Monthly Meeting Time & Location
CAAS meets the first Thursday of the month
September – January meetings will be held at the Michigan Nature Association Education Room 2310 Science Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864
February – June meetings will be held at Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing (corner of Mt. Hope Ave. and Aurelius Rd.)
Refreshments at 7:00 p.m. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. with announcements and bird sightings and then the program.
September 5 – Monarchs and Pollinators
Join us to hear from Fenner Nature Center Program Manager, Jenny Mensch, about the many ways Fenner is helping to increase the declining monarch population and educating the greater Lansing region about the conservation of monarchs and other pollinators. In 2017, Fenner Conservancy constructed an exhibit to raise awareness in the community about pollinator conservation through the raising and rearing of monarch butterflies – the Monarch House. Since then, more than 300 monarch butterflies hav e been reared, checked for parasites, tagged, and released.
Mensch received her Master’s in Science in Environmental Education at Southern Oregon University in 2012 following an undergraduate degree in Conservation and Environmental Science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Through her work at Fenner, Jenny has shared her passion for
inclusion and access in urban nature settings and has focused her efforts on experiential learning for people of all ages.
October 3 – Investigating the Winter Nocturnal Nest Box use of the Black -crested Titmouse
Are nest boxes important to birds outside of the breeding season? Join us as we hear from Christina Farrell about her research into the use of nest boxes as overnight roosting sites for Black-crested Titmice.
Christina obtained a B.S. in Geography from Texas State University in the fall of 2013 and finished her M.S. in Wildlife Ecology at Texas State in the fall of 2018. She has recently focused on pursuing her passion for bird banding, most recently at the Michigan State Bird Observatory. Her favorite bird is the Common Nighthawk.
November 7 – Bald Eagles in the Great Lakes as Biomonitors\
Jim Sikarskie DVM, has spent 44 years as an educator at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and is a Professor Emeritus. He worked at Potter Park Zoo for over 30 years as the Zoo and Wildlife Vet. Sikarskie was born in the UP and has spent much of his career researching the effects of
DDT on Eagles.
December 5 – Bluebirds
Our December meeting will feature Bluebird expert Gene Wasserman. He will share how to get started as a bluebird landlord and how to help Bluebirds succeed in your area. Wasserman is the Ingham, Eaton and Clinton County Coordinator for the Michigan Bluebird Society. He also makes and sells WoodCraft Kit Bluebird Houses and feeders. All profits are donated to non-profits. His goal, besides helping Bluebirds, is to get people, especially kids, outdoors to explore nature.
December 14 – East Lansing Christmas Bird Count
Get out and enjoy some winter birding by participating in National Audubon’s annual Christmas bird count! Groups will survey areas in Greater Lansing and report findings at a dinner following the count. Volunteers needed! Contact Barb Hosler at 517-281-6595 for more info.
December 28 – Eaton Rapids Christmas Bird Count
Annual Christmas bird count in Eaton Rapids area. Volunteers needed! Contact Barb Hosler at 517-281-6595 for more info.
January 9 – Marsh Birds and Migration
Rachael Pierce, a migratory bird specialist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will share her knowledge about marsh birds and migration.
February 6 – Grassland Management
Explore the changing and fascinating restoration of native prairie with Chad Krumnauer from the Michigan DNR.
March 5 – Bats
Michigan is home to 9 species of bat, including the endangered Indiana bat. These bats play an important role in controlling local insect population.
Conserving these species is especially important with the threat of W hite Nose Syndrome, a fungus spreading to colonies across the country. Peter
Fowler, from the Bat Association of MSU will share more about Michigan bats and ways to help!
Spring Field Trips will be announced in the Call Note and on our Facebook Page. To join our email list, contact caascallnote@gmail.com
April 2 – Birds of Asia
Based at Michigan State University, Dr. Pamela Rasmussen will share her vast knowledge and past work with Asian birds. Rasmussen, the lead author of “Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide,” is an assistant professor at MSU and assistant curator at the MSU Museum. She is also the coordinator of MSU’s global bird sounds website AVoCet.
April (Saturday mornings) Spring Migration Bird Walks
Enjoy spotting the latest spring arrivals at Fenner Nature Center. Walks start at 9:00 a.m.
May 7 – Michigan Endangered Species
Join us to hear about many different endangered species that can be found here in Michigan. From the Lake Sturgeon, to the Spotted Turtle and the
amazing recovery of the Kirtland’s Warbler, we will learn about efforts all over Michigan to restore our native species.
May (Saturday mornings) Spring Migration Bird Walks
Enjoy this peak warbler time at Fenner Nature Center. Walks start at 8:00 a.m.
June – Year-end ice cream social & members’ photos