What Ducks Eat and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever observed a wild duck in a pond or marsh while it is eating “something” in the water? Have you ever wondered what in the world that duck is finding in this water?

Wyoming Game and Fish Migratory Bird biologist Nate Huck will be our guest speaker at the February meeting. Nate is a Wisconsin native where he got his Undergraduate degree; he got his master’s degree in Texas. Nate will talk to us about what ducks eat and why what they eat matters ecologically.

Murie Audubon’s programs are free and open to the public. The program will be on Friday, February 10, 2017, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.

(Note – we will not be hosting the Annual Murie Audubon Society Banquet and Fundraiser in February.)

MURIE’S NOVEMBER PROGRAM FEATURES BIRD BINGO
Join us, for a night of light-hearted fun and a chance to practice some new birds. Bird Bingo puts a new spin and educational insights on birds. You’ll be excited to see some of your favorites, but also included, but you may possibly walk on the wild side, with weird and exotic species as well. This experience is sure to be fun for all ages! The event will be held at our regular location, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Building, 2211 King
Blvd. at 7pm.

Murie’s October Program Features Extinct Birds

An imaginary tour of the world from 1500 B.C. forward will feature vanished bird species from around the world.  Russell Hawley, education specialist for the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College, will be our guide. The tour will include a look at the passenger pigeon, the moa, the du, and the elephant bird of Madagascar – the largest bird that ever lived.

Murie Audubon’s programs are free and open to the public. The program will be on Friday, October 14, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.

PROGRAM CHAIR—Bruce Walgren

Living with Lions

With the recent sightings of mountain lion(s) in the city limits of Casper, the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. has been working to increase the public’s awareness of what to do if they do encounter Wyoming’s largest cat.

The stealthy nature of this large carnivore piques our interest and curiosity.  Join us on Friday, September 9^th, when biologists from the Large Carnivore Section of the Wyoming Game and Fish will discuss the history of mountain lions in North America, as well as their ecology and role in the landscape.  We will also learn what you can do to prevent potential conflicts with these big cats, and what you should do if you do find yourself face to face with a mountain lion.

The program will be on Friday, September 9, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  And as always, the program is free and open to the public!!

Bruce Walgren—Program Chairman

Kent and Meg Sundell return on May 13 to share part of their July 2015 trip to Africa; this program will concentrate on their time in Namibia.

They travelled with a small diverse group of mostly repeat travelers. This trip was billed as more of a cultural trip compared to the specifically wildlife trip in 2012; however, with a former zoo curator, several working ecologists, geologist, pharmacy Ph.D. and everyone being bird and wildlife enthusiasts, the trip focused as much or more on wildlife.  While not billed as a wildlife viewing trip they saw many species daily, including the elusive aardwolf and the ubiquitous Oryx.

As always, Kent and Meg will educate as well as entertain, so don’t miss this last program before our summer break.  The program will be on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  And as always, the program is free and open to the public!!

Program Chair—Bruce Walgren

Our guest speaker for April has handled eleven of the 18 species of bats that either live or migrate through Wyoming. Laura Beard has been with Wyoming Game and Fish’s Nongame program for just over a year. Before that, she worked for Alaska Fish and Game, surveying bats in SE Alaska.

She will discuss bat ecology in Wyoming, touching on white-nose syndrome (WNS) along with other conservation issues affecting bats. As the fungus that causes WNS continues to spread west, more species will become exposed and their specific ecology and suite of behaviors may affect whether they experience mortality. The genus Myotis appears to be the most affected, and this group is the most numerous in Wyoming, therefore it is important to get detailed baseline data on the distribution of this genus before the arrival of the fungus.

Laura and her colleagues have just finished up an eight year survey of bats throughout the state. Four years were dedicated to categorizing which bats live in forests, the second four years looked at cliffs and caves. They will be changing focus soon to the eastern part of the state, which represents the East-West division between certain analogous species.

Come and hear more about bats in Wyoming on Friday, April 8, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  As always, the program is free and open to the public!!

PROGRAM CHAIR—Bruce Walgren & info. from  Laura Beard

Sportfish Populations of Wyoming

Travis Neebling is the Reservoir Research Biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a role he has served in since 2009.  Prior to beginning with the Department, he earned his Master of Science degree from Iowa State University and his Bachelor of Science degree from Northland College.

Travis’ research focuses on native and non-native sportfish populations in Wyoming’s large natural lakes and reservoirs.  He evaluates new gear and techniques, monitors trends in populations, evaluates fish size and health, and evaluates stocking and harvest rates.  He also serves as the state’s technical specialist on hydroacoustics and technical specialist on mercury contamination in fish.  He will be describing his work in more detail and will be available to answer any questions you may have on Wyoming’s fisheries.

Come and hear more about this ongoing research on Friday, March 11, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  As always, the program is free and open to the public!!

PROGRAM CHAIR – Bruce Walgren

Wolverines in Wyoming

(Due to a scheduling problem, Nichole Bjornlie was unable to present the wolverine program in November.  Nichole will be here for the January program. Below is a repeat of the announcement.)

Wolverines (Gulo gulo) have long been popular in mythology, as sports mascots, and recently as the well-known star of a popular Marvel comic.  However, despite their popularity, wolverines are rarely seen and little is known about their status and distribution in Wyoming, which lies at the southern edge of their continental range.  Join Wyoming Game and Fish Department Nongame Mammal Biologist Nichole Bjornlie to learn about wolverine ecology and history in Wyoming, and the current work being conducted by the Department to learn more about this popular, but secretive species.  Nichole will also touch on some of the work being done on other nongame mammals in Wyoming.

Nichole has been working in conservation and management of nongame and sensitive mammals since 2006.  An Iowa native, Nichole received her BS in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University in 2006 and her MS in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona in 2009, studying the ecology and space utilized by the endemic Arizona gray squirrel.  Since joining the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2010, she has worked with species ranging from prairie dogs, pygmy rabbits, and Preble’s meadow jumping mice, to swift fox, black-footed ferrets, and bats.  In March of 2015, Nichole started as the Nongame Mammal Biologist and is in charge of overseeing all nongame mammal management and research for the State of Wyoming.

Come and hear more about this ongoing study on Friday, January 8, 2016, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  As always, the program is free and open to the public!!

PROGRAM CHAIR—Bruce Walgren

Wolverines in Wyoming

Wolverines (Gulo gulo) have long been popular in mythology, as sports mascots, and recently as the well-known star of a popular Marvel comic.  However, despite their popularity, wolverines are rarely seen and little is known about their status and distribution in Wyoming, which lies at the southern edge of their continental range.  Join Wyoming Game and Fish Department Nongame Mammal Biologist Nichole Bjornlie to learn about wolverine ecology and history in Wyoming, and the current work being conducted by the Department to learn more about this popular, but secretive species.  Nichole will also touch on some of the work being done on other nongame mammals in Wyoming.

Nichole has been working in conservation and management of nongame and sensitive mammals since 2006.  An Iowa native, Nichole received her BS in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University in 2006 and her MS in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona in 2009, studying the ecology and space utilized by the endemic Arizona gray squirrel.  Since joining the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in 2010, she has worked with species ranging from prairie dogs, pygmy rabbits, and Preble’s meadow jumping mice, to swift fox, black-footed ferrets, and bats.  In March of 2015, Nichole started as the Nongame Mammal Biologist where she focuses on management and research needs for nongame mammals for the State of Wyoming.

Come and hear more about this ongoing study on Friday, November 13, 2015, at 7 PM at the Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Building at 2211 King Blvd.  As always, the program is free and open to the public!!

PROGRAM CHAIR—BRUCE WALGREN