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SBTH Newsletter Volume 2, Number 1 May, 2003 Our Mission Statement: "To protect, enhance and restore habitat for North American birds and to educate people of all ages to do the same." President’s Letter: Dear Members, May in Leelanau is a special time when we truly appreciate the mission of Saving Birds Thru Habitat. Returning songbirds arriving at our home over the past few days include Orioles, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, Ruby-Throat hummers, an Indigo Bunting and five species of Warblers. Song Sparrows are once again nesting near the beach, Hermit Thrushes are plentiful and we have a nesting Winter Wren. Our Executive Director also reports new sightings daily at Charter Sanctuary. Since our last newsletter in August, Saving Birds has enjoyed outstanding success. Thanks to strong support from key donors and much-appreciated grants, we have started on the Habitat Discovery Center. The parking lot and septic drain field are in and site excavation is ready for footings. Leelanau Township Community Foundation has now provided $15,000, and a $4400 grant was given by Norcross Wildlife Foundation. Individuals have contributed another $23,000 including significant gifts from the Summerfields and Jan Wander. In-kind donors include Salisbury and May Construction Company donating considerable time and expertise drafting plans, handling the building permit and overseeing construction. KAL Excavating is donating a portion of their site work, and UBC is providing a discount on building materials. A key donation was made by Jim and Kay Charter by providing another half acre of land so the building could be arranged ideally at the site. Although we are still short of funds to complete the Center, we have enough to close it in. An old-fashioned barn-raising by volunteers is planned for early next month. A later phase in the project will include landscaping, a water feature and native plantings around the Center. The Little Garden Club has graciously provided a $1000 grant to provide for this. Saving Birds Board Member Janet Dickerson has developed plans, ordered native plants, and is eager to start on the butterfly garden. True to our mission, Executive Director Kay Charter and her husband Jim were busy throughout the fall and winter in advancing the cause. Kay has participated in bird seminars and has given her habitat presentation to numerous organizations. She and Jim helped organize a bird festival in west Texas which was popular with birders who attended. Details of this activity are reported by Kay in this newsletter. Saving Birds now has over 200 members!!! This is a major milestone attesting to the appeal and support for our purpose and goals. Thank you for your contributions and high level of interest. I truly hope you will find time to attend the upcoming Mingle and follow the progress of the Center. Many thanks also to the community at large for enthusiastic support, without which we could not have accomplished so much. With best wishes and great birding into the future, - Marlin Bussey, President - From the Director’s Desk by Kay Charter When Saving Birds was incorporated nearly two years ago, our intent was to develop an organization whose message would be both heard and heeded far beyond Leelanau County and the Grand Traverse area. Since that time, we have hosted visitors from as far away as Australia, and our slide program has been presented in four states, including numerous locations in Michigan. But our greatest and most visible early result outside our own area was in the tiny west Texas town of Balmorhea. Balmorhea rests in the barren-appearing Toyah Valley two hundred miles east of El Paso. Toyah Valley was once was blanketed by an extended patchwork of cienegas, or desert wetlands with scattered ponds connected by meandering streams. This abundant water drew settlers to the area, but agricultural practices, overgrazing and years of drought led to a collapse in large scale ranching and farming efforts. Today, few cattle still graze on land around Balmorhea and a handful of fields produce cotton. The local economy has yet to recover. Some ranchers have tragically lost large holdings that had been in their families for more than a century. But this unknown little community hosts a potentially golden resource. Sitting at the base of the Davis Mountains and adjacent to Lake Balmorhea, it is a magnet for birds. The area in and around the town hosts an astonishing variety: more than 300 bird species have been documented. Most pause to rest and refuel during migration, some stop to nest and raise young, many spend the winter and a number are permanent residents. When Jimmy and I stopped there a year and a half ago on our way to California, we spoke with some of the locals about capitalizing on this resource by holding an annual bird festival. We explained that bird festivals produce positive economic impacts far beyond their event dates by spreading the word about good birding in the area. Local ranchers and business owners Ellen and Don Weinacht were very enthusiastic about the idea and offered their Circle Bar Steakhouse for the event. Balmorhea State Park manager Tom Johnson assisted with organization, and last October, the First Annual Balmorhea Birdfest was held. Attendees pronounced it the best birding event they had ever participated in. In spite of three days of rain and fog, 116 species were sighted, including Townsend’s Solitaire and Lewis’ Woodpecker. Ranchers who opened their land to this event were compensated for their cooperation. The result was that one rancher asked what he could do to attract more birds and another ranch has offered to open its gates for this year’s Birdfest. After last year’s event, the Weinacht’s set aside a five-acre tract for development of a bird garden. They cut a trail, dug a pond and added many bird-friendly, native plants. They also added a Burrowing Owl burrow. It was wonderful to see how this first festival led to immediate help for migrant and nesting birds. Each successful festival will bring more birders, more money to the area, and thus greater interest among locals on how to protect this resource. As SBTH grows, similar opportunities will undoubtedly arise in other places, with a net result of more and better habitat for our migrating birds. Pine Hill Nursery: We are pleased to announce that Pine Hill Village Greens Nursery, located at 1111 S. Garfield (behind Olesons), has agreed to collaborate with us on native plants. People attending our slide program have pressed for information about where to purchase species recommended in our "Habitat Hints" handout. Unfortunately, most were virtually impossible to find - until now. As well, Pine Hill is not only ordering native plants for sale, but has scheduled the slide program for its U.S. 31 N. location. The program will be held on Tuesday, June 3 at 1PM. The nursery has also invited our Executive Director to be available at the Traverse City location a time or two this summer in order to advise people on which plants are best for birds. Habitat Hints: If you would like to have a copy of our handout, which offers suggestions on how to create a bird-friendly yard, or our bluebird nest box plans, just call, email or write to the office. Phone # 231-271-3738, email: BOBOLINK3@prodigy.net. Mailing address: P. O. Box 288, Omena, MI 49674. Our slide program can also be scheduled for your club, school or church through the above contacts. Gold Star Roster: A hearty thanks to our volunteers: Bobbie Poor for her excellent ongoing work developing our educational program, Joyce Ellsworth, Pauline McClure, Ann Martin and Bobbie Poor for leading tours, native plant specialist Janet Dickerson for her assistance with the garden club grant request, Nancy Kalchik for help with mailings, Carol Ross for keeping our files in order, and artist Wendy Bean for drawing the Burrowing Owl pair for this issue. A special thanks to Walt Gaudette who has offered to construct the display case for our Center. Walt also assisted with the building layout. Gifts and Memorials: Saving Birds gratefully accepts memorial gifts as well as donations in honor of birthdays, anniversaries and other special events. To make such a gift, simply send your check, along with the name and address of the person to be honored, to SBTH, P. O. Box 288, Omena, MI 49674. Be sure to include the special event, if appropriate. We will send the honoree a card informing him or her of your gift. 
Species Account: The Strange Owl that Nests Underground From the southern edge of Canada’s prairies down through the plains states and into Mexico lives a plump little brown owl which has the curious habit of nesting in underground tunnels. This unique preference led to the name Burrowing Owl. Tagged "Howdy Birds" by cowboys because of their habit of bowing while standing next to their burrows, the birds were also variously known as Billy owls, prairie dog owl and ground owl - that last is still used in Canada. Burrowing Owls seek abandoned prairie dog, ground squirrel, badger or other burrows for nesting; burrows are at least five feet long, but can be as long as ten feet. A right angle turn at the end leads down another, shorter corridor to the nest chamber. The birds will also use burrows made from wood. These are especially helpful in agricultural areas, where deep plowing sometimes turns up eggs or owlets. Food consists mainly of insects such as grasshoppers, locusts, beetles and crickets; rodents are also consumed, making this owl a friend to farmer and rancher alike. Unfortunately, the bird is declining across most of its range. But caring ranchers, farmers and conservationists are working hard to turn the decline around, offering a brighter future for the engaging owl that nests underground. Mark Your Calendar: SBTH Member’s Mingle Will Be Held on Saturday, June 7 from 2 - 4 PM Please join us at Charter Sanctuary for a couple of hours to meet and mingle with other members, watch birds, check out Discovery Center progress, discuss habitat and compare notes on backyard birds and habitat. Refreshments served. Sanctuary bird checklists and habitat handouts will be available. |
