Winter 2024
Do you know anyone that has expressed an interest in becoming a Missouri Master Naturalist?  If so, we will have a class beginning in the spring.  Classes will be held online and there will be in-person field trips with our chapter. Please give any referrals to Roxanne to get them registered and help us grow our chapter.

Adopt-A-Highway
It was a beautiful morning for the Adopt-A-Highway trash pick-up outing on October 9th.  Kathy and Roxanne started on the north end while Marge and Missy started on the south. It was a beautiful day and they think we may have gotten all of our mile done. Several bags were filled and the road looked strangely tidy.

Seed Mixing at Wah-kon-tah Prairie
There were several people that helped mix seeds at Wah-kon-tah Prairie on November 8. Steve Cooper, Roxanne and Ryan joined in the dusty fun. They mixed and refilled two batches and finished in just 2 hours with an estimated 150 bags total. In one picture you can see Steve hard at work. (Steve is in a tan shirt) In another, you can see Ryan recording all the weights of all the bags. (He’s standing behind the scale).

Managed Deer Hunt at Knob Noster State Park
Steve and Kathy Cooper and Tom and Roxanne Stockdall were among the 9 sentries on November 4th, for the managed deer hunt at Knob Noster State Park. They had plenty of volunteers to guard the entrances, so they were able to move around and help where needed. The weather was very nice although there was a bit of rain later in the day. On November 5, Tom and Roxanne returned and again, there were plenty of volunteers. Everything ran rather smoothly, and the weather was even better than the day before.

One hundred hunters were registered for the hunt this year with ninety of them showing up. A hunter must get two does before they could get a buck. There were 98 deer harvested on Saturday and 45 on Sunday. The grand total was 143 with 86 does, 34 button bucks and 23 bucks harvested during this hunt. This was a successful hunt and means a lot to the health of the remaining deer in the park.
Counting Birds
The 2023 Christmas Bird Count was held on December 27.  This was the 15th Annual CBC that our chapter has participated in. The count started in 1900, so this would be the 124th season overall.  

We reported over 22,000 individual birds between the 6 groups that went out in the field and 1 feeder watcher.  Highlight species for this year were a Northern Shrike, a Prairie Falcon and 5 Short-Earred Owls. 

It was a cold day with temperatures in the 30's and occasional snow flurries as watchers looked high and low for birds.  But, those at the Tally Rally were warmed up with soup, chili, homemade bread and dessert.  All in all, a good day.
Congratulations to Chapter Members
Congratulations to Paul Landkammer (top right) for earning his 1,000 hour pin.  And, to Gerald Schlomer (bottom left) and Missy Zimmerscheid (bottom right) on earning their 2023 Certification Pin.  Keep up the good work!

Also, congratulations and thank you to Ryan Steffens and Andrea Goldstrum (both not pictured).  Ryan will serve another term as the chapter Vice-President and Andrea will continue to serve as the Chapter Secretary.  Thank you for all the great work you both do for the Hi Lonesome Chapter.
The 2024 Certification Pin is the Barred Owl (Strix varia). 

The Barred Owl is a beautiful bird that occurs statewide in Missouri.  They are non-migratory and loosely stay in the same habitat during non-breeding and past nesting season. Their ideal habitat consists of relatively heavy, mature forests ranging from thick upland woodlands to riparian forest and wooded swamps. Natural habitat needs the dense leaf cover (especially for roosting) and maturing trees having natural cavities for nesting. Quality of habitat and prey density influence the size of defended (patrolled) territory; it is usually about one square mile.

Barred owls are a single brooded species and like other Missouri owls (Great-horned and screech owls)
they are among the earliest nesting. Courtship of the male approaching the female with bowing and wingspread behaviors occur throughout the winter leading up to nest selection in late winter.  By September the young may still be in vicinity of the parents, but they are able to hunt on their own and will disperse once parents start vocalizing and defending the late autumn territory once again.

To add the Barred Owl Certification Pin to your collection, just have 40 volunteer hours and 8 advanced training hours in 2024.  

Get started on earning your 2024 Certification Pin with these opportunities:
 
January 8- Stream Team at Big Buffalo and Lake Creek (Rain Date is January 15).  We will conduct Chemical, Discharge and Visual Surveys.
February 17 - Eagle Days at Truman Lake Visitor Center (Rain Date is February 24)
We will have information on Stream Team and more.
April 20 - Earth Day Festival in Sedalia. We will have information on keeping the environment healthy.
April 27 - Birds, Bees & Blooms Festival in Arrow Rock. We will have information tables.
June 7 & 8 - Statewide Conference in Columbia, hosted by the Boonslick Chapter. Information will be mailed soon.
Important Information

Chapter Dues for 2024, are still just $12 per person. Please get your dues to Marge Lumpe to be an active member.

Go to our webpage: hilonesome.missourimasternaturalist.org to report your hours, find upcoming Advanced Training and Community Service opportunities.

Check out the photos in the photo gallery on our home page!  Send any photos you have to Jerry Barnabee and he will get them added in.  

If you have any questions about hours or volunteer opportunities, contact Roxanne Stockdall.
 
Save the Date!
 
Chapter Meetings are the first Tuesday of each month at 6 pm at
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Cole Camp.  
 
Upcoming Events

January 2 - Chapter Meeting at 6 p.m. in Cole Camp. Snacks: Roxanne Stockdall

February 6 - Chapter Meeting at 6 p.m. in Cole Camp.  Snacks: Andrea Goldstrum

March 5 - Chapter Meeting at 6 p.m. in Cole Camp. Snacks: Marge Lumpe

For other Community Service, Citizen Science and Advanced Training (both virtual and in person) opportunities, check out the website.