Audubon News
Newsletter of Prairie Hills Audubon Society of Western South Dakota Inc.
December 2020
December 14th- January 5th
Audubon's 121th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) pation and the annual published report, (American Birds)
All official counts will be held between the dates of
Saturday, December 14th, 2020 through Sunday, January
5th, 2021.
This year, the Audubon Christmas Bird Count will
mobilize nearly 80,000 volunteer bird counters in more
than 2,600 locations across the United States, Canada, the
Caribbean & Latin America. The Audubon Christmas Bird
Count utilizes the power of volunteers to track the health of
bird populations at a scale that scientists could never ac-
complish alone.
The censuses provide valuable data about the num-
ber of bird species & numbers of each species occurring
within set geographic areas on an early winter day. The re-
sults are compiled into the longest running database in or-
nithology, representing 121 years of unbroken data on
trends of early-winter bird populations across the Americas.
When combined with other surveys such as the
Breeding Bird Survey, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count
provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations
have changed in time & space over the past hundred years.
The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It
informs strategies to protect birds & their habitat, & helps
identify environmental issues with implications for people
as well. For example, Science published a study using
decades of Audubon Christmas Bird Count data to describe
a grim picture: a steady decline of nearly three billion
North American birds since 1970, primarily as a result of
human activities. Christmas Bird Count data have been
used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.
Birders of all ages are welcome to contribute to this
fun, nationwide community science project, which provides
ornithologists with a crucial snapshot of our native bird
populations during the winter months. Each individual
count is performed in a count circle with a diameter of 15
miles. The volunteers break up into small parties & follow
assigned routes, which change little from year to year &
they count every bird they see. In most count circles, some
people also watch feeders instead of following routes.
What to bring?
Participants should bring lunch, drinking water,
warm clothing & footwear. Binoculars, field guides & spot-
ting scopes are suggested, for those who have them. The
five-dollar fee has been dropped to encourage more partici-
previously available in paper has been made digital.
https://www.audubon.org/content/american-birds-an-
nual-summary-christmas-bird-count
Links to Audubon’s CBC web pages:
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christ-
mas-bird-count
To find a count near you on an interactive map:
https://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html
?appid=ac275eeb01434cedb1c5dcd0fd3fc7b
Other links:
SOUTH DAKOTA
http://www.phas-wsd.org
http://sdoubirds.org/SDOU/Calendar.aspx
NEBRASKA:
http://www.noubirds.org/Activities/CBC.aspx
NORTH DAKOTA (It has last years 2019 list:)
http://www.ndbirdingsociety.com/customContent.php?seq
=28&title=North Dakota Christmas Bird Counts
MINNESOTA:
http://moumn.org/CBC/cal/calendar.php
IOWA
https://iowabirds.org/Connections/CBC.aspx
Because of Covid-19, the National Audubon Soci-
ety has asked compilers to cancel all in-person compilation
gatherings. Social distancing &/or masking will be re-
quired at all times in the field. Carpooling may only occur
within existing familiar or social “pod” groups. Activities
must comply with all current state & municipal COVID-19
guidelines. Contact each compiler for details on their count
- traditional gathers/meetings may not be planned.
Most of these counts happen every year and the
compilers are often the same each year.
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA's CHRISTMAS BIRD
COUNTS
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS
BIRD COUNT,
12/13/20,
Page 1
Staff will distribute hiking and driving routes and datasheet
packets at the front doors of the Visitor Center at 7:30 am
Contact: Angela (745-1157, angela_jarding@nps.gov)
SHADEHILL, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/14/2020, Bad weather alternate 12/18/2020
Contact: Meghan Dinkins, meghandinkins@hotmail.com,
Meghan.f.dinkins@usda.gov
Meghan's cell: 760-505-1971, Forest Service 605-374-3592
PIERRE/FT. PIERRE, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/19/2020, Bad weather alternate 12/26/2020, - Contact
Ruben - rmares@fs.fed.us, (605) 224-5517
STURGIS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/19/2020 - Contact: Vic Fondy - (605) 269-2553, rot-
civ31@gmail.com
RAPID CITY, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/20/2020 - Contact: Michael Melius, mmmelius@hot-
mail.com, 255-4766
HOT SPRINGS, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/20/2020 - Contact: Duane or Marie Weber - (605) 673-
2032, mmcurtin@gwtc.net
PINE RIDGE, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
12/23/2020 - Contact: petermhill@yahoo.com, 605-441-
9346.
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, SD, CHRISTMAS
BIRD COUNT,
12/29/20 Contact: Nancy Drilling, dril0008@gmail.com,
drillingn@yahoo.com, 605-791-0459. (contact in advance)
HARDING COUNTY, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
1/2/2021 - Contact: Jessica Howell, 605-375-3218, jhow-
ell@abcbirds.org
SPEARFISH, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
1/3/2021, - Meet at McDonalds at 7:30 a.m. MT
Contact: Daniel Bjerke, 605-381-049, dlbjerke@midco.net
*BISON, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Not happening this year Meghan Dinkins, meghandink-
ins@hotmail.com, Meghan.f.dinkins@usda.gov
*PIEDMONT, SD, CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT,
Not happening this year, Contact: Gene Hess:
gene@neopaleo.net,
===========
EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA's CHRISTMAS BIRD
COUNTS
Waubay N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
12/15/2020, Contact: Laura Hubers, Laura_Hubers@fws.gov,
(605) 947-4521 Ext. 116,
Madison Christmas Bird Count, ,
12/16/2020, Contact: Jeffrey S. Palmer, jeff.palmer@dsu.edu,
(605) 256-5190
Aberdeen Christmas Bird Count,
12/19/2020, Contact: Gary T Olson - olsonfam@nvc.net, 605-
885-6284
Brookings Christmas Bird Count,
12/19/2020, Contact: Mary Pearson,
margypearson1@gmail.com, (605-651-1652)
Sioux Falls Christmas Bird Count, ,
12/19/2020 Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net,
605-254-2550
Yankton Christmas Bird Count, ,
12/20/2020 Contact: Roger Dietrich - rogerd@iw.net,
1947rogerd@gmail.com, (605) 660-6247,
Mitchell Christmas Bird Count, -
12/26/2020, Contact: Jeff Hansen, jeff.hansen.sd@gmail.com,
785-806-6917
Sand Lake N.W.R. Christmas Bird Count,
12/29/2020, Contact: Allen Olson, allen_olson@fws.gov
SLNWR - 605-885-6284,
Canton Christmas Bird Count,,
1/2/2021, Contact: Chris Anderson, canderson1@sio.midco.net,
605-254-2550
Huron Christmas Bird Count,
Date to be decided, Contact: Ryan Thompson,
ryemel4@santel.net
*Lake Andes Christmas Bird Count,
not happening this year . Contact: Mick Hanan,
mick_hanan@fws.gov, (605) 487-7603 Ext. 107,
Some Counts in other states, that are nearby to
Western South Dakota
More counts, in nearby states that are near SD’s bor-
ders, can be found on the home page of our web site,
http://phas-wsd.org/ - Scroll down home page’s
events list to Dec 14th, - events are in chronological
order. Here are just a few of closest out-of-state CBCs.
Sundance, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
After Christmas - perhaps 12/27/2020, but please verify
Contact: Jen at 307-283-2467, ravenssong18@gmail.com,
Page 2
Gillette, WY, Christmas Bird Count,
Date to be determine, Contact: Dustin Downey, 307.756.3941,
504.453.4139, ddowney@audubon.org,
Scottsbluff, NE, Christmas Bird Count,
12/14/2020, Kathy DeLara, renosmom@charter.net,
Harrison and Crawford Christmas Bird Counts are cancelled this
year. Bruce Walgren, piranga@bresnan.net, 307-234-7455
Medora, ND, Theodore Roosevelt N.P. South Unit, Christmas
Bird Count, 12/19/2020, katherine_sedlacek@nps.gov,
(701) 623-4730, ext. 1417, Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov
Theodore Roosevelt N.P. North Unit Christmas Bird Count
12/20/2020, Kevin Melzo, kevin_melzo@nps.gov, 701-623-
4730 ext 1403
Miles City, MT, Christmas Bird Count,
Tentatively 12/21/2020 but please verify, Contact Jennifer
Muscha, jenmuscha@midrivers.com
========================
National Audubon’s Climate Watch
January 15th-February 15th, 2021
Our November Zoom meeting was on Climate Watch.
We record our meetings to the Zoom Cloud and you can watch
them for a few months after the fact. The links to watch our old
meetings are near the top of the home page of our web site.
Climate Watch is sponsored by the National Audubon
Society (NAS) & takes place during two distinct seasons—winter
(January 15-February 15) and summer (May 15-June 15). Like
the Christmas bird count this is a chance to help create “citizen
science” for birds
Climate Watch focuses on these target species: Eastern
Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Western Bluebird, White-breasted
Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch,
Pygmy Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Painted
Bunting, Eastern Towhee, and Spotted Towhee. These birds are
easy to identify, have an enthusiastic constituency, and
Audubon’s climate models for these species offer strong predic-
tions for range shifts for us to test. In future years, Climate Watch
may include additional target species threatened by climate
change.
We believe that western bluebird and painted bunting
are not normally in SD. All the other birds occur in all or parts of
SD. Visit this page to see where these birds are in SD, and which
are near you: https://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm
Climate Watch focuses on areas of predicted change for
these 12 species across the continent. Audubon provides volun-
teers with online mapping tools with a grid of 10 km x 10 km
squares showing species-specific predictions for each square
based on the climate models. Normally a Climate Watch Coordi-
nator would help select your location and survey square, but we
don’t have a Coordinator yet in SD. If you are participating on
your own, use the online maps to decide in which square to do
your surveys. You will be able to see which squares are already
"claimed". Nancy Hilding can send you grid maps and other Cli-
mate Watch maps for our area.
Volunteers should first make sure to read through all of
the materials including the full protocol manual. The Climate
Watch protocol is different than any other birding program.
Volunteers survey appropriate habitat for the target
species within their square and conduct 12 point counts of five
minutes each within one morning, volunteers can opt to just sur-
vey for the target species or opt to record the number and species
of all birds seen or heard within 100 meters. Participants send
the data to the National Audubon Society - there are 4 ways to
send data.
How data will be used
Audubon’s 2019 climate change report, ‘Survival By
Degrees,’ reveals that up to two-thirds of North American birds
are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change. For example,
the beautiful Mountain Bluebird is vulnerable because in the vast
majority of its summer range, the climate conditions that this bird
needs—temperature, amount of rainfall, and other environmental
factors—will shift northward and eastward. This bird may be able
to move into new areas over time, or it may struggle to adapt.
To test the report’s predictions, Audubon has developed
Climate Watch, which aims to document species’ responses to cli-
mate change and test Audubon’s climate models by having volun-
teers in the field look for birds where Audubon’s climate models
predict they will be in the 2020s. This information helps Audubon
target our conservation work to protect birds. See the Climate
Watch results page here to see Audubon’s early reports and re-
sults from the data received by Climate Watch volunteers so far!
Link to the Climate-watch program on the National
Audubon Society web page:
https://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch
Climate watch instructions for participants:
https://www.audubon.org/news/participant-resources-cli-
mate-watch
Climate watch for beginners webinar, - this has much of
the same info as our November meeting;
https://audubon.zoom.us/rec/share/xe9NAZTe6WVOf7fz2kb
RAYAQMI66eaa8hCFL_fNZn0k3a8uNjHkvp4-
EZzq7vlq_?startTime=1588186808000
===============
SD ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST
Dec 31st, 2020 - Deadline to submit nominations
to SD Game, Fish and Parks (SD GFP) staff to consider species
for listing, up-listing, down-listing or delisting as endangered or
threatened.
SD Game, Fish and Parks (SD GFP) staff will consider nom-
inations for future proposals to the GFP Commission, for
listing/delisting species under SD's Endangered Species Act. The
nomination form includes information GFP staff needs to con-
sider new listings or de-listings. Link to the nomination form:
https://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/t_e_citizen_nomination_proc
ess.pdf?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_ca
mpaign=gfp-news&utm_content=
Completed nomination forms must be submitted by 12/31/20 to
StatusReviews@state.sd.us.
------------------
Kristi Noem proposes merging the Dept of Agriculture and
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. We
& other conservation groups oppose this and this issue will likely
be fought over in the legislature. Page 3
 Prairie Hills Audubon Society (PHAS) is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society; our territory is much of West River SD.
Nancy Hilding - President, nhilding@rapidnet.com, 605-787-466 or 6779, Jim Petersen -Vice-president, nfearndesire@gmail.com,,
Helen McGinnis - Treasurer, hissyhelen38@gmail.com, Doris Respects Nothing - Secretary, drn.6501@gmail.com, MaryJo Farring
ton - Board member, 605-716-2151, PHAS web site : http://phas-wsd.org/ - We have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/phas.wsd/ Our e-mail address is phas.wsd@rapidnet.com.
ts 1
Prairie Hills Audubon Society d coun 5th, 202 STANDARD
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P.O. Box 788 s t m as b 0 - Jan US. POSTAGE
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Black Hawk, SD 57718 Chr 14th, 20 PAID
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Dec PERMIT #618
RAPID CITY SD

J.J. Audubon - Brown Creeper/Pygmy Nuthatch

PHAS is run by volunteers. To reduce mailing expenses & use of volunteer time, PHAS is trying to send as many announcements by e-mail as
possible. Please help us keep you informed by giving us your phone number and e-mail address. We are recruiting new Board members, contact

UP-COMING MEETINGs
any current board member if interested.
Inside the newsletter you have notice of the
Christmas Bird Counts in our area, that occur from
Dec 13th-January 5th.
You will also see an article inside on National
Audubon’s Climate Watch program, which has it’s
winter season Jan 15th-Feb 15th. We need folks in all
of SD to volunteer for Climate Watch.
PHAS will skip a formal meeting in the last week
of December, as attendance during holidays is usually
poor. We plan to have a Zoom member’s meeting in
the last week of January, February and March but we
don’t have the details locked down yet.
We hope either January or March meeting to be
about beaver ecology and the meeting in February to
be about Rosebud Sioux Tribe’s Game, Fish and Parks
conservation activities & perhaps some other tribes
wildlife & parks management as well.
The Sierra Club anticipates having a meeting about
mountain lions in January which is an issue PHAS has
followed very closely for 15 years & we will be in-
forming you about that, once we have details.
We would normally co-host a cracker barrel in Pied-
mont on the second Saturday in February (2/13/21) -
this is an annual event. However due to Covid19 we
are not sure if this meeting will be held, cancelled,
transposed to a Zoom meeting or hybrid face-to-
face/Zoom meeting. This will be decided by the five
co-sponsors in January.
The SD legislature starts on Jan 12th. During the
legislature we sometimes have an informal weekend
meeting(s) to discuss bills and what is happening in
Pierre (or not). We don’t know yet if we will do this,
but if we do it will be by Zoom. We may schedule
other informal meeting(s), that are announced only by
e-mail and/or on website to work on campaigns we
follow. Please send us your e-mails if you want to
keep up with all our activities. 4