Recording of the May 22 Meeting: Dale Gentry on Audubon working lands strategy
| Here is the link to the recording of MRVAC's May 22 program on "Audubon Working Lands Strategy" by Dale Gentry, Audubon Upper Mississippi's director of conservation. Audubon’s Working Lands Strategy aims to bring bird-friendly practices to private lands across the Western Hemisphere. Dale has a B.S. in zoology from Idaho State University, a M.S. in biology from the University of South Dakota, and a Ph.D. in atmosphere, environment and water resources from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He will discuss how the Audubon conservation ranching and Audubon bird-friendly maple syrup programs are helping grassland and eastern forest bird communities while also supporting soil health, climate resiliency and overall biodiversity in the upper Midwest.
This meeting will be held in person at the refuge and simulcast via Zoom. The refuge visitor center is located at 3815 American Boulevard East in Bloomington and is accessible after a short walk from the METRO blue line. All MRVAC meetings are free and open to the public. Here is the recording from tonight's recording: |
MRVAC is Exploring a Name Change
by Steve Weston
The Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter is exploring dropping the name “Audubon.” Across the country Audubon chapters have been changing their names. The Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis is now the Land of Lakes Bird Alliance, and the St. Paul Audubon Chapter is now the St. Paul Bird Alliance.
While John James Audubon was a naturalist and a revolutionary artist of nature and the founders of the National Audubon Society idolized him as they launched the bird conservation movement, it has come to light that he was a strong supporter of slavery, an enslaver himself, and had other issues abhorrent to society now. His desecration of indigenous graves as pseudo-science is deeply troubling and many of his contributions to science have come into question. Many chapters have found that the association with the Audubon name has been a barrier to younger people joining. We no longer think the Audubon name aligns with our chapter’s incredible work or its values of welcoming everyone who shares our mission.
The board will be studying the issue and seeking members comments over the next few weeks before it makes a decision to ensure that all of our stakeholders have an opportunity to be heard. You can use the green “contact us” button at the bottom of the home page at MRVAC.org to share your thoughts.
Link to April 24 program: All about Flammulated Owls
Here's the link to the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) April 24 program by Dr. Markus Mika, assistant professor at UW-La Crosse on "Making a Living when Things Heat Up: Breeding and Life History in Flammulated Owls of Northern Utah." For 17 years Dr. Mika has studied populations of these tiny insectivorous birds in northern Utah and is observing how climatic and landscape changes are impacting the forests and resources on which these owls rely.
Passcode: z%=MunM8
Recording Summary
The meeting focused on Mika's extensive research on Flammulated Owls, covering their migration patterns, habitat preferences, and breeding behaviors. Discussions included the use of various tracking technologies, the impact of climate change on owl populations, and the importance of community science in research efforts. The meeting also touched on the evolution and classification of the species, as well as conservation challenges and future research plans.
Pileated Woodpeckers: You can help
By Steve Weston
NRRI's Avian Ecology Lab is looking for birders to assist in locating nesting cavities of Pileated Woodpeckers across the state. The Pileated Woodpecker is an iconic bird, and finding its nesting sites will contribute significantly to understanding its behavior, conservation efforts, and habitat preferences.
Where to Look: Pileated Woodpeckers typically nest in large trees that are either dead or contain significant decay. Nest cavities are large circular or semicircular holes, unlike the rectangular holes made by foraging Pileated Woodpeckers.
How to Help: Volunteers can report sightings of active Pileated Woodpecker nests using this Google form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXFV1XCxEp_-K2asz8OWV0Q3yCxzMJ3Ir9T3Xyo5hvfrwKDQ/viewform
Recording Details: When documenting active nests, please take clear notes on the location of the cavity. Also, if possible take photographs of the cavity and surrounding habitat (from a respectful distance). Record the location using a pin on your cell phone map or GPS coordinates if possible. Finally, monitoring the nest (at a distance) and providing information on nest success would be extremely beneficial to our project. For example, documenting behavior such as feeding or nest predation, or noting when cavities are no longer “active”.
Ethical Considerations: Respect the birds' space and do not disturb them during nesting. Nesting sites should be observed from afar to prevent any stress to the birds or their young.
Contact: Kara G. Snow, MSc., Avian Ecology Lab, Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), University of Minnesota Duluth, snowx043@d.umn.edu
Salt Lake Birding Weekend: It's happening and registration is open
The 2025 Salt Lake Birding Weekend, now in its 48th year, will be held May 2-4, starting at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Area Headquarters, near Watson, MN. This year, the birders will be shuttled to several locations, including Salt Lake, to view migrating birds. There will be three coach buses with bathrooms for birders to have comfortable access to the remote locations to see the birds. This event has some exciting new opportunities this year, along with new partnerships. The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter, University of MN Extension Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the Montevideo Area Convention and Visitors Bureau have all come together to make this a great outdoor experience for all participants.
In a typical year, about 150 people come together to count birds, enjoy fellowship and learn from each other. What will you see? Several species of grebes, Wilson's and Red-necked Phalaropes, Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, Ross's and Cackling geese, all things duck, Short-eared Owl, harriers and American Kestrels, to name a few from past years.
In 2024, 130 species were identified; in 2023, 139 species were identified, so it is an excellent place to get some of those birds on your life list checked off.
There will be three buses taking participants to various locations, possibilities will include: Marsh Lake Dam, nearby Wildlife Management areas, and Waterfowl Productions Areas that will have been scouted earlier in the week for birds.
Visit the following link and register to join us: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A9AC2FA5FFCE9-49529567-salt#/
Please only register yourself and those in your group you know are coming. You will be required to make a comment in a text field, asking for the name of any other attendees you’re registering for on their behalf, and whether you want to be assigned the same bus as them or any other attendees.
We also have a website created for the event, including great info about Salt Lake itself and historic information, about lodging/camping list, as well as the registration link and event schedule. Please visit the site here: https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/salt-lake-birding-weekend/home
Link to March 27 Program: Travis Longcore on birds and light pollution
The Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) hosted Travis Longcore's presentation on light pollution and bird conservation Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. Light pollution is an additional stress on bird populations, exacerbating other threats. Urban ecologist Dr. Travis Longcore presented wide-ranging research in this important area and how it intersects with other important threats to birds such as glass collisions. He showed how artificial light at night can disrupt the orientation of birds during night flights and how it affects critical behaviors linked to light cues, including the timing of migration, timing of the dawn chorus and even the production of stress hormones and susceptibility to disease.
Here's a link to the recording:
https://1drv.ms/v/c/65ee1eed89b37a8b/EU_G2vwAHEJInSfPJRP1IPwByVmL6c2tb3hzLtT9kO9Ysw?e=crIAdm
[Tested and confirmed working on March 30, 2025]
Link to Feb. 27 program recording: Linda Macaulay -- A Life Lived with Birds
Linda Macaulay: Chairman of the Board
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
"A Life Lived with Birds"
Thursday, February 27, Zoom Program (only) - 7:30 p.m.
From an eagle to a blue jay, birds surround us whether we live in a city or a suburb. While feathers and bright colors are what most people know about birds, bird sounds—calls and songs—are in fact some of the most distinguishing characteristics of birds. "Over the last fifty years I have researched birds and their sounds. In this talk, I will discuss my life lived with birds—from hiking in Borneo to driving through Africa—and how you can make birds a part of your life and contribute to conservation."
Here's the program recording link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/s-BX6Cd2OQF9ouNMQTp32sAU-sIja-Ii5XtF99pGuF7fxo9tdOUeV9ykOb_JKKz-.PcqEQzYm3IWYQa-4
Passcode: B!*@B5zd
Bird and nature photographer? This is for you!
One of MRVAC's volunteers is organizing a special interest group around birding and nature photography. The first meeting of the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter's photography special interest group will meet indoors at the entrance to the Bloomington Visitor's Center (3815 American Blvd. East in Bloomington) at 2:30 p.m. Feb, 22 with photo equipment. Cell phone photographers are welcome, too! Shanda Fisher will meet and lead the group on a nearby trail seeking photos of Bald Eagles and Trumpeter Swans by the river. Plan to hike for about 90 minutes. If it's too cold, the group will decide alternatives there. Check the events calendar tab for more information.
Jan. 23 Program Recording: Prelinguistic Babbling: Insights From Neotropical Parrots
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Recording Summary
Steve introduced Carl Berg, an associate professor at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley who is conducting research on parrots and language. Karl discussed his research on the complex behaviors of songbirds and parrots, highlighting their unique life history differences and the importance of vocalizations in their communication. He also discussed the fascinating world of parrots, particularly their ability to mimic human speech and bond with their owners, and the potential for parrots to manipulate other pets in the house for entertainment.
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General Meeting
The Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) invites you to join us for "Prelinguistic Babbling: Insights From Neotropical Parrots" with Associate Professor Karl Berg of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. This will be a Zoom-only program.
Parrots are famous for imitating human speech, but little is known about how their vocal prowess is advantageous. Karl Berg has been studying communication in a wild population of Green-rumped Parrotlets in Venezuela. His crew has filmed inside nest cavities, revealing several cryptic behaviors previously unreported in parrots, including a complex vocal babbling stage. Current work seeks to understand how babbling prepares for complex communication in adulthood.
The meeting will be available only on Zoom beginning at 7:30 p.m. To join the Zoom meeting click on this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85625706373?pwd=z4utkZAUa1mwwm1CTdEHhlcDcXQI8o.1
Meeting ID: 856 2570 6373
Passcode: 112650
One tap mobile http://+16469313860,,85625706373#,,,,*112650#
Links to Oct. 24 program recordings: Your yard as a bird-friendly habitat
Maintaining Your Yard as a Bird-friendly Habitat
Angie Hong: Author and coordinator for Minnesota’s East Metro Water Education Program
Angie Hong shared advice for creating bird-friendly native landscapes and how to prep your yard for the winter without taking away food and habitat for birds and the insects they eat. She had hints about trees and shrubs are good for songbirds, how to enhance existing gardens with native plants, and where to find resources to get started.
The meeting was in-person at the refuge and simulcast via Zoom. The refuge visitor center is located at 3815 American Boulevard East in Bloomington and is accessible after a short walk from the METRO blue line. All MRVAC meetings are free and open to the public.
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