Wild River Audubon Current V. 25 No.7 May, 2005
Calendar of Events
(Scroll down for Articles)
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Spring Birdwalks and Cleanups WRA Activities for April and May |
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| Spring brings a flurry of activities for Wild
River Audubon members. Take time for a morning birdwalk, or join in
and help clean our adopted stretch of highway, and or the Sunrise
River.
Adopt-A-Highway, April 23 Meet at Immanuel Lutheran Church
in Almelund at 9:00 a.m. to clean the roadside from Almelund to the
entrance of Wild River State Park.
Birding for Beginners, May 7 Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Kitchi-Saga
Park, Lindstrom. Lead by Sue Leaf, this event is aimed at those who
would like to learn more about our native birds. We’ll focus
(literally) on common birds, learn some tricks in identifying them
by sight and song, and talk a bit about habitat preferences. Bring
your binocs and field guides, wear sturdy shoes.
Sunrise River Clean-up, May 14 From 9:00-Noon. Meet at
Sunrise City Park. Walk the river banks or—for experienced paddlers
only—bring a canoe. Canoeists must provide their own canoe, paddles,
and life jackets. Cosponsors include Waste Management Northern
Wisconsin (providing garbage disposal and lunch), Boy Scout Troop
135, Women's Environmental Institute, and the Friends of Wild River
State Park.
Seegwan Birdwalk, May 21 Wild River State Park, Call Dayle
DeClercq for details, at 257-5045.
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The President's column
by WRA President Sue Leaf |
| Last month, my family and I took a week’s trip to
England. In mid-March, their spring was in full flower. The Kentish
hills, south of London, were emerald with new grass and alive with
new lambs. In woodlots, leaf buds were forming. As usual, I took my
binocs and Birds of Europe guide and spent time peering at the
“exotic” European birds. We listed 25 species for our six day trip,
including the chickadee clone “blue tit” and the proverbial “robin
redbreast.” That’s not a lot of birds, but we didn’t visit nature
preserves—my teenagers nixed that!
more |
A Message on the Arctic Wildlife Refuge Vote from
National Audubon Society John Flicker |
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Today the US Senate took a major step toward opening up the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. In many ways this
is just one more battle in the long effort to protect the Arctic
Refuge that began when President Carter signed the Alaska Lands Act
in 1980. This is one of the last great wilderness areas left on the
planet. We have a responsibility to preserve it for our children and
future generations. We are all disappointed, but we won’t stop
working to protect the Arctic Refuge. The vast majority of Americans
oppose oil drilling in the Refuge. There will be more opportunities
for their voices to be heard. We will win in the end.
more |
Pin Feathers by Sue Leaf |
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The Raptor Center, bird reports. And Audubon
Minnesota's new Executive Director, Mark Peterson.
more
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A Bird Friendly Yard, by Sue Leaf |
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| As humans press outward from urban areas, gobbling
up land in ex-urban development, birds lose habitat. In this
article, we offer a variety of suggestions for making your yard
attractive to all kinds of bird species, not just those that will
visit backyard feeders. Our
tips |
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A Review of Nature's Bookshelf: The Secret Knowledge of
Water: Discovering the Essence of the American Desert by Craig
Childs
Reviewed by Sue Leaf |
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“If you want to study water, you do not go to the
Amazon or to Seattle. You come here, to the driest land. Nowhere
else is it drawn to such a point. In the desert, water is unedited,
perfect.” —Craig Childs The Secret Knowledge of Water
more |
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Thanks to contributors for this issue, Sue Leaf, John Flicker, Sue, and,
heck, Sue again. And many thanks to our Wild River Audubon Current Editor, Dave Spohn.
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Wild
River Audubon Society