Birding bulletin newsboard: Fwd: Fundraiser nets $20,000 for land purchase! Fort Edwards Grasslands

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

--- Dr. Seuss

-----Original Message-----
From: Friends of the IBA <info@ibafriends.org>
To: Peter <prosbird@aol.com>
Sent: Tue, Dec 4, 2018 1:42 pm
Subject: Fundraiser nets $20,000 for land purchase!

12/04/2018 eNews

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FUNDRAISER NETS $20,000 FOR LAND CAMPAIGN!

A private fundraiser hosted by Elizabeth and Barton Cockey raised $20,000 for our 64 acre land campaign in October!

This fun social event set a record for a private fundraiser and brought new supporters into our growing network of grassland bird conservationists. The funds will be used toward the acquisition of 64 acres of prime habitat near our Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area in Fort Edward.

The parcel supports at least seven endangered, threatened or at-risk grassland bird species, including Short-eared owls, Snowy owls, Northern harriers, Horned larks, Eastern meadowlarks, American kestrels and Bobolinks! It also supports dozens of other species and hundreds of pollinators!

Thanks to the success of this event we are able to move forward with the purchase of this vital property. Special Thanks to the Cockeys, everyone who contributed and our wonderful volunteers!

Glens Falls couple raise $3,000 for Land Campaign!

MaryBeth and Joe Wagner hosted a back yard "meet and greet" in August that raised $3,000 for the 64 acre campaign. Attendees were able to meet and learn about some of our native raptors up close and personal - including an American kestrel and a rare Short-eared owl!

An Anonymous Donor pledged to match the second thousand dollars raised up to $1,000. This led to a round of eleventh hour donations that topped the $2,000 mark and qualified us for the extra $1,000!

Thanks to our Anonymous Donor, Wildlife Educator/ Rehabilitator Joyce Perry for donating her time, Mary Beth, Joe and all of our volunteers!

SNOWY OWL RETURNS TO WILD!

FORT EDWARD The Snowy owl sprang from its crate and glided across an open field at FIBA's Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird Viewing Area. She glanced back once before landing on a fence post at the edge of the property. She seemed relieved to be back in the wild as she took in her surroundings.

The owl was so emaciated when she was found dying of starvation this past May she didn't react when her rescuer and his dog approached her, said North Country Wild Care rehabilitator Diane Hime.

Hime picked up the owl, a young female, after her rescuer called the organization's 24-hour wildlife hotline. She brought it to Cara, a Vet Tech with over 18 years of experience rehabilitating sick or injured raptors.

Cara worked around the clock to save the owl's life, administering fluids and tube feedings every four hours for three days, until the big raptor could take solid food on her own. Fortunately, she hadn't been injured and did not show signs of pesticide poisoning...

"If an owl or other raptor can't catch prey – whether because prey is scarce, or the bird is young and inexperienced - it soon loses the energy to hunt," said Laurie LaFond, founder and Executive Director of Friends of the IBA (Important Bird Area). "Then it starves to death..."

Snowy owls have been declining for at least two decades, primarily due to climate change. These majestic residents of the Arctic tundra are at risk of extinction if no conservation action is taken.

See more photos of the release and learn what you can do to help at www.ibafriends.org

WINTER RAPTOR & OWL WATCH FIELD TRIPS

Saturday, January 26 – Owl Watch & Winter Raptors!

Grab your binoculars, dress in layers and head out to the Washington County Grasslands with FIBA founder/ Executive Director Laurie LaFond & avid birder Rich Speidel to look for owls and other wintering raptors. Likely sightings include Short-eared owls, Snowy owls, Rough-legged hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Northern harriers, Horned larks, Snow buntings and more!
Group size is limited. CALL Rich at (518) 623-2587 to register.

Meeting Time: 2:30 p.m. (rain/snow date: Sunday, January 27)

Saturday, March 16 - SAME AS ABOVE EXCEPT MEETING TIME = 4 p.m
(rain/snow date: Sunday, March 17, same time)

ALL FIELD TRIPS: FEE = $10 nonmembers
($20 Family); Free to Members