Here you will find links to East Ozarks Audubon’s bimonthly newsletter, the Birds Eye View.  Simply follow the links below to keep up-to-date on East Ozarks Audubon happenings, important conservation matters, or just good stories.

In 1980 Kirkpatrick Sale wrote a book entitled “Human Scale”, it’s a lengthy, encyclopedic diatribe on what he thinks has gone awry with some of our cultural development. His thesis: Everything is growing too big too fast and problems are being solved by more and more complex techno-fixes.

His solution: Keep things at a manageable scale, a “human scale”.

In the twenty years since I’ve read that book I am constantly being reminded of its’ message.  Off the top of my head I can think of any number of mass recalls, tainted meat, dangerous toys, and unsafe automobiles, all of these in staggering numbers. Recent failures of massive construction projects such as the Mississippi River Levee system do not seem to deter us from building bigger more complex systems.  How about the financial system and “too big to fail”?  And now, because of our insatiable appetite for fuel, we have the most catastrophic oil spill imaginable in the Gulf of Mexico.

The scale of the oil spill disaster is not only unimaginable it is also immeasurable.

What is measurable is how much energy each one of us uses and how much of that energy is supplied by petroleum.  The average Missouri driver burns up about 600 gallons of gasoline a year.  That’s a number most of us can comprehend.  Multiply that number by 4 million vehicles in the state and it becomes a number most humans cannot wrap their head around.  Can anyone comprehend 2billion 400million of anything?  I know I can’t.

But I can comprehend how many gallons of gas go in my car’s tank and now I can not fill up my tank without seeing visions of oil soaked marshes and blackened shorebirds.

The Oil-Spill Blame Game: The ecological catastrophe underway in the Gulf is resulting in tremendous finger pointing. Yes, BP is at fault, but increased and deeper off-shore oil production has been favored by Bush and Obama, and both political parties have long filled campaign coffers with the black crude profits. And we all are to blame for driving gas guzzlers and demanding cheaper gas over environmental safeguards. Alternative fuels, strong drilling regulations, and disconnecting political campaign financing from the oil industry are the best outcomes possible from this tragedy.

White Nose Comes to Missouri: We were saddened by the arrival of a bat-killing fungus to at least two Missouri caves. White Nose Syndrome, as it’s called, has killed more than a million bats in the northeast, since its discovery in 2006. Once a member of a bat colony contracts it, the mortality is 95 to 100 percent, and there is no known cure. Recreational caving on state and federal property is closed, though most tour caves will continue to operate. Speleological research is being continued but strict protocols for entry and washing of cave gear must be followed to prevent any possibility of carrying the fungus from one cave to another—our attire now reeks so badly of bleach that we seem to be tick proof!

Black Bears Emigrating from Arkansas:  Missouri now has an estimated 300 to 500 bears in the state. On a recent cave project, we encountered a bear bed with some very fresh dung; a zoologist identified the photo of the scat as definitely Ursidae. We decided not to check the side passage that day.

…and Mountain Lions in St. Joe? We have it as a reliable rumor that a recent deer kill at St. Joe State Park had identifiable mountain lion prints surrounding it.

World Bird Sanctuary Rescued: The St. Louis based WBS called for help (stemming from a drop in donations since the recession) and their plea brought in $70,000 in donations. Hooray!

Clean Air Plan for Southeast Missouri:  The SEMO Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission has outlined a regional Clean Air Action Plan and is seeking an $80 K grant from EPA to foster community education and outreach. “Stop at the Click” is one program which encourages people to avoid fuel spills by not overfilling their gas tank. Other plans encourage local governments to choose low-emission and fuel efficient vehicles, restrict open burning of waste, and provide recycling facilities. Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Perry, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties have all adopted resolutions of support—Madison County has not.

NPS Limiting Vehicular Access in Ozark National Scenic Riverways: 50 roads and trails are to be closed to unauthorized motorized access in the Riverways! This may not be popular to the “it’s my right to drive where ever I want to” crowd, but it will certainly be welcomed by those who view the Riverways as a place to get away from noise and trash.

KATY Trail Turns Twenty and the years have made it more popular than ever, hosting an estimated 300,000 trail users annually. The trail has become the economic life blood of a number of small towns along the way. 225 miles long with another 11 miles yet to come, it remains the nation’s largest rail-to-trail conversion. 

Hydrogen-run cars today: True, it’s in Hawaii—but they are on the way elsewhere. A network of 25 hydrogen dispensers is being installed on the island of Oahu; this will enable refills within 10 minutes any place on the island. Hawaii hopes to have clean energy meeting 70 percent of its fuel needs within twenty years. General Motors plans to have a fuel-cell system for cars ready by 2015.

LED bulbs today: Sylvania and Philips both plan to sell 12-watt LED bulbs that can replace 60-watt bulbs by the end of the year. Beginning January 2012, federal law will require all light bulbs to be 30 percent more efficient than current incandescent bulbs, a standard that incandescents likely will not be able to meet. The new LED bulbs are dimmable and are said to display the same warmth and range of colors as incandescent bulbs, something which fluorescents have struggled with.

What to do with stuffing:  The boxes our new entertainment center came in were filled with styrofoam popcorn and Styrofoam blocks. But we discovered we could bag it and hand it over to the UPS Store—they send it out to others, of course, but at least it gets reused. Belatedly we discovered the packing for our receiver was actually made of biodegradable corn starch. The next time we received an order from the same green company we tossed the packing material on our compost pile—wouldn’t it be nice if all shippers used disposable packing material?

Peggy Winebarger of the Coffman area chuckles when one of her hummingbirds settles down to rest atop her head.  Peggy probably holds the record in eastern Missouri for the amount of nectar she feeds her birds daily.  Right now she’s feeding more than a gallon each day but she knows by August she’ll be feeding four gallons a day.

   Peggy started feeding hummingbirds many years ago but she never realized the area was so well adapted for the birds nesting.  At first she was able to obtain sugar at a low price from railroad salvage but that program ended and now she and her husband Hildon must purchase sugar at retail price. 

   The birds’ demand for nectar became so great that she was forced to purchase an extra refrigerator just to store the nectar until it is used.

   The Winebargers have invited our Chapter to visit their hummingbirds on Saturday, July 19^th.

We will depart Farmington Methodist Church at 9:00 a.m. for a field trip of about two hours length.

   We gathered at Engler City Park in Farmington for our own Earth Day celebration on April 22nd.  Before and after our lunch we held a brief workday spreading mulch at the bird feeding blind and along the lower trail.  Ted Blaine showed up at the blind after lunch to help in hauling and spreading the mulch.

   Shown in the picture are (front row from left): Diane Hitson, Ruth Denton, Jenny Gunn and Joyce Lewis.  Back row from left are: Sue Hagan, Franz Schneider, Gary Chastain, Nina Chastain and Nancy Steinmeyer.

Isn’t it great having that friend or neighbor you can go to when you have a technical, complicated problem and he can explain it in a way that makes sense?  Roger Walker is that kind of guy.  He is a regional expert on energy policy and environmental attorney with the law firm Armstrong Teasdale.  He explains energy problems in a way that makes sense and is understandable.

Roger will present an update to the EOAS chapter on Missouri energy issues on Thursday, July 15^th, 2010.  This will be a great opportunity for chapter members to be updated and get all their environmental policy questions answered.

Mr. Walker concentrates his law practice in the areas of energy and climate change, environmental law, regulatory compliance, enforcement and administrative law. His expertise includes counseling clients with respect to carbon management and permitting enforcement issues in energy, land, water and air. Mr. Walker also advises clients on property transactions involving environmental contamination. 

Roger currently serves as Executive Director of the Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM), a business association, where he focuses on a broad spectrum of environmental compliance, energy, regulatory and enforcement issues.

In addition, Roger is an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University teaching Introduction to Environmental Law.

Roger organizes and emcee’s the annual "Midwest Energy and Climate Policy Conference at the Garden", held this year June 8-10, 2010, hosted at the world famous Missouri Botanical Garden and Union Station's Marriott Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. This event will bring in experts from across the region and country to discuss federal and state energy priorities, proposed legislative and regulatory actions, energy national security issues, corporate response to carbon management, the future of coal, natural gas, and nuclear power, private sustainability initiatives, the prospect and analysis of new "green" projects and jobs, and the outlook for alternative energy research and initiatives.

Additionally, Roger spoke at the 18th Annual Environmental Conference at the Lake of the Ozarks, discussing issues related to national climate change and legislation (July 2009), as well as "Carbon Control 101," at the Associated Industries of Missouri Environmental Symposium (2009).  He is organizing and speaking at the "Annual Air Compliance Seminar," co-sponsored with Missouri Department of Natural Resources this Fall and the organizer/speaker at the "Annual Missouri Water Law" also this Fall.

His many writings and publications concentrate on Missouri energy policy, brown field redevelopment and Missouri Water Law.

When not working, Roger enjoys spending time camping, biking and hiking around Missouri.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pairing with Audubon Missouri to open a $3.5 million visitor center at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton as soon as this fall.  The Corps has wanted to build an education center at Riverlands for many years but never had the funding to do it, said Charlie Deutsch, wildlife biologist for the Corps.

   Last year the Corps won about $1.9 million in Stimulus money for the project.  The Stimulus funding didn’t include money for exhibits or a staff, which is where the partnership with Audubon Missouri will come in, said Deutsch.  The groups have worked together for a long time to offer educational programming at Riverlands and will work together to run the center.  “It’s a great partnership,” said Deutsch.  “It’s not something that’s a new thing, this was just a really nice fit.”  Crews have broken ground on the 3,500 square foot addition to the Corps’ current building.  Deutsch said they plan to have a soft opening in August and the grand opening in September.

   The large lobby will include a bank of windows overlooking the river.  The current office building has a small meeting room with two big windows.  During the winter, 2,000 to 3,000 people will visit the meeting room to watch the eagles that land in trees across the water.  The lobby area will provide even more room for people to watch birds, said Jane Drake, environmental educator for Audubon Missouri.  In addition, Audubon Missouri plans to place kiosks in the center and around the St. Louis area that people can use to report bird sightings.  Each kiosk will be linked to Cornell University Lab of Ornithology in New York.

   “All that information feeds into their citizen science database used to inform Cornell’s scientific endeavors,” said Patricia Hagen, executive director of the Audubon Center at Riverlands.  Outside the center the Corps and Audubon will work to install additional trails and add amenities to the trails that do exist.  Eventually, visitors may be able to check out Apple iPads or handheld tablets that could be used on the trails as an interactive field guide,

   Indoor and outdoor classrooms will offer places to run educational programs on water quality, the watershed and birds.  In addition the center will offer interactive courses like nature photography, kayaking and canoeing.  “We’re building a world-class center for education as well as ecotourism,” said Drake.

   The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers is an important migratory area for birds that attracts visitors from around the country and world.  Deutsch said he hopes the center will help local residents to reconnect with the rivers.  “I think people are apprehensive about getting out to the river,” he said.  “It’s the fear of the big muddy Mississippi.  I think this will ease that anxiety and allow people the opportunity to get good information of where they can go, where they can be safe.”

   As the Corps and Audubon partnership continues to move forward for the visitor center at Riverlands, Audubon is now shifting focus on raising the capital funds needed to operate the new center.

   While the building is being funded largely by the Corps, Audubon’s intention is to operate it.  And so they have embarked on a fund raising campaign to reach the nearly $5.5 million needed over the next three years to generate support for educational programming, interpretive exhibits and site elements.

   In combination with the building, Audubon is funding the network of trails, decks and overlooks that will allow children and adults hands-on opportunities to explore the nearly 1,300 acre site.  An eventual 40-passenger riverboat and series of river routes will also provide visitors with on-the-water experiences of the Great Rivers.

East Ozarks Audubon awarded two sets of Nikon binoculars for the best conservation projects by a middle school and a high school student in the Science Fair at Mineral Area College on March 26^th.  Judges from the Chapter were Mick Sutton and Jenny Gunn.  President Gary Chastain was there to explain our Chapter to all participants and Brian Scheidt, geology professor at MAC and also a member of East Ozarks, was in charge of the Science Fair.

   Middle School winner was Cade Reynolds, seventh grader from Ste. Genevieve, whose project was entitled, “I Seed, You Seed, We All Seed for Bird Seed.”  He had placed mixed bird seed in four different color boxes, white, red, green and natural.  He periodically measured the seed in each box to see which color box attracted the most birds.  His finding was that more birds visited the natural color box and the least number

of birds visited the green box.

   First prize in the high school categoroy went to Kristin Eye of Potosi.  Kristin’s project was “Is the Water in My Creek Safe?”  She tested the water in the creek by her home which also flows by the YMCA of the Ozarks.  She had suspected the YMCA was possibly polluting the creek water and so she tested it in five different places for pH, conductivity and overall appearance.

   Her conclusion was that there was no pollution in the creek and that YMCA had a good sewage system.  She kept a bar graph of the project under the supervision of Randy Reese, her teacher.

   This was the first year East Ozarks has participated in the Science Fair and the board of directors felt it was an ideal project for Audubon.  Financing was made possible by a recent gift to the Chapter.  It is anticipated that East Ozarks will remain as a partner to the college for several years.  A picture of Kristin receiving her award appears elsewhere in Bird’s Eye View.

So many days to think about these days.   I guess every country, every movement, every religion, every community, every organization, every family, etc.., celebrates something on any given day.  Fool’s day, Birthdays, Holidays, Anniversaries, Graduations, First day of this, Last day of that, Election Day, Tax day, did someone say “Taco Day”? 

            Springtime seems to be the most popular time of year for environmental groups to celebrate their favorite days.  In the next couple of months, birds, trees, endangered species, and even the entire earth itself will be celebrated.  As a member of an environmental organization it is always exciting to me to see people getting involved and coalescing around a common theme of protecting some part of earths’ remarkable wonders.

            Coming up first is, of course, Earth Day.  Celebrated on April 22, this will be the 40^th Anniversary of this globally celebrated day.  I hope everyone in the East Ozark Chapter will be doing something that day that contributes to the betterment of ourselves and our fellow planetary inhabitants and the habitat they inhabit!  Our chapter will be having a Work Day at the Crouch Nature Sanctuary in Engler Park and enjoying each others company for lunch and all members are invited to join in and participate.  It is one simple thing any of us can do on a local level.

If you’re looking for more dramatic things to do on Earthday you can checkout these websites:  earthday.net  or earthday.org .

            Next is Arbor Day.  This day has been around since 1872 and is celebrated on April 30^th of this year.  People are encouraged to plant trees and learn about their care and husbandry.  This is especially important nowadays when the world could use more trees.

Want to learn more?......Check out arborday.org.  

            On May 8^th the World celebrates International Migratory Bird Day.  Sponsored by an organization titled “Environment for the Americas” it focuses on education and spreading awareness of how many species rely on international cooperation.

Their website is: birdday.org

            Finally, on May 21^st the world celebrates Endangered Species Day.  This day is set up to remind us all of what we may be losing.  Hopefully the more we all become aware and the more the work of environmentalists, preservationists, biologists, botanists, etc., becomes known, maybe we can save some species from extinction.

There is lot to learn at : stopextinction.org and fws.org/Endangered

            I’d like to propose that we all, as environmentalists, take a day, or part of a day and educate ourselves about what is going on in the world, in our state, and in our own backyard, let’s call it “What have I learned about the World Today.

East Ozarks Audubon Society has had several very successful bird-counting and fundraising Birdathons. However, this year we have failed to do any advance organizing for the birdwatchers, nor any soliciting for Birdathon donations: too many other hot spots keeping us all busy. I know that I and at least a few other committed birders will be doing our own Birdathon—trying to see how many bird species we can count in a single day during the peak migration season of April 15 and May 30^th. And some of us will motivate ourselves by making a donation to our Chapter. But, as I’ve done in other years, I’d like to challenge all of our members to participate—either by doing your own bird count and/or by making a donation.

For the birder, it’s a great way to challenge oneself to try to match or exceed the previous year’s count—I’ve been listening to my bird-song tapes over and over this past month in anticipation. But equally important it’s a time of year when all our members can help out by motivating the birders with a per-species pledge or a flat donation.

If you intend to do a bird count, I really want to hear from you before April 15: I will make a pledge to donate toward every birder’s tally, and for some of you—if you are willing to take me on—I will make a matching challenge (have you read that, Lynne?) (for our advanced birders, I request a handicap).

All others wishing to participate by making a pledge or contribution can contact Bob Lewis. Birdathon is National Audubon’s largest birding competition, but all the money we collect will stay with our Chapter for its many uses—be a part of it, and there will be a Birdathon 2010!

 Contact: Sue Hagan 546-2864 or Bob Lewis 756-5484.

   Dr. Bill Eddleman and the Swamp Candle Birders will sponsor the 2010 Spring Meeting of Audubon Society of Missouri to be held at Cape Girardeau April 30^th to May 2^nd this year.

   All members of Audubon Chapters in the state are invited to attend this meeting which will showcase a number of excellent birding sites in and near Cape Girardeau in both southern Illinois and Missouri.

Bird enthusiasts are encouraged to attend and learn more about birds and habitats in the Southeast part of the state.

  

   The agenda includes many field trips to sites within 25 miles of Cape Girardeau.  A highlight of the meeting will be the activities hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation’s “Conservation Campus Nature Center for Migratory Bird Day.”

   Field trips and a mist-netting & banding demonstration will occur at the nature center.

   Friday night’s program will feature Eddleman, who is a professor of biology and also editor of the state Bluebird magazine, presenting “The Past and Future of the Bird Life of Southeast Missouri.”

   After the Saturday night banquet, Dr. David Krementz of the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will present results of his research on rail birds in Missouri and Arkansas in “Marsh Bird Ecology and Managaement in Missouri.”

   Field trip destinations include pre-dawn trips to LaRue-Pine Hills on Saturday and Sunday and daylight trips to Horseshoe Lake in Illinois, Sand Prairie CA, Trail of Tears State Park, Union County CA, Maple Valley County Park and I.R. Kelso Sanctuary.

   Meetings will be held at Aartful Rose Banquet Facility.  Drury Lodge has reserved a block of 25 rooms for  Friday and Saturday nights.  Camping is also available at Trail of Tears State Park.

   Registration for the meeting is $10.00 for adults but students under 22 are free.  Banquet reservations are $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for children.

   For more details, contact Bob Lewis at 573 756-5484.

One reason your Bird’s Eye View is a few days later than normal is that Joyce and I spent the last week in March visiting relatives in Florida.  There’s lots of ways to have fun in that state including swimming on the beach, birding, scuba diving and watching the events at Cape Canaveral.

   But my son Greg introduced me to something I hadn’t thought about since the days of watching “Big Ben” on television.  And that was riding an airboat through the marshes and flirting with alligators.

   On our way to visit Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, we passed by a marsh adjacent to St. Johns River and Greg turned to me and said, “Did you ever take an airboat ride?”  Soon he was buying tickets for a half hour ride around the marsh.  The airboats are pushed by a giant propeller on the rear which is encaged in a wire mesh housing.  When we boarded the boat we were handed ear muff devices to protect us from the high sound of the engine.

   I think we saw seven alligators and we got in photo distance of most of them.  Afterward we had lunch at the airboat restaurant and of course we both ordered bits of baked alligator meat as our main dish.  It was delicious and I saved some of mine to take back to Joyce.

 And so I recommend you add an airboat ride experience on your next trip to Florida.  It was a highlight of my trip.