PUBLISHED IN THE JAN. 23, 2024, HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE VOICE
By MARY ELIADES
Voice correspondent
Hot Springs Village Audubon, in conjunction with POA Parks & Recreation, recently presented an overview of “all things bird” in the Village.
Audubon president Norma Wall kicked off the presentation by announcing that the HSV chapter of Audubon will be 50 years old on April 24 (just in advance of National Audubon Day, celebrated on April 26). Wall went on to describe Hot Springs Village as a “bird-friendly community” and praised the POA for being “very supportive” of bird-related activities.
The POA has been asked to issue a proclamation declaring April “native plant month” in the Village. Wall said, “Drought-resistant plants reduce water usage, reduce heating effects and energy demands, minimize fertilizers/pesticides, and improve the quality of stormwater runoff.” HSV Audubon will partner with Arkansas Audubon in this initiative.
Audubon members have many opportunities to participate in citizen science projects, and Mike Cigelman reported on the results of the 2023 Christmas Bird Count, held Dec. 18, 2023. “This is the oldest citizen science project in the country,” said Cigelman, who co-chaired the 2023 event with Chris Cash. Three teams spread out over large sections of the Village and surrounding areas to count birds and enjoy the cool, sunny day. Cigelman said the data collected is uploaded to state and national databases and used to track populations and migrations.
Fewer birds were counted than in years past, which Cigelman attributed to fewer counters participating and more properties being cleared and built on.
Chris Rabion discussed the Climate Watch program, which takes place at specific locations and times and “explores how North American birds are responding to climate change.” This year’s activities take place Jan. 15 to Feb. 15 and April 15 to May 15. The data is shared with state and national organizations.
One of the most popular Audubon events is coming up in March – the Bird ID Workshop. Jeri Garcia, with help from Vic Prislipsky, will lead four sessions (first four Wednesdays in March) at the Coronado Center, in which would-be birders will learn all about Village birds. The workshops include classroom sessions and field excursions. In addition to the bird identification portions of the workshop, participants will learn about equipment – binoculars, field guides, feeders, etc.
Mike McMillan, chief operations officer at Brookhill Ranch, was a special guest at the presentation. McMillan confirmed the commitment made by the Ranch to work with Audubon on bird counts and other programs.
Janet Rowe is in charge of Audubon field trips and described a recent visit to Heber Springs to see the trumpeter swans. Norma Wall reminded attendees, “Field trips are a member benefit” and are usually announced on short notice – whenever something comes up that merits a day trip.
Kathy Jurek talked about Audubon’s bluebird monitoring project, which has proved to be a huge success in the Village. She described the loss of bluebird habitat and studies that showed how “bluebird trails” could help turn the tide. The Village project started on DeSoto Golf Course and now includes more than 300 boxes around the Village, mostly on golf courses. Volunteers monitor the boxes from mid-March through mid-September, usually on a weekly basis.
Master craftsman Adolph Juarez had some of his custom bluebird boxes on hand, which are available for purchase on the Audubon website (https://hsvbirds.org).
Kathy Swanson of POA Parks & Recreation talked about trails – maintenance, the trails committee, and the Friends of the Trails group.
Genell Harris discussed school outreach programs – to Mountain Pine, Fountain Lake, and Jessieville schools – as well as to the Boys & Girls Club. A related program is the Halberg Ecology Camp, where 5th and 6th graders study nature in all its forms, both indoors and outdoors. HSV Audubon typically sponsors at least one student per year, and Harris said, “This is a life-changing event for these kids.”
Audubon will continue its sale of bird seed, although supply chain issues have made it challenging to get the desired quantities.
HSV Audubon has 10 programs per year, said Susan Giovengo, programs co-chair, along with Denise Johnston. The programs are held the second Thursday of each month, with the exception of July and August. The March program will be about monarch butterflies, with April focusing on hummingbirds. The Festival of Wings will return in June, with 20 booths organized by “people and groups who engage in making Hot Springs Village bird friendly,” according to Giovengo.
Membership chair Karen Geiger was introduced, as well as the communications team of Donna Osborne and Mary Eliades.
For information on HSV Audubon’s programs or to become a member, visit the website https://hsvbirds.org.