volunteer at the
Art Fair, the seed sale, Prairies Jubilee,
and often spends many hours provid-
ing us with mailing lists/labels for
special bulk mailings.
Keith is a kind, generous-hearted
and ever-optimistic person who is
precious to MAS and his many friends
within the organization. It is with
great honor and sincerity that we pre-
sent him with this prestigious award!
Keith Hulsebos displaying his
Volunteer-of-the-Year Award
Eleven individuals
received Outstanding
Volunteer Awards
Peggy Schmidt. Peggy has been
actively involved with the Art Fair
Committee for the last 6 years, serv-
ing as main coordinator of food for
the last four years, an event attended
by up to 3,000 people. Over the
years, Peggy has also volunteered at
Prairies Jubilee, the seed sale, and
the farmer’s market. Peggy served
on the Board of Directors as
Membership Chair for one year.
Peggy’s cheerful presence brightens
our meetings, and her reliability and
hard-work ethic help to bring suc-
cess to all events in which she partic-
ipates.
Paul Noeldner. Paul has been the
Chair of the Membership Committee
for the last five years. He also pro-
vides invaluable computer trou-
bleshooting at the office, and has
worked hard to perfect our database
and networking potential. He initiat-
ed, designed and set up our website,
and even ran it off of his home com-
puter for the first few years. He is the
innovator of ‘Birds on a Stick,’ a pop-
ular children’s activity, as well as the
prize drawing at general meetings.
Paul has also taken an active role on
issues concerning the Wisconsin
Audubon Council. He has represent-
ed MAS at outside events, as well as
volunteered at the Art Fair, Prairies
Jubilee, the seed sale and the
farmer’s market. Paul is a kind-
hearted person whose enthusiasm
and eagerness to help MAS are infec-
tious and inspiring.
David Musolf & Roger Packard. In
recent years, Roger and David have
become the nucleus of Faville Grove
Sanctuary, a complex of restored
and/or protected lands along the
Crawfish River basin in Jefferson
County (near Lake Mills). This
includes Faville Grove Sanctuary
and Roger and David’s land, on
which MAS holds and administers a
conservation easement. Their volun-
teer activities focus on establishing,
developing and restoring these sanc-
tuaries. Specific activities include
weed control, seed collecting, mow-
ing new prairie seedings, seed clean-
ing, creating a seed drying facility,
seeding at Faville Grove and Goose
Pond, chain saw work in the winter,
conducting controlled burns, orga-
nizing volunteers for the above sanc-
tury activities, overseeing bulldoz-
ing on the new MAS land, leading
field trips at Faville Grove
Sanctuary, building partnerships
with landowners near Faville Grove,
serving on the Sanctuaries
Committee, and interviewing intern
candidates. Roger and David clearly
must have ‘Energizer Bunny genes’
in them: Their energy and dedica-
tion to these sanctuaries is boundless
and awe-inspiring, and their pres-
ence at Faville is crucial to its ongo-
ing success.
Ken Barmore. On May 13, 2000, the
first annual Big Birding Day took
place. Six teams were competing to
see as many species as they could in
14 hours in Dane County. The count-
ing began at 4 a.m. in order to add
night birds to their checklists. By
day’s end at 6 p.m., all the teams
had gathered at Imperial Gardens
for the dinner and awards banquet.
A totaling of all the teams’ fieldcards
revealed that they had seen 164
species within Dane County, an
excellent number considering the
windy conditions. The six compet-
ing teams raised $200 for MAS. Ken
initiated and organized this new
event in the Madison Area, and
deserves special acknowledgement
for taking the initiative to organize
this event and motivate local bird-
ers. He plans to continue organizing
and building the Big Birding Day
into the future. Ken has also served
as a leader for many MAS field trips
over the years.
Ann & Bob DeMars.
Ann and Bob became
involved about 10
years ago with the Art
Fair when they helped
Eleanor Jones with
food preparation,
both before and dur-
ing the event. In addi-
tion to being faithful
volunteers at the Art
Fair over the years,
they have also helped
with Prairies Jubilee, Outstanding Volunteers: Back L>R- Paul Noelter,
the seed sale, the con- Caroline Beckett, David Musolf, Rhonda Dix, Roger
servation referendum Packard, Ken Barmore, Levi Wood (Backyard Hero).
phone bank, and the Front L>R- Carla Corwith, Bob DeMars, Ann DeMars,
Volunteer/Donor Keith Hulsebos (Volunteer-of-the-Year)
Recognition Event.
Their unfailing willingness to help,
especially with last-minute emergen-
cies, is vital to continuing functioning
of our organization; Ann’s friendly
and cheerful attitude and Bob’s
wacky sense of humor often bolster
other volunteers during shared activ-
ities.
The Population and Habitat
Committee: Rhonda Dix, Carla
Corwith, Caroline Beckett, Vajoya
Dasgupta. The human population,
currently estimated at 6 billion,
increases by 95 million each year, or
about 260,000 each day. This poses an
ever-increasing threat to both our
ecosystems and our social structure.
Rhonda Dix recognized the need for
MAS to address this pressing yet con-
troversial issue in an organized fash-
ion, and founded the Population and
Habitat Committee. With the help of
Carla Corwith, Caroline Beckett,
Vijoya Dasgupta and others, this
committee has pushed this issue to
the forefront, and MAS now has an
established reputation for promoting
education on the issue of human
population growth throughout the
Madison area. The committee has
promoted education on this issue by
organizing two National Audubon
speakers to present at Madison’s gen-
eral meeting, at local schools, and on
Public Radio; by participating in
Earth Day, World Population Week,
and the farmers market; by compos-
ing press releases, appearing on cable
TV, talking with the media and con-
sequently having population related
articles published in the Isthmus and
the Capital Times; by establishing a
speakers bureau; by accumulating a
series of Video tapes for free check
out at the Audubon office; by arrang-
ing for high school speakers on pop-
ulation and habitat; by producing
educational materials; by attending
Nat’l Audubon advocacy workshops
in DC; by involvement in legislative
issues pertaining to population and
habitat; and by writing monthly arti-
cles in CAWS and occasional letters
to the editor. Kudos to the four insti-
gators and the other active members
of the Committee for promoting
eduction on this issue in so many cre-
ative and effective ways!
Cool field trips lead you
to cool birds
Sat., Nov. 11: Birding Hot Spots
Carol Anderson and Tony Kalenic
will lead this trip. Our plan is to call
local and state hotlines and then go
to the hottest birding location in
southern Wisconsin. Bring a lunch
as the trip will last into early after-
noon. Depending on what birds are
around we may make this a local
trip, such as to Goose Pond or
Devil’s Lake, or to go as far as Lake
Michigan. If we do go to Lake
Michigan, this will be an all day trip.
Possible late fall/early winter
migrants at this time include Snowy
Owl, Townsend’s Solitaire, Barrow’s
Goldeneye or any of a number of
other possibilities. To find out where
we plan to go you can call Tony or
Carol at 249-8836 the week prior to
the trip although we reserve the
right to decide at meeting time if
something good shows up at the last
minute.
We will meet to carpool in the
middle of the parking lot of the east
side Cub Foods. From Hwy. 30 take
51 (Stoughton Road) north and then
turn right onto Nakoosa Trail and
proceed east to Cub Foods. We will
carpool and leave at 6:30 a.m. We
will return to Cub Foods anywhere
from mid-afternoon to 6:00 p.m. We
will announce a return time once we
have decided where we’re going.
Sat., December 2: Madison Lakes
As winter sets in, ponds and
smaller lakes of south-central
Wisconsin freeze, causing migrating
birds to become concentrated on
Madison’s large lakes, which remain
open longer. Al Shea, expert birder
and past president of the Wisconsin
Society for Ornithology, will lead us
in observing waterfowl, gulls and
winter birds. This trip has produced
some unusual birds in the past, so
don’t miss it!
We’ll carpool and leave at 7:30
a.m. from the middle of UW Parking
Lot #60 on Walnut Street. The trip
will last about four hours. Bring a
scope if you have one and dress
warmly. If you have questions, call
Al Shea at 825-6232.
POPULATION AND HABITAT
International Family Planning is
an Environmental Issue
John Flicker, National Audubon President, made it clear at a
press conference in July that population is the most important
environmental issue of our time.
“Make no mistake about it: International Family Planning is
an environmental issue. It offers Americans an opportunity to
address the root causes of the global environmental crisis.
The National Audubon Society is proud to be a part of the
PLANet campaign and to work with our partner organizations
on this critically important effort. Achieving PLANet’s goals is
an essential step toward accomplishing Audubon’s own mission
to conserve and restore natural ecosystems for the benefit of
humanity and earth’s biological diversity.
We know that the health and well-being of people is closely
linked to the well-being of wildlife and to the environmental
health of our planet. Every day, while more than a thousand
women around the world die from pregnancy-related causes,
the threats to birds and other wildlife are growing. This situa-
tion leaves both human families and the Earth itself greatly
impoverished.
All you have to do is watch the birds that migrate to Latin
America each winter. As they return in the spring, fully half the
species have exhibited significant declines in recent years, while
the human population has expanded and overwhelmed large
portions of their tropical forests and other natural habitats. This
rapid growth has also been accompanied by considerable
human suffering, with particular hardships for women and chil-
dren.
But the good news is that we know how to solve these prob-
lems, and the PLANet campaign is all about carrying that good
news to the American public. Unlike so many global problems
that seem insoluble today, we actually have the means at hand
to improve women’s and children’s lives all around the world
and to reduce the impacts of our population growth on the plan-
et. Both of these challenges can be addressed effectively by the
same program: International Family Planning. This approach is
voluntary; it’s relatively inexpensive; and it empowers people to
take responsibility for their impact on the other living creatures
of this planet. It is arguably the most cost-effective program the
U.S. can provide for improving the global environment.
Most importantly, it works. We know that when couples have
access to family planning services, they tend to choose to have
smaller, healthier families, which also improves the prospects
for a healthy environment for both people and wildlife.
Using our leadership and skills in environmental education,
and drawing upon our grassroots strength in communities all
across America, Audubon is committed to playing a major role
in carrying out the educational goals of PLANet. We want to
help all Americans understand why U.S. support for
International Family Planning is crucial to improving the lives of
women and children and the survival of birds and other wildlife
all around the world.
We invite people everywhere to join with Audubon in the
PLANet network and learn how they can help to promote pro-
grams that contribute to a better world for people and wildlife.”
The above article was originally printed in Audubon’s Population &
Habitat Program newsletter in September of 2000.
Birder’s Dreams And Reality
By Jason Berry, Director, GBRC
Birder’s often dream of birding far away, exotic
destinations for vacation. After one realizes this
dream, and is blown away by the birding, one starts
to dream about living in one of these birding par-
adises. In 1999 all my dreams came true!
In the United States I had enjoyed the support of
the informal birdwatching infrastructure and com-
munity. I was standing in gorgeous Cloud forest,
but with no one to debate the differences between
the confusing female hummers. I was knee-high in a
coastal marsh, but with no rarebird hotline to report
the first country record of Fulvous whistling Duck!
The lush mountain jungles of the pacific foothills
teamed with resplendent Quetzals, Azure-rumped
Tanagers, and blue-tailed hummingbirds, but who
was I going to share this birding excitement with?
In a word, the birding infrastructure community
was NONEXISTENT! Then while looking at a par-
ticularly beautiful pink-headed warbler it came to
me. Why not open Guatemala up to birding by cre-
ating an organization dedicated to catering to bird-
er’s needs?
Today no birder need visit Guatemala and feel as
lost and disorientated as I did. The Guatemala
Birding Resource Center now provides local (we
found a few!) and visiting birdwatchers resources
such as checklists, field guides, binoculars, a bird-
er’s resource library, tours, and information! Tours
focus on Mundo Maya endemics, e.g. Horned Guan,
Azrue-rumped Tanager, Rufous Saberwing, and
black-capped Sisikin. Proceeds from the tours go to
support the work of two recently hired GBRC
research associates who are researching life histories
of the many unstudied birds of the country. This
last high season saw more than three tours a week,
countless rare bird sightings, and satisfied birders
from all over the world. GBRC is a success - the
dream came true!
Although most birders will never have the chance
to found their own birding organization, there are
many other ways to deepen your birding experi-
ence. Taking your interest in birding on step farther
and volunteering for the Christmas, and Spring bird
counts can definitely enrich your birding. Taking on
a little bit more may find you with your own
Summer Breeding Bird Survey area, or banding
birds on a birdy weekend in the fall. Volunteering
for national or international conservation organiza-
tions can afford unimaginable birding experiences!
My story isn’t so much about Guatemala or
GBRC, but that we birders can make our birding
dreams come true if we if we take that next step!
Who knows maybe the next Hermit or Worming-
eating Warbler you band might be seen on one of
our tours!
For more information check out our web site at
http://xelapages.com/gbrc
Prairies Jubilee follow up YES, I want to make the
Goose Pond vision a reali-
ty. Here is my contribution
to the Goose Pond
Campaign.

[ ] Acre Maker. $1,000 or more to

Marsha Cannon awards Duane Stiemke, a local resident, with the raffle grand
prize. The painting was donated by Poynette artist Stephen Ratcliffe.
Gary Eldred, at left, President of
Prairie Enthusiasts, making a Native
American spear point. Just one of
many demonstrations at Prairies
Jubilee!.
Gifts that keep us
growing
ACRE MAKER
ADOPT AN ACRE
Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Dudiak
HALF-ACRE MAKER
MY OWN VISION
In memory of Dudley Etter
Prairie planting is
Evelyn Batchelor
November 11; help is In Honor of Veronica, Lucas, and Steve
needed. Eicher
A large amount of prairie seed has Cousteau, Sal, Pip and Palmer
been collected and is being cleaned. Herfel
Prairie planting will be conducted at
Goose Pond (20 acres) and at Faville MAS has an
Grove (15 acres) on Saturday account at the
November 11th. Contact Mark and Madison
Sue Martin at 608-635-4160 for addi-
Recycling Center
tional information (Goose Pond) or
on Fish Hatchery
David and Roger 920-648-3313 for Rd. Remember
(Faville Grove). Many hands will MAS next time
make the job go easier. you recycle.
CAWS Newsletter Subscriptions Available
I am not a member of National Audubon, but am interested in receiving
The Audubon CAWS newsletter to stay informed of chapter activities. I’ve
enclosed $10.00 payable to Madison Audubon Society to cover printing and
mailing for one annual year.
Mail to: Madison Audubon Soc., 222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1, Madison,
WI 53703
buy and restore another acre of
land at Goose Pond.
[ ] Half-Acre Maker. $500-$999 to
buy and restore another half-
acre of land at Goose Pond.
[ ] Adopt An Acre. I pledge $100
a year for three years ($300
total) toward Goose Pond
restoration. Here is my first
installment.
[ ] Nest Egg. I pledge $50 a year
for three years($150 total).
Here is my first installment.
[ ] My Own Vision. $ to
help as much as possible.
Name
Address
In Memory of
In Honor of
For Gifts Honoring Another: Send
Acknowledgement to (name and
address)
Contributions will be acknowledged
near the Goose Pond Information
Board as follows: $1,000 or more-
name to appear on a permanent
plaque; $250-$999-name to appear
on engraved paving brick.
Acknowledge in Madison
Audubon Society Newsletter
Do not acknowledge in Madison
Audubon Society Newsletter
Make checks payable to Madison
Audubon Society and mail to:
Madison Audubon Society, 222 S.
Hamilton Street, Suite #1, Madison,
WI 53703
Tax deductible to the extent
allowed by law.
Madison Audubon Society’s
financial statement is available
upon request.
Household Computer Round-up in Madison MAS Calendar
Saturday, November 11th, 10 - 3 at a Glance
The City of Madison and Cascade Asset Management are hosting its third
household Computer Round-up. This is a low-cost way for individuals to 11 Nov.: Birding Hot Spots, p. 4
ensure that their computer equipment is recycled properly. The event will be 2 Dec.: Madison Lakes, p. 4
held at Cascade’s Madison facility on Saturday, Christmas Bird Count Dates:
November 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be a charge of $5.00 per
monitor (all other items are free) and a limit of 2 computer systems per vehicle. The Madison Count -Saturday 16
Collected equipment will be tested to determine the potential for December 2000: Tony Kalenic and
reuse in local non-profit organizations. Obsolete and damaged Carol Anderson, 249-8836; (owl count
equipment will be de-manufactured by Cascade for recycling. Volunteers only, Al Shea 825-6232).
are needed to assist people dropping off their computers. No knowledge of The Sauk City Count -
computers is required, and we are suggesting a 2-hour time Saturday 23, December 2000:
commitment. To sign up for a shift, please contact Neil or Jessica at the email Nancy Raffetto, 643-1274
or phone number below. The Baraboo Count -
More information is available at their website: Wednesday 27, December 2000:
http://www.cascade-assets.com Ken Wood 767-3343
Cascade Asset Management, LLC
1009 Jonathon Drive The Poynette Count -
Madison, WI 53713 Saturday 30, December 2000:
(608) 271-6181 Mark and Sue Foote Martin 635-4160
info@cascade-assets.com The Mt. Horeb Count -
Directions: Exit the Beltline south on Fish Hatchery Saturday 30, December 2000:
Rd. Take the first left at Greenway Cross. Take the second left at Latham Dr. Ken Wood 767-3343
Take the first right at Jonathon Dr. Cascade Assets is in a large warehouse
about a block down on the right. 1321 E. Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 256-1066

Madison Audubon Society, Inc.

Joanne Herfel, President Non-profit organization
U.S. Postage Paid
222 S. Hamilton St. Suite #1
Permit No. 1831
Madison, WI 53703 Madison, Wisconsin

11/00