Big Bluestem Flyer

Newsletter of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society

Volume 39, Number 1 September/October 2003

Programs Field Trips

September 18 September 7
Marlene Ehresman (Sunday) Pelican Festival, 10 am to 6 pm at Jester
Park Campground #4 at Saylorville Lake. Event
“Protecting Land for Neotropical Migrants”
sponsored by Iowa Audubon, Polk Co. Conservation
Big Bluestem member and Iowa Natural Heritage
Board, and US Army Corps of Engineers. Thousands of
Staff Member Marlene Ehresman will discuss her
pelicans and the newly released Osprey fledglings could
booklet A BIRD’S EYE VIEW: A Guide to Managing and
be there.
Protecting Your Land for Neotropical Migratory Birds in
the Mississippi River Blufflands. Marlene will help us September 27
gain perspective, discuss habitat and its loss, and Snake Creek Marsh, Lakin Slough, Bays Branch.
understand what needs to be done to save it. We’ll explore some of the wetlands of Greene and
Guthrie Counties in search of migrating waterfowl,
shorebirds, and sparrows. Meet at 7:30 am behind Wild
October 16 Birds Unlimited to carpool.
Thomas J. Benson October 4
“Bird responses to habitat restoration in the Diversity Farms/S.O.A.R. (Save Our Avian
Iowa River Corridor” Thomas is a graduate student Resources) near Dedham (Carroll County). Kay
in the Iowa State University Department of Natural Neuman, director of S.O.A.R, will give us a tour of the
Resource Ecology and Management: Ecology and new S.O.A.R. raptor rehabilitation facility and a
Evolutionary Biology Interdepartmental Graduate reconstructed prairie. SOAR is a non -profit organization
Program. He will discuss his research on birds and dedicated to saving our avian resources through raptor
grassland management in the Iowa River corridor rehabilitation, education, and research. Meet at 7:30 am
between Marengo and Belle Plain flooded in 1993. behind WBU to carpool. Plan to arrive at Diversity
Farms around 9:00 am.
October 10-12
Program meetings are held monthly, September-May on FYI -- Iowa Ornithologists’ Union Fall Meeting at the
the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm, Room Loess Hills. Details still developing. Inquire at their web
2226 Veterinary Medicine Building, Iowa State site at www.iowabirds.org
University, Ames, Iowa.
If you would like to meet and dine with the speaker and .
the BBAS Board before the monthly meeting, please Contact Jeff Nichols for more information at
contact John Pohlman to confirm space and location at 515-795-4176 or jnichols1961@hotmail.com
515-232-6816 or itsartjohn@isunet.net

In This Issue
Page 2 Officers and Committees Page 6 Backyard & Beyond - Karl Jungbluth
President’s Column Prairie Winds - Mike Meetz
Page 3 Birdathon Results
Project FeederWatch Page 7 Bird Feeder Cleaning
Page 4 Master Conservationist Course Membership Form
Page 5 From a New Member Coupons
Newsletter Deadlines Page 8 Mortensen Mounds
 President’s Column
Welcome back everyone to another great year of Big
Bluestem Audubon programs. There will be something
for everybody! I hope your summer went well; to me it
went by quickly. The weather has been pleasant for be-
ing outdoors and has provided many good opportunities
for birding.
First of all, thank you to exiting board members,
Donna Flanagan and Karl Jungbluth. Donna has served
as our treasurer for several years. Her diligence for de-
tail in bookkeeping and her interest in birdwatching
were always appreciated by the board members. Karl
has served several positions on the board, always provid-
ing great guidance. Karl will continue to share his views
with the board from time to time as he continues to rep-
resent Audubon Iowa and remains our Birdathon co-
chair with his wife Carmen. I welcome Ed Carbrey as
treasurer and Breanne Marpe as board member to the
Big Bluestem Board.
I also want to thank Ida Johnson and John Snyder,
who have served as education chair and program chair
respectively, as they step down. They have both done a
great job for all of us and those of us on the board really
appreciate their efforts. Amy Yoakum has accepted the
duties of education chair. She will be coordinating with
area teachers who use Audubon Adventures among other
educational needs. For the moment Linda Thomas and I
will be taking on the program duties.
A special thanks also goes to Karl and Carmen
Jungbluth for co-chairing another successful Birdathon,
raising over $4,000. Then they topped it off with a great
Birders’ Brunch in June.
Many of you know that I am involved with political
issues. One of the important issues that has come up
again and again is Congressional approval to open up
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling explo-
ration. There are a couple of articles in the August/
Big Bluestem Audubon Society
Officers and Committees
Officers
President: John Pohlman 232-6816 itsartjohn@isunet.net
Vice-President: Linda Thomas 292-7534 wbuames@mcleodusa.net
Secretary: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995 behresma@opencominc.com
Treasurer: Ed Carbrey 292-2404
Board Members
Breanne Marpe, 432-1231 breannehucka@yahoo.com
Jeff: Nichols 795-4176 jnichols1961@hotmail.com
Maridel Jackson 515-964-0140 mpwj410@covad.net
Wolfgang Oesterreich 515-232-3285 (h) wolf@iastate.edu
Matt Wetrich 956-4299 mwetrich@iastate.edu
The mission of the Big Bluestem Audubon Society to
enjoy the observation and study of birds and natural
ecosystems, contribute to their conservation and
restoration, engage in educational activities to benefit
humanity, and gain a broader understanding and deeper
appreciation of the world we live in.
2 Big Bluestem Flyer
September 2003 issue of National Wildlife Magazine
that shed light on the importance of wildlife habitat and
how it connects to every one of the lower forty-eight
states. David Allen Sibley wrote one of those insightful
articles about how birds that we routinely see here in
Iowa are linked to the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
Sibley describes the wet and dry tundra landscape in
detail that lets you feel you are there. More importantly
he observes the abundant activity of wildlife, with birds
composing a large part of that activity. From the time
birds arrive in the spring, they are constantly focused on
raising and feeding their young. He explains only a few
birds such as the rock and the willow ptarmigan, the
raven and the snowy owl live in the refuge year around.
Migratory birds constantly eat mosquitoes and other in-
sects. It may be the same migratory birds like the Yel-
low-rumped Warbler, the Sharp-shinned Hawk, the
Northern Flicker summering in Alaska, that we see
passing through or staying here in Iowa. Perhaps the
best thing about Sibley’s article is the simple map with
lines connecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with
common birds to every one of the lower forty-eight
states. This map is simple enough that any politician can
see the value of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s
unique and integrated ecosystem. This map illustrates
how birdwatchers like us are connected to the Refuge.
And it makes it easy for us to lobby our politicians so
that they can help us retain this ecosystem connection. I
am sure that oil exploration would disrupt this delicate
ecosystem in a way similar to the neighbor’s stray cat
disrupting the birds at my feeder. Pick up a copy of Na-
tional Wildlife August/September Magazine and see if
you agree.
I hope Congress has not approved drilling by the time
you read this. Please contact our legislators to let them
know just how this important habitat is connected to all
of us, even if it is so far away.
John Pohlman
Committee Chairs
Archivist: Hank Zaletel 382-427 madowl@midiowa.net
Bird-a-thon Co-chairs: Karl and Carmen Jungbluth, 432-5057
weatherbird.opencominc.com
Conservation Chair: Bruce Ehresman 296-2995
behresma@opencominc.com
Education Chair: Amy Yoakum, 232-2516
ayoakum@storycounty.com
Field Trip Chair: Jeff Nichols jnichols1961@hotmail.com
Membership Chair: Al Johnson 233-4831 awindj@aol. com
Program Chair: vacant
Publicity Chair: Linda Thomas 292-7534 wbuames@mcleodusa.net
Publications & Electronic Media Co-Chairs:
David Edwards 292-3790 dcejce@qwest.net
Joyce Bahrenfus 275-3263 jbahren@netins.net
BBAS Web Site: http://www.wyalusing.org/BBAS.htm
Iowa Bird Sightings Hotline 319-338-9881
Wildlife Care Clinic 515-294-4900
September/October 2003
 Birdathon Results

Big Bluestem Audubon capped off another successful Birdathon with a Birdathon Party on June 7th.
The team of Jeff Nichols, Mary Doud, and Wolf Oesterreich (shown below with the trophy) and Matt Wet-
rich (not present) took the coveted Birdathon Trophy by spotting a whopping 137 species on May 10th.

Their Birdathon-record count topped the sec-

ond place total of 118 species recorded by Doug
Harr, and Karl and Carmen Jungbluth.

The nine Birdathon teams raised $4376.

Thanks to all team members and their
sponsors!!! Karl Grotheer and friend, Joe
Iverson, amazed everyone once again by gar-
nering 68 sponsors, spotting 99 species and
raising $595. Hopefully their effort will in-
spire everyone to get involved with Birdathon
next year.

The BBAS Board of Directors has already se-

lected a bird conservation project to receive
Birdathon funding- Audubon Iowa’s Important
Bird Areas program. $1094 will go to help the
IBA program identify Important Bird Areas,
coordinate and document monitoring of bird populations, and ultimately conserve their habitats.

Finally, say thanks to the businesses that supported our Birdathon, either through donations or via
prizes awarded to Birdathon participants.

National Camera Exchange and Video, Minneapolis

Woodlink, Ltd, Mount Ayr
Earl May Nurseries in Boone, and Ames
Country Landscapes Nursery, Ames
Lowe-Berry Nursery, Boone
Wild Birds Unlimited, Ames

Join Project FeederWatch Today!

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology operates Project FeederWatch (PWF) in partnership with the National
Audubon Society, Bird Studies of Canada, and the Canadian Nature Federation. Volunteers are crucial to
the success of the November through April survey of birds that visit backyard feeders, nature centers, and
other locations in North America.
Anyone can participate! Your participation can make a difference! By participating, you will contribute
to ongoing research and conservation by sharing your backyard bird observations with scientists. PWF
results are regularly published in scientific journals and national magazines, including the Audubon Maga-
zine.
As a participant, you count birds at a particular site which you select on the bird-count days you select -
once every two weeks for all or part of the day. As a participant, you receive a Research Kit and the Lab’s
quarterly newsletter, Birdscope. The kit contains instructions, a bird identification poster, a wall calendar,
a birdfeeding resource guide, and data forms.
For more information and registration visit http://birds.cornell.edu/pfw or contact Wild Birds
Unlimited of Ames, 213 Duff Avenue, (515) 956-3145.

Be a citizen scientist! Join Project FeederWatch today and make a difference!

September/October 2003 Big Bluestem Flyer 3

 Reflections on the 2003 Master Conservationist Course

When my husband told me I really should consider I’ve been shown some simple changes that can make a
taking the Master Conservationist course this summer, I difference:
had already decided that this was the year for me to en-
roll. I am concerned about the way the human race re-
gards the earth. Seems to me the operating principle is
still to conquer, subdue, control, “improve,” and deplete
natural resources without awareness that the earth pro-
vides for us and deserves our respect and care in return.
I was ready to learn more about how it all works.

- Using cloth instead of paper napkins;

(Guest speaker, MR. GARBAGE, who usually
speaks to third- and fourth-graders, taught us
to REDUCE, RECYCLE, RE-USE to avoid wasting
resources!)
- Trying the handout’s suggested uses of borax as a
multi-purpose household cleaner rather than buying and
using several environmentally unfriendly products;
- Shopping at the Farmer’s Market -- YUM!

I have also gained heightened respect for the folks

who developed and implemented the Master Conserva-
The Master Conservationist class met one evening a tion course and each of the volunteers who teach the
week for nine weeks this summer, focusing on different classes. Now I know that this work reflects not merely a
topics each week. Topics included soils, biological princi- hobby or an interest but rather an abiding commitment
ples, wetlands, macroinvertebrates (water), wildlife to care for our planet and to keep teaching others to do
identification and habitat, watersheds, forestry, riparian
buffer strips, native and non-native species and how/why

the same.

I feel that I have learned so much from the class that I

native works better, water quality, and sustainable agri- wish everyone could enroll. This is information that we
culture and land use. We toured the Ames Water Treat- all should have begun to learn as children and continued
ment Plant, learned about the Ames Resource Recovery to explore throughout our lives, leading us to be wise
plant, and saw schematics of land fill design and devel- caretakers of our natural environment.
opment. Near the end of the course we were treated to a
catered meal of green salad, fresh vegetables, pork The Iowa Master Conservation ist Program is spon-
chops, and mashed potatoes. There were two prepara- sored by the StoryCounty Conservation Board, Iowa
tions of each dish, one set made from grocery store ingre- State University Extension, Iowa State University Dept.
dients and one from locally grown foods. Yes, we could of Natural Resource Ecology & Management, and Story-
taste the difference! County Extension. The next class is planned to be held
in the summer of 2005
I am still seeking the answer to the question, “What is Linda Meetz
my role in the effort to care for the earth?” Meanwhile,

4 Big Bluestem Flyer September/October 2003

 New Members From a New Member (Aged 8)
Hi, My name is Raveena, A pair of downy Woodpeck-
Barb Albert ers have a nest right out my window. It’s fun to watch
Alice Bintz them!! The difference is the male which is the boy, it has
Arthur Check red on the crown. The female doesn’t have the red .
Bill Heintz
Norman Gordon It was in the middle of April that two downy wood-
Nancy Hibbs peckers came to the tree right outside my window. They
Jorah Huibregtse started pecking, pecking, pecking and pecking! The first
James Jorgensen thing we saw was a hole that is a perfect circle. They
Elizabeth Keys kept pecking every day for like the whole day. They
R. G. Pasley pecked one at a time. First the male would be pecking,
Roger Samson then the female would fly to the hole, and then the male
James Stephens would fly out, and the female would start pecking. They
Todd Vens would peck for about an hour before trading places.

Finally, the male could get all the way into the hole.
The female was still too fat. (She even got fatter later!)
When they went into the hole, you wouldn’t see them for
a little while, and then they would come out and spit the
sawdust out. (That made my Mom laugh!)

The female got really fat. We didn’t see much of them

anymore. They could both turn around in the hole! We
thought they might be already nesting. We only really
saw them flying in or flying out or sticking their heads
out for a little while. I decided they’re living in there.

When the nest was finished, about 5 starlings came to

the hole. They tried to get to the eggs, but the male or
the female would be out trying to get them away from
the hole. This happened for 3 to 5 days. The woodpeckers
would fly into their space, hopping branch to branch.
The starlings finally went away.

The woodpeckers are in the hole. I think they’re feed-

ing their babies and making sure they’re all right. I
want to see the babies come out and learn how to fly!

I like their place they chose!!! I like Woodpeckers.

Raveena Noëlle Levis

Kirsten Munson

Newsletter Material Deadlines

Because we would like to have the newsletter to each member before the first day of its coverage, the editor
needs to have material at least two weeks before that. Hence the deadlines for the future will be the fifteenth
of October, December, February, and April.
Please be aware that editing your offering for length and style is sometimes necessary.
David Edwards, Editor

September/October 2003 Big Bluestem Flyer 5

 The Backyard and Beyond

Eastern Kingbirds have been in the yard, attracted by Arrowwood Viburnum berries. The Kingbirds “catch” the

berries on the wing, and their high-pitched, raspy call sounds like they are having fun. The shrub was a Birdathon

prize planted several years ago. I t ’ s g o o d t o s e e o u r b i r d -f r i e n d l y l a n d s c a p i n g p a y i n g d i v i d e n d s , w i t h v i e w s o f t h e

kingbirds, bluebirds and catbirds all eating berries.

The highlight of our summer in the yard had to be the nesting Tree Swallows, who occupied a bluebird box only

30-40 feet from the kitchen table. The swallows were almost always in sight, and didn’t mind us being outside. We

were amazed at the number of times the pair switched sitting on the eggs and attending the young. Every few

minutes, one swallow would circle in, and the other, obviously watching, would depart just in time. Sometimes the

female had to scold the male for staying in the box too long. The kids were quite vocal, and we saw them in the

tops of leafless elm trees for a few days, and they were gone.

For activity beyond the backyard, Jeff Nichols and I participated for the first time in an official USGS Breeding

Bird Survey. Our “routes” were east of here near Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Besides dodging the weather, and

vainly attempting to count other birds during the dawn chorus of robins, we had an enjoyable time.

Karl Jungbluth

Prairie Winds

I ’ m a b o a r d m y “ p e t r o- p o w e r e d ” h e r b i v o r e t r y i n g t o r e s c u e m y f o u r y e a r o l d B u r r o a k f o r e s t f r o m t h e f a s t g r o w i n g

grasses and ragweed. I’ve just returned from my annual two week Common Loon census adventure on Isle Royale.

How quickly my best laid management plans get out of hand. Our horses could accomplish what the mower does,

but without proper supervision Equus would find the oak just as tasty as some of the other plants.

Tree and Barn Swallows dive and dart just beyond my reach, snagging the abundant insect population that I

flush from their grazing places. Goldfinch nestled in the sunflower periodically head back toward the house to raid

the feeder station for the generous supply of thistle seed and large domestic sunflower heads. The Goldfinch along

with the Dicksissel and the Eastern Kingbird are the major songsters; insect song is much more predominant now.

The Bergamont has lost its bloom; the Vervain is setting seed. The prairie color is now a rich gold and green

with the Big Bluestem dominating the prairie skyline. I spy a number of young Dicksissel perched among the

C u p -plants; the birds moving only if I pass too close. Numerous grasshoppers and other insects move along the

prairie path and occasionally an American Toad or a Leopard Frog will hop off trail and into the taller prairie.

Ground cracks denote the lack of rain, but closer to the west pothole “craydad” mud chimneys and numerous

toads and frogs indicate good moisture can be found just below the crusty surface. Along the pothole the sky just

above the vegetation is filled with Dragon and Damsel Flies.

A lone Leopard Frog calls above the buzz of insects. Frog movement has attracted a trio of Great Blue Heron

that spend time hunting along the water’s edge or roosting in the nearby grandmother cottonwood. Y o u n g B l u e-

w i n g e d T e a l a n d W o o d D u c k s p l a s h i n g a b o u t s e n d s t h i s y e a r ’ s C o o t t o s c a t t e r a n d y o u n g P i e d- b i l l e d G r e b e t o d i v e .

Adult ducks still recovering from molt hang just inside the emergent vegetation.

This summer we hosted two prairie walks. The Story County Master Conservation Class compared our four year

old restoration with a local native prairie renovation, and the Iowa Prairie Network used our site for one of its field

trips during its annual meeting held this year in Ames.

Evenings witness blackbirds massing in the cattails, their loud chatter calming as the sun sets. The swallows

have started perching in large numbers on our power line. Soon the teal will be gathering in larger numbers on

the pothole, bills pointed south.

Mike Meetz

6 Big Bluestem Flyer September/October 2003

 Fall Birdfeeder Cleaning
Fundraiser for Clip and Join
Story County Conservation Don’t forget gift memberships !
An important element of feeding the

birds is providing a healthy feeding envi- Membership Application forms

ronment. Prepare for the Fall and Winter

birdfeeding season and help raise money New member of the National Audubon Society. You will
for local conservation efforts by having receive the A u d u b o n magazine, the B i g B l u e s t e m F l y e r ,
your wood, plastic and metal birdfeeders membership card. — $20
cleaned at the Wild Birds Unlimited Ames
Please make your check payable to N a t i o n a l A u d u b o n
store at 213 Duff Avenue, on Saturday,
Society and include “Chapter Code H-57” on the check
October 11, 2003, from 10AM to 2PM.

Story County Conservation Partners volun- OR

teers will be cleaning birdfeeders to raise

money for Story County Conservation ar- Subscribe to the B i g B l u e s t e m F l y e r for one year and
eas and activities. Donations of $3.00 per participate in some Big Bluestem Society Activities — $10
feeder will be collected, with all proceeds Restrictions are that you will not be a National Audubon Society
going to Story County Conservation. member or have voting privileges, and you cannot be an officer or
committee chair. Please make your check payable to Big Bluestem
Audubon Society.

Send your check and this coupon to

Al Johnson, Membership Chair
3912 Squaw Road, Ames, IA 50014

Name _______________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
City_____________________ State____ ZIP_______________
Phone ________________ E- mail _______________________
Kirsten Munson Please do not use this form for renewals to the National Audubon Soc.

Present the coupons below at the time of your purchase and a donation will be given to BBAS.
Donations will fund the various habitat restoration and educational projects undertaken by BBAS.

Brekke's Town & Country Store, Inc.

Donate 10% 1 1 / 2 m i l e s e a s t o f I -3 5 o n n e w U . S . 3 0 a n d 1 / 4 m i l e n o r t h

of Your Next
Hours: 8 -6 M - F, 8 -4 S a t . ( 5 1 5 ) 2 3 2 -7 9 0 6
Purchase to
Purchase Donation
Big Bluestem Audubon Society Up tp $15 $1.50
Coupon must be presented at time of purchase $15 and over $3.00
May not be combined with any other offer
$35 and over $5.00
N o t v a l i d o n s p e c i a l l y -p r i c e d m e r c h a n d i s e
Over $70 $7.50
Offer Expires: 10/31/03
Brekke’s offers Big Bluestem Audubon Society a donation
when bird seed or other bird products are purchased.
Present this coupon with your purchase and a donation will be
given to BBAS.
213 Duff Ave. Ames, IA 50010 ( 5 1 5 ) 9 5 6 -3 1 4 5
M o n -W e d 9 : 3 0 -5 : 3 0 T h u r s 9 : 3 0 -8
F r i 9 : 3 0 -5 : 3 0 S a t 9 -5 S u n 1 2 -4
Offer good until October 31, 2003
BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • NATURE GIFTS

September/October 2003 Big Bluestem Flyer 7

 Mortensen Mounds

M o r t e n s e n M o u n d s , o u r B i g B l u e s t e m v o l u n t e e r -r u n p l o t o f n a t i v e f l o w e r s a n d g r a s s e s , h a d a b e a u t i f u l b l o o m i n ’

summer! (Mortensen Mounds is located in Ames on Mortensen Road, south of the Towers dorms, north of the road

to the Ice Arena, just east of Welch Avenue.)

Purple prairie clover, white Canada milk vetch, and yellow partridge pea showed up for the first time, amid

b a t c h e s o f r o s e-c o l o r e d m i l k w e e d . Dragonflies, monarchs, and goldfinch patrolled by the dozens.

Plants of stiff golden rod and physostegia were added, as was seed of little bluestem grass. The control of Maxi-

m i l i a n s u n f l o w e r s -- w h i c h c h o k e a n d s h a d e t h e m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l o c a l e c o t y p e s - - i s o n -g o i n g . This Fall, a second

sign identifying the Mounds and its purpose will be added for people using the walking path to the north.

Movin’ right along!

PS I participated in the Master Conservationist Course during June and July. By using Mortensen Mounds as

my project, we sensitized another group of people to native flowers and grasses.

Jeanne Edwards

Photos by Julie Kinker

Vol 39 No. 1 Printed on Recycled paper September/October 2003

this will be your last issue of the Flyer unless you renew.
If you have an “X” after your name on your mailing label,

Wewelcomenewmembers!

Ames, IA 50014
2308 State Ave
Ames,Iowa
Big Bluestem Audubon Society
PermitNo.131 David C. Edwards, Editor
U.S.PostagePaid BigBluestemFlyer
Non -ProfitOrg.