President's Message
Special Notice: Vortex Optics, a generous Birdathon sponsor, has come through again with a donation of a fine spotting scope, and once again we are offering our readers a chance to own this instrument. The details are in the next item, just below my signature, so please read on and act quickly if you are interested in getting a high-quality scope for yourself or someone else. Ticket sales are open now!
BCH: Our signature BCH program is going strong and serving more and more homeowners all over the area under the guidance of Director Dan Pearson and Outreach Specialist Shannon Callahan. See below for a note about June plantings and a report on this year's Native Plant Garden Tour.
Volunteer Picnic: Save the date, July 23, for a picnic honoring all of our volunteers in any capacity: Board members, habitat advisers, birding leaders, or anything else. This was a delightful event last year, and well attended. We hope to see you there. The invitation is below.
Birdathon VI: We have reached the official endpoint of this event, but many pledges have yet to come in, so we won’t know for a while whether our financial goal has been met. Our other goals—getting outside in May, joining together to help each other, and maximizing the exhilaration of birding—have been met and then some. One person has set a new high for birding the whole month of May by recording 207 species within those 31 days. Others have also done really well in numerical terms, but every single participant has done well in terms of fun, and an appreciation of the flow of birds through our area in May. My congratulations to everyone who took part, and my thanks to everyone who supported them! And no, it's not too late to send in your support if it has slipped your mind.
Ornithological Forecast:
June is one of two months in the year with the least amount of discernible bird migration, when summer residents make up nearly the whole population of birds we see. They continue their nesting activities, raise their broods as the eggs hatch, and (in the case of passerines, or songbirds) keep up at least a fair level of singing, although it can be noticeably less regular and persistent toward the end of the month. So this is a good time to deepen your acquaintance with our own breeding birds, to locate nests, and to observe recently-fledged juveniles. Even so, there remain some traces of directional migration, mainly at the beginning and end of the month, with small numbers of northbound shorebirds still to be found through the early period (up to, say, June 10 or so) along with an occasional late warbler or flycatcher, and then a scattered few southbound shorebirds appearing in the final few days, presaging the return migration from the Arctic that will accelerate through July. Moreover, some species simply hang out or wander around through the summer, at least in small numbers—especially birds like pelicans, gulls, terns, and cormorants that may be visible along our large rivers even though they don’t nest here. So, while the migration graph does “bottom out” in the middle of June, it never really hits zero.
Bill Rowe
Photo Credit: Al Smith, Eastern Kingbird
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DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! |
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PURCHASE YOUR GOLDEN TICKET HERE!
Prize Includes...
An 85 mm scope (that's a large one) in the Vortex Viper series, with a very clear, sharp view and a 20-60 power zoom eyepiece. A fabric cover is included to protect the scope surface. St. Louis Audubon is also providing a sturdy aluminum High Country II tripod from Vortex. Together, the scope and tripod form a smoothly functioning system that will provide you with superb close views of ducks, hawks, shorebirds, or anything else that isn't moving too fast for a scope to stay on it.
"Real game changer out in the field. Distant shorebirds, waterfowl, and gulls have never looked clearer!"
-- Jonah Eckels, scope winner 2022
The retail value of the system is approximately $1500, and we would like to ensure that this gift from Vortex yields its full value when applied to the Birdathon.
Proceeds will help us focus on these priorities:
- creation of habitats for native birds and wildlife
- conservation activities that make St. Louis safer for migrating birds
- nature education for kids and adults
- study and observation of birds and other living things, and
- advocacy for wildlife and the environment.
The drawing will take place on Friday, June 30, or sooner if tickets sell out. One name will be chosen using an online Random Name Generator.
Only 60 tickets being sold! The odds are in your favor!
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Terms and Conditions:
Prizes are not convertible to cash or to any other products of Vortex.
Prizes must be claimed physically by the winner at a designated location (TBD) in the St. Louis metropolitan area. We will coordinate with the winner to determine that location.
A minimum of 40 tickets must be sold for the drawing to be held. If the minimum sales are not reached, each ticket purchaser can decide to donate the ticket price in support of the Birdathon or request a refund. If a refund is preferred, the ticket purchaser is responsible for requesting the refund by emailing [email protected].
You may purchase as many tickets as you like until all 60 tickets are sold.
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At Home Ecology, Curated Conservation
June 2023
Shannon Callahan
Summer weather is here! You can look for tell-tale early summer blooms of lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa), and foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis). After exploding to life, your gardens may be experiencing a bit of a plateau with the current drought. For recent plantings, be sure to provide adequate water to help them through the first growing season. For established native gardens, now is the perfect opportunity to sit back and appreciate those deep root systems! For anyone looking to start buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) seed, now is the time. If you are container gardening with natives, be sure to check on them several times a week; those roots can only do so much if the pot dries up! Missouri native plants are hardy and can bounce back from light wilting, but crispy leaves are a cue that it may be time for some extra help.
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The St. Louis Native Plant Garden Tour, in collaboration with Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter, was a huge hit this year. The event took place on Sunday, May 21. All 365 available tickets sold out and the volunteer greeters tallied just over 2,800 total visits to the 12 garden locations in and around University City, including the Green Center rest stop.
A gigantic thanks to all of the generous hosts, the dozens of volunteer greeters and docents, the sponsors, the dedicated and diligent members of the steering committee, and all of our dear friends with Wild Ones St. Louis for making this event possible.
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
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Photo Credit: Shannon Bucklin |
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Bring Conservation Home is growing faster than ever before! We have experienced a 76% increase in site visit requests received each month since 2021. Dedicated staff and volunteers are doing their best to keep up with the demand.
When you become a Monthly Sustainer you help to expand the capacity of the program and reduce wait time for site visits. You will also be eligible to be acknowledged on the website as a Sustainer.
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It is possible to make a BIG impact
for a small amount each month.
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The most sustainable way to support our work! |
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Join others who share your interests in nature, birds and wildlife!
July 23 - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
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Have you missed a Bird of the Week recently?
May's featured birds are listed below, or check our website to see them all!
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ST. LOUIS AUDUBON SOCIETY BOARD MEETINGS
Next meeting: Tuesday, June 13
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Please Note: Board meetings will be held by Zoom and will not meet in person until further notice. If you have an interest in joining our volunteer Board, please contact one of the officers or staff members. |
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Officers & Staff
Bill Rowe, President
Michael Meredith, VP Conservation
Stephanie Schroeder, VP Education
Gail Saxton, Secretary
Nick Eaton, Treasurer
Amy Weeks, Executive Director
Dan Pearson, Director, BCH
Shannon Callahan, Outreach Specialist, BCH
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