President's Message
Bill Rowe
Hi to all, and thank you in advance for reading this issue of Tale Feathers, with its news of St. Louis Audubon people and events. We appreciate your attention and look forward to your participation.
First, let me mention the imminent changes on your Board of Directors—imminent because of our unusual fiscal year, which runs from May 1 to April 30 of the next year. The timing of our Board terms follows the same calendar, and so every year at this time we see some members finish up their terms while others are just joining us. In 2023, our departing members are Jean Favara, Katy Fechter, Dennis Martin, Karen Meyer, and Linda Tossing, all of whom have played important roles in the success and progress of our organization, whether in conservation initiatives (Jean), financial management (Karen), membership (Linda), or overall leadership as President (Katy and Dennis). The parentheses acknowledge just one of the multiple areas in which each of them has contributed. We know that they will continue as volunteers in one way or another; in particular, Linda will remain as a non-Board chair of membership, while others will help with beginner bird walks and birding field trips, conservation projects, and more.
New members are Kathy Dailey (our current Bookkeeper), Nick Eaton (our new Treasurer), Evan Hill, Clark Singleton, and Joan Strassman. We welcome them and look forward to working with them. You’ll being hearing more about them and from them as time goes on.
These five, along with the full slate of officers for the coming year, are now up for formal election at the Annual Meeting of SLAS members, which will be held on Tuesday, April 18. It starts at 6:30 with a summary of the year’s finances, a look forward at the budget, and a vote on the slate as mandated by the bylaws. After that (about 7:00) the meeting will consist of a talk by Jo-Elle Mogerman, Ph.D., who is the director of WildCare Park, the new, separate branch of the St. Louis Zoo in northeastern St. Louis County. This meeting will be held in person for the first time in three years, and we sincerely hope you will plan to be there. See the next item, below, for the details.
I would also like to highlight another event that many of us look forward to annually: the Birdathon. This is its sixth year of bringing a wide diversity of members and their friends and families out for a morning, a day, or even a whole month of birding. The primary object is to have fun and see a lot, and along the way you will contribute to a major annual event that supports St. Louis Audubon’s work. It is set to begin on May 1 and runs for the whole month, allowing everyone, at any level of interest and skill, to participate in the ways that suit them best. Again see below, and I hope to see you out there!
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Directions to the Presentation: The meeting and presentation will take place in the Auditorium at the St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park. Please stop at the security gate upon entry into the park. The guard will direct you to the Auditorium.
How to find the Auditorium: Once you enter the park gates, drive past the flags at the top of the hill. Stay to the right. The next building you will see is the Auditorium. It will be on the right side. Please park in the parking lot spaces as close to the building as you can.
Registration is not required to attend the meeting and presentation, however, if you are interested in coming early for light refreshments and snacks, it would be helpful to reply to this email with your interest, so that we have enough supplies. Thanks!
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Jo-Elle Mogerman, Ph.D.
Director-Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park
Saint Louis Zoo
Jo-Elle Mogerman is a native Chicagoan who grew up with a love of animals, Mogerman applied that love to her academic pursuits, obtaining a B.A. in biology from Macalester College, an M.A. in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in biology with a focus on foraging ecology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition, she is currently adjunct at DePaul University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, teaching an on-line course that engages students as citizen scientists.
Currently, she serves as the first African-American female zoo director as the Director-Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. There she is leading the effort to build from scratch a new safari experience and animal science and conservation breeding facility. At John G. Shedd Aquarium she oversaw the vision and strategic direction for all learning and community programs. She brings extensive executive experience in informal education and community relations and is well-versed on topics related to the conservation and zoological community through nearly 14 years at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo.
Dr. Mogerman currently serves the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) as the Chair of the Wildlife Conservation Committee and advisory to the Diversity Committee. She has served as chair of the AZA’s Diversity Committee and a member of the Ethics Committee. She currently serves on the boards of North County Inc. and WildEarth Allies and Alliance for the Great Lakes (as Chair). She is also an Illinois Nature Preserves commissioner. She has garnered more than 10 awards for the organizations, programs and projects under her lead.
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Ornithological Forecast, April 2023
Bill Rowe
April may have been the cruelest month for T.S. Eliot, but it’s not so for birders; in fact, it is one of the two most delightful months of transition between the colder and the warmer halves of the year, the other being October. The trees are leafing out, but slowly enough to leave the canopy more open and viewable than it is later. Lots and lots of passerines (small land birds) are arriving, some to nest here and others to pass on northward, and while we do not yet see the biggest influx of birds that wintered in the neotropics (that’s coming in May), we have the beginnings of it at the end of April, and we do already see most of those from the southern US. These, along with our permanent residents, will be singing, staking out territories, building nests, and then laying eggs, or at least getting close to that stage. Meanwhile, after a few species of shorebirds in March, we can see these same few molting into their colorful breeding plumage—like Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, and American Golden-Plover—plus many additional species from the big shorebird menu, as well as migrant terns, which join the gulls in warmer weather. Migrant raptors continue, with Merlins in open country, Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks overhead, and the possibility of a rare Swainson’s Hawk. Herons, egrets, and other wading birds arrive, as do the more obscure wetland species like rails, and some semi-western birds are at their most likely this month (think Cinnamon Teal and Yellow-headed Blackbird). This note could go on for pages; the basic message is, get on out there and look!
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Botanical Forecast, April 2023
Shannon Callahan
We all know the saying, April showers bring May flowers, but it takes more than just showers to create beautiful and intentional native landscaping at home. In addition to spring rain, April brings warmer temperatures, coaxing plants out of dormancy. Some are quick to respond, like our spring ephemerals. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans), and Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) are all currently in bloom. Others are slowly sending new leaves above ground.
As you walk around your garden you may notice green life underneath last year’s leaves and stems. Refrain from clearing leaf litter away, new growth will find its way to the light, and benefit from the extra insulation during the dropping night temperatures.
Just as important for bird enthusiasts, are the snails that over-winter in the fallen leaves. Their calcium-packed shells are an essential part of many female songbirds’ diets to promote healthy egg formation.
April is also the time to prune dead twigs from established shrubs and trees. Leaving sticks and twigs in the corner of your yard is perfect for birds collecting nesting material and countless invertebrates looking for a home. Do not prune or injure oaks until July to avoid attracting oak wilt-causing beetles. If you’re planning on transplanting, try to time it before or after flowering, allowing the plant to dedicate more energy towards root growth.
April is an exciting month of rejuvenation, take the time to enjoy your reemerging garden and plan for the upcoming months!
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THE ST. LOUIS BIRDATHON IS BACK!
Join in our 6th annual St. Louis area Birdathon. You can have a great time birdwatching while supporting a great cause. A uniquely St. Louis Audubon way to help protect Greater St. Louis native birds, Birdathon brings people together to raise funds to protect birds while watching birds.
Everyone is welcome - expert birders, casual birdwatchers and beginners! Like a walk-a-thon, Birdathoners collect pledges and donations from friends, family members, and coworkers for finding and counting bird species.
Kickoff is May 1 and the fun continues the entire month!
One person counted 206 species last May! Wow! Can you beat it?
(Read Diane's 2022 Birdathon Recap here! What an exciting month!)
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Want to make a difference for the birds and habitats of the
St. Louis metropolitan region?
Supporting the St. Louis Birdathon gives you, and the birds,
a voice for conservation, education, and advocacy!
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Dan Pearson, Bring Conservation Home Director, featured in the national Wild Ones Journal
Read the story and his rainscaping feature here.
Congratulations, Dan, for your impressive work and commitment to improving the natural landscape in St. Louis!
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A story worth sharing as we near peak migration time in St. Louis... |
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Joelle Gehring, a biologist with the Migratory Bird Program who focuses on bird collision reduction, wrote a story about a banded and nanotagged Evening Grosbeak from Maine. Unfortunately, it later died colliding with a home window in Canada.
This is part of a series of stories the USFWS Migratory Bird Program is telling in partnership with the USGS bird banding lab to help people connect with and understand the collision problem and potential solutions.
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Learn how St. Louis Audubon Society works to establish long-term community relationships that support bird-safe practices and reduce bird fatalities in the St. Louis region. BirdSafeSTL
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Join others who share your interests in nature, birds and wildlife!
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Photo Credit: Marian Brinkman |
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ST. LOUIS AUDUBON SOCIETY BOARD MEETINGS
Next meeting: Tuesday, April 11
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Please Note: Board meetings will be held by Zoom and will not meet in person until further notice. If you have an interest in joining our volunteer Board, please contact one of the officers or staff members. |
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Officers & Staff
Bill Rowe, President
Jean Favara, VP Conservation
Stephanie Schroeder, VP Education
Gail Saxton, Secretary
Amy Weeks, Executive Director
(314) 687-3942
Dan Pearson, Director, BCH
(314) 718-3967
Shannon Callahan, Outreach Specialist, BCH
(630) 715-2616
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