Welcome Spring! 

Are we rushing the season?  Well, perhaps just a bit.  After a few lovely spring-like days, many of us are ready for warmer days, little or no wind, bird migration and flowers! 

The little fellow at left is a thrush that you might have seen in your neighborhood this winter.  The Townsend’s Solitaire is about the size of an American Robin with a distinctive white circle around it’s eye.  A primarily gray bird, this species sits at the top of trees and shrubs, staking out their territories throughout the year.  In the winter, they come down from their preferred pine forests to enjoy juniper berries.  You can learn more by checking out the Townsend’s Solitaire on The Cornell Lab’s “All About Birds“. 

Calendar

For more information about all of the events below, check out the February issue of “Flyer“, the CHPAS monthly newsletter! 

March 18 – Field Trip – Torrington/Lingle to find the Cardinals

We will leave from the Lions Park parking lot at the Children’s Village at 8 a.m. We will drive north on US-85 to the Torrington area, about 82 miles. We will search the Rawhide Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Lingle for the Northern Cardinal and other birds. On the way back we may stop at Springer/Bump Sullivan WMA to see snow geese and other waterfowl. 

We should return by 5 p.m., but if you drive, you can leave whenever you need to. Bring water and your lunch if you like.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 for any reason.

March 21 – Program: “High Plains Arboretum Bluebird Nest Box Project” featuring Rustin Rawlings

Mar. 21, at 7 p.m., at Laramie County Library in the Cottonwood Room, at 2200 Pioneer Ave.

Rustin Rawlings received permission from the arboretum to put up mountain bluebird nest boxes this winter and received a grant from Cheyenne Audubon for materials to build them. He will talk about the purpose of the nestbox project at the High Plains Arboretum, along with information about nest watch and general information about being a nestbox landlord.
Rustin is looking for volunteers to help monitor the eight boxes during the breeding season. He’ll talk about his experience bringing other cavity-nesting birds to his Cheyenne backyard and what he has learned. By day he is a physician at the VA medical center.

The Zoom link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85905557429?pwd=RDhUeWcvUElBMHZ2MjlYNnVMSHJXdz09

March 25, 1:00 p.m. – High Plains Arboretum Bluebird Nest Box Project monitoring training

This is a hands-on training opportunity for those who might be interested in helping to monitor the nest boxes at the arboretum or are interested in knowing how it is done. We will meet at the arboretum at 1:00 p.m. located at the Cheyenne Field Station which is west of Cheyenne off of Round Top Rd. at 8301 Hildreth Road. We will also take some time to look for other spring migrants at the research station.

Registration is free but please sign up with Grant Frost, 307-343-2024, to be notified of any change of plans due to weather, etc. or for more information.

March 28, 6:30 p.m. – Board Meeting   Contact Wanda Manley, cheyenneaudubon@gmail.com, if you would like to participate in helping to plan chapter activities. This meeting will be at the new Conservation District Office.  Volunteers are needed! 

March 31, 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 Clubhouse’s main parking lot.