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What's New? |  | ||
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What's New? | | ||
Chequamegon Bird Club members are an active lot. From time to time, we'll be describing and showing some of the activities in which various members are involved.
At each monthly meeting Chequamegon Bird Club members turn in observation sheets of the birds they have seen within the Wisconsin borders since the last meeting. We have recently added a searchable database that lists these records as well as the name of the observer (in the case that the listing is an usual one for the time of year or our area).
Note: Any CBC members who weren't able to pick up the official Field Check List (handed out at the monthly meetings) for making your monthly bird sightings observations can print out a copy here or the Bird Source version of it here.
Jeanette Kelly, Director of Education for the Raptor Education Group, Inc of Antigo, was the speaker for the 2006 Annual Banquet. As anticipated, Jeanette offered a wonderful presentation, sharing her knowledge and passion for birds and the environment with us. One by one, she unveiled the contents of the four boxes, speaking then on each bird's habits, telling each bird's story of how it came to be an educational bird, and reminding us of the tragedies brought on by human beings. We were privileged to observe a Long-eared Owl, a Redshouldered Hawk, a Saw-whet Owl, and a Turkey Vulture.
Two of the club's most active members in the field are Ken Luepke and Connie Decker. Saturday July 2nd they could be found measuring and banding Northern Harrier fledglings in Taylor County.
Ken and Connie teamed up with John Zellmer and Larry Ruhde to band Great Horned Owl nestlings. Ken is the official tree climber. The procedure entails, climbing the tree with a pack in tow. Ground watchers keep an eye on the adult owls to warn Ken if they approach. (Ken still gets scraped occasionally by talons from irate parents, but at least he can prepare for the assault if someone warns him that it is coming.) Next capture the nestlings at the nest and place them in the pack. Lower the pack to the ground to be weighted, measured and banded (and in this case photographed). They are then carefully replaced in the nest.
We are experimenting with a new "What's Around" public online bulletin board where birders in the Medford Wisconsin and surrounding communities can post their observations of birds they have sited or are coming to their feeders. It is also intended as a discussion forum for birding and nature-related questions of all kinds. Feel free to participate in the Chequamegon Bird Club Forum.