THE END IS NEAR

PROGRAMS

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month, September-April, at the Phoenix Zoo Auditorium.  Meetings start at 7:30, and feature a speaker, book sales, refreshments, and a chance to socialize with fellow MAS members.  Non-members welcome!

Join us for a pre-meeting dinner at Pete's 19th Tee, 1405 N Mill Avenue, Tempe (at the Rolling Hills Golf Course) starting at 6:00 p.m.  Except for the September meeting which will be our annual potluck starting at 6:30.  Each attendee is invited to bring a platter of his or her favorite h'ors de oeuvres, sufficiently large enough to serve at least six people.  We'll provide the eating utensils, the plates, and the drinks, bring a friend and enjoy swapping birding stories.  The regular meeting will begin at 7:30. Meals average about $5.00 with a variety of choices on the menu.  Join us!

March 4:  Jim Burns “El Canelo Ranch, Texas.  Jim Burns, MAS writer/photographer, highlights his partnership in the 2002 Valley Land Fund Photo Contest with Monica and Ray Burdette, owners of El Canelo Ranch, north of Raymondville, Texas.  The ranch is known in the birding world for the Ferruginous Pygmy-owls nesting in the yard at the inn.  Jim is a regular contributor to the Wren-dition through the Photo Quiz and articles on Arizona’s Special Species.

April 1:  Peter Moulton “Beyond Birds – Dragons and Damsels in Arizona”  We’ve all seen them – those creatures with gossamer wings, hovering and zipping about, sometimes found in a shrike’s beak!  Join us for a glimpse into the world of dragons and damsels (dragonflies and damselflies) and you will be amazed at their attitudes, habits and colors.  Trained as a 

May 6, 2003:  Dan Fischer “Early Southwest Ornithologists – On The Trail Of Pioneering Birders”.  MAS is very pleased to have Dan Fischer as the guest speaker for our annual banquet.  Dan has traveled the southwest for over fifty years, photographing birds and exploring our diverse environments.  Dan and his wife live in a stone house in the Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona, which he says isn’t as warm or as cool as you would think it should be!  He will be talking about his recent book, which reveals the regions’ avian diversity as he traces 100 ornithologists from 1528 to 1900.  As Col. Thomas Henry wrote in 1853, there “are to be found many curious birds, peculiar to the country.”  Copies of the book will be available for sale and Dan has graciously agreed to do a book signing for those who are interested.  Please plan to attend our last event until next fall.  (for more information on the book, visit www.uapress.arizona.edu  and type Dan Fischer in the search bar.)

Speakers wanted:  If you have ideas for speakers, or if you would like to make a presentation yourself, please contact Cynthia Donald, Program Chair, at (602) 791-5157 or planres@earthlink.net. 

ANNUAL MEETING & BANQUET

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On May 6, 2003, Maricopa Audubon Society will celebrate the completion of its 50th year of providing a meeting place, programs, and activities of interest to birders and would-be birders, and of fighting to save those special places where a wide variety of avian wildlife can be found.  Come share the fun, toast our accomplishments, elect a new board, and enjoy an excellent program, at Shalimar Country Club, 2032 E. Golf Ave., Tempe (one block north of Southern, midway between Price and McClintock).

We are pleased to present as our guest speaker, Dan Fischer, who lives in a stone house in the Chiricahuas, and who has traveled extensively photographing birds and exploring Arizona's diverse environments for over 50 years.  Dan is the author of "Early Southwest Ornithologists-On the Trail of Pioneering Birders," in which he traces 100 ornithologists who birded Arizona between 1528 and 1900.  Copies of his book will be available for sale, and he has graciously agreed to do a book signing for those who are interested.

A buffet dinner, which will feature cuisine to suit everyone's taste, will be $25 a person ($22.50 with your 'Friends' membership card).  The cash bar and hospitality hour will begin at 6:00 p.m., and the buffet will begin at 7:00.  Dress is casual.

Reservations are a must.  Make your reservations early by calling Herb Fibel at (480) 966-5246, or Cynthia Donald at (602) 791-5157.  You may pay at the door or you may mail your check to: Herb Fibel, Treasurer, 1128 E. Geneva Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 85282-3940.

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Our Nominating Committee for the upcoming MAS year is: Jim and Lynn Blaugh, (Co-chairs), (480) 491-2509; Polly Schmidt, (480) 946-7526; and Charlotte Norrid, (480) 967-4957.

Basha's donates to Help Preserve Arizona:  Give the cashier the charity code #29039 between 9/1 and 1/31 each year and Basha's will donate 1% of your total to 18 conservation & environmental groups including: az wildlife federation, audubon arizona, tucson audubon, native seeds/SEARCH, grand canyon trust, gray hawk nature center, oracle land trust, trout unlimited, wild at heart, az recycling coalition, southwest wildlife rehabilitation & education foundation, az association for environmental education, mcdowell sonoran land trust, willow bend environmental education center, four corners school of outdoor education, grand canyon wildlands council, maricopa audubon society, and land & water fund of the rockies.  For more information go to www.efaz.org  or call 480-969-3682.

Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch suffered much damage in the April fire that swept through the ranch.  There is both an immediate and a long-term need for volunteers to assist with a wide-range of tasks as the Research Ranch implements a recovery and restoration plan.  If you are interested in helping please call Sam Campana at 602 468 6470 for information.  Please do not just show up without calling.

The Birdseye Guide to 101 Birding Sites, Phoenix:  A new guide published by Rupp Aerial Photography.  The maps are excellent, it is all in color and is $23.95.  For more information check www.ruppaerialphoto.com.  Also catch the author, Mike Rupp, at February's meeting.

Birding in Cuba:  February 15-24, 2003. Under a license from the U.S. Treasury Department, Grand Canyon University is offering an adult education class on the birds of Cuba that includes a 10 day trip to the major birding areas of Cuba.  The focus of the trip will be to locate and study the 21 endemic birds of Cuba, as well as birds rarely found elsewhere in North America (Ivory-billed woodpecker?!?)  The cost is between $2,500 and $3,000.  Linda and Tom Rawles will be leading the trip.  For more information contact Linda at lrawles@grand-canyon.edu or at (602) 279-5900.

For a detailed itinerary email the editor and it can be sent via email.  In Winging It, ABA's newsletter, is information for 2 more approved study trips to Cuba.  These trips are sponsored by Manchester Community College.  For information contact Gary Markowski at 860-354-5590 or cubirds@aol.com.  The dates are February 13-22 and February 27- March 8.

Hawk Stalk: Feb. 22, Pete Dunne will be our celebrity leader on the last Hawk Stalk of the season. The cost is $100 per person, and the trip will be limited to 10 participants (we already have 4 but will keep a waiting list).  For more information, call at 520-432-1388, e-mail at sabo@sabo.org, or check out the web at www.sabo.org/news.htm. 

Basic Birding Class by Herb Fibel:  resumes March 20.  The classes are sponsored by the Tempe Parks and Recreation Department, Outdoor Recreation Section, and will take place on Thursday evenings from 7-8 p.m., at the Pyle Adult Center in the city complex at Rural and Southern.  The class runs 7 weeks and will include 3 field trips.  If you would like to learn basic bird identification skills, this class is for you.  You don't need to live in Tempe to sign up, but pre-registration is a must.  Tempeans can register February 18th or thereafter, and non-Tempeans can register February 24th and thereafter.  Be sure to call (480) 350-5200 and ask for Lynda Myers, Recreation Coordinator.

The ALEUTIAN GOOSE FESTIVAL:  A Celebration of Wildness, March 21-24, 2003. 140 Marine Way-Crescent City, California 95531, 707-465-0888 ~ email soar2@northcoast.com, check out the web site at www.redwoodlink.com/soar. Once on the Endangered Species List with only 800 birds, this magnificent goose now numbers 40,000+ and has joined the elite group of species that have recovered enough to be taken off of the endangered list. Our festival guests are treated to the sight of tens of thousands of these birds lifting off Castle Island at dawn filling the sky over the Pacific.

ABA Annual Convention:  June 2-8, 2003 in Eugene, Oregon.  Call the ABA or check their website for more information.

More birding and nature festivals.  www.americanbirding.org.  and www.birdinghotspot.com. 

Audubon Adventures:  Give the gift of discovery and share your love of the environment.  The program is designated for students in grades 4-6.  Introduce an entire classroom (up to 32 students) to the wonders of nature for just $35 (plus shipping charges).  You can select your favorite school or let Audubon do it for you.  For orders:  call 800/813-5037.

Maricopa Audubon T-Shirts. For information, contact Laurie Nessel at (480) 968-5614 or laurienessel@hotmail.com

Do you have an interesting story to tell about birding?  Please forward your submissions to the Editor—Deva Burns.  Check the back page for address/e-mail.  Actually, attaching an article to an e-mail is the absolute easiest way to submit an article.  If you have pictures or slides, you do need to send those to me directly.  Remember, all articles may not be published the first month after receipt.

Maricopa Audubon Society lost a longtime, dedicated member when Joyce Fibel, 76, passed away on November 14th. Joyce, wife of Herb Fibel, served MAS in various capacities over the years including secretary and mailing chairman. Birding is an obsession for many of us and it was heartwarming to see Joyce and Herb enjoy and promote birdwatching together. 

Bob Witzeman told me about the time he and Herb and Joyce were passing through Gila Bend on a birding trip.  They stopped at a Dairy Queen-like store on the east side of town.  While they were ordering, Joyce remarked that she had worked there some 40 years ago.  She had an interesting time reminiscing with the store's staff about the "good 

Over the years, Joyce was always most gracious and generous at sharing her home and her time on behalf of the chapter. She was also an accomplished pianist and talented still-life painter. She was originally from Toledo, Ohio. We will miss her.