Volume XL, Issue 2 Vitamin “N”
When my friend heard the doctor’s words that
she needed surgery, she immediately headed out to
Stratton Open Space in CO Springs and hiked her
favorite trail. She said the clear sky, the Ponderosa
pines, sunflowers and mountain views made her
feel strong and able to cope. I’d read about the
healing power of nature, but in this moment my friend
experienced it. She got a dose of Vitamin “N”- Nature.
Humans have a natural affinity for nature. Sunshine, in
moderation, is essential to our health. It creates Vitamin
D which boosts our immune systems and wards off
disease and illness. Unfortunately, we humans spend
most of our days indoors where we inhale stale air,
chemicals from carpets, copiers and cleaning products
and where fluorescent lights are the norm.
Studies have shown that depression, anxiety and
stress dull our senses, suppress our immune systems
and increase our risk for illness and disease. The
Healthy Hospitals Initiative is focusing on creating
healing environments by painting walls with murals and
pictures depicting natural scenes, providing plants and
water features and windows with views and sunlight.
Connecting people with nature’s healing power helps
patients feel less anxious, heal faster and experience
less pain.
Birding is an ideal way to connect physically with the
Earth to energize our bodies, minds and spirits. The
sound of birdsong, the color of feathers, the power of
flight, the inspiration of power-packed sprites making
a life in a hard world soothes and calms. Getting out
into a park, the woods, the mountains, in your own
backyard or watching the scenery outside your window
involves us with living species other than our own. It’s
fascinating, relaxing and restorative. We become one
with the natural world, moving in the quietness, renewing
ourselves- just as nature renews herself every day.
So, take a walk, eat lunch outdoors, do some birding,
March 2014
By Dr. Peg Rooney
garden, take care of your house plants, sit by a stream
and “point your face to the sun”, take deep breaths,
listen. The magic and mystery of Vitamin N will do the
rest.
Hooded Mergansers, Arkansas R.
Harry Rurup
Bird Appreciation 101
AVAS Program presentation
Who: Dr. Leon Bright
When: Saturday, March 1st, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: InfoZone, 4th floor of Rawlings Library,
Pueblo, Colorado
Who’s invited: YOU, family and friends
Have coffee, tea and cookies with the presenter at
10:00 a.m.
Dr. Bright will give an overview of the kinds of
(continued on page 3)
THE VALLEY HARRIER
Page 2
CONSERVATION NOTES
With memories too fresh of
this unusually cold winter it may
be hard to think about wildfire
risks. Unfortunately these
wildlife risks, both in our forests
and on the plains, are looming
large. Though some parts of the
areas of south central, southeast
and the Rio Grande Valley that
AVAS covers received some
good snows, a good sized chunk
of southeast Colorado is still
listed as in severe to extreme to
‘exceptional’ drought (see Drought
Monitor for updated rankings
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
Home/RegionalDroughtMonitor.
aspx?west ) . Almost all of the
forested area covered by AVAS are
listed as I write this as ‘abnormally
dry.’
So I was very happy to hear of a
meeting in Canon City about a new
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
(CWPP) for the southwest side of my
town. I attended the meeting that
drew a very good crowd of well over
a hundred residents of the in the high
risk area. I was pleased with the
information presented and answers
to questions during the meeting.
Though the focus was on the safety
of people and their property and not
on natural resources that are also at
risk when people live in the wildlandforest interface, their approach is
consistent with the available science
on how to provide the best possible
protection to the forest and to the
birds and other wildlife that live
there.
Though the CWPP for Southwest
Canon City is still being finalized and
so not posted, a number of other
CWPP’s for locations around the
AVAS area are available for viewing
on the Colorado State Forest website:
http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/
CommunityWildfireProtectionPlans.
html. I was surprised to find there
is a CWPP for Southwest Pueblo
County, an area of exceptional
risk of wildfires that continues to
have little home fire mitigation work
accomplished in areas such as
Beulah. That is so very different than
the significant amount of mitigation
that has been done in Pueblo
Mountain Park that is adjacent to
Beulah.
If you live in a community that is
at high risk for wildfires either in the
forest or on the plains, do find out
if your area has a CWPP by going
to the link above. If it doesn’t, you
should be talking to your local officials
(such as county commissioners,
city council, fire protection district,
subdivision organization) about the
importance of having one. If you
do have a CWPP, and progress has
not been very good, do contact your
local officials to insist that efforts
be put forward to work on the tasks
identified in your CWPP. And please
do take the important steps to make
by SeEtta Moss
your home ‘Firewise’ by doing those
things that have been demonstrated
to reduce the risk that your home will
burn in a wildfire including creating
‘defensive space’. There are
some excellent materials from the
Colorado
State Forest
Service
including
the valuable
information
on such
important
tasks as
creating
‘defensive
s p a c e ’
a r o u n d
your home,
website is
http://csfs.
colostate.
edu/pages/
wf-protection.
html . You can
get information
to help you find
out if your home is at risk from
wildfire through the ‘Colorado
Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal’:
http://www.coloradowildfirerisk.
com/ —it can help you find out if
your home and property are ‘at risk’
from wildfires. More information
is available at www.firewise.org/
wildfire-preparedness/be-firewise/
home-and-landscape .
SeEtta maintains a personal blog @
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com
THE VALLEY HARRIER
Page 3
AVAS WELCOMES
AVAS LEADERSHIP
Arkansas Valley Audubon
Society is pleased to welcome the
following New Members:
AVAS officers and Board members for
2014. All phone numbers are in area
code 719, except for Ben D’Andrea.
President: Peg Rooney 372-3415,
429-6067(cell), [email protected]
Vice-President: Marilyn McBirney
948-4622, macrisingsunfarm@
comcast.net
Secretary: Mary Tucey 544-6420,
[email protected]
Treasurer: Richard Tucey 544-6420,
[email protected]
Board Member(s)–at–large:
(vacancy)
Programs: Bev Waggener 406-9086,
[email protected]
Conservation: SeEtta Moss 2758874, 429-3821 (cell), seettam@
gmail.com
Education: Sue Hardesty 485-8570,
225-0442 (cell), suzihardesty@
gmail.com
Field Trips: (vacancy)
Membership: Lura Zimmerman
(cell) 719-334-3299
Newsletter: Harry Rurup 547-0406,
(cell) 214-3793, hanthonyr@yahoo.
com
Publicity: John Gallagher 251-1698,
[email protected], work: 5492458, jgallagher@natureandraptor.
org
Audubon CO Representative:
(vacancy)
Web site: Ben D’Andrea (303) 9871066, [email protected]
Claudia Gill
M. Whitmarsh
Judy Crisco
Stan Price
Amanda Rose
Lamar
Walsenburg
Alamosa
San Luis
San Luis
66 people have paid to renew their
Audubon membership.
Want to join AVAS or renew
you membership? Go to www.
socobirds.org and click on the
membership link or contact Lura
Zimmerman (phone: 719-334-3299).
Members who provide their e-mail
address to Lura Zimmerman ,
membership chairman will receive
advance reminders of programs,
field trips or other special events.
You may also be notified of special
environmental issues of concern.
(continued from page 1)
AVAS March 1 Program
birds that can be found in our
area, including some basics of
bird identification, and how they
can bring pleasure to all kinds of
people.
He is a retired professor of
Spanish from our local university
where he taught for 32 years. Dr.
Bright has served many years
with the Arkansas Valley Audubon
Society holding a number of
important responsibilities including
President, Newsletter Editor
and, most recently, Membership
Chair. Don’t miss this wonderful
opportunity to learn from such an
experienced leader.
The Harrier is published monthly
except for June, July, August with a
single issue for December/January by
the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society,
P.O. Box 522, Pueblo, CO 81002.
Subscription is free to members of
AVAS.
Check out www.socobirds.org
for the new feature, “Monthly
Bird Forecast”. Knowledgeable
experts will post what birds to
watch for each month and where
they can be found in the AVAS
area.
Check out the AVAS Facebook
page too.
Habitat Hero (continued from p.5)
Select® and High Country
Gardens. You can learn more at
the website: http://habhero.org.
A Habitat Hero workshop is
scheduled for two sessions on
April 5, 2014, one from 10amnoon another from 1-3pm at the
Southeastern Colorado Water
Conservancy District 31717 United
Ave. Pueblo. The workshop will
feature “Wildscaping 101: Habitat
Hero Landscaping” presented by
Lauren Springer Ogden, Susan
Tweit and Connie Holsinger.
Admission is free, but tickets are
required. Tickets are available at
CSU-Extension 701 Court St.Suite
C in Pueblo and from any AVAS
board member.
THE VALLEY HARRIER
Page 4
FIELD TRIPS
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 4 TH
SATURDAY BIRDWALK, THE
NATURE AND RAPTOR CENTER
OF PUEBLO, 8 – 11 AM: Join an
AVAS member for a leisurely stroll
along the river trail. This is an
excellent outing for families, and
beginning birders are especially
encouraged to attend. Birding is
free, but there is a $3.00 parking
fee (Become a member of the
Center and avoid this charge!).
Questions? Contact the Nature
Center at 549-2414.
For more information regarding
AVAS trips and events, visit www.
socobirds.org. Also check out
www.natureandraptor.org for
fun, informative, family-oriented
activities.
AVAS will offer the following
field trips for 2014:
Spring- Chico Basin Ranch,
Colorado Springs and Migratory
Bird Counts
Summer- Cañon City, CO
Fall- Lake DeWeese, Westcliffe,
CO and Migratory Bird Counts
Winter- Christmas Bird Counts
4th Saturday Birdwalks at the
Nature Center Pueblo,Co year
round
Specific information regarding
days and times for these trips
will be posted on socobirds.org
and in the electronic newsletter.
Keystone XL
Pipeline Project
On January 31, 2014, the
Department of State released
the Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement
for the proposed Keystone XL oil
pipeline project. It and additional
documents are available on the
State Department’s website: www.
keystonepipeline-xl.state.gov.
A 30-day public comment period
will begin with the publication
of a Federal Register notice on
February 5, 2014 and will close
on March 7, 2014. During this
period, the public and interested
parties are encouraged to submit
comments on the national interest
to http://www.regulations.gov
Comments are not private and will
be made public.
“Together We Can”
American Widgeon
Habitat Hero Workshop, April 5
AVAS is the proud recipient of a
“garden in a box” from the Terra
Foundation, one of the sponsors
of the Habitat Hero project. This
garden contains 15 “waterwise”
perennial shrubs and plants that
will cover a 7’x12’ space when
planted according to the layout
Harry Rurup
and directions contained in the
box. The Nature and Raptor
Center of Pueblo will be the
home of the Habitat Hero garden.
Planting will begin in early April.
Habitat Hero is a program to
encourage landscaping that
provides songbird and pollinator
habitat in yards, gardens, and
neighborhoods. It’s a cooperative
venture between Audubon
Rockies, Terra Foundation, Plant
(continued on page 3)
Arkansas Valley Audubon Society
(AVAS) has received a $1000 grant
from Audubon Rockies for their
“Together We Can” project. This
project will focus on “adopting” Lake
Pueblo State Park and providing
input to the revised resource
management plan for the park;
grooming Overlook Trail in the SWA,
co-sponsoring a cleanup of fishing
line along the Arkansas River near
the Nature Center of Pueblo and
providing nature experiences for
underserved children in Pueblo
County.
Check the AVAS website www.
socobirds.org for dates and times of
the project activities. Bring the kids
and plan on pitching in. “Together
We Can” make a difference for
people and birds.
THE VALLEY HARRIER
UPCOMING EVENTS
IN THE AVAS AREA
Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9, 2014, 31st
Annual Monte Vista Crane Festival...Wildlife experts,
naturalists and biologists will present entertaining
educational programs about the cranes and other
wildlife in the area. There will be bus tours to the areas
where the Greater Sandhill Cranes cranes gather with
naturalists to provide additional background information.
Arts and crafts show and good eating will be available.
People from as far away as Japan have attended
the festival. More information is available at www.
cranefest.com or for information and registration call
719-852-3552, Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Reservation/payments deadline is March 4, 2014!!!
Page 5
Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2014, Karval
Mountain Plover Festival…”weekend full of bird
watching, wildlife viewing tours, entertainment, history,
arts and crafts, antiques, and LOTS OF GOOD FOOD!”
Stay in local homes of ranchers and learn the personal
histories of the area from them. For more lodging
information contact; Connie Stone: 719-446-5456 or
email [email protected]. For registration, see
the Karval website: http://www.karval.org/
Thursday-Sunday, May 15-18, 2014, Bent County
Birding and Heritage Festival… Bird watch for Piping
Plover, Least Tern, migrants and Black Rails with expert
guides including Duane Nelson, John Koshak and
local ranchers. Enjoy learning about the local historical
heritage and arts. Experience the hospitality and good
food. “Early bird” registration discount ends May 1.
Contact information: 719-456-1296. See the flyer at
http://bentcounty.org/
© Ben D’Andrea
PAGE 6
THE VALLEY HARRIER
MARCH CALENDAR
SATURDAY, March 5, Birding 101 with Leon
Bright (See p. 1)
SATURDAY, March 22, Pueblo Nature
Center,4th Saturday Birdwalk (see p.4)
P.O. Box 522
Pueblo, CO 81002
OUR MISSION:
AVAS exists to promote the
conservation of nature through
education, political action and
field activities. Our focus is on
birds, other wildlife, and their
habitat in Southern Colorado.
Female Common Goldeneye
APRIL CALENDAR
SATURDAY, April 5, Southeastern Colorado
Water Conservancy, “Wildscaping 101” (see
p.3) SATURDAY, April 26, NATURE AND RAPTOR
CENTER IN PUEBLO: 4th Saturday Birdwalk! Check out p.5 for dates of other special events.
Note: registration deadline for Monte Vista
Crane Festival is March 4.
© Ben D’andrea 2013