The Audubon Minnesota annual meeting held at the Wilder Center in St. Paul on Nov. 12, 2011 was exciting. Two points especially stand out in my mind. One is the strategic reorganization of all of the National Audubon‘s efforts based upon migration pathways. Instead of basing efforts on state ]]> By Matthew Schaut, MRVAC President 

The Audubon Minnesota annual meeting held at the Wilder Center in St. Paul on Nov. 12, 2011 was exciting. Two points especially stand out in my mind. One is the strategic reorganization of all of the National Audubon‘s efforts based upon migration pathways. Instead of basing efforts on state boundaries, the National Audubon Society will focus on the health of the flyways migrating birds actually use. Minnesota is now part of the Gulf Coast Restoration/Mississippi flyway region, under the leadership of Chris Canfield. For us and for our birds, Louisiana may have just become more important than Washington, DC.

The other thing that stands out in my mind is how flyway health will be encouraged within Minnesota. Within the State, the Audubon Society plans to focus efforts on increasing the viability of the areas identified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs). I was a little disappointed in this until I took a closer look at the IBAs already identified. The Upper and the Lower Minnesota River Valleys are two IBAs – covering the whole course of the Minnesota River! This is a lot of territory and most of it is unprotected habitat.

There‘s plenty of room for habitat protection and remediation here! Much effort will be aimed at improving the status of Minnesota‘s most endangered or declining species – such as birds using grassland and oak habitats – and being good stewards of those species identified as Stewardship species, such as the golden-winged warbler and the American woodcock whose breeding population or breeding area is concentrated in Minnesota.

My biggest concern is with habitat protection. I trust that, given the chance, natural processes will prove to be remediation processes. Habitat being preserved, with time, remediation will occur via natural and human-assisted processes. Even with a concentration on IBAs, some species simply will need more protected habitat. Preserving habitat will be difficult.

Minnesota State Representative Paul Torkelson, who represents District 21B and is a fourth generation farmer in Watonwan County, was kind enough to speak at the annual meeting. His talk was on strategies farmers can use to achieve clean water. He also spoke of the necessity that farming practices be such that farmers can achieve the greatest yields possible from their land.

Minnesota Valley Nat’l Wildlife Refuge – Wilkie Unit: 7701 Co. Rd. 101 E., Shakopee

To Register: Craig Mandel – 952-546-3407

Join us for a bird walk on one of the many refuge units and learn about the birds that spend the winter season in Minnesota. With a variety of ]]> Saturday, February 25, 9:00-11:00 am,

Minnesota Valley Nat’l Wildlife Refuge – Wilkie Unit: 7701 Co. Rd. 101 E., Shakopee

To Register: Craig Mandel – 952-546-3407

Join us for a bird walk on one of the many refuge units and learn about the birds that spend the winter season in Minnesota. With a variety of habitats at the different units, you will want to explore them all. During these walks we will search for birds that over winter in Minnesota and the first migrating species of the year. A variety of waterfowl, raptors, Northern Shrikes and American Tree Sparrows are some of the types of birds we will look for. Birders of all skill levels are welcome on these walks. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. For information on these walks or to register, please contact Craig.

To Register: Craig Mandel 952-546-3407

$35/non-MRVAC members; $25/MRVAC members

Join us on a trip to Northern Minnesota. We will begin the trip in Duluth and from there will head into the Sax/Zim Bog. We will be searching for wintering finches, woodpeckers and grouse and with ]]> Thursday & Friday, February 16-17, 2012 – 7:00 am

To Register: Craig Mandel 952-546-3407

$35/non-MRVAC members; $25/MRVAC members

Join us on a trip to Northern Minnesota. We will begin the trip in Duluth and from there will head into the Sax/Zim Bog. We will be searching for wintering finches, woodpeckers and grouse and with luck we could get to see a Great Gray or Northern Hawk Owl. On Friday we will keep our options open. Some of the other locations that can offer interesting birding at this time of the year include areas in Lake and Aitkin counties. Please contact Craig to register for this trip.

Minnesota Valley Nat’l Wildlife Refuge – Wilkie Unit: 7701 Co. Rd. 101 E., Shakopee

To Register: Craig Mandel – 952-546-3407

Join us for a bird walk on one of the many refuge units and learn about the birds that spend the winter season in Minnesota. With a variety of ]]> Saturday, January 21, 9:00-11:00 am,

Minnesota Valley Nat’l Wildlife Refuge – Wilkie Unit: 7701 Co. Rd. 101 E., Shakopee

To Register: Craig Mandel – 952-546-3407

Join us for a bird walk on one of the many refuge units and learn about the birds that spend the winter season in Minnesota. With a variety of habitats at the different units, you will want to explore them all. During these walks we will search for birds that over winter in Minnesota and the first migrating species of the year. A variety of waterfowl, raptors, Northern Shrikes and American Tree Sparrows are some of the types of birds we will look for. Birders of all skill levels are welcome on these walks. Bring along your binoculars, favorite field guide and dress appropriately for the weather. For information on these walks or to register, please contact Craig.

Where: Audubon Center of the North Woods, Sandstone, MN

Meals, lodging and multiple winter outdoor skill classes (and some indoor sessions) are included in this weekend event. ($170-180) Registration is by mail and some scholarships are available. Call 1-888-404-7743 or visit ]]> When: February 24-26, 2012

Where: Audubon Center of the North Woods, Sandstone, MN

Meals, lodging and multiple winter outdoor skill classes (and some indoor sessions) are included in this weekend event. ($170-180) Registration is by mail and some scholarships are available. Call 1-888-404-7743 or visit http://www.audubon-center.org.

I want to thank for your generous donation of $250 for chimney swift tower materials; my Eagle Scout project. Without it, I would not have had enough funding in time.

I‘d like to talk about my project and how it went for me. This is a large chimney like ]]> By Paul Randall, MRVAC Member 

I want to thank for your generous donation of $250 for chimney swift tower materials; my Eagle Scout project. Without it, I would not have had enough funding in time.

I‘d like to talk about my project and how it went for me. This is a large chimney like tower providing a place for chimney swifts to roost and nest. We started work on the 16th of June and finished on the 26th. It ended up being 18 hours of work with several people on each of the five workdays. On the final day, one of the parents brought scaffolding which greatly increased progress. We used liquid nail on the entire tower, along with screws for maximum strength. The angle irons are also a quarter of an inch adding additional strength. It shouldn‘t be going anywhere! I finished by the end of June, my original goal.

I hope you are pleased with where your money went. I am very happy with how the tower turned out. There is quite a bit of space underneath to squeeze in and clean the tower. I can do the cleaning job; it is only once a year and it is very simple. I just have to scrape the twig nest out if a nest was made. The tower should also last for a number of decades. Yearly maintenance should keep it in good condition and I can do my best to preserve it. Ron Windingstad from Audubon Minnesota gave me a CD with Chimney Swift recordings on it. I will play it in an attempt to attract nesting or roosting swifts. If you would like to see it, feel free to contact me. Thank you again helping me complete my project with your support.

Fall has been a busy time for MRVAC. Our annual auction, held November 17, 2011 at the Refuge Headquarters, brought in almost $2000.00. The MRVAC Board extends many thanks to all those who attended and bid so generously! A big thank you as well to our ]]> By Matthew Schaut and Bob Williams, MRVAC Board

Fall has been a busy time for MRVAC. Our annual auction, held November 17, 2011 at the Refuge Headquarters, brought in almost $2000.00. The MRVAC Board extends many thanks to all those who attended and bid so generously! A big thank you as well to our very entertaining auctioneers (Mark Lystig and Scott Clark), and to Jeanne Holloran and the Refuge staff who continue to so kindly allow us to use their space. To those of you who have not yet attended an auction, please plan to attend next year. Loads of fun for a great cause.

The money raised will help us continue to support bus transportation for elementary students to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and providing Audubon Adventures newsletter kits for elementary classrooms as well as other projects under consideration.

If you were unable to be at the auction, you can still help our education program by sending a gift to MRVAC at P.O. Box 20400, Bloomington, MN 55420.

A big thank you to the companies who donated so generously:

• Vortex Optics
• Jensen‘s Café in Burnsville
• Baker‘s Square
• Milio‘s Subs
• Abdallah‘s in Burnsville
• Great Harvest Bakery
• Refuge Friends Inc
• Aveda
• Minnesota Valley YMCA
• All Seasons Wild Bird Store
• Valley Natural Foods in Burnsville
• U of M Landscape Arboretum
• Bruegger‘s Bagels
• Lunds/Byerlys

Many of you donated homemade, new or gently used items. Thanks for bringing them!

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Center

Thursday, February 23, 2012

7:00 pm: Socialize with coffee and cookies

7:30 pm: A brief MRVAC business meeting followed by the featured speaker

Sarah will talk about her research examining the role of trees in grasslands. Do trees cause songbirds to avoid ]]> By Sarah Thompson, Conservation Biology Department, University of Minnesota.

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Center

Thursday, February 23, 2012

7:00 pm: Socialize with coffee and cookies

7:30 pm: A brief MRVAC business meeting followed by the featured speaker

Sarah will talk about her research examining the role of trees in grasslands. Do trees cause songbirds to avoid otherwise suitable grassland habitat? Do waterfowl have lower nest success when they nest near tree groves or shelterbelts? Is tree removal an effective way to create better grassland habitat. She is working to answer these questions in conjunction with the Morris Wetland Management District in western Minnesota.

Sarah is a graduate student in the Conservation Biology Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota.

Where: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington. Take Hwy 494 to 34th Ave. Go south to American Blvd; turn left and go 2 blocks. Center will be on your right.

Public Transit: Accessible by Hiawatha Light Rail line, The Visitor Center is a couple of blocks from the American Blvd. stop.

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Center

Thursday, January 26, 2012

7:00 pm: Socialize with coffee and cookies

7:30 pm: A brief MRVAC business meeting followed by the featured speaker

In December 1995, a Boy Scout troop, under the direction of refuge interpreter Ed Moyer, plugged a large drain tile on the Opus Marsh ]]> By Scott Sharkey.

Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Center

Thursday, January 26, 2012

7:00 pm: Socialize with coffee and cookies

7:30 pm: A brief MRVAC business meeting followed by the featured speaker

In December 1995, a Boy Scout troop, under the direction of refuge interpreter Ed Moyer, plugged a large drain tile on the Opus Marsh along the Minnesota River in Bloomington. A long neglected wetland was reborn. The program “Wilderness in a Wetland” is a photographic exploration of this unique 100 acre marsh over 15 years. The photographs and narrative document the remarkable recovery of this special wetland.

Where: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center 3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington. Take Hwy 494 to 34th Ave. Go south to American Blvd; turn left and go 2 blocks. Center will be on your right.

Public Transit: Accessible by Hiawatha Light Rail line, The Visitor Center is a couple of blocks from the American Blvd. stop.

The Environmental Action Committee (EAC) is the advocacy arm of our Chapter. This is the place to be to make a difference for birds and other wildlife – and the special places we love to visit – in our Chapter area.

We could sure use your help ]]> by Lois Norrgard, MRVAC EAC Committee Chair

The Environmental Action Committee (EAC) is the advocacy arm of our Chapter. This is the place to be to make a difference for birds and other wildlife – and the special places we love to visit – in our Chapter area.

We could sure use your help to review current and developing local issues, as well as keep up with the Audubon priorities at the state and national level, and devise strategies for influencing policies and decisions related to those issues, write letters on behalf of the Chapter, make calls or visit decision-makers.

We generally meet on the first Tues of the month at 6:30 pm either in person or via a conference call line. You are welcome to attend one or several meetings to become familiar with the committee before making any commitment.

Please call Lois (952-881-7282) in advance to confirm the meeting time and location.