Join the Celebration! Migrating Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska … Happening NOW!
Mark your calendars now for Saturday, May 11th 2024 and join us for a celebration of 50 years of Flying High with the Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society!
We have an exciting series of events planned to celebrate our birthday! Saturday will include birding events around the community with a special dinner that evening at Laramie County Community College in the CCI Building.
More information to come about birding events (including a day trip to Hillsdale to see Thick-Billed Longspurs – an endangered prairie grasslands bird). Keep your eye on our 50th Anniversary webpage for new information.
May is a busy month, between birding and celebrating our 50th Anniversary! Join us for our celebration on Saturday, May 11th. We have events all day. More information below.
May 5, 10 a.m. till Noon – Greenway Cleanup Cheyenne Audubon is hosting a Greenway cleanup event, Sunday, May 5th. The public is invited to help. The starting location is the parking lot adjacent to the intersection of Van Buren Avenue and Laramie Street (just north of East Lincolnway and east of its intersection with Pershing Blvd.). Work will proceed to the north along Dry Creek.
Trash bags and light-weight gloves will be provided. Participants should wear sturdy footwear (preferably waterproof) and heavy gloves and bring rakes and hoes, if available, for fishing trash out of the creek.
May 11, Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society 50th Anniversary Two Field Trips – The field trips are free and open to the public.
Thick-billed Longspur by Lorie Chesnut
8:00 a.m. Thick-billed & Chestnut-collared Longspurs trip – We will meet at the Pilot Truck Stop in the front parking lot (off I-80 Exit 367, also known as the WHR exit, 8020 Campstool Road) for departure at 8:00 a.m. sharp. It will be about a 20-minute drive to a site north of Hillsdale. Carpooling may be available.
We will see dozens of Thick-billed Longspur aerial displays up close, and we should see some beautiful Chestnut-collared Longspurs as well as some other prairie birds. We should be back in town by 11 a.m. If you are interested in going, contact Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, so that he has a list of those expected, and can let you know if the plans change.
12:00 noon Wyoming Hereford Ranch – Spring Migrants 1114 Hereford Ranch Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82007. We will meet in the driveway by the office and walk and bird from there. A variety of spring migrants have already been arriving since late April. There is no telling what surprise species we may see.
American Goldfinch by Mark Gorges
******************************* May 11, Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society 50th AnniversaryDinner
Check out details on the special 50th Anniversarywebpage.
5:00 to 8:30 p.m. – Dinner, Laramie County Community College, CCI Rooms 129/130. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with dinner at 6. Land and Sea dinner with vegetarian option, guest speaker Chris Madson, silent auction, and two donated door prizes (a pair of Maven binoculars and a guided day tour of Rocky Mountain National Park by Birding Man Adventures). Everyone attending will get two door prize tickets.
Speaker – Chris Madson is the retired, long-time, award-winning editor of Wyoming Wildlife magazine. His talk, “From the Grass Up,” will take a look at several of the folks who were important in the early Audubon Society, maybe George Bird Grinnell, T. Gilbert Pearson, and Frank Bond, folks that got Audubon started by sheer force of will.
May 18, 6:30 a.m. – Annual Cheyenne Big Day Bird Count Starting at Lions Park, we will cover birding hot spots throughout the Cheyenne area. If you want to join us later than 6:30 a.m., please call Grant, 307-343-2024, to get a location update throughout the morning. We also encourage people to report all bird sightings during the 24-hour period beginning at midnight on the free app at eBird.org. Tally Party to follow at Perkins Restaurant on Del Range Blvd. on Sunday, May 19 at 5 p.m. See our newsletter for more details.
May 24, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.
May 28, 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting: Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities. This meeting will be held at the Laramie County Conservation District office, 1923 Whitney Rd., Cheyenne.
April 16 – Cheyenne Audubon program: Stephen Brenner on Longspurs and grassland birds
Thick-billed Longspur by Lorie Chesnut
Cheyenne Audubon members invite the public for a free talk about grassland birds April 16, at 7 p.m. in the Cottonwood Room at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. Speaker Stephen Brenner, avian biologist for the National Audubon Society’s Great Plains region, will speak about Longspurs, grasslands and birds at the edge of their range in the Great Plains.
The Great Plains of North America is home to many imperiled grassland bird species during all seasons, including the breeding, migratory and wintering periods. Due to staggering population declines in grassland bird populations over the past half-century, there has been a renewed focus on the importance of grassland habitats and conservation in the region. This talk will highlight some of the recent research conducted in Nebraska on a variety of different bird species of the Great Plains and beyond.
April 23, 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting
Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities. This meeting will be in the Sage Room at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne.
April 26, 7:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey
Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.
April 27 – Cheyenne Audubon field trip: Sage-Grouse lek viewing
Sage Grouse by Mark Gorges
Cheyenne Audubon will be visiting a nearby sage grouse lek April 27 and invites the public to join in the free field trip. Participants will leave at 6 a.m. from the Lions Park parking lot between the Children’s Village and the picnic shelter and return well before noon. Viewing will be from a road northwest of town where spotting scopes will be set up. Bring a scope if you have one. Bring your own water and dress for the weather.
Please register for the field trip with Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, to receive updates due to weather. Let him know if you are interested in carpooling, as driver or passenger.
March 19, 7:00 p.m. – Cheyenne Audubon Program: The Dawn Chorus: Birdsong i.d. with Barb Gorges
American Goldfinch by Mark Gorges
Cheyenne Audubon invites the public for a free talk by Barb Gorges, author of “Cheyenne Birds by the Month,” about “The Dawn Chorus: Learn to i.d. birdsong,” Mar. 19, 7 p.m., in the Cottonwood Room, Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave.
Barb will review how to identify common Cheyenne birdsong—the sounds of the songbirds. If you recognize many songs already, come share the techniques and resources you use to learn them. For more information about this and other Audubon activities, please see www.cheyenneaudubon.org.
March 26, 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting: Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities. This meeting will be in the Sage Room at the Laramie County Library.
March 29, 8:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.
March 30, 3:00 p.m. – Field Trip: Table Mountain Wildlife Management Area: Sandhill Crane Migration
Sandhill Cranes at Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska by L. Chesnut
We will leave the Lions Park parking lot south of the Children’s Village at 3 p.m. Carpooling should be available but check with Grant (see below) if you will need a ride. We are going to Table Mountain to watch Sandhill Cranes return in flocks to their nighttime roosting area after they spend the day feeding in grain fields. We will also be looking for migrating waterfowl.
The management area is about 75 miles north of Cheyenne, near Yoder, WY. The trip is free, open to the public, and non-birders of all ages are encouraged to join us to learn about the birds we see. We expect to be back in Cheyenne by 9 p.m. Be sure to bring water, something for yourself to eat and dress for changing weather.
If you want to carpool but don’t want to leave your car in the parking lot in the evening, when you call Grant, let him know if you want a ride or riders and let’s see if we can make arrangements to arrive at the park already matched up.
If you are interested in going, please contact Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, so that he has a list of those expected, and he can let you know if the plans change for any reason like bad weather.
Feb. 17 – Field trip: Birdwatching with Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon around Cheyenne
American Goldfinch by Mark Gorges
Join Cheyenne Audubon members on a free field trip Feb. 17 to lesser-known Cheyenne birding hotspots like Lakeview Cemetery, Mylar Park, Laramie County Community College and others that require little walking.
Participants will leave the Lions Park parking lot south of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens’ Children’s Village at 9 a.m. Carpooling may be available. Return expected about noon.
Chickadees and woodpeckers are expected. The trip is suitable for all ages. Bring water and snacks and dress for the weather. Please contact Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, to register so you can be notified of any changes in plans due to bad weather or other causes.
Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m. – Cheyenne Audubon Program: Beach Birds: learn how to i.d. ducks, hawks and shorebirds, with Barb Gorges
Gadwall by Mark Gorges
Cheyenne Audubon invites the public for a free talk by Barb Gorges, author of “Cheyenne Birds by the Month,” about “Beach Birds: Learn how to i.d. ducks, hawks and shorebirds,” Feb. 20, 7 p.m., in the Cottonwood Room at the Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave.
Barb will review how to identify birds that visit Wyoming’s “Sea of Grass” and the “beaches” of its many reservoirs. Are you already a whiz at identifying ducks, hawks and shorebirds? Share your tips.
February 23, 8:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey
Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.
February 27, 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting:
Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities. This meeting will be at the new Conservation District Office at 1923 Whitney Road.
Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon will be changing the location of our planned field trip on Saturday, January 20th 2024 due to a conflict with another activity happening at Tie City Trailhead.
A location has not yet been decided. We will still meet in Lions Park at the parking lot south of the Children’s Village at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
If you have questions, please contact Grant Frost at 307-343-2024.
Welcome 2024! Enjoy the days getting longer (at least a little each day!) and knowing that in just a few months, the BEST time of year for birders is just around the corner … SPRING! (Yes, I’m an optimist).
January 16, 7:00 p.m. – Program: Backyard Birds and How to Feed Them
Bring your favorite feeder to the meeting to show—and tell us the brand name or where you found the pattern to make it. Do you have a bird bath heating system? Tell us about that, too.
Cheyenne Audubon invites the public for a talk by Barb Gorges, author of “Cheyenne Birds by the Month” Jan. 16th, 7 p.m., Cottonwood Room, Laramie County Library, 2200 Pioneer Ave. Barb will review how to identify birds that visit Cheyenne feeders and discuss what kinds of food they are looking for.
January 20, 9:00 a.m. – Field Trip: Tie City Trailhead – Medicine Bow National Forest
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch by Mark Gorges.
We will leave the Lions Park parking lot south of the Children’s Village at 9 a.m. Carpooling should be available for the 40-mile drive to the trailhead. Be prepared for snowy conditions. The trip is free, open to the public, and non-birders of all ages are encouraged to join us to learn about the birds we see.
We can watch the feeders that Don Jones keeps stocked from the warming hut. Minimal walking and nice conditions on a winter day. We may see a variety of winter forest birds including Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Steller’s Jay, woodpeckers, nuthatches and more. We may even see a rosy-finch. We expect to be back in town by 1:00 p.m. Be sure to bring water, and dress for changing weather. If you are interested in going, contact Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, so that he has a list of those expected, and he can let you know if the plans change for any reason like bad weather.
January 23, 6:30 p.m. Board Meeting: Laramie County Library, Sunflower Room
Contact us, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to attend and participate in helping to plan chapter activities.
January 26, 8:00 a.m. – Country Club Bird Survey
Contact Chuck Seniawski to be on his email notice list: 307-638-6519 or chuckski@aol.com. The count will start in the Country Club’s clubhouse’s main parking lot. These counts are free and open to everyone, but please let Chuck know you are coming.
Join us for the 10th Annual Cheyenne Habitat Hero Workshop, scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Laramie County Community College, Pathfinder Building – First Floor.
Bella Fuoco on Warren Habitat Hero Garden
Ways to Make & Keep a Garden for the Birds & Bees … plus advice on trees!
This year we look at how different people approached making a Habitat Hero-style garden and how they maintain it. The makers of six local gardens will introduce themselves and be panelists for discussion on what works and doesn’t work. Audience participation welcome. *Gary Kayser has created a meadow at the corner of 3rd and Carey avenues that drew the attention of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle photographer. *Eric Dalton has made Habitat Hero gardens at his home and his business, Bella Fuoco Wood Fired Pizza on Warren Avenue. *Nancy Loomis keeps the weeds at bay in the garden at the Laramie County Library. *Isaiah Smith, horticulture and operations supervisor at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, installed gravel garden beds in the parking lot last year. *Isaiah Smith and Jacob Mares prepared the Habitat Hero garden site at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Barb Gorges keeps it weeded.
Cheyenne Audubon is looking for birdwatchers to help with the annual Cheyenne Christmas Bird Count Dec. 16. Participants can travel in groups, with novices matched with more experienced birders, and/or count birds at their own bird feeder.
Groups will organize at 8 a.m.at the downtown Post Office, 2120 Capitol Ave., before surveying the count circle which is 15 miles in diameter centered on the State Capitol building.
Information on how to count is included in the December issue of “Flyer“.
Participation is free, but please register by contacting coordinator Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, frostgrant2@gmail.com, so you will get any updates that may be caused by weather.
Dec. 2 – All Ages Winter Bird Identification class at the Children’s Village
Cheyenne Audubon is offering a free bird identification class for all ages Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – noon at the Children’s Village at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, 710 S. Lions Park Drive.
Learn how to identify the birds you are most likely to see in Cheyenne in the winter, including birds that come to your bird feeder. Registration is not required.
Dec. 16 – Cheyenne Christmas Bird Count looking for volunteers
Cheyenne Audubon is looking for birdwatchers to help with the annual Cheyenne Christmas Bird Count Dec. 16. Participants can travel in groups, with novices matched with more experienced birders, and/or count birds at their own bird feeder.
Groups will organize at 8 a.m. at the downtown Post Office, 2120 Capitol Ave., before surveying the count circle which is 15 miles in diameter centered on the State Capitol building.
More information will be posted at https://www.cheyenneaudubon.org about how to record feeder birds, report results and attend the tally party afterwards.
Participation is free, but please register by contacting coordinator Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, frostgrant2@gmail.com, so you will get any updates that may be caused by weather.
Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society 