PAST 2022 - 2024 EVENTS:

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June 21 at 9 am – Bighorn Audubon and State Parks Ranger Katie Singleton bird walk adventure began at Fort Phil. 26 participants visited a variety of bird habitats on state land, about a mile walk round trip. A bird checklist and educational information was provided. Great birds, people, weather and land. 

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February 8th - A presentation "Let's Talk About Birds" with members of the Story Garden Club. Fun afternoon!

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Bighorn Audubon board members Pam Moore and Carol Mavrakis, Thursday, Dec. 21st 5:30-7:30, attended SAGE Open House and Member-Pop-up. Thank you, SAGE Community Arts Gallery, for inviting Bighorn Audubon to participate!

ART, Refreshments and Live Music.

21 West Brundage Street in Sheridan.

​The Brinton Museum and Bighorn Audubon PRESENTED:

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Birds of the Rocky Mountain Region

May 4 - July 2 at The Brinton Museum

Birds of the Rocky Mountain Region was a national juried art exhibit of 40 selected works representing a wide diversity of artistic styles of regional birds. All stunning pieces!

PLEASE CLICK HERE to read more about the exhibit and the educational programs.

 

OCTOBER 22nd in Buffalo

Murie Audubon of Casper made their annual trip to the Buffalo area on October 22, 2022.  A wonderful group toured the ponds at Mountain Plains Heritage Park, CR 204, Healy Reservoir, Moore Reservoir and Lake DeSmet. It was a bit chilly, but we had great fun spotting 37 species. Among the highlights was a Rusty Blackbird. The leaders were Stacey Scott of Murie Audubon and Jim & Gloria Lawrence of Buffalo. 

 

AUGUST 13th at Trail End

Discovery Session: Birding and Community Science

Sheridan Community Land Trust, Bighorn Audubon Society, Bighorn National Forest Wildlife Biologists and at the Trail End State Historic Site 

Attendees learned how birders can aid the conservation and management of our feathered friends as community scientists. Bighorn Audubon Society board members Ariel Downing and JoAnne Puckett talked about the Christmas Bird Count and Spring Count and the newly-released Bighorn Forest Bird Checklist. USFS Wildlife Biologists Bonnie Alison and Tracy Pinter talked about community science opportunities in the Forest. 

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MARCH 23rd at Sheridan Fulmer Library 

Presentation on Greater Sage-Grouse habitat needs and

survival threats in the Powder River Basin

By Chris Kirol, M.S., Ph.D. Post-Doctoral Wildlife Ecologist

March 23rd at 5:30 pm Inner Circle, Sheridan Fulmer Library

Free event

Sponsored by the Bighorn Audubon Society

 

Abstract:

Greater Sage-grouse thrive in landscapes dominated by unfragmented sagebrush habitat. However, largely due to human actions, large tracks of unfragmented sagebrush habitat are becoming much less common in the western U.S. and Sage-grouse population declines have mirrored this loss and fragmentation of sagebrush habitat over the last several decades. Population declines have been particularly stark in the Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming. In this presentation, Dr. Chris Kirol will be discussing the ecology of this unique bird along with sharing some interesting facts and details. He will also be sharing what he and his colleagues have learned through their research on Sage-grouse living in an industrial landscape in northeastern Wyoming. During the last five years, they have used female Sage-grouse fitted with GPS-transmitters to gather detailed information on habitat needs and Sage-grouse responses to disturbances, infrastructure and reclamation. Finally, and most importantly, he will describe actions we can take to improve habitat quality for Sage-grouse and ways to maintain and enhance areas of high reproductive potential to boost populations of this amazing bird.

 

Biosketch: 

Dr. Chris Kirol has been doing wildlife work in Wyoming for almost 20 years. Prior to obtaining graduate degrees in wildlife ecology at the University of Wyoming (Masters of Science) and the University of Waterloo (Doctor of Philosophy), he worked for an environmental consultant as a wildlife biologist where his primary duties involved conducting wildlife clearance surveys for industrial development. It was during this time that he became passionate about conservation of wildlife species that are dependent on the sagebrush ecosystem such as the Greater Sage-grouse. During his graduate work, he completed a master’s project studying Sage-grouse population fitness in an area that was undergoing oil and gas development. His master thesis was named Outstanding Masters of Science Thesis of 2013 by the University of Wyoming. Through his PhD and post-doctoral research, he has been working to apply field-based science to wildlife conservation issues in the sagebrush ecosystem. His research has primarily focused on bird species dependent of sagebrush ecosystems from sage-grouse to songbirds like the Brewer’s Sparrow. Broadly, his research explores how habitat quality—the ability of the environment to provide conditions suitable for individual and population persistence—can be compromised by human features and activities, and steps that can be taken to reduce the impacts of these activities on endemic species. Over the course of his career, his research has focused on applied science including critical habitat mapping, measuring the effectiveness of mitigation and assessing bird responses to reclamation. His research can be found in peer-reviewed journals such as Ecological Applications, Avian Conservation Ecology, and the Journal of Wildlife Management.

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More info please contact bighornaudubon@gmail.com