MAS Field Trips
May 5th & 6th Fontanelle Reservoir Field Trip. Contact Zach at zhutchinson@audubon.org or 267-7560.
Last year the Hat-6 Lek had no Sage-Grouse. That eliminated the easiest place around Casper to see strutting Sage-Grouse. Now to see this spectacular display, you will have to go to a non-public lek. As part of Murie’s contribution to counting Sage-Grouse leks, I count two leks three times each during April and the first few days of May. I am willing to take up to 5 people with me on a first come first serve basis. The weather has to be dry so that we don’t tear up the dirt roads, so I cannot plan very many days in advance. I leave the ranch about 5:00 AM (as April progresses I leave earlier) and plan to get back about 3 hours later. Call me, Stacey Scott, if you are interested. Call before 8:00 PM (I go to bed early) at 262-0055.
Murie Audubon will have a field trip to the Jackson Canyon Eagle Roost on Saturday, Feb 18. We will meet at 3:00 PM at the Goose Egg Inn parking lot. That is about 200 yards south of Wyoming 220 on Goose Egg Rd. I even think that the Highway Department has a sign that says Goose Egg Rd. The Highway Department has its own name for roads around here, and only about half the time does the Highway sign list the same name as that assigned by the County.
My ranch hand took some friends up to the roost last night, and he said the biggest problem is slipping in the mud. He only saw 6 eagles, but he was back before dark. He also said there were lots of robins and some Clark’s Nutcrackers. This hike is energetic, climbing about 700 feet in a mile and a half on mud and rocks. Bring a flashlight because we will come down in the dark. Also, even if it is warm and calm in Casper, it will be cold and windy on the edge of Jackson Canyon. Call Stacey Scott at 262-0055 before 8:00 PM for more details.
There will be a field trip to Rawhide WHMA and Table Mountain WHMA on May 21st. We will leave from the Mernard’s parking lot at 5 AM. This will be an all-day field trip. You will need to pack a lunch and a water bottle. There are about 3 spots left in the van for this trip. However, you are more than welcome to follow the van in your personal vehicle! If you have interest in this field trip, contact Zach Hutchinson at zhutchinson@audubon.org.
Monday, May 30. We will have a field trip to Little Red Creek, leaving at 8:00AM from the Game and Fish parking lot. There will be some walking, but you can get good birds without much effort. We should be back about noon. This trip is dependent on dry roads, so if you have any questions call Stacey Scott at 262-0055.
The annual Sage-Grouse strutting field trip is Saturday, April 9. We will meet at 5:30 AM at the Eastside Ridley’s in Casper, Wyoming (used to be Safeway) parking lot. We will visit the Hat 6 Lek. Hopefully there are still birds on this lek. The houses are closing in, and the birds are being pushed off. I am, also, counting birds on some of the Two-Bar leks, and if anyone would like to come along or want more details on the field trip, call me at 262-0055. These counts are good weather only, so I do most of them during the week. If I don’t return your call, try again. My ears are no longer good enough to hear the cell phone over the tractor. Contact – Stacey Scott
There will be a field trip on April 16th to visit a private Greater Sage-Grouse lek. This field trip has not been set as of this newsletter.
Finally, there will be a field trip to Rawhide WHMA and Table Mountain WHMA on May 21st. If you have interest in these two field trips, contact Zach Hutchinson at zhutchinson@audubon.org.
There will be a field trip to Bighorn, Wyoming on February 13th. There will be a van available (thanks to Audubon Rockies) to transport any interested in going. We are doing a field trip swap with the Bighorn Audubon Society. We will be looking for American Dipper, Common Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, Northern Goshawk, & Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. It should be an exciting day! We will leave the Wyoming Game & Fish Office, 3030 Energy Ln, Casper, WY at 7:00 AM. Bring a lunch, although dining at a local eatery is a great possibility as well. Email Zach Hutchinson at zhutchinson@audubon.org.
The Murie Board would also like to plan an overnight field trip to see the Sandhill Crane migration in/or near Kearney, NE on April 1st and 2nd. Transportation would be provided (thank you to Audubon Rockies), but lodging for the evening would need to be provided by participants. We will need a minimum of 8 registrants to make the trip a go. If you have interest in going, email Zach Hutchinson at zhutchinson@audubon.org.
MAS January Field Trip
There will be a field trip to Gray Reef & Alcova on January 9th. We will meet at Morad Park at 9:00 AM. We will be looking in the warmed water coming out of Alcova for unusual birds wintering over. If there have been any unusual sightings in other locations, we may travel to those as well. If the road conditions are bad, we will cancel the trip. We should be back by noon. Call Stacey Scott at 262-0055 for details.
Zach Hutchinson (267-7560) & Stacey Scott
There will be a field trip to Gray Reef on November 14th. We will meet at Game & Fish at 8 AM and continue out to look for unusual ducks. This is also a great month to spend some time at Goldeneye Reservoir. Scope the large rafts of birds for scoters, unusual dabbling ducks, or a late loon!
There will be two field trips in October for any interested parties. The first will occur on October 10th. We will meet at the Tate Pumphouse at 8AM and continue on to Goldeneye Reservoir. We will be looking for migrating waterfowl, unusual gulls, and anything else we can get our eyes on. The second field trip will be on October 31st to Lake DeSmet. Look for a note from Chris Michelson on more information regarding the Lake DeSmet field trip.
Zach Hutchinson – (307-267-7560) zhutch47@gmail.com
Assuming that the weather is OK, there will be a field trip Oct. 31, 2015 going to the Buffalo, Healy Reservoir, Lake DeSmet and Storey area. We will meet at the east side Ridley’s parking lot (300 SE Wyoming Blvd, Casper, WY 82609) planning to leave at 7:00AM sharp. We should arrive in Buffalo about 9:00AM. Dress for the weather and bring what ever food and drink you need.
Chris Michelson – (307-234-8726), michelsonce@aol.com