AuSable Valley Audubon 2017 Annual Report

Frank Apsey Terry & Mary Baker Bonnie Banks Brenda Battik Debra Bellingham Maggie Berch Alan & Madonna Bernard Carolyn Bohmier Sam Burckhardt & Richard Wilson Ed & Debra Chielens Ed Cole Carole Cooper Chris Coulon Heather Cushman Ed & Susan Davis Julie Decker Susan Duncan & Larry VanWagoner Tom Eauclaire Mary Anne Filka Jane Garside & Bill Foy Ronda Gartland Nancy George Douglas W. Getty David & Ruth Golm Ed & Jen Gravlin Tom & Joann Green

Mark & Susan Griffin Matt Hegwood Stuart & Dawn Hooper Jean Howard Mark & Nancy Isken Unni Ivesdal Douglas Jager Robert & Emily Kemnitz Brian Kincaide & Tamara Lubic Sue Kingsbury Linda B. Kmit Carol Laframboise Judy LaPorte Alexander L. Leriche Arnie Leriche Carolyn Lindhorst John & Moira Maus Rachel McCready Mark Miller Wesley & Marcella Miller Larry Moore Tim & Dee Morand Jim & Patsy Mortimer Phil Odum Curt & Jeanne Pfeiffer Arno & Mary Poerner

Carl Racchini Peggy Ridgway Renee Rose

Bill & April Roth Denise A. Rousseau Margaret Rush Jane & Pat Ruster Jonathan & Debbie Schirmer Nik Schulwitz Martha Smith & Bob Rutledge Sharon P. Sheldon Gary & Donette Spiekerman Jim Stanuszek Judy Stark Diane StGeorge Sally Stiles Kathy Swindlehurst Eugenia Ulrich Janel Walmsley Tara Western Ed & Mary Ann Wojahn Fred Zollner

Businesses Branham’s Jewelry Stores

Italics: donors only

Thank you to our members and donors

Financial report INCOME 2017

Donations Recd 1405

Membership Dues 1085

Sales 152

TOTAL INCOME 2642

EXPENSES

Dues Paid to Other Org 270

Insurance 403

Printing and Reproduction 157

Program Expense 735

TOTAL EXPENSES 1,564

INCOME OVER EXPENSES 1078

BALANCE SHEET Prior year

12/31/2017 12/31/2016

CASH ASSETS 3623 2545

Editor Patsy Mortimer Published January 2018; cover photo Kirtland’s Warbler © Moira Maus

Snow buntings © Roger Eriksson

From the President Jean Howard

The year 2017 was another active and exciting year for AuSable Valley Audubon. We had some firsts. We improved on initiatives started in 2016. More importantly, we had dedicated members. Field trips continued to play a major role. From the novice birder to the expert birder, to those with organizing expertise or technical skills, to those active within the community or who shared their individual birding projects with us, we joined together to promote birding and its benefits.

For the first time, we conducted acoustic bat surveys which were led by three members: Larry VanWagoner, Alan Bernard and Nik Schulwitz during June and August under the auspices of the Organization for Bat Conservation (OBC).

Another first grew out of the bat project – our first ever Skype program with OBC’s Ian Ableson. Even some bats participated.

For the first time, we supported the Trumpeter Swan Society by becoming a member.

Our signature free Kirtland’s Warbler Tours were started in 2016 by Peggy Ridgway. We offered these tours again in 2017 thanks to follow-up by Arnie Leriche and our expert birding guides, Sam Burckhardt and Matt Hegwood. The number of attendees increased to 60 and we look forward to more in 2018.

We participated in Giving Tuesday for the first time in 2016. In 2017, we almost doubled the number of contributors to 17 and the amount of donations to $715.

We reactivated our Facebook page. Gary Spiekerman continued our impressive website and Bob Kemnitz the email communication.

Other programs included:

• local archeology research conducted by U.S. Forest Service Archeologist James Renn;

• opportunities to aid area youth science projects from Kelly Rau, area 4H Coordinator;

• salmon raising at Oscoda High School by teacher Matt McDougall and a field trip to the school to see the project;

• kids’ bat programs at Lumberman’s Monument by Augusta Grumdahl, AmeriCorps;

• Great Lakes Bird Conservation and Black Terns by Caleb Putnam, Michigan Bird Conservation Coordinator;

• Sandhill Cranes by Sue Duncan; and

• eBird by birder and photographer Phil Odum.

Emily Kemnitz’s short “Bird Bits” continued to provide basic bird id throughout 2017 and some

light moments, e.g., Downy vs Hairy, LBJs, and a red bird contest for Valentine’s Day.

Forty members volunteered and obtained sponsors for Michigan Audubon’s Tawas Point Birding Festival in May, coordinated by Sue Duncan. Birders identified 150 species.

Two large roadside crews picked up trash for our 7th M-55 Adopt-A-Highway program.

Bird counts provided an opportunity for members to participate in Citizen Science. The Great Backyard Bird Count was in February and the Global Big Day was in May. Sandhill Cranes were late this year with 40 seen during the October field trip, 900 for VanWagoner’s official count and 2000 afterwards. VanWagoner stepped down from organizing Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) with our 43rd year led by Dawn Hooper and Carol Bohmier.

Our numerous field trips to birding spots and habitats were highlights with Tuttle Marsh a favorite. Lunches before meetings and after field trips were arranged by our Vice President and Self-Designated Social Secretary, Sue

Duncan. They provided another opportunity to get to know each other and to reach out to the greater community.

We thank all 90 of our members who participated in making 2017 a great 45th year.

We are fortunate to live an area with such diverse and largely unspoiled habitats. As we look forward to 2018, we see many opportunities and challenges. Because of our members, we look for continued success in pursuing our mission.

Board of Directors: Jean Howard, President; Sue Duncan, Vice President; Larry Vanwagoner, Secretary; Patsy Mortimer, Treasurer; Carol Bohmier, At Large

ausablevalleyaudubon.org; Facebook

Mission: To promote among the people

of the AuSable Valley and surrounding areas

an interest in our native birds

and other natural resources

Common nighthawk © Samuel B. Burckhardt

Kirtland’s warbler © Samuel Burckhardt

Trumpeter swans © Moira Maus

Moira Maus & Sam Burckhardt spot birds during Tawas CBC