THE PRAIRIE FALCON© - JAN.

1998
NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTHERN FLINT H ILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 1932, MANHATTAN, KS 66505-1932
VOL. 26, NO. 5

INSIDE PROGRAM P REVIEW

ENVIRONMENTAL GERRY SNYDER
NOTES - 2 A VISIT TO ONE OF YOUR NATIONAL FORESTS
CORPORATE HOG
WED ., JAN 21, 7:30 PM
FARMS - 3
KANSAS AUDUBON 1014 THROCKMORTON HALL, KSU CAMPUS
COUNCIL - 3 The name National Forest conjures up images of beautiful forests,
MANHATTAN CBC scenic mountains, clean water, and a land that is owned and managed
RESULTS - 3 for the benefit of the American public. Our taxes fuel the mainte-
nance, management and decisions that operate these lands. Gerry’s
BBQ - 4 program will feature a slide show tour through the Clearwater
1997 BLUEBIRD National Forest in north-central Idaho. Travel along the historic
TRAIL REPORT - 4 Lewis and Clark trail, visit vast wilderness and roadless country,
home to salmon, wolves and grizzly, and experience the national
JANUARY BIRDING debate over public land management. As is typical in the Pacific Northwest, nature is being
IN KANSAS - 5 challenged with timber clearcuts, landslides, polluted streams and a system of roads to nowhere.

Gerry Snyder is a multimedia specialist at KSU. He recently moved here after living in Moscow,
Idaho for the past 20 years. Active in Idaho conservation and forest issues, Gerry worked with
dozens of national and local conservation groups in forging planning and policy issues in Idaho’s
northern National Forests.
CONTRIBUTORS
Before each program we invite our speakers to join us for an informal dinner and discussion.
ANONYMOUS Feel free to join us this month at El Cazador restaurant in the Village Plaza shopping center
ANSWER PERSON at 5:45 PM. The program will commence at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Refreshments
C. COKINOS are served after the meeting, please bring your own cup. All meetings are open to the public.
Field Trips
G. SNYDER Thursday, Jan. 1 — New Year’s Day Potluck —This is the fourth annual NFHAS New Year’s
E. SCHOFIELD Day Potluck dinner, where you can celebrate and start your 1998 birdlist at the same time. Call
BARKLEY Duane Kerr (785-456-2771) for information.
Saturday, Jan 3 and Jan 10 — Eagle Days —Meet at Corps of Engineers HQ below Tuttle
J. WESLEY Creek Dam at 9 AM; watch the newspaper for further details.
P. YEAGER Saturday, Jan. 10 — Beginning Birdwatching Walk —Join us this Saturday and every second
Saturday at 8 AM in the Ackert/Durland parking lot on the KSU campus. We will carpool to a
local birding hotspot, and should return by about 11 AM. Birders of every age and interest level
PRINTED BY are welcomed; children are especially encouraged to attend. Call Patricia Yeager (537-8385) for
CLAFLIN BOOKS more information.
Jan. 8 -11 — Bird Feeder Census — Sponsored by the Chickadee Checkoff Fund and
AND COPIES,
KDWP, this activity helps scientists track trends in winter bird populations. If you haven’t gotten
MANHATTAN, KS involved yet, call Elmer Finck at Emporia State University (316) 341-5623 to get the materials.
The Prairie Falcon - 1
 T HE PRAIRIE FALCON
Published monthly (except August) by the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon
Society, and edited by David A. Rintoul, 1124 Woodland, Manhattan KS 66502-2716. (drintoul@ksu.edu)
Also available on the World Wide Web at the URL http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~drintoul/falcon.html
UPDATE ON ENDANGERED SPECIES
Asian Elephants
The Asian elephant is more endangered than its African
cousin. Increases in habitat loss; conflicts with people; and
poaching for ivory, meat, and hides threaten this species’
survival. Total numbers of Asian elephants are estimated to
be between 35,000 and 50,000 over a range of 13 coun-
tries, with the most surviving in India. Because their
habitat is so fragmented, only about 10 of
these populations include more than 1,000
animals.
Saving the large areas needed to maintain
Asian elephants can benefit many other spe-
cies, such as tiger, rhinoceros, clouded leop-
ard, and Malayan sun bear. Elephants also
modify their habitat in ways that affect other
species. The trees they knock down while feeding provide
food for smaller herbivores. Seeds of plants they eat are
dispersed in their dung; some are eaten by birds and insects,
and others germinate.
Survival of the Asian elephant requires preserving large
areas of habitat to support populations and providing
corridors between these areas. Good management prac-
tices also are needed to reduce conflicts with people and
involve local communities in protecting elephants.
All of these points are addressed in the Asian Elephant
Conservation Act, which is being considered by the U.S.
Congress. It would provide some funds for research and
could stimulate funding from other sources. Approving this
Act would send a strong message to Asian countries that
survival of their elephants is important and of concern to
people around the world.
African Elephants — This species was among those
discussed at a recent meeting of the Conference on Interna-
tional Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). An unex-
pected decision was made to allow “limited and controlled”
trade in ivory from healthy elephant populations in three
countries.
Ivory trade cannot begin until March 1999 and only if
provisions are made to precept poaching and illegal trade.
Initially, government stockpiles of ivory would be used and
sold only to Japan. CITES also voted to allow other African
countries to sell their stockpiles to donor organizations and
The Prairie Falcon - 2
governments. This would prevent this ivory from reaching the
commercial market.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will monitor these activi-
ties to ensure that no newly poached ivory is added to the
stockpiles and that field work to protect African elephants is
funded.
Tigers— Members from Nepal, India, and Russia initiated a
stronger CITES resolution to protect tigers. It
urges legislation and enforcement to eliminate
trade in tiger parts. Countries that import tiger
parts are asked to eliminate consumption of
tiger medicinal products and to promote sub-
stitutes.
Bears — A similar CITES resolution dealt
with illegal trade in bear parts and products.
The conference also recommended conservation
of endangered bears, especially in Asia, and educational
programs to reduce demands for bear products.
Rhinoceros— The CITES meeting defeated a proposal from
South Africa to allow future trade in southern white rhinos.
Another victory was convincing Yemen to join CITES. Yemen
is one of the major remaining markets for rhino horns. The
WWF will help the government to implement the program and
stop illegal imports.
Whales— CITES maintained its support of the regulations of
the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and narrowly
defeated proposals by Japan and Norway to downlist several
populations of whales. These countries probably will continue
their campaign to resume commercial whaling.
Sharks and Other Marine Fish — CITES adopted the
report resulting from a three-year study of trade in marine fish
products. It included recommendations for research, data
collection, and management for sharks. Unfortunately, another
proposal to review the role of CITES in controlling overfishing
was defeated.
Mahogany— Some progress was made in monitoring trade
of big-leaf mahogany, an important timber tree. A working
group was established to discuss management and trade, and
countries where it grows will be encouraged to share essential
information. This is an important step in conserving mahogany
throughout its range in Mexico and South America.
Source: Focus 19(5). 1997.
— Eileen Schofield Barkley
 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR READERS
Sustainable Agriculture Update Audubon’s Patty Marlett, a longtime Council activist and

A
udubon members are aware of the continuing con treasurer for the past couple of years. The new treasurer will
troversy over corporate hog farms trying to force be Wichita Audubon’s Carol Cumberland. The new at-large
themselves into counties where they are not wanted. delegate to the Executive Committee of Council officers will
If you want to move beyond the headlines in the local paper be Burroughs Audubon’s Roberta Laydon. As yet, the
(such as they are), please send $25 per year to the Kansas Secretary position remains unfilled. This job entails taking
Rural Center, 304 Pratt, Whiting, KS 66552 to receive 10 minutes and assisting with mailings. Jayhawk Audubon’s Lin
issues per year of “Rural Papers,” an excellent newsletter on Fredrickson has done a great job in this while I’ve been
low-input, organic, and sustainable agriculture, as well as a president the past two years, but she needs to move on. If you
fine resource for following the hog farm problem. You might are interested in the job, contact Bill Browning at 316-437-
also consider a contribution to FACT: Families Against 2200.
Corporate Takeover Legal Fund, PO Box 1, Jetmore, KS, I urge all chapter members to attend Council meetings when
67854. The Kansas Sierra Club also has a Legal Defense possible. As we move toward a state office, it’s crucial that
Fund to defray costs associated with fighting major corpora- we maintain open lines of communication and keep informed.
tions in order to keep them from locating in Kansas and Meanwhile, watch out for another session of at the Kansas
polluting our water. Specify “legal fund” on your check to the Statehouse. If you have an e-mail address and want to be
Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club, Chapter Treasurer, 9844 part of a rapid response network to state issues, e-mail me at
Georgia, Kansas City, KS 66109. cokinos@ksu.edu. Thanks!
— Christopher Cokinos, Conservation Co-Chair — Christopher Cokinos, Outgoing President of
Kansas Audubon Council
State Field Office Update

A
s I conclude my term as President of the Kansas Manhattan CBC Report - 1997

S
Audubon Council, I am pleased to report that we aturday, December 20 was the
are moving forward on opening a paid, staffed state date for the 49th annual Man-
Audubon office in Kansas. Chapters and the Council have hattan Christmas Bird Census.
expressed support for this move, while noting the need to Although the morning was a bit dreary,
design the office and Council relationship carefully to avoid the sun broke through in the afternoon,
the possibility of large donors driving policy decisions. At this and the birds cooperated all day long.
point, Joyce Wolf has drafted a mission statement which we Eighty-seven intrepid observers found
discussed at the last Council meeting. Anyone who needs a 71,601 individual birds, representing
copy should contact me! Joyce is taking feedback on the 96 species. New high counts were
document and at the next Council meeting—Jan. 31 in recorded for Snow Goose (28,259,
Emporia—we will discuss the difficult issues of how to eclipsing the old record of 4604 set in
structure the staff office and the Council. I am confident that 1995), Canada Goose (7785, old record was 2350 in
we’ll meet that challenge effectively, honestly, and with good 1995), Ring-necked Duck (64, old record was 60 in
cheer. I’ve been pleased that our planning meetings have 1967), Hooded Merganser (117, old record was 15 in
been marked with an open sense of give-and-take while 1991), Wild Turkey (231, old record was 151 in 1993),
remaining free of the kinds of rancor that change sometimes Rock Dove (1045, old record was 952 in 1983), andBlue
bring. What is most important is that we feel free to express Jay (1004, old record was 889 in 1978). In addition, a new
ourselves while never losing sight of the need to reach bird was added to the count list; a Pileated Woodpecker
consensus and have a successful Audubon organization in was seen along Wildcat Creek Rd. west of Manhattan.
Kansas—from chapters to the state office. Thanks to all who participated in the count, and a special
The next president of the Council will be Bill Browning of thanks to those chapter members who prepared chili and
Madison, Kansas, and the Kanza chapter. Bill is a physician, other goodies for the compilation dinner Saturday evening. I
landowner, and member of the Tallgrass Prairie National hope to see all of you, and a few more smiling faces, for the
Preserve Management Advisory Committee. He will be a 50th Manhattan CBC in December of 1998!
terrific president. Vice-President next year will be Wichita — Dave Rintoul
The Prairie Falcon - 3
 Burning Birding Questions
Birding questions asked anonymously will be answered by been flying (another assumption of science is Occam’s razor,
the anonymous answer person. Send your burning ques- i.e., it is not as probable that they were walking down your
tions to the PRAIRIE FALCON editor, Dave Rintoul, Ackert Hall, street). I would also agree that 2 a.m. is “night.” Therefore,
Biology Division, KSU, Manhattan KS 66506-4901; or call in answer to your question, yes, they fly at night. Of course
him at 537-0781 (home), 532-5832 (work), or send them by your alternate explanation concerning auditory hallucinations
e-mail to drintoul@ksu.edu. All questions are appreciated may be the actual explanation; but your past experiences
(even though you might not appreciate the answers), so rather than mine would be a better way to evaluate that
keep those cards and letters coming in! hypothesis. But I can believe it; I dream about singing birds
all the time.
1. My mother lives in a retirement home in Florida where
residents have stocked the lakes on the property with
exotic waterfowl. One day my mother saw a group of
Australian teal act like synchronized swimmers. She
describes what she saw as follows: “A trio of dull-brown,
medium sized ducks approached the area. They came,
swimming three abreast, and suddenly, like trained seals,
all three dove under, swam submerged for several yards,
and rose up again for a few feet. Then, again in a
synchronized performance worthy of Cypress Gardens,
they dove and swam under water a second time. All
reappeared in unison as they neared the shore. Ignoring
the other ducks completely, the three lined up wing to
wing, dredging mud from the bank with their broad black
bills.” My mother wonders what the purpose of such
synchronized behavior could be and whether it also
occurs commonly amongst American waterfowl.
I don’t know anything about diving Australian teal; did they Bluebird Trail Report — 1997 Totals
really swim underwater “for several yards?”. Perhaps the Kitten Creek — 15 bluebirds, 2 black-capped chickadees,
folks at the retirement home have been enjoying again the old and 2 Carolina wrens were fledged. A mouse attempt failed
Esther Williams movies that Ted Turner has resurrected; due to species discrimination
perhaps they just thought they saw this behavior (see the next Entwash (upper McDowell Creek Rd.) — 59 bluebirds, 8
question about hallucinations). Nevertheless, the synchronous Bewick’s wrens, and 4 chickadees were fledged from 24
behavior you describe has been observed in small groups of boxes
American white pelicans which swim in an arc, herding fish
Blue River Hills Trail — 26 boxes, 36 bluebirds, and 4
towards shore where the pelicans then devour the prey that
tree swallows were fledged. Predator guards and a few extra
they concentrated by this behavior. Perhaps this is what
boxes did not better our count this year.
these ducks were doing, but rather than “dredging mud” they
may have been capturing whatever they might have driven We have two new trails to report. Chod Hedinger has been
into shallower water. maintaining a trail at Carnahan State Park, consisting of 16
2. Last night I thought I heard a lot of honking at several boxes which fledged 44 bluebirds and 27 tree swallows. A
times from 2 am on. Could this be migrating ducks or great-crested flycatcher laid nine eggs, two of which hatched,
geese? Do they fly at night? Or am I just suffering but for unknown reasons the nest was abandoned. Hoogy
auditory hallucinations? Hoogheem has two boxes near Olsburg which fledged 8
The root faith statement upon which all empirical science is bluebirds.
based is the belief that our senses perceive reality. If you If anyone else would like to get involved, or has information
heard “honking” then it must be geese, since (some) ducks to share, please contact John Wesley at 785-485-2856.
“quack.” I assume that wherever you were when you heard — John Wesley
the “honking,” it was not by the seashore or in the middle of
9022 Blue Ridge Rd.
a lake or at the zoo or at a golf course (the preferred habitat
for urban geese), so that I conclude that the geese must have Manhattan KS 66503-9101
The Prairie Falcon - 4
 January Birding in Kansas
“Year-end, now. And year’s-beginnings, and an old custom to face apples, and hackberry fruits locally. When one or another of
realities when the totting-up has been done. The headlines in the these fruits is abundant, these birds will usually be in the area.
But when the food runs out; these birds disappear. In that
morning’s news are not encouraging. Man still cannot be trusted sense they are not really migratory in winter, but rather are
to save himself from his own folly. The greatness and the glory seems nomadic. Sort of like Visigoths and Vandals... But unlike
all to be in the past. Perhaps it was always thus — greatness and these human nomads, waxwings can also make internal
glory are hard to recognize in the glare of today, any today. And adjustments when the weather gets really cold. Recent work
yet there is that about which to dream as well as the lure of visions. has shown that the anatomy of the gut, and the amount of
And forever there is change, the one constant. Change. time required for passage of food through a waxwing, is
dependent on temperature. Cold-acclimated cedar wax-
Here we are, in the homeland. It is winter, and it will be spring wings can eat and process food significantly faster and more
again. We have known other winters, and survived them.” efficiently when compared to waxwings kept at a warmer
Hal Borland, (1976), Book of Days, A.A. Knopf, Inc., New temperature. And they eat almost constantly during the day.
York Just another little avian strategy to make it through the

T
winter...
hese dark days of early January seem to lend them-
selves to reflection, and Borland’s reflections on win- But the real mystery, for me at least, is how these tiny
ter, and change, can give us a starting point to talk creatures survive a 16-hour winter
about the life of the birds on the Great Plains in winter. night, when they can’t eat, and when
Borland grew up on the plains of eastern the temperatures are at their lowest.
Colorado, so it is likely that he knew winter The amazing insulation provided by
quite well. But not as well as the birds, who feathers obviously is a factor, as is the
don’t have warm places to sleep at night, and ability of birds to eat constantly and gain
who must fight off cold, hunger, and predation large quantities of weight in one day. But
until spring returns. Those tiny feathered sprites at even those strategies sometimes aren’t enough
your bird feeder or bird bath are tougher than you think, on the coldest nights. Some small birds, such as
so let’s take a closer look at a couple of them. golden-crowned kinglets and eastern bluebirds,
huddle up together at night in communal roosting
Seed-eating birds are the dominant passerines in these cavities. Taking advantage of the heat produced by their
latitudes in winter. Birds which depend solely on things like companions, as well as the reduced surface/volume ratio of
insects or nectar should obviously be long gone from Kansas this mass of birds, makes it easier to survive a cold winter
by January 1. But some of the birds which flock to your feeder night. Many birds decrease their body temperatures, and go
can still find insects, or insect eggs, to supplement their diet in into a state called “torpor,” in order to use less energy during
winter. The tiny beak of a black-capped chickadee is not well- the night. This is a somewhat risky strategy, since reflexes
suited for a sunflower seed feeder diet, but is very well-suited needed to escape a predator are much slower in a torpid
for picking overwintering insects and insect eggs from tree bird, and because they have to warm up again the next
bark. On a typical winter day the black-capped chickadee morning before they can begin feeding. But it is a wide-
gets most of its food not from feeders, but from gleaning wild spread, and therefore apparently useful, strategy used by
seeds and insects in the woods. But on the coldest of days chickadees, goldfinches, and many other birds in winter.
(when the temperature is below 10 ° F) these birds do benefit Future research will undoubtedly uncover other intriguing
from feeding stations; studies have shown that survival of mechanisms used by birds to survive a northern winter night.
chickadees in extreme weather almost doubles when they
have access to feeders. On these days they need almost twenty So when you watch a chickadee hammering open a
times the calories that they require in summer; obviously much sunflower seed at your feeder, or follow a kinglet through
of that energy is used just to keep warm. Really warm; their his bark-gleaning rounds in the woods, or witness a flock of
normal body temperature is several degrees higher than yours! cedar waxwings stripping all the fruit from a frosty crabapple
tree, take a minute to reflect on the myriad ways these
Fruit-eating birds can also be abundant in Kansas in winter, creatures have found to survive out there. And pray that this,
but their abundance is highly dependent on the quantity of the at least, never changes.
fruit crop. Robins and waxwings forage for cedar berries, crab
— Dave Rintoul
The Prairie Falcon - 5
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society Non-profit Organization
P.O. Box 1932 U.S. Postage Paid
Manhattan KS 66505-1932 Permit No. 662
printed on 100% post-consumer Manhattan KS 66501
recycled paper
Address Correction Requested

Subscription Information NFHAS Officers and Board Members

Introductory memberships are available for $20 per year; after that a 1997-8
basic membership is available for $35 annually. When you join the Co-Presidents: Carla Bishop (539-5129)
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, you automatically become a Hoogy Hoogheem (539-7080)
member of the National Audubon Society and receive the bimonthly Vice-president: Dave Rintoul (537-0781)
Audubon magazine, in addition to the Prairie Falcon. New member-
Secretary : Margy Stewart (776-8852)
ship applications may be sent to NFHAS at the address below; make
Treasurer: Jan Garton (539-3004)
checks payable to the National Audubon Society. Renewals of mem-
bership are handled by the National Audubon Society and should not Committee Chairs
be sent to NFHAS. Questions about membership can be answered by Conservation: Janet Throne (776-7624)
calling a toll-free number, 1-800-274-4201, or by electronic mail to Chris Cokinos (537-4143)
Betsy Hax at the National Audubon Society (bhax@audubon.org). Education: Sue Dwyer (539-8142)
Nonmembers may subscribe to the Prairie Falcon newsletter for $10 Program: Alice Blecha (539-6643)
per year. Make checks payable to the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Fieldtrips: Patricia Yeager (776-9593)
Society, and mail to: Editor, Prairie Falcon, P.O. Box 1932, Manhattan Tami Yeager (537-8385)
KS 66505-1932. Membership: Steve Amy (456-7053)
Finance: Phil Fay (539-2863)
RARE BIRD ALERT HOTLINES Public Outreach: Dolly Gudder (537-4102)
At-large Board Members
Kansas (statewide): 316-229-2777
Joyce Slusser, Dolly Gudder, Irene Johnson,
Kansas City Area (incl. W. MO): 785-342-2473 Leann Harrell, Phoebe Samelson,
Nebraska (statewide): 402-292-5325
Addresses and Phone numbers of Your Elected Representatives - Write - or call ( anytime
Governor Bill Graves: 2nd Floor, State Capitol Bldg., Topeka KS 66612 u Kansas Senator or Representative ___: State Capitol Bldg., Topeka KS
66612, Phone numbers (during session only) - Senate: 785-296-7300, House: 785-296-7500 u Senator Roberts or Brownback: US Senate,
Washington DC 20510 u Representative ___: US House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515 u US Capitol Switchboard : 202-224-3121
u President Bill Clinton, The White House, Washington DC 20500 u Information about progress of a particular piece of legislation can be
obtained by calling the following numbers: In Topeka - 800-432-3924; in Washington - 202-225-1772; Audubon Action Line - 800-659-2622,
or get the latest on the WWW at http://www.audubon.org/campaign/aa/
The Prairie Falcon - 6