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| Mecklenburg Audubon monthly meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month from September through May unless noted otherwise. We meet at 7:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the Seventh Day Adventist Church [920 N. Sharon Amity Rd.]. Directions. |
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| Thursday, September 6, 2007 |
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7:30 PM - Fellowship Hall,
Sharon 7th Day Adventist Church |
| Every year our elected officials give us an update on the state of the county to let us know how things are going. We thought it was time to take a look at the state of the bird life in the Charlotte metropolitan area. |
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| National Audubon Society, through its State of the Birds program, recently published a list of Common Birds in Decline. This comprehensive analysis, compiled mostly from 40 years of citizen science data, includes 20 species that have lost over 50% of their populations in just the past four decades. Species such as Northern Bobwhite and Eastern Meadowlark made this national list and are also among those species vanishing throughout our region. |
| Join Marek Smith, Natural Resources Coordinator with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, for an informative presentation on bird conservation in Mecklenburg County. Marek will discuss his agency’s efforts to determine our own species of conservation concern and highlight their ongoing bird inventory and monitoring initiatives. He will also share details on how the County’s natural resource management activities benefit birds in the region and discuss how local birders and wildlife watchers can assist in these efforts. |
| So don’t miss our first meeting, Thursday, September 6th, of the 2007-08 season and our first State of the Birds address. We’ll still be gathering (despite the For Sale sign) in the Fellowship Hall of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church, 920 Sharon Amity. Social time with snacks will begin around 7:15 PM and the program will start at 7:30 PM. |
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October |
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| Thursday, October 4, 2007 |
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7:30 PM - Fellowship Hall,
Sharon 7th Day Adventist Church |
| What’s that knocking on your tree? It’s probably one of five species of woodpeckers that are common in the Charlotte area. As the leaves begin to fall, seeing and identifying birds becomes a lot easier so this month we are going to take a closer look at these fascinating birds. How is it they can bang that little head so often and not rattle their brains? How do they stay on the side of that trunk? How do they excavate their nest cavities? |
| We’ll get answers to these questions plus learn how to tell the difference between downy and hairy woodpeckers and much more. |
| So rattle your bones and join us Thursday, October 4th in the fellowship hall of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church at 920 Sharon Amity at 7:30 PM. See you all there. |
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November |
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| Thursday, November 1, 2007 |
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7:30 PM - Fellowship Hall,
Sharon 7th Day Adventist Church |
| Just like the birds, bird watchers have a wanderlust. Even though they 'love' the birds in their backyards they like to go to new places to see new birds. Thousands of birders migrate around the county and some even around the world in search of new feathers. |
| Ron Clark is one of these wondering birders. He loves to travel not just to see the birds but to experience new wild places as well. At our November meeting he will share with use some of his discoveries on the west coast. He will help us vicariously experience the birds and other wildlife of California, Oregon and Washington. Since he is getting to be an old hand at this, he'll also give use some tips on where to go and how to plan a trip. |
| So travel on over to the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church (920 Sharon Amity) on Thursday, November 1st and be transported to the other coast. Nibbles and drinks will be available from 7:15 PM in the fellowship hall. The program will begin around 7:45 PM. See you all there. |
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December |
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| Thursday, December 6, 2007 - The Techno Birder |
| With Christmas right around the corner everyone is scrambling for gift ideas for that bird watching friend or spouse. Or perhaps you are trying to provide some hints to friends and spouse of what you would really appreciate. |
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Well our December meeting is exactly what you need. It will be a showcase of stuff!! Stuff that every bird watcher dreams of owning –books, binoculars, scopes, Bird Jams, CDs, videos and who knows what else. We’ll have a couple of ‘experts’ around to discuss your options. Rob Bierregaard will give us a quick intro to what to look for in optics but the rest of the meeting will be pretty free flowing with opportunities to check out equipment and talk to folks who have experience with it. No one will be trying to sell you anything. This is strictly a time to glean information from more experienced colleagues. |
With this said we really need your help to make this a success. Please bring your stuff as well. After all you might have a pair of binoculars or great hat that someone else would be interested in checking out. You may have questions about the best way to use your equipment or it’s features that others can answer. It is amazing what you can learn from fellow birders. One thing we won’t be talking about though is backyard equipment and supplies. We’ll save that for another meeting. |
So gather up your gear and head on over to the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church (920 Sharon Amity) on Thursday, December 6th. We begin flocking around 7:15 PM for food and drink. The meeting starts around 7:45 PM. See you there with all your stuff! |
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January |
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Thursday, January 3, 2008 - Food, Fun and Fotos |
| As the New Year begins we all tend to take a few minutes to review the past year. For nature lovers that means reliving the year's outdoor adventures. Why not take this opportunity to not only reminesce about them but also share your experiences with others? |
| That's what happens at the January meeting. It's like the old kindergarten 'Show & Tell', except for adults which means it's more a 'Brag & Tell'. It doesn't matter, bring your pictures in print or on CD to share with everyone. If your a budding digital video producer, bring those as well. We'll figure out how to project them. Some of us don't get to travel as much as others so this provides us an opportuntiy to travel vicariously through your experiences. |
| This meeting is also our annual POT LUCK dinner which means we meet at 6:30 PM and you can bring your leftovers from you New Year's bashes. Please also bring a place setting for each person coming. The club will provide coffee & other beverages. |
| So don't forget to bring your pictures, videos, food and friends to the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church Fellowship Hall at 6:30 PM for Dinner (the program will start around 7:30 PM) on Thursday, January 3, 2008 for food, fun and fellowship. [Directions] |
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February |
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| Thursday, February 7, 2008 - Audubon Adventures |
| Mecklenburg Audubon does take this challenge seriously, but since most of the groups members have day jobs and aren't environmental educators we depend on and support those who are through a program called Audubon Adventures. For several years now, we have provided environmental educational materials to teachers at Providence Spring Elementary School. We thought it was time for you all learn why and how they use these materials with students and the impact they have. |
Steve Houser is the Talent Developement Teacher at Providence Spring Elementary School. His goal for students is for them to be happy, stimulated, learning, and to be life long learners. One of the main ways he accomplishes this goal is by using the natural world as a gateway for instruction in all curricular topics. He is a certified Environmental Educator and has received The Governor's Award as North Carolina's Environmental Educator of the Year. As Talent Development Teacher he mentor's all the teachers in the school and helps them incorporate the Audubon Adventures materials into their classrooms. |
| Steve would like us to know how important having such aids available to educators. He'll also talk about 'No Child In the Woods', the reality that children don't go outdoors like many of the us did when we were children, and what we need to do to change this. Teachers at PSE are making a concerted effort to use the outdoors for learning in all curriculum areas an integral part of our curriculum, and Steve is encouraging other schools to do the same. His presentation will give examples of what is going on at PSE. Steve also want to hear what you have to say on the topic. |
| Steve is also a master storyteller, so his presentation will be lively and engaging. Don't miss this informative program and become a child again on Thursday, February 7th at 7:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. [Directions] |
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March |
Honeybee ©Brad Kuntz
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| Thursday, March 6, 2008 - The Buzz about Bees |
| You already know that birds do a lot of communicating through their songs, especially in the spring. But how much do you know about another common and very important winged denizen of your backyard – the honeybee? Do know a waggle dance when you see one? Would know what to do if you saw a vibration signal? These are two important ways bees communicate but what do they mean? If you don’t, you need to come and hear this month’s speaker - Dr. Stan Schneider, Professor in the Biology Department at UNC Charlotte. |
| Dr. Schneider specializes in communication and foraging behavior of bees. He will share with us some of the honeybees natural history as well discuss how important these tiny creatures are to the health of our environment. Recently he and his graduate students have discovered some very interesting information about who really controls the hive, which he will share with us as well. |
| So dance your way over to the fellowship hall of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church (920 Sharon Amity) around 7:30 PM (refreshments start at 7:15 PM) on Thursday, March 6th. I am sure everyone will be a buzz with anticipation about this great program. |
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April |
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| Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Arctic Wildlife Refuge |
| Called “America’s Serengeti” for its tremendous biological productivity and diversity, the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most intact and untouched ecosystems in America. It is also a political hot potato. The refuge was established in 1960 under President Dwight Eisenhower, but while much of Alaska remains open to oil and gas drilling, oil and gas interests continue to lobby hard to drill in the refuge as well. |
| Taldi Walter, National Audubon’s Alaska Field Coordinator, will be joining us this month to help us become better acquaint with the refuge and the treats to it’s continued health by introducing us to some of the important natural areas and brilliant birds found in wild Alaska. She will also share how National Audubon is seeking a balance between resource extraction and protecting internationally critical habitat. |
Don’t miss this unique presentation on Thursday, April 3th at 7:30 PM in the fellowship hall of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church (920 Sharon Amity). Refreshments start at 7:15 PM. Don’t forget to bring a cup for you coffee. |
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May |
Yellow-crowned Night-herons
on their nest in Plaza-Midwood
©Jeff Lemons
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| Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Night Stalkers (NOTE THE DATE CHANGE) |
| Most of us when we hear the word heron think of the Great Blue Heron which stands silently at the end of a pond acting more like sentry then a bird. You may have also heard folks mention some heron rookeries along a couple of our greenways. But did you know that if you live in the Cotwold or Plaza Midwood area of Charlotte you could have a heron nesting in your backyard. Now that's a great yard bird even if it can get a bit messy. |
| These aren't your typical heron. They are the night feeding Yellow-crown Night-heron. And Ken Kneidle has been keeping track of these fascinating birds for a number of years now. At our May meeting Ken will discuss what he has found out about these birds - what they look like, food preferences, where they like to nest and how they are similar and/or different from other herons in the area. He 'll also try to answer the big question - what are they doing in an urban area? |
| So skulk on over to the fellowship hall of the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church (920 Sharon Amity) on Thursday, May 8th at 7:30 PM. Refreshments start at 7:15 PM. Don't forget to bring a cup for your coffee or soda. |
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June |
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| Thursday, June 5, 2008 - Annual Picnic |
| Last years picnic was a great success so we will try again this year. To spread the enjoyment around the county we are moving to one of our favorite parks - Latta Park in Dilworth. Although most of the migrants will have moved through there is still a lot of birds to see - red-headed woodpeckers, owls, and more. We've reserved the shelter at the west end of the park. Some one will be there by 6 PM but we won't chow down until around 6:30 PM. It's potluck so bring enough for 8-10 folks plus your eating/drinking utensils. The MAS board will supply the drinks and condiments. |
| Yes, we will have door prizes again and there are bathrooms and places for the kids to play. See you there. |
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