OWL KNOWLEDGE, Patricia Yeager

1. Q. True or False: Owls eyes are fixed in their sockets to look straight ahead.
2. Q. True or False: Owls can turn their heads 360 degrees.
3. Q. Barn owls:
a) Are one of the most widely dispersed owls in the world,
b) Can capture a mouse in total darkness,
c) Are equipped with serrated middle claw,
d) Have a wing span of more than a yard.
e) Are declining in population in the N.E. U.S. as farms decline.
f) All of the above.
4. Q. Which three owls are the most common in Manhattan and the surrounding area?
Name in order of size from the smallest to the largest.
5. Q. Name other owls that might be seen in the area.
6. Q. Which of the locally found owls (in the previous questions) has dark eyes and which
has yellow eyes?
7. Q. Can you match the owl to its habitat:
1. Dense young evergreens or in thickets
2. Perches near the ground in open country
3. Active before dark in open country over plains and marshes
4. Nests in barns, abandoned buildings, tree cavities.
5. Prairie dog towns
6. Wooded areas in towns or in the country
7. Woods near open country
Answers on page 6
P.O. Box 1932, Manhattan, KS 66505-1932
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society,

prairie falcon
Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
Newsletter
Vol. 36, No. 2 ~ October 2007

INSIDE Upcoming Events:

pg. 2-Skylight plus-pete cohen Oct. 4 Board Meeting 7 p.m.
Home of Tom & MJ Morgan
250 Summit Ave.
pg. 3-4-Birdseed Order form Oct. 13 Beginning Birding
Printed by Claflin Books & Copies

8 a.m. meet at Sojourner Truth Park

Oct. 13 STARGAZING -Margy Stewart,
pg. 5-6 -Survey
11003 Lower McDowell Rd. 8 p.m.
Bring a “portable” snack (see pg. 2)
pg. 7 -Take Note Oct. 19 DEADLINE Birdseed ORDER
Birding Report - kevin fay Oct. 27-28 SPOOKTACULAR Sunset Zoo
Manhattan, KS

Nov. 3 Birdseed PICKUP at UFM 9-12n

Spooktacular Nov. 10 Beginning Birding
Bird Trivia 8 a.m. meet at Sojourner Truth Park


skylight plus
pete cohen
British author,
Henry Hartley wrote “the
past is another country, they
do things differently there.”
He didn’t say that they did
different things.
In 1991, a melting Alpine
glacier revealed to two hik-
ers, a frozen human corpse. When it was hauled to
the nearest police station something – perhaps the
woven grass cape and hide shoes stuffed with grass
– suggested to someone that there was little point in
seeking the phone numbers of the next of kin. Ex-
perts soon declared that the Iceman, or Oetzi (for
the area where he was found), had died 5300 years
ago. Cassiopeia bringing her own chair to the north. Per-
It is perhaps a mark of my fortunate back-
ground that I conjured a vision of some gutsy but
unlucky wayfarer, overtaken by storm while trying to
make a pre-historic living or seeking to visit friends.
Now 16 years of modern science investigation, sum-
marized in the Science News this past June, has revised
that vision. Oetki, despite the fact that he was
traveling in weather conditions so severe that even
his innards froze without degradation, died of shock
induced by loss of blood from an aorta sliced by
an arrow that had barged through his scapula, from
slightly below, obviously released with great force
and/or from quite near. A clot of blood showed
that the arrow shaft had been removed while he was
still bleeding, in a useless effort to help or maybe
to keep the design of the shaft from identifying the
shooter.
There was pollen amid the deer meat in his
stomach telling that his last meal was in a conifer
forest on the slope of a certain valley, where that
kind of stone arrowhead was made, which matched
the arrows left in his quiver, along with a stone axe
and an unfinished bow. Arrowheads made in the
next valley over had narrower bases (it’s amazing
what some people know).
That he went into wintry mountains with
an unfinished bow suggests he needed
to hurry, though a finished bow might
just be missing. Alas, no drop of cigar
ash seemed available by which Sherlock
Holmes might have re-set the happening, so conjectures
are free for the making, though I would guess whatever
happened wasn’t for the first time, and could be found
somewhere in today’s news.
About 100 years ago Robert Service wrote, “The
Arctic trails have their secret tales that would make your
blood run cold.” And we now know that on an Alpine
trail Oetze’s blood did precisely that.
As the year grows colder this month, Jupiter and
Antares, Scorpio’s red star, open the nightly shows by
sinking together in the west, Jupiter the brighter, will set
shortly after ten on the 1st, and a little earlier each night
to cut out on Halloween just after nine. Four major
constellations will be in the audience high in the balcony,
seus will be a bright collection mostly in the Milky Way,
looking like a stubby small letter “k” from some angles.
Then the faint arcs of Andromeda will swoop south to
a point that doubles as the leading northward corner of
the Great Square of Pegasus, which takes up enough
space for several balcony seats, so to speak, which sit
mostly empty, an area of nearly pure night.
Mars, growing closer, comes next, rising from
soon after 11 at month’s start and gradually sooner till
soon before 11 at month’s end. The gala event is for all-
nighters or early risers, with Venus up at 4 a.m., still at
her greatest brightness till the 7th. On that night there’s
a special quartet scheduled. StarDate places the Moon
just above Venus, with Leo’s pale blue Regulus close to
her left, just above yellowish Saturn.
The Orionid meteor showers begin the 20th for
a few days. Again the conventional wisdom favors the
early birds, as it did for August’s Perseids, but the best
show we saw then was mid-evening, as has happened
before. You take your chances.
Moon is new the 11th at 12a01, and is full for
the night of 25th-26th at 11p52, and The Old Farmer’s
Almanac adds that it’ll be its closest for the year when
full, just 221,688 or so miles away. With the clear air of
fall, should be a good performance.
© 2007 Peter Zachary Cohen

Directions to Bird Runner Wildlife Refuge: STARGAZING, Oct. 13, 8 p.m. 11003 Lower McDowell
Creek Rd. 19 miles south of Manhattan. Take McDowell Creek Rd, south to I-70 where it becomes “lower”
McDowell Creek Rd. - stay on Lower McDowell Ck.Rd (paved road) and continue south 5 miles - then turn
left on the gravel road, (there is a sign on the driver’s side of the road “Bird Runner Refuge”) drive across the
creek and up to the house. Bring a protable snack and drink, some people stay quite late, but please come on
time so Margy can guide you to the stargazing deck. Kevin Fay will be manning the telescope.
p.  Oct 2007 Prairie Falcon Newsletter
 Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society
Bird Seed Sale
ORDERS must be received by OCT. 19, 2007
PICK UP is Saturday, NOV. 3, 2007, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
UFM, 1221 Thurston, Manhattan
If interested in helping unload the truck, come at 8 a.m,
or volunteer to help during the morning of pickup -
contact Annie (below).
Return your order forms with your checks to:
Annie Baker Make checks payable to:
116 Parkview Dr. Northern Flint Hills
Junction City, KS 66441 Audubon Society
Phone 785-375-4633 or NFHAS for short

Bird Seed Sale Product Descriptions:
BLACK OIL SUNFLOWER SEEDS are attractive to more species of birds than are striped sunflower seeds. They
also supply more energy per pound than striped sunflower seeds.
STRIPED SUNFLOWER SEEDS contain larger hearts than black oil sunflower seeds and are particularly suitable
for larger songbirds.
SAFFLOWER is a favorite with Cardinals and squirrels really do not like it.
MILLET is liked by Mourning Doves, Song Sparrows, White Throated Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, White Crown
Sparrows, Red Wing Blackbirds, House Finches, Pine Siskins, and Quail.
FLINT HILLS FEAST is our premium bird seed mix: 30 % black oil sunflower seed, 20 % striped sunflower seed,
and 50 % white proso millet with no milo or fillers.
NIGER THISTLE is very attractive to gold finches and all other finches that are here over the winter. Niger is
excellent for tube feeders.
SUNFLOWER SEED CHIPS are high in energy and can be used in tube feeders. These are especially liked by
pine siskins.
CHEAP CHEEP MIX is less expensive but still attractive to many species. It is 40 % cracked corn, 40 % white
proso millet, 20 % black oil sunflower and no milo or fillers.
SUPER FORMULA FINCH MIX is a less expensive option for tube feeders than 100% Niger thistle. It consists of
70% sunflower chips and 30% niger thistle. This is very popular with most tube feeding species.
SUET CAKES, in addition to having high calorie beef fat which helps birds maintain body heat in cold winter
months as the main ingredient, have other nutritious ingredients.
PEANUT PICKOUTS are chunks of peanut hearts and are very attractive to woodpeckers.
MEDIUM CHOP is chopped corn kernels- especially good for ground-feeding birds.

Quality Seed, Easy Handling Sales Support Local Chapter Activities

The products we offer are high quality seeds. Our mixes
were created to satisfy the needs of local bird populations
at reasonable costs. We have tried to make it easy for you
to purchase the amount of seed you want without having to
handle heavy, awkward bags. Our seed comes in 10, 25,
and 50 pound bags. We try to obtain the seed in paper bags
whenever possible.
As with all of our fund-raising activities, proceeds from our
seed and store sales go toward supporting the educational
and conservation projects of the local chapter. All of our labor
is voluntary. Taxes are included in the price of our seed. Even
though we are a not-for-profit organization, we are required
to pay tax on any retail sales. Any additional donation you
may wish to include with your order is appreciated.

Pick up - Saturday, NOV. 3, 2007, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at UFM, 1221 Thurston, Manhattan

DESCRIPTION SIZE COST EACH QTY TOTAL COST

Sunflower chips 10lb $11.50

Sunflower chips 25lb $26.25
Sunflower chips 50lb $50.75
Corn on the cob 10lb $6.50
Corn on the cob 25lb $12.25
Finch Mix 10lb $13.00
Finch Mix 25lb $29.50
Finch Mix 50lb $55.75
Med. corn chop 25lb $8.25
Med. corn chop 50lb $14.50
Peanut pick-outs 10lb $14.75
Peanut pick-outs 25lb $33.00
Red Millet 10lb $8.25
Red Millet 25lb $16.50
Red Millet 50lb $29.25
Safflower seed 10lb $9.75
Safflower seed 25lb $20.50
Safflower seed 50lb $41.50
peanut butter,
Suet cakes berry, or 11oz $1.50
Suet cakes regular 11oz $1.50
Sunflower (black) 10lb $6.50
Sunflower (black) 25lb $13.50
Sunflower (black) 50lb $25.00
Sunflower (striped) 10lb $6.50
Sunflower (striped) 25lb $13.50
Sunflower (striped) 50lb $25.00
Thistle seed 10lb $14.75
Thistle seed 25lb $30.50
White millet 10lb $4.75
White millet 25lb $9.75
White millet 50lb $17.75
Cheap cheep mix 10lb $4.75
Cheap cheep mix 25lb $10.75
Cheap cheep mix 50lb $19.50
Flint Hills feast 10lb $5.50
Flint Hills feast 25lb $12.25
Flint Hills feast 50lb $22.75
Super Finch mix 10lb $14.75
Super Finch mix 25lb $29.50

For our customers in Manhattan (IN-TOWN only) we offer a local delivery service — please check the box below and include
$5.00 with your order. Thank you for your order and your support. We need volunteers to help the day of pickup - if
interested - contact Annie Baker - (address & phone on front of form).
NAME_________________________________ DELIVERY (in-town) $5.00
ADDRESS_ ____________________________ SUBTOTAL______________
______________________________________ DONATION _ _______
PHONE # ______________________________
Email _______________________________ TOTAL
 2007 Northern Flint Hills
Audubon Society Membership Survey
We want to increase the enjoyment of Audubon events,
so please tell us about yourself.

Name(s) _______________________________­
How long have you belonged to Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society _____
Are you a skilled birder _____, intermediate _______, or a beginning birder ____
Do you typically watch birds without using binoculars or a scope ____
Do you feed birds ____ , or maintain a bird house ____
Do you enjoy watching other animals than birds (if you wish, give examples) ____________________
Do you enjoy identifying wildflowers or trees _____ or gardening ______
How often do you travel somewhere to observe nature ______________
Are you employed full time ____ , or part time _____ , retired _____­
When do you have the most appreciable amounts of leisure time: summer ____­­, fall ___­, winter ____,
spring ____, or rarely during the year ____
About how many Audubon events did you attend last year ____
What types of events are you more likely to attend? (circle): talks or lectures, field trips, social events,
work/projects­.
Would you prefer evening events to start at 6:00 p.m. ___ or 7:00 p.m. ___
What time of day do you prefer to go birding? _____________
Is beginning birding (2nd Sat. of month at 8 a.m.) a good time__________,
What time would you be most likely to join a group to bird local areas? ___________
Please suggest events you would like the chapter to have (such as a trip to Squaw Creek NWR, a lecture
on chimney swifts, or planting pawpaw seeds at Michel-Ross Preserve)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Would you be willing to help lead an activity such as a field trip _____
Would you be willing to host a birding group on land that you own or have permission to visit _____
What do you like best about the Flint Hills region _________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

The birdseed order form & this page (survey) are a

pre-stamped unit that can be mailed to us, fold and
tape the all three open sides (and tape check for
birdseed order to inside.) THANK YOU!
 Tape

stamp

Annie Baker

Tape
116 Parkview Drive
Tape

Junction City, KS 66441

ANSWERS to Questions on page 1:

1. True. Owls must move their head to redirect the gaze of their eyes.
2. False. However, they can turn their heads much farther than humans can.
3. All of the above. As stated in The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior
a) True,
b) The barn owls ears are not symmetrical which enables it to pinpoint the sound of a mouse both
horizontally as humans can but also vertically.
c) There is a knobby comb-like growth on the side of the center claw of a barn owl called a
“pectinate,”
d) Wing span is about 3 ft. 6 in.
e) Farm buildings are a favorite nesting place for this owl. Farms and Barn owls are declining in the N.E.
4. Screech owl, barred owl, and great horned owl
5 Northern saw-whet owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, barn owl, snowy owl (some winters) and a little farther
west the burrowing owl.
6. All are yellow except for the barn and barred owls.
7. 1-Saw-whet, 2-snowy, 3-short-eared, 4-barn, 5-burrowing, 6-barred, great horned and screech, 7-long-eared.
 Beginning Birding Fieldtrip Take Note
report for September 2007
- Kevin Fay

There once was a woman named Pat

Who could find where the good birds were at
“This time I know
Just where we should go
West to the park called Wild Cat”
A small group met at Sojourner Truth Park and went to Wildcat Park (or Wild Cat Park depending on which sign you like)

m on Anderson Avenue, west of town. We found the following: female Blue Grosbeak, Common Crow, Blue Jay, Robin,
Eastern Bluebird, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Tanager (unidentified), Warbler (unidentified possibly Hooded),
Carolina Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Harrier, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, Eastern Wood
Peewee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and male and female American Redstart. The highlight of the trip was the American
redstart pair. I mentioned to Patricia as we started out that I would like to see one and we did. We ended the trip with a
brief visit to Jacque Staats’s property as we were at the end our our allotted time.

The Beginning Birding Fieldtrip takes place on the second Saturday of the month. We meet at 8:00 a.m. at Sojourner
Truth Park on Pottawatomie St. between 10th and 12th Streets (near Howie’s Recycling). Birders of all levels are welcome.
We will go to some local birding hotspot. Wear appropriate clothing but no strenuous activity is involved, just some light
hiking. We will return to Sojourner Truth Park by 11:00 am. I am not promising that you will wish up the bird up your
choice but it worked for me.

Do you enjoy decorating for Halloween? Well, help us with the NFHAS booth at the Sunset Zoo Spooktacular,
Oct. 27-28. Come on Sat. about 10 a.m. to help us setup --- anything with owls is especially welcome. And it is
really a “hoot” to see all the kids come through in costume!

Book Review: the Bird Almanac

By David M. Bird, PhD
We all probably know the heaviest and tallest
bird is an ostrich (max. 345 lbs and 9ft), and the smallest
bird is a bee hummingbird (.056 oz and 2.24 in), but
do you know what bird has the greatest wingspan? I
would have said the Andean condor, but as it turns out
it is the wandering albatross – up to 11ft. 11 in! But, the
Andean condor at 10.5 ft. ties with the marabou stork
for greatest wingspan for “landbirds.”
And speaking of heaviest birds – what is the
heaviest “flying” bird? The great bustard at 46.3
pounds! And the smallest “flightless” bird? It is the
island rail at 1.2 oz. and 5 in.
There are so many interesting facts in this book,
that it is hard to stop quoting them… for instance
what bird has the longest toes relative to body length
– northern jacana at 4 inches. What bird has the
longest bill relative to body length – swordtailed
hummingbird at 4.15 inches. And what bird has the
absolute longest bill – the Australian pelican at 18.5
inches.
See – it is just impossible to stop… what
is the fastest-moving bird – the diving peregrine
falcon at 117 mph, the fastest flapping flight
– white-throated needle-tailed swift at 106 mph.
And for the greatest number of feathers
– the whistling swan with 25,216!
Ok, I’ll stop – no just one more … the
absolute shortest bill? – the glossy swiftlet at only a
few millemeters!
This book review can also be viewed on www.
birdng.com a website with all kinds of information.

Oct 2007 Prairie Falcon Newsletter p. 

 Northern Flint HIlls Non-profit Organization
Printed on 100% post-consumer U.S. Postage Paid
Audubon Society
recycled paper Permit No. 662
P.O. Box 1932
Manhattan, KS Manhattan, KS 66502
66505-1932

Return Service Requested

Published monthly (except August) by the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society.
Edited by Cindy Jeffrey, 15850 Galilee Rd., Olsburg, KS 66520. (cinraney@ksu.edu)
Also available on-line at www.ksu.edu/audubon/falcon.html

Subscription Information: Introductory memberships - $20/ NFHAS Board

yr., then basic membership is $35/yr. When you join the Northern President: Patricia Yeager 776-9593
Flint Hills Audubon Society, you automatically become a member Vice Pres. Cindy Jeffrey cinraney@ksu.edu 468-3587
of the National Audubon Society and receive the bimonthly Audu- Secretary: MJ Morgan
bon magazine in addition to the Prairie Falcon newsletter. New Treasurer: Carla Bishop 539-5129
membership applications may be sent to Treasurer, NFHAS, P.O.
Box 1932, Manhattan, KS 66505-1932. Make checks payable to COMMITTEE chairs:
the National Audubon Society. Membership renewals are handled Membership: Jacque Staats
by the National Audubon Society and should not be sent to the Programs:
NFHAS. Questions about membership? Call 1-800-274-4201 or Conservation:
email the National Audubon Society join@audubon.org. Northeast Park Jacque Staats
If you do not want to receive the national magazine, but Butterfly Garden Susan Blackford
still want to be involved in our local activities, you may subscribe Education:
to the Prairie Falcon newsletter for $15/yr. Make checks payable to Land Preservatin Jan Garton
the Northern Flint Hills Audubon Society, and mail to: Treasurer, Newsletter Cindy Jeffrey cinraney@ksu.edu 468-3587
NFHAS, P.O. Box 1932, Manhattan, KS, 66502-1932. Fieldtrips: Patricia Yeager, Hoogy Hoogheem 776-9593
RARE BIRD HOTLINE: For information on Kansas Birds, sub- At-large: Tom Morgan, Paul Weidhaas
scribe to the Kansas Bird Listserve. Send this message <subscribe
KSBIRD-L> to <list serve@ksu.edu>and join in the discussions. Audubon of Kansas Trustee: Hoogy Hoogheem

Contacts for Your Elected Representatives ( anytime) Write, call or email @

Governor Kathleen Sebelius: 2nd Floor, State Capital Bldg., Topeka , KS 66612. Kansas Senator or Representative _________: State
Capital Bldg., Topeka, KS 66612. Ph# (during session only) Senate - 785-296-7300. House - 785-296-7500. U.S. Senator Roberts <Rob-
erts@senate.gov> U.S. Senate, Washington DC 20510. or Brownback <Brownback@senate.gov> U.S. Capital Switchboard 202-224-
3121. President G.W. Bush - The White House, Washington, DC 20500.