©

THE PRAIRIE FALCON - MAR.1998

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTHERN FLINT HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 1932, MANHATTAN, KS 66505-1932
VOL. 26, NO. 7
INSIDE PROGRAM PREVIEW
ENVIRONMENTAL
BILL BUSBY
NOTES - 2
BIRDATHON - 3 THE KANSAS BREEDING BIRD ATLAS
RECYCLING FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
NFHAS - 3
7:30 PM, THROCKMORTON 1014, KSU CAMPUS
POSTAL SERVICE
REMINDERS - 3 The Kansas Breeding Bird Atlas project was designed to refine our understanding of the
RIVERS AND distribution of breeding birds in the state. Following procedures used in other state atlas
projects, study blocks were established throughout the state and surveyed by volunteers.
WILDLIFE
During 1992 through 1997 over 150 volunteers collected data on the occurrence and
CONFERENCE - 4 probability of breeding of bird species in over 750 survey blocks in Kansas. Final results
MARCH BIRDING are now being prepared as a book with a distribution map for each species. Support for the
IN KANSAS - 5 project has been provided by the Chickadee Checkoff Program (Kansas Department of
Wildlife and Parks), Kansas Ornithological Society, Kansas Biological Survey, and Kansas
PLEASE SEND IN State University. Come learn about this volunteer “citizen science” project, and see what
YOUR BURNING exciting birds were found during the 6 years of atlas work.
BIRDING Bill Busby is with the Kansas Biological Survey, a non-regulatory state agency located at
QUESTIONS! the University of Kansas, where he serves as zoologist with the Kansas Natural Heritage
Inventory.
Before each program we invite our speakers to join us for an informal dinner and discussion.
CONTRIBUTORS Feel free to join us this month atEl Cazador in the Village Plazashopping center at 5:45 PM.
P. FAY The program will commence at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, Mar. 18. Refreshments are served
after the meeting, please bring your own cup. All meetings are open to the public.
J. GARTON Field Trips
Sat., Mar. 14 — Beginning Birdwatching Walk — Join us this Saturday and every second
L. HARRELL Saturday at 8 AM in the Ackert/Durland parking lot on the KSU campus. We will carpool
D. SANDS to a local birding hotspot, and should return by about 11 AM. Birders of every age and
interest level are welcomed; children are especially encouraged to attend. Call Patricia
E. SCHOFIELD Yeager (776-9593) for more information.
BARKLEY Sun., Mar. 22 — Vernal Equinox Walk — NFHAS member and Konza researcher Phil
Fay will lead a walk on the Konza Prairie at 2 PM. For more information, call Phil at 785-
P. WEIDHAAS
539-2863, or email him at fay@lter-konza.konza.ksu.edu.
Sun., Mar. 29 — Secret Places of Tuttle Creek Lake IV - The fourth installment of this
popular and long-running series will depart at 10:00 AM from the Corps of Engineers Visitor
PRINTED BY
Center, 5020 Tuttle Creek Blvd. Paul Weidhaas, NFHAS member and Corps of Engineers
CLAFLIN BOOKS park ranger, will lead a walk to another little-visited area of Tuttle Creek Lake. Please dress
AND COPIES, for the weather, and bring a sack lunch and water. We will return by mid-afternoon. Call Paul
MANHATTAN, KS at 785.539.8511 if there are questions.
The Prairie Falcon - 1
 THE PRAIRIE FALCON
Published monthly (except August) by the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon
Society, and edited by David A. Rintoul, 1124 Woodland, Manhattan KS 66502-2716.
Also available on the World Wide Web at the URL http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~drintoul/falcon.html
HEALTHFUL HERBS
T
he popularity of herbal medicines has increased
greatly in recent years. They’re marketed by many
companies in a variety of forms and advertised
widely with claims of helping nearly any health problem.
But which ones really work and which forms are
best? A medical advisor for Prevention (March
1998) rated the 10 best-selling herbal products
for effectiveness and recommended some
formulas; costs also were noted for some.
1. Echinacea is effective against colds and flu.
Use tablets or capsules and look for formulas
containing E. purpurea and/or E. angustifolia.
The price can be as low as $.25 per capsule.
2. Garlic seems to lower cholesterol and thin the blood
and has antibiotic properties.It also may lower blood
pressure and fight some cancers. You can get your daily
dose easily in food (raw is best, if you can take it), but
coated capsules of dried garlic are available. The best
price is $.16 per capsule.
3.Gingko aids blood flow to the brain, which may improve
memory, and may alleviate vision loss and circulatory
problems in older people. Use tablets or capsules of
concentrated extract that contain 24% flavone glycosides
and 6% gingolides and related compounds. The low price
is $.26 per capsule.
4. Goldenseal apparently is not absorbed internally, so
does not work to boost immunity. However, it does heal
canker sores or sore throat, but it’s expensive and often
mixed with other ingredients.
5. Saw palmetto does help relieve symptoms of enlarged
prostate without unpleasant side effects. Capsules or
tablets should be standardized to contain 85 to 95% fatty
acids and sterols. The low price in $.35 per capsule.
6. Aloe is best used fresh from the plant to heal burns and
cuts. Plants like sun and not too much water. Just break off
a small piece and apply the sap to your skin. Most lotions
or creams contain very little aloe, and it breaks down as it
ages. Taking capsules of aloe as a laxative can be harmful
— it’s very strong.
7. Ginseng (the Asian Panax type) is an effective tonic to
perk up the body and the mind and boost energy. Capsules
or tablets should contain 4 to 7% ginsenosides. The best
The Prairie Falcon - 2
price is $.16 per capsule. Siberian ginseng comes from a
different and unrelated plant and may not be as effective.
8. Cat’s claw is used to treat a wide range of conditions in
Latin America and is said to increase immunity. However,
only one variety of the plant does that; another
variety cancels out the beneficial effects. Reliable
products generally are not available in the U.S.
9. Astragalus is supposed to stimulate the immune
system, but scientific evidence is lacking. Also,
no standards have been set by which to evaluate
products.
10. Cayenne contains capsaicin, which can relieve pain
when applied to the skin in a cream. However, it causes a
burning sensation that not everyone can tolerate. It’s also
available in capsules that can alleviate stuffy sinuses and
coughs. Eating hot peppers will have similar effects’
Three other herbs are gaining on the Top Ten. St. John’s wort
is a natural alternative to Prozac for treating depression with
fewer side effects. Test results are so good that the FDA is
studying it for possible approval as a drug. All herbal
medicines are now in the category of dietary supplements.
Kava is a natural relaxant that relieves anxiety. Finally,
grape seed extract is a super antioxidant that protects cells
from heart disease and cancers.
This review included a limited survey of food stores, drug
stores, and health food stores to check prices of herbal
products. The lowest prices noted above were found at a
health food store. So shop around, read labels, and compare
prices. Many herbal medicines must be taken several times
a day, so figure that into the cost. In cases where the plants
are available (garlic or peppers), they will be cheaper and
will provide additional nutrients.
Remember that a “natural” medicine isn’t necessarily safe.
A few herbal products are dangerous and should be avoided.
These include comfrey, coltsfoot, and sassafras. which are
carcinogens; germander, which damages the liver and
yohimbe, which increases the heart and raises blood pressure.
Some herbs still are collected in the wild, which depletes
populations and provides raw materials of mixed quality.
Amounts of active ingredients can vary widely among
plants. Fortunately, commercial cultivation of high quality
plants for herbal products is increasing.
— Eileen Schofield Barkley
 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR READERS
1998 Birdathon UNSUNG HEROES OF NFHAS

I F
t’s nearly time for our annual major fund raising or many, many editions of the PRAIRIE FALCON,
event, the NFHAS Birdathon. The event will be held LILA JONES has faithfully picked up the printed
this year on April 25. If you love the outdoors, spring copies from Claflin Books, stuck on mailing labels,
weather and enjoying nature, join us in our quest to countand tried to sort and package the newletters according to
as many bird species as possible in one day, while also postal regulations. She’s calculated mailing costs, filled
earning much-needed funds to support NFHAS’ out forms and hauled the whole shebang to the post
conservation and public education efforts. Birdathon office. All this without public recognition of the key role
funds support numerous NFHAS projects, including she plays in getting the PRAIRIE FALCON to you. No more.
Northeast Community Park, Sojourner Truth Park, THANK YOU LILA JONES — we appreciate You!
Washington Marlatt Park, our El Salvador sister chapter, STEVE AMY is another underappreciated contributor to
and publication of the the PRAIRIE FALCON, to name just a NFHAS. He has the frustrating task of updating our
few! Watch for full details in the April PRAIRIE FALCON, mailing lists, reinterpreting the membership and
and plan on spending a delightful day birding and helping subscription data sent from National Audubon, and putting
support your Audubon chapter on April 25th. it into usable form by printing the mailing labels.
— Phil Fay, Birdathon Coordinator (Long-time Audubon members knew Steve when he had
Mailing Labels/If You Are Moving dark hair!) He’s also been roped into preparing bird seed

T
he mailing label on the back of your newsletter sale forms, the annual chapter directory and other odds
contains some useful information. Besides your and ends requiring his desktop publishing skills. BLESS
name and address, there is a date (e.g. Apr 99) YOU STEVE AMY — don’t ever retire!
which indicates when your subscription will expire. If — Leann Harrell
the label actually says “Expired,” don’t panic and check
the obituaries for your name; we are just talking about
your subscription. Please pay attention to that date, and
renew your membership in NAS, or your PRAIRIE FALCON
subscription, in a timely manner.
Secondly, if you are moving, PLEASE let us know by
writing or emailing the editor. The US Postal Service
does not forward the newsletters, but it does send them
back to us and charge us first-class postage for that
service! So the NFHAS pays 32 cents when we get your
newsletter back, and you don’t get that newsletter! Send
us your new address and we will be able to save you and
us from these problems.
Recycling Pays Dividends

Y
ou may not know this, but you can contribute
your recycling money to the Northern Flint Hills
Audubon Society when you take your cans,
bottles, paper, etc. to Howies Recycling. Just tell them to
add your money to the NFHAS fund, and you can go
away knowing that you not only contributed to the
cleanup of the planet, you have donated money to a good
cause as well. It takes a while for these small contributions
to add up, but the last check we got from Howies totaled
$62.50! Thanks to all who contributed, and please tell
From How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers, and
your friends about this opportunity.
Other Woodcuts, R.W. Wood, 1917.
— Jan Garton
The Prairie Falcon - 3
 Rivers and Wildlife Celebration: New Name,
Same Great Event!
Reflecting a desire to broaden the appeal of Audubon's
Spring River Conference, the name of this annual event
has been changed starting with the 1998 program to be
held on March 13 - 15.
The new title, Rivers and Wildlife Celebration, more
accurately reflects program content and the joy that
people feel when they come to the Platte each spring.
The Celebration opens on Friday evening with Kent
Clegg, who recently led three young Whooping Cranes
and six Sandhill Cranes behind his ultra-light plane from
Idaho to New Mexico. The story of how Clegg raised the
cranes and prepared them for their exciting journey has
captured the hearts and imaginations of the media and
many Americans, especially since Hollywood portrayed
a similar situation with Canada Geese in a movie titled
"Fly Away Home." Clegg will relate his real life adven-
ture to Celebration registrants and the general public in
his presentation.
On Saturday night the featured speaker will be Frank
Gill, one of the most noted ornithologists in the country,
and National Audubon's Director of Science. Gill is well-
known as an engaging speaker, sure to interest anyone
with a love for birds.
During the days on Saturday and Sunday, participants
will have a choice of attending diverse educational
programs, viewing wildlife on organized field trips, or
simply setting out on their own. One program back by
popular demand is "Innovations in Conservation and
Environmental Education." This session on Saturday
morning will include presentations on educational pro-
grams from throughout the country.
Other programs will appeal to those who simply want
to learn more about nature or current issues. There will be
The Prairie Falcon - 4
presentations on hummingbirds, edible native plants,
creating and maintaining habitat, restoring prairie, and
preserving of grassland birds. Current issues to be
explored include updates on the Platte and Mississippi
rivers, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, non-
game wildlife management, and the economic benefits
of birdwatching.
Useful workshops for Audubon leaders, under the title
of "Audubon Leadership Skill Training," will be offered
on Sunday morning, and include such topics as
fundraising, expanding membership, attracting families,
and training leaders.
Of course the primary focus of the Celebration will still
be on the awe-inspiring wildlife spectacle which visits
the Platte every spring. There will be early morning and
late afternoon opportunities to view cranes and water-
fowl from the river blinds at the Audubon Rowe Sanctu-
ary. Additional trips will offer opportunities to view
Prairie Chickens, waterfowl on Funk Lagoon, and even
wildlife art at the Museum of Nebraska Art which will be
featuring a "Heritage of Audubon" exhibit.
Children can also enjoy and learn about wildlife through
youth programs. Tom Wolf, an educator from Kansas,
has delighted numerous children for years with his edu-
cational trips to the river. There will also be an opportu-
nity for the child in all of us to experience the excitement
of viewing wildlife up close, with a live snake presenta-
tion from Wayne Zimmerman and birds of prey from the
Raptor Recovery Center.
Simply put, there is no better way to experience the
world-class wildlife spectacle on the Platte in such an
enjoyable and educational setting.
Call Audubon Nebraska today at (402) 475-1177 to
receive a registration brochure including a full confer-
ence agenda. Or just come to Kearney that weekend and
register on-site. Don't miss out on this exciting event!
 March Birding In Kansas
“You must know that out on the river with cranes, in the is a good field mark, but the ring on the neck can only
spring upon the Platte in Nebraska, there also returns be seen if you are holding the duck in your hand. Some
your feeling that all things are possible. Not only that, ducks wait until later in the year to migrate; most
there returns the feeling that all things are reasonable, all noteworthy of these is the Blue-winged Teal. The Blue-
actions, all ambitions and good ideas, and something has winged Teal is usually the last duck to go north in the
migrated back north with the sandhill cranes. “It’s all spring and the first to come back south in the fall
right to be a biologist after all,” you hear yourself saying, (usually in mid-late September).
“This is my place and these are the things to which I Although the waterfowl migration is spectacular,
belong.” There is a flood and a rush of spring in those there are other things happening this month that deserve
thoughts. There is a freedom, a desire, a renewal that can mention for the Kansas birdwatcher. Bald Eagles will
only come back in the spring, rushing into your frozen be massing at various sites in the state in preparation for
rituals of the Nebraska Winter in ways that you suddenly their imminent departure. Look for these
realize you’ve wanted for so many bleak months of massive raptors wherever large concentra-
darkened cold.”— John Janovy, Jr., (1980) Yellowlegs, tions of waterfowl occur; they will be patrol-
St. Martin’s Press, NY. ling the flocks of ducks and geese, looking

T
he equinox, the cranes, the river, and the for crippled or sick individuals to scavenge.
resurgence of desire that Janovy describes Interestingly, the Bald Eagle seems to be
can indeed be felt this month in the Big immune to the toxins produced by the avian
Bend region of Nebraska. And this year the cholera bacterium, Pasteurella multicida. Of-
Spring River Conference in Kearney also coin- ten an eagle will be seen cruising nearby
cides with a full moon. New religions have been whenever a flock of geese suddenly rises into
created with less... the sky. The flying geese seem to be saying
The return of the waterfowl, headlined by the “Don’t mess with me;I’m healthyand strong.”
bugling of Sandhill Cranes and punctuated by the The sight and clamor of an eagle-spooked
honks of geese and ducks, is the major story of flock of Snow Geese, swirling blizzard-like
birding in Kansas this month. The impressive in- in a cobalt sky, is one of my fondest memories
crease in waterfowl numbers documented in the fall of of March in Nebraska.
1997 will hopefully be reflected in a good northward March is also the return time for at least a few of our
migration in the spring of 1998. But now these birds will summer residents. Turkey Vultures will be seeking
be in their nuptial finery, clamoring for each other’s (mostly unsuccessfully) thermal updrafts across the
attention, and attracting the eye of human birdwatchers as state by the end of the month. Red-winged Blackbirds
well. It is hard to ignore a male Northern Shoveler, with will expound upon the state of their gonads end the size
his enormous bill, iridiscent green head, snow-white breast, of their territories from every other fence-post by equi-
and cinnamon flanks. Even more colorful is the male nox time. The “oak-a-lee” or “konk-a-ree” calls of these
Wood Duck whose red eye and striking facial pattern are bustling icterids are a sure sign of spring in these parts.
accented by the Elvis-like pompadour look generated by Eastern Phoebes, the vanguard of the summer resident
his feathery crest. Wood Ducks are common nesting flycatchers, will be active on nicer days and forlorn on
ducks in Kansas, and have even been known to fledge colder days, as they await the coming of warmer weather
ducklings in improbable spots like the yard of the and the accompanying swarms of flying insects. Look
president’s house on the KSU campus. More typical for these tail-wagging charmers near bridges and cul-
nesting habitat would be any creek or pond bordered by verts; if you are lucky they may build a nest under the
tall trees with large cavities; these cavity-nesting ducks eaves of your porch, barn, or even your outhouse.
will also use artificial nest boxes in many locations. Other If the flycatchers and the vultures are back, it must be
common waterfowl migrants this month include Green- spring. So even if April will bring more wondrous birds
winged Teal, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Can- to your corner of the Great Plains, get out there this
vasback, Redhead, Lesser Scau p , Bufflehead, Ruddy month and get a jump on the new birdwatching season.
Duck, and Ring-necked Duck. This latter duck would be You won’t regret it.
more aptly named ring-billed duck, as the ring on the bill — Dave Rintoul (reprinted from March 1995)
The Prairie Falcon - 5
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society Non-profit Organization
P.O. Box 1932 U.S. Postage Paid
Manhattan KS 66505-1932 Permit No. 662
printed on 100% post-consumer Manhattan KS 66501
recycled paper
Address Correction Requested

Subscription Information NFHAS Officers and Board Members

Introductory memberships are available for $20 per year; after that a 1997-8
basic membership is available for $35 annually. When you join the Co-Presidents: Carla Bishop (539-5129)
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, you automatically become a Hoogy Hoogheem (539-7080)
member of the National Audubon Society and receive the bimonthly Vice-president: Dave Rintoul (537-0781)
Audubon magazine, in addition to the Prairie Falcon. New member-
Secretary : Margy Stewart (776-8852)
ship applications may be sent to NFHAS at the address below; make
Treasurer: Jan Garton (539-3004)
checks payable to the National Audubon Society. Renewals of mem-
bership are handled by the National Audubon Society and should not Committee Chairs
be sent to NFHAS. Questions about membership can be answered by Conservation: Janet Throne (776-7624)
calling a toll-free number, 1-800-274-4201, or by electronic mail to Chris Cokinos (537-4143)
Betsy Hax at the National Audubon Society (bhax@audubon.org). Education: Sue Dwyer (539-8142)
Nonmembers may subscribe to the Prairie Falcon newsletter for $10 Program: Alice Blecha (539-6643)
per year. Make checks payable to the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Fieldtrips: Patricia Yeager (776-9593)
Society, and mail to: Editor, Prairie Falcon, P.O. Box 1932, Manhattan Tami Yeager (537-8385)
KS 66505-1932. Membership: Steve Amy (456-7053)
Finance: Phil Fay (539-2863)
RARE BIRD ALERT HOTLINES Public Outreach: Dolly Gudder (537-4102)
At-large Board Members
Kansas (statewide): 913-372-5499
Joyce Slusser, Dolly Gudder, Irene Johnson,
Kansas City Area (incl. W. MO): 913-342-2473
Leann Harrell, Phoebe Samelson,
Nebraska (statewide): 402-292-5325

Addresses and Phone numbers of Your Elected Representatives - Write - or call ( anytime
Governor Bill Graves: 2nd Floor, State Capitol Bldg., Topeka KS 66612 u Kansas Senator or Representative _________________: State Capitol Bldg., Topeka KS 66612, Phone numbers
(during session only) - Senate: 913-296-7300, House: 913-296-7500 u Senator Roberts or Brownback: US Senate, Washington DC 20510 u Representative _____________________: US
House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515 u US Capitol Switchboard : 202-224-3121 u President Bill Clinton, The White House, Washington DC 20500
u Information about progress of a particular piece of legislation can be obtained by calling the following numbers: In Topeka - 800-432-3924; in Washington - 202-225-1772;
Audubon Action Line - 800-659-2622, or get the latest on the WWW at http://www-nt.audubon.org/campaign/aa/
The Prairie Falcon - 6