The Prairie-Hills Audubon (PHAS) is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. PHAS works to conserve the rich natural resources and wildlife heritage of the prairies and hills of western South Dakota and the surrounding region. PHAS is a volunteer grassroot organization. Assistance, support, and donations are greatly appreciated.

Get involved. Click the link below for more information on Audubon's Activism Network.

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News

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush has been seen in the Black Hills in late August; most recently at Iron Creek -- it IS only the third record in the US.

There is an opportunity for public to send scoping comments to the Black Hills National Forest on the proposed Pactola Project. Visit the BHNF web site to download their notice of request for comments ---

Sept 1st, 2010 - Obama's Great Outdoors Initiative,

Listening Meeting in Fort Pierre, .

WHEN: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Central time)
(Check-in table opens at 8:30 a.m.) the event begins at 8:45 with a general session, an introduction and eight-minute film on the America's Great Outdoors initiative, and opening remarks. The tentative schedule includes breakouts into smaller groups beginning at approximately 10:30 and running until noon. Topics of breaksout groups listed in "Why"
WHERE: AmericInn, 312 Island Drive, Fort Pierre, South Dakota 57532
WHO: Senior Washington, D.C. and local leadership from DOI and USDA will be present to hear your thoughts and to participate in a conversation with you about America’s Great Outdoors.
WHY: The listening session will be an opportunity to share ideas related to these four topics:
• What Works: What are the most effective strategies for conservation, recreation, and reconnecting people to the outdoors that you have used?
• Challenges: What obstacles exist to achieve your goals for conservation, recreation, or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• Federal Government Role: How can the federal government be a more effective partner in helping to achieve conservation, recreation or reconnecting people to the outdoors?
• Tools: What additional tools and resources would help your efforts be even more successful?
PRE-REGISTER: - This event is free and open to the public. Please pre-register by Friday, August 27th by sending an email to - FW6_AGOTeam@fws.gov - with your name, the name of the organization with which you are affiliated, if any, your telephone number and email address. Every effort will be made to accommodate everyone.

The link to view the America's Great Outdoors web page is: http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/

Under the heading "Upcoming Listening Sessions," you will find a direct link to the event in Fort Pierre: http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Information-for-Fort-Pierre-Listening-Session.cfm

Sept 18th, 2010, Black Hills Mountain Lion Foundation annual fall event is being planned for Saturday, Sept 18th, at Black Hills State University, 1 pm-5 pm, In the Jacket Legacy Room, Student Union BHSU,

October 7-8, 2010 - Game Fish and Parks Commission - Hearing on Mountain Lion Season, in early October in Northern Hills

October 7-8, Changes proposed to Mt Lion Seasons will be finalized at SDGFP Commission meeting October 7-8, Hearing will be Thursday afternoon, Spearfish Canyon Lodge, 10619 Roughlock Falls Rd Lead, SD 57754 , for more info: https://gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/meetings.aspx To view season proposals - https://gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/proposals.aspx , Minutes on the August GFPC meeting where mountain lion season discussed - https://gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/summary.aspx ,Send comments to: Game Fish & Parks Commission, Department of Game Fish and Parks,, Foss Building, 523 East Capitol,, Pierre, South Dakota 57501, chuck.schlueter@state.sd.us, other SDGFP Contacts: Randy Kemink, Chairman of the GFP Commission, LRKemink@hotmail.com, http://gfp.sd.gov/agency/commission/default.aspx, , Tony Leif, Director of the Division of Wildlife, <Tony.Leif@state.sd.us>, Jeff Vonk, Secretary of Game, Fish and Parks, <jeff.vonk@state.sd.us>, John Kanta, local biologist, John.Kanta@state.sd.us, Chuck Schlueter - staff in charge of public comments - chuck.schlueter@state.sd.us.

South Dakota Mountain Lion Plan. The deadline to comment on the draft mountain lion management plan was on July 26th. The state plans to reduce the mountain lion population by 80-100 animals over the next 5 years. You could email comments to chad.switzer@state.sd.us The link to view the plan is: http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/docs/SDmountainLionmanageplan2010-2015.pdf

On October 26-28, 2010, a hearing will be held In the Matter of a Petition to the Environmental Quality Council for Designation of an Area Known as Sand Creek as Very Rare or Uncommon, Docket No. 09-1103. The hearing will be held at the Crook County Fair Office, Fairgrounds Loop Rd., Sundance, WY and begin at 9:00 A.M. http://deq.state.wy.us/eqc/index.asp

Enviro Events. Click here for a complete list of April environmental events in the PHAS area and click here for list of May-July events.

The 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) results are in and it was a record-breaking year for participation. During the four-day event in February, more than 97,200 bird checklists were submitted by an estimated 63,000 volunteer bird watchers from across the United States and Canada. From reports of rare species to large-scale tracking of bird movements, the GBBC provides insight into the lives of bird populations. The GBBC is a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada. It is open to bird watchers of all ages. The results provided a snapshot of the whereabouts of more than 600 bird species. Visit the "Explore the Results" pages on the GBBC web site at www.birdcount.org to find the list of Top 10 birds reported in your state, province, or city.

South Dakota Wild Grassland Campaign - Wilderness Action Alert! On January 16, Senator Tim Johnson announced his intention to introduce legislation to create America's first national grassland wilderness in Buffalo Gap National Grassland! Now it's important to flood Senator Johnson's office with phone calls and emails thanking him for his bold vision. Senator Thune and Representative Herseth Sandlin must also continue to hear words of encouragement. Your message is simple: just tell them you're thrilled Senator Johnson is finally moving forward with grassland wilderness legislation for the areas in Buffalo Gap National Grassland and you'd like them to do the same. The more supportive messages they hear the more likely they'll be to co-sponsor legislation. There is also a great need for letters to the editor (LTEs). Rapid City Journal LTEs are limited to 200 words and can be submitted online at http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/app/submit_a_letter/ Most of you are accomplished LTE writers, but we're happy to provide you with a draft, should you need it. If you submit an LTE please let Heather Morijah know via phone (593-6072) or email. More information can be found at the SD Wild Grassland Coalition's website. Contact Heather with questions or concerns. Thank you so much for your ongoing support!

American Dipper Petition. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has rejected a petition to list the Black Hills population of American dipper has endangered or threatened. Read the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance press release regarding the FWS determination.

It's go time!  Please contact your South Dakota congressional delegation and tell them you support wilderness designation in three areas of Buffalo Gap National Grassland: Indian Creek, Red Shirt and Chalk Hills. This effort would conserve 50,000 acres of South Dakota's rich and unique natural resources and would benefit all South Dakotans. For more information such as maps, fact sheets, and economic values of wilderness, go to the South Dakota Wild Grassland Coalition site and learn about the National Grassland Heritage Proposal.

Click here to download The Amended Petition to the Environmental Quality Council for Designation of an Area Known as Sand Creek as Very Rare or Uncommon (note - its a very large file). The petition was submitted to the Wyoming EQC on August 12, 2009 by the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. The Prairie-Hills Chapter of the Audubon Society is an endorser on the petition. Click here to see Nancy Hilding's letter regarding protection of the area.

For kids! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed an interactive website to help kids explore the outdoors (yes, we see the irony!). Kids (and I suppose adults) who earn all five patches can receive a free tree from the Arbor Day Foundation! Click here to go to the Let's Go Outside web site.