Pawnee Grasslands Important Bird Area
Work Project and Planning Meeting

April 15, 2006

Several Audubon organizations (including the Audubon Society of Greater Denver, Fort Collins Audubon, the Prairie and Plains Audubon, and Audubon Colorado) are working together with the Pawnee National Grasslands administration to support conservation efforts to protect and expand bird habitat at the Pawnee National Grasslands.

Though the impact of recreational target shooting on birds and wildlife has not been quantified, we are certain that the noise and practice of target shooting scares away birds from their habitat,  increases lead in the ground and water supply, and sometimes results in the destruction of trees and other bird habitat directly. The Pawnee National Grasslands is closing 18,000 acres from target shooting use in order to protect some special areas on the Pawnee National Grassland. As a part of this effort, we will be helping to clean up former target shooting sites in the closed area on April 15.

SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 15: WORK PROJECT AND PLANNING MEETING

1. Early AM Birding: We will congregate by the information sign near the parking lot at 7 AM at Crow Valley Campground at the Pawnee National Grasslands. At 8:30, we will head to the work project site.

2. 8:30 AM: Meet Up for Work Project: We will be meeting at the small city park on the northeast corner of Highway 14 and Highway 85 in Ault, Colorado. From here, we will car pool and drive to the worksites about 10 to 15 minutes away.

3. 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM: Work Project: Former Target Shooting Area Clean Up. We will be hauling trash (refrigerators, cans, bottles, a few kitchen sinks) which has been shot up in areas now closed to  target shooting. This clean up will help keep these areas from being used as target shooting areas. This will help wildlife (including birds) reclaim these areas. This is part of an 18,000 acre closure effort by the Pawnee National Grasslands.

4. 11:30 AM to 12:00 Noon: Brown Bag Lunch: Bring you own food to eat for lunch. There will also be an opportunity to eat fast food in Windsor (about 20 to 30 minutes away) later in the day before our planning meeting at the Windsor Library.

5. Noon to 1:30 PM: More Work Project: Former Target Shooting Area Clean Up

6. 2:00 to 3:30: Planning meeting for the Adopt-an-Important-Bird-Area Group for the Pawnee National Grasslands at the Windsor Library in Windsor Colorado.

MAPQUEST DIRECTIONS TO WINDSOR LIBRARY FOR 2 PM MEETING: To get there take Highway to 257 to Windsor (in Windsor Highway 257 turns to 7th Street), turn east on Oak Street and go .3 of a mile to 3rd Street. Take a right onto 3rd Street and go .1 mile to the Library. We will be in the Big Meeting Room! The library address is 720 Third Street. I have found it best to just aim at this address, as I meander through the town.