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PROGRAMS |
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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 May Banquet which will be held at the
Shalimar Country Club in Tempe (one block north of Southern, midway
between McClintock and Price). |
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PROGRAM TOPICS |
May 7:
Annual Banquet-Dr. Bob Ohmart, Professor of Biology at
ASU will Speak on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge -
Tantalizing and Undiscovered Jewel.
September 3:
David Reeser - TBA
October
1:
Dr. David Pearson, A.S.U. biology professor - "Why are
there more bid species some places than others? The use of bird
watching skills in science."
November
5:
Kevin McCoughlin from Adventure Camera in PA - Belize
and Central America.
December 3:
Southwest Forest Alliance, a non-profit coalition of
more than 60 environmental organizations in the Southwest,
working to protect forest |
ecosystems through systematic reform - presents Old Growth
Forever! highlighting the urgent need to protect the remaining
stands of old growth forests in the Southwest and concentrating
on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where the Forest Service
still allows the logging of old growth and the subsequent
destruction of species habitat. Eventually, we hope to create
an Old Growth Preserve to Protect this unique biological area
January
7,
03:
Doug Alexander - TBA
Speakers wanted:
If you have ideas for speakers, or if you would like to make a
presentation yourself, please contact Laurie Nessel, Program
Chair, at (480) 968-5614 or
laurienessel@hotmail.com
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By Deva Burns |
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COMMITTEES/SUPPORT
Activist Alert:
Shawn Bauer
602-828-3607
shawnbaur@hotmail.com
Arizona Audubon
Council Rep:
Herb Fibel
408-966-5246
herbertsfibel@aol.com
Bird Alert
Book Store
Richard & Karen Kaiser
602-276-3312
Field Observations
Janet Witzeman
602-840-6089
Hospitality
Cynthia Donald (Coffee)
Sherry Celine (Cookies)
Web Page
Michell Fulton
480-968-5141
webmaster@maricopaaudubon.org
Maricopa Audubon Web
Site
www.maricopaaudubon.org
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE
Bequests are an important source of support for the Maricopa Audubon
Society. Your chapter has dedicated itself to the protection
of natural world through public education and advocacy for the wiser
use and preservation of our land, water, air and other irreplaceable
natural resources.
You can invest in the future of our natural world by making a
bequest in your will to the Maricopa Audubon Society . Talk to
your attorney for more information on how this can be accomplished. |
Warmer
weather induces much more activity on my part. Whereas in the
winter I prefer to snuggle in front of the fire and read, when
spring starts I clean - windows, closets, drawers, yard,
whatever. Jim doesn't understand this. He's sure it's a gender
thing. I am sure he is hoping this extends to all the boxes I
have lying around from my old job. I have taken some things to
the new office but I just haven't been able to throw anything
way yet. Why I mention this? Because I'm ahead on cleaning but
behind on editing!
Charles Babbitt has written this month's conservation article
and it should be required reading for all bureaucrats. He
reemphasizes the fact that fire is a natural phenomenon and
should be left alone (unless endangering human habitation).
We should not be spending our scarce dollars on fighting fires.
Elisabeth Lawaczeck's article on West Nile Virus should be a
wake up call to all of us. Please take not and help out if
you find a newly dead bird. I found Buck Parker's article
very intriguing and if you can't wait for the next installment,
please do not hesitate to e-mail me and I will e-mail the
article to you. Be sure to check out Rich Ditch's
review of James Rising's new sparrow book. And of course,
the regular articles are here - The Photo Quiz, Arizona's
Special Species, Field Trips and Field observations.
How many of you thought that Phoenix was a
birding "desert"? Read the Special Species article in
this issue and realize that a real gem is right here. If
you are interested in placing your name on the slate for a
position on the MAS Board, please contact a member of the
nominating committee listed in the Notes and Announcements
section. Finally, come to the banquet on May 7 and vote
for the coming year's board members. We will also have a
wonderful dinner and a great speaker - ASU Biology Professor,
Dr. Robert Ohmart.
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NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Annual Board
Elections - It's that
time of year again. Our annual board elections will be held at
the Annual Banquet and Meeting on May 7th, and, as provided by our
bylaws, a nominating committee has been named by our president.
If you are interested in stepping forward and in assuming a
leadership role in your chapter in the coming fiscal year which
begins June 1st, please call on of the following Nominating
Committee members and let him or her know of your interest
Harvey Beatty, Chairman
(480) 990-0415
Olga Harbour
(480) 503-9291
Charlotte Norrid
(480) 967-4957
Southwest
Forest Alliance: will
be leading field trips to the North Rim this summer, and
would love to have folks join them if they are so inclined.
Check their webpage for more information.
It is located at www.swfa.org.
Annual ABA Convention
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In Duluth, NM, June 10-16, 2002.
If you are interested in attending, please call the ABA at
800-850-2473 x 233 and request a convention booklet. The
Duluth area offers an exciting mix of habitats and birding
possibilities.
Annual White Mountain Campout:
June 14-16. See Field
Trips for information.
Flycatchers: ABA's Institute for Field Ornithology (IFO)
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July 20-25 in Sierra Vista, AZ with Chris Benesh.
Appropriate for birders of all levels and emphasizing the flycatcher
species that breed in southeastern AZ. Limited to 10.
For information contact IFO Coordinator Kimberly Lynn at
800-850-2473 x235 orifo@aba.org.
You can also visit the IFO pages on the ABA site,
www.americanbirding.org.
West Coast Seabirds:
ABA’s Institute for Field Ornithology (IFO)—another workshop to be held August 3-8 with Debi
Shearwater and Peter Pyle.
See above item for further information.
Southwest Wings Birding Festival:
August 7-11 in Bisbee.
See Field Trips for information.
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Sparrows of the United States and Canada: The Phographic
Guide (Academic Press)
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This superb identification guide by James Rising has just
recently been released. MAS photographers Jim Burns and
Rich Ditch were contributors to this book and Rich will be
reviewing the book in a future Wren•dition.
Al Anderson from Sierra Vista
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Sends some interesting pieces of information. Audubon
has a new gift-membership program now. If you give a
membership (and Magazine subscription) as a gift, you chapter
gets all of the 15 dollars the first year. Secondly, our
Arizona State Legislature has re-offered for 2001, the School
Tax Credits program. With this program, you can give up
to $200 per person ($250 per couple) to the public school
(K-12) of you choice (you can give even more to private
schools), and have the amount you give taken off your Arizona
State income tax. The State allows an exemption, dollar
for dollar, up to, but not exceeding your state tax for this
year, 2001. The contribution can be extended over five
taxable years if your state tax is less than the contribution.
Where else can you designate your tax dollars for the public
good, and not have it cost you a cent? You give the
money directly to the school of your choice (K-12), where it
must be used for (1) character education programs, or (2)
extra curricular activities. These are very broad
categories indeed, and you can designate within them what your
contribution will be used for: band uniforms, field trips,
etc. The school can almost always find a
program/activity which is compatible with your wishes.
The problem is that may not be renewed for 2002 and in order
to take advantage for 2001you had to contact the school before
December 31, 2001. But keep it in mind to encourage the
legislature to renew again - just think if all Audubon members
made that contribution, what an impact it could have on you
youth and on the birds.
More birding and nature festivals.
www.americanbirding.org
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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
Available, contact Laurie Nessel at (480) 968-5614 or
laurienessel@hotmail.com
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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. |
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Wanted - A Graphic designer willing to design and produce
the Cactus Wren•dition. Unfortunately, this must be a
labor of love because you have to be willing to donate much of
your time. If you are intereted, please contact the
Editor. Please be prepared to put together a proposal
for Board Review. We are losing our great designer,
Peggy Wang, who has been with us for over 5 years. In a
life-changing move, she is returning to school and hopes to
get into medical school. Good luck, Peggy. |
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