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What's New?
Bird Photos and Identification - North American Birds.
We have just added a new link on the Web Links page to outstanding bird photography by John Schwarz.
As of today, Mr. Schwarz has photos of 657 species of North American birds available on his website for your enjoyment. In addition to informative descriptions of photographic outings, the website offers 37 pages of "test yourself" bird photos that reveal the name of the bird when you move your cursor over the image.
Also, don't miss his "Picture of the Month" for January 2012, a fantastic Snowy Owl. Enjoy the new link:
http://www.birdspix.com/
The Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 17 through Feb. 20, 2012
Why not participate in this year's four-day Great Backyard Bird Count, and be a part of a real-time snapshot showing where the birds are across North America? It's easy! And all that is required is that you spend at least 15 minutes per day for one or more days of the count, in one or more locations of your choice.
At the end of the count, you will be able to enter your daily checklists online. There is even a regional bird checklist available for you to download to help in your count. What could be easier? And you have a chance to win one of the great "thank you" prizes offered in the random drawing from among all participants.
If you like to take pictures, there's also a Photo Contest. Judges from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society will review the photos. The six categories are: Overall, Bird in its habitat, Behavior, Group shot (2 or more birds), Composition, and People enjoying birds.
If you're new to bird watching, there is a "Learn About Birds" section of the website with lots of helpful information.
To get started, go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ and take a look around.
BLM Announces Protection Plan for Sage Grouse
John Rumm also suggests that Meadowlark members might like more information on this issue.Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service recently announced the development of a new range-wide conservation strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse affecting 47 million acres of public lands. This is an essential step in providing long-term protection for the iconic western bird, which has suffered extensive losses in recent decades, and offers conservationists a real opportunity to address the extensive habitat impacts of oil and gas drilling, wind energy development, and livestock grazing.
The proposal, which will affect BLM and Forest Service land management in portions of Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Montana, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon, is now under public review and a 60-day comment period ends on February 7, 2012. It is expected that the new plan amendments, which are being divided into eastern and western regions, will strengthen sage grouse protections to better balance conservation and industrial use.
For more information on this issue, visit the American Bird Conservancy website at http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/111208.html
Big Horn Basin Seniors May Apply Now for Regional Audubon Scholarship
The Deborah Woodbridge Memorial Meadowlark Audubon Scholarship was named in honor of the individual who, before she passed away in 2008, championed the effort to award a scholarship to a deserving high school graduate from Meadowlark Audubon Society's four-county region: Park, Bighorn, Hot Springs, and Washakie. The scholarship was created to help send to college local students whose career plans would further the mission of the Audubon Society, “To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.”
The $750 to $1,000 scholarship for 2012 will be funded by Meadowlark Audubon and by generous contributions from our members. One scholarship (between $750 and $1,000) will be awarded to the recipient as a tuition payment to the college to which they have been accepted.
Note that scholarship competition is limited to graduating high school seniors, including home-schooled students, in the Big Horn Basin. You may download the application, then mail the completed form along with your essay, before April 1, 2012, to:
Open a printable PDF of the Scholarship Application (98 KB, 1 page)
Open a printable PDF of the Scholarship Description (81 KB, 1 page)
Download Adobe Reader for PDF files at http://get.adobe.com/reader/
The Meadowlark Board of Directors thinks you may enjoy this website about birding in Wyoming: http://www.fatbirder.com/links_geo/america_united_states/wyoming.html
If you simply go to www.fatbirder.com, you will find a website filled with information about birding around the world, webcams, bird news, and lots of other information.Let us know what you think. Did you find this website helpful? Should we add this link to our Web Links page? Send an email with your opinion to Joyce Cicco, Meadowlark Webmaster.
February and March, 2012, Shoshone National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
See the Issues page of this website for more information.
Coming Soon! "Birding Basics" workshops are being planned for the Spring and Summer of 2012.
If you would like to join others in two classroom sessions plus one guided field trip session, these workshops are for you.
Fees are $35 for Meadowlark Audubon members, or $40 for non-members, which includes a complimentary one-year membership. Proceeds will go toward the annual college scholarship award program for a graduating high school senior who is planning to pursue a career in conservation, wildlife management or a related field.
More information will be available as plans are completed.
Here's an interesting link to animated year-round bird occurrence maps from John Rumm.
You can choose a species and see its distribution change as the year progresses:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/occurrence-maps/occurrence-maps/
Interested in Buying New Binoculars?
If you're thinking about buying binoculars, but don't know how to select that perfect model from among all the choices available, here's a website which may help you narrow your search. http://allbestbinoculars.com/Designed to provide unbiased and comprehensive information, this site offers reviews of 15 brands and 15 types, plus an article on how binoculars work, and another on how to buy binoculars.
Give this site a look, and if you are dissatisfied in any way, contact Joyce Cicco, Meadowlark Webmaster.
Chapter-Only Dues Are Due September 1st
Local Meadowlark Chapter-Only Dues remain only $12 per year. Make your check out to Meadowlark Audubon and mail to Donna Haman, P.O. Box 593, Cody, WY 82414.
Site posted: 2/23/2002
Updated: 2/10/2012
All information contained in this site is copyright protected.
Questions or comments? Contact:
Joyce Cicco, Meadowlark Webmaster