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Mission:
Our Audubon chapter strives to 1) promote interest, enjoyment, and understanding
through education about all aspects of our natural environment, and 2)
actively encourage the protection of wildlife and the preservation and
restoration of native habitat.
June
Meeting:
Thursday, June 4, 6:30 PM
POTLUCK and SWALLOW WATCHING
at Homer Lake
Walnut Hill Shelter (next to dam)
Please bring your own table service, your own beverage
and a dish to share.
SPRING
BIRD COUNT 2009
Saturday May 9 was the date of this
year's statewide Spring Bird Count. Here in Champaign County 41 observers,
in 21 parties, set out to count not only the kinds of birds but also the
number of each kind in their designated area. Collectively they walked
70 miles in 99 hours and drove 452 miles in 24 hours. The results were
10,602 birds of 158 species. Most abundant were American Robins at 892.
Most unusual were a Red-necked Phalarope, Clay-colored Sparrow, and early
Connecticut Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. When results are compared
throughout the state they give a valuable one-day picture of the state
of spring migration. Thanks to all who helped. The complete bird list
will be posted on Audubon's website.
THE 2009 BIRDATHON
The results are in from our eight
valiant Birdathon teams. The Birdathon is an informal birding effort in
support of our Kendeigh research scholarships. No need to count numbers
of birds- just different species. Teams just try to spot as many different
kinds of birds as possible in the teams’ chosen formats. Town and
Country pair, Beth Chato and Jim Smith, found 105 species on an all-day,
countywide marathon. Ghost Busters, Elaine Regehr and Janet Jokela, toured
cemeteries finding 63 species. Helen Parker and dog Maggie had 47 species.
Krazy Kayakers, Peter and Betsy Kuchinke, found 60. Countryside School
2nd and 3rd graders found 31 species on a field trip to Lake of the Woods.
The Big Sitters racked up 58 species in one Penfield yard. The Urbana
Park District beat out continuing rival Champaign County Forest Preserve
114 to 98. The combined list of bird species seen is not completed yet,
but will be on the website. Contributions are still most welcome and those
donating will receive a list of birds seen by their chosen team
Please Join Us for the 5th UPPER MIDWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Hope, Action and a Sense of Place
September 18-20, 2009
Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena, Illinois. www.chestnutmtn.com
Reserve a room now by calling 800-397-1320. ($99 + tax until 8/18/09).
Sponsored by Aububon Council of Illinois
Registration contact: Ann
Straight.
CCAS
bird monitoring project of the CSX rail line
We now have CCAS members monitoring 9 of the 10 segments of the CSX rail
line in Champaign County. As of early February, five of the segments have
had fall and/or winter bird counts done with a total of 55 species of
birds having been observed along, or flying over, the rail corridor. We
are still looking for more members to become involved by adopting a segment
of the rail corridor. All segments are located between Urbana and Ogden
and are between 0.5 to 1.0 mile in length. Although the focus is on bird
usage, we are also looking for people with interests in the plants, insects
and animals of the corridor habitat. Minimal time commitments involve
four 1-hour census hikes per year for birds, or two or three hikes per
year for plants and other species.
Please contact Steve Buck if you are interested in volunteering to adopt
a segment of the rail corridor.
Seeking
CCAS Friends
If you have not already done so, please consider
supporting CCAS as a “CCAS Friend.” As a member of the National
Audubon Society, you are also automatically a member of the Champaign
County Audubon Society; however, NAS has largely phased out their dues
sharing program in which CCAS once received a share of the dues that you
paid for National membership. When you become a Friend of CCAS, we keep
100% of your CCAS Friend donation. This support will help us to be financially
self sufficient, while sharing the same goals as National Audubon. Please
click here for more information. We are
grateful for your support. Thank you!
Need Birdseed?
Call John Chato, 344-6803. Delivery available. Audubon
can now provide birdseed throughout the year. Help the birds and help
your Audubon program.
Join the Birdnotes Email
Discussion!
Join
Birdnotes to get the latest local bird sightings. Please contact email
list managers Bryan Guarente or Dan Olson with any questions.
Birdnotes
Archives
CCAS Co-Presidents:
Cleo & Steve D'Arcy
Please
address inquiries and comments about this site to Pam Leiter, CCAS webmaster,
here
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Audubon Nature Shop
Unique Nature-Related Gifts
10% Audubon Member's Discount
Location:
Anita Purves Nature Center
1505 N. Broadway Urbana, IL
Hours:
9 AM to 4 PM
Mon - Sat
1 to 3 PM Sun
The Audubon Nature Shop, located
inside the Anita Purves Nature Center, has animal puppets, adult field
guides, children's books, videos, DVD's, tapes, and CD's, feeders, squirrel
baffles, bird bath heaters, and misters.
All proceeds support
local environmental education
Support CCAS by shopping
online! CCAS receives a percentage of sales from these online stores:
Online Nature
Mall
EagleOptics.com
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