EARTHSTAR NEWSLETTER OF THE MACOMB AUDUBON SOCIETY

http://www.macombaudubon.org Volume 40 number 6, November - December 2014

Programs

Program Night - Monday, November 3, 2014 - Birding

the Great Migration of Kenya - Presented by Jerry

Jourdan

In July of 2013, Jerry and his wife Robin had the oppor-

tunity to spend two weeks witnessing the Great Migra-

tion of zebra and wildebeest across the Masai Mara of

SW Kenya. During that time he witnessed massive herds

of the great beasts, as well as scores of birds native to

the prairie grasslands of Kenya. Join him at the Macomb

Audubon Society Program Night as he presents a 45-

minutes slide show, set to African instrumental music,

of their journey from Nairobi, KE to the Masai Mara Na-

tional Park during the onset of the Great Migration.

Highlights include “A Sea of Zebra”, “A Lion’s Feast”,

“Deadly Crossing at the Mara River”, “Balloon Ride

across the Mara” and “Elephant Stampede in the Shad-

ow of Kilamanjaro”; all taken with professional Nikon

equipment. Jerry Jourdan is an avid birder, bird pho-

tographer and digiscoper. He is a member of the Erie

Shores Birding Association, Whitefish Point Bird Obser-

vatory, Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Michigan Audu-

bon Society and American Birding Association. Aside

from volunteering as a member of the Detroit River

Hawk Watch Advisory Committee and as a compiler for

the Monroe, MI Christmas Bird Count, Jerry is a pas-

sionate bird photographer specializing in digiscoping –

photographing birds through a spotting scope w/ digital

camera. His works have appeared in National Birding

Publications (Wildbird Magazine, BirdWatching, and

ABA’s Birding Magazine), and has won prizes in interna-

tional photo contests.

Field Trips

November 22, 2014 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Belle Isle State Park

In the past this was a traditional trip for Ma-

comb Audubon to view fall ducks, raptors and

other migrants. We'll meet at the Nature Cen-

ter on the east end of the island. Remember

Belle Isle is now a state park and a state park

tag is required. We'll stop nearby for lunch af-

terwards, for those interested.

December 20.

Christmas Bird Count. See more on page 5

Donations:

Frank & Francis Lautner $300.00

Denis & Laura Barbour $ 85.00

Gary & Esta Corbin 5.00

Diane Gurzick 20.00

Memorials - In memory of our dear friend Arlene Lynch:

Micki Special $25.00

Beverlee Babcock $25.00

Macomb Audubon Society

The Macomb Audubon Society is a

chapter of the Michigan Audubon

society. Meetings are normally

held the first Monday of each

month at 7:00 p.m. at the Sterling

Heights Senior Center located on

the N.E .side of Utica Rd. east of

Van Dyke and North of 18 mile Rd.

Events of the Society are open to

the public.

The mission of the Macomb Audu-

bon Society is to:

Promote interest in the world of

nature and to aid in the conserva-

tion of natural resources.

Provide an outlet for nature activi-

ties via field trips.

Provide an opportunity for the

exchange of knowledge and expe-

rience through lectures, films, dis-

cussions and newsletters.

Aid organizations that provide

people of all ages with opportuni-

ties to experience these above

given objectives. People can sup-

port our efforts by becoming

members. To become a member,

complete the form on the inside

back cover. Members receive this

newsletter, the Earthstar.

Earthstar Deadline

We appreciate relevant

information or articles of

interest to the Macomb

Audubon membership for

review for publicaton in the

Earthstar. If you have material

that you wish to submit,

please send it by the 12th

of the

preceding month to:

Bill Clark 53253 North Ave

Macomb MI 48042.

Email: wtclark1@comcast.net

Earthstar is published

bimonthly.by the Macomb

Audubon Society, a non-profit

educational organization.

Hey everybody - how you doin’

Me? Not so well so this is short and 3 days

late.

Lost my MOM, best friend and traveling gal

pal of many, many, well, all my life years. So I am very sad

right at this moment. I know that better days are ahead but

right now it hurts to the very pit of my soul.

Best thing is that as far back as the wee years there are noth-

ing but great and fun memories. What a great, awesome, in-

credible woman my Mom was.

Want to thank all of you for the cards, emails, and phone calls.

You were all touched by my Mom and visa versa. She had

been talking of all the great experiences that she had through-

out her life and all you beautiful Macomb Audubon people

whom she enjoyed and loved to be around so much.

So, if you wish, please make a nice donation to your Macomb

Audubon in her name. She would love that. THANKS.

We’re not here for a long time we’re here for a good time. Be-

lieve me, that GO-GO-GO Mom of mine certainly had one!!!

Peace, Colleen

Meetings are held the first Monday of most

months at 7:00 PM at the Sterling Heights

Senior Center located on the NE side of Utica

Rd, east of Van Dyke and North Of 18 Mile

Rd.

Facebook Announcement Macomb Audubon Society now has its own Facebook page! Upcoming activities and cur-rent bird sightings are posted on this popular social media. Check it out and "Like" us! While you are there, you may also want to look at another interesting Facebook page: Peregrine Falcons Southeast Michigan. Here you will find updates and photos from Chris Becher, MDNR Southeast Michigan Peregrine Falcon Nesting Coordinator and MDNR volunteer, Barb Baldinger.

Programs Continued HELLO EVERYONE, I

HAVE A CALL IN TO MARK AT THE SENIOR CENTER TO

DOUBLE CHECK IF WE CAN STILL USE THE BUILDING

FOR OUR POTLUCK. I KNOW LAST YEAR THAT HE WAS

A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT FOOD STAINS ON THE

CARPET. I DONT FORESEE A PROBLEM, BUT THOUGHT

IT WISE TO DOUBLE CHECK. WILL LET YOU KNOW AS

SOON AS I HEAR FROM HIM THAT IT IS A GO.

CHRIS I received a return phone call from the Sterling

Heights Park and Rec Dept. (Mark), and he said we can

use the Senior Center again for our potluck.

Monday, December 1, 2014 – 6:30 P.M. –

Christmas Potluck and Members’ Slide Pro-

gram

We will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the City of Ster-

ling Heights Senior Center located at 40200

Utica Road for this dinner get-together. Bring

a dish to pass and your table setting. Entrees,

salads, side dishes and desserts are all wel-

comed. After dinner we will have a Members’

Slide Program, so bring up to 20 of your fa-

vorite nature-inspired photos on disc or

thumb drive.

The Stony Creek Monthly Bird Walks

will resume and continue on the second

Saturday of each month during the spring

and fall seasons only. The nature center

staff has generously agreed to open the

doors a half hour early so that we can get

an earlier jump on the birds. The fee to par-

ticipate will continue to be a modest $2,

which goes to help support the nature cen-

ter, which is greatly underfunded at this

time. Believe it or not, there are still sec-

tions of the park we have not explored and

those areas will be on the top of our target

list. Please join Kevin Rysiewski and I at 8:30

am at the Nature Center on the following

Saturdays:

November 8 (late fall waterfowl and

more)

See you in the park! Ruth Glass

Stony Creek Nature Center Volunteer

______________________________________

Thanks to the people who brought refreshments to the

meeting. It adds so much to the fellowship

Alice Forton, Walter Peters, Barb Baldinger, Micki

Smith, Cheryl McKeever, Mary Markesino

Saturday, August 30, 2014 was Macomb Audubon Society’s field trip to Pointe Mouillee State Game Area with

Jim Fowler as our leader. The 20 people in 4 cars saw about 40 species, including 80 American White Peli-

cans, 1 Marbled Godwit, 1 American Avocet, 1 Wilson's Phalarope, Black-bellied Plovers as well a variety of

other shorebirds, ducks, terns, Bald Eagles, Osprey, 3 Peregrine Falcons and a close look at a flying Northern

Harrier. The weather was warm with a nice breeze to keep it from getting too hot. It was a good trip with good

friends! Barb Baldinger

115th Christmas Bird Count - Leader: Barb Baldinger Dec. 20 (Saturday) For over a century, the National Audubon Society has collected data from volunteers throughout the country on early-winter bird populations. Saturday, December 20th will be the date of Macomb Audu-bon Society's 39th Christmas Bird Count. If you have never participated in this annual event, please think about volunteering to help count the birds in our area. Many of our Macomb Audubon members look forward to this special occasion to bird with friends and enjoy a hot soup/chili supper at the end of the day followed by a tally of all birds counted. Sign up sheets will be available at the November and December membership meetings. After signing up, you will be assigned to an area with other birders. Please offer to split the cost of gas among the participants in each car. Area leaders will receive their packets at the December membership meeting. The tally supper will be held on the same evening of the count at 5 PM in the Nature Center at Stony Creek Metropark. Please consider volunteering to bring a crock-pot of chili, soup, snack or dessert to the tally. Partici-pants, remember to bring your own soup bowl and spoon. If you wish to participate and are unable to attend the meetings please call Barb Baldinger at 586-263-6530 or email barbarab@tir.com.

September Bon Fire

“Simply Dickens”

IS A PERIOD-DRESSED QUARTET OF TRAINED VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS THAT SPE-

CIALIZES IN

THE MUSIC OF THE 18TH & 19TH CENTURIES AND OLD WORLD CHRISTMAS CAROLS

The concert will be held: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014

TICKETS: $10 in advance ($12 at the door)

6:30 P.M.– DOORS OPEN

6:30– 7:30 P.M. – SOCIAL HOUR, LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND

FIDDLE & DULCIMER MUSIC BY TIM & CHRISTINE IRWIN

7:30 P.M. – SIMPLY DICKENS CONCERT BEGINS

Concert Location: THOMAS WELSH ACTIVITY CENTER

LAKE ST. CLAIR METROPARK, HARRISON TOWNSHIP (formerly known as Metro Beach

Metropark)

Tickets will be mailed to you on receipt of payment.

For More Info: Please call 586-463-4332 X #2 or 810-796-3505

Mail To: Lake St. Clair Metropark - Nature Center Ste. Claire Voyageurs 31300 Metro

Parkway Harrison Twp., MI 48045

A fundraising event to support the 2014 Ste. Claire Voyageur Encampment Lake St.

Clair Metropark, Harrison Twp.

We’re Proud Supporters of Macomb Audubon Society Lake St. Clair Nature Center Board Members & committee Chairs Sterling Heights Nature Center, President Colleen Traylor (248) 627-6872 Seven Ponds Nature Center, 1st VP (Programs) Christine Becher (810) 796-3505 Stony Creek Nature Center, 2nd VP (Member Ship) Beverlee Babcock (586 ) 263-7666 Burgess Shadbush Nature Center, 3rd VP (Field Trips) Colleen Traylor & Charles Smart Wild Life Recovery Association, Recording Secretary Laura Barbour (248) 853-5465 Michigan Nature Association, Corresponding Secretary Micki Smith (586) 791-9623 Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy. Treasurer Frank Lautner (586) 791-7913 Michigan Audubon RRBO ______________________________ Committees Car Pool Coordinator Frank Lautner For the best bird seed Christmas Bird Count Barb Baldinger (586) 263-6530 At the best prices Environmental & Conservation Vacant Uncle Luke’s feed store Historian Michael Mroz (586) 596-2776 6691 Livernois Hospitality (Refreshments) Betty Ebert & Alice Forton Troy Michigan Hospitality (Door Prizes) Denis & Laura Barbour _______________ Earthstar Newsletter Editor Bill Clark--------- (586) 749-5523 To contact the Macomb Audubon Michigan Audubon Rep. Ray Lalonde Society by e-mail the address is Members-at-Large (2 positions) Vacant macombaudubon@gmail.com Newsletter Production, Mailing Denis & Laura Barbour To join the Macomb Audubon Seven Ponds Representative Paul Messing Mailing list please send an e-mail Web Editor Paul Messing To: macombaudubon-subscribe@ Volunteer Coordinator Vacant Yahoogroups.com Macomb Audubon Society Dues

Please make checks payable to Macomb Audubon Society and send to: Beverlee Babcock Macomb Audubon Membership 50229 Pepper Tree Dr. Macomb Mi, 48044.

Your name and the names of family members (Please Print) __________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________City_______________________________________ State_____________ZIP_____________Phone_____________________________ New Member_______Renewal______ Check One _______Family Membership $20.00 Total Amount enclosed $________ ______Individual Membership $15.00 Amount of donation over membership $_____(optional) _____Student Membership $10.00 Contributor----up to $49.99 ____Senior single Membership $12.00 Supporter------$50 to $99.99 ______Senior couple Membership $15.00 Donor-----------$100 and over (senior is over 60) Each year Macomb Audubon makes a membership list available to members. Check here if you wish to have your telephone number left off the list _____ Email Address_________________________________________________________(opitional) Check here to receive the Earthstar by Email only_____ Check here if a Michigan Audubon member_____ Check here if a National Audubon member _____ I (we) are interested in becoming a Macomb Audubon volunteer. Please contact me____