Photo by Martha Hunt
Photo
of green heron by Tom Harbron
Monthly programs
what's coming up • general info • past programs • conservation awards
Sept. 7: Annual fall picnic, Mounds State Park
This
year's annual fall picnic will be held at a Sunday afternoon, instead
of our usual Monday evening. We'll share a potluck meal at Mounds State
Park, then take a tour of Monarch Waystation created by Loretta Heiniger.
Full details about the time and exact location will follow later in the summer.
Program meetings are held the second Monday of every month, October through June, at Minnetrista, in Muncie. Minnetrista is located at 1200 N. Minnetrista Parkway, just off Wheeling Ave., between McGalliard Rd. and downtown Muncie. (See detailed directions.)
In
September, the program meeting is replaced with a picnic, and in November
we have our annual awards banquet.
Time for refreshments and socializing begins at 7:00 p.m., and the program gets underway by 7:30.
The program typically consists of an informational
slide show or powerpoint given by an expert on some aspect of the natural
world, such as birds, other wildlife, plants, natural history, or travel.
Speakers are usually experts on a given topic, and in a given year programs
cover a wide range of topics. (See our program
archives for more information.)
If you have ideas for upcoming programs, please contact Bonnie Nicholson,
Program Chair, at nickrb69@yahoo.com
or 765-886-5099.
June 9: John Taylor – dealing with invasive exotic plants
John Taylor, Land Manager for Ball State University’s Field Station and Environmental Education Center, presented information on invasive exotic plant species, their impact upon native ecosystem, their costs (economic and otherwise), and management strategies.
May 12: Bill Hubbard – Birds of the Limberlost
Naturalist Bill Hubbard introduced us to some of the birds of the Limberlost and their songs. His presentation also included a brief history of the Limberlost (1,500 acres of restored wetlands in Jay and Adams Counties) and author Gene Stratton-Porter, who lived in and wrote about the Limberlost.
Apr. 14: Tom Jonker – attracting purple martins
Tom Jonker, an Indiana Mentor with the Purple Martin Conservation Association, offered tips about housing styles, both commercially made and homemade, and nest checks, as well as strategies for keeping starlings and house sparrows from taking over martin housing.
Follow up on May 31 with a field trip to see Tom's martin colonies!
If you missed Tom's program but are interested in becoming a purple martin landlord or want to learn more about expanding an existing colony, we’d like to hear from you. RCAS member Frank Garinger, of Hartford City, is an experienced martin landlord who’s willing to share his expertise with new landlords and swap secrets with long-time landlords.
If you’re interested, contact Frank at 765-348-4246. Frank also welcomes RCAS members to drive by his home and view his colony, at 2776E State Road 26 in Hartford City.
Mar. 10: Kyle Johnson – mapping natural areas in ECI
Kyle Johnson, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Coordinator for Delaware Co., showed how GIS is used to assist various community projects and organizations and to address environmental issues.
Feb. 11: Tom Swinford – natural areas of ECI
Tom Swinford, a Regional Ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, in its Division of Nature Preserves, introduced us to some of East Central Indiana’s natural areas.
Jan. 14: Nick Noe – Indiana karst systems
Indiana karst systems (limestone regions with sinks, underground streams, and caverns) are rich with geological, biological and archaeological significance. Nick Noe, of the Indiana Karst Conservancy, gave a video presentation on Indiana karst and the IKC.
Dec. 10: David Keuhl – future of the environmental movement
David Keuhl, Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at Ball State University, gave an overview of the changing trends and emphases in environmental organizations over the last 150 years.
Nov. 12: Richard Fields – photography across Indiana
For our annual banquet, Richard Fields presented a montage of some of his best photos, taken across the state. Fields is photography editor for Outdoor Indiana magazine and one of two state photographers for the DNR. His work has been collected in Indiana Impressions and Indiana from the Air.
Oct. 8: Kamal Islam – Cerulean warblers in Indiana
Dr. Kamal Islam (Ball State University orthnithologist) presented findings from research that he and his students have been conducting on this declining species over the last seven years, including interesting aspects of this tiny bird's natural history.
Click for archives from the 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 seasons.
| Learn about the 2007 banquet and award winners |
Our
annual banquet, held at Minnetrista, features a special speaker and presentation
of awards to individuals and organizations that have made contributions
to the natural environment in our region or perhaps even state, in these
categories:
Robert H. and Esther L. Cooper Conservation Award: the chapter's highest honor, for overall contributions to, conservation of, and appreciation for, the natural environment
Clyde W. Hibbs Conservation Education Award: for excellence in educating the area's children, youth, and /or adults on conservation issues and practices
Richard Greene Public Service Award: for active involvement in serving the public's environmental interests and concerns
Wildlife Habitat Preservation Award: for development or preservation of habitat that contains significant wildlife and/or native plant life populations
Youth Conservation Award: for excellence in conservation practices by a youth under the age of 18
While nominations for these awards are actively sought each winter and spring, they may be made at any time. If you know of an individual or organization that deserves recognition for its service to the natural environment, please email your nomination, along with a description of the nominee, to nickrb69@yahoo.com.
Nominees for the awards need not reside in our chapter's seven-county region and they need no affiliation with the Audubon Society.
Click here for a complete list of past winners.
