UNITED NATIONS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – OMAHA AREA EVENTS

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Audubon Society of Omaha (ASO) Student Art Contest

April 4

The ASO conducts an annual art contest for the Greater Omaha-area K-12 public, private, and home-schooled children. This year's theme was midwest or endangered birds. Student artwork was judged by a team of working artists and/or experienced birders. All artwork was displayed for public viewing at Bellevue University. A special awards ceremony was held for family friends, teachers, and the public.

Desoto NWR Spring Birdcount and Sarpy County Spring Birdcount

May 2 – Desoto NWR
May 9 – Sarpy County

Birdcounts record bird species and document distribution of migratory and resident birds over many years. Data from over 4 decades of Aububon Christmas Birdcounts showed a northward shift of the "centers of abundance" of more than half the bird species counted by volunteers. The shift averaged 35 miles for all birds; and it averaged 48 miles for land birds. Climate data for the same 4 decades showed that the average January temperature in our country rose from 28 degrees Fahrenheit to 34 degrees Faharenheit. While we may not notice a few degrees, it affects plants growth and other biotic components that birds require as suitable habitat.
"Among land birds, grassland species moved the least. It is thought that many of these species could not move because there is not enough grassland habitat left: no place to go. As we continue to lose that habitat, continued population declines are expected because the Plains states are expected to become drier.
While it cannot be proven that global warming is the cause of these population changes, National Audubon scientists and others believe that it is the most likely explanation… Humans have the power to either accelerate temperature change and habitat loss or slow and possibly stop it. Find more details about this report on the National Audubon Society website." -- two paragraphs written by Bob Fuchs, ASO Conservation Chairman, in the April 2009 ASO newsletter.

Audubon Society of Omaha (ASO) Prairie Festival

August 30 or September 6

The ASO's 2nd annual Prairie Festival will take place at our tall grass prairie in northern Douglas County. The festival features guided walks on prairie grasses and wildflowers, birds, and prairie restoration.

More than 90% of tall grass prairies in Nebraka were converted to agriculture or developed; and today just a few native tall grass prairie remnants remain. Half of our prairie was never plowed, and seeds are collected to plant in the area that was once hayed. We also conduct controlled burns to remove invasive grasses and forbs, and to return nutrients to the soil. By late summer, much of the work is done; so please join us to celebrate another season of beautiful bluestems, milkweeds, and other tall grass prairie plants.

For details, please check our website at audubon-omaha.org or call ASO Natural Areas Chairman Eric Scholar 551-5045.

Audubon Society of Omaha (ASO) Birdseed Sale

October 24 – 25

The ASO annual Birdseed Sale has featured locally grown blackoil and other seeds to feed birds for almost 30 years. We felt this benefits local farmers and our Midwest economy, and it conserves non-renewable fossil fuels used by most delivery trucks. Work is done by Audubon volunteers and birdseed order pickup is conveniently located in various garages in the Omaha area -- so customers won't have to drive far. Earnings from the sale are plowed back into program services such as birdcounts, monthly newsletters and programs, prairie maintenance, and educational efforts.

Contact

Nelli Falzgraf
NelliF@cox.net
402-292-9687