Winter 2009
Winter 2009
Winter 2009
Winter Schedule
Social hour 7 p.m., meeting starts at 7:30.
Jan. 26—Michigan’s Mammals. Join Matt Hackett of the Madison Heights Nature Center
to explore the world of wild Michigan mammals. Be amazed at how many mammals are
found locally—even in the cities of metropolitan Detroit.
Feb. 23—Jack Smiley presents, “Land Conservancy in Southeastern Michigan.”
March 16—Was that another LBJ? Join Gary Siegrist “People for Wildlife Coordinator”
from the Dahlem Conservancy and past president of Michigan Audubon and explore those
nondescript native sparrows. Gary will try to make some sense of these “little brown jobs”
that can be so difficult to identify.
April 20—"Costa Rica—The Land of Pura Vida". Ralph Gorton is a professor emeritus at
Lansing Community College. His illustrated talk will introduce the amazing biodiversity,
geography and history of this Central American wonderland.
All meetings are held in the Annex behind Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church,
17150 Maumee, Grosse Pointe, between St. Clair and Neff.
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BLOG, continued from Page 1 noon in a local restaurant, and the winner takes
home an imaginary trophy and a feeling of
The motivation behind Michigan Audubon’s smug superiority. (The Grosse Pointe City Team
move is irrelevant at this time. What is has won each of the previous three years, so we
important is that it forced us to create a new speak from experience.) Join a team for the
presence on the Internet. It is critically morning or just for a while. It’s all for fun!
important that we have some kind of Internet
presence as both a communication tool and a
way to attract new members. Luckily, there are Take a (bird) walk
now several companies -- such as Google -- Join Rosann Kovalcik and Martin Blagdurn
that will host our blog for no charge. on Jan. 24, Feb. 28, March 28 and April 25 for
So, after a few stops and starts, Grosse bird walks at the Ford House. The walks get
Pointe Audubon’s blog got going in November under way at 8 a.m., except for the April 25
and will (we hope!) be updated regularly to walk, which will start at 7:30. There is a $7 fee.
keep the information fresh. Have a tidbit to Be sure to make reservations well in advance.
share on the blog? Let GP Audubon President Wear waterproof shoes because the grass is
Bill Rapai know via email or phone and he’ll often very wet first thing in the morning and
get it posted. There’s also a place for you to dress for the weather. Call the Ford House at
leave your comments and thoughts. 313-884-4222 for reservations.
As always, the officers of Grosse Pointe
Audubon are eager to hear from you. Let us Tuesday morning birders
know what you think of our new tool, and And Grosse Pointe Audubon’s Tuesday
what we can do to improve it. morning walks at the Country Club of Detroit
will get under way on April 28 and continue on
Winter/spring meetings May 5, 12, 19 and 26. We’ll start at 6:30 a.m. and
Our winter meetings will get under way on finish by 8 a.m. to get everyone to work on
Jan. 26 with a visit from Matt Hackett, a time. Enter the Country Club’s driveway, turn
naturalist at the Madison Heights Nature left in front of the clubhouse and go down the
Center. Hackett’s program was brought to our service road. We’ll meet at the woods. We will
attention by Patty Mogk. Likewise, Gordon also have evening bird walks again this spring.
Morlan suggested the topic -- sparrow Check the blog in March for dates, times and
identification -- for our March meeting. locations.
Believe it or not, we are already gathering ideas
for potential speakers for our fall meetings. One final reminder
Please let us know if you have an idea for a Everyone seems happy with our new home in
speaker or a topic. the Annex of Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church.
If you haven’t been to one of our meetings in a
Birding for glory while, well, why not? We have lots of fun, good
Do it for civic pride! Do it for personal conversations and great speakers.
pride! Do it for fun! Set your calendar now, and Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church is at 17150
join Grosse Pointe Audubon on Saturday, May Maumee, between St. Clair and Neff in Grosse
2, for the fourth annual Grosse Pointe Birding Pointe City. The Annex is the one-story
Challenge. Teams will be scouring the Grosse building in back of the parking lot. If you need
Pointe communities for as many bird species more information or directions call 313-
as they can count. Tabulation takes place at 885-6502. See you there!
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Seven Ponds Nature Center ice shortage, alternate activities will be
planned. Fee: $3.00 for non-members.
Call 810-796-3200 for more information.
Energize Yourself to Save Energy: Energy
Study Skin Preparation Conservation and the Mechanics of
Saturday, January 10, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Motivation
For those of you interested in the process of Sunday, January 25, 2:00 p.m.
animal preservation you will get a chance to Clifford Scholz of Upland Hills Ecological
see the preparation of a museum mount Awareness Center will give us an in-depth
from start to finish. Suggested for ages 12 look at the psychological and cultural
and above. patterns underlying energy use. He will
present a wide array of practical energy-
Brisk Air and Blue Skies saving tips and the best options for
Sunday, January 11, 2:00 p.m. renewable energy in Michigan.
Weather can often be predicted by the
skies. A short inside program with handouts Lords of the Sky
will be followed by a walk to explore the day Sunday, February 1, 2:00 p.m.
skies. Howell Nature Center will bring many live
birds of prey for us to look at and learn
Ice and Snow about. This is a great program for families.
Sunday, January 18, 2:00 p.m.
We will explore the forests and fields and Tracking the Wild
their snow- and ice-encrusted beauty on Saturday, February 4, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
this walk. We will learn how to track animals in the
wild by looking at their footprints, scat, and
A Night in the Tropics browse. After looking at tracks in the snow
Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 p.m. we will make our own tracks on t-shirts. This
Get a taste of tropical birding and tropical will be a fun family event. Bring a white or
travel by viewing The New World Tropics: light colored t-shirt for printing. Registration
An Introduction for Naturalists. We will be required. Fee: $3.00 for non-members.
introduced to the wonderful diversity of the
tropics and see dazzling footage of birds, Butterflies in Winter
butterflies, and orchids. Sunday, February 8, 2:00 p.m.
Kathy Huxford of Michigan Monarchs will
Winterfest put spring into the air as she shares with us
Saturday, January 24, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. her knowledge of butterflies. She may even
Join us for our annual good old-fashioned bring some live butterflies for us to enjoy.
winter fun day. Included is ice cutting Family program.
demonstration, mammal tracking, nature
walks, children's crafts, snow science Photographing the Galapogos Islands
program, cross country skiing, and ice Sunday, February 15, 2:00 p.m.
skating. Includes lunch of a hot dog, chips Alan Charnley will take us on an adventure
and hot chocolate. Bring your ice skates to these beautiful islands and share with us
and cross-country skis or try out the some of the amazing animals that live on
center's snowshoes. In case of snow and/or the archipelago.
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JUST A CHIRP
WINTER 2009